More Etsy- and PayPal Payments

It's happening slowly, but I've added a few more items in the Thistle Handwerks Etsy shop(see previous post). Hopefully over the next few weeks, I'll be able to list some more- but I'm beginning to prepare for the September Historic Seattle Bungalow Fair.

For the past 10 years, I have accepted direct credit card payments. The processing fees have continued to rise in cost, and I reluctantly decided to make a change. I will continue to accept payments via credit cards, but only through PayPal. If you've not used PayPal, and want more information, let me know, or, visit their website at http://paypal.com . One advantage is that you can email me an order, and I can then email you an invoice, which you pay via the PayPal site.

Hope you're enjoying your summer!

Etsy Shop is Open, Finally!

www.thistlehandwerks.etsy.com

I can't imagine anyone taking any longer than I did, but the Thistle Handwerks shop on Etsy is now open for business! Today I listed some kits, and as I have time over the next week or so, I plan to list some finished textiles as well. Perhaps some embroidery silk too- I have an over abundance of some colors, and perhaps someone will want some to play with.

Summer is flying by: in addition to stitching, I'm trying to catch up on year's worth of gardening, and doing some house painting. A summer holiday included a trip to the Oregon coast with a stop at the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, where I purchased/shared the purchase of some gorgeous fleeces. I hope to make some time soon to wash them and start spinning.

2009 Show Schedule

This is on the website also, but again, this year for slightly different reasoning, I'll just be doing the Seattle show. My energy level is returning, but, one show and my studio work is enough for me this year.
Sorry the etsy shop is taking so long, but well, it just is. Getting close....

This and that

I'm not sure where March went, but it seems it passed the blog right on by...

The etsy store is nearly ready, and when I return from a bit of a vacation, I should be able to start listing some items for sale. I'll write here when it's open.

Until then, a few photos of what I've been up to:

Below right, is a dresser scarf I made for a customer who wanted oak leaves. I had fun with the little acorns.

I learned how to spin a few years ago, and lately have been experimenting with silk. I have a few ideas of how I might incorporate my handspun silk into some embroidered pieces. There are some gorgeous hand dyed spinning fibers available now in naturally dyed hues. See below for a couple of skeins I spun from tussah silk, dyed by Kristine from A Verb for Keeping Warmhttp://averbforkeepingwarm.com/

where Inspiration comes from

It's been a long winter, and I'm not sure it's quite over yet. One week my view out the window is this,

and yesterday these dainty little colors popped open! I went to the cupboard where all the silk is stored, and began to take out yellows and purples, along with vibrant greens. I'm tired of browns and golds. I'm ready for Spring!

Singing a Song of Glasgow Embroidery

If you subscribe to the magazine, www.style1900.com, you may have seen Laura Euler's article. If not, stop by your local bookstore and pick up the Spring issue- She offers a nice summary of Arts and Crafts embroidery in the UK, with not the usual images of period pieces. She also has a new book out, The Glasgow Style, which I have not seen yet(published by Schiffer).

Happy 10th Birthday Thistle Handwerks!

I was digging through some files, pulling receipts for my tax prep, and WHAMMO! it hit me; just a few days ago TH had it's 10 birthday. Obviously, a very quiet one, since I didn't even remember it. Now I need to decide whether or not to have a belated celebration....