Rusty Crow's first OBX Spring time

Hello Stitchers, 

I know it's been a couple of months since you have heard from me.  I needed to be quiet long enough to gather my thoughts and write to you all.  First the easy stuff, I want to let you know about a couple of stitch alongs that I'm involved in.  The Blue Jar Medley is in it's final week and yours truly is the caboose on this one.  The Calico Patch Designers changed up the rules this time like I mentioned back in Febuary when it started.  The downloads are only free the week of the reveal.  So that said, I wanted to let you know mine is free now until this coming Sunday, April 24th.  So if you like it, please download it.  If you really like it, I have kits with and without printed patterns on the website.  On Monday, you will scoot over to Calico Patch designs to get the free finishing instructions for this quilt.  Here is my block, called Sea Shelling.   

The Second Stitch along going on right now, is the Just Flowers from Farmhouse Friends FB group that I have been a part of for years.  Every Monday as new block is posted.  I was suppose to be the 3rd block, but had to move the tail end again for that one as well.  Lisa, from PG is releasing her block this coming Monday, mine will be next. 

The shop is starting to fill up with goodies.  Can you beleive that Rusty Crow now has Batiks under our roof?  I don't have them on the website, shoppers here are snapping them up, before I can even get them on the website.  

I have been busy sourcing patterns that I don't see everywhere.  I have found the most charming Wool Applique Christmas stocking and Tree Skirts that I have ever seen.  These will be family heirlooms for the lucky recipients of these treasures.

These is just a small taste of them, I have so many more.  Here is one of the Christmas Tree Skirts.  Scroll through Rusty Crow Patterns and Friendson the website.  We have added a ton of new patterns.

We have also added a ton of new wools and made a mountain of Scrap Bags for your stitching pleasure.  Valdani has ramped up production, so we are beginning to fill in some of the out of stock colors.  

Now for the really hard stuff.  

On FB and other social media, most of you know that my Mom, Dee lost her battle with cancer on March 26th.  The ground you stand on, kind of shifts when you lose your last parent.  My dad died two weeks before the 9/11 attack, then I couldn't get away from crying and sad people.  It was like the world was mourning along with me, though I knew there was national tragedy going on in the background, it seemed like I wasn't alone in my grief.

This time it's a bit different, besides my family & friends, the world moves on like nothing has happened.  But instead of being sadder at thought of that, it really has given me hope.  Life really does find a way to move forward in the darkest of times.  I read somewhere, "you have to be broken, to let the light in".  This senitment and my faith has even more meaning to me now.  Mom's death has only made me more resolved to live my life and leave nothing on the table.  I know Mom was proud of us, though she never had the time to get out to the Outer Banks to visit our shop and new home.     This is the last picture I have of my Mom and it's a darling one.  I miss you, Mom. 

Just be kind and do what makes your heart happy.  

Thanks for being a part of my life.  Stitching is Heart Happy for me.  

Love you all, Sand & Stitches, Shawn