The Designer Showhouse of New Jersey

There is a designer showcase in Saddle River, New Jersey this month through Novmeber 4th. If you come this week (starting Monday, October 15) through Sunday, October 21, Ridgewood Needlepoint has a table in the boutique area. We will be display some of our finished projects and have a few things for sale. The address is: The Designer Showhouse of New Jersey, 19 Werimus Brook Road, Saddle River, NJ.

Christmas Finishing

One of our finishers has just let us know that she can probably take stockings or pillows through the end of the month! So, if you were behind in your stitching of these items, there is still hope. But you need to hurry.

This week we received lots of Christmas items back. You know -- for the people who get things done in order to make the deadline!

BeauDonna Trunk Show

Did you know that Deborah Wilson, the designer for Beau Geste sold her needlepoint business to her daughter, Donna? The line has been renamed BeauDonna and it arrived this week at the store. The canvases are hung for you to look at. It still has lots of wonderful Christmas items.

A great feature is some fun Christmas designs on #13 canvas. I think they would be great for a beginner.

In addition, there are two lovely leaf designs. Both designs are in a circle so your pillows or framed piece can add a little variety.

And the line still contains those wonderful cars! There is a red Mercedes Benz and a red Porsche. What a great gift for the man or boy in your life!

There are still a few opening for the Deborah Wilson classes. I'm looking forward to learning some new techniques.

Where Does The Time Go?

I just realized that I haven't posted in over a week. I have been checking the recipes on www.TheArmchairchef.com. Lots of needlework designers and store owners have submitted recipes for Tink's Halloween Countdown. Not surprisingly, pumpkin seems to be a big feature.

In fact, after reading the recipes, I had to make sure we had pumpkin pie this pie week. Somehow, I ended up buying it instead of making one. I've been focused on completing the The Quilt Line for my National Academy of Needlearts teacher certification. I'm hoping to send it out tomorrow!!

My recipe is on The Armchair Chef

I wanted to check if the recipes were posted on the Armchair chef (www.armchairchef.com). I was delighted to see my recipe for plum torte. It's just a wonderful cake that you need to make quickly since those small italian or hungarian plums aren't around for long.

I also want to try the sugar cookies. The person who posted that recipe talked about class mothers!

I'm hoping someone posts a recipe for caramel apples. I love those too!

Finishing

Those stitchers who finished their Christmas ornaments early will be getting calls soon. Today we got back one of the first ornaments for 2007. It's a Melissa Shirley cracker and it's just adorable!

We also received an absolutely stunning pillow today. It was just beautiful.

Recipes on The Armchair Chef

I'm looking forward to October. Tink's blog - The Armchair Chef (www.TheArmchairChef.com)will be featuring Halloween recipes. We all know that I love this season. I even submitted two recipes myself.

I can't wait to see what other people are posting.

Doug Kreinik's Class

What a great class! Doug Kreinik gave two great classes today on metallic and silk threads. I learned a great deal and had fun doing it.

For those of you in the Rockefeller Center Class who missed the class, there are two threads that I think would work for the angels -- ombre and petite facets. We'll have to explore. There were some other great embellishment ideas!

We also have a number of Kreinik's delightful silk gauze kits. I was surpised because they really aren't that small. There are some wonderful Christmas designs plus some lovely dogs (golden retriever, german shepherd, yorkshire terrier, poodle). There are some lovely cross-stitch kits also called "Remember the Ladies." A number of them feature a cat in front of a quilt.

We also have Kreinik's metal thread book and a book on silk threads. We'll have the product for at least another week. Come in and see them.

Jersey /Oregon Girls don't Pump Gas

Did you know that there only two states in the country where people aren't allowed to pump gas? New Jersey and ...... Oregon! We've so enjoyed the canvas Jersey Girls Don't Pump Gas that we convinced Needlepoint Broad to do one for Oregon. These designs are done in the color of the state license plaste. New Jersey girls also comes in pink and green. What a hoot for those of us who hate to pump gas!

Doug Kreinik's Class and Trunk Show

Today, I started to unpack the trunk show from Doug Kreinik. These are items that Doug brought along for his class on metallics and silks class on Sunday. So even if you aren't registered for the class, you will get the chance to see a great array of Kreinik products.

For those of you who are regretting that you didn't sign up, we still have a few places on Sunday afternoon, September 30th from 2-5 pm.

New Class Scheduled with Barbara Jackson

I'm so excited! I've just arranged for Barbara Jackson to teach at Ridgewood Needlepoint on Sunday, November 11th from 2pm-5pm. Barbara is a nationally recognized teacher who is famous for her short and long stitches. So she is going to do a class for us on short & long stitches. There will be a small kit.

Short & long stitches are very appropriate for needlepoint. I'll post more information as soon as I have it.

Rockefeller Center Stocking

I've been so focused on the paper doll outfits (Thanksgiving is posted on the blog and I'm working on the leopard coat), my beginner's needlepoint course for the National Academy of Needlearts plus the other requirements for the teacher preparation year, that I've just not gotten to the stocking. Tomorrow, the class is meeting after two months off.

So I pulled the stocking out. I love the way the Christmas tree looks done in Kreinik threads. I also like the moon done in Rainbow Gallery's new patina. Now, I have to move on. The angels are still the challenge since I don't want them to take away from the Tree.

I'm also anxious to see how other people are doing.

Fall & Fall Recipes.

I'm making a trip out to Shelter Island tomorrow to take advantage of the glorious fall. It's still early for the real impact of the leaves changing but I love the quietness of September. At the store, customers are beginning to pick up their Halloween ornaments. Others are dropping off their Christmas ornaments.

There are lots of great recipes to take advantage of the fall season or to celebrate Halloween. Tink Boord has asked me to contribute a recipe for her blog -
www.thearmchairchef.com. I've submitted one of my favorite fall recipes - a plum torte.My recipe can also be used with apples and cranberries. But I can't wait to see what other people are submitting. I'm looking forward to an influx of new ideas.

THE QUILT LINE

As some of you may remember, I am enrolled in the 3 year teacher certification program of the National Academy of NeedleArts. One of the requirements is a 12-hour beginner's course. The final draft is due on Saturday and I've just about wrapped it up. I hope to mail it off tomorrow.

I designed the piece and wrote the stitch guide. I thought you might be interested in a picture so I'm posting it.

Kreinik Trunk Show

We will be receiving a trunk show from Kreinik prior to Doug's visit. We expect to receive it on Monday, September 24th. We will be giving the 10% discount on all Kreink items during that week through Doug's visit on September 30th.

Christmas Finishing Deadlines-OCTOBER 1, 2007

I can't believe it's almost the middle of September. But that means we need your Christmas items very soon. In order to guarentee Christmas delivery, we need your stitched items by October 1, 2007

The Petei Trunk Show

Did you go to the Designer Showcase of New Jersey last year? If you did, you probably rmemember the adorable story characters that were stitched and framed in one show room.

We are going to carry these wonderful needlepoints. We were able to snag a couple of the storybook characters for this trunk show in addition to a wonderful collection of Santas. I love the Santa on the moose and the Santa in the canoe. The story characters include characters from The Nutcracker, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan and Alic in Wonderland.

The needlepoints are small - perfect for carrying around with you while you wait at the doctor's office or for the kids. Check her website:http://www.petei.com. We will honor the 10% discount on orders while the trunk show is here. It leaves on September 25th.

Doug Kreinik Class

The Doug Kreinik classes are filling up rapidly. He will be presenting his_Metallic and Silk Mystery Tour" at Ridgewood Needlepoint on Sunday, September 30 from 10am-1 pm and again from 2-5 pm. It should be a great class and will enhance your stash.
Contact the store to reserve your place. 201-612-7770.

I'm Back

I just realized that I haven't posted since I returned from the ANG seminar in Baltimore. First, I took two great courses on Design. One by Carole Lake and the other by Janet Mitchell Fisher. I learned a lot in each one. As you may know, I thought they would both help me in my background information for the NAN teaching certification program.

At seminar, Gretcher V. won a second place ribbon for her Candy Village. A picture is posted below in a previous blog.

When I got back, I got exciting news. A Patchwork for Peace is going to be republished. We've been unable to get copies for a while. If you want to pre-order, please call the shop. The book will be $60. But it's a great book with fabulous color photos and diagrams.

I've been consumed with my NAN beginner's course. It's due on September 15. Tonight, I just need to do the sample beginning and ending techniques and proofread all the pieces. I hope to mail it out by Thursday!

Anyway, I promise to be more regular.

My Red Truck

Everyone once in a while, there is a canvas that I cannot resist. Right now at the store, we have a fabulous rug called "My Red Truck." It's the truck that every boy and man (and perhaps some women and girls, too) wants to have. I don't know if you have a grandchild, child or significant other who wants a rug truck-this may be the solution.

Although I think the rug is to die for, the design now comes in pillow size on #13 and #18 canvas.



Don't you agree that it's great?