TNNA

I've been walking the convention floor and taking pictures but then had technical difficulties.

First, I forgot my camera battery but managed to purchase a replacement. So I started taking pictures on Friday. When I went to blog yesterday, my broadband wouldn't let me use it.

So, just a brief update. This year, the convention floor is divided so I really only have to walk 1/2 the floor to get to all the needlepoint vendors.

I've been talking to the various vendors planning our trunk shows and thinking about canvases. I like to talk the show floor first before I do any purchasing. This year, I'm fortunate to have Helen with me to get a different perspective. She's loved Derek Clark's designs.

More later. I'm late for my class!

I'm in Long Beach

I arrived on time in Long Beach although getting to the plane was an accomplishment. Somehow, my alarm did not go off. My husband woke up at 5 am and asked why I was still in bed. I ran out of the house and caught the car service just before he was about to leave. Then, I got dressed and was in the car within 5 minutes. But when I got to Newark airport, the security line was endless. It took over an hour. I finally got through the line, and was the last one on the plane before the doors shut!

I always think that California is amazing when I fly into San Diego. You can see the water and blue sky as you get off the plane. But I must say, walking to and from the hotel in Long Beach was beautiful today. The sky was blue and it was warm.

I took a great class with Sharon G today. The class was an elegant dragonfly. I'd love to teach this class. (I had planned to take pictures but realized that I left the camera battery and charger at home when I rushed out this morning.

Tomorrow I take a class with Amy Bunger on Spider webs.

Sale

I'm on my way to The National Needlework Association's Trade Show in Long Beach. Yes, I am looking forward to warmer weather and sunny skies!

We are preparing for our mid-January sale, more about that next week. But right now, any sale canvas is 75% off. So come early to get the best choice!

The National Needleworkk Association Trade Show

The National Needlework Association Show is this week. Although the actual show doesn't start until Saturday morning, the education classes start Thursday afternoon. Helen and I are both attending this year. We are both signed up for classes and looking forward to them.

If there is anything you would like us to look for, just let us know.

The show is just overwhelming -- there is just so much to see. Of course, it's exciting to try to find the newest canvases that are "to die for." And we are always interested in threads and accessories, too plus whatever will appeal to our customers.

And, I have to admit, I am really looking forward to getting away from the cold. The show is in Long Beach where it has to be warmer than New Jersey!

Carolyn's Ornaments

Carolyn is the store's next door neighbor and we are delighted to have her. In addition to providing great coffee, lunch items and treats at Epiphany Cafe, she also has started to needlepoing. She stitched both these ornaments this fall but finished them to late for us to get them finished.

But Carolyn is very crafty. She went to Color Me Mine (another store neighbor) and created ceramic backs for the ornaments and then attached her canvases. They are lovely and a great sample of what a truly crafty person can do.

Resolution Stitching

I'm trying to decide what I will add to the store's Resolution Stitching list. Like most of you, I have lots of unfinished projects but often the ones that call me are the newer ones. For example, after finishing Bruce's stocking (which was my Resolution project for 2009), I bought and started to stitch a delightful project from DJ Designs by Meri Meri. It's whimsical and I though wouldn't take any thought. Needless to say, I've now created a horizon line and I'm trying to figure out what stitch to do for the snow. I'm torn between a sky stitch by Jody Adams and Carole's Lake's Eyelet stitch.

But I do have to finish one of my belts that has been languishing around for years! Perhaps I can finish one new one and then one older one -- that sounds like a fair deal.

In case, you aren't familiar with our resolution stitching program, I'll explain it. You list up to three projects that you want to finish this year. We will give you a complementary stitch & chat plus 20% off on your next canvas each time you finish one. In addition, you will get 10% off on finishing!

Flower pillow

We loved the stitches on the lovely pillow. I'm not sure who the stitcher is as I report from home but she did a beautiful job!

Helen's Gift

Helen stitched the HP surfer canvas for her son. She did a wonderful open background stitch for the sky so that the colors showed through. Then she had the canvas and the photo framed together for her son's birthday. What a wonderful gift!

Judy's Pillows

We loved seeing Judy's pillow come back from the finisher. They are so elegant. Judy stitched the two Kelly Clark baskets and then chose the trim and fabric. We loved the outer edge trim but really flipped over the trim around the needlepoint itself. This is such a wonderful example of how fabulous a canvas can be with straight stitching.

Holiday Finishing

Our finishers outdid themselves this year as did our stitchers. Our customers had their finished items i in before October 1 and we got all the items we sent out back by this past week. Items were beautifully stitched and finished.

I just thought I would share these last two items with you. They were stitched by Jane and Nancy.

Of course, it's never too late to start stitching for next year. And we want to encourage you to pick those items that you have struggled to finish. Record them in our Resolution Stitching book and get a complimentary Stitch and Chat. Finish an item, and recevie a 20% discount on any item plus 10% off the finishing.

I haven't decided what to add to my list this year. Should it be my Melissa Shirley witch. It's huge and I've done so little. Or perhaps I should commit to finishing the various Stitch notebooks
I've started. But of course, there are new things to stitch, too. I want to do the Animal Crackers ornament and finish the Girl walking the dogs.

So many canvases and so little time!

It's Almost Winter and Really Kind Acts

Although it's not officially winter, it certainly feels like winter. We had to cancel tomorrow's beginner's class because of the projected snow. (I'm actually relieved it's really coming down since I made the decision before the snow started. I just thought that participants would really like to know ahead what they were doing.)

The weather tonight made me appreciate being in a warm house. In this economy, we have had a few more homeless people in Ridgewood. The other day our neighbors at Epiphany Cafe, Caroline and Rocco provided food to a homeless woman. She asked them where she could go to get her hair washed. They asked Tapestry, the hair salon if they would take care of her. Not only did Sandy the owner wash her hair, but she gave her a great haircut, too. I was so impressed by their generosity and kindness.

Jersey Shore Mini Stocking

I couldn't get the picture of the NJ mini stocking on the previous post. But certainly, this is perfect for the Jersey shore stitcher. Again, we have three canvases with stitch guides in stock.

Mini Stockings with Stitch Guides

If your family and friends are asking for suggestions, we just got in some Kathy Schenkel mini-stockings; because we've stitched our own, these come with stitch guides. We have two of the elephants available, three NYC mini stockings and three NJ mini stockings. These canvases make great traveling projects and can certainly be finished before Christmas 2010.

In addition, we have some lovely scissors, new threaders and other accessories. Our DJ trunk show is still going on so just let us know what you want to get for your stitching buddies. Or we can set up a wish list for you.

Renee's Pillow

We just got back Renee's pillow today. Isn't it charming. The finisher continued the whimsical nature of the pillow with the outrageous fringe and pom poms. I wish this was going to be in my living room!

Helen's Stocking

Helen really focused on finishing this lovely stocking for her new daughter-in-law. She changed the colors so that the cuff has the colors used in Erika's May wedding.

The ornaments are stitched with really incredible stitches. Look at the beautiful ribbon! In addition, Helen twisted her own cord.

Football Fans

I know football season is rapidly coming to a close. This lovely design by Rebecca Woods is now available at our store. You could be stitching this so that it's ready for next football season. And you could enjoy stitching it while you watch all the college bowl games and the Superbowl.

Nativity

Pam didn't think she would get this done in time to have it finished for Christmas. Not only did she finish it, but the finisher had it back three weeks before Christmas. This lovely design by Rebecca Woods is simple but elegant. Pam did a beautiful job stitching it. It shows how beautiful the tent stitch is.

New Colors for Silk & Ivory

Silk & Ivory has four new colors: Straw, Onyx, Smoky Quartz and Pewter. The straw is a soft yellow while the Onyx adds a strong gray to the line. Smoky Quartz is a grayer blue and Pewter is almost an ice blue. Think what you will be able to do with these!

Bruce's Stocking

Although I haven't gotten the actual stocking back yet, I wanted to share the picture with you. I am very pleased with the finished stocking and can't wait to actually have it in hand.

Once again, you are seeing it before the recipient.

We are still receiving finished items back from the finishers on a daily basis. So I should be posting more pictures to show you what magic our stitchers and finishers have created. Enjoy.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Stocking in Green

My friend, Sue shared this picture of Carol B's Christmas stocking. Carol has just sent this beautiful stocking off to relatives in New York City. Isn't it a great gift!

Carol was kind enough to grant permission for me to share this picture with you. Although I have seen quite a few of this stocking in progress, this is the first one I've seen with a green tree. I thought it was quite lovely. Carol told me she used floss (4 strands) to stitch the tree.

It is beautiful.

It's possible that you've seen it before the recipient.