This month many of the members are busy with family as it will be so close to Christmas. This equates to a stress free meeting of stitching. From the survey Cathryn did, many members enjoy this type of meeting so whether you will be at the meeting on zoom or in person – bring your current project and relax for an evening of stitching and chatting. Let’s not forget that we will also be voting on the officer’s for next year! A reminder that the holiday get together is a luncheon on Jan 7 at the Grain House in Basking Ridge. Please send in your payment to Rosie ASAP by either Zelle or check. Hope to see many of the members there.

The time has come to renew your ANG national dues. 2023 is the first year of dues covering a calendar year. Check your email as they sent a notice on Dec 1st to let you know your membership is up in under 30 days. There is a box to hit that brings you to where you can take care of it online. NJNA dues are also on a calendar year basis and will stay the same amount. Please Zelle or mail your payment to Rosie.

ANG has been running a donation drive to raise extra funds to support new programs. Someone is willing to match up to $10,000 in donations – WELL – our generous member ship exceeded that amount by over $1,000. They have set a new goal of $30,000 since they already have $21,020. The fund raiser ends on Dec. 16th – they are hoping to get the remaining $8,980 by that time. If you would like to make a donation then go to ANG and help them out. https://www.needlepoint.org/donations/Default.asp?_zs=QhCog1&_zl=t7ki8

Do you save your Needlepointers magazines – you know – in case you need to refer back as they have great ideas in the Tale Of Two Stitchers article for a piece you have in your stash. Or you want to go back to the Trade Secrets column and re read David McCaskill’s article on tips when using Watercolours. Well, you don’t have to be a “Library” any longer. ANG now has their magazine from the 1980’s on up online in their Archives. Just go to Membership then Magazine and you can read the magazine and or print a page to take with you for reference. No need to feel like a hoarder any longer !

Since the 2023 NJNA project is going to be a counted piece you might want to check out Debbie Rowley’s web site. She has some beautiful counted designs there. You can also find her in the Shining Needle Society. I am so tempted with her Watermelon design! Look at both her counted canvas and her Glitz and Glamour sections. Store – DebBee’s Designs (debbeesdesigns.com)

Sale – Sale – Sale Everyone has been having sales. For the holidays or Black Friday or Cyber Monday, Small Business Sat – if you can think of a name for a day they seem to have a sale for it. Chaparral is having Alice Peterson for the month of December and everything is 30% off – Not a bad sale! https://ndlpt.com/collections/alice-peterson-trunk-show-2022?syclid=ce5q5o37k04e7na09f7g&utm_campaign=emailmarketing_126969282699&utm_medium=email&utm_source=shopify_email

I have also noticed that many of the stores are having multiple trunk shows each month. Talk about having choices. The Needlepointer for December has – Merry L, Cooper Oaks, Debbie’s Designs and Funda Scully. https://www.theneedlepointer.com/needlepoint/trunk-show?nav_id=403&goal=0_3621358244-cb698ac689-69343533&mc_cid=cb698ac689&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

Closer to our area Stitch By Stitch is having 5 trunk shows in December. Beau Verre needleminders, Paul Brent, Sara Fitz, Lizzie Clark and Kate Nelligan. Some of these designers I had never heard of before. There is so much to see I will give you a taste but I think we could all camp out in the store and still not see it all. Second choice is to look at the web site. If all that is not enough, they are also doing a promotion thru Dec 23rd – they will increase any gift certificate purchased by 10% for nothing. A great gift in my opinion. Ny Needlepoint | Stitch By Stitch Larchmont, NY | United States (stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com)

Remember Dale Lenci from Luv 2 Stitch? He closed his store and is now designing one of a kind needle art to be sold at auction. He is donating 10% of the price to charity and he has announced his first auction. It’s over on December 16th if you are interested !!! https://designsdj.com/product/designer-handbag-by-dale-lenci/

If your visiting friends and relatives in California you might want to check the class at Stitched Up Needle works. They are going to have on Dec 11th a 2 hour class on how to make Mini Bows with Laurie Reisinger. Not only great for your needlework but for packages, hair ties etc. They are still rather new so you need to call the store for more information – 669-258-5027

If you didn’t hear – Ewe and Eye and Friends – Gail and Maggie – are retiring or as they put it – they are ready to go to pasture ! Chris Lewis Distributing has picked up their designs so it’s still possible to buy their cute canvases. Thankfully Maggie aka Maggie Co is not quite ready to put her entire foot into the pasture yet. (You gotta love those older women in bathing suits ). Chris Lewis Distributing

Tis the season for gifts !! Not that I think anyone would have a problem picking out a needlepoint related gift – as gift certificates alone make it easy ! BUT – how about a few suggestions

In the order of the pictures – Stitch Stash hand bags in 3 sizes, canvas by Rachel Donley, a new book out by Janet Perry, wooden tool trays from Needle in a Haystack, snap trays also from Needle in a Haystack, canvas by Mopsey , monogram clutch kit from Two’s Company, canvas by Mopsey

Tips and Tricks: I had no idea how many kinds of scissors there were for embroidery. I just read that there is actually a pair of scissors made to cut your threads that are very close to your stretcher bars – no kidding! They are called Double Curved Embroidery Scissors. Read this article from Serendipity Needleworks about the many kinds of scissors and how to take care of them. https://www.serendipityneedleworks.com/scissors-for-needlepoint/

Who was that Famous Stitcher? That is Rachel Donley and you can tell what her favorite things are by the cute canvases she designs. So many things have pink and green in the designs and she must love gingerbread. Her canvases are always cheery and her “Santa Claus The North Pole” canvas is iconic.

Can you guess who this famous stitcher is?

Tomorrow is “National Cookie Day” Make the most of it !!!