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June's Winner of the Pattern of the Month Contest!!!

9/9/2014

1 Comment

 
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Janet Delo, come on down and claim your prize!!!
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The judges loved your gradation colour plan!  Janet wins three yards of Dorr Natural!!!
To check out our contest click this link.  It's never too late to join!  http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests

September's POM
Design is now available upon request.  Free with purchase!
 
To read about our contest click this link:

http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests
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Even though September is closer to the end of the year, it’s seems more about beginnings than January.   Beginnings for children that is.  The start of their scholastic learning, the shaping of their minds for what lies ahead. They go off to school in new little outfits, shiny shoes, carrying blank scribblers, newly sharpened pencils and that coveted box of crayons.    It’s bittersweet…..

Sending our babies out into the big world, away from our watchful eye is worrisome and can be wrought with tears!  For stay at home moms, their children may not have left their side since they were born, and now only five they are cast out into a world they have no control of.   Dropping off and handing over a child to a complete stranger isn’t the easiest thing to do and there can be a river of tears as you let go of that little hand. 

It’s one of the longest days of your life, waiting for that bell to end the school day.  You’ve been waiting outside for a while, anxious and pacing.  Talking with the others moms who also wear false smiles and keep an eye on their watch.  And then the bell rings and the emptiness turns to real smiles when you see them dashing out the door, down the steps and into your waiting arms.  Excited and breathless, they show you the picture they coloured and are filled with stories of new friends and Miss Teacher they already love.  You are proud and sad at the same time.  Let’s face it; your baby’s world is now filled with more than you.  That big pill to swallow is part of our own growth and luckily, each day gets easier as routine sets in.   

I remember my first day of school and what I was wearing.  Well, not exactly, I saw a picture of me in my little pleated shirt and book bag so the memory is easy.  I remember how I felt that first day though, sitting in one of the chairs at a four seat table looking at some new faces and being shy enough to keep my head down.  I was more than a little apprehensive but, by days end, I was settled and enjoying myself.   On that first day, I’m not sure if my mother shed tears as I walked towards the classroom, or if she went home and  turned up the radio to dance a jig, but I know a lot of moms do a lot of crying as they turn their babies loose that first time, I did for Shane….. 

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August POM Contest

8/8/2014

3 Comments

 
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We've honoured the cat for May so we need equal time for man's and woman's best friend. August's Pattern of the Month Contest design is all about the dog days of summer.   Charlene brought this interesting saying to my attention and I thought it was perfect.    It means the sultry part of the summer, supposed to occur during the period that Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun, now often reckoned from July 3rd to August 11th. 

I tried to do a generic dog that you could make changes too to reflect the breed you love.  We may not have a hammock at our house but the overall feel of this design suits the laid back luxury of my pup's life.  They are a pampered pack and I'm sure they think of bones all day and every night in their dreams, along with chasing rabbits.

My mother-in-law likes to say, "It's a dogs life" at my house.  Not so sure what it's supposed to mean but sometimes it's followed by "Who needs four dogs?"  Well, in my case need never came into play.  The heart wants what the heart wants, and luckily I desire to snuggle with poodles, not other men, right hubby?   So this one is for the dog lover in us all! 


We are making a change to the contest.  It's apparent that  of the 400 - 500 hundred or so free patterns we hand out every month, not one of them are being submitted as hooked rugs for the monthly contest.  My hope for this event was to offer a free pattern to be hooked for the draws, and because no one has submitted any to be judged or to show that they've been hooking it, we will no longer include the pattern unless it is requested.  Too many trees being wasted.....so many bundles of paper, ink to print and labour to sort, staple and fold each month. 

For those who purchase them monthly they are a little late due to the shop being so busy this time of year.  They are going in the mail today, sorry for any inconvenience.  

3 Comments

Pattern of the Month Winner for the May entry!!

8/5/2014

1 Comment

 
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Anne Holmes, come on down and claim your prize!!!
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The judges unanimously loved the kittens and their whiskers! 
I've been a bit slow getting out the August pattern but I'll have it by the end of the day.  Between the shop crazy busy and this weekend's Pirate Festival & Regatta I haven't had a minute!   To check out our contest click this link.  It's never too late to join! 

http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests
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Celebrations!!!

7/4/2014

2 Comments

 
Happy 4th of July to all our American friends!!!
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I love the American flag's stars and stripes.  Red, white and blue are favourites of mine so I thought I would design a chair pad to marry the flag elements with the compass rose.  The background of the compass is an abrashed sky and the other fun thing was I whipped red around the navy star quarter and navy around the red and white areas.  This project was great fun!  

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Adena Clark, your version of the April Pattern of the Month took 1st prize!!!! 

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The judges loved the red umbrella!  
Adena wins a three pack of Dorr Natural for her submission, value $79.00.
 Play along with us next month when we draw for May's design!  
Click this link to read about our contest, you can jump in anytime!  

http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests
2 Comments

Pattern of the month club winner for March submission!

6/4/2014

1 Comment

 
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Rosemary Malone!
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I'd like to say thank-you to all of the participants.  Once again it was a great job done by all! 

Rosemary was also last month's winner and three more yards of Dorr Natural will be on the way to her door.   Shane was one of the judges....he said "Of course I'm going to vote for the one with the women hooked naked".  Love the shoes! 


Remember, anyone can play and you can jump in anytime.  April's submissions are due by June 30th.   Play and Win for Wool!!!!!  See the contests page for details.
                        
http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests.html

There are two blogs today so scroll down to see my finished "E" of Initially Yours. 
1 Comment

Drum roll......winner for January Pattern of the Month!!!

4/3/2014

3 Comments

 
I'd like to say thank-you to all of the participants.  Great job done by all!  Seeing these mats come in was like getting presents in the mail!  Remember you still qualify for the year end grand prize of the $500.00 shopping spree! 

Sorry, I can't post them all but I thought the top three would be nice to view! 
   To be fair to all, it was blind judging and I didn't participate, but I do agree with our judges chooses.  

Remember anyone can play and you can jump in anytime.  February's submissions are due by April 30th.   Win for Wool!!!!!           See my contests page for details.
                         http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests.html

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Janet Delo, congrats on winning a 3 Pack of Dorr Natural!!!
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SUBMISSION BY JANET DELO

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SUBMISSION BY ANNE KIRBY

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SUBMISSION BY ROSEMARY MALONE
3 Comments

April POM

4/2/2014

3 Comments

 
April's Pattern of the Month
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April is all about beginnings.  It represents new life, a transition season from the chills of winter to the summer sun.  The first thing that came to mind was a childhood verse, "April Showers Bring May Flowers" and what could be more perfect for our pattern of the month. Instead of a May flower, I chose the Daisy which is April's birth flower that conveys innocence, loyal love and purity.  It is also the flower given between friends to keep a secret, meaning, "I'll never tell"   The garden is also growing colourful egg flowers, a sweet delight, let's pretend they're foiled wrapped and filled with chocolate! 

Although Easter is a religious holiday, it is also a time for fun!  The bunny is of course synonymous with this day, like a springtime Santa.....delivering baskets full of  candy to delighted children, and all the young at heart who love surprises.  Who doesn't love an Easter egg hunt!  Mr. Bunny is sitting under a big umbrella to avoid getting wet by all the April showers. 


Remember this paper pattern is free with any purchase, in store or mail order, but it can also be purchased alone. To find out about our contest, click the link for all the details.  You can jump in at any time! We will be voting on January's finished rugs this during our hook-in this evening.  Good luck to the person who will win a 3 Pack of Dorr Natural wool prize.

http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests.html 
3 Comments

Announcing - The Pattern of the Month Club & Contest!!!

1/9/2014

3 Comments

 
Year end duties kept me from announcing this at the first of January, but for each coming month the new pattern will be posted on the 1st to give you all plenty of time for hooking!  All mail orders since the 1st of January will automatically be sent the design....if you've been in shopping let me know and I will make sure you get a copy as well.   The paper pattern will be in four pieces that will be taped together to make the actual size of 17" x 12"
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ATTN -- UPDATE FOR CONTEST
I'm excited by the interest our contest has generated in just a few short days. Several of you have offered interesting and helpful recommendations to the contest rules and format. This is my first attempt at a contest so your words were food for thought and here are some changes.  


1.  Paper pattern will continue to be free with a purchase either by mail order or drop in during the month it is featured. 


2. Or you can purchase the paper pattern for $10.00 plus tax (if applicable) and mailing during the month it is featured, no other purchase is required. (We can set up an account and send them out automatically each month)


3.  For those who do not want to transfer the design themselves, we will offer the pattern for sale on Burlap $29.95 -  Linen $40.43.


4. If you wish to purchase the grid lines on a piece of burlap or linen to fit all 12 images, phone ahead to have it ready when you arrive otherwise, there will will be a short, 10 - 15 minute wait while we make it up.  If you are ordering it by mail we will send it out the same day.   Burlap $30.00, Linen $42.00.
This is the is the pattern representing the month of January.   Whether you choose to hook the 2014 is up to you.  If you decide against it when drawing the horse on your backing it needs to be adjusted slightly to the right to be centered. The Chinese characters represent "Happy New Year" in Mandarin. 
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FYI - This outstanding bronze horse has become an iconic emblem of China. Racing through the skies, it treads on a stylized swallow (base of statue) that looks up in amazement. Unlike Pegasus, the Western flying horse, the wingless Han steed is meant to be understood metaphorically rather than literally; it represents an ideal horse that can gallop so fast that it seems to outrun the wind.  The sculpture is perfectly balanced on only one hoof, to complete the illusion of flight.
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    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

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    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
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