Memorial Day Weekend and with weather like this it’s perfect to stitch the weekend away. I know we need the rain but it is soggy out there ! Thankfully this past week our meeting was all on Zoom and I believe they recorded it. It was another “you didn’t want to miss” program by Jacqui !!! So interesting and lots of questions as we went along. She was showing us that by taking a picture of your project in black and white how to tell if there was balance in the color choices. This opened a whole new avenue of understand on how to pick colors for your project OR how your framer can completely change the look of your project with the matting and frame. If you missed the program watch for it to be posted on our web site. Next month Jacqui will be talking about other parts of the color wheel – triads, tetrads, complements, etc. I had no idea there was so much information on a color wheel !! This will be the last of the series on color so don’t miss !!! Of course you need to be a member to enjoy all this – we love new members !!

If you have not heard about “America’s Tapestry” then check out their web site https://www.americastapestry.com/exhibitions In honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary you will be able to see this amazing collection of tapestries of the original 13 colonies starting in June. Virginia is the first that will be on display until September. In October New Jersey can be seen at the Passaic County Arts Center in Hawthorne NJ. Information with times and location are on the web site. This project is just amazing to see. I went to an event that had a piece of it there set up on a slate frame and anyone could stitch on it. I can’t wait to go see it finished. Below is the NJ piece called “Women on the home front”. On the web site below the picture is an audio description. Poke around the web site as there is a lot of interesting tidbit’s.

Island House Needlepoint in Norwalk CT is having another retreat on July 10th and there may still be a seat or 2 left. Several of the NJNA members are going and having been to their first retreat I guarantee they will have a great time. The project that comes with the retreat is a 3D London Phone Booth. The class is being taught by Deb Bryan (who I see at more and more store events in other states). She has a certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery from the Royal School of Needlework among other things. If you can’t make the retreat look thru the web site. They are now selling the bag I received as part of the “swag” for going to the first retreat along with other really nice bags. She is selling more and more items so check back often. https://islandhouseneedlepoint.com/

Since we are all bag ladies to start with – KC Needlepoint has a new line of bags – Becco Bags! They come in an assortment of sizes and shapes and colors BUT they are also offering a neat new “Round Canvas Self Adhesive Patch”. You stitch a very small canvas (and yes they sell a bunch of them to fit) then insert the canvas in the “patch”. The patch sticks to the bag with Velcro. You can move them all around or swap them for an occasion. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/becco-bags?page=1&sort_by=price-ascending

Still need options? Look to Stitch Stash in Delaware – she has very cute Ric Rac bags in different versions. In expensive in case you need more than one !! (And you do!) https://stitch-stash.com/collections/ric-rac-bags

New Thread Alert: Vineyard Silk has a new product – Silk Thirteen. As the name implies it’s made with 13 count canvas in mind. Fireside Stitchery is carrying it and when they get the full line you will have 199 colors to choose from. It’s 100% Chinese Silk that they say feels buttery to the touch, has a beautiful sheen and great coverage. https://firesidestitchery.com/products/vineyard-silk-13-mesh-000-199

We have a relatively new needle point store called “Mrs. Meshugga” in our area. She has shared space in a place called The General Store in Maplewood NJ. The General Store is closing but the great news is that Mrs. Meshugga is taking over the entire space! Sometime in the summer the place will close and she will be renovating to have more canvases, threads etc. As she puts it ” Your WIP pile is about to get even more out of control” We wish her luck and success as there is nothing better than another destination to shop. https://www.mrsmeshugga.com/collections/great-for-beginners-1

I just passed around an email from Moore Stitching – they are having a BOGO 50% off sale for the holiday. Yes, we all have too much but they are so adorable and quick to stitch up ! Who can resist Lucy and Ina or Martha and all the others???? https://moorestitching.com/collections/modern-muses

I know, I know – I just tempted you again BUT – if you need to make room in your over flowing stash Rittenhouse Needlepoint has just started a destashing service ! You take a picture or 2, go to their web site and answer a few questions then up load the picture. It goes out to their platform where you can buy and or sell. You set the price and get 80% of the sale in cash OR you can choose store credit and get 110% of the sale price. They went live this past Thursday. I just looked and there were already 17 pages to look thru ! https://destash.rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/about/info?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=QNbnum1iUEN5weUC3DuK75aOlVx0Dud-BR0a603hRFw.TU8N4e

In honor of the holiday (or be a head of the game for July 4th) Old World Designs in CA is having a Hot Dog Party on June 27th. They will be having hot dogs for lunch and you can stitch with friends while working on your Hot Dog kit which comes with canvas, guide and threads. If that doesn’t make you smile ….. https://www.oldworlddesigns.com/module/class/637985/hot-dog-party

Tips & Tricks: You know supplies are getting tight when a store starts to create their own stretcher bars! The Needle Works in Austin TX is now selling 3D printed stretcher bars. They are compatible with the wood ones, you can use tacks or staples on them and soon they will come with the size printed on them. Call the store as I didn’t see them on the web site. (512) 451-6931 https://theneedleworks.com/

Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Lucy Millet the owner and founder of Mopsey Designs. She started the company in Maine in 2020 and named it after her great – grandmother, Mopsey. She had plenty of inspiration from other women in her family and studied art therapy and print making.

Do you know who this Famous Stitcher is?