Jane's Chair

You know how people often say that they would like to come back as another person's dog or child or something. Well, I want to come back as Jane's grandchild (either one of them). For her first grandchild, Jane did a lovely rocking chair with a Winnie the Pooh Design. For her grandaughter's first birthday, she has completed this lovely rocking chair with a Beatrix Potter figure. It is perfectly stitched and just lovely. Jane is an incredibly precise and fast stitcher. This is only one of the projects she has finished in the past year.

Blog Pictures

I realized that when I posted this picture, it wasn't small enough. I have been learning to post the pictures myself on the blog and it is definitely a learning process. I've decided that the Microsoft ads showing kids doing fantastic photo manipulations are aimed at the wrong audience. Instead, they should show a 58 1/2 year old woman easily posting pictures to her blog! Of course, I am still sorting through deciing what size they need to be!

Valentine's Day Door.

I am so excited. Last night I put the finishing touches on the Valentine's Day Door. The finished door is so vibrant and three dimensional! I loved using the new Silk Lame by Rainbow Gallery. It's part of the Door Club.

I plan to start working on the Spring door next unless the Patriotic Door takes hold of my imagination. To be honest, that's the one I want to work on next and then I want to do Autumn followed by Spring and Summer. Oh well, we'll see how disciplined I can be.

New Belts

Some great new canvases arrived today. We received a Happy Everything belt for the person who likes to celebrate every holiday! We all received a crew belt. It's perfect for the crew member in your house whether they are in high school, college or even a graduate. I know there are lots of crew people out there.

Chanukah Door

I am so excited! Tonight, I finished the Chanukah Door for the The Doors Club. Although there are dreidels in the door, I think it would also be a great winter door -- you would just have to stitch beyond the dreidel shape.

This is the second door that I have finished. I hope to finish the Valentine's Door tomorrow night. I'll then be 1/3 done. I plan to stitch the Spring or Patriotic Door next

Packing and Unpacking- Books & Canvases

We spend Tuesday and Wednesday packing up the Kathy Schenkel trunk show. It is a delightful show to have and many of you got some fabulous canvases to stitch.

The last two days we have spend unpacking all the boxes that arrived earlier in the week. We got our order of Stitches To Go plus two new books - Julia Snyder 's Categories for Needlepoint and
Suzy Murphy's Mini Stitches. Both books look great. I can't wait to sit down with each one.

We only received a couple of the new books but if we run out, we'll be glad to order more.

Then we unpacked lots of canvases. We got some new tallis bags, a wonderful lady drinking tea and a group of Lee canvases.

Finally, the new Wiltex wool threads arrived!

Black and White Hen

This is one of my favorite canvases. I ordered it at the show but it hasn't arrived yet. The hen has such character!

We have been receiving canvases from the show this past week. We've gotten in some wonderful tallis bags, ornaments and the wonderful Vogue Lady that Judy Hendrickson stitched. The picture is posted on a previous blog - Finishing January 11, 2009

Audrey Hepburn canvas

This remains one of my favorite canvases. It's by Shelley Tribbey and comes on #13 mesh and #18 mesh. I love it that although not a picture of Audrey Hepburn, it definitely seems like it is Audrey.

What do you think? Also, notice the fantastic finishing.

Another Chandelier

If the mermaid chandelier is just to big a project for you, consider this much smaller chandelier by Shelley Tribbey. It's a different pillow and the finishing makes all the difference.

I'm so excited. We just figured out how I can add pictures directly. It will mean that the blogs can have more pictures. I've been sending them to
our computer guy to upload. This is fantastic.

Mermaid Chandelier

It's always fun to open the packages that arrive at the store. Finishing is often the most exciting because you get to see how the piece actually turns out. But there are some canvases that just call you to pick beautiful threads and stitches.

One of those canvases arrived last week. Terri had ordered the Mermaid Chandelier about six months ago. It is actually hand-painted by the artist, Barbara Elmore. When it arrived this week, everyone was just taken away by how beautiful it is.



Gretchen and I have started to pull threads and to think about stitches. We will have it for another week or so while we create a suggested thread and stitch guide so try to come by to see it.

Easter Isn't Far Away

We aren't far away from Easter. This week at the store we received some adorable Easter eggs from Associated Talents. Suzanne scooped one up before it even got into the drawer!

In addition to eggs, we received some carrots. Of course, the stitching makes a difference but the finishing makes them to die for. Below I've posted a picture of three finished carrots.

Project Bags

The new project bags have almost flower out of the store. The large sacks are perfect for carrying your needlepoint project on stretcher bars. Other customers have also liked the smaller project bags for travel projects. Others have snapped up the gadget bags. Although I got them in red, blue and black, I can also get them in purple. Since I'm planning on ordering more in the next week, I'd be delighted to order the colors or styles that you would like.

In my original post, I forgot to mention that the bags are manufactured here in the United States. I believe they utilize disabled workers so there is an added benefit to these bags.

We will be ordering them again this week so if you have a particular preference, please let us know. We will be glad to accomodate you.

I'm Back from Tucson

I returned from Tucson late Friday night. I enjoyed the brief time away and got started on the Chanukah door for The Doors Club. It's coming along nicely. I do plan on taking pictures of that and the Valentine's Door to post on this blog before I get them off for finishing.

When I returned to the store, I found out that an article had been published about me in the Ridgewood News. I'm trying to get a way to have it posted on our web site.
It includes a picture of me stitching the Rockefeller Center Christmas Stocking. People at the store and at the bank had seen it before I did! If I can get it on the website, I'll announce it on the blog.

Ridgewood News- Keeping 'em in stiches

I returned from Tucson late Friday night. I enjoyed the brief time away and got started on the Chanukah door for The Doors Club. It's coming along nicely. I do plan on taking pictures of that and the Valentine's Door to post on this blog before I get them off for finishing.

When I returned to the store, I found out that an article had been published about me in the Ridgewood News. I'm trying to get a way to have it posted on our web site.
It includes a picture of me stitching the Rockefeller Center Christmas Stocking. People at the store and at the bank had seen it before I did! If I can get it on the website, I'll announce it on the blog.

International Santas, Golfer and Boarders

I'm leaving for Tucson today at noon but I wanted to let you see a few of the finished Kathy Schenkel Santas.

Kathy has a delightful series of International Santas. There are about twenty Santas that include some cities (Venice, Paris, New York, London) and some countries (Australia, Spain). Below, I have posted a picture of three of the Santas. Gretchen did two of these.



Then, for the sporting people in your life, Kathy has a large Golfing Santa. It's terrific.


Finally, she has smaller stand-ups for the boarders in your life. Helen did these for her sons. One is a surfer and the other is a snowboarder.

New Project Bags

At the show we found these great new project bags. The flat sacks were designed to carry needlepoint canvases on frames. They come in three colors (red, blue and black) and two sizes (large and medium). Perfect to carry your larger projects.

We also bought some project bags to put your threads in and some smaller bags for your needlepoint tools. Suzanne and Helen both thought the bags were great when we opened them today.

Looking forward to warm weather

Maureen has a new house at the beach and she has been stitching for it. This lovely group of umbrellas really came out great. She used different threads and stitches.

Can't you imagine how great it will look at a beach house?

Kathy Schenkel Designs Trunk Show

Yesterday and today we checked in the Kathy Schenkel trunk show. Her line has a very wide range of subjects although the majority of items are smaller -- think ornament size. But she also has a great series of lighthouses.

Kathy has many designs that are finished as 3-D ornaments. In addition, there is a wide price range.

I must say that I really enjoyed checking this trunk show in. I loved the Thanksgiving scene. Today, I fell in love with the 12 Dogs of Christmas and Meow Christmas. Either set would be lovely for the dog or cat lover in your life.

Kathy's designs are easy to stitch since they are stitch-painted.

You Tube Fans

One of the most popular You Tube videos is of the Bulgarian Idol singer with her interpretation of the Mariah Carey song. There is a small needlepoint canvas immortalizing her singing. It's a hoot for You Tube Fans.

New Items Are coming in

We've started to receive the first items from the show. The fabulous watchbands from L'Esprit de France have arrived. In addition, we have some lovely provence inspired canvases from them. Come to see them soon since one or two have already sold!

We also have Lee's ID tags, two black jewelry cases (either one would be a great gift for a man). You could just add initials and you'd have a great gift. We also got the yellow and cranberry gift boxes from Lee that go perfectly with two Lani designs. Either one would make a great gift and are quick projects.

For the cat lover, we have a Barbara Russell Maine Coon Cat who is sitting up on a quilt. Even though I've ordered these, it's always a treat to get the new things.