Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

A Cross Stitch Delight

Last week I went to a new-to-me cross stitch shop in Little Rock, about an hour's drive from me.  The name of it is The Shepherd's Needle and, be still my heart, I wanted to stay all day and I wanted one of everything.  Now if you're not into cross stitch you might want to skip this post but if, like me, you've rediscovered the joy of those x's you'll enjoy these pictures.  Ann, the owner, was so sweet and gave me permission to take pictures and post them.










I don't even have words....I was overwhelmed by all the beautiful patterns and samples.  One of these days I'm going to learn how to shop this kind of abundance but so far I just wander from one side to the other and back again, only to do it all again.  I was please with the variety of patterns, from very large to very small, from primitive to Victorian to colonial to funny to profound to ornate.  I thought her prices were very reasonable and I think that one day soon I'll go back for her "Stitching Tuesday" when you can take your project and join a few others at a long table supplied with a magnifier/light and a thread holder that looks like an artists palette.  And yes, I bought several patterns.  The first was the pattern for this sample I first saw on her website (under construction right now).


She uses beautiful frogs for holding her scissors while she stitches and while I love the idea I don't normally sew in front of a table so I don't think that would work for me.  I've begun this pattern and have completed the three scissors in the bottom middle...the smallest ones.  I'm about half way through the larger scissors with points down to the left of them.  I hope to work on this one some more this afternoon.  Of course, I bought more.


This little Sheep one came with the small star buttons - so cute.


I loved the colors in this and since I'm so looking forward to spring this will probably be my next project.


This one I skipped until I saw the sample and then I went back to it.  It's beautiful when stitched.


And who could go and not buy a Christmas pattern?


This one was just gorgeous when stitched.


This pouch made my primitive heart skip....I'm not sure what I'll do with it when stitched up and finished but I know I'll love it.  And the one below you won't like unless you love primitives...but it would be a fun one to do with a child.


And yes, I did a little stitching this week and finished this small pillow/pincushion.



I think I'm going to add a decorative button just below the word but haven't found the perfect one yet.

If you ever get to Little Rock you should make this shop one of your stops - I loved it!

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my golly! That looks like an awesome shop. You made some beautiful purchases. Happy stitching.

Anonymous said...

Oh my golly! That looks like an awesome shop. You made some beautiful purchases. Happy stitching.

Michaele said...

Well primitives are my favorite. I can see they have something for absolutely everyone! What a delightful store that I am sure will be seeing more of you. It is worth the drive!

Sparky said...

Little Rock I am coming...now this is candy for me...I love that I have taken it up again...x-sttich seems to have bit you too...I don’t think there is anything quite as relaxing and soo good for our minds...it is clinically studied...yep...love your finds and patterns you chose...all very primitive but wholesome too.

Love Bears All Things said...

Well, I loved it. I like the primitives and I love the samplers. Don't see many of those any more and she had lots. I'll have to check out her web page. I like all the items you picked out and would love to do the scissors one. I definitely need one of those magnifier lights.....I usually have my Daughter convert the small square patterns to a larger count for me.
Thanks for posting this.
Mama Bear

Jeanie said...

Oh.... lots of eye candy and inspiration! We no longer have a cross stitch store where I live and I miss it terribly. Enjoy your purchases!

Vickie said...

That shop must be X stitch heaven !

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Great find. There is a shop downstairs from one of my favorite quilt shops. I love shopping them both!

Beth said...

Beautiful shop! I am sort of glad that there isn't a shop close to me. I can spend hours looking at samples, threads, patterns....well you know. Even though I mainly quilt now, I never completely quit cross stitching. So much fun to see all the new stuff.

Barb said...

How lucky you are. The selection of linen was amazing. You made some great choices of patterns.

FlourishingPalms said...

Your pictures speak a thousand words. I haven't seen such a full ccs shop in many years. So glad you found things that spoke to you; they look right up your alley. Hope you're enjoying indoor stitching time now!

Needled Mom said...

OMGosh.....what a shop! I would love to have a place like that near us. I especially loved seeing all of the Brazilian embroidery threads. You are going to be set for life with all of that yummy goodness.

Createology said...

Oh Dear I would love this shop even though I don't Cross Stitch. Your projects are wonderful and looks like you will be very content stitching your days together into a delightful journey of Creative Bliss...

Anonymous said...

Love it!! Still love cross stitching and have such an abundance of patterns to work on... I need to get to it!

Julie Fukuda said...

Wow! How did you ever get out of there?
That is a shop to end all ... and she let you take pictures too!!!

Peggy said...

Oh, how wonderful to have a shop like that near to you. Cross-stitch....and absolute passion of mine, and right now going through withdrawal!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Oh, I wish I was closer - this would just be the perfect place to visit every day!

Mary said...

Looks like you did hit the jackpot. I would be like you, just walking around and trying to decide what to play with. I love your choices. II think you need to go back for the Tuesday Sew. What fun.

Anna said...

I am sooo glad you went...didn't you just go crazy!!! I have already stitched the Warm Woolen and I love the Valentine pieces and the sewing one you are starting...I love it all...and the thread...drooling!

Karen said...

WOOOOO!!! Thanks!! lovely lovely eye candy!! Brightens up the winter greyish days....even in SC!!

Judy said...

My favorite is the Daily Bread. It looks like a fun place.

Caffeine Girl said...

I haven't cross-stitched in years, although I do embroidery, but I'm tempted to jump on a plane and fly out to Little Rock! What a gorgeous store. So inspiring!

Also, I might have to order the Warm Winter Woolens pattern. What knitter could resist such a cute sheep!

Carrie P. said...

I used to do cross stitch all the time before I became a quilter. I would love to have some of that thread for my embroidery that I would rather do now instead of cross stitch. I do love the patterns you purchased.

Hilda said...

For me, as an cross stitch addict since years, this is paradise! I have only been once in a shop similar (but smaller) to this - this was during my holidays in USA.
You are so lucky to have such shops around.

The charts you have purchased are all darling. I am looking forward to see them stiched here in your blog.

Have a nice stitching day!

Hilda

Irene said...

wow, il paradiso del ricamo!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

I'll bet you were in heaven! I could wander around in there too, but I'm afraid I would buy stuff and never do it. That's why you are my hero!

Saimi said...

I feel the same about quilt shops and fabric stores!

Ele said...

Oh, what great impressions and a paradise for all cross stitchers, thanks for showing us Marlene!
The patterns you bought are beautiful, would like to stitch them all.

Greetings from Germany
Gabriele

Carol said...

I wanted to stop in and thank you for your sweet comments on my blog! I'm so happy to have found yours, too... How wonderful to visit that shop and see all those tempting models, charts, fabrics, and fiber in person! I'd be in heaven, too :)

I love what you brought home with you, but the Cherished Stitches spring Garden has captured my heart--I hope I can find one for myself!

Michele said...

I don't expect that I'll ever get to Little Rock but that does look like a gorgeous shop.

Carin said...

What a beautiful shop that is !! I love the patterns you bought, warm winter woolens I also have in my stash, hope to stitch that this year.
Love your valentine cushion, it is so sweet.

KaHolly said...

Oh, my goodness, I haven't cross stitched in years, but your post makes it look so tempting to pick up again. Somewhere in my storage, I have bag upon bag of supplies.....hmmmmm!

ChitterChatterDesigns said...

Wow Marlene, what a fun shop. I could spend hours in there..just looking! It looks like you are going to be busy for a while with all of those fun projects. I am so torn between the two...applique and cross stitch. I caught myself thinking in squares today...it's hopeless... I feel the pull, and I may be heading for another x'ing project soon! Thanks for the inspiration. Hugs, ~Cori

Anonymous said...

an amazing store, wish we had them in the Netherlands.

De borduurvrouw said...

What an awesome shop, if only I lived in the US in stead of the Netherlands....... Thank you for sharing I enjoyed the photo's and the whole atmosphere. Greets, Nienke

maria demina said...

Oh I feel so overwhelmed with these pictures that I want to buy flight tichets to US right now and make some "stitching shopping" there =D

WOODY said...

You can be happy to have such a shop nearby. Lovely what you've chosen:)) Smack Woody

Frances said...

I've just found your blog and have enjoyed scrolling through!
I LOVE this shop!! I don't have a shop near me, but I have been to Memphis to shop lately. (I live in MS) Your shop is so lovely and you bought some wonderful things there! Thank you for sharing! Now that I know about it, the next time I'm in that area I will have to visit The Shepherd's Needle!

Cricket-bug Corner said...

jealous!! That is an awesome store!!