This weeks meeting was another chapter in Tumbling Stripes – we are rounding the bend to the half way point of the project. There are two more months to go. Some have already finished and there are stunning combinations of color. Such a fun project to stitch, I think it’s a hit ! Coming in June and July will be the Jelly Fish Ornament – the one I have been waiting patiently for. Later this year our next big adventure is with Ann Marie Anderson of Beautiful Stitches fame. If you enjoy her creations then it’s time to become a member of NJNA as we are going to be having her – in person – to teach your choice of either Versailles or Grace’s Garden. She will be with us in September for this class so sign up’s are almost closed. Spoiler alert – next year we may be doing a Lorene Salt project !! We are definitely having fun at NJNA – come join the party.

ANG’s Seminar in Kansas City this year is off to a big start. There are already 5 classes that are full and I am sure after looking at the booklet many more are close to full. If you are going they are offering a neat item that can be ordered at the time of registration – a seminar tote bag with the logo – get them while they are hot !!

Also don’t forget the ANG 50 for 50 Fundraiser. Each project purchased is support for future programming and they are each by popular designers and seminar instructors. Check them out for a neat project to do and benefit the organization we all belong to.

The new Needle Pointers Magazine is viewable on the ANG web site and will arrive in your mail box in about 2 weeks. The cover is beautiful with lots to read inside as usual but the back cover AGAIN is a WOW !

OK – I know your dying to see some of the new items from Market and again – they did not disappoint !! How hard it must be to go to market and not take it all back with you !?!?! I see a few pieces here and there on emails but the easiest store to view most of them is Stitch By Stitch in NY – they really work at getting your juices flowing. Look at the ones below but their web site has many more. Find Your Focus | Stitch by Stitch Needlepoint First from Alice Petersen.

Here are some from CBK – Paticia Sone – Zecca – Kate Dickerson…..

Stitch By Stitch is also having a “Meet and Greet” along with 3 days of class with Kelly Clark. She loves to see how people have stitched her designs and would love if you brought them with you. Call the store for more information. 914-834-1886

Aside from the way the weather comes in and goes out in March or St. Patrick’s Day and we will not even go back to the Spring Market – what else is really big in the month of March??? Basket Ball – it’s March Madness time !! If you are routing for a particular college team you want to look at Hedge Hog Needlepoint. She has officially licensed canvases with the logo’s of the famous teams that are playing but now – she just added their Jersey’s ! What a great gift for a college student in one the schools. Seems she is always adding new items so you need to check her web site because if it’s not there – it will be soon. https://hedgehogneedlepoint.com/

Rittenhouse Needlepoint is starting up their own line of canvases. Many not surprisingly are Philadelphia related. They say it will be a few weeks before they are in the store, but go check out their line up – it might make you hungry. https://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/collections/preview?page=1

Needlepoint .com has an interesting online course dealing with stitches for animals. The kit includes stitch guide, blank canvas, needle and specialty thread pack to practice these stitches over and over again. https://needlepoint.com/collections/online-classes-for-needlepoint/products/animal-kingdom-the-making-of-fur-and-feathers-online-technique-class?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=2024_03_12%20Rainforest%20Birds&utm_klaviyo_id=01EY735XHE675Z0Z1C4Z7SB8DK&_kx=SpNrwJYeSg8JHGV3vDRNkpeUD67Ddf2hdz1HBTATTO0.TxAVmM

The Needlepointer is having a trunk show from an artist I have never seen before. He is Wyndell Gingoyon and the canvases are colorful and perfect for a beginner with blocks of color. By The Sea: needlepoint, needlepoint canvases, needlepoint canvas gallery, canvas gallery, needlepoint threads, needlepoint fiber | theneedlepointer.com

While your checking out the trunk show – The Needlepointer has a new club starting around July/August and it’s called “Christmas Block Tree Club”. It’s a 6 month club and comes with the usual canvas, stitch guide and threads but this has one more item – Lights ! Yes, when your done it lights up. Each block uses more than one fiber and there are lots of stitches to use and or learn. https://www.theneedlepointer.com/christmas-tree-block-clubdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8512067?cse=nl032324&goal=0_3621358244-c47d0121c2-69343533&mc_cid=c47d0121c2&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

Tips and Tricks: Self Finishing Items- Part 2. Now that your sure your measured correctly and have stitched enough to cover the entire opening it’s time to make sure everything will get in that item without the canvas unraveling. Take some clear Tacky glue and run it over the three rows of canvas just outside your stitching. Run a bead of glue up to the stitched area but don’t get glue on the threads. This will hold the blank canvas together so it won’t unravel as you’re working to insert it. Let it dry completely then cut the canvas about 4 rows out from the stitched area. Next time we will finish this process up and in the end it will be worth the wait to have a nicely placed canvas in a self finished item. I want to thank Diversions Needlepoint for their tips on this subject – I learned a lot.

Who was that Famous Stitcher? That is Maggie Thompson of “Maggie and Co”. According to her web site she is not much of an artist but does have an eye for art work that translates into needlepoint. She then licenses artwork from the artist and turns it into the canvases we all enjoy. She has quite a lot of artists from all over the world. If you go to the web site you can see many of their individual web sites. About Maggie Co

Do you know who this famous stitcher is?