David McCaskill's Classes

We have just finished three days of classes with David McCaskill. Above is a photo of David suggesting ideas for Teresa's canvas; on the right is Gail taking notes so that Teresa can follow-through on his suggestions. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't really a student this time but I managed to learn a lot. I loved the doubleand back knot that looks great on roses . (I will really have to practice this stitch with ribbon!)

One of the best things about David's classes is seeing his suggestions for so many different canvases. Sometimes it's for a canvas I love like the Vogue Lady and other times, it's for a canvas I might not pick -- but I love the suggestions.

Heartstrings Limited Edition

I just lived this delightful Santa when I was at the show. I loved the Swedish influence. I can see it as a large stand up welcoming people into a house decorated for Christmas. It even comes with a stitch guide! Obviously Pat Throde has her own style which is just charming.

It was a limited edition so I ordered two. I'm not sure if I can get more so if you love it, you need to let me know quickly.

Yankees Opening Day

Today was the first Yankee game in their New Stadium. I understand that fans came from near and far to see this historic game -- and many wouldn't reveal what they paid for the tickets! If you have a Yankees fan in your house, you could get them this fun Yankee license plate canvas. Of course, the designer would put in whatever state you wanted.

And the designer is Team neutral. She will also do the Mets, the Red Sox etc. So let us know if you want to be stitching this delightful canvas while the baseball season unfolds.

For those of you who want to recognize the historic occasion of new stadiums, we also have on order the new Citifields and the new Yankee Stadium. I'll get pictures up as soon as possible.

Talent Can Remain Hidden for Years

In the store, some customers have been stitching for many years. They learned to stitch at an aunt's, a grandmother's or a mother's knee. Others learned from friends in college or later.

But we have had many customers who took needlepoint up much later. And often, they turn out to be very talented.

A friend send me a clip from youtube for me to watch. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Just a Few more Stitches

I know when I am almost finished of a canvas, I can't wait to get it off for finishing. Unfortunately, I thought I was finished but I was wrong. Suzanne used her trusty bug eye to locate several missed stitches. So I had to bring the San Franciso mini stocking back home with me. I plan to finish it tonight and then get it off to the finisher.

I just love that the insert is a seal! When I first went to San Franciso, you could always see seals basking in the sun (or sometimes in the fog) on Seal Rock. It was so thrilling to see seals in the wild. On my more recent trips, the seals have moved closer to the pier but can still be found.

Josephine's Eggs

Josephine had all three eggs finished in time for Easter. She waited to have them all finished together so they would have a coordinated look. I think these are just charming and I understand that her children will be fighting over them. I would fight over them, too.

Josephine enjoys doing basketweave. Her eggs show that the tent stitch is often the perfect choice.

These eggs also come with a light green background -- just like the colors of Jelly Beans!

Sally's Nutcracker

Sally finished her first nutcracker recently and had it made into a stand-up. It is one of a series of whimsical Santas that she has beenworking on. This one was really delightful!

Judy's Easter Eggs

Judy stitched her eggs after the beginning of the year. Aren't they beautiful? She were able to get them done just in time for Easter. They arrived a few days before Easter and she was able to take them home and enjoy them for the holiday. course, it's not too late to start for next year.

Judy did do a great job on them.

If you are going to display your eggs together, it's best to finish them at the same time so they will have a coordinated look! We still have eggs left and it's really not too early to start for next year.

More about Prairie Chiickens

I've talked to a couple of customers about my birding trip to Nebraska. For those of you who are interested, I wanted to share two blogs with you that will give you more information. One is Rick Wright's blog: http://birdaz.com/blog. Rick also refers you to a new blog by Mitch who operates the tour to the Prairie Chicken. On his blog, he has a great picture of a Prairie Chicken = much more accurate than the impression I give at the store! His new blog is: http://surfbirds.com/blog/GrasslandDan/.

I continue to work on my San Francisco mini-stocking. I just have the water and a little bit of the bridge to finish. Then it's on to the Spring Door!

The Christmas Door

My finished Christmas door arrived today with all the Easter eggs. I promise to post pictures of those tomorrow.

I really enjoyed stitching this door. I had it finished so it can stand up along or be put on an easel.

The Christmas door is part of our Door club. They have all been fun to stitch and the first canvases should be going out soon. We are just waiting for them to arrive.

You can still join. I'm thinking of letting people purchase 3 doors with the option of adding other ones. Of course, if you get all six doors you can have your own door done!!

Kathy Schenkel's San Franciso Mini Stocking

I'm almost finished with this delightful mini-stocking. As some of you know, this mini stocking is Kathy's newest mini stocking design. But since my husband is from San Francisco, I just had to stitch it immediately. I'm very pleased that I managed to keep the bridge dominant. The gull is being turned into a Hermann's gull because it is a dark gull and will look great against the foggy sky. I plan on stitching the sails in a very white thread for contrast. The green area will be knots.

I have really enjoyed stitching this and can't wait to get it off to the finisher. I love it when the things come back.

Portuguese Tile

I know that most of you are familiar with The Caron Collection, the manufacturer of some of our favorite threads - impressions, snow, watercolours and waterlilies to name a few.

But how many of you realized that they also have a wonderful line of canvases. Their designs are beautifully stitch-painted and definitely have their own unque style. Most are sophisticated geometrics. In addition, you can choose to have the design painted on #13 or #18 canvas.

We just received two canvases. The one above is called Portuguese Tile. I loved the blues and greens and the combination of flowers and geometrics. It is truly a beautful canvas.

My trip to Nebraska

I know that some of you were surprised that I was going to Nebraska. So I thought you might enjoy seeing the picture of one of the birds I went to see. The picture above is of a Greater Praire Chicken doing it's territorial/ mating dance. The male chickens defend a spot on a piece of prairie against other males -- and try to seduce the very particular females. There were up to 70 males in various stages of the dance - each female seems to come alone so that the males can fuss over her! We had some wonderful views of other birds too but didn't get to see the same level of performance with the Sharp-tailed grouse. I'm hoping that I can go again with Rick Wright to see the Sharp Tailed Grouse perform, too.

I did manage to get some stitching done but not as much as I had hoped. It's amazing how plane delays can eat into planned layover time.

I'm still working on the San Francisco mini stocking.

The big news is that Gretchen had done a stitch guide for the NYC mini stocking. Let us know if you want us to pull the threads for you and make a copy for you.

JP Needlepoint Purse

Helen suggested that I stitch a purse for the store. Of course, I love color and this seemed like a great store sample. It's one of the JP bags that come with a decorative ribbon and are finsihed as a pouch.

Although I can do decorative stitches while watching TV, I must say that I have found it very soothing to stitch this canvas using basketweave and Silk & Ivory. It reminds me that we really should vary our stitching projects. We need different things from our stitching at different times.

I do love the colors of this purse and look forward to seeing it finished. I'm about half way done.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Nebraska to see the cranes at Platt River. I have lots of airport layover time so I should get lots of stitching done.

Elephant Decorating the Tree

When the Kathy Schenkel trunk show arrive, I knew I had to stitch this elephant. I posted the picture of the plain canvas in early February. I couldn't start to stitch until after my copy of the canvas arrived at the end of February. (For trunk shows, the first person who signs up gets the canvas).

Once the trunk show left, I was able to start stitching. Above is a picture of the finished canvas just before it went off to be finished into a mini stocking. It will have an elephant insert.

I stitched the elephant using petite very velvet. Of course, because it's for Christmas, there is lots of glitter on the floor, on the tree's ornaments, and even on the wallpaper.

My husband and I used to read a group of kids stories about the Large Family. The Larges were elephants; the titles and stories were particularly amusing for the adult readers and kids liked them too. When you read a story over and over again, it's good to enjoy it. Anyway, the elephant decorating the tree brought back the enjoyable memory of the "Large" elephant family.

Nancy's Coat Ladies

Nancy took our first coat ladies class last summer. Didn't she do a great job!

The fun part of this class is that it lends itself to the more novice stitcher and the more advanced stitcher, like Nancy. In order for Nancy to get more out of the class, we encouraged her to choose her own stitch for the coat on the right. In addition, she felt comfortable changing the colors used.

We will be teaching this great class again in the fall. I must admit it is one of my favorite pieces.

Kathy Schenkel's San Francisco Mini Stocking

I don't usually stitch ornaments but right now, I am in the middle of stitching Kathy Schenkel's mini stocking of an elephant decorating a tree. I also ordered the NYC and the New Jersey mini stockings. (The NYC mini stocking has an apple for its insert; the New Jersey mini stocking has a seagull.)
Today we received Kathy's brand new San Francisco mini stocking. The insert is a brown seal. It's perfect for the traveler or your favorite Californian. My husband grew up just outside of San Franciso so he will be receiving an unstitched one for his birthday on Sunday. Then I will have to stitch that one before my NYC one.

So suddenly I am stitching four mini stockings (plus the doors and my Rockefeller Center Stocking and a purse.) How many are you stitching?

I will be traveling next week to Nebraska and have quite a big of time in between flights. I am hoping that I will use the time to stitch these ornaments!

Kansas City Rooftops

I designed this piece as a teaching piece. Sue Dulle did the student booklet layout for me and edited my prose. She was a delight to work with.

She liked the piece so much that she asked for permission to stitch it. Of course, I was honored and thrilled that someone wanted to stitch it.

Above, I have posted a picture of Sue's stitched piece. She has it beautifully framed and then entered in in the National Needle Arts Exhibit. I just wanted to share Sue Dulle's entry into the NAN exhibit.

Seeing hers, it made me realize that I need to frame mine, too. In case you want to read more about Sue's piece, you can read her blog at www.sudukc.wordpress.com.

Finished Piece

Nina is a really fast stitcher. She wanted to do something special for her husband's birthday so she stitched his initials. The monogram was designed to fit into this handsome Lee jewelry box. Several other customers are doing canvases that fit into this jewelry box. Either would make a lovely gift.

But there is a very limited supply of these jewelry boxes so if you want one, let us know immediately!

Learning to Post Pictures

I know you have seen the photo of the finished Valentine's Day Door but I am practicing how to post pictures myself. I do love this door and really fell in love with Silk Lame when I was stitching it.