Jen at Funk & Weber Designs is looking for stories and images of *Extreme Stitchers* to share on the Needle and ThREAD: Stitching for Literacy blog during the 2010 Bookmark Challenge.

The purpose is to demonstrate the lengths some of us will go to enjoy stitching. Have you ever done anything a little nutty (at least in the eyes of non-stitchers) to eke out extra time to stitch? If so, Jen wants to hear your story.

FYI, she's also profiling *Extreme Readers*, and, so far, the readers outnumber the stitchers. Are readers really more extreme than stitchers?

Just Another Button Company has some fabulous new pins ~ Just Bees, Carrot
Patch, Flower Power, and Pins for Kris--look for them on new charts by
Raise the Roof, Chessie & Me and GPA. Or create your own pincushion
for display. They have four pincushion kits available through your
favorite local needlework shop ~ Love them!

Designs By Lisa is still thinking Spring! Easter actually! New release! Silhouette bunny wishing you a Happy Easter. Shipping out to distributor soon, so look for it at your favorite shop! It's a pretty quick stitch with minimal colors! You can for sure have it done by Easter! Measures 5 1/4" x 41/4", with a stitch count of 75 x 63

Designs by Lisa has been designing and selling cross stitch patterns since 1999. I simply love to design, and get most of my inspiration from my surroundings, family, friends, and pets. And although I sometimes tend to design things that are not so main stream, I believe the originality has made the business a success.. Because, as I've found out....I'm not alone in my thinking. That's alm ost scary. Living in the State of UT, my love for the wild critters is also evident, (mooses being my favorite...mooses?) Having a business and loving what you do is truly the best dream of all. Having a husband that puts up with floss, charts, needles, scissors and the constant comment of "just one more stitch" is of course, priceless!

Have you heard about The Needle And I and the fun way they are spreading stitching love? This fabulous shop in Illinois wants to offer you a discount on supplies just for getting together with a group of your stitching buddies. How cool is that? It doesn’t have to be a formal group (although I have seen these ladies in action and their black rhinestones tops make me want to go out and bedazzle a bunch of tops for my stitching group) just a minimum of 6 stitchers. Interested? Great here’s how it works…..

Call The Needle and I at 800.316.1940 (at least 1 week prior to your arrival, so they can have enough staff to accommodate your group) and let them know you are coming and they will give the entire group a 10% discount. You can even pre-order items (give them at least 3 weeks to order items not in stock) and you can pick them up and the discount applies!

I love this idea, it’s a great excuse to get together with your stitching buddies and get a jump on the great new supplies that were released at Nashville! Better yet…..take a camera along and snap a few shots of your group at the shop. We’d love to hear about your trip, your group and why you love to stitch! Stitch on!

Needle and ThREAD: Stitching for Literacy Bookmark Challenge

October 1, 2007 marked the opening of the first Needle and Thread: Stitching for LiteracyBookmark Challenge . Participating independent needlework shops across the country hosted special events and collected hand-stitched bookmarks. Bookmarks were donated to local libraries and schools during Children’s Book Week, Nov. 12-18, to encourage and reward children for reading accomplishments.

2009 Bookmark Challenge Results

Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of stitchers across the country and worldwide, we collected and donated to libraries, schools, and literacy programs ~ 1,023 hand-stitched bookmarks.

Techniques included cross stitch, Hardanger, paper embroidery, blackwork, canvas work, needlepoint, pulled and drawn thread, bobbin lace, tatting, crochet, knitting, machine embroidery, peyote beading, Bargello, Schwalm, and crewel, to name a few.

To download the free SYHO Bookmark chart click here . For each bookmark stitched, you will be entered to win over $500 in stash. How cool is that?

The 2010 Bookmark Challenge will be held March 18 – May 6. Many participants host events and collect bookmarks year-round, so call or stop in to join the fun. If you don’t have a participating shop or guild nearby, here are some other ways that you can participate.

Independent designers donate to literacy projects at least 10% of profits from specially-designed bookmark patterns bearing a Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy logo. When you purchase these patterns, you, too, are supporting literacy.

Funk and Weber Designs

My Mark Designs

Have you heard about this fun new contest on Designs by Lisa Facebook Page? No? You have got to check it out!

All you have to do is fan Designs By Lisa Facebook page and help Kathy write a caption for this great photo of her best Buddy Oscar and you could win a FREE Designs By Lisa chart of your choice!

Be sure to enter by Sunday, February 21st. The winner will be announced Monday the 22nd. Open to US and Cananda residents only.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY IS HERE!

If your house is anything like mine, today is a national holiday. For my husband and son it is the last YYEEEHHAAAAA for football for the next few months, to them it is bitter sweet. For me and the girls, we are thrilled to get a short reprieve from the sport.

Don't get me wrong I love that the big guy and little guy do things together, it's just that I wish it was something that I found interesting. Sorry, no love for football here.

Well that's not totally true. I have come to love football (over the past 10 years) ever since I found that most LNS's and ONS's take Super Bowl Sunday as a way to give back to stitchers!

~ It's Super Bowl Sunday and that means lots of LNS's are having FABULOUS SALES today! Fiberworks in Iowa is giving SYHO members 15% off in store and 10% off online orders today. Be sure to say SYHO sent you for your discount!

This sale is a great way to pick up the the 1st design by Glendon Place in the SYHO Designer Encyclopedia (shown below).