Dancing and Teaching...

Cead Mile Failte  - 100,000 Welcomes!

Spent Saturday at the Forest City Feis, an Irish dance competition in London, Ontario.  It took me back to the days when my daughters danced.  “Do you have a needle – my daughters seam split and she goes on stage in 3 minutes!” The high pony tails and curls … “Do you have safety pins – how am I supposed to put on my daughter’s number?” The make-up … “Where is stage B?”  Everywhere there were dancers practising, parents taking pictures and teachers directing children of all ages to point their toes, jump higher, and my favourite … smile!  The costumes were spectacular, the excitement contagious, and the disappointment heart breaking.  I felt right at home.  Bless them all … they were wonderful.

Several “little people” expressed an interest in what I was stitching and I began some of them off on their first project, one of my favourite parts of these shows.  Most parents/grandparents are concerned that their children will be unable to stitch because they are not able to help them.  A dear friend taught my children at 4 and 6 years of age.  Another dear friend always says … “you put the thread in the needle, the needle in the material, you know what an X looks like, make lots of them”.  Stitching will help your children to develop their focus, their fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, it is fun, and it is time with you.  What more could you ask for ….

I am always ready to teach counted cross stitch to children of all ages and I provide all of the supplies free of charge.   Just ask me when you see me at an Irish Feis or Highland Game, or sign up for a free make and take at my booth at the Creativ Festival.  Everyone leaves with my email address and messages with HELP in the subject line get answered first.

Help us help you keep the spirit in your stitching!

Creativ Festival

My living room is filled to bursting with tables and bins, my dining room has become a haven for fabric of every colour and count, and my feet hurt.  Must be the end of the Creativ Festival!!! 

Seriously, I love the Spring Show because it is my first big show of the year and a time to reunite with many old, (sic) friends.  I love hearing what you have been stitching, who is married, engaged, or pregnant, (more good excuses for stitching), and the plans for the summer, (the best time to stitch).  ­­

This year was fabulous!  Check out the picture of our booth.  There were several who commented that our booth was their first stop at the show or that ours was their favourite spot in the whole show.  My response is usually, “don’t tell me … tell the show office”.  They need to hear from the stitchers or there will be no stitching left.

And, our winner is … Beth Goldsworthy.  Congratulations Beth!!!  Let me know if you, and your daughter, prefer aida, evenweave, or linen and I will put together a package of goodies for you.  Remember to send us a picture of your completed projects so that we can post it for all to see.

Thanks to everyone else who came by our booth, to those who came to our classes, and to those who have kept in touch since.  Start your engines folks … the season has begun.  Watch for us all over Ontario and Quebec this summer.

Help us help you keep the spirit in your stitching.

Needlework Show Contest Winner

Thank you to everyone who is following our blog and all those who became a friend on Facebook.  I wish that I had been this popular in university … ;-)  Ruach Crafts now has friends and followers in Australia, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Venezuala, Finland, the UK, the Netherlands, and of course, Canada and the US.  When it comes to cross stitching, our world is indeed a very small place.  Welcome to all of you … to my home.  Sit down, get comfortable, get out your stitching … and let’s get to know each other.  We already have so much in common. 

It is my pleasure to announce that Marla, from Canada won our $50 gift of fabric.  Please contact us and let us know if you would like aida, evenweave, or linen.  Enjoy!!!  Watch your mailbox … several fat quarters of Fabric Flair material, including hand dyed and opalescent pieces, will be on their way to you next week. 

Ruach Crafts is the Canadian distributor of Fabric Flair material.  As such, we carry “the largest range of shades and colours, including hand dyes, in all counts and types”,  “the largest range of counts and types”, and “ gold and silver can be added to any colour, count, or type”.  You can count on it!!!  Our fabric comes in meters or fat quarters, or if you want a variety of colours and novelty fabrics at a great price, we also have multipacks of twelve 8 x 10 inch pieces.  A specialty colour matching service also is available.

We won’t do your stitching for you … but, we will make sure that it is uniquely yours, on just the right colour, count, and type of fabric.

Our contest continues into next week at the Creativ Festival at the International Centre … and, all of our friends from the Online Show have a second chance of winning.  Good luck everyone!

Help us help you keep the spirit in your stitching!

New Line Out... Celtic Creations!!!

Slainte,

Ruach Crafts is proud to announce that in addition to their extensive selection of Celtic needlework ... they now are the exclusive distributors of Celtic Creations, designed by Sue Preston of SaggiTaurus Needlecrafts.

These are just the patterns you have been asking for.  There are a set of four designs; Highland Dancing Shoes, a Shamrock, Bagpipes and a Thistle.  Each design come kitted with 14 count aida, floss, a needle, graph and easy to follow instructions.

Be the first to see these fabulous new designs at Ruach Crafts booth, #148. at the Spring Creativ Festival at the International Centre or ask your local needlework shop to order them online at the Needlework show.  And, of course, you can always contact us directly at ruachcrafts@live.com, where shipping is always free.

Fare thee well.

Help us help you keep the spirit in your Stitching.

Classes at the Spring Creativ Festival

Want to try a new craft or practise, practise, practise? Ruach Crafts will be offering a Free Make and Take at their booth at the Creativ Festival, April 26 - 27 at the International Centre.  

Throughout the two day show, there will be several opportunities to learn to cross stitch or back stitch. Sign up when you get to the show as spaces are limited and they will fill up quickly. These classes are appropriate for beginners of all ages ... or more experienced stitchers who just need to sit and relax for a bit. 

Other classes that will be offered at the Creativ Festival, by Ruach Crafts, are ... (please note that this is the corrected list of classes on the Creativ Festival website). 

1. Cross Stitch a beautiful Celtic design on 14 ct aida.  Coaster included. $6.00 Friday 12:30 and Saturday 11:30.  

2. Cross stitch a colourful triskele, using 1/2 and 3/4 stitches, and a specialty thread. Frame included. $4.00  Friday 9:30 and Saturday 4:30.

3. Cross Stitch a lovely Celtic bookmark on aida band, using 1/2 and 3/4 stitches, and variegated threads. $4.00  Friday 3:30 and Saturday 1:30.

Pick up a ticket for these classes at the information booth, 15 - 20 minutes before the class.   See you at the Creativ Festival at the International Centre.

Help us help you keep the spirit in your stitching.  

Lines We Carry

Ruach Crafts has an extensive selection of needlework patterns, kits, fabric and other supplies to inspire anyone’s stitching fantasies. 

At Ruach Crafts, we have the largest collection of Celtic needlework in Canada with lines such as Landmark, Textile Heritage, Celtic Obsessions, Vickery, Great Bear, The Single Step and Textured Treasures.  We also carry over 2500 First Name Crests, Clan Badges for all Scottish Clans and Coats of Arms for Scottish Clans, and many other last names.

In addition, we have the largest collection of Judaic needlework in Canada.  We carry cross-stitch and needlework patterns with both English and Hebrew wording.  We carry lines such as JSP, April Fool Designs, Crafty Needle, Rishfeld and our own designs. 

Patterns abound; fabric however, is becoming harder and harder to find.  When it comes to odd colours or odd counts, hand dyed, or opalescent, the search becomes even harder.  Ruach Crafts is the Canadian distributor of Fabric Flair material and not only carries hundreds of colours and counts in linen, evenweave, aida, but also hardanger and aida band.

Just a beginner … or need a diversion?  Ruach Crafts carries many smaller projects that are easy to finish and come complete so there is no excuse not to finish them. Textile Heritage is a collection of bookmarks, sachets, key rings, magnets, needle cases, pincushions and other small pieces that are guaranteed to succeed.  SaggiTaurus also carries an entire line of smaller projects, geared to children of all ages, and we carry them all. 

Feeling patriotic?  Ruach Crafts is the distributor for SaggiTaurus’ Canadiana series of Military Crests, Anne of Green Gables designs, and Maritime Memories.

In addition, lines such as Mill Hill, My Big Toe and others allow for a large variety of kits, patterns and difficulty, which will more than satisfy anyone looking for something to stitch.

Don’t cross stitch?  That’s ok!  Ruach Crafts has a collection of needlepoint too.  There are general projects called Stitch N Zip, which come complete and Celtic and Judaic projects which come as kits or canvas only.

For more information on our various lines, see our website at ruachcrafts.com or visit our Facebook page.  We look forward to hearing from you and helping you find the right project.  

Help us help you keep the spirit in your stitching.  

Where to find us in 2013

Where to find Ruach Crafts in 2013

For those of you in the Ontario/Southern Quebec area, here is our current schedule.  We will be wandering all around these two great provinces and look forward to meeting up with our many friends.  Check out our website, ruachcrafts.com and bring your list, or if you wish to have certain things put away for you, email us in advance for pickup at any one of these shows.

Online Needlework Show  April 18 - 23
Creativ Festival: April 26 – 27  International Centre, Toronto
London Feis: May 4
Kingston Highland Games: May 25 
Sudbury Highland Games: June 1 - 2
Georgetown Highland Games: June 8
Cobourg Highland Games: June 15
Embro Highland Games: July 1
Kincardine Highland Games: July 5 - 7 
Haliburton Highland Games: July 13
Cambridge Highland Games: July 20
Highlands of Durham: July 26-28 Uxbridge 
Glengarry Highland Games: August 2 - 3
Montreal Highland Games: August 4
Fergus Highland Games: August 9 - 11
Bracebridge Highland Games: August 17
North Lanark Highland Games: August 24
National Gymanfa Gaiu: Aug 29 - Sept 1
Beachfest: September 7 - 8 Toronto 
Online Needlework Show October 17 - 22
Creativ Festival: October 25 - 27 Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Toronto

Keep in mind, if you are not near any of these shows, you can still find most of what we carry on our website, ruachcrafts.com or email us with any inquiries/orders and they will be sent out as soon as we get back into the office.  And, all orders continue to be shipped Free of Charge, anywhere in the world. 

We cannot wait to see you as we meander this summer.

Help us help you keep the Spirit in your Stitching.