Please forgive me.....

Dear Stitching Friends,

First and foremost....Merry Christmas! I realize that this greeting comes after the fact, but hey, aren't there 12 days of Christmas to be celebrated?! I hope you all enjoyed the day with friends and family. Why is it that we spend SO much time preparing for Christmas and in 24 short hours.....it's over? Thoughts to ponder for another day, I suppose.

It's hard to believe that there are only a few days left before we welcome in another new year brimming with potential while we leave the past behind.

2018 has been the most challenging year of my life and I am happy to report, that with the support of family and friends, I have survived to tell about it.

My last post came on February 14, 2018...just 2 short days before my mom was called to become a member of the cloud of witnesses in heaven. Mom was such an amazing woman, my best friend and my rock. My heart shattered into millions of pieces the night she left this earth and I thought I'd never see the end of the dark tunnel that surrounded me for what seemed like an eternity.

A divorce that was in limbo, the death of my beloved Mom, and an endless winter that seemed like it would never break so spring could take root and breathe life back into all living things.

I did attend Nashville, just 2 short weeks after Mom's death. I didn't want to let her down so I did it to honor her and the belief she instilled in me that, I can do anything if I set my mind to it. My second Nashville Market was more successful than the first and I knew Mom was smiling down on me from heaven.

Slowly, one day at a time, the days became longer and brighter, allowing new life to break through the cold ground. I felt a kindred spirit with the daffodils as they pushed through the dead overgrowth of last year, reaching towards the sunlight that would welcome and warm their bright yellow blossoms, casting a glow of colorful happiness across the landscape. As spring took command, the grip of pain and grief slowly began melting away.  The hole in my heart remained, but my spirit began to lift.

July brought my divorce to a final close. Another chapter ended. The next task was clearing out and selling Mom's place. Many memories were uncovered as we went through her possessions, allowing a strong healing balm to soothe our mending hearts.

August brought an unexpected joy into my life...one that I thought might take years to happen. I met a wonderful man who loves, respects and cherishes me. A man who is my equal. A man who not only supports my dreams, but also dreams right along with me.  He has added a happiness to my heart that I have not experienced in a very long time, and I am grateful.

Mom's place was put up for sale in October and was sold in November. It was a great relief to know that we were free from the upkeep and maintenance before the Northeast winter made its appearance.

And here we are...almost ready to usher in 2019...with new hopes, dreams and more Silver Creek designs. I have many ideas filling pages of my Idea Journal, just waiting to be brought to life. As you can imagine, designing and stitching took a back seat for much of 2018. However I will be debuting 2 new designs at Nashville Market...and maybe a couple other surprises.

I can't believe that in 2019, Silver Creek Samplers will be celebrating its 10TH YEAR! I look forward to bringing you more designs that make your hearts and hands happy. I could not have made it this far without your support and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Time does not always allow for blog updating, so please feel free to look up Silver Creek Samplers on Facebook. I will do my best to keep you all informed and in stitches!

Thanks for spending some time with me down by the creek!

Diane

NASHVILLE "NEWS"!!!!

Greetings Stitching Friends!

My last post was such a downer, that I hope to redeem myself with this one.

I can hardly believe that in just 2 short weeks, Silver Creek Samplers (and sister) will be hitting the road to Nashville for Market.

ACK!!!!!! There's still sooooooo much to be done, but I wanted to take a few minutes to share my new releases.

At the end of January, my mom was hospitalized and had emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer and I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to get to Nashville. After her surgery, she gave me her blessing to go. She is now in rehab, working to regain her strength and return to total health. She's on the mend, but still has a long road ahead.

This year brings only 3 new designs with 1 available for shops to pre-order. With all of the life changes I have been facing, I am satisfied that I am able to offer these few but fabulous designs.

OK. I've yapped enough. Here they are. The few, the fun, the fabulous.......

If you see something you like, please let your local needlework shop owner know and they'll be more than happy to pick up 1 (or all 3) for you at Market. Thanks for browsing my new offerings and for all the support you've given Silver Creek Samplers over the past 9 years. I have MANY more designs in the works, so thread that needle and keep stitching!

Now I have to return to Market preparations. Talk to you soon!

Diane

It's been a year....

since I last spoke with you, and what a tough one it's been.

First the good news: I will be attending Nashville once again and I will have 3 new designs available for your local needlework shop to bring back for your stash enhancement. There will be a 4th one that shops can pre-order as it's still being stitched and the likelyhood of it being finished for Nashville is very slim.

The bad news: I am in the process of a divorce. This has taken away from my stitching and has only allowed me time to debut 3 new designs for Nashville. There are many more ideas in my sketchbook, but it will take time for them to materialize, as I begin a new chapter of my life.

I look forward to this new beginning and ask for your thoughts, prayers and support.

I hope to have time to post again, showing you some peeks of my Nashville "News". If you do not see them here in the next couple of weeks, please check out my facebook page. I will be sure to post them there.

Thank you all for your kindness and friendship,

Diane Grick
Silver Creek Samplers

New for Nashville!

Hello Stitching Friends!

   I just wanted to take a brief moment and introduce you to my newest designs that will be debuting in Nashville. This is going to be my first year in Nashville and I hope it goes so well that I will be able to return in the future. I have been very busy bagging up patterns and building my inventory for Market. I don't want to run out, although I guess that would be a mixed blessing!
   OK. I've yammered enough and I'm sure you want to get on with the visual that I have lured you in with, so........

If you see something you like, please let your local shop owner know. If they are planning on attending Nashville, they can bring home the goods!

I know Christmas seems like a distant memory, but I'd like to share a yet-to-be-named sneak peek of a future Christmas sampler that is on the scroll rods now.....

and this is only a SMALL section! There's SO much more, but I just can't won't show you yet!

But I CAN share this brand new release with you....

"Skating Lesson" has JUST been shipped to distributors and should be available shortly.

That's all I have for now. Thanks for stopping by. It may be cold here by the creek, but I'm sending you all warm happy stitching thoughts!

Do come again!

Diane

Christmas by the Creek

Hello stitching friends!
It has been much too long since we've chatted, but life can be a whirlwind that sometimes sweeps me off my feet. I have seen so many BEAUTIFUL trees all decked out in lovingly stitched finery, that I thought I'd share my tree with you....

See any stitched ornaments? Me either. Actually, there is ONE on the tree...

This was stitched MANY years ago (please pardon the crude finishing technique) for my soon-to-be in-laws. But I never had the chance to gift it to them, as my husband's father died suddenly and tragically just 10 days before Christmas. So, I tucked this little lamp-post ornament away and it has hung on our tree for 22 years.

Stitching always seems to slow down this time of year, as Christmas preparations take center stage. I have managed to finish a new design that I am planning on releasing sometime after Christmas. Here is a sneak peek of "Skating Lesson"...

I have recently begun stitching a new Christmas sampler, but there's not enough completed for a sneak peek. I'll do my best to keep you updated on the progress.

Colvin is a high-school senior this year. He has just earned the rank of Eagle Scout, although we are going to wait until spring to have the official celebration and ceremony. It was only a few weeks ago that I FINALLY had an opportunity to take his senior pictures.

I simply cannot believe how fast the time has flown. But I am so proud of my gentle giant and love him with my whole heart.

Well dear friends, it has been a pleasure sharing a bit of my part of the world with you. I wish every one of you special folks a very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of wonderful blessings!

Wishing you love and peace,
Diane

The Prodigal Blogger has Returned!

A hearty howdy-do to all my stitching friends!

Yes, it's actually me! With life being extremely full these days, I have sorely neglected keeping you all updated in the happenings here at the creek.

Spring brought several new additions to our chicken flock and the need for a bigger chicken coop. Building commenced in April and we finished it up in June. Construction took place any time I had a few spare moments to power up the tools: in the morning before work, in the evenings after work, and anytime in between. I learned how to install vinyl siding as well as how to hang roof shingles. Here's a looksie at our Pennsylclucky Inn:

My son Colvin is now a high school senior and he is also working on earning his Eagle rank in the Boy Scouts. He secured enough donations to install a new digital sign at our local fire company, of which he is also a member. His plans after graduating include going to college to become an EMT/Paramedic. I'm just a wee bit proud of my boy.

I have been busy designing and stitching. I was supposed to attend a retreat in Myrtle Beach, SC last week, but Hurricane Matthew put a stop to my visit. I was sad that I was unable to attend, but I still got a lot of stitching done without leaving my living room.

November 4-6, I plan on attending a Stitching Weekend at the Strawberry Sampler in Glen Mills, PA. I will be packing up the Nissan Versa with all my models and charts for all attendees to see up close and personal and enabling some serious stash enhancement to take place! Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.strawberrysampler.com/stitching.html

I do believe this fall has been the prettiest ever! I have lived my whole life in Northeast PA and I don't think I've ever seen such colorful brilliance as I have this year!

BIG NEWS......I will be attending the Nashville Market in March 2017 for the VERY FIRST TIME! I am nervous, but ever so excited to meet all the shop owners as well as fellow designers.

Before I end this LONG overdue post, I'd like to share one final photo that was taken at a state park that is just 1/2mile from my house. You can find beauty EVERYWHERE...no matter where you thread your needle!

 Please do come back to the creek for a visit. I'll try to not stay away for so long next time!

Sour note in the Sing-A-Sampler Series!

Hi all!

This is a VERY IMPORTANT post! It has been brought to my attention that the floss lists for Parts 2-4 of my Sing-A-Sampler series are incorrect. Here are the CORRECT floss requirements:

SING-A-SAMPLER PART 2:

SING-A-SAMPLER PART 3:

SING-A-SAMPLER PART 4:

If anyone has any questions, please let me know. Please stay tuned for another post updating you on all that's been happening here by the creek!