This month at NJNA we have Part 2 of Melita’s “A Spring Sampler”. As a member of NJNA you can purchase the instructions for this project for $7.50 for the PDF. I am looking forward to her presentation this month and hear about the stitches she chose. In the instructions, Melita gives other colorways besides the purple – or – do your own thing!

We also have a new member at NJNA – Robyn Z. We hope to meet her on zoom at this months meeting to say Welcome. She is already going to join in with Melita’s project and is looking to join us in the MET Region EGA event that NJNA was invited to “Africana” by Lorene Salt. As a reminder you have until September 8th to register. Many NJNA members are already part of the group !

The ANG Denver Seminar is finished and they have published a list of all the ribbon winners. (Our Melita was among those names !). The only picture they shared so far is Best Of Show and Star-Lee Corpuz certainly deserves that honor. Her piece is called Bonnie Blue Boy and looks amazing. It must be a master piece in person ! You can tell how large it is in the picture – not easy to stitch ! Congratulations for a well deserved ribbon.

It’s almost that time of year – Vacation at the Edwardian Needle. Pam will be closed from Wed August 26th thru the Labor Day weekend and reopen on Wed. September 9th. She has a Zecca trunk show of small canvases in the store that will be going back in about a week. She also has some new bead handles for those acrylic hand bags that are just stunning and a new colorful batch of laying tools along with other baubles to grab your attention. Stop in before vacation !

It’s also the time of year for Gone Stitching’s annual sale. As of right now all in store canvases are 20% off including all Judaica. There is also a DMC sale on select colors of DMC #3 and #5 for $1.50 each. Check out their newest book while your there “Got Stitches – Fine I’ll Do It Myself” https://www.gonestitching.net/

I am seeing email after email that one of the most anticipated new books is hitting the stores – Mary Legallet’s Book #5 Needlepoint Stitches for Backgrounds. If you put your name on a list at an LNS you should be hearing from them soon. Can’t wait to thumb thru and get ideas for all those WIP’s !! LOL

Fireside Stitchery just announced that they will be carrying 2 new thread lines by The Thread Gatherer – Sanibel and Oriental Linen. A group of us are planning a small trip to Fireside and I can’t wait to see these – they look so soft. They are also hinting at another new line of thread that is coming soon! They already carry over 120 thread lines ! A busy store – they are making more room in the shop for larger classes and events. This should be a fun trip ! https://firesidestitchery.com/

Another busy store is Penny Linn, they just keep adding to the experience! They had a pop up today with Atlantic Blue Canvas (the same store that gave us all those Mr. and Mrs. Claus playing various sports). If you missed that, they are also doing “Stitching in the Stands” at Citi Field. They will all be sitting together in the left field porch to watch the Mets take on the Washington Nationals on Aug 16th. https://pennylinn.com/products/stitching-in-the-stands-at-citi-field-1?variant=46183770882105&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=August+Events&_kx=95-hSwAYM_w1abxIXjXQMDX2ZPJpMD1KDiXnRxmVLaI.RspkHP They are doing pod casts from the CT store and lots more. Here is her calendar for both stores. https://pennylinn.com/pages/events-happening?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=August%20Events&_kx=95-hSwAYM_w1abxIXjXQMDX2ZPJpMD1KDiXnRxmVLaI.RspkHP If that makes you tired then she has just the thing – needlepoint pajamas with matching children’s pj’s !! That store works hard !! https://pennylinn.com/search?q=pajama&type=product

Stitch Stash is back with their 9th year of 25 days of Needlepoint in December. Delivered before Dec 1st is a box with 25 individually wrapped gifts related to needlepoint with the last package an exclusive canvas and stitch guide. Choose between 13 or 18 mesh. I think this sells out almost as fast as Penny Linn’s so hurry if your interested. https://stitch-stash.com/collections/25-days-of-needlepoint-signups

I did not know what a “Stitch-Its” was. KC Needlepoint explained all about it as part of their introduction of the “Stitch It’s” Breast Cancer Angel. I can now tell you that the creator of “Stitch-Its”, Barb Selders, had a dear friend that passed away from Breast Cancer. She developed the concept of the “Stitch-It’s” angels with Barb and as of now there are hundreds of designs for everything you can think of. Barbs friend also came up with the idea of the bow in the back for the wings. In memory of her friend she has designed a Breast Cancer Angel. A portion of each Breast Cancer angel sold is donated to Breast Cancer research. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/angels?omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d&sort_by=created-descending&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Breast+Cancer+%286a7364cd2ff5225cfdb4c40c%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend

While you are on KC Needlepoint’s web site you can check out their version of needlepoint pajama’s. Totally different print !! It’s all about choices ! https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/needlepoint-print-pajamas?_pos=1&_psq=pajama&_psid=5707976e8&_ss=e

Hedgehog Needlepoint has received long awaited stock ! She just got numerous items from her collegiate series including mini Christmas stockings. There are 22 new additions to her “Wee Flag Tag” series. What a great quick stitch as they are only 2″X4″ on 18 mesh. She also has exclusive leather finishing tags for them. Great to stitch while traveling and a wonderful gift. https://hedgehogneedlepoint.com/

Rachel Barri Designs is looking to do a retreat. They are looking for input on how to make the experience something that everyone would love to do. If you would like to put your 2 cents in then take the survey. It is not long and easy to answer. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQKvxhaKF9_LDhyU_aSEtGD9OUJwU-bvsgpSdfXVDtBS1HcA/viewform?_kx=IbiE6FbsWlQDlZ5xW1wsPrWLGJAJnjPlv0XjcQZiJeo.V6RsJQ

Tips & Tricks: Several friends were sharing places that they found project bags, Amazon (of course), Target….. All great. I was going thru emails and came up with a bag I had never seen before. The ultimate bag for needlepoint – one for your stretcher bars !! Now when you are done laughing, think about it – might be a good idea if your traveling so nothing gets snagged !?!?!? Go ahead – laugh !! https://heirloomdesigns.studio/products/a-tsssb

Who was that Famous Stitcher? Everyone knows Sarah Jessica Parker. She is well known for her love of needlework and has been seen on set working away between takes.

Do you know who this Famous Stitcher is?