Good Morning, Stitchers 

Most New Year Eves make me slow down, reorganize and reflect on what is important to keep and what needs to go.  2025 for Rusty Crow is anything but normal this year.  Our shop remodel is happening at warp speed, we are blessed to have the best contractor on the beach.  Joe and Lori are in constant contact with us.  Day after Christmas, the concrete guys were there, cutting new plumbing lines in the foundation.  I honestly didn't know if anyone would be working til the new year.  

Rusty Crow is once again designing for the Woolie Friends stitch a long.  Our new one is called "Frostbite Farms", a series of adorable Snowmen, that will make you smile as you stitch every week. Our group also has a very active Facebook group, Woolie Friends Stitch A Long, please join us.  This group of talent designers will be posting hints and videos during the event.  Here is a sneak peek of the first block... Vicki, from Calico Patch did a great job!

Our block will be available Feb.23.  Preorders will be sent out 3 days early.  Trust me, my week is the week before our shop is expected to be open.  Your block order from me will be kitted and ready to go.  

Our next Swap Block signups are up on the site as well.  This time our theme is Patriotic, in honor of our country's 250 Birthday!  Once again, anything goes as far as design, pieced, embroidered, appliqued......  Make 12 of the same block, keep one and send the other 11 to us.  We will be shipping the blocks back to you the first week in May.  I can't wait to see your Red, White and Blue masterpieces. 

I love stitching up small projects.  I love the feeling of starting it and a few hours laters it's done!!!  We have added lots of new patterns and I hope you check them all out.  Here are a few of my new favorites.

We are winding down our Valdani Pearl Cottons Sale.  All Pearl Cottons are 4.99 a ball right now.  Valdani is raising the price to 6.99 a ball Jan. 1  We have heard from several of you that they love the sale, but with Christmas and all the other expenses that happen at the end of the year makes it hard to buy.  Mike and I know what that is like, for years in California, we had property taxes due and Christmas with 3 kids.  We are celebrating 40 years of marriage on January 11.  Our sale will extend to January 11 as well. We know we would not be here or remodeling a shop without you. 

Our graditude is hard to put in words.  From the online orders, to the cards of sympathy when we lose a pet, watching my Tuesday night FB lives, sharing our site with your stitching friends and groups, packing up all your stuff and coming to a beach retreat, and finally to all the wonderful folks who showed up on a Sunday morning, with boxes and trucks after Thanksgiving to help pack up our shop.  Not sure how we went from not knowing a soul here on the Outer Banks 4 years ago, have now amassed such a wonderful group of friends we have here. 

I'm beyond grateful to have taken that leap of faith and moved to my paradise.  My prayer for the new shop is that it can be a place for creative peace, where you can disappear from the world for a couple of hours.  Stitch and laugh among old friends and new.  

Thank you again for being in our world.  I wish you all an adventure filled 2026!! 

Shawn and Mike 

PS.  If you have a problem with check out, reach out to me.  I'll help you process your order.  shawn@rustycrow.com or call the shop phone 760-752-7784