Call me fan girl, I love Just Nan!

This is an ode to my favorite designer, Nan Caldera of "Just Nan" fame.  I thought I had most of Nan's designs but as I put together a list of her designs I found I probably have a little less then half of her designs.  I was a bit disappointed because I believe myself to be her all time fan girl.

I first became acquainted with her designs thru a stitch group I was a member of in the early 90's.  We met every two weeks in one of our homes.  Well Sandy, (not me) had her staircase lined with delicious samplers.  The most striking to me were the delicate and intricate looking band samplers of Nan Caldera.  She had bands of different specialty stitches which challenged the stitcher.  I really fell in love with the style.

A newsletter came to the house from my favorite local shop "Just Needlin'", which is now closed.  She was offering a class project and the design was "Glorianna", Nan's first angel design.  This was the first project that I worked over one stitches.  It gave her face a finer look. I had so much fun at that workshop and I was hooked.

Nan began the Class Project series which were only available thru the shops and I loved the "Bee Blossom" shop model and immediately signed up for it.  That challenged me and inspired me and I wanted more.  My pocketbook did not always allow me to buy the class projects and I so badly wanted to stitch Pansy Cameo.  It took me years before I found it marked down at "Rainbow Over the Prairie" in Wakrusa, Kansas, which is long gone.  I was over the moon.

Over the years I have bought sometimes with abandon and other times frugally depending on my finances.  I am quite happy with all that I have.  My favorites are Nan's  angels, Liberty Angel is my favorite, her vintage band samplers, the pink cards which have a charm attached and of course the complimentary designs.  Nan has been very generous with her complimentary designs.

When I was compiling a design list which I am using as a check list, so I don't purchase a design more then once, I was struck by the vast variety of designs but all with a distinctive Just Nan flair. I cannot imagine the creativity gene she must possess.

Nan began designing in 1991 and her first design hangs in the office of Lindy Legner, the owner of The Silver Needle in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The first design was never for sale it was for a retreat.  Nan worked at The Silver Needle for several years.

Although Nan Caldera is not the first, nor last, cross stitch designer, she is the one who spoke to me about the beauty of my chosen hobby.  She has had a great influence in my design tastes and she showed me I can stitch more then just XXX.  I admit it, I have a girl crush on her, she is my favorite celebrity.  May she never stop designing.

I do veggies, do you?

I am a member of Daily Cross Stitch dot com.  I waited until there was a membership sale and paid $10.00 for a year.  Each day two designs are released, one for free and one exclusively for members.  The designs are what I call coloring book designs, blocks of color with no back stitching and fairly quick stitches.    There are some really darling little designs.  If you stitch greeting cards this site will have a multitude of designs for you.

This vegetable design caught my eye.  I thought it would be great stitched up for our breakfast nook.  I wanted to make it look vintage so I pulled out my fabric and found this lovely piece of Crescent Colours which appealed to me.  It is called Green Meadows which is evenweave in 28 count.  Of course Crescent Colors is now gone from the market.  I then decided no to the DMC floss, it was too vibrant for the look I am going for.

I pulled out my Olde Willow Stitchery Hand Dyed Threads (also no longer available) and I knew the colors were perfect for the design.  These are the colors I chose:

Sweet Pea (onion tops)
Winter Wheat (corn kernels)
Black Raspberry (egg plant)
Orange Sherbert (carrot)
English Q Rose (radish)
Tabasco (tomato)
Flamingo (light part of mushroom & onion)
Great Pumpkin (dark part of mushroom & onion)
Creamed Spinach (green thing above corn and carrot)
Solitude Green (broccoli bottom)
Weeping Willow (broccoli bottom and eggplant top)



I decided to play with staining the fabric with the walnut ink crystals.  I wet the fabric and sprayed the diluted crystals on the fabric. I found the wet fabric did not hold the staining as well as I hoped.  Next time I will stain the fabric when it is dry.  The staining on the fabric is very subtle, I like it but think I would like it a bit darker.



When I was at Dollar General I found this plastic frame with chicken wire.  It was $3.50 and I love it. I am going to attach via magnets the stitched piece to the chicken wire.  I want to add a bow out of a country gingham fabric and possible a few wild flowers.  I will be able to change out elements due to the way I want to attach with magnets.

I will share the finished piece and look forward to finishing this fun piece which has come together in unexpected ways.  The best laid stitching plans always have surprises.

I see the future and it looks beautiful!

Yesterday the postman brought me the latest issue of The World of Cross Stitching, a UK magazine.  It has some cute designs in it such as the bunny pictured on the cover and the mug cozies.  But the design that caught my eye is...

The designer of these gorgeous needlework accessories is Faby Reilly.  I love the colors and the peacock feathers are whimsical and beautiful.  There are a few beads and sequins incorporated into the design.  Directions on finishing are included.   The color key includes DMC, Anchor or Madeira threads.  I can envision some blending filaments to give it added bling.

Do I need to start a new project?  Well that is a silly question because, we all know the more the merrier.

Virtual Sunroom Stitching Group via Skype

Good morning stitching friends.  Would anyone be interested in a virtual stitching session from the sunroom?  You would need a Skype account, which is free.  Let me know if you are interested.  I think it could become a regular fun way to connect with all my gentle stitchers?  Either leave a comment or e-mail me at pink-crickets@hotmail.com.

Price gouging in the needlework industry

I love supporting my needlework industry.  I would rather purchase a design then have someone hand me a photo copy of the pattern. I do think that the prices on these charts has gotten way out of hand.

I recently saw this new series by Amy Bruecken called "Holly Jolly All Year Long".  It is adorable.  It is a 13 part series.  Each part is $10.00, I think my eye balls popped out of my head and bounced around the room a few times.  A whopping $130 for this series?  You are kidding me right?!

I am thoroughly disgusted by the price.  I am sorry dear Amy, love your design but I think your pricing is way too dear.  I have noticed the trend that designs are mostly single designs rather then a leaflet of several.  Stoney Creek is the only designer out there, that I can think of at the moment, that still offers multiple designs for a single price.

The copyright issue is one that chaps my hide.  Designers blame the internet for the declining sales due to illegal copies and shops closing.  Boy do the trolls love to pile on with the holier than thou attitude to beat down anyone who mentions copying charts.  My take on the issue is much more realistic.  Declining sales come from stitchers who are tired of being price gouged.  Patterns cost the brick and mortar stores half of the retail price.  A chart that costs the stitcher $130.00 costs the shop $65.00.

Brick and mortar stores are closing due to the poor economy and the reality that shop owners who have been in business for 20 years of more are ready to retire and cannot find a new buyer due to the poor economy.

I know that my stash enhancing has slowed down to just a trickle.  I refuse to pay these ridiculous prices anymore.  I have so many magazines, leaflets and tons of free designs that I really don't need anything.  My financial status has changed and it just won't allow me to buy willy nilly anymore.

I have supported the needlework industry since 1986, that is 32 years now.  I have done more then my part in support.  I also know that I am being played when a series costs $130.  I would love to hear what you have to say.