Our last meeting was great !!! Jacqui C. did a fabulous presentation on different things to use in finishing your pieces. New and different ideas to say the least. We also were told about a lovely woman, Judith C. who decided she has WAY too much in her stash and donated some lovely canvases to our guild. Rosie put together a presentation of them and there will be an auction with the proceeds going to the guild for future programs and speakers. Of course, you have to be a member to bid on the pieces and we would love to have you as a member to enjoy so many great opportunities for learning and social get togethers. Check out our web site https://njneedleartists.org/ for more information. Here are the canvases up for auction: (tough choice-gotta love the flag !)

And the countdown begins – 21 days until this years seminar in “NOLA”. Hopefully you are one of the participants and are ready for a great time. So many classes to take and lots to see and do. It takes a “village” to do these seminars and even if you are not attending they have the Pelican frame weight you can order by mail, or if your in the area you can go see the exhibit, shop the Expo and bid in the silent auction not to mention, hang with friends. Hope everyone just enjoys their time together.

The new July/August Needle Pointers magazine is about to hit your mail box and the cover is perfect !!! Check it out online on the ANG web site – it is full of great articles as always. The effort into putting this magazine together shows every issue. I can’t wait to read about the article on threads and a new book out. They visited – West End Needlepoint for the shop hop. The Tale of Two Stitchers is all about flowers this time and as usual, Melita takes us back in time to forgotten treasures in the archives. What a great Bargello project they put in and the first thing I had to do was look closely at what beads they used for the lemons !!! LOL Of course there is more to read about in this issue – worth joining ANG just for the magazine !!

What do you know – Stitch Palettes is back !! After a year and 7 months this free lance web designer was so overwhelmed by her work load she decided to scale back a bit and bring Stitch Palettes back. She creates such wonderful combinations of color for stitchers and provides the DMC numbers to go with the grouping of threads. She also has a way to do your own grouping for a specific project along with a lot of other useful information. Starting this July, she will be resuming the weekly inspirational emails, and start publishing daily palettes on her website again. Lot’s to look at !! https://stitchpalettes.com/

On the last blog I was VERY excited to tell everyone about Moore Stitching’s new canvas of the Barfoot Contessa (of course I bought her!). I should have waited as they came out with a bunch more and how fitting to have Anna Wintour just as she is about to step down from her Editor – In Chief position at Vogue! Scarlet O’Hara is very detailed and Betsy Ross is adorable. The last one needs no introduction – in the commercials she loves her dirt !! Check out Moore Stitching as they have other very cute items (particularly if you like the Royal Family). https://moorestitching.com/collections/new-arrivals

I find that many needle pointers happen to be Mah Jong players. The tiles can make a lot of noise on a table so many people buy a mat to muffle the sound. Of course if you really want to be fancy – KC Needle Point has a mat you can stitch !! Yikes. SCT designs created a 13 mesh piece that is 32 inches X 32 inches. Yes it is pricey – but what a statement !! Of course they carry several smaller items to stitch ! https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/new-from-market/products/mahj-mat-needlepoint-canvas?omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Mahj+mat+%28684f25df89fe8410e6ba7532%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend

New Club Alert !! This one is a bit different as it’s thru none other than Bedecked and Bedazzled. Ruth is doing several Halloween items by her favorite (and many of us) – Zecca. It’s a trio of Twisty Trees. The madness starts in September and I can’t imagine the embellishments alone on these canvases. https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/product/halloween-trees/

If your looking for a more “traditional” club – The Needlepointer has a Halloween themed club called “Fang-Tastic Cookies” A 12 month club with 18 count canvases that are 5X5 – quick and easy. Stitch guide and thread pack complete this monthly journey of boo-tiful culinary stitching. https://www.theneedlepointer.com/fangtastic-cookiesdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8515671?cse=nl062125&goal=0_3621358244-fad24eb819-69343533&mc_cid=fad24eb819&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

I know many people that check out Gone Stitching’s web site particularly for threads. Best selection of Kreinik I know of. They have a system that makes finding what you want easy and it is mailed right away or ready in the store by the time you get there. They have just updated their web site and made it even better !! It’s easier to use and much more colorful. Things like this make the search for an item less of a chore so you can keep on stitching. https://www.gonestitching.net/

Needlepoint .com has a beautiful new selection of map kits. One is prettier than the next. I bet there will be more to come in the future !! They come in either 13 or 18 mesh and are “stitch printed” making it easier – no guess work as to which color is at that intersection. Stitch guide and premium thread is included. Great suggestions on how they used them in the pictures. Bet these are fun to stitch and a great gift. https://needlepoint.com/collections/the-map-collection?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=2025_06_24%20Map%20Collection&utm_klaviyo_id=01EY735XHE675Z0Z1C4Z7SB8DK&_kx=SpNrwJYeSg8JHGV3vDRNkpeUD67Ddf2hdz1HBTATTO0.TxAVmM

If you are or know someone that is new to stitching and is ready to learn some new stitches this might be a great learning canvas. KC Needlepoint has their signature stitch challenge. You learn 21 stitches on a 13 mesh canvas. The kit includes stretcher bars, tacks, guide, needle minder, needle and premium thread (pepper pot silk, silk lame braid). Even better – it comes in 4 color ways. A great way to learn. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/2021stitchchallengekit?variant=37764888133806

Now that your thinking about some of these projects – OR – are getting ready to go on vaca – – every respectable Bag Lady needs a new bag to carry her “Stuff” in. Rittenhouse Needlepoint is showing the new Planet Earth/Tilli Thomas tote bags. They are self finishing cotton canvas with a pocket on the back and take either 5 or 6 inch canvases depending on size. They come in 7 colors and from the side, look like they have plenty of room. https://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/collections/new-arrivals-needlepoint

News Flash !! There is a new store now open in Kennebunkport Maine called Destination Needlepoint. How convenient for those vacationing in that beautiful state. From the pictures on Instagram they are located in a quaint looking house and have plenty of stock to look at in the store. They also look like they want you to be comfy as there are lots of chairs and a lovely looking yard to relax and chat in. https://www.instagram.com/destination_needlepoint/

The idea is catching on – first I saw Morgan Julia and now Atlantic Blue Canvas is doing a reward program. You get 1 point for each $1 your spend. There are various tiers of points and the rewards get better. Read the details on the web site and shop till you drop. https://www.atlanticbluecanvas.com/pages/abc-wave-points?_kx=_6T6ZEqw3FzRTyL6whjCxpBoWNmvx7M7ogeQHpVHlzk.SdsruM

Tips and Tricks: Ever struggle trying to get a knot out of your fiber? Frustrating. The Fern Ridge Collection has a tip: Have a knot in your fiber that seems impossible to get out? Flatten the knot, then use your needle to open up the knot, it comes out easier. https://www.fernridgecollections.com/tipsandtricks.php

Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Don Lynch – the owner/designer behind Associated Talents and Two Sisters Needlepoint. He is actually a U of Kentucky graduate with a degree in Business. He opened a needlepoint store in 1999. He started designing when his mother asked him to design canvases for her and it grew from there. Read more about him on Needlepoint .com – https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/meet-don-the-designer-behind-associated-talents-and-two-sisters

Do you know who this famous stitcher is?