As many of you already know, I spend a lot of time in CA so that I can visit with my “little people”, aka grandchildren.  It’s always a lot of fun, but when I’ve had enough of their childhood exuberance, I turn to needlepoint to bring me some adult amusement and serenity. I am so fortunate in that I have a home away from home when I go to stitch at the local store in San Mateo, called Luv2Stitch.  Hanging out there has meant that I have met some wonderful fellow stitching enthusiasts, or should I say addicts?!  With their encouragement,  I found my way to joining the local chapter of ANG, the Golden Gate Canvas Workers (GGCW).

One of the really nice “side” activities that GGCW has is a monthly stitch-in at various members’ homes.  I had the privilege of spending the day yesterday at the home of Lois Kershner, the current President of GGCW.  Many of you readers will recognize that name since Lois is a long term national teacher for ANG and other well known needlework organizations.  What a delight!  Not only is Lois a most gracious hostess, her vision and creativity is unique and beautiful.  I have never had the privilege of taking classes with Lois, but I know many of you have.  You have been enthusiastic about her Threadscapes, where she reproduces a photograph from one of her travels onto the canvas and one stitches the stitch design over the photograph.  These designs are so different and beautiful.

So, all day, my eyes were filled with delight as I was able to gaze at many of her works that grace her walls.  There are some very so so snapshots below that I took, of what was up on her walls yesterday.  Apparently, she rotates her works of art. With a little encouragement from us, Lois took out of her cupboards her other teaching samples.  What fun.

Then  . . . Lois announced that 2020 would be her last year of traveling teaching as she was getting ready to retire (GASP).  So, she is having a pre retirement sale of all of her teaching pieces, that she calls Threadscapes.  She is making kits of her designs with either the photograph on the canvas or a chart and description of the design. The only thing not included is thread.  I’m so excited in that even though I may never get a chance to experience Lois as a teacher, I will at least have some of her designs with which to play.  And – if I run into a problem, I know where to find help.

All in all, it was a really fun day.  If anyone is interested in looking at what Lois has for sale, the information is found on her website at http://www.loiskershner.com.  And yes, my fellow NJNA stitchers, I am bringing home some brochures for you to peruse when next I see you.

Please note, I am not Lois’ agent and she did not ask me to write this.  I was just so excited by my fun day, that I had to share.  Hope all of you are having fun stitching days too.

Hi Everyone!

Many of you are aware that Sue C and I are off at a needlework retreat in Virginia.  This is the 35th annual “Christmas in Williamsburg” but this is the first one that is being run by Kevin, Jimmy, and the rest of the gang from Needleworker’s Delight.  You won’t be surprised to hear that everyone is singing praises for their making this such an exciting and successful event!

Sue and I started our journey on early Wednesday morning by catching the “bus” from Needleworker’s to Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg.  We were joined by six other stitchers for the six-hour journey.

The weather improved steadily as we drove south.  The resort is located on the shore of the James River and it is really beautiful.

The view from the stitching room!

There are about 200 people attending the event (up from about 75 last year) and a number of classes are being offered — mostly cross-stitch and lectures.  Sue and I are among a handful of needlepointers in attendance.  Quite a few people have stopped and expressed awe at our stretcher bars!  There are about fifteen vendors (yes, we shopped).  Breakfast and lunch are provided every day.

The rooms at the resort are spread out.  Our room overlooks the tennis courts and is very nice with perhaps the best shower we have ever had in a hotel.  (It takes so little to keep me happy!)  The resort runs a shuttle service to get us to and from our rooms.  Sometimes Sue and I walk, too.  The hotel is also running a shuttle service to and from Williamsburg on a set schedule.  We haven’t taken advantage of this yet — it’s in our weekend plan, particularly for the Grand Illumination on Sunday!

The resort is beautifully-decorated for the holiday as well.

These nutcrackers flank the front door; they are lit up at night and Christmas music is piped outside the entrance!  These pictures are a private joke for Sue’s sister!

Tonight, after two full days of stitching, we had a banquet dinner.  There were live musicians singing and playing Christmas carols in the lobby beforehand.

Dinner started with a salad with greens, dried cranberries, pecans, sweet potato pieces, and feta cheese.  Dinner was a combo of a game hen and salmon with risotto and veggies.  Dessert was a selection of pastries!  Excellent.

It won’t surprise any of you that Needleworker’s had beautiful door prizes and baskets to raffle off.  I won a door prize.

A Nantucket basket and two complete kits from Fern Ridge — one of the vendors at the boutique.

There were forty opportunity baskets, but only two had needlepoint items.  Sue put all of her tickets into a Christmas sampler needlepoint and I put all but one of mine in a Nancy Needles “Two Lighthouses” basket.  My final ticket went into the Christmas sampler basket.  I told Sue that if I won the Christmas sampler that it would be her birthday present.  But, lo and behold, Sue won it all on her own ticket!

There are about 30 door prizes awarded each day while we are stitching, too!  Sue and I have already decided to come back next year — you all should join us!  This is like the NJ Needlefest on steroids!

Cheers, Rosie