Happy Needle Point Month! It’s that time of year – we at NJNA are planning for 2027 programs !! Some exciting things are sure to be coming so stay tuned. Mark your calendars for our November meeting as we will be having Beautiful Stitches owner, Anne Marie Anderson Mayes from Australia. She has wonderful counted projects and her threads are such a pleasure to work with. I was lucky to have taken a class with her and she is a wonderful teacher. Can’t wait to hear her talk. https://beautifulstitches.com.au/

The new Sept – Oct 2026 issue of Needle Pointers Magazine is on it’s way. I happen to have the cover project in my WIP pile! I will let you explore this issue yourself but I will say that the Tale of 2 Stitchers is AMAZING! The designer spotlight is one of my favorites – Zecca. The issue is jam packed with all sorts of great things to read – check it out online if you can’t wait !! (Wait till you see the back cover!)

If you haven’t seen the classes being offered at the 2027 seminar in Nashville they have now been published. Take your time and plot out which ones your going to try to get into when they open registration. Lot’s to consider ! https://online.fliphtml5.com/bjsk/Compressed-from-ANG-2027-Seminar-Classes/#p=1

Registration has opened for ANG’s Free Lectures series. During the month of September they are offering 2, What Makes a Design Work by Jennifer Riefenberg and Tips and Tricks by Sue Reed. You must register which can be done on the ANG web site. Great topics and great designers !

The end of summer – already. Labor Day is Monday and that means the fall Needlepoint Market in TX is almost upon us. From Oct 2 thru the 5th there will be 128 exhibitors of which 28 are new to the show and there will be 216 buyers of which 69 are new! That is a lot of needlepoint being bought and sold ! Can’t imagine what we will all be seeing shortly.

The Needlepointer has a new collection of “Autumn at Home” kits. There will be 4 in all and the first and second have just been released. A quick stitch at 5″ X 5″ it is a cozy Autumn Front Door or a pile of fall items in a basket. You get the canvas, threads and stitch guide along with everything needed to finish it. Reminds you of a warm fall day. https://theneedlepointer.com/products/autumn-welcome-ornament-kit?se_activity_id=176556081394&syclid=da9fd15qjabs73aprk50&utm_campaign=%F0%9F%8D%82+Meet+the+First+of+Our+Autumn+at+Home+Collection_176556081394&utm_medium=email&utm_source=shopify_email

Uh Oh – Danger Danger Will Robinson (Yes, I dated myself there). If you live in the tri-state area of NY/NJ/CT there is another new store coming !! Good Point Needlepoint is moving to Fairfield CT. It’s located right by the train station and they are working feverishly to get themselves open. So cute, it’s in a house and the shop is the downstairs.  The location, extra space and charm of the building made it impossible to resist. No opening date yet but…Soon! They are planning a “Formal Opening” in the spring of 2027 but will be there on a limited time schedule shortly. https://goodpointneedlepoint.com/

Ridgewood Needlepoint is celebrating 2 Anniversaries !! This is Adrienne’s 6th year owning the shop. The shop is also celebrating it’s 25th year in business ! A wonderful milestone. To celebrate Adrienne is having a sale from Tuesday Sept 29th thru Saturday Oct 3rd all in stock canvases, threads, books and accessories will be 15% off. https://ridgewoodneedlepoint.com/

A new self finishing product you can get thru Rittenhouse Needlepoint – Baseball Caps ! They are made by Abby Stone Designs and have a stitchable panel in the front of the cap. When you finish your one of a kind design it comes with an adhesive backing to put on the inside. A great look for all you Boston or Yankee fans !! https://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/collections/new-arrivals-back-in-stock

NEW THREAD ALERT ! Look on Fireside Stitchery’s web site. Those people are VERY BUSY ! There is a lot going on at that store! They have just put in a thread line I have not heard of called “Moondrake BFL Silky” It’s meant for 18 count and is a blend of 45% Bluefaced Liecester Wool and 55% Grade A Mulberry Silk. You learn something new everyday. https://firesidestitchery.com/products/bfl-silky-moondrake?_pos=3&_psq=Moondrake&_psid=1511fcef3&_ss=e

Fireside Stitchery also is about to open up their “Spring Thaw Retreat” for 2027. A relaxing 2 day weekend held at the Aronimink Golf Club April 24th and 25th. Breakfast/Lunch/Refreshments/20% off in store Shopping and optional classes. I heard nothing but rave reviews from last years retreat. https://firesidestitchery.com/products/spring-thaw-retreat-breakout-classes

Tips and Tricks: Have we all been affected by the stretcher bar shortage? Rumors that the newer stitchers have been throwing them out when they finished a project and then just buying new instead of reusing them have been circulating. True or not there has been a shortage particularly of the smaller sizes. We all have been buying the familiar pink labeled Frank A Edmunds wooden bars but with a shortage comes innovation. When you go to web sites there is also a blue label by Colonial Needle, stores also have their own brand now and they have even come up with ones made of plastic. Something new is coming soon – look for MB Stitch – they haven’t launched them just yet (Sept 7th) but they go together like puzzle pieces. They have other features that we can all explore when they come out. Very unique.

Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Cece Stricklin the owner and founder of The Thread Gatherer. This is a full family operation and she has been in business for 35 years. They hand dye both threads of all kinds along with silk ribbons, materials etc. https://threadgatherer.com/

Do you know who these Famous Stitcher’s are ?

Have a lovely Labor day weekend !