Just around the corner....

is a new release from Silver Creek Samplers! I will be releasing it in early January. Here's a sneak peek to whet your stitching appetite....

Now, let it snow!
Thanks for dropping by!

Diane

Testosterone: 2......Estrogen: ZIP!

That's right. I lost! To what, you ask? To football of all things! Although it does promotes male bonding between Alan and Colvin. They both are avid Giants fans and watch every game they can. Sunday being one of them. So I will paint you a clearer picture of what I lost: MY STITCHING CHAIR! I cannot STAND listening to a football game while I am trying to relax with my stitching. I've tried and I just can't do it! So I let the boys have the living room (and my stitching chair), while I packed up my stitching supplies, a spare chair, and floor lamp, and fled to a much quieter place in the house....our bedroom. It doesn't provide the cushiness that my bottom is accustomed to, but it provides me the peacefulness and solitude that I crave while stitching. I even had Christmas music playing quietly in the background. So I suspect that this will become my new stitching home, at least until football season is over!

Thanks for stopping by!

Diane

DMC 815....

That's about the color of my blood as it travels through the tubes and into the apheresis machine. When I'm not stitching, I donate platelets at my local Red Cross in Johnson City, New York. I donate every other Tuesday after work. It's about a 2 1/2 hour process, but I can't think of anything more satisfying than helping to save lives. I began donating whole blood in 1989, and platelets in 2010. The only thing that would make it PERFECT, would be if I could stitch WHILE I donated. However, as you can see in the picture, that would be impossible to do as I have a needle poked in each arm!

Really, it's quite a relaxing process. I get to sit in a comfy recliner with by back against a warm heating pad while I watch a movie of my choice, complete with headphones. And if I get cold, they cover me up with fleece blankies! If I need anything....the volume of the tv turned up, my face scratched, my nose wiped, or my feet rubbed....the technicians obey my every command! Why do they bow to my every whim? Because they covet my platelets and want to keep me as a returning customer.

How great is that! For 2 1/2 hours, I am queen of the castle. But then after a refreshing snack of Keebler cookies and juice, I return to reality where if I want something, I have to do it myself.

Do any of you donate blood? (besides the occasional needle stick you might give yourself while stitching!) If not, I would encourage you to give it a try. There's nothing better than knowing you gave a perfect stranger the gift of life. And it's one size fits all!

Thanks for visiting me here, down by the creek!
Diane

I've been framed!

Greetings friends! I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was spent with my mother-in-law, Helen, Alan (my husband), and Colvin (our son). A very intimate and quiet affair, with all of the yummy traditional fixings. I cooked the turkey (with the help of a Reynolds oven bag. I just LOVE those things!) and made the gravy. My MIL did all the rest. Friday I boiled up the turkey carcass for soup, and today, the soup is finally finished. While the soup was busy doing its souping thing on the stove, I did a framing project that has been a LONG time coming. Here it is completely finished:

As you can see, it's an old window frame. I brought this home from my grandpa's farm many years ago, because I knew I would have a use for it someday. It's been hiding in our basement for, oh, maybe 13 years (give or take). And this weekend, I brought it to life. The pictures were taken at grandpa's farm, by a good friend and photographer in 2003. I had a quilt book published that year, and used some of the pictures in my book. The book is called "Quilts from Squier Lane", if anyone is interested! Anyway, I had the pictures on CD, and had enlargements made for each window pane. Here's a closeup of the photos:

That's me holding Colvin's hand. He was just shy of 4 years old. I have always loved this photo and wanted to remember that at one time, my baby boy would willingly hold my hand. **sigh** They grow up so fast! I found the quote on the internet and knew it would be the perfect finishing touch to my project. It's hanging on the wall above my piano. And I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me down by the creek!

Diane

Seeing Stars...

Here is the full reveal of my newest Christmas pattern "Star of Bethlehem".

It is stitched on Weeks Dye Works 30ct "Dolphin" linen. 

The design size is a petite 65 x 88.

Also included with this sampler is an ornament pattern that was stitched 

on R&R Reproductions 28ct "Americana Blend" linen.

The ornament design size is 49 x 48.

So, fire up the needle and floss. Christmas is only 49 days away!

Thanks for visiting me down by the creek!

Diane

My First Freebie

“Parting Promise”

Please accept this free pattern as a "Thank you" to all of my faithful visitors who take a few brief minutes to visit me here, Down by Silver Creek! And, please feel free to email me pics of your stitched freebie (or any of my other patterns). I'd love to see them!

Thanks for stopping by!
Diane

An Interview with Myself!

 

I LOVE my lap frame. Can't stitch without it!

1)    Q: When did you begin designing your own patterns and how did that turn into a business?

A: From 1993-2006, I worked as an art director for a quilt magazine. For those 12 years, I ate, breathed, and slept quilts. Making and designing quilts came naturally to me. It was a devastating blow when the magazine went out of business. My passion for quilting waned and I needed an outlet to channel my creativity. I decided to go back to cross stitching (which I did for a few years before learning to quilt) and began to design my own patterns. It took three years before I had enough courage to contact a distributor. My designs were immediately accepted, and I haven’t looked back since.

      2) Q: Do you stitch your own models, or do you have model stitchers?

A: I do all of my own stitching. I don’t think I’ve stitched a model yet that I didn’t make color or design changes to. I also REALLY enjoy seeing the pattern come to life as I stitch.

3)    Q: How important is social media in the cross stitch industry and how do you make use of it for your company?

 A: I think social media is very important. In January 2012, I began a blog. (downbysilvercreek.blogspot.com) I’m probably one of the last designers to do so! I decided that since I don’t have a website, that a blog would be a good way for stitchers to get to know me as well as update them on what’s new at Silver Creek Samplers. I’m also on Facebook too.

4)    Q: Do you feel your style has changed over time, and if so how do you feel about your older designs now?

 A: My lettering style has changed since my first samplers. I needed to condense my letters a bit to keep my designs to a more “friendly” size. Not everyone wants to spend months stitching a huge sampler, or have the wall space to hang them.

5)    Q: What other designers are you a fan of?

A: Plum Street Samplers and La D Da are two of my favorites.

6)    Q: What are your three favorite movies?

A: Dances with Wolves, The Green Mile, and Forrest Gump

7)    Q: Do you have any pets?

A: No house would be complete without them! Chloe is a 10 year old cat who flunked out of mouse catching school, Molly is our newest member. She is a 2 ½ year old beagle-basset that we adopted this past May from our local shelter. (Don’t tell the cat…Molly is my favorite!) We also have 5 Rhode Island Red hens who live in a chicken coop that my son, Colvin and I built together last year.

"This IS my happy face"

"I promise I won't pee on the carpet if you give me a treat"

"Chickens on my shoulder make me happy"

8)    Q: Would you share a little bit about your family?

A: Sure! Alan and I have been married 18 years this September. We both grew up in Montrose, PA and graduated from the same high school, but didn’t start dating until 1993. We continue to live on our own little acre of paradise, located a few miles north of Montrose. Our son Colvin, turned 13 in June. He is already 5’9” and hasn’t really started his growth spurt yet (yikes!) Colvin is in Boy Scouts and enjoys fishing and hunting. Both Alan and Colvin help me out when I have an order to fill. Alan helps me stuff the bags and Colvin zips them up. It’s wonderful family bonding time!

Alan, my wonderful husband, and Colvin, my baby-boy!

9)    Q: What is your greatest strength? What is your biggest weakness?

A: I think my greatest strength is my creativity and imagination. My biggest weakness is, without a doubt, procrastination.

10)    Q: What changes would you make if you could go back in time?

A: I would not change a single thing. Not that I haven’t made my share of mistakes and bad choices. But I’ve learned valuable lessons from my goof-ups and that has helped me grow into a stronger and more confidant person. No one has the power to change yesterday, but you can change tomorrow!