THE NEEDLE WORKS

Yea! It's Friday

Happy St. Patty's Day a day early. Austin has been very active for the past week and continues on through the weekend with the Internationally famous SXSW Movie and Music Festival. I am staying way clear of the downtown area.

Cassandra Presscott , who will be here in April to teach Oaxaca, has a blog and she talked a little bit about the piece she will be teaching.

The Challenge pieces for the Stitcherie have been chosen. Just because you didn't vote for a canvas doesn't mean you can participate. The Summer challenge period s June 1, 2012 to August 31, 2012. This is going to be so much fun, so I hope you will join us.

 

The pieces are:

In the Good Old Summer Time

and Melissa Shirley's Yellow Flowers. Who can see a picture on her website  here.

For those of you who like to keep up with Medici, he has decided he no longer wants to be a shop cat. People come into the store and see him and are afraid to ask for him. Since he is pushing 23, I can understand why. So I thought I would share with you how he spends his days.

He has his own Bedroom where he spleeps on a pile of pillows and blankets. You can't see it in the picture but he has a picture window wha I leave open so he gets plenty of frash air.

Time to go feed the cats and head to work. Have a geat weekend!

 

 

Oaxaca from Sundance Designs

Cassandra (Cassie) Prescott is coming to town in April to teach the amazing piece called "Oaxaca". We have the stitched piece in the store and took some close ups. The piece is amazing! If you have never taken a class from Cassie this is going to be a fun one.

Background of the tree

Grasshopper and border

Call the store for more information - 512-451-6931

IT IS NOT TOO LATE

I understand from the powers that be on  Stitcherie that since my blog about Stitcherie.ning the other day many of you have joined the Network. This is great. The more the merrier.

If you are thinking about the Challenge it is not to late. I thought I would post the pictures of what is being voted on here on the site. Maybe this will entice more of you to join us on Stitcherie and join the Summer Challenge

Some of the pictures I cannot post because the pictures are protected from being copied so I have included the link.

Garden flag/MLT129 by Mary Lake Thompson, 9 x 9, 18M, http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/index.cgi?index=12109766...

DJ Designs beach chairs 9 x 11

Red or blue chair (your choice)

In the Good Ole Summertime by Elements, 8 x 8, 18M

1329-C Yellow Floral by Melissa Shirley, 11 x 9, 13M, http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com//galcol/index.cgi?index=124477...

Summer Mannequin,,, I am going to call Debbie at Painted Pony today and see if I can et a better picture but in the mean time, it is the 4th one in on the top row,

If you want to join the fun this is what you need to do:

Join Stitcherie.ning

Then scroll down to "Who's up for a Challenge" then

go here

http://stitcherie.ning.com/group/who-s-up-for-a-challenge/forum/topics/summer-2012-challenge-vote-for-still-life-graphic-canvas

You need to vote by Sunday evening to get in on making your voice heard. K.B.. will announce the winner later in the week.

Now off to another subject. The website has been updated with the schedule for Tony Minieri in 2013. You can get all the details here:

http://theneedleworks.com/tony2013/

 

 

Stitcherie.ning

There is a wonderful Social Network for stitchers called Stitcherie.Almost 800 stitchers use this site to share their work, get inspiration from others and make new friends.

Inside the site are discussion groups and project groups that you can join. One of those groups is called "Who's up for a challenge?" The members in the group voe on a canvas that they are all going to work on and then a Matermind teacher give them challenges that they need to incorporate into the canvas.

Late last year the head of the group asked me if I would be the Mastermind for the Summer Challenge. Voting is going on at the moment for the canvas that the Stitchers want to do, There are some great canvas that are being considered. I hope you will consider joining the group and me in the this fun project. For my local stitchers, this would be a great time to get together with friends (established and new) to stitch at the store. As soon as a canvas is picked, I will post it to the site.

If you sign up for Stitcherie and want to follow the fun and hopefully join the fun, follow these links:

Who's up for a Challenge

then

Voting for category - Voting for a category has ended but voting for the canvas shouls start soon.

I hope you will consider joing me on this fun adventure!

 

 

April Showers

April is finally finished...complete. Time to move on to May and I am off to a good start. She is planned all the way through and June is on the bars sitting up on the mantle speaking to me.

Every time I finish one I say it is my favorite but I really think April is my favorite of all so far.

One of the things I hate most is making bows because they just look so disheveled when done. On saturday one of my students came into Studio Time saying she had found a You Tube video on making bows with a fork. We pulled up the videos and I just wasn't patient enough to get the conversation to the action. I do better with written instructions so I found on the internet a PDF with step by step instructions. So much easier and it took me 1 try and my bow was perfect. Here is the link: Bow with a fork

 

Another Fish Done...

I have not had much chance to stitch in the last couple of days but last night I finished another in the UTDBS series.

Kimberly got hers done and I love the colors!

It is back to work on Aprils Angel. I am so close and then it is on to May. She is on the stretcher bars ready to go.

More about Phoenix

Phoenix was not all work. On Monday we took a tour of Frank Lloyd Wrights' Taliesen West which was his winter camp and home for aspiring architects. Amazing the foresight he had. He built sustainable way before its time.

We then headed over to the Biltmore which he designed. When first walking in you see this wonderfully colorful stained glass panel. It is breathtaking.

Marion Pyle from The Elegant Needle and myself.

The Courtyard at the hotel. Beautiful.

 

New designs from Painted Pony

Well I am finally caught up and thought I would post a sheet with the new designs from Painted Pony on it.

Contact the store to order:

Double click and you get a better picture.

I have put some new items up on the webstore. I just got in a few Peter Ashe stockings and some of the new ornaments from Market.

 

A Little more

Last night was spent going over my notes and trying to figure out who I wanted to go back and visit. I have about a half a morning of work and then we are going to do a little site seeing. We are going to go to Frank Lloyd Wrights winter home and maybe a couple of other places.

In the mean time here are a few more teasures that I found.

Threadworx has come out with new colors of OD Floss and OD Kreinik. Nice deep rich colors.

JP designs has these 2 great Dragonflies on 18 ct. black canvas, So dramatic. I know, you are saying to yourself or any one that will listen, 18ct. black is she nuts. Well yes, but that is beside the point. A darning patern with a metallic would be awesome. My other favorite from her was this magnificent Japanese Fighting Fish. Beautiful. The Dragonflies are $97.00 and the fish is $166.00, All 3 are on 18.

I almost forgot about Amanda Lawfords new Santa for this year. He is a wonderful Woodland Santa. He is avaiable 30 inches tall on 13 or 18 for $533,00, 20 inches tall on 18 for $341.00 or 15 inches tall on 18 for $226.00

I am not sure when my obsession with Owls is going to end but if they don't stop designing cute owl canvas it won't be any time soon. Patti Mann has a couple of cute new ornament size.

Patti also did a great new Angels Stocking that is fun and bright.

OK that is all for now.

A Little More Today

Today was spent going back though and ordering from a few more Artist.

I found these couple of great pieces from DJ Designs. We have all had pets being Cats or Dogs or both that have looked at us longily saying " In Pleeeze"

13ct. $97.00

This Amaryllis is just stunning.

18ct. $92.00

Colors of Praise did not disappoint. Marie is just so talented.

15x15 on 18ct.  $196.00

14x12 - 18ct. $221.00

Needle Deeva has a new Easter House with a Stitch Guide from Vicky DeAngelis. Order yours now and be ready to start stitching when the SG comes out in the next issue of Needlepoint Now.

$120.00

The gal from Pischke Pockets has a couple of new designs as well as 3 pillows. A very fast stitch because they are on big canvas. Kit includes everything put the pillow form which is just a bed pillow. Love them all, so they are all coming to the store. $207..00

June McKnight has a new book on stitching with Bling. We all know that June's books are great so this one will not disappoint. $52.00. It is in color.

New from Little Shoppe are these adorable 3-d Kisses.

Kelly Clark has a new club starting in April and it is Treemendous. Treemendoes Trees are here, There are 12 in the series and will come with a guide, They are $51.00. Threads are additional and they will share a good bit. These are just a few of them. They will be so much fun on a mantle.

These witches are also adorable and will be available with a guide in the next several months.

Battery is running out on compter so more later.....

Absolutely stunning

is all I have to say about the Floral rug. It is 36x54 on 13ct. canvas, The colors are magnificent and the flowers just jump off the canvas. ($1400.00)

Lani also had a great Gourmet Collage that is 16x16 on 13ct. ($334.00) and her little Geisha Dolls are just adorable. They are 11" tall and $152.00 on 18ct.

Shelly has some great little "Day of the Dead" ornaments and a wonderful Santa with Packages that will will have stitch guide. Music to my ears. I love the finishing. Her new ornament stocking is also great and will be great fun to dress up with beads.

18ct - $60.00

$132.00 canvas and guide

18ct.-$380.00

For my Birds of a Feather Fans back in Austin. They have a couple of new samplers. This one is beautiful.

$219.00

They also have a wonderful new Halloween piece that is great fun.

$138.00

Both are on 18ct. canvas.

I failed to show 2 of my favorite pieces from Melissa yesterday. The Flying Santa is great, as is the Angel.

Melissa has already updated her site with the new items. So go check it out and email me with any inquiries. Melissa SHirley Designs.

My email while I am at the trade show is ndlewks@gmail.com

I mentioned Clara Wells little purse yesterday but failed to show a couple of the designs that I just fell in love with.

Sharon G always has beautiful pieces and I love the colors palate that she uses. The Orange Tabby is definitely on my lists of must haves.

18ct.  $173.00

 

18ct. $172.00

I will post more later...

 

Day 1 is over

and I am exhausted.

So I was half way through the blog and the wi-fi locked out and I lost my hole post, So here we go again.

I am going to condense a bit because I need to do some work for tomorrow.

My first stop is always Melissa Shirley and she did not disappoint. She has a new 2 sided Classic Santa and he is geat, I just love the new "Cottage Stockings" and I could not make up my mide so I ordered all 4.

Her new 20x20 for this show is a beautifil "Quail". I ordered is on 18.

I was thrilled to see Liz Dillon from Tapestry Tent fame on the show floor. It has been at least 5 years since she has been to a show and it was just wonderful to see her again. Welcome back Liz. She has some great stockings that will sure become classics,

Ashley Dillon (Liz's daughter) is an artist in her own right and she has added 2 new designs to the Holidays Parade series.


Tapestry Fair has these great Day of the Dead Ladies. They are so colorful.

Clara Wells has a great new little purse. Love it.

To this day one of my favorite songs is from "The Sound of Music". We all remember Julie Andrews singing "My Favorite Things"

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

JP from "Labors of Love" has brought this song to canvas and I just love it.

He also has a great Perfume Bottle collection.

O.K. I am too pooped to pop. So I promise more in the morning.

Hello from Phoenix

Well it is the night before Market and I am settled in for the evening after spending the morning helping Kelly Clark set up her boothe for the show and taking a class from Ruth Dilts and Joan Lohr in the afternoon.

I have never taken a class from them before and it was so enjoyable, I will definately to it again at the next show. The class was a great canvas from "A Colletion of Designs" called "If the shoe fits".  I did not have my camera with me to get a picture of the finished model but here is a picture of the canvas.

The night before the show starts they have a little shopping extraviganza that they call " Sample-it". Some of the Artist set up booths and get to sell a little sampling of what we have to look forward to at the show.

Dinky Dyes has new colors of silk and silk ribbon.

Debbie from Painted Pony has a cute new series called "Dress for Success".

Kreinik has 4 new colors of size 8 metallic. LOVE THEM!

Well that is all for now...more later!

Happy New Year a little late

I have been wanted to post to the blog all week and finally have a moment to do so.

I am taking a little break from stitching the "April Angel" before the LSU vs. Alabama football game starts. I have been working on her most of the afternoon after running errands this morning.

One stop was the bead shop for some 3mm bicones for her hair. I love the bling. I also stopped by Michaels and picked up some gliiter. I have an idea for the eggs in her basket. We will see if it works.

I finished the "March Angel" before the Christmas holidays.

Almost game time.......Happy Stitching!

 

 

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