When I'm really worked up about something, I most often just sit in stunned silence.. except when I have a keyboard apparently. I have to be reading too much into this or something. I visited the HAED minis page only to see yet more highly complicated heirloom pieces. Somebody on here said I should write to them and ask for a smaller pattern, so I did. I got this response, "We do have a few in the Petite category but there are very few designs that would look good at 5x7 sadly." Excuse me? Am I supposed to spend years of my life using hundreds of colors and going through page after page in the pattern for something to "look good?" Would not a 5x7 close up of, say, a cat's face look stunning using their design techniques if it was just snipped out of a very large pattern? Couldn't she have said few designs would have the same effect at 5x7? Am I less of an needlework artist because I choose to stitch smaller patterns so I can embellish them with beads and specialty floss? I'm sorely tempted to put my other projects on hold now, buy a HAED pattern, snip out a 5x7 section, and show her that stunning beauty does not require a 25-page pattern or have to take up a quarter of a wall to hang it. Sorry. I was sitting in stunned silence a little there. I am really hurt and discouraged.

What are your childhood Christmas memories? I will start. It is hard to pick just one but if I must it would be the train platform my dad would put up in the living room. He would have about three sets going in opposite directions and all the houses and people and cars etc in the middle of the board. He had it set up with light switches so us kids could easily run the trains by just flipping the switches. I can hear them going around the track right now as I close my eyes. Long for that sound. It saddens me that he said one of the biggest things he missis being in Florida besides PA is his trains. He must have some fond memories too!

Has anyone begun whittling down their cart before final check-out tomorrow? I did a serious double-check and decided some things could wait. However, the fear also is that an item may be discontinued before I can get it. Decisions, decisions. But this will be my H's gift to me, though he doesn't yet know! Happy stitching, y'all! Barb

I love a lot of the Artecy projects, but I've never seen what the grafs look like. If someone has one could you post a picture of the chart for me? And was wondering also how many pages of charts are usually in the project? TIA, retired nana

😜🤪🤪🤪🤪

My artist friend will be in Hance Park this weekend for a craft show. I wish I lived closer.

I've started stitching this beautiful picture. I've started in the upper left hand corner and I'm trying to decide what is the best way to work the White areas of the Hat and Beard. I'm stitching it on White fabric.

it says to use 28ct White Jobelan . Can it use 14 ct Aida? Also do you sell Christmas hanger for Christmas banner?

How long can you stare and stitch before your eyes need a break. I'm good for about 2 hours. Then I have look at something else like the chat room messages. On when, I stitch mainly in the morning before the world is awake, well my part of the world. Then I stitch in the evening after dinner. By then my eyes will cooperate for an hour-ish. But if I try to keep stitching when my eyes are tired, that's when I'll make mistakes.

Bermuda your Angel WIP you shared in the wip postings is beautiful. What is name of it? I searched all 36 pages of HAED designs and could not find it. Thank you

Have returned to original price..except one item. Kinky, very kinky. Could you have it checked please? Shall I call customer service to place order? At least my stuff is still there...might be a good idea to put it in wish list, too.

I have not done SAL's before, but am pondering them...I don't have a particular one in mind yet. I typically only have one WIP at a time, but hey, I *might* be able to change, lol. How do you decide which one to participate in? Do you choose a designer that has existing designs that you like or ? I am googling, and found Caterpillar Cross-stitch. They have a "Bloom & Grow". I do like flowers, and the colors look bright and cheery, so a possibility. Hummm. Lesley Teare's Bird & Blackwork flower's is the top contender so far...I've been wanting to try blackwork. https://www.creativepoppypatterns.com/lesley-teare-designs-2020-stitchalong-birds-blackwork-flowers-xml-296_538-3578.html I also saw a 2019 SAL by Modern Folk that is beautiful, but, not my style. I'd hate to get 1/2 way thru and not like the 'mystery' results.

V, how is your kitty? Pam

As some of you know my son proposed to his girlfriend this past July. They decided on a May 2020 wedding which was a lot sooner then I thought. I was thinking they would set it for the fall of 2020. Well, last night they told us that they have decided to postpone the wedding. We are not sure what this means exactly. It sounds like they are planning on a later date but nothing has been determined. My son is overwhelmed with school loans and his girlfriend is overwhelmed with being a young bride (she is only 19). I can't imagine getting married at 19 but she was all for it and kind of pushing him into looking for a ring and proposing. She accepted and now is feeling too young. She is the youngest of 5 and the only girl. All of her brothers got married young and their wives were young too when they were married. She said last night that she always feels like she has to follow what her brothers do and feels rushed. We are understanding of their decision and told them we support them and are there for them. I feel bad for my son. I am afraid he is thinking they are postponing a wedding that may never happen. I say that because she is not wearing the ring and my son has it back now. I guess they are not engaged at this point but are still together. I know God will lead them down the right path and if its meant to be it will be. They are young and have time. Please keep them in your prayers as they navigate their future together. Thanks.

Not sure how I didn't come across this pattern before now. I was looking up St. Nicholas and this came up in the search too. I collect angels and have started the Jim Shore Winter Angel. It is a WIP. Has anyone done this one?