Melissa Shirley has done it again.  These Thanksgiving Crackers will make a beautiful display on any holiday table.  There are a dozen designs to choose from or make them all.  This is a terrific quick project that may be carried anywhere and makes a perfect hostess gift.

How gorgeous is this geometric that Fran made.  We have encouraged her to put it in a competition. Look at the detail.

This canvas was custom painted for Eva by our staff painter.  She recently completed a Tallis Bag for her husband and is now going to make him this pillow.  Eva is our newest member of Stitch and Chat and we are enjoying her company.

These are some of the new designs Lee came out with for the January market.  We couldn't resist picking up a couple.  I can't wait to show you the completed one that is currently at the finishers.

We have chosen to post 21 of our sale canvases online this weekend for President's Day.  Please send us an email at www.stitches@ridgewoodneedlepoint.com if you are interested in purchasing any of them. 

Elephant $75 13 mesh  13 x 13


Lion $75 13 mesh 13 x 13


Hydrangea $30 18 mesh  13 x 9 Designed by Nedlepoint Broad



Noah's Christmas Ark $70 18 mesh 14 x 15


Football Banner $55 18 mesh 7 x 15



Gen Stark Sign $30 13 mesh 11 x 11 Designed by Julia


Scottish Terrier $20 13 mesh 8 x 10 Leigh Design



Noah's Ark $20 18 mesh 7 x 7



Queen of Hearts $30 13 mesh 12 x 91/2 Designed by Anne Cram


Queen of Hearts with leather pieces $20 18 mesh 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 Designed by Boots Bailey



Paris Poodle Flip Flop $10  18 mesh  2 x 4


Nautical Collage $75 18 mesh 16 x 12 1/2 Designed by Patti Mann

One of our beloved designers Petei has decided to retire at the end of 2012.  It is making big news in the needlepoint world.  In case you are interested in picking up one of her designs or completing a set you might have started we wanted to share with you the only two canvases we have in the shop.  Please send us an email if you are interested.

We only have the following two Munchkins left from The Wizard of Oz series.

It is Christmas everyday as new canvases keep arriving from vendors all over the country.  I look forward to starting these mini acorns and carrots over the summer to have ready for the Harvest Season.

I found these snowflakes to be quite fun to do.  I chose to do mine in basketweave and let the threads and design do the work.

 

Right now you can also pick up these doors for $30 

and the canvases include a stitch guide.

Happy Valentine's Day!  

And as our gift to you we are offering this canvas 

with a stitch guide for $30.

We have a limited amount so please email early 

if you are interested.

 

We received some beautiful finishing the other day and now have some very happy customers. 

Carol did the Geometric, 

Donna completed the Daffodils and 

Barbara finished her flower basket with picket fence.

 Flying this Spring take along one of these small festive canvases for the plane ride.

 

Have a peek at what else arrived!

 

 

A Little Lesson in History and Tradition:

In Japan there is a ceremonial festival dedicated to broken needles.  It is called Hari-kuyo: Festival of Broken Needles. In the Hari-Kuyo ceremony, Japanese women gather once a year on February 8th at Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples to thank their worn out needles and pins for good service.  It is also a time to value the small, everyday objects of daily living and to wish for progress in one's needle work. In what is known as the Festival of Broken Needles, women gather to offer a funeral-type service by laying the needles to rest in soft jelly cakes or tofu. This burial is meant to bring rest to the needles and wrap them with tenderness and gratitude.  Further to the idea of laying the needles to rest for good service is the idea that women have many secret sorrows in life. These sorrows are often passed to the needles during long hours of stitching and the needles are thought to take on the burden of some of these sorrows, thus taking them away with the stitching that they do.  This "rest" is brought to the needles in appreciation for their faithful service.  Another aspect of the ceremony is the consideration for "the value of small things." The concept of Mottainai, or not being wasteful, is related to the usefulness of the needles. These small but important tools would give long, useful service throughout the year. They were not to be lost or wasted nor carelessly replaced.

Spring is in the air and that reminds us that 

babies are being born.

While at the show we picked up this adorable Valentine Hearts suitable for anyone's Special Sweetheart.

Just in time for Feverish Frog February 

Silk & Ivory introduced it new colors....how appropriate!

Forget about Football Fever 

Ridgewood Needlepoint has Frog Fever 

going on right now for the month in honor of Leap Year.  

We have about 100 of these frogs 

hopping and leaping around the shop.

We bought these at the Trade Show and were thrilled by the finishing work.  Just keep an eye on our blog to see how they turn out as they don't look like much but a simple triangle.

Have you heard that we are holding this class?  You too can have a chocolate bunny hopping around this Easter.  Call our shop for details if you are interested.  They are so simple and clean looking yet festive and decorative.

This was designed by one of our customers who than had it painted for her with her family name.  Since completing this, she received so many compliments that she has now commissioned the painter for 4 more family members.  It is a great way to practice or learn new stitches.

Isn't it amazing how Christmas is always in the air?