Some random images (yes, I like random; otherwise you'd see the same style over & over) from this week's Hoffmandis update:

From Notforgotten Farm, "Family Tree":

From Imaginating, "Home Sweet Cabin":

From Sisters & Best Friends, "Sunflower Sampler - Grace":

From a baseball round up in the Journal News: "Hey, Granny, go to Jacobs Field on June 25. The Indians are hosting "Stitch N' Pitch Night." Fans are encouraged to knit, crochet, cross-stitch, needlepoint or embroider during the game." Hopefully we'll see more than just "grannys" stitching at that game!

AnnMcD of Knowledge and Needles just finished The Knitting Circle and talks about how there aren't similiar novels available for cross stitch other than the Monica Ferris's Betsy Devonshire mysteries. If you know of more, let her (and myself!) know.

From the Daily News Journal: Stones River Embroiderers meetings: 9:30 a.m. second Tuesday each month, First Presbyterian Church, 210 N. Spring St., Murfreesboro, TN. Anyone with an interest in most forms of needlework is welcome. All skill levels. Betty Hodge, (615) 890-7153.

I thought I'd show a random update from this week's new images at PatternsOnline. This one is called Be Mine Heart, from Sue Hillis, and it is originally from her book Samplers 'N Sayings.

The Focus on Finishing blog is hosting an online class to make a no-sew wallhanging class. The class will be next weekend, June 16-17, and the materials list is currently posted. This blog is an incredible resource for finishing techniques, including techniques for not only wallhangings, pincushions, and mail art, among others.

Cross Stitch Expo is open now through June 14.  It's an online retail needlework show, where you can buy directly from the designers. This is a fairly new show (actually, I believe it's the first), and there's 22 designers for this one. If you miss it, the next one is September 1-14, 2007. It looks like they're aiming for 4 times next year. It's mostly counted cross stitch, but there's a few needlepoint designers as well as some blackwork and mixed embroidery. Oh, and there's a "Freebie hunt" going on, as well.

Needle Arts Mystery Retreats is hosting Canvas Countryin Nashville, TN, July 20-22. Registration is open until June 15 (so less than 2 weeks to go if you're interested). It's a mystery project, where you'll pick your colors but won't know the project till you start stitching it.

I recently discovered Stitchin'Spiration at my LNS, and since I just received an update of her newest designs, I wanted to showcase her. The majority (all but 3, I think) of her designs are "blackwork," but using all sorts of wonderful colors. I think I could quickly become addicted to collecting her work. She also has a huge freebie section called Needlework Building Blocks, which are small fills and shapes to use to design your own projects. You definitely want to be on her mailing list if you like the NBB series, as there's often blocks released just to the list. She also sells notecards of stiched work. 

 Some examples:

Kathy Lothan has 5 basic types of designs at her Designs By Kathy site: buildings/historic places, beach-related, birds, animals, and "other." :)  The only retail location she has listed is in Virginia, and the website is gone, so I'm not quite sure how you'd buy them at the moment; there's dealer inquiry info, however . Here's a few samples of her designs:

Mid-Atlantic Gamefish:

Flying Heron:

Virginia State Capitol:

UPDATE: I received an email from Kathy updating her shopping info. Her designs are available from In Stitches For You, 4100 Hundred Road, Chester, VA, 804-748-9198. They have a new owner who hasn't yet updated the website. She also has designs in At Home With Needlework.