Hi!

The hot, muggy weeks of August are called the "Dog Days of summer." Of course, the adorable puppies pictured here aren't responsible for the weather!

According to Wikipedia, the term "Dog Days" was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans who called these days caniculares dies (days of the dogs) in honor of Sirius (the "Dog Star"), the brightest star in the heavens besides the Sun. The Dog Days were the days when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose just before or at the same time as sunrise. The ancients sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that the star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather."

When it's beastly hot and humid, the best alternative is to sit with your favorite pooch in a nicely air conditioned room and stitch!

Kathy Schenkel Trunk Show Kathy Schenkel sent a trunk filled with her popular line to the shop. We'll only have it through August 22, so make a point of dropping by soon to browse through it. You'll love her wonderful International Santas, ornaments, and handpainted footstools with matching canvases. She also has delightful baby items, a fun Thanksgiving series, and really cute Halloween items. And if you have a favorite dog or cat, she has a series of ornaments you won't be able to resist. Her line is beautifully painted, easy to stitch, and many items come with stitch guides. Don't miss this delightful trunk show!

Holiday Deadline October 1 is the finishing deadline for stockings, ornaments, pillows and other items you want to have in time for the holidays. Don't forget about Linda's Embellishment classes if you need some extra inspiration! And the staff is always available to help you with fibers, tools, other supplies and guidance.

New Items Arriving Daily New canvases and fibers arrive at the shop daily. As an example, we have just received this lovely Melissa Shirley canvas and stitch guide by Beverly Churchfield. What an exquisite piece! I only wish I had wall space in my kitchen for it. The design is painted on 13 mesh, which is a lot easier for many of you to see. Beverly has selected wonderful combinations of fibers and stitches for each pear and a clever, fast background. The canvas and stitch guide are $209. Call us at 847-446-4244 to order. We can also pull the fibers specified in the stitch guide so you can stitch your personal "edition" of this masterpiece.