What’s Happening at NJNA 12/14/24

This month’s meeting went over several item’s such as the budget for 2025 and what’s to come for programs and eventually some calm stitching. Since all the details are not quite in place yet, all I can say is we have some great programs coming for the year 2025. It’s our 35th Anniversary as a chapter and we expect to celebrate the occasion with a year of Techniques ! On another note – our last meeting was so much fun I went a bit crazy with the Ribbon Ornaments – this was only about a third of what I made and recipients so far were surprised and thrilled at the gift. As a reminder – our dues are collected in January for the year 2025. Join in on our fun at NJNA by joining the chapter.

ANG has started their pilot program for “Younger Stitchers” to join ! If your 35 years old or younger they are giving you a one time offer of 50% off your dues. This also gives you a digital copy of the Needle Pointers Magazine along with all the other benefits. By going to the membership page and putting in the code “YOUNG2025” and your birth date you can get started on a wonderful journey with ANG. https://www.needlepoint.org/page/Membership?_zs=QhCog1&_zl=hHwx9

Needle Pointers Magazine is having a 2025 Stitch Along. Each issue is going to have a different heart by Judyann Hearts and the first one is the Flirty Leopard Heart. You can purchase the canvas at Judyann Needlepoint and there is a stitch guide and list of threads in the next issue. An easy way to do a small project every 2 months ! https://judyannneedlepoint.com/product/flirty-leopard-heart-needlepoint-canvas/

Needle Pointers Magazine wants you to get every issue and for those that spend half the year in a warmer climate (and we can’t blame you!). They have come up with a list for you to go into your ANG profile and change your address in time to get your magazine – where ever you are !! Set a reminder for the change so you never miss your copy – no matter where you are !

Charts For Charity is back !! I had not heard of this before – many stores/ designers create a digital download of a chart and the proceeds from your purchase goes to a specific charity. It is an initiative started by a group of designers within the needlepoint community with the goal of making needlepoint more accessible, all the while raising money for some wonderful causes this holiday season. Check KC Needlepoint for numerous charts and they will also sell you an 8X8 piece of blank canvas to stitch the pattern on with free shipping. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/blogs/news/charts-for-charity-is-here?omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Charts+for+charity+%28672e8cc9d8da2d76601b711e%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisendOr, Morgan Julia Designs is selling designs from previous years along with this years pattern. They are just great designs and you are supporting an organization of your choice for the holiday. A win – win in my book.

Another way to “Stitch for a Cause” is to go to Stitch Stash. Patti Hoffmann has just released the December 2024 canvas that is a donation to Breast Cancer Awareness. The new canvas is by Anna of Evergreen Needlepoint. It was originally a patriotic design but they got together and worked it into a floral to go with the theme of 12 Months of Pink. You have to love the colors they used ! Go to the web site and look under the “12 Months of Pink-Dec” tab. https://stitch-stash.com/

I know how thrilled everyone is to finally have cold winter weather – NOT!! It does, however, put you in the holiday mood (maybe). Coco Frank has some adorable Snow Globe canvases to put you in the mood. Small, so they are quick and easy to stitch and very adorable. https://cocofrankstudio.com/

If you want to stitch something a bit more adult – go to Rittenhouse Needlepoint for their exclusive Morgan Julia Design original – The Clover Club Cocktail. The Clover Club Cocktail was created in the late 1800s in Philly for the namesake men’s club which met in the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. By the 1930s, it was so popular that bartending books were suggesting the cocktail be served at sewing clubs and crazy quilt parties. It has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. It is essentially a gin fizz with raspberry. It looks so pretty !! https://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/products/morgan-julia-designs-clover-club-cocktail-needlepoint-canvas-rittenhouse-needlepoint-exclusive?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=QNbnum1iUEN5weUC3DuK75aOlVx0Dud-BR0a603hRFw.TU8N4e

There is a new club about to start ! The Needlepointer has a sweet holiday treat – Candy Canes. The club starts in March/April and goes for 6 months. All of the designs are by Melissa Shirley – how bad can that be ?!?! You get the canvas on 18 count, stitch guide, threads and embellishments. Yes, that means beading !! https://www.theneedlepointer.com/candy-canesdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8514398?cse=nl121424&goal=0_3621358244-802e57c3e6-69343533&mc_cid=802e57c3e6&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

The other “Club Like” item I was going to tell everyone about is from Atlantic Blue. If you have Taylor Swift crazed people in your life, well, they have her iconic outfits to stitch !! I will give you the link to the web site but as of now most of it is sold out. Not surprising, but – there is always next year !! https://www.atlanticbluecanvas.com/collections/the-eras-series?_pos=1&_psq=era&_ss=e&_v=1.0&_kx=_6T6ZEqw3FzRTyL6whjCxpBoWNmvx7M7ogeQHpVHlzk.SdsruM They even sell stitch guides and fabric to match for finishing !

You still have time to shop for stocking stuffers. Two web sites to look at are Hedgehog Needlepoint where they not only have new color self finishing leather luggage tags but needleminders to match your destination travel tags. https://hedgehogneedlepoint.com/ The other idea (since we actually already have it all!) is The Needlepoint Club house assortment of note pads. Everyone can use a note pad – right?!? They have a great assortment to choose from along with lots of other ideas in Megan’s Gift Guide. https://www.needlepointclubhouse.com/collections/gift-guide?_kx=di6BKbqlX0z0_r-FgYg7VgX_cnHap6E52Vd1c3YUq6g.W43bG6

Tips and Tricks: Today’s item would also make a great stocking stuffer. It’s a small scissor sharpener! I tried it and it worked really well. Small enough to put in your needlepoint bag of tricks – I mean tools. You can get it (probably faster than it takes to walk to your door) on our favorite site – Amazon for a big $6. https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-SewSharp-Scissors-Sharpener-98547097/dp/B0002JT0PK/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1NNCKPNUP5IN6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6Qjxpf_IMqgKWhoQd9LSAmeY-lK3TgQJadZeZhFXb5EG6ilCyrX-4Lp8eMh0fhHx8Cn0JaAn2XvwOVSAReXRPonj_2J1ODbZYLIMkDSiGfxxy0H0HpEd7omjmtc3Cd2IJhm6aV8VpyxWWb1Y2cEN9OJBnkhyUoJ85-17hArumFu7tdAQWte5RL0CPwougb8js-IgeFU2fzUzOi1x0kKeLy1wUSCXBgypSTzBsqd8tyy8oKXvRLuXvbFn3zbU2ROVvijONKMtNmcwBYgsdz30EaJ72P_KB4YN2yrF91-Ylq-Vhm5I7BpIY1NFkfW-YD5yJ-6caoEBPUY1Nr8LQHxEnbVZYseuHegBXToBzBmrS2F1_f0DXR3VGB7DiuBRNvBs3nV1J8TL7qym31AHBQv7rO3Hb94E48Y0DENddFVCKorlDB9HPKUCMEm_Rn1Opn02.GS9YYYIGkiEm74LLxPaLvMk8S3bw4O2_F1TdUNjDL50&dib_tag=se&keywords=scissor+sharpener+small&qid=1734213188&sprefix=%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-6

Who was that Famous Stitcher? That was our own Cathryn C. She is a long time stitcher and teacher and is very active in both ANG and EGA. She had a long career in Reinsurance and is now on the Board of Trustees for Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Do you know who this famous stitcher is?