It seems as though just days ago I knelt in the gardens and planted flats of annuals, priding in one more English Garden gracing my home. Last evening already the first frost of the season claimed that beauty, only to remind me of the Fall chores ahead. My home and studio is nestled in a dense forest, and the beauty and comfort of solid Oaks yeilds an overwhelming amount of Fall clean-up, and yet the vision of my young beds of bountiful color seem to just give birth last week.

My needleart profession parallels in that same track. What is it that erases the days without a needle in hand? It should be a rule etched in stone. If you can't allow the pleasure of what the needle creates in each and every day, don't arise. I've also claimed that of laughter. My father told me as a young child "If you can't bark with the big dogs, stay on the porch". I remembered thinking: "That's stupid, I'm not a dog". Well my youthful remembrance of that quote has always remained with me. Just as I'm sure my daughter will always remember one of my infamous quotes: "If you can't laugh about something every day, stay in bed".

Certainly not a laughing matter, my months simply slide away, and again I'm in awe of our accomplishments here at The Heart's Content, Inc. and The Linen Emporium. We have truly made great strides in a wonderful direction. Additional staff, and continued dedication have allowed this design firm to deliver another five new releases to shops worldwide this week. The first batch of our Charlotte market orders shipped earlier this week, promising a late September release. Not bad. In a most humble manner, the rise of this corporation is truly the time afforded to me in the Design Studio to create.........clearly, the most enjoyable and consuming portion of my being.

This site provides wonderful photographs of those five new designs. Please be sure to view them in the "New Designs" catagory. They are now available at your local needlework shops, or can simply be ordered through our website. The new titles are:

Kit #73 "Fruitful VII", lemons
The fruit salad continues; quite obvious this recipe was created in Hawaii. Together with the Hawaiian pineapple, these two new additions to my "Fruitfuls" series state the use of a new color palette, unknown to me. Funky. 36-count unbleached Scottish Glenshee linen.

$36.00

Kit #74 "Fruitful VIII", pineapples
Stitched on our exclusive 36-count, Lapine Gold hand-dyed Scottish Glenshee linen. Both new "Fruitfuls" continue in the same stitched size as the remainder of the series, allowing uniform finishing and framing techniques with our custom burled walnut frames ($32.00) and mahogany padded boxes ($24.00).

$36.00

Kit #86 "Afford Your Passions"
A charming gift for perhaps yourself? This needs to rest in your stitching nest to house your fine treasures. Stitched on hand-dyed Iced Cappuccino linen with seven Weeks Dye Works overdyed cotton fibers, its simplicity states elegance in a most unusual color scheme to The Heart's Content, Inc. Might one assume, Maureen has gotten a hold of a new colour carde'? The quality hand-rubbed burled mahogany box is also available from THC. The hinged top opens to a fine velvet-lined compartment for your "passions". It can be ordered directly from The Heart's Content, Inc. Price is $45.00

$39.00

Kit #99 "Dreams II"
Statice Rose is the second in the "Dreams" series. Stitched on 29-count hand-dyed "Vermont Fieldstone" Scottish Glenshee linen, with five Weeks Dye Works overdyed cotton fibers, it is certain to provide a stitching enjoyment for a simple and quick, but elegant gift for that special friend. The pre-finished "Dreams" pillow, complete with two-sided fringe dyed to match, tea-dyed vintage lace attached heart applique, and the insert pillow to stuff your Dreams, is all included in the kit. No assembly required. Just your needle threaded to this charming floral design.

$62.00

Kit #100 "Slendor III"
The "Splendor Series" has graced THC with two consecutive years of best sellers, and award-winning designs. The third in my series is indeed special, as it represents a tiny child's coverlet of my Grandmother's collection. Stitched on 40-count hand-dyed Iced Cappuccino linen with overdyed Australian Gumnut silk fibers. Because of the tiny stitch count, only half-stitches are required. Stitches like a charm in half the time. This series continues in honor of my Grandmother.

$49.00

Soon I am off to yet another retail cross-stitch festival, The Creative Arts & Textiles Show in Minneapolis, followed by a private showing at Shakespeare's Peddler in Fargo, ND, then on to the Houston International Quilt Market. Returning home in mid-November with another 4,500 miles on my vehicle and Flossie Trailer, not to mention this aging veteran. 2001 travels will come to an end for me at that time, and I am truly waiting to exhale. The extensive amount of traveling I have endured over the past several years has been paid for with endless days and nights of extremely tiring and exhausting hours. As previously mentioned in my newsletters and in several of my classes this year, I am taking a one-year sabbatical from teaching in 2002, and will limit my travels/exhibitions to a very select few for the year. My vocabulary cannot do justice to the sense of calm anticipated on that return home next month. My drive to Green Bay will be with great anxiety to dwell in my offices and studio, in strides I've never known before. The left side of this brain is swollen with unleashed design details, and my long-awaited Wisconsin winter will once again provide the calm and relaxing backdrop to this place in which I lay my head.

My friends, I wish you all a very restful winter, and I continue to pray for our nation. It seems as though everything is more precious these days. Especially our flag.

I do expect you to fulfill my rule proposed above. Go. Thread your needle and allow it to afford you that pleasure today, tomorrow, and the days to follow.

As I occupy the winter days ahead in my design studio, I will greatly anticipate the budding in Spring of several new needleart designs to grace your stitching nests in 2002.

I thank you for visiting my website, and encourage you to contact us if we can be of further assistance to your stitching concerns.

Kindly,

Maureen Appleton

 

 

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4440 Indian Trail
Green Bay, WI 54313
(920) 494-9434

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