Brooke's Books Blog

"Love", The Next Bride's Tree Ornament

Here it is...January's Bride's Tree Ornament..."Love". The symbol is obviously the heart, which denotes true love...After being married for twenty-six years to my Dear-Heart, I can attest that true love is the vital ingredient that makes one happiness out of two lives. I couldn't wish more of it to all the new brides and grooms out there. This is the second of twelve ornament designs in the Bride's Tree Collection. I'm releasing one each month. The models are stitched with Crescent Colour's Belle Soie Silks and Hand Dyed Cotton floss and Mill Hill seed beads but I've included DMC conversions for all the colors. For more info on the tradition of the Bride's Tree check out this previous blog entry.

Note to everyone signed up for subscriptions through their LNS (Local Needlework Shop) or online shop: These publications are shipping on Tues. 1/18/11. We got a little behind on shipping because of the snow. We're not used to snow that piles up and stays for weeks down here in Dixie. It's been an adjustment, I must say...But a beautiful one. So, have no fear...They're on their way after MLK Day. Thanks for your patience.

One more thing...Just a reminder that Miss Amy of Down Sunshine Lane is offering a special subscription program for this collection. If you participate you'll get the 12th design for free. Big thank you to Amy for offering this. 

Winter House BBI Challenge Freebie

Does anyone remember when I committed to designing four seasonal houses in the "House For All Seasons" freebies collection last year? You may not believe me, but I do too. The four houses, (Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter), are "Challenges" for Meagan's Brooke's Books Interactive Yahoo! Group. I started off strong with "Summer House" but got waylaid by our home school life and didn't get to "Autumn House" like I promised. (Great results from the "Summer House" Challenge, by the way. You can see the entries here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bbinteractive/photos/album/908982080/pic/list Congratulations, PennyB!.) Anyway, I'm back on track with this "Winter House" offering. Here's how a BBI Challenge works: You can either download these charts as freebies and stitch them the way I've designed them with no obligation or you can participate in Meg's BBI "House For All Seasons" Challenges. Either way, you need to join her Brooke's Books Interactive Yahoo! Group to have access to the charts. All the "House" charts are located in the BBI Files section under Freebies / Challenges Freebies folder. There's no sign up for this. Stitch Winter House anyway you'd like. Add things, subtract things, use different colors and specialty threads, use beads, bobbles, buttons...Be creative and stitch it your way. Then upload a photo of your masterpiece in the folder specially designated by Meagan for this Challenge in the group's photo section by March 15. Meagan will then run a poll starting March 16 so you can vote for your favorite entry. The winner will win six Brooke's Books Publishing chart packs of their choosing. So go to it! Happy Winter Stitching!