This weeks meeting was all about choosing stitches and we definitely need to give a shout out to the Potomac Chapter of ANG out of Virginia for their help. They did this same project and gave us suggestions and pictures so we could all see how different one stitch can look from another in the same space. The ideas and hints were great for any project. Everyone participating will be getting in the mail a list of everything we went over during the meeting. Should be interesting to see the stitch choices everyone makes on these small pretty ornaments as the stitching of them progresses.

We are up to 61 members and counting! Welcome to the new and soon to be new members. Come get in on our fun and join NJNA – we love what we do and encourage everyone to come be a part of this organization – the more the merrier !!

ANG national raised over $17,000 with the Spring 2023 Auction. The new software was a much more user friendly experience and made it easier to buy those donated items. Let’s see what the next auction brings !

The Needlepoint Now Magazine’s year long project “Layers of Leaves” seems to have swept the nation along with Melita G’s Stitch Of The Month. The difference between the 2 is – there is a LOT OF FINISHING with the Leaves project. With 10 different leaf patterns in each magazine you need to start now. Many shops are giving finishing classes so you can keep up with making all those leaves into the wreath. I am sure most if not all shops dread the thought of people giving all these leaves in to finish – sort of like trying to rake a forest!! The newer California store Stitched Up Needlework’s has a finishing kit you can purchase. The kit gets you thru the first 10 leaves and by that time you will be a pro. Their web site doesn’t seem to be working yet – give the store a call at 669-258-5027

Have you been toying with buying a needlepoint book and the price made you hesitate??? Check out The Needlepointer – they are having 20% off on all books – a bargain!! Stitch N Save: needlepoint, needlepoint canvases, needlepoint canvas gallery, canvas gallery, needlepoint threads, needlepoint fiber | theneedlepointer.com

The new clubs keep coming!! While your on The Needlepointer’s web site check out their new club for Halloween – or should I say “Sparkleween”. Doesn’t everyone need to add some sparkle to their Halloween?? https://www.theneedlepointer.com/sparkleween-clubdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8502581

If this is overwhelming then try their other new club of mini’s. They expect to start in June and be over in November. The items are all self finishing – great for gifts ! https://www.theneedlepointer.com/mini-monogramsdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8502673?cse=nl0415&goal=0_3621358244-e2d4ccd72c-69343533&mc_cid=e2d4ccd72c&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

Stitched Up Needleworks has a great suggestion for the next 2 holidays – you guessed it – Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Not a lot of time left so their idea is a key fob, pretty, quick and easy. They have numerous canvases for any taste and if you have time they also have belts – all from the Susan Robert’s Trunk Show.

FOMO ALERT! Stitch By Stitch in NY has a great looking magnifier and light. The magnifier is a big square so it gives you plenty to viewing area and the light is a tiny pin point LED light that illuminates a large area of your canvas. Best of all – it’s cordless !! What more does one need???? ViviLux Bright Flexible Light and Magnifier with Clip for Frame | 1_Stitch by Stitch (stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com)

The canvas on the stand above is also one of 2 new classes at Stitch By Stitch. The hearts by Eye Candy begins in June and is 4 sessions. The other class doesn’t start until September but is so pretty it should be a sell out. EVENTS | 1_Stitch by Stitch (stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com)

It’s Baa accckk – The Great Southern Needlepoint Shop Tour. Get your passport and start traveling and shopping. The “Tour” or should we say contest, runs from May 25 until September 8th. The Grand Prize is a basket worth $1,250. You can get details at the Stitching Fox Stitching Fox Clubs, Classes, and Retreats!

If your not looking to go from store to store then try a Weekend Retreat in California at Stitched Up Needleworks. As Jane from Chilly Hollow says – they get the Smart Cookie Award – They have negotiated a special rate with the Courtyard by Marriott which is 3 blocks away for the up coming Susan Portra classes. This way you can make it a weekend event !

RUMOR MILL: A designer has received a “cease and desist” letter from Chanel about using their copyrighted Logo ! Be careful what you buy. Thanks Jane !

Congratulations to Kreinik – They were named the Small Business Administration’s Exporter of the year award for West Virginia and the Mid Atlantic area. They will be recognized at a luncheon May 3rd for the wonderful products they make – but we knew that all along !! U.S. Small Business Administration Announces National 2023 Exporter of the Year (wvbusinesslink.com)

Tips & Tricks: This great idea comes from Stitch Stash

Who Was That Famous Stitcher? That is Lucy – the owner and designer of Mopsey Designs. She started out as an art therapist and when she discovered needlepoint she found the process gave her all the things she believes in – reflection, mindfulness, connection and communication.

Do you know who this famous stitcher is?

Happy Earth Day !!

PS A very big thank you to the owner and staff of Ridgewood Needlepoint for the donation of canvases to the ladies group from the hospital that are learning to needlepoint. AND for thinking of us when someone had a lot of items that they didn’t know what to do with. It is greatly appreciated.

For several years now NJNA members have participated in the Festival of Trees out at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge NJ. We have put up a tree and decorated it with needlepoint ornaments, a different theme each year. We have received many compliments for the appearance of our tree and were even asked if any of the ornaments were for sale. We also made Needlepointer’s Magazine in 2022

Soon we will be making a presentation at the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center at Bridgewater. Someone picked up our business card during the Festival of Trees and called to see if some of us would give a talk on the art of needlepoint. One of the main talking points will be that this hobby does not have to be learned thru your grandmother. You can learn needlepoint at any age. Sue C and others will be aiming for an entertaining presentation and as part of it she is going to share stories from the members of NJNA on how they got started stitching.

Another out reach program is being held in conjunction with Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck. Thru their Cancer Support Program run by Courtney L., Program Director, lessons are being given on how to needlepoint. The ladies participating in the program had never done it before or had just started to stitch a project on her own and came to see if she was doing it correctly.

They all went from zero to 60 within a few sessions. With the help of Pam at the Edwardian Needle donating what ever is needed, stash donations from various members of NJNA, help from Sew Much Fun in kitting one of their canvases along with supplying a stitch guide and Linda M’s husband is very happy to have donated an entire bag of stretcher bars to the cause. All of these donations have made a big difference to these women to broaden their ability to needlepoint, relax, enjoy the company of others and more. Research shows that social and emotional support plays a powerful role in well-being, particularly throughout the cancer journey. I think this is true even if you have not been stricken with cancer.

Anyone that would like to drop by to stitch with us, we are in a Hackensack office bldg. most Tuesday afternoons. Here is a few of the projects the ladies are working on or have completed.

We are always on the look out for more out reach programs. If you have a suggestion we would love to hear about it.

The Spring Holidays are here and hopefully everyone is enjoying family & friends !

This month will be exciting at the NJNA meeting, the canvases from Blue Ridge Stitchery will be distributed to those that ordered them. There will also be a discussion on the kind of stitches that will fit the areas Cathryn and Jacqui spoke about last time. Don’t forget to bring your homework to the mtg – no one is going to believe that the dog ate it if you don’t have it. If you decided not to do that project you are encouraged to stitch on your current project like the original idea of a counted piece. And how many counted pieces are you doing????? Or – how many did you plan to do – no pressure !! LOL

The ANG magazine is out for March/April and the Tale of Two Stitcher’s just makes me want to try messy beading. There is another article on the differences between stem stitch and outline stitch.

There is also shown in the magazine two new correspondence courses – one by the amazing Toni Gerdes and the other by the equally talented Janet Zickler Casey. You would have to do both because you can’t pick one over the other. I included the explanations because they explained them best. Both amazing projects.

Spring but for new beginnings and also for new needlepoint clubs. Name a store and they have a new club starting during the year (no, I didn’t let you miss any of them!) BeStitched is starting classes on that beautiful new canvas by Melissa Shirley – The Snowy Day Lady. The first of 3 classes starts the end of July. Such a pretty canvas. https://bestitchedneedlepointshop.com/products/snowy-day-lady-class

The Needlepointer has a new class that has to be fun – Exotic Fans. This 12 month club will start in June. Look as closely as you can, each fan is very different from the others – it has to be a fun project. https://www.theneedlepointer.com/exotic-fansdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8502582?cse=nl0401&goal=0_3621358244-8e09974d7a-69343533&mc_cid=8e09974d7a&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

The Needlepointer also has a new club called Slice of Life. This is a 4 or 5 month club – your choice. The 5th month is a tote bag you can attach the other 4 months to. Each part is also a self finishing item and there is a pre-recorded class video you can upload. https://www.theneedlepointer.com/slice-of-life-clubdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8502640?cse=nl0408&goal=0_3621358244-d29d7be06c-69343533&mc_cid=d29d7be06c&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

The Stitching Fox has a very appropriate club – The Vixen Club by Danji. Twelve months of Fox canvas ornaments exclusive to The Stitching Fox. https://www.stitchingfox.com/products/12-month-stitch-club-foxes

The Stitching Fox also is showing an array of new notions from Market. From Zip and Stitch to scissors to great new needle minders you have to give them a look !! https://www.stitchingfox.com/collections/notions?sort_by=created-descending

While your perusing notions, check out Chaparral for some interesting new needle minders ! You can never have enough ! https://ndlpt.com/collections/needleminders?page=1

It’s a little late now but…. there is always next year !!! KC Needlepoint has the cutest Easter Basket Name Tags !! What a great idea. A small project, colorful and lasts a life time. Besides, the Bunny wants equal time with the guy in the red suit! https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/easter-needlepoint?sort_by=created-descending&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Easter+name+tags+%28641c9d5a255b91001b24cc01%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend&omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d

The news is everywhere – the iconic Rittenhouse Needlepoint is for SALE !! Russell and Stephen want to move on and are looking for a buyer or buyers. If you have never been it’s an eye full to walk around that store in Philadelphia. They want all offers by 6/15/23. The future will be interesting. My Needlepoint

A new store has opened called Needlepoint Obsession in MA out on Cape Cod. I guess Osterville Needlepoint will have some competition. Needlepoint | Needlepoint Obsession | Mashpee

New – New – New KC Needlepoint just showed that you can now get Pepper Pot silk in 10 yard cards !! Great for smaller projects like the Blue Ridge Stitchery ornaments we are about to start stitching !!! https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/pepper-pot-silk-card?&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Pepper+Pot+Silk+Cards+%28642740d97793b80014eded7a%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend&omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d

Tips and Tricks !!

Who was that Famous Stitcher? That was Devon Nicholson of JP Needlepoint. She has been in the Needlepoint industry since 1985 in a host of jobs. Her creations are full of color and character. She has also written, illustrated and published 2 children’s books.

Do You Know Who This Famous Stitcher Is?