Star ornament

Josephine did four of these lovely ornaments. They are really sweet and should look great on the tree.

Dreidel

It's easy this time of year to think that everything coming back is for Christmas. But we actually continue to get regular finishing back plus items for Chanukah. Nancy was delighted with her finished dreidel. It's very pretty. We actually finished two this year but I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the Sandra's.

Bruce's Tag

I really didn't think I would finish the tag for Bruce's stocking before Christmas. But I picked some stitches that went relatively quickly. It's hard to see the purple building on the right but I found a great stitch. It's the horizontal buttonhole gobelin stitch. It moves quickly and provides lots of movement.

Anyway, if you have been following the information about the Midtown Manhattan Stocking (we call it the Rockefeller Center Stocking), you know that we've been creating custom name tags for individuals to stitch. There really isn't room on this stocking for the name in a traditional cuff. Of course, one advantage of a tag is that the stocking can be handed down! After three years of work, I want it to be an heirloom.

We will be doing two name tags based on St. Patrick's Cathedral; we've done one of the Botanical Gardens and one of a Barnegat Light. I did this one because Bruce has worked at Rockefeller Center for almost 28 years. At least once a year, he sees a camel being walked outside. (The camels come from the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show.) I just thought it would be fun to make this part of his stocking.

Diane's finished stocking

Just before we closed for Thanksgiving, we received Diane's finished stocking back. It's beautiful.

Diane had some really lovely embellishments. She embroidered Christmas New York in script on top of the needlepointed sky and moon. Her moon is lovely with a diamond shaped embellisment and she beaded her waterfall.

It was so interesting to see the same canvas done so many different ways!

School Snowman

We love these school Snowman. ( They can also be done with a Santa). Ali did a great job with her snowmen. The hats look warm enough to wear and I love the pompoms. In addition, she beaded the pennants!

Our finisher was able to then use the same beads in the twist for a glittery effect!

Don't you wish you were getting these for Christmas?

My Rockefeller Center Stocking is Finished

After a little over 3 years of work, I finally finished my Rockefeller Center Stocking. I am giving it to my husband who has worked there for over 26 years.

It has been a labor of love but also an incredible learning experience. I beaded the sky and the tree. I played with different threads. It is fascinating to watch the same design appear so different because of the threads and stitches used.

I am delighted it is done.

DJ Trunk Show

The DJ Design trunk show arrived yesterday. Although it's technically not supposed to be up until the 27th, we have hung many of the beautiful canvases.

We love this trunk show because there is such a wonderful variety of items and themes. This picture is of a beautiful shell canvas on #13 mesh. It's really stunning and has a coordinating piece.

Dale's line includes some wonderful designs. There are feminine and masculine designs plus American Indian inspired geometrics. It's just fabulous.

I will be sending an email out - hopefully this weekend, but I thought you might want to get your name in first on your favorite piece. Of course, if we don't have it, we can get it for you. All DJ designs are 10% off during the trunk show. And we will release canvases before Christmas if it's a holiday gift.

Suzanne's Stocking

Although I've been working on my stocking for almost 3 years (or maybe it is 3 years), Suzanne bought, stitched and had this stocking finished all within 3 months. We think it took her less than 2 months to stitch it -- and it's big! She did a beautiful job on the beauty!

Although I don't want to hear Christmas music before Thanksgiving (today we heard Christmas songs on the radio), I love receiving the finished items back. At this time of year, most of what we get back is Christmas. It's lots of fun to open the packages and see how lovely the items are.

I'll be highlighting various items over the next few weeks.

New toys

Since Christmas and Chanukah will be here soon, we wanted to make sure we had great stocking stuffers for you. On the top left are the new needle threaders from Zecca. Easy to use, you may want one for your tool case.

We also have snip-tipz so that you can cover the point of your sharp embroidery scissors. We haven't had them in a while but you asked us to carry them again.

Finally, we love the needle vials with their pretty tops.

These make perfect holiday gifts for teachers, co-workers and for your own stocking!

Rockefeller Center Stocking

Today, Helen found all my missing stitches. I now have to stitch those and then bead the stars and spread some beads around the tree. It really is like building a house. It looks like it's almost done but then all the little details take forever to finish.

I don't like to rip. I basically believe that whatever you stitch in five years time will look better anyway, so why not just note how you would change it the next time. But I ran out of the dye lot for the orange thread used for the Chrysler. So I had to rip and then I ripped more. Now my Chrysler building is done all in metallics; it looks so much better. It really looks like the light is reflecting.

Oh well, on to stitching and beading!

NJ Mini Stocking

I thought I was finished but I didn't like the way the seagull looked against the way sails. So this afternoon, I ripped out the stitches and restitched the area in petite peluche. I'm much happier with it.

Even though I don't like to rip, this was worth it.

School Santas

We love these school Santas and Snowman. Allie did a wonderful job stitching hers. She beaded the names of the school. And then our finisher incorporated the beading into the trim!

Don't you wish you were getting one of these for Christmas!

Trip to Winterthur

On Saturday, Bruce and I drove down to Winterthur, the DuPont Estate just outside of Wilmington, Wilmington, DE. We've been talking about visiting for years but just never got around to it. We really wanted to go to see the antique furniture but I was pleasantly surprised to see bits of DuPont's tapestry collection. Evidently, Henry Francis DuPont collected the largest antique fabric collection in existence.

Included in his collection were several needlepoints. Their was a needlepointed chair cover (the needlepoint for an entire wing chair) that had been done in the late 18th century. I also learned that needlepoint kits have been around since the late 17th century. Typically, the kit included a pattern, the threads and the material. There were early examples of completed painted canvases, too.

New Scissors

If you are looking for a new scissors, Gingher just came out with their Elena scissors, pictured below. The scissors has a very impressionistic look to it. This scissors is in Gingher's Design Collection, so if you are collecting them, take note.
Perhaps, you are just looking for a new embroidery scissors. Why not try these?

Almost Finished

I've been hoping that my Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Stocking would be finished very soon. Each night, I get closer and closer. At this point, I have just two buildings to finish, various missed stitches and the beading to do.

It's amazing that the final stitching takes so long. It must be like building a house where the framing happens so quickly but the inside finishing takes forever!

I am very excited to be so close! I can actually taste it. I looked for a picture of my stocking but can't find one in my files. I promise to take one before I send it off.

In trying to decide the fnal color for one of the buildings, I actually xeroxed the stocking in black and white. The black and white image clearly demonstrated to me that the canvas artist had chosen light colors to keep that section light. So although I am moving off the original colors a bit, I will still follow them somewhat.

Featured Retailer & Thanksgiving Reminder

Ridgewood Needlepoint is the featured retailer on www.theworldofneedlepoint.com The article describes what we do and has some new pictures. Take a look.

I also wanted to remind everyone that we will be closed for Thanksgiving from Saturday afternoon, November 21 through Thursday, November 26th! We will all be preparing for Thanksgiving with our families.

Vote for Ridgewood Needlepoint

The political elections are over but 201 Magazine is having its readers choose the best of Bergen County for 2010. Unfortunately, they don't have a category just for needlepoint. But you can still let them know how much you enjoy Ridgewood Needlepoint. Submit Ridgewood Needlepoint as the best shopping destination and the best kept secret in Bergen County.

To vote go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DSug0VStJbDGDxDnltopTw_3d_3d

It's also an opportunity to vote for other favorite stores in Bergen County.

We appreciate your support.

Shoe Fetish

I just love this canvas. I know so many people who just love shoes. So many choices to choose from.

Jane's Stocking and Tags

Jane's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Stocking has returned from the finisher. In addition to stitching the stocking, she stitched two tags for her son and his fiance. Bryan chose a New Jersey Light house as the theme for his stocking while Casey chose the place where they will be married.

What a wonderful gift! Jane is making sure the stocking and tags are protected. They will be placed in a shadow box that can be opened to take the stocking out for Christmas!

Cheri's London Santa

We love this time of year since we start getting back the finished items for Christmas. Of course, these finished items are generally for the stitchers who dropped their items off way before the October 1 deadline.

Cheri has been stitching a series of these international Santas. They come with stitch guides and are just great!

Greg's Cummberbund

Gretchen stithced this delightful cumberbund for her husband, Greg. She definitely has a plan since the Junior League Festival of Trees is on November 21st. Greg will be wearing his penguins.

Notice that in the bottom picture, the penguins are holding martini glasses. These weren't on the original canvas but Gretchen embellished it a little. Aren't they fun?