Hobby House Happenings

May 02, 2024

I have read that the first place people typically go when visiting a website for the first time is the "About Us" page. I have visited countless needlework and quilting sites and they all seem to start with "I began stitching as a young child and learned my skills from my mother (or grandmother)". I believe my About Us page says the same thing, because this is how I learned. This is how we hand down the skills to the next generation.

I love my daughter with every fiber of my being, but I will not lie that I was a bit disappointed that she had zero interest in crafts or sports growing up. I tried cross stitch, sewing, knitting and paper crafts. Nothing. I was also a sports player and my favorite was platform tennis (aka paddle tennis). I introduced her to soccer, tennis, track, rock climbing, skate boarding, roller blading, bike riding, swimming, horseback riding, and (of course) platform tennis. Again nothing. But I knew she appreciated every opportunity that was presented to her.

This got me thinking recently that just because I can not pass down the history of needle crafts to her, I can still try to have an impact on younger generations. This train of thought led me to creating Hobby House Kids. This segmant of my business will focus on making products available that stimulate the creativity in all of us; by exposing children to different mediums. It is our responsibilty to educate the young.

We are working on Hobby House Kids and are very excited to connect with younger generations. Stayed tuned!

Picture One - Me following a competitive tennis match. (Lulu clearly missed me!)

Picture Two - My daughter, Amanda, and her grandfather "Bumpa" high-fiving after a fairly competitive tennis match.

Picture Three - Dave and his daughter, Katherine, and me with my daughter at the Color Run. (Amanda has braces in this photo, and she turned 21 in March... where does the time go?)

 

January 11, 2024

We are a week and a half away from our move date. 😬 We have hired a moving service and their team will have all the stock over to the new building in one day, so we won't miss a beat on filling orders!

Things are shaping up nicely and next week the floor goes in.

For those of you who have visited the shop and had the pleasure of using our indoor outhouse, the new facilities will surely be a treat.

 

December 09, 2023

I seem to be a bit remiss in sharing news! We certainly had things to say and share over the past two years. 😊

Our big news is that we are moving! While we love the Green Log Cabin and are sad to leave its charm, we found we are in need of more space. Our move will also enable us to have all three stores under one roof.

Our goal is to be in the new space next month and crews are working hard to help us meet that goal. Here are some progress pictures.

December 13, 2021

Dave and I were visiting my Parents the other night and my Mom told me she had moved many of my pieces that I had stitched when I was young. So we all went around the house looking at the different things I had completed as a child!

I stitched this one when I was around eight or nine years old. It is so memorable to me because my mother had to explain over and over what the saying meant. I don't think it clicked for years!

Below was my first sampler I stitched and I was in middle school. It was also my first experience with borders not matching up, but I didn't mind and put a couple of flowers in the corner to fill the empty space. I also stitched the T and K (for Tracy and Kathy) and have the complete pattern to this day!

I had made this doll for my Mom for Mother's Day when I was in high school. I loved to sew too and made her outfit. The pattern is from a cross stitch magazine I subscribed to and how I looked forward to it every month.

August 22, 2021

What a bittersweet summer this has been. My only daughter graduated high school this year and is off to Syracuse in a few days. I couldn't be happier for her but I'm going to miss her like the dickens.

I remember buying the school bus photo frame in December before she was to start kindergarten and thinking to myself that it would take forever to fill. I have never been so wrong.

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September 19, 2020

Wow. Three months went by just like that. A year ago I would ask myself how does that happen, but this year I know the answer. New shop, new pandemic, new online schooling but thankfully I have my old, reliable and predictable stitching to keep me grounded.

I haven't been able to stitch as much as I would like but I have made some progress on Anna Ohman (yup, I am still on my detour from my Ladies Garden Journal Journey).

 

 You will notice the natural sun light coming in from the left. Today I am "working" from home since it is the first online learning day and I am home to offer moral support. Since I was told not to be seen or to be heard, I thought what better thing to do to accomplish both those objectives than stitching!

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June 19, 2020

I titled my blog a journey, and journeys often have detours. I took a detour. And I put 100% blame on Facebook. There are too many fabulous projects out there causing all sorts of distractions.

My distraction is the Anna Ohman sampler. I sell high count linen and I thought I would be of better service to my customers if I actually stitched on it. I decided to go big or go home and chose 53/63 ct. Sycamore Seed Pod Linen and AVAS 100.3. After my first stitch I was floored. It was not much different than stitching on 40 ct. I feel a whole new world of linen has opened up to me.

I will be coming back around to the Ladies Garden Journal after this little side-trip.

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I was so fortunate to attend Market this past March and see first hand all the amazing designs come to life in the models displayed by the many talented designers. I won't even try to name a favorite because that would not be possible. But one design truly made an impression with me for the use of colors, the back story of the series, and the unique way it was displayed and finished and this was the Ladies Garden Journal designed by the super talented Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes. The series consists of six different patterns that is finished into a "journal" and Beth has a finishing kit available! So here I go....

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May 22, 2020

I thought I would include the year to document my progress. Though I love stitching, I don't have as much time as I would like to enjoy this fabulous craft so this series could, in all likelihood, go into the year 2021. Progress from day one, Sweet William Pattern 1:

 

Another reason this project appealed to me is I am not a gardener. I wish I was but I am not. The plant in the upper left hand corner used to be a healthy and vibrant boxwood until we brought home our latest rescue, Arlo, the big red dog.

 

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May 24, 2020

To reference my earlier entry, I don't have much time to stitch and my biggest and happiest distraction is my 17 year old daughter. Today we did our first college visit. There are no college tours for these kids of the class of 2021 so we have to make do and come up with our own tours. We drove to Colgate University today and walked around the campus and the town and we loved it! It was a great non-stitching day.

 May 25, 2020

After a VERY long upstate New York winter, we spent a wonderful Memorial Day swimming, playing croquet and barbecuing. In between these activities I was able to pick up my stitching and I learned a very valuable lesson - never try to multi-task! I dropped my fence down too far so out it has to come. It was still a great day. 😊

May 26, 2020

Back on track!

May 27, 2020

I will say this to anyone who listens. A lot happens to us when we age but the one thing I miss the most is my 20/20 vision. I can handle the gray hair, the redistribution of weight, the hot flashes... but the eyesight is something I am still trying to get used to! I have always been able to stitch on 32 ct. without a magnifier, but after a 12 hour day at the shop, my readers alone just don't cut it.

Another challenge with tonight's stitching is my little rescue pup Toto, who is nestled under my lap stand. And after that 12 hour day, she was not going to let my stitching take away from a good snuggle!

May 30, 2020

I am very particular about what I watch when I stitch. I like something soothing and non-distracting like a good documentary or re-runs of the Antique Roadshow. After a day at the shop and some household chores, I was looking forward to an evening of stitching and my goal was to finish Sweet William. When we were all settled, I suggested the Ken Burns documentary of National Parks and after zero discussion, I was vetoed by my daughter and husband. They quickly voted to watch Charlie's Angels and immediately turned up the volume on the TV to drown out my protests. I was hooked within five minutes and needless to say, did not finish Sweet William.

June 1, 2020

Sweet William is finished! What I love about this series is that Beth has made the finishing process a breeze. Everything you need to make these patterns into a journal is included in the kit - the cut-to-size mat boards, ply wood, ribbon for joining and complete instructions with pictures. I think I enjoy finishing my projects as much as I enjoy stitching them and can't wait to get started.

June 5, 2020

I thought I would stain the boards before continuing with the stitching, but with Upstate New York just beginning Phase 2, I couldn't readily get my hands on the stain so out came pattern two - Holly Hock. I was thrilled to be able to finally open my shop doors to customers this week so there was little time for stitching. But it's a start!

As I was stitching and reaching for my Tennessee Red Clay floss, I had a moment of clarity of the old adage "The cobbler's children have no shoes" - my project bag is a paper bag and my floss bags are Zip-lock sandwich bags. Time to upgrade! 😉