Hello! An important announcement and an angel

Hey gang -- el bloggo-posto numero uno (that's as far as my high school Spanish can get me these days.) Getting my Raise the Roof Designs web site updated always seems to be on the back burner, so I figured I'd start a blog. Much easier to maintain and update regularly. Soon, that web site will just be a link to the blog here. I also hope to open up a Raise the Roof Designs Facebook page. And I hope to eat chocolate ice cream for dinner. One can always hope.

The impetus for starting this blog and making the web site change is a major change to Raise the Roof Designs. Sue Rainer and I started RTR Designs in 2003 in a hotel parking lot on a whim. Together, in eight years, we've designed about a hundred different charts, a number of kits, and taught a few classes along the way. Sue has decided to retire from designing. But don't worry! It's all good. Sue and I continue to be wonderful friends, and she will continue stitching, quilting, crafting and being generally nuts.

If you've stitched some of our designs, you probably have stitched something of Sue's -- some of her most popular pieces have been Dry Turkey, Words to Live By, the "Wrong Side of the Tracks" series, and of course her wonderful seasonal fences. Sue was often willing to take risks I was not...the "Warmth of a Good Friend" graph was my idea...but she was the one with the guts to design and release it. We've had a ton of fun over the years, and I am very fortunate to call Sue my good, good friend.

Here is Sue's Statement:

"After much soul searching, I would like to announce that I am officially retiring as a designer with Raise the Roof Designs. Theresa and I started our business in July of 2003 and I am very proud of all we have accomplished together. My reason for retiring from designing is mainly more time for me and more time to spend with my family. I have always worked full-time as a Respiratory Therapist in addition to designing with Raise the Roof and have enjoyed both of my careers immensely. Recently, however, it just feels like I have been stretching myself a bit too thin. It is time to simplify and I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life. I feel incredibly blessed that I was able to be a part of this industry for eight years and I treasure the friends I have made. Please know that this is NOT the end of Raise the Roof Designs, however, and Theresa will continue to create patterns in her fun and quirky style. For me, the hardest part of moving on is knowing that I won’t have an excuse to get together with Theresa twice a year for needlework events (and martinis). Thanks to you all for a terrific eight years!"

If you'd like to send Sue a note, her e-mail address is peasinapod@meltel.net.

I'm busy-busy getting ready for Nashville Needlework market. In addition to all of the samplers I've been designing and reproducing for Shakespeare's Peddler, I am working on new Raise the Roof Designs offerings, including a series of monthly angels. Angels were really popular 15-20 years ago when I really started stitching like crazy, and I feel like it's time they made a come-back (don't you?) Each of these will fit in a 6 by 6 square, and the graphs come with finishing instructions, to boot. Ask your local shop to get these in for you, or you can order them on an automatic program from me every month, either as a kit or as a graph.

Every chart will work two "Just Pins" from Just Another Button Company into the design. I've made this one look like this little dear is holding two flowers. These are so easy to add by just poking them through the front of the design. (I could take them out if I really needed a pin for something.)

I also have designed a REALLY cute (how could it not be?) piece called "The Cupcake Tree." I'll post updates here as I can....yes, you'll get sneaky-peeks.

In the meantime, if you want, you can check out my other blog at www.shakespearespeddler.blogspot.com or find me online at www.shakespearespeddler.com.