Raise the Roof Designs: Purveyors of Needlework Oddities

Hailed by critics as "sick," "demented," "in serious need of psychotherapy," and most recently "shameless," Raise the Roof Designs is quickly becoming a household name. We hope in the future to be a name in several households.

Sue Rainer and Theresa Venette believe that needlework can be more than the same ol' pumpkin, snowman, and flower over and over again. We're working hard to bring you something different. We hope our sense of humor shows through in all that we create. These designs are available to stitchers through Shakespeare's Peddler, but check with your local shop first; we're distributed by Hoffman Distributing, Wichelt Imports, Norden Crafts and The Nordic Needle. If you have questions, comments, ideas or suggestions for Raise the Roof Designs, contact us at raisetheroofdesigns@yahoo.com. We'd love to hear from you!

UPDATED 9/16/09

Christmasland is on the way...Theresa designed this piece in conjunction with Crescent Colours, and Sharon will be distributing the charts with the buttons and silks. Shops can contact Crescent Colours directly at 520-741-1950 to sign up for an auto. She also has designed the frame specifically for this piece. You will get to see the original model at market next week, and the chart/thread packs will be shipping soon after. The fabric is 32 ct. Pearled Barley (Vintage) by Lakeside Linens. Hope you like it. It's adorable!

"Words to Live By" is also ready for market -- it'll be released there. Sue designed this great sampler with lots of fun motifs to stitch in Belle Soie silks by Crescent Colours and an adorable button pack by Just Another Button Co. The saying comes from the McGuffey Reader.

Sue and I are really busy getting ready for market season. Theresa's company (Shakespeare's Peddler) has a booth, but Sue is coming along to help, and we'll have some new designs and a few VERY limited edition kits and other fun goodies. No peeks yet, but we can tell you a few details... Sue has a new design called "Words to Live By," which is a funky twist on an old-fashioned sentiment in sampler style. Theresa (so far) has got Cackle (a chart), and two kits called "You'll Get Sick" and "Halloween Pin Garden." Sue designed a kit, too, called "Bone Appetit." And we have some other things in the work, so let's see how much we can get done!

Most recent releases:

Patty's Fence
Fabric: 28 ct. Summer Sky Jobelan (Wichelt Imports)
Fibers: DMC floss; Crescent Colours Golden Star, Blueberry Tart, Eve's Leaves, Lobster Claw; Weeks Dye Works Pumpkin, Peoria Purple, Envy, Pea Coat, Cactus
Extras: Button pack by JABCo

Eye Pod
Fabric: 28 ct. Ember (Picture This Plus)
Fibers: DMC floss; Weeks Dye Works Dolphin

Monthly Mockeries
Fabric: 32 ct. Heritage (Picture This Plus)
Fibers: FOR WHOLE SERIES: Sampler Threads Avocado, Baby Spinach, Banker's Grey, Barn Grey, Bittersweet, Butternut Squash, Cidermill Brown, Cranberry, Fragrant Cloves, Midnight, Onyx, Picket Fence, Raspberry Parfait, Red Grape, Sarsaparilla; Weeks Dye Works Bluecoat Red, Concord
Extras: Button pack by JABCo.

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub
Fabric: 28 ct. China Pearl Linen
Fibers: DMC floss; Crescent Colours Crushed Pineapple, Cupid, Jolly Holly, Peach Sherbet, Plymouth Rock, Roasted Chestnut
Extras: Button pack by JABCo

Find Your Joy
Fabric: 32 ct. Midnight (Lakeside Linens)
Fibers: Sampler Threads Morning Glory, Cidermill Brown, Butternut Squash, Wrought Iron, Holly Berry, Green Apple, Nutmeg, Cotton Candy
Extras: Button pack by JABCo

The designs on this web site are copyrights of Sue Rainer and Theresa Venette -- you may make one copy/enlargement of a chart you purchase to use as a stitching aid, but you may not make copies for friends or enemies. Any other reproduction of this chart, via computer, copier, fax machine, trained monkeys or monks sworn to a life of silence is prohibited by law, unless authorized in writing by Raise the Roof Designs. No foolin'!