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 Afford Your Passions  Splendor III |
Well it's that time of year again. Our International Needlework Market just around the corner. I have designed five new designs to exhibit in Charlotte, N.C. later this month. Here are two of them, and we'll be certain to display photographs of the other three just as soon as possible. All five designs will be released in September 2001. Just a bit to tempt your needle! |
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Six months have passed, and daily I wonder where the time erases to. I'm still in search of a good deal on the 26-hour day, as I now work at least 25 hours daily. The Wisconsin winter has brought us several blizzards outside and inside. At times, I feel as we are constantly being whirled by such great force to meet with deadlines, and the everlasting paper chase that accumulates on my "numerous" desks around here. I recently built a design studio within my home, in efforts to contain my design frenzy to a designated atmosphere that would suffice my needs. Well needless to say, I now claim four desks at The Heart's Content, Inc. as the bookwork swells momentarily. Surely Spring is around the corner, and I'm dreaming that these paper-piles will melt just as the snow banks do each March in Wisconsin. If ever I meet the infamous genie, I'd request but one wish....................just clean up my avalanche of bookwork, to enable me to create and stitch til "My Heart's Content"! One of my designs "Sightings Of Spring" speaks: "Surely as cometh the Winter I know ......... There are Spring Violets beneath the snow"........ AAhhh, such comfort. I truly cannot wait to greet that wonderful purple blanket that carpets the forest surrounding my Studio and home.  |
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I have certainly been quite busy creating several new designs for your stitching pleasures. I've recently returned from the International Needlework Tradeshow in Nashville, Tennessee, exhibiting my newest four designs, to be released in May. Please be sure to view these under the "New Product/Designs" area of this site. The new titles are: |
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Kit #93 "Holiday Gate" 2001 ornament, boxed |
$35.00 |
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Kit #94 "Door County Cherry Scissors Fob" (with red-handled Dovo scissors) |
$46.00 |
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Kit #96 "Chintz Teapot Scissors Fob I", complete with sterling/china teapot charm. (rose/cream) |
$72.00 |
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Kit #97 "Chintz Teapot Scissors Fob II", complete with sterling/china teapot charm (black/garnet) |
$72.00 |
(Fall '01 release) | |
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Kit #98 "Dreams I", (dogwood rose) vintage lace overlay hand-dyed Glenshee Cottonfields. Complete with finished "dreams" pillow, DMC, Australian Gumnut silk fibers, ready to stitch! |
$59.00 |
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I certainly realize how exciting it is to view these new designs before they have actually gone to press. God bless the w.w.w.! It's amusing some of the phone calls we receive. Stitchers are constantly wondering "what's new?" (thank you, thank-you!) I will share with them what I am presently stitching or designing, and they ask for a photograph. I guess it's "uninteresting" to imagine the actual phases of a design from the birth of the idea, to the visual release to the public. They truly don't understand that if I am first stitching or designing a particular piece, there is no possibility of a photograph until the piece is completely stitched and either framed or finished. I am truly quite illiterate on the computer, and don't even own a charting or design program. Certainly from the olde school, I am an advocate of the good old fashioned manner of hand generating mostly everything, and try to maintain my "allergies" to the "confuser" as I call it. Remember, my webmaster and photographer created this wonderful site. I remain amazed! |
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As you navigate the various pages here, you'll notice the category "New Designs". My decision to include those most recent designs, not even published at this point, was arrived at with your best interest in mind. Daily we receive calls at The Heart's Content, for my new designs, and the updated pages to my catalog. An overwhelming labor intensive phase of the business, our catalog division finds it impossible to be ahead of that game, so to speak. In that regard, I felt it necessary to at least provide you with a visual of my newest creations, knowing they would not be available for several months. That category will always post a proposed release date. After that date, you will be able to purchase them in your local needlework shops, and I truly encourage you to support your shopowners efforts to exhibit our talents. Also at that date, you will be able to purchase them directly through our retail mail-order department. Certain to eliminate hundreds of phone calls, I know you will appreciate the three-month period from the birth of my ideas, through the various stages of stitching, charting, presentation, photography, final lay-out and graphs, printing, floss and fiber preparation, through the various kit assembly stages. My staff of nine ladies spend endless hours of kit preparation and assembly, and we all take great pride in our final product...........your most complete needleart kit to enjoy for generations, and fill your stitching basket with everything needed to provide a most pleasurable stitching experience. |
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My newest releases certainly add an interesting curve to my designing career. So often the comment is shared: "How many hours did that take to complete that piece?" My reply is often: "Are you sure you want to know? Don't erase the enjoyment from the endless hours you spend creating such a design." I often have a bittersweet taste as I am nearing completion of one of my larger pieces. I have truly enjoyed the hours (months/years!) creating and stitching it, that it almost is a sad moment I experience to finish it. Often, I find myself procrastinating near its final stages of completion. |
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With this in mind, I have designed four "smaller" (it's all relative. Ha!) pieces, and have begun yet another two series to be continued. The Chintz teapot fob series is certainly one of my favorites. For the past six months, I have been studying this wonderful British design pattern of the late 1800's, and am intrigued by its delicacy and boastful hues of delight and whimsical china and textile portrayal. Florals have always occupied a special place in my heart, and I am most delighted to connect with this wonderful china/sterling bead/charm manufacturer to present my new series of fobs. You will notice that I have listed Kit #97 ("Chintz Teapot Fob II") above, though it is not complete at this time; thus not photographed. That Chintz pattern will demonstrate a black background with "Springtime" pattern of fabulous floral hues. Each design released in this series will be presented in a most-complete kit containing the matching teapot charm, Chintz fabric for fob backing, and all necessary findings and details to create and finish the teacup design. |
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The second new series recently created is "Dreams". It is truly enlightening to be acquainted with such talented artists in our industry. Both the china bead manufacturer and the fine seamstress, who has created this pre-finished miniature sachet I have dubbed "Dreams", have certainly inspired the creations of these new designs. It is delightful to offer a fresh new look to the needlework audience. Remember, I am trying to remove the "work" from needlework, and transpose it into "needleart" for your stitching enjoyment. Surely both of these two new series will provide just that for your needles. These sachets will be provided in your kit, completely pre-finished with the antique hand-dyed medallion lace mat sewn onto a vintage hand-dyed hue of my premium linen, the popular Scottish Glenshee. A bit of olde will be certain to aspire the awaiting botanical dreams that occupy the left side of my busy brain. Be sure to follow this series with me. |
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Glenshee Linen. Have I peaked your interest? For certain, you are now aware of the unfortunate scenario that has plagued The Linen Emporium here at The Heart's Content, Inc. Last year, during my final stages of acquiring the U. S. Glenshee distributorship, I experienced an uncontrollable situation of endless backorders from the manufacturer in Scotland. One of the most popular in the line, 32-count natural (boiled) Glenshee was pulled from production for no apparent reason. After several painful months, I have finally received confirmation from Scotland, that it is indeed being woven as we speak, and I am to receive my shipment later this Spring. Of course the moment I fondled this premium linen two years ago, I immediately shared it with a number of my designer friends in our industry, requesting them to grace its wonder with one of their creations. And wouldn't you guess it. These new releases are finally being published during the height of this ugly backorder frenzy. Most prevalent, a highly talented needleartist, Cynthia from The Drawn Thread, has recently published a magnificent design stitched on this wonderful boiled natural 32-count Glenshee linen. In great appreciation to her support, I truly wish to arrest the anxiety of this linen's availability. We receive numerous calls daily from concerned shopowners, stitchers, designers, and the like. Regardless of the tales spun, please rest assured that this fine linen will arrive in a few short months, and we can all once again enjoy its grace. I cannot honestly explain its brief cease of existence, but I can honestly assure you that in May (expected arrival to U.S.), I will immediately begin to fill the hundreds of backorders piling up here at The Linen Emporium .........the very moment the headlights of the customs delivery truck are in close range. In light of this situation, I certainly realize we all have numerous projects to begin (or perhaps finish), but I'd simply like to arrest all of the concerns floating in cyberspace. Please pass this on to your fellow stitchers.............32-natural boiled Glenshee linen presently does NOT exist in this country, as I am the exclusive U.S. Distributor. However, I do expect a huge shipment in May of this fine linen, and be rest assured that we will all grace our needles to it at the same time, as I will be shipping the backorders out PRONTO, upon its arrival. I sincerely thank you for your continued support of my design efforts, and allegiance to this premium linen. Please keep in mind, this sudden shortage has drastically infected our kit production here at The Heart's Content, Inc. as well. I have designed numerous creations on it, and will also graciously await its existence. I thank you for your patience and understanding in such a frustrating and uncontrollable situation. I attest, life will resume at its "normal" hectic pace upon its arrival. As previously stated upon the introduction of my website in September, 2000, we will be continually updating my site for your enjoyment. The moment a new release is stitched and photographed, my photographer transfers the files to my webmaster in N.Y., and within hours, you are able to view my newest efforts of designing. That amazing thing w.w.w.! |
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In addition, Lorene, my webmaster is working diligently on some of the final stages of completing this website. Some areas are being revised and completed this month. Be certain to visit regularly to experience these changes. Shopowners, you may expect your password shortly to enter my exclusive section for your viewing. And stitchers worldwide, please feel free to e-mail me at the address highlighted on this site. Lorene is still fine-tuning this section, and we apologize for a few of your letters that were held up. I believe we have uncovered them at this point. However, if you still hold some unanswered concerns, please resend your issues to my attention, and I will do my best to satisfy them. I wish all of you a restful Winters' end, and anxiously await my forest floor to speak loudly to me in its wonderful Spring hues. Sounds certain to inspire the next "Dream" in my series. Ya think? Along with my entire staff, I thank you for visiting my site, and truly hope it has inspired you to afford the few moments each day that we all certainly deserve. Isn't it sad..............the days that fade without a needle in our hand. I have always claimed that a day without laughter is not worth awakening. But truly, if this is the one most enjoyed passions in our lives, shouldn't we endure to at least afford our daily schedule the pleasure of creating "just one more row" (one-over-one, that is!). I'd think in my twenty-five hour days, surely will cometh that luxury. Let me just say this................. "When it happens, there truly is not a care in this world that deserves my attention." I become numb to the space surrounding my studio. Just me and my creation, serene in my oversize down-filled "stitching" lounge. To complete this utopia, at my feet are the two buddies of my life. That would be Martini & Rossi. On that note, I invite you to the newly created section with their introduction.  |
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God Bless, Your friend in stitching,
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4440 Indian Trail Green Bay, WI 54313 (920) 494-9434 |
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