I looked at the calendar and realized 2 weeks had gone by and I needed to do the blog – then I realized it was mid July – how did that happen??? This week is our next meeting – already ! If you have checked out your email you will have gotten one from Noelle (our fearless leader). She announced that our next 2 meetings will be a continuation of our exploration of color ! Melita G will be telling us about her design process and color philosophy. The chapter will be offering Melita’s award winning design at half price. It could be a good stash buster ! Details on getting the instructions are in Noelle’s email and will be discussed at the meeting. Wed night at 7 pm – see you then!

Mid July also means that it’s time for this year’s seminar in Denver CO. The big event starts this week on the 18th and they will be having a new feature of Open Stitching – even if your not a member. Everyone going should have a good time and enjoy all that seminar has to offer.

Yesterday the email came from ANG and we finally got a look at the new Needle Pointers Magazine! I don’t know about you but the first thing I turn to is the Tale of 2 Stitchers and this time in particular. Last month we got to see Jacqui’s piece and this time Cathryn’s Gazebo is in the magazine. Many of us got to watch the process and see her canvas evolve into the masterpiece it became. We were also lucky enough to see it framed. The pictures in the magazine are great but in person – no comparison. The other woman, Suzanne, also did a wonderful job stitching her canvas. We can’t help but be biased though. Check out the magazine online to see all the details – very interesting to read and see the differences.

That email from ANG was packed with great information including the new Quarterly Stitch ! I and several others are stitching our own versions of Marion Scoular’s “The Princess and the Pea”. This piece is all done in Blackwork which is what this quarter’s all about. Blackwork Sampler 2 by Amy Wolfson. Some of the patterns look like they can be adapted to a mattress or two. As soon as I am done here I will be downloading this project. It’s a more complex technique than many of us thought !

If your a fan of Julie Snyder she is coming to Ridgewood Needlepoint to teach canvas embellishment on November 7 & 8. The class is limited to 10 so you need to be quick. They require a deposit so call the store at 201-612-7770. She has published more than 10 books and is a nationally acclaimed needlepoint instructor.

With July being a rather Patriotic month The Needle Pointer has a series of Military Patches you can stitch. A nice way to commemorate family and friends that have served. There are a dozen to choose from. https://theneedlepointer.com/collections/us-military?se_activity_id=174738440434&syclid=d998mfav8rcs73c080c0&utm_campaign=Celebrate+Service+with+a+Handmade+Keepsake_174738440434&utm_medium=email&utm_source=shopify_email

If you need a “Grab and Go” small project The Needle Pointer has very cute cocktail charms (fobs) they call “Sips and Stitches”. You have 6 cocktails to choose from in pretty colors. Great little item to put on a hand bag or to carry for some stitching while you wait! Everything is included to both stitch it and finish it. https://theneedlepointer.com/products/cocktail-mini-fob-collection?se_activity_id=175073657074&syclid=d999kerm30jc7390v3o0&utm_campaign=Shake+Up+Your+Style+with+Cute+Cocktail+Charms%21_175073657074&utm_medium=email&utm_source=shopify_email

There is nothing more iconic to summer than New England and along with that is Sara Fitz (who happens to be the niece of one of our members! ) She has just dropped a bunch of new canvases, needle minders and brand new project bags ! There is something about her designs that make you smile. She has even collaborated with LL Bean for bedding! Her needlepoint sells out quickly (totally understandable) but many other things in her line make great gifts. https://www.sarafitz.com/collections/needlepoint?page=3

Rachel Barri has some new Mezuzah canvases. A quick stitch and a very lovely gift. Check out her other Judaica items as most people do not associate her with these canvases. She has a great sense of humor on some of the camvases along with her other lovely canvases, such as her bags ! https://rachelbarridesigns.com/collections/judaica?page=1

I hate to say it but… Fall is coming! LOL And before you know it too ! I am stitching a sign for my stitching room “This Is My Happy Place” from Stitch Rock Designs. I got to thinking about other canvases I have to stitch by the same designer and realized Halloween is coming, I should get moving. Then I got several emails saying that Christmas finishing is about to be cut off ! Yikes – it’s coming to fast ! Think about stitching one to two holidays/seasons ahead ! Here are the other items from Stitch Rock in my stash, you might want to revisit your stash in advance of Fall and be ahead of the game! Then again – the end of September is the Autumn Needlepoint Reunion Trade Show! https://stitchrockdesigns.com/

Tips & Tricks: Ugh – Neon Rays, Flair, Frosty Rays….stitching with these beautiful threads can try your patience. They and others shred as you pull them thru the canvas. Yes, you need a shorter length to stitch with than you may like but another help is to burn the ends ! They call them thread burners or zappers – all the same thing. I just purchased a new one (I am sure you can guess where I got it!) and this one is rechargeable. The older ones used a battery. This tool has also gone high tech! This one has a cap to protect the tip and a screen to display the power left. It’s light, fits your hand easily and even comes in pink !!

Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Emily Oliver, one of the designers under the Rachel Barri Designs company. She is from Virginia Beach and loves classic style designs. Look her up on Rachel Barri’s web site (gotta love the Hot Cocoa). https://rachelbarridesigns.com/collections/emily-oliver-studio

Do you know who this Famous Stitcher is?

Everyone going to Seminar have a Fabulous Time !!