This week we had our monthly meeting and our speaker was Vicky Wittershein. Her talk was on using Alcohol Markers with canvas and it was wonderful ! We had one of our biggest turn outs and for good reason. Vicky went thru how to use these markers and different situations that they can be used. Her use of video’s for demonstration were very well done and we were all glued to our screens ! Hope she will be back soon with another topic!!

Of course to get to be a part of these great programs you have to be a member ! Cathryn is already lining things up for next year – you have to be in it to enjoy it !! Come join the fun!

Wow – we are headed for November already!! Our next meeting will be a review of the chapter’s showing at the Annual Woodlawn Needlework Show along with a stitch in. Come join us and see the wonderful creations this chapter has stitched.

We are also going to be putting up an exhibit at the Festival of Trees this year in Basking Ridge. We should be hearing more information shortly. If you want to lend us some of your ornaments to go on our tree we will have drop off information shortly.

Can you feel the vibrations in the needlepoint world ??? This weekend is the Virtual Needlepoint Show !!! Yikes – New things to discover – many of which we will absolutely need to have !! Until all that unfolds :

Needlepoint For Fun has moved !! They have crossed the water and come to NJ ! For now they are by appointment only until they get themselves all set up in their new space so you will need to give them a call if you need something. The picture looks like things are now “Open Concept” spacing. Good luck to them !

Check out a site called Fiber Pharm – they have numerous selections of fibers that match to canvases. If you can’t get the threads for your project they sell them by the skein, by the collection or for a certain project which they refer to as a “Curated Collection”. If you wanted to do a Hedgehog Travel Tag you go to their site and they have a package made up of threads just for that project. No searching around ! If you want to peruse thru and find a project they also have links to the designer’s web site so you can buy the canvas. https://fiberpharmllc.com

Do you like stitching with Straw Silk? It has such a different look compared to other threads ! The Needlepointer now sells it in larger quantities called “Ponytails” The colors are so vibrant – https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/straw-silk-ponytails/?goal=0_3621358244-752b059b85-69343533&mc_cid=752b059b85&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

FOMO ALERT !! Sandy Arthur has a new book out – “Tisket, Tasket, Lots and Lots of Baskets” 55 pages of woven stitches for baskets ! For now you can only buy the book at your LNS. She has an Etsy site if your interested in her other books – https://www.etsy.com/shop/DuoDesignsBySANDRA?ref=search_shop_redirect&section_id=25360469 She also has another book coming – you can pre- order it thru Stitch By Stitch in Larchmont NY

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Colour Compliments has a free download for a project called “Summer Sorbet” A good way to get your feet wet with a counted design. They also include individual stitch diagrams. Such fun colors ! Downloadable Summer Stitch Sampler Available | Needlepoint (colourcomplements.com)

Have you ever heard of the Diagonal Chop Sticks stitch ?? Me either ! Susan Roberts has it detailed in her Needlepoint Dictionary of Stitches (yes Amazon!) Needlepaint used it on a new stocking cuffs and it looks great on “Mr. Moose” https://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2021/09/02/needlepaints-new-stocking-cuffs/

https://www.needlepointteacher.com/books-by-susan/needlepoint-dictonary-of-stitches/

Something new from the Needlebug – magnetic Scissor ID Tags. Just insurance that you don’t use the wrong scissor for the job !! https://www.theneedlebug.com/shop/New-Arrivals/p/scissor-id-tags-3-pack-x56482054.htm

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Many new canvases not to mention canvases for the holidays would look great with a tassel as part of the embellishment. Here is a YouTube from Needlepoint.com that shows you how easy it is to do !! https://youtu.be/PevmZzyxTWg

Tips and Tricks – Want to store your left over thread back in the teeny tiny wrapper so you know what that color and or dye lot is?? Sarah Godfrey posted on Needlepoint Nation an interesting idea – a Bobby Pin !! The picture is worth a thousand words !!

Abigail Cecile has free classes to help new needlepointers (or old ones that need a brush up) how to do our craft. Younger people seem very at home with a computer and will probably appreciate this for help with questions. It’s called Needlepoint 101 https://abigailcecile.thinkific.com/courses/needlepoint101?mc_cid=1489cabdd1&mc_eid=2ba6f7d48a

The House of Neeedlepoint is having another contest – Design your own Key Fob – you have to be in it to win it !!

The House of Needlepoint also had a great tip for stitching a floral canvas in their current trunk show :

Another FOMO Alert !!! Planet Earth has come out with Eye Glass Cases. They take 2×3 inserts which Danji has many choices – what a quick and easy holiday gift !!! Planet Earth Eyeglass Case – Plum | Stitch by Stitch (stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com)

Like we couldn’t see THIS coming !!!! All you Turtle Bag lovers – new colors are coming soon !! They are also having a half price sale on their shell inserts for Halloween and Thanksgiving (in case you couldn’t stitch that fast !). In case you did not know, these bags donate part of their proceeds to the National Save The Turtle Foundation to help with awareness of Florida’s marine ecosystem.

It’s October which means we are lucky enough to have Vicky Wittershein giving this months talk about using Alcohol markers on canvases and ribbons. She is on a path to become certified by NAN and many of us know her from working at the Edwardian Needle. She has a wonderful sense of color and I was chatting with her about her up coming talk – this is going to be very interesting !! She is very easy going and would love everyone to join in and ask questions.

It’s that time again !!!! No – not Halloween – Virtual Needlepoint Market time ! Late in October is when it happens and that is when the new temptations will be coming out !

Of course if you stitch seasonally there is plenty out there to choose from:

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Eye Candy has a free pattern and stitch guide on their web site. Bonus Charts (eyecandyneedleart.com)

M’s Canvas house has a bunch of adorable Halloween pumpkins as an online class. Meredith has such wonderful ideas. https://www.mscanvashouse.com/classes

You’ll be needing thread to stitch all these great canvases and DMC is having a sale – 38% off. https://www.dmc.com/us/thread-5000/

Abigail Cecile now has a class on how to finish your ornaments – I heard that groan !! You have access to the site forever and she helps you get thru making round ornaments. Shaped ornaments are coming soon. No eye rolling either !! https://www.abigailcecile.com/products/1521904

Turtle Bags are starting to come in again – and go right out the door. Snooze and you lose !! Now they have cross body bags and the opening is exactly the same as with the totes. Mindy has been modifying her designs to fit these bags and I am sure there will be lots of choices from other designers soon. Check out your LNS but you can also order from Turtle Bag themselves. Turtle Bags | Fashionable handbags with changeable patterns. (turtlebagsinc.com)

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FOMO ALERT !!!! You HAVE to go look at this web site. It’s LOADED with amazing embellishments. Way too many to show you so I’m only giving you a peak. It’s the kind of site you can go thru for hours and not see it all. I am giving you a taste of the “Brads” to put on your canvas. https://www.eyeletoutlet.com/newbrads2021.html

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A New Feature – Tips and Tricks

This comes from our own Sue C who learned this in a Toni Gerdes class while in Chicago.

Neon Rays and other threads can be tough to stitch with as they tend to fray easily. Place the end of the thread on top of a glue stick and swipe just then end across the glue.  The glue will dry quickly.  The end with the glue is the end that will go in the needle and stay close to the eye of the needle as you stitch.  When you have finished with that thread, secured it, and cut it, the end with the glue is the small piece that you throw away.  She reminded us that all glue sticks now are made acid free so that eliminates that worry. 

Thank you Sue for the tip and suggestion for Tips and Tricks !! Anyone with a tip let me know !!

Just a reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Too many stitcher’s have been stricken by this disease so we all need to do what we can to be checked and follow up for good health !!