Delores and Her Pillow

Delores just got back her hydrangea pillow. Isn't it lovely? She used Silk & Ivory threads for the whole canvas. In order to give the hydrangeas a more realistic look, she used a freeform eyelet for many of the flower petals. She also grounded the vase by creating a surface for the vase to sit on. Just seeing the pillow makes me long for summer and hydrangeas!

Start thinking about Flip Flops

If you like wearing flip flops, the Eliza B flip flops made with a needlepointed belt are perfect. We love them at the store. Gretchen is a particularly big fan of Eliza B's. She went absolutely nuts when she saw this wonderful belt by Associated Talents. She couldn't wait to pull the colors for it so you could see what a perfect design it is. Of course, it would be a great belt too but we see it as a pair of flip flops.

Easter Eggs

Although if you are stitching for this Easter, you need to have your canvas no later than today. But this is the perfect time to pick out an Easter canvas for next Easter. You can finish it and send it in way before Easter. Just think how you will enjoy having the finished canvas ready to hand by February or March 2012!

The reality of finishing is that many needlepoints are stitched with a holiday related theme. So consequently, the finishers are inundated with canvases just before any holiday. We've just posted the holiday deadlines for most of our finishers. You can go to our website to see the due dates.

Needle Vials

We just got in a new group of needle vials. Zecca must have realized that we are longing for spring and spring colors. The tops of these vials are just stunning. There are loads of pinks (hint-ask for one for Valentine's day or give one). The greens are just wonderful and look at the pink and green one! You can keep all your needles in one vials or have a vial for each size. These make a delighful addition to your tools.

Kathy Schenkel Ornament Tree

The Kathy Schenkel trunk show is such a large show that we have filled our long wall, two canvas drawers, mulitple baskets and our store Christmas tree. We managed to hang a few finished samples in addition to many of the mini stocking canvases with their stuffed inserts. It's hard to decide which ones to pick. Of course, you can decide to choose based on the place: Washington, DC, San Francisco, NYC, or by theme: princesses, horses, penguins, lobsters etc.

Hearts by Associated Talents

I brought back some heart canvases by Associated Talents from the show. Each canvas comes with a stitch guide; there are three canvases. The photo at the right shows two of the canvasea and the stitch guide for the third.

Of course, if it's February, there should be some hearts around. These hearts are pretty and quick to do.

Wood Laying Tools

We also just got a group of new wood laying tools. We have them done so that they are 6" long. There are several exotic woods to choose from. One can never have too many laying tools. Some stitchers prefer the wooden laying tools for flat threads such as neon rays and silk ribbon.

Fabulous Stand-ups

This delightful golfer is one of Kathy Schenkel's larger stand-ups. It comes with a stitch guide so you can easily replicate the finished item. It's a great gift for the golfer in your life -- or as a Christmas decoration in your golfing house!

Kathy Schenkel Ornaments

Here are two more finished ornaments from Kathy Schenkel Designs. The Ho Ho ornament is actually heart shaped. It was stitched using Scoth Stitch and Mosaic Stitches.

The Reindeer perched in the mini-stocking is from Kathy's most distinctive ornaments. Rudolph is on top of the chimney. The whole mini stocking suggests a wintry evening. (We know a lot about wintry evenings in New Jersey right now.)

I enjoy stitching Kathy's ornaments for several reasons. First, they are stitch-painted so you never have to worry what color goes where. In addition, they are fun to stitch and lend themselves to decorative stitches. I particulary like doing them when I travel.

Kathy Schenkel's Mini Stocking with Inserts

Kathy Schenkel Designs is well-known for their delightful mini-stockings with appropriate stuffed inserts. There are seals, cats, dogs, polar bears, horses, applies, baby boys, baby girls and various other inserts such as a lobster. The themes vary widely, too. There are a number of mini-stockings focused on varous cities, states and countries. Then there are stockings with themes: barns, castles, mermaids etc.

We have a number of stitchers who stitch a different ornament for their children or grandchildren each year. The choice of ornaments in this collection is so wide that the stitcher should be able to find the perfect ornament for anyone.

In With the New Threads, Out with the Old

Hyla's High Cotton

                
When I got back from TNNA, the new Hyla's High Cotton threads had already arrived. These beautiful threads are five stranded.  For #13 or #14 mesh, you only need to use 4 or 5 strands.  If you use is as it comes off the skein, you won't have to ply.  For #18 mesh, use 2 or 3 strands.  The cotton is just lovely to stitch with -- known as having a good hand. 

We've put all the colors in the computer.  You may not realize how important the color names are.  Entering a 100+ colors into the computer system is time-consuming and tedious.  But the names of the threads at least make it fun. 

Overdyed Petite and Very Velvet

We've also added some of the new overdyed Petite Very Velvet and Very Velvet.   And we expanded our selection of Silk Lame Braid in both sizes. 

Of course, before we could hang then up, we needed to create space for these lovely new threads. So, we have added to our sale racks of threads. We are selling for $1.50 Wonder Twist, Designer's Dream, Petite and Regular Sparkle Rays and a few colors of Fyre Werks. There are also some other miscellaneous threads on the rack. We have also added all of our remaining Anchor Pearl Cotton #3 for a $1 a skein. There's a good selection now but they will go quickly.

Other Designs by Kathy Schenkel

Cappy's beautiful thistle pillow was designed by Kathy Schenkel. She was so pleased with the results, she did it twice!

Kathy Schenkel's Backdrops

Kathy Schenkel has a wonderful selection of backdrops to commemorate different holidays and themes. These canvases are designed to sit behind small stand-ups so they form the background. The miniature canvases for the backrounds are very sweet and very appropriate. For example, for the Halloween backdrop there are small trick or treaters.

The Thanksgiving canvas has pilgirms and indians and even a turkey.

What appeals to me about these canvases in that they are relatively small, and can be used in different settings. If you prefer a pillow to acknowledge a holiday, you can just do the back drop. If you want to have a display of stand-ups, you can do the backdrop and the figures.

Penny the Hen and a Vermont Turkey

I really like images of chickens and turkeys. My kitchen has many pictures and ceramics of both. At one point, my husband came through the store and counted how many needlepoint canvases there were of chickens! For a while, I was not supposed to purchase any chicken needlepoint canvases.

But fortunately, the chickens and turkeys sold so I am now purchasing the canvases again. (This year, we will also be teaching  Larry the turkey again.)

I loved these two canvases by Cooper Oaks at the show. The first is called Penny and the second a Vermont Turkey. (Yesterday at class, Tony Minieri was admiring the hen.) When I look at these two canvases, I can imagine stitching them. A good way to start would be to review Jane of Chilly Hollow's recent blogs where she is talking about appropriate stitches.

There is enought time to do the turkey before Thanksgiving.

Large Stand-ups

There are quite a few larger canvases that are designed to be stand-ups.  Many come with a stuffed figure that should be placed on top of the stand-up.   Most come with a stitch guide and a picture of the finished piece.

We loved this one of a snowman surrounded by cardinals.  We think it would be fun to use different white threads for the snowman and fuzzy threads for the cardinals.

The Safari Santa would be perfect to commemorate a trip to Africa!  The stuffed elephant goes on top of the finished stand-up.

There are quite a few stand-ups with different themes.

Betsy's finished Canvas

Betsy's son and daughter-in-law just moved into a house in Hoboken. Betsy came in looking for a canvas to do for their new home. We knew that they had a dog and we had a wonderful canvas with Scotties and a townhouse. But we suggested looking to see if the same artist had a dachsund.

Betsy loved the canvas. The original had pink walls but she changed the color to match their new home.

We were honored today that Betsy stopped by to show us her finished work. She is planning on giving it to them on Sunday.

Kathy Schenkel Trunk Show

Our walls are filled with the Kathy Schenkel Trunk Show plus many baskets and two drawers. This is a very large trunk show with lots of needlepoint canvases. The canvases are wonderful. They are extremely well-painted.

I happen to love the small figures with backgrounds: Easter, Noah's Ark, Thanksgiving, The Nativity. They are just very sweet. And in most instances, you can choose to do just the background or the background and the figures.

I love the Santas becasue of the opportunity to work with beards and mustaches. In the next couple of days, I will post pictures of the finished canvases.

We have our small Christmas Tree in the store hung with her mini-stocking canvases with the delightful stuffed animals. I have enjoyed stitching these. My favorite is probably the elephant decorating the tree (and we have a stitch guide for that!)

Kathy Schenkel Santas

These delightful Santas are part of the Kathy Schenkel line. The first Santa is wearing reindeer slippers. The next two Santas are each with a different breed of dog -- a Standard Poodle and a Norwich Terrier. Kathy's line of needlepoint includes a large selection of dog breed ornaments. So there are lots of opportunities to celebrate your favorite dog or cat breed in needlepoint.

Kathy's canvases are perfect for using some decorative stitches.  The beards on the Santas in the back are done with a punch needle.  The other beard is done in French knots. 

Working to Get A Needlepoint Trunk Show UP

Before we can put up a trunk show, we need to make a list of the canvas prices. Then we have to check in all the canvases. Finally, when all the checking and converting is done, we hang up the canvases. If the trunk show is large, we also put needlepoint canvases in the drawers. And of course, we need to take pictures.

This picture shows Suzanne and Gretchen checking in the canvases today.

Kathy Schenkel Trunk Show

Yesterday, Suzanne priced the Kathy Schenkel trunk show.  Snow permitting, we plan to put it up today.  We will have her delighted designs until February 21. 

Most of Kathy's pieces are small, whimsical canvases.  They are perfect to take along when traveling.  I like to have this trunk show in just before February break so you can choose something to take along.  I promise to have pictures up in the next day.

Another wonderful aspect of this trunk show is all the finished samples.  Many of the canvases come with stitch guides, too.