Hi there, First name / friend! I hope you've been enjoying the Spring season and stitching on lots of fun things! Is it just me or is time going way too quickly!? How have two and a half months passed since my last newsletter?

Since our last chat I've been working like a happy fool! After getting caught up from the amazing Needlework Expo event I took a few days off, than launched right back into planning and coordinating what looks like a very busy remainder of 2021!  Although I'm not able to share all of the details yet, you will find a list of upcoming events at the end of this newsletter and I hope that we may be able to connect at one of them!?  In addition to all of the special projects I've been working on, I'm happy to announce that I've got new releases on their way!  This collection of four new designs will be out within the next week or two and I'm excited to share these new patterns with you!

And speaking of new patterns- I've got a brand new Celebration small for you! As I've mentioned in the past- this series of freebies is designed and offered in celebration of my first year in business (2020), and throughout 2021 I will releasing small designs that incorporate elements of previously released Hello From Liz Mathews designs.  This newest installment is called Bloom Celebration Small!

This pattern incorporates flowers found on Aloft as well as typography included in the Grain Sack Sampler! I thought they paired perfectly for a happy summery compellation.

Grain Sack sampler is a reproduction of an antique sampler that was originally stitched on grain sack material. To kepe it as true to the original as possible this piece includes woven banding across the top and down the sides! It's a really fun piece to stitch!

Aloft tells the story of the Mongolfi Brothers, who launched the very first hot air balloon above Paris in 1783. This piece shows both the telescope and the view through it, which is worked on a separate piece of linen and then affixed to the backing. 

As always, please make this piece your own- use whatever threads and fabric you'd like! Finish in whatever way you please  and be sure to share you pieces with me by using the hashtag #HelloCelebrationSmalls on social media where I can easily search for FFOs and WIPs.

I am often asked  where previously released Celebration Smalls can be found. They are now all on my website under the “Freebies Page”, and I've include a link to each below, too!

Stitch-Con

Weekend B (June 17-20)

 I am so excited to attend my very first retreat and I'm looking forward to connecting with friends new and old!

Luckily, there are still openings to attend! More info here!

Acorns and Threads  25th Anniversary Celebration Virtual Event

This event included an exclusive HFLM pattern.

More info here!

Needlecraft Corner Retreat-

July 22nd to 25th

I will be accompanying my Mom- Kathy Barrick to this event in my own town! Kathy's exclusive retreat design is FABULOUS and there are still spots open to attend! Click here for all of the info! Sue Hillis is also teaching at this event. More info here!

Quilters Station Retreat

September 11th and 12th

I will be teaching for the very first time at this retreat in Lee's Summit MO, and I've got something great planned for us! You can still sign up to attend this weekend long retreat that will also host Black Bird Designs, Heartstring Samplery and Chessie and Me! Call the shop for more details! More info here!

OC Guild event- October Virtual Event

Join the guild and tune in from anywhere! This is a fantastic guild who have great projects and workshops- even when it has to be virtually! More info here!

To get the latest updates- please follow me on Instagram. I will announce the exact date there as soon as I know! The launch will include: A dedicated newletter with all of the new release details, a special edition floss tube, and a LIVE instagram get together! Here are some of my latest Instagram posts- please click below and give me a follow :)

In addition to all of the stitching and designing I've been doing I have also been working outside in the garden tons! This is a new found passion and it continues to grow as the days get warmer and more flowers start popping up. In fact, this year I decided to triple my garden plot and add two new raised beds which should be ready to plant in the next week- fingers crossed! The project includes having tree stumps grown down, ordering and placing dirt and building two block walls. Did I mention the sore back and muscles?!? I had no idea gardening was so much work, but oh, the rewards…  I've got Anemone flowers blooming continuously now, ranunculus sprouting, Dahlias tubers in the ground, two freshly planted wisteria, one lilac bush, three hydrangeas, four climbing clematis, and heaps of flowering pots thriving!. As soon as the new beds are made I'll get those babies filled with all the seedlings I've been tending to in my studio for months! It's all coming together and it's nice to have a hobby in addition to stitching! They are the prefect hobbies to balance! I share lots of my gardening adventures on Instagram, too!

I'm sure by now you all know about my obsession with stickers that I use in both my planner and Book of Days for tracking my daily stitching. Obsession may be an understatement, if I'm being honest. And I feel like I've been collecting them similarly to how stitchers collect charts- the collecting and the using are both a hobby, am I right?! Well, I won't talk your ear off about stickers today, but I just have to show you two sheets. They are both from Paper Minty Studio and cross stitch themed! If you fall in love and need them like I did, then you can use the discount code LIZ10 in the shop linked here for 10% off! 

That's it for me FOR NOW! You'll be hearing from me very soon though! I hope you love the new Celebration Small and I can't wait to see what magical things you all do with it!

To all of the Mamas out there- I think you're amazing and wish you a wonderful Mother's Day full of happiness and love.

I'm off to garden, stitch, or do some stickering!