Wee little Maggie Bean..

littlest sister of the infamous Jenny Bean, who lives at Shakespeare's Peddler's house.  Maggie is just a young girl and learning to stitch.  She looks at her older sister Jenny's needlework and of course, adores her older sister.  Jenny's mommy, Theresa, is designing the charts for Maggie to stitch and also finding it a good time for Maggie to learn the lessons that all young girls should.  Are you confused yet? LOL

We are collaborating with Shakespeare's Peddler (Theresa Venette) to present you with this darling new automatic, called Maggie Bean.  Each pattern thread pack will contain two small samplers with lovely little symbols and motifs that represent the lesson that Maggie is currently learning.  The series starts this month with "Maggie Bean: Hospitality.  I've provided the picture below.  We are starting with 6 bi-monthly installments for now.  Your shops (or if you are a shop) can order these now, shipping this week to those lovely LNS/ONS that send you pretty little things.  The thread pack will include the patterns and 5 different colors of Belle Soie silk in one yard lengths.  Plenty of silk to stitch both patterns in the pack.  The first two are stitched on Lakeside Linens Vintage Tundra fabric (I believe 32 count, but call the office first).  We are also offering the frames for these little cuties too! The frame on the left is The Maude and on the right is The June, both 4" x 4" square frames finished in Fleamarket Icing.  These absolutely darling patterns were previewed at Nashville and we received many accolades from our shopowners.  These release in March and the next release will be in May.  I just love them, so cute and petite.

Other news from the Crescent Colours 24/7 news desk...We are already working on new colors for the Baltimore 2011 Needlework Market, to be held August 13-15, 2011. We are very excited about this new show!  We'll keep you posted on the new items we plan to release because it's just too much fun to keep it all to myself. You should share the fun!

On another note, thank you for all of your kind wishes, emails and cards regarding Finley.  He's a trooper and today he got a new bed (so did Jakey) and they are happy dogs.  Costco has such a great deal on them and I treat them to new ones every 3 months.  They are big dogs so the cushioning wears out quick with them.  It think they were happier with the little treats shaped like T-bone steaks (made in the USA!).  Silly boys.

I'm going to be in and out of the office in March-early April.  I'm run down since the middle of December and well, when you tell your doctor that you're tired, they tell you to stay home and rest. Mmm hmm. Sure.  So I'm going to follow the rules and work part time for right now.  I'm taking a trip for my birthday next month to a beach far, far away so I need to be in tip-top shape!  Don't worry, you can still email me or call me, or post here.  You won't miss me too much!

Finally, I'm honored to have been invited to design ornaments for the 2011 Just Cross Stitch Preview issue, and the 2011 JCS Ornament issue.  I can't wait for you to see them.

Please take care and enjoy your needlework!

Sharon