Are you ready to finish a pumpkin??? I looked ahead at the stem which Jacqui will be covering in this months meeting. It is a bit more complicated than I thought it was !! Looking forward to Jacqui’s idea’s on how to make this finish come about !! There are some interesting versions of pumpkins going on in the guild – can’t wait to see them all !

Oh No! Sharon B, our Secretary is down and out for the count. She went on vacation to that dangerous place – England – slipped and fell in the airport and broke her arm. Yikes – no stitching for quite a while !!! We all wish her well, Feel better Sharon !

I think most of us agree that we need some younger people to keep this craft alive. ANG is taking a new step to hopefully make this happen. Carley Linn, the new ANG President has announced that there will be a new category of membership. There is now an “Associate Membership” for people under the age of 35. It’s a discounted fee and is available for 5 years. They will benefit from most of what membership brings but the magazine will be an online version only. Talk to all the younger people you know who enjoy our favorite hobby but may not have as much time to devote.

ANG wants to remind you that registration for their “Virtual Spring Fling” begins Nov 4th thru the 26th. There are 9 classes you can choose from but they have not revealed what they are offering yet – stay tuned. Their online auction totaled a stellar $12,332 – a win, win for everyone.

Let’s give a warm welcome to our new Eastern Area Rep – Allison Leach. Allison has lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, for over 30 years, and has retired from working at the University of Virginia for the past 20+ years. Allison was an instructor and researcher in teacher education focusing on early childhood education, and is now a Charlottesville shop girl at Lauren Ryan’s needlepoint shop, Poppypointe! Currently she runs the Stitch Club in Charlottesville, and is a member of two local ANG Chapters – Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley! Welcome Allison !

If your in the neighborhood of Larchmont NY check out the local Library. Stitch By Stitch is Exhibiting a collection of Needlepoint and Fiber Arts in the Oresman Gallery. Both the staff and their local stitching customers will be showing examples of beadwork, embellishments, decorative stitches, various fibers etc. If your on their web site also check out their Stitcher of the Month – she has done some amazing pieces. https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooH6_X6wJCDBrOoWraDtc2co2C_Yr_6w_z-KYpYT5MboZbMw3ep

The devastation caused by the hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene is considered at a level of “Once in a Life Time”. The needlepoint community is jumping in to help support the effort to help all those in the storm’s path. Needlepoint .com is having an “Every Stitch Helps” event. Through Oct 6th 50% of all sales will go to “Operation Air Drop” and 100% of the sales from the Asheville and North Carolina travel round canvases. https://needlepoint.com/collections/newest-products

Poppypointe is donating a portion of the proceeds from The Four Seasons of Virginia canvases to the Red Cross Fund For Hurricane Helene Relief. https://poppypointe.com/products/four-seasons-of-virginia?_pos=1&_psq=four+seasons&_ss=e&_v=1.0&mc_cid=4038437393&mc_eid=241f847d0f

Stitching Fox has partnered with Plant Earth and they have come up with 2 exclusive canvases along with a “stash builder” thread pack. They are $35 each or 2 for $50 and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross of Western North Carolina. https://www.stitchingfox.com/

NEW CLUBS !!! Very DIFFERENT Clubs !! The first one is by Bedecked and Bedazzled aka Ruth Schmuff. I don’t remember the last time she had a club but this one is all about the monster of your childhood. Designed by Sandra Vargas these are her take on the classic families. Is there any you don’t recognize? https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/product/retro-monsters/

The Needlepointer has a new club that looks interesting – all the canvases are Lunar New Year Firecrackers ! It is expected to start in Feb and runs for 12 months. They are on 18 mesh and are only 6 X 5 – a quick stitch ! https://www.theneedlepointer.com/lunar-new-year-firecrackersdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8514207?cse=nl09162824&goal=0_3621358244-807ae2a07c-69343533&mc_cid=807ae2a07c&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

Everywhere you look there is something about coffee. It’s nothing new and we have seen numerous versions from Rachel Donley (so cute too). The new version is Iced Coffee by Morgan Julia Designs. She has recently developed the taste! https://morganjuliadesigns.com/products/iced-coffee?_pos=1&_psq=iced+coffee&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=43566093795526&_kx=rV4MBEfWGkwURglkyUXCLopGavY2DCJQzP6Y94aO8T4.RWeQns If you want to take it that one step further though, go to Potomac Beads – they have beads that look like real coffee beans. What a great embellishment. (Thank you Jane of Chilly Hollow) https://www.potomacbeads.com/search

I was looking at some of the new things from market on Stitch By Stitch’s web site and found another place to put needlepoint – your hat !! Kate Dickerson has paired up with Blue Canary who makes the hats and they fit a 4 inch round on the top. There was also items you don’t think of that designer painting – like Jean Smith doing blue and white platters. Zecca doing women’s faces and you have to smile at the Susan Roberts backgammon set with an ocean scene. Just a peak of new directions the designers are heading. https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/collections/whats-new-2024

Tips and Tricks: From the Needlepoint Clubhouse – when getting an insert finished for a clutch purse – have the finisher add a ribbon loop/tab. This way when you go to change the canvas out for another one it will be easier.

Who was that Famous Stitcher? That is Maggie Boroujerdi – she is the owner of Love MHB Studio. Her pieces are bold graphics with simple lines and everything is on 13 count ! Check out her designs at: https://lovemhbstudio.com/collections/wholesale

Do you know who this famous stitcher is?