Happy Halloween!

I hope that you all have great fun planned for Halloween. I know that for some of you decorating for Halloween is more fun than any other holiday. For many shops it's a pretty close tie whether designs for Christmas or Halloween sell the most. So we get to see a lot of really cute Halloween designs go out the door and many times, even get to see them when they are finished. My fun this Halloween is attending my nephew's wedding at noon on a beach in Half Moon Bay! Fortunately costumes are not required.

DJ Designs Trunk Show Continues Through Saturday

We'll pack up Dale's trunkshow this weekend so if you have not had a chance to come by the shop to see his beautiful canvases, you've still got a couple of days. From floral pillow canvases to SF designs, purses, stitched boxes and foot stools, there is a wide range of beautiful hand-painted designs. Remember, you do earn Rewards points on trunk show purchases as well. So come by and take a look at these great designs by Saturday!.

Let Love Abide Book Signing - November 4th

Don't forget about the newly released book Let Love Abide - The Marian Soss Sampler Collection by In The Company of Friends. Marian lives here in the SF Bay Area and has an absolutely amazing sampler collection. This book has photos of 104 of her extensive collection along with documentation about them.

Marian and the publishers will be here for the book launch and signing next Tuesday evening, November 4th from 6pm - 8pm. Marian will speak a bit about her collection and how it came to be and will sign books. We'll have plenty of them on hand so you can pick up a copy, meet Marian and find out more about her collection. We'll also have some tasty treats in case you come straight from work.

There is no sign-up required. If you want us to make sure to hold a book for you, or if you aren't going to make the event but want a book, you can give us a call before the event or drop us an e-mail. If you'd like it signed in particular manner, let us know that as well.

Sharon G Classes - November 6-9th

It's only a week away now - and we still have room in Sharon's November 6th - 9th classes. Thursday and Friday Sharon will teach Directed Stitching, where you bring a canvas and she'll help you bring it life with color, threads and stitches. You can sign up for one or both days. Cost is $135 for a single day or $225 for both days.

On Saturday and Sunday Sharon will be teaching one her lovely hand-painted canvases, Terrace, which evokes Tuscany to me. You'll learn a wide variety of stitches using silk and metal threads. Class & Canvas fee is $400, with the thread kit it's $550 (we'll kit it with partial skeins to keep the cost down).

Sharon is a great teacher and a funny, warm person. You'll enjoy these classes immensely and I'll hope you'll be able to join us for one or both of them. You can find out more details about the classes and sign-up for them in our website. Or you can give us a call.

Join Us For Some Halloween Fun

The local business association we belong to sponsors a Trick-Or-Treat event for kids on the street so we get a lot of dressed up children during the day which is great fun - some of the costumes are pretty cute. You're welcome to come and join us for some stitching time and you too can enjoy the trick-or-treaters.

In the spirit of the holiday, Leila (who is multi-talented woman) will be offering free, light-hearted one-card tarot readings to customers on Halloween.  Leila moonlights as a tarot reader (www.leilajo.com) and is looking forward to bringing a touch of magic and mystery to the store this Halloween.  So stop on by, pull a card and see what the season has is store for you!

As I write this I'm getting ready to fly back to California from my 2 weeks on Nantucket and Cape Cod. We had a great time at CA Well's Legacy Needleart event and I've even started one of the projects from it (so yes, I have been stitching on vacation). My Nantucket basket class (taught by CA's sister Chris) was also great and I'll be carrying my finished basket home on the plane tonight.

CA will be coming out to teach the last weekend in February 2009 and I'm looking at having her do one of her older pieces, although I've not decided which one yet - I'll do that next week. And she'll be teaching a little chocolate box that's a take-off a piece she did for her Brussels Legacy event this year. Once I get the projects settled and photos done I'll post it all to the classes page on the website.

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday if you're here in the States. And hopefully if you're in the Bay Area you can come to the book signing that night. No matter what though, I hope you have some fun doing a bit of stitching this coming week!

Happy Stitching,

Cathe
...and Debi, Caroline, Lelia, Mary, Ali, Jennifer, Cheryl, Sherry, Susan and Margaret

510-522-0404 * 877-HAYSTAC * 877-429-7822
1533 Webster Street * Alameda, CA 94501

Shop Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 5pm, Sun 1pm - 4pm
Monday By Appointment

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