I can’t wait for tonight to get here!  Carol Pedersen is in town to give us some great advice from her new Hardanger Tips, Tricks, and Fix-Its Book, #0637.  She has put together a valuable resource for stitchers including how to get your project organized and how to improve the speed and elegance of your stitching.

We won’t have time to get to the fix-its, but Carol has provided five case studies to walk anyone through how to fix stitching and cutting errors.  There is even some tips on how to restore the edges of older Hardanger embroidery.  After tonight I can forge ahead with confidence (and be able to clean up any uff da’s I make!)   Wish you could be here!

Check out Carol Pedersen Designs »

Written by: Debi

We’re putting on our How Far will you Go? campaign again this summer! Yay!

If you’re planning a visit up to the north, detour on over to Fargo; we would love to be one of the stops you make! Spend a few minutes or stay all day. You will be glad you stopped by!

When you stop by, ask for a personal tour. Meet the folks who take and fill your phone order. You can go behind the scenes to see where kits are created and orders are packed for shipping. Be sure to sign our guest book and put a pin in our map to tell us where you are from. We love seeing how far everyone has come, and hearing stories about their hometowns and their trip. It is so exciting to know that stitchers from around the world are just as excited about meeting us and seeing the store as we are about meeting and showing them (or you!) around.

Have you been to our store already? Share your experience!

Written by: Ryan

I recently became a homeowner, and have since begun to discover the many joys (sarcastic and actual) of owning my own house. Cutting the lawn, battling weeds in the driveway, creaky floorboards, retrofit installations, closet engineering, picture hanging… the list goes on! One actual joy is that I now have an extra room for use as a study and stitching location, with high horizontal windows letting in lots of natural lighting and enough space and closet room for projects.

New Stitching Room!

The problem is: I don’t know what kind of chair to get! I know it may sound silly, but I’ve never actually had that perfect, wonderful chair that most people seem to have. My grandmother had one: a wooden sliding rocker with a distinct ‘clack’ and removable tie-on cushions. My mother has been through a few club chairs, recliners, and wing-backs, and now has a wonderful buttery soft set of recliners with high-backs and big, cushy armrests. But not me! I’ve browsed and perused and just can’t seem to put my finger on the one that is just right. I’ve also troubled myself over wanting it to be too comfortable, since I tend to go into stitching comas where I won’t move or get up for hours and I know that can’t be too healthy for me. Does that mean the chair should be moderately comfortable, but not so much that I don’t get the urge to get up every once in a while? I seem to remember an episode of Better Off Ted where they designed a horribly uncomfortable office chair that ended up increasing productivity because workers wouldn’t go into day-time lulls due to the discomfort. Yikes. I don’t want to be aching my back though either. Well, hopefully you can detect my confuzzlement with such a seemingly simple acquisition. So, I turn to you, my fellow stitchers! Recliner? Club chair? Armrests? High back? Fabric? Leather? Microfiber? Cushy? Hard? Aack, too many options! Please help!

What’s your favorite stitching chair like? What do you like most about it? Recommendations?

Written by: Ryan

	Wilton’s Buttercream Icing (stiffer consistency for piping) 1 cup solid white vegetable shortening 1 teaspoon Wilton Flavor (Vanilla, Almond or Butter) 2 tablespoons milk or water 1 pound pure cane confectioners’ sugar (approximately 4 cups) 1 tablespoon Wilton Meringue Powder A pinch of salt (optional) Cream shortening, flavoring, and water. Add dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together. Blend an additional minute or so, until creamy. Yields 3 cups. Chocolate Buttercream icing can be made by adding ¾ cup cocoa or three 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate quarters (melted) and an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons water to recipe.

Written by: Ryan

	Chicken Salad Salad: 3 chicken breasts, cooked and diced 1 cup celery, diced one-fourth cup green pepper, diced 2 tsp. sweet onion, chopped fine two-third cup walnuts, chopped 2 cups seedless grapes, cut in half OR 1 cup dried cranberries (Craisins) Dressing: one-fourth cup half and half cream 1 tsp. salt pepper to taste 2 Tablespoons white vinegar two-thirds cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise Serve over a bed of lettuce or in a hollowed out cantaloupe half. It is also very good in a bun or croissant.

Written by: Ryan

	Orange Blossom Punch 2 cans frozen orange juice 1 can frozen lemonade 3 cans water 2 bottles of champagne or ginger ale 1 quart of orange sherbet Mix the juice, lemonade and water in a pitcher and chill. At serving time pour the mixture into a punch bowl. Add the champagne or ginger ale. Scoop the sherbet on top of the punch. The sherbet helps to create a frothy summer drink. Delicious! Judi, from the Green Mountains of Vermont

Written by: Ryan