Miss Bubbles Hendrix 3/17/1997 - 12/24/2009

Snowed in....................

It is a good thing that my hubby was on the ball yesterday and went town for the second time, because the weather was going to do it's thing.....
we are in a very rural farmland area in PA and when a front comes our way we usually get the worst of it.......
We loose power and with that we have to have another source of power...wood or what we use kerosene heaters....we did the wood thing when we first moved out here 19 years ago...but it is messy and you have to keep the stove going...and in general a big pain....not to mention, with my allergies, it seemed to add to it all....I am a pure city girl....allergies are a by product of country living....anyway...we always have oil lamps and battery lights , a little propane stove for cooking...of course we have a selection of soups and other simple fair , because the stove is small for camping...and since we are on a well and septic...we have to fill buckets for flushing since the well pump needs electricity...no power no water......a little too country for my tastes...
the snow is piling up ,already 13 inches and still going strong...this is our third storm, and all will be find, as long as it doesn't sleet and turn all to ice...the wet snow is the worst, but so far it is a dry poofy snow.....the pictures are out the back door...I like the snow on top of the trash cans they look like ice cream cones....
I have been running around for the last week trying to get all the Christmas stuff that needed to be mailed packed and all went out yesterday...I did this because I figured that today , the Saturday before Christmas was going to be a mad house....I was so pleased with myself this morning when the storm really started to cook...it has been snowing all day with no signs of stopping or letting up....but thanks to the main dude...we are very cozy and organized here in Squiggeeland.....the snow is cute because it is very seasonal with Christmas almost here, but OK
it can stop anytime now........lol...

A Great Shop, The French Knot, Raleigh, NC

Hello!

It's

getting

closer

to

the

big day when Mr. Ho Ho comes on the scene bringing

goodies. In the interest of spreading joy throughout

the land, I thought I might introduce you to a

few of Squiggee's new pals and let you know where

they are and what they are up to.

The photo's are from a wonderful shop down in

Raleigh, North Carolina, called:

THE FRENCH KNOT

They carry the most comprehensive line of fibers,

in the Raleigh area........sooooooooooooooooooooooo

for every fiber junkie in the area,.they have your

stufffffff!

Marlene Mazza is the Queen...owner,for those of you that

don't speak Squiggee ! She has a great staff....Debbie, Kim,

Kathy and Misako.

The shop offers private lessons, one on one...this is unique

and very appealing.

They offer custom framing...Now how great is that, to

have a shop that can take care of this important aspect

on site?

So, if you are lucky enough to live nearby, or be passing

by, make it a point to visit this people/stitcher friendly

shop.

Just tell the girls that Squiggee sent you...or better yet

tell them Mr Squiggee sent you. He's my go-to guy,

or as some would say, "the BOMB". He does the

customer liason work.around here and gives that

personal touch with the shops.

FYI.You will find the shop"s link on the right, listed

under favorite shops.

DROP ON BY!

Christmas is in the air !

It is so funny to think of Santa with a laptop...but you have to go with the flow.....down the way it will be funny when a grandchild inherits this stocking ..and one of his children asks..." what is Santa Holding"..lol...the way technology just moves at such a fast pace......this will be a great old fashioned Stocking before you know it .....show a child a vinyl record today and they will probably think it is a huge CD....
luckily , dogs never go out of fashion....this one being around since the 1600.....anyway...it is nice to be part of a families history in the painting and designing of this custom stocking....
it is on 13st...just shows how much detail you can get........and it will work up much faster...I do wonder how many huge 18st stockings never make it to the finisher, just quietly packed in tissue , tucked away for the next generation to complete !!!...I myself could work a cuff......lol..

Jacob's Bells all Finished and on the TREE !!

A Great Shop...!

Squiggee's right hand man ...manager/personal assistant...Mr. Ken...or as some shops are referring to him as MR. SQUIGGEE...lol....has been contacting shops and putting a personal touch to Squiggee Designs....as wholesale designer and custom designer, it is important to get to know what is happening in the shops of today....you couldn't find a nicer bunch of woman, truly ...they seem to be so receptive that Squiggee is interested ...

I am going to show pictures and links to some of the really great shops that Squiggee has been in contact with....Pictured below is The Needled Canvas, in Marietta, GA....you couldn't find a nicer bunch of Southern girls....The owner is Gail Black , along with Elizabeth and their web-master Diana, can show any visitor a good time...they have classes in painting a canvas, finishing, and stitching and a SIP & STITCH time that is a gathering of stitchers, like a coffee club...they are a full service shop with fibers ,cross stitch and other needle pursuits, just not needlepoint.....so If you live near by or fancy a road trip , just drop on in ....friendly and warm...just the way Squiggee loves it....

A finished project !

Sometimes I just bump into one of my designs that has been transformed into something just too fab for words....It is always interesting to see the take on a design and the diverse finishing...this was on the Chaparral Needlepoint site in Houston Texas...in their examples of finishing....they even created a back for the little basket.....very sweet...
I just love coming across little gems like this... the mini bunny basket is small on 18st....
I did a large one that had two bunnies and it was such a success that I designed a small one for people that like small and faster...like me...lol..
check out Chaparral's site...a great shop ...

Oh crap It is december 8th !

this is what is going on around here in Squiggeeland.....while the big boss, pictured here, rests...because being the brains and the boss of Squiggeeland seems to take it's toll...I,just a worker bee, have been hard at it getting ready for the big TNNA show and trying to get as much done as possible and also making sure all runs smoothly...unfortunately....Christmas snuck in when I wasn't looking...oh yes...I've had a little heads- up with Thanksgiving...but you know how that goes...you think you have plenty of time till the big day....so now I am scrambling trying to organize my bit to make the 25th something more special than trying to explain why we have no tree up, no gifts, and are having a tuna sandwich for dinner....thank God for the Internet...if I didn't have it I would be in deep doody, but it won't do it all. Anyway I will try to fit a little festive spirit in........................I don't know if any my Squiggeeland followers have checked out Mr. Squiggee's blog...you can click onto his blog from here....he has also been hard at it these last months helping ...this morning I put a slide show on his blog . It's also on my blog. It's of my classic designs that used to be marketed by POIA Designs...NO LONGER...My new distributor that markets these classic designs is DREAM HOUSE VENTURES.
As you notice, that line has a heavy dog element......I so love dogs...you can't have too many dog designs....... Now getting back to Mr. Squiggee's blog........he has been hard at it and we are trying to put a personal note into Squiggeeland, by actually talking to shops and getting their feedback. This business tends to forget that it is driven by the stitcher and the customer. Losing touch with the average needlepointer is a big mistake.....all too often the market steers the trade in one direction.......I believe in choices and variety........it makes for a richer field to pick from and makes all designers up their game and not follow the trend but set their own........I have always marched to my own tune...luckily Squiggee appeals to that same kind of stitcher.....the needlepoint trade has taken a big hit , like all other businesses .....I think people crave the personal touch...customer service...someone real to communicate with.......technology is great and, don't get me wrong, it makes living in a rural area possible, but we have found that the shops and their customers are very receptive to personal contact....as a designer I decided to be active and help promote when I could....it keeps you in touch and fresh....there are a great bunch of shop owners out there and their stores are like extensions of home...cozy and caring...I love it...

More Tidbits.... to be revealed later !!!!!

I just got back a worked piece and it flew out of here yesterday to be inserted in a Stirling bag....and tweaked a little....just a little something to get your attention !!.....