Not too early to think about knitted Christmas Stockings.

Hello Colorful Friends:

How is your summer going? I hope you have accomplished what you wanted - whether it was rest, travel, creation, or all three. We are winding down the last days before Julia goes back to school and all normalcy returns. I myself am looking forward to the return of the routine.

Julia and I were in Boston last week and we stumbled upon a giant net sculpture that is hung between many of the buildings in the financial district. It really is quite something. Check it out here. We also went out to eat in the North End during the Fisherman's Feast of the Madonna. It was our first visit to this little neighborhood and was such fun. Really great food and a fun neighborhood to walk around in.

Here is my progress on The Hand Printed and Embroidered Chair Slipcover Project I shared with you all a few weeks ago. I've outlined all the circles and ovals with dark shades of brown, teal, and green.

Do you wonder where the summer months have gone? Doesn't it seem that Memorial Day was only a couple days ago? I know that once Labor Day comes (and it is late this year - September 7th) - we will blink and it will be Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas.

I thought I would put a little bug in your ear for all of you who might be wanting to knit a Christmas Stocking or two. I have 2 different collections of Colorful Christmas Stocking Patterns available by Instant PDF Download. They are shown below.

The pattern on the left is called Kristin's Colorful Christmas Stockings. It features 5 different designs that use only one color per row. If you are a newish knitter and frightened of stranded colorwork, I highly suggest this design. ORDER PDF FOR $12 HERE.

The pattern on the right is called Kristin's Creative Christmas Stockings. A bit more traditional in design, it features stranded colorwork in many different motifs. There are even extra charts for you to use to design your own version. Each of the styles is given in 4 different sizes. ORDER PDF FOR $12 HERE.

I'm not much of a Christmas planner, leaving most things to the very last minute. I do know that some of you might be more organized than me though and so you will appreciate the heads-up on these Christmas Stocking Designs.

Me, I'm going to continue wishing that summer will be here forever - even if I can feel the days shortening and the sunset coming earlier each day.

This week, I've stumbled onto the following interesting things that you might like to look at too:

•Liked this article about a chef turned farmer outside of Seattle.

• Check out this range of textural handmade home decor. It reminds me of my days of weaving in the early 80's.

• A stock tank pool like these would have been glorious this past week when it was swelteringly hot and humid.

• Embroidery is having its Instagram moment according to Britain's The Guardian.

• Have any of my British readers seen this BBC2 mini-series about the Bloomsbury Group?

• I do enjoy the Floret Flower Blog. It is fun to watch the Flower Farmer movement grow. Our Farmers Market in Northampton has several stands that sell flowers including Old Friends Farm and Wild Rose Farm.

• My garden's zucchini is coming in. I think zucchini fritters might be part of a dinner this week. Check out this recipe.

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading.

With colorful best wishes,

Kristin Nicholas

In case you missed my last newsletter, I have a brand new book out called The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids. Jam-packed with 15 projects and 17 stitches, it is a perfect learning tool to teach young people to embroider.

To order, hop on over to my website. The book is $16.95 plus $4.00 shipping and handling. I will also include a free Kristin illustrated bookplate for placement in the book.

I'm happy to sign the book to a recipient. Leave their name in the "notes" section of my order form.

A nice addition to The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids is one of my Linen/Cotton Panels to embroider. It comes with a complete set of instructions with illustrated stitches. $9.95 each.

Four designs to choose from. Sunflower, Bird on Nest, Flowers in Vase and Little House.

Check them out here. Or order all 4 at a special price here.

Check out the video about our colorful farmhouse and farm produced by Houzz.com.