Stitch By Stitch in Larchmont NY each year has a retreat that is hard to get into. I believe there were 80 seats and close to 600 people that wanted one of those seats !! You can enter their lottery either as an individual or as a “team”. I entered as a team with 3 other NJNA members. Stitch By Stitch does a Live Face Book drawing of the lucky winners and for the first time they pulled my name !! The “team” got in!
If you have read in prior blogs that I have done, Stitch By Stitch is always a favorite. The way they handled this retreat was with precision !! They pulled the names in September for an event held March 22 – 25th. You were informed all along the way what was coming next and what you had to do so that everything ran smoothly. If you had a question – they had the answer !! It was a pleasure going to an event that had it all covered.
The Mohonk Mountain House building is from the 1860’s and there is a glacial lake in front of it. The Smiley Family have owned the property for over 150 years. There is plenty to do at this place from riding to golf to the spa – and even dance lessons. The room was very comfy and had a balcony with a rocking chair and an amazing view. In fact there are little sitting areas and porches with rocking chairs all over.
Unfortunately we did not have the best weather (it even snowed one day) so we did not get to enjoy to much of the out doors but we were there to stitch ! The food in this place was not only delicious but plentiful. You ate in a beautiful room that had wood everywhere in the Craftsman style. We did have dinner 2 nights in the “Founder’s Room” – a private dining area. The interesting part was getting your dinner buffet style “In The Kitchen” ! A unique experience as you stood on line next to the organically growing herbs !
The stitching room was in a separate building that was filled with light. Eight people to a table and our table had women from Long Island. We couldn’t have asked for nicer women to sit with. Actually, all the attendees were very friendly and helpful. The 3 trunk shows in the stitching room – Elizabeth Crane Swartz, Gingham Stitchery and Plum Stitchery along with other items from Stitch By Stitch gave you plenty of shopping opportunities. Elaine Adonidis was also on hand for some short classes on embellishments.
You also did not want for snacks and drinks – they were plentiful all day every day. There were lovely raffle prizes, a pajama party and the topper of it all was the “Swag Bag”. What was at your seat as a gift was over the top. So many great items too numerous to list. I will tell you that when I got back and showed friends what we got – I believe some ordered a few of the items as they loved them and couldn’t not have them.
No matter where you walk there it is a distance. You were also so busy all the time that you were tired everyday. Turn down service even made your night a neat experience with a note and chocolate on your pillow. After a good nights rest we were all ready to go again !
There is so much more to do there that it makes a great get away place that is close to home yet far removed from daily life. It was a wonderful experience and a fun day every day because Betty, Susan, Linda, Catherine and Karen did such a good job of making sure you wanted for nothing ! Good luck to all who enter the lottery in the future. You will not be disappointed.
This week was our monthly meeting and the continuation of Jacqui C’s program about the color wheel. She finished the remaining colors and next month she will be showing us all about Grey Scale – a valuable tool (that I need to know more about!). I was taking a class in Black Work so I missed the meeting BUT – NJNA has been recording them. I can go back and watch what the remaining colors were and how they are used in picking out threads for your projects. Not all guilds do this! We try to be progressive so everyone can enjoy our programing. A thank you to Jacqui for her hard work and we are all looking forward to the next months meeting.
Registration for The 2026 ANG Seminar in Denver is open and as of today there are 10 classes that have already sold out. If you are planning on going you need to hurry to sign up for a class or 2. I looked at the catalogue and there are still some great looking classes but…..
National Office Elections are going on – make sure you vote. Great candidates are stepping up to bring a better ANG organization to us all. You can use the link in the email that came Friday or go to the ANG website.
Yikes – Spring Fling starts in April – another project on my plate !! Worth it though. Everyone should be hearing from Molly Boyne with instructions soon. Keep and eye out in your email.
Oh My !!The new Needle Pointers Magazine is on it’s way !! The cover is a math person’s dream! The back cover is so quirky that I had to read about it on the bottom of the contents page. Again, from the Shop Hop to the thread reviews to the other projects, many about Bargello – this issue is another winner. A Tale of Two Stitchers is adorable !! Check it out online if you can’t wait for the “Snail”.
April 1 – no fooling – there should be new online classes. ANG Independent Learning has a new offering that you should be able to register for. At this time the link is not available but the class, called Desert Rose will be taught by Jeanette Tombaugh. It comes in 2 color ways and believe it or not this is the same piece in the 2 color ways.
Morgan Julia is about to launch a new club – a Garden Club. All canvases are 4 X 4 on 13 mesh and each one will be a different flower. She is using a variety of threads and it comes with stitch suggestions. She has to finalize details but expects to ship in April and it will be a monthly club under $100 per month ! Sounds like a great club for newer stitchers that want to move on from the continental stitch. No pictures yet. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVRmP5Yksxz/
Have you checked out Stitch Stash in DE lately? She has started her “Sunday Sale”. Each Sunday she sends out an email with three canvases along with threads and they are 20% off. When they go – that’s it. I have seen it 2 or 3 times and she puts up some interesting choices. The threads a very nice choices, one was a sunshine all done in Radiance. Get on her email list to see what new selections she has. https://stitch-stash.com/search?type=product&q=Sunday%20Sales*
Tips and Tricks: No matter how often you bead on your canvas you need something to corral the beads so they are not “every where” !!! I recently was introduced to the EZ-Beader by The Collection Designs. What a wonderful item. It’s a small piece of wood with a magnet on the back and sticky material on the top. No beads are falling off that !! Someone showed me that you can take the back of the magnet off, keep the wood in the plastic box and THEN put it on your canvas. This way if something does slip off it lands in the plastic box ! Genius !
Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is the most energetic woman in the needlepoint industry, Suzie Vallerie. She is the owner of The Enriched Stitch in Wilton CT, VNG, a company that represents various artists including Amanda Lawford, Enriched Threads – formerly The Caron Collection AND she now owns Needlepoint in Paradise in FL. Watch for what she does next as I am sure she is not done ! Good Luck to her as she turns the needlepoint industry in new directions.
Happy “Almost Spring” everyone ! After this winter we need some spring. Thankfully tonight is Day Light Savings – put those clocks ahead an hour before you go to bed!
March also means that Woodlawn is in full swing. It runs thru March 30th and is closed on Tuesdays. NJNA sent about 25 entries in this year and we have winners !! Let’s all congratulate Noelle D, Diane B, Melita G, Rosie L and Linda M. They all received an award – or two! If you go, check out all the entries from NJNA as they are all winners in their own right – and don’t forget the ginger snaps at the end ! Here is the total list of winners this year: https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2026-award-winners
ANG Seminar registration is open and closes on April 17 ! Better hurry – 5 classes are already closed. Also – don’t forget to vote for the 3 new positions that are open. I am sure they will all do a great job. AND – we have a new Eastern Area Rep – Pat Thompson. She has been with ANG for over 25 years and held several positions. She is also involved with EGA and NAN and currently going for a certificate in Hand Embroidery thru the Royal School of Needlework. Welcome Pat !
Did you miss the 2 new Independent Learning projects ? Never fear – there are more new offers coming on 4/1/26 – no fooling !
On a more fun note – Stitch By Stitch (as usual) has some neat new items. The one that caught my eye was by a company called Threaded and Tipsy. They have some interesting self finishing items and canvases to choose from to insert. They have something called a “Catch All”. You need a 4X4 canvas to finish with and at first I thought – napkin holder – I was short sighted !! The 2 inch opening can also be used for: Books, planners, project bags, extra canvases (and who doesn’t have those), on a desk, shelf…. It is NOT leather but an affordable alternative. Look at Stitch By Stitch’s web site for their other products https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/collections/vendors?q=Threaded%20and%20Tipsy (Hoping they bring some to Mohonk!)
–Stitched Up Needle Works – on the Left Coast ! is looking to celebrate our nation’s 250th Birthday. They have commemorative canvas ornament kits you can order that include: canvas, stitch guide, threads and embellishments. The kits are $145 and you need to order by April 10th. They are going to have a Stitch In on June 6th from 10 am to 4 pm to help with your kits and they even hint that there might be cake !! You can call the store at 669-258-5027.
I was reading an email from Stitch Stash and she was talking about new things in her shop. One of them was a thread line I had not heard of – Razzle Dazzle Threads. From the picture it’s hard to see but the colors look nice and bright. Go to her web site to see them individually and bigger and they look almost like Trebizond Silk Thread. Many are sold out on her web site so they might be worth giving a try. https://stitch-stash.com/collections/razzle-dazzle-threads
Big changes for River Silks. The owner, Jean Krynicki is retiring after 22 years. Her daughters Lynn, Jill and Beth are stepping into her roll to keep this fabulous ribbon company going. That’s not all ! They are moving their operations across country from Washington State to Virginia !! To make this move they will be closed for several months and stopped taking orders on Jan 22nd. We wish them a lot of luck in the move. Check out their web site for tutorials on using their ribbons. https://www.riversilks.com/
I know someone stitching both a checker board and a Monopoly game. Both canvases are BIG! Morgan Julia Designs has come up with an nice alternative. She has made a smaller version of a Backgammon board (and they have personality!). Her new designs are not a life long project and you have choices of background design. She designed it specifically to use and display. The entire canvas is 15 X 19 making the actual board 11 X 15, a little smaller than a traditional size. The back drops are either ski slopes with giant trees, garden rows with trellises and few bunnies or a garden gate surrounded by hydrangeas. All really pretty and a nice way to play the game. https://morganjuliadesigns.com/collections/backgammon-boards?_kx=rV4MBEfWGkwURglkyUXCLopGavY2DCJQzP6Y94aO8T4.RWeQns
Tips and Tricks: Another magic tool to think about owning !! Have you ever used a “Bunka Brush”? They are very handy to bring the fuzzies / nap up on your stitching to make beards or fur seem more realistic. The Bunka Brush can be a bit big in smaller areas and tough on delicate areas. When you need the same solution but a bit smaller scale you need “The Fiber Finisher” by Rainbow Gallery. It’s a wire fan about a half inch across – perfect for smaller areas ! I found it at KC Needlepoint. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/ornaments/products/fiber-finisher-brush
Who was that Famous Stitcher? That is Diane, the owner of Pepperberry Designs. With a degree in Fine Arts she spent most of her career as package designer until she opened Pepperberry in 2013. She is an avid gardener and loves making wreaths using – yup – Pepperberries !!
Do you know who this famous stitcher is?
I was reading my emails from Ellen Johnson’s Serendipity Needleworks and what she said just struck me as so true. Our needlepoint community is more than stitching – here is how she put it:
It’s time to put the boots, hats and scarfs away – it’s enough for one season!
Hopefully you attended our meeting on Wednesday – it was great. Jacqui was very interesting about the color yellow and orange and how to use the color wheel. I think many are looking forward to the next meeting to continue with the next set of colors. Many are also interested in when she does the grey scale !! That has to be so interesting. So much you can learn. We also had some great show and tell at the end of the program with Noelle promising there is more to come at the next meeting.
Did you sign up for the ANG Spring Fling? I did and this morning I got several emails regarding it. Everything is going thru “Groups.io” and you should see something from Molly Boyne with instructions and information. Like everything else – the time is flying and classes start in April – ALREADY !
ANG has a new Quarterly Stitch Project. It’s a folding Ort Box by Marilyn Owen. The stitch guide is available for download now. I can just see unending combinations of colors for this project. Looks like it might be a good stash buster !!
If you go to an LNS – have you noticed a lot of new faces lately??? Younger faces ?? Needlepoint is beyond hot with younger people looking to learn how to stitch and about threads etc. Sitting in Edwardian Needle we are seeing it more and more. Pam is great with new stitchers (not to mention older ones too!). A friend told several of us about a recent article in Vogue Magazine. What a great read so I have attached it here. Enjoy how what we all know and love is being passed along to new generations, though I am not keen on it being called “Grandma Hobbies” !!
New Threads Alert ! Several of us went to a retreat in CT a few weeks back and since we were passing Stitch By Stitch and they have a new store – well… who could resist?!?! Not us !! They have always been a great store but they are amazing now. So much bigger and brighter and only a few doors from the old store. As we savored the new store we all saw the wall with the new thread from Silk Road Fibers. They are the people that made Silk Straw. Their newest fiber is called Soie Tissee. Let’s just say we kind of decimated their stock. You have to see the colors in person, very vibrant and it is very soft and flat – good for padding !! (the picture below does no justice) I bought some for my new project and can’t wait to stitch with it. https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooH6_X6wJCDBrOoWraDtc2co2C_Yr_6w_z-KYpYT5MboZbMw3ep
The Edwardian Needle just got a new line of threads in called Valdani. She has several drawers of these new Pearl 8 threads and the colors are beautiful. It looked like most were variegated. The thread feels softer than the DMC version. I don’t think these are going to last long in the shop. Check them out soon. The Edwardian is open Wed thru Sat and if you have a question, please call the store.
Needlepoint.com is a great web site (as I am sure you all know) and some day I will get to their stores in North Carolina. For now I use their web site to see all the latest and greatest items. They have a “needle points” program where you earn as you buy and then can redeem later. Check out how to get and redeem points on their web site. I understand they do wonderful finishing and now you can redeem your points on finishing also ! https://needlepoint.com/pages/rewards
The retreat several of us went to (after we tore ourselves out of Stitch By Stitch) was in South Norwalk CT. The place we went to was actually a finisher of needlepoint. It’s called Island House Needlepoint. By the end of the retreat we all couldn’t say enough wonderful things about JoAnn and her staff. So warm and gracious to everyone. This was their first retreat and they did a spectacular job ! Jinny McAuliffe was there (Stitch Style) and had a canvas just for the occasion along with her stitch guide, threads and teaching each day. Our gift as part of the retreat was like none I have seen before. It is a heavy canvas bag with handles and a pocket inside that she embroidered with the name of the retreat. I can’t wait to finish Jinny’s canvas to have it put on the bag. They also did a bang up job with lunch’s and snacks – we wanted for nothing. I have to tell you though – one of the most unexpected parts of the retreat was to see the finishing that they do. They have some unique ideas and it was interesting to see the actual finishing area with the bolts of material and equipment. She has a great system that gets your finishing back in 2 months !!!! I know someone that had something finished there and she was very happy !! On a side note – they also sell one of the best laying tools I own !!! https://islandhouseneedlepoint.com/
Tips and Tricks: Are you a “Frogger”???? I hate ripping stitches out !! I was in a needlepoint store and saw this seam ripper. Very colorful and seemed easy to handle. Fast forward many years and I am still using the same one!! (thankfully not often!). They are available in many places but this brand – did it for me!
Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Susan Byrne, one of the owners of Blueberry Point Needlepoint. She has a BFA in graphic design and has been stitching for over 40 years. They have some of the sweetest designs. She only sells wholesale but if you check her web site to see the shops she sells to in your area. https://blueberrypointneedlepoint.com/
Do you know who this famous stitcher is?
SNOW AGAIN !!! Everyone stay warm and safe and stitch a lot !!
Yikes is that cold out there !! That ground hog saw his shadow so we have another 6 weeks of winter to look forward too. Makes you glad that NJNA does meetings via Zoom as well as in person. Another week and a half until we see the next phase of Jacqui C’s year of color ! (I hope it warms up a bit !)
My Needle Pointers magazine just got to my house. ANG just let us all know in their email that the printer is having mechanical problems. Your next issue of the magazine will most likely be a few weeks later also. Good thing this Jan/Feb issue is so packed with articles and ideas to savor, it may take me awhile to get thru.
There are new reasons to stitch (like we needed a reason) – Valentines Day – the Olympics – Spring ! The Needlepointer has a “Mystery Stitch to Finish Box” offer that sounds interesting. Sign up for the box and it should come before February 14th. The box includes a lot ! 2 Valentine canvases, threads, stitch guide, finishing guide and their finishing kit to turn 2 canvases into ornaments. It doesn’t stop there – you also get a bonus pack of threads (for extra creativity) and a set of tools. https://theneedlepointer.com/collections/printed-canvas
With this cold artic blast The Village Needle Works came up with a unique idea – stitching and a movie ! They are having a special event in Omaha NE on Feb 12th. You buy a ticket and show up at their local movie theatre. Doors open at 6 pm and the movie “You’ve Got Mail” starts at 6:30. You also receive a “Valentine’s treat bag”. Bring your stitching as they will be having the theatre lights partially up but they suggest you also bring a clip on light. What a fun idea !! NE is a bit far away but check out Stitch Stash in DE – they are doing the same thing on March 29th only the movie is “Legally Blonde”. https://stitch-stash.com/products/%F0%9F%8E%AC-lights-stitching-action-registration?contact%5Btags%5D=newsletter&form_type=customer#feedback-bar–newsletter
New – New – New – New – New Kathy Rees of Needle Delights announced that Caron Collection has new Water Color shades. She is offering them at a sale price until Feb 15th. She says she is already using then in some of her new designs. 12 beautiful new shades – I think I may need them ! LOL https://needledelights.com/product/new-watercolours-12-skeins/
On another note – Kathy Rees has been having problems getting white canvas, seems to be in very short supply. She also let everyone know that lead times to order supplies are starting to increase again – shades of the Covid times. If that is not enough she was also told that suppliers will be increasing prices in March. She has been gearing up for new mystery class and says she is very frustrated – aren’t we all.
Perfect for the holiday – Blue Dogwood has a new kit featuring 3 hearts in a garnet colorway. The kit includes a stitch painted 18 ct canvas, Weeks Dye Works threads, a white frame with a mat and glass. They also have a teal twilight colorway. A quick yet very pretty stitch. https://bluedogwooddesigns.com/product/3-hearts-garnet/
Do you or friends play canasta? It has become very popular these days. Coco Frank has some new canvases that would make a neat gift. Playing cards and of course, a needle minder to match. Did you doubt it? https://cocofrankstudio.com/collections/playing-cards
She is at it again – Morgan Julia Designs is having another “Pop Up”, this time in Dallas TX. She has again rented a store space from April 17 – 19 and like her NYC pop up will have a limited edition canvas collection, some special releases and a few surprises. For someone about to get married she is a very busy woman. You can read about her new event on her web site. Ye Ha ! https://morganjuliadesigns.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooF16N0vgknVTgRM_y2VuYQr6VfSGDpsn-YEEezbYOh_BV9Rc_S
Tips and Tricks: Never be without the necessities again ! Atlantic Blue Canvas has this Snip and Stitch keychain and it’s a big seller. You need to put in your email to be told when it’s back in stock ! https://www.atlanticbluecanvas.com/products/snip-stitch-keychain
Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Vernon Kirk. He has been a long time designer of Elizabeth Bradley Designs and is one half of the familiar Kirk and Bradley destination rounds. He studied his BA in the UK for fashion and print design. In his 20’s he was working for a fashion textile house in London and was approached to do some freelance work designing needlepoint.
This past week we had our first meeting of they year. So good to see so many on Zoom. After a short business meeting Jacqui C gave us the beginnings of “The Year of Color”. A color wheel was sent out to everyone if you didn’t get it at the lunch. She explained how useful the color wheel can be when picking threads for a project. Next month’s meeting should be quite worth your time. Jacqui will be explaining more of the color wheel and how to use it along with a discussion on a specific color. Each new meeting will be about a specific color and as we all know from Jacqui – everyone needs a little yellow in their life !!
Have you looked at the brochure for the seminar in Denver?? Some very neat looking projects. With this storm coming, get yourself something to drink and peruse the classes being offered. https://online.fliphtml5.com/bjsk/orfy/#p=1
ANG has just revealed the NEW Distance Learning offerings. They are now offering distance classes in 2 categories. Either with a teacher or on your own. What they show on the web site is one of each. Read more about them including the cost on the ANG website under Education.
All you Edwardian Needle fans – Pam is having a big sale. All canvases are 25% off ! It can be a deep dive in some of those drawers but many hidden gems are there waiting to be found. As I sifted a bit I found several Charlie Harpers, Melissa Shirley and several that have been featured in older Needlepoint Now magazines. She is also having a Super Bowl party that you have to sign up for at the front desk.
DMC has a new offer. They have a nice looking tote bag from their Eco Vita collection. It looks roomy yet not over bearing to make you feel like a pack animal. It comes with 12 skeins of Eco Vita Naturally Dyed Organic Wool Thread, and the Eco Vita Wooden Project Box with 24 Bobbins. https://www.dmc.com/US/en/products/eco-vita-tote-bobbin-box-bundle?taxon_id=244
The only thing that this frigid weather reminds me of (in a positive way) is the Winter Olympics. If your a fan then you might want to check out the new piece by Hedgehog Needlepoint. You can pre order the new 2026 Winter Olympics Mitten. She expects it to ship on Feb 3 and how great a way to celebrate the games but to stitch while watching ! https://hedgehogneedlepoint.com/products/2026-winter-games-mitten-needlepoint-canvas
Tips and Tricks: If you haven’t seen these go get some – they can be a wonderful third hand ! They come in a number of names and you can get them by the ton on Amazon – look up Wonder Clips. I have used them to hold threads out of the way until I am ready to go back to a color and they are the best tool if you do your own finishing. Be aware that you can get them in different sizes. Always keep them in your bag of tricks.
Who was that Famous Stitcher? Bet you knew this one – she is Megan Holmes the owner of The Gingham Stitchery in St. Louis MO and Susan Roberts. Megan and Melisa McCloud of The Wool and the Floss use to do a podcast called Pointing it Out which you can still see on YouTube.
Do you know who this famous stitcher is?
Everyone hunker down and stay warm in the storm – perfect time to stitch !!
Today was the NJNA Holiday Lunch at The Grain House in Basking Ridge NJ. Always a nice time. So great to see people in person and chat. The food never disappoints but the real draw is to see everyone’s stitching that they bring to show. Jacqui and Cathryn also told us about this year being the year of color. We all got a color wheel, ring for our up coming threads, a colorful magnet courtesy of Linda M and a pen !! LOL The pen was for a fun circle a word while we were waiting for our desert ! We were also surprised with our President Noelle D. having flown in for the occasion. There was an amazing amount of talent in the room was on display for all to see. Here are some pictures of projects and “The Year of Color”.
Have you renewed your National ANG dues yet?? If not just know that some are having trouble with the web site. You can call them directly to see how to pay until they get their web site fixed. Their number is 856-380-6911.
Oh My ! The new Needle Pointers magazine is on it’s way and it never disappoints. The cover is great the back cover is spectacular! What is in between will keep you turning pages for quite a while. Our own Melita G is in for her wins at seminar not to mention her column – Timeless Treasures From The Archives. I found lots of surprises and then I got to the Tale of Two Stitchers – I can’t wait to read it in hand to see more details. In just looking thru the digital copy – how creative a group are we ! Amazing pieces that seem to only get better and better.
ANG now has something new called Independent Learning. This is Correspondence Courses, CyberWorkshop, and Workshop by Mail all rolled into one. Two ways to learn and a simplified registration process all to make it easier to enjoy a class. Check it out on the web site (after they fix it) and there should be 2 courses you can already choose from.
ANG also announced the new Stitch of the Month – or should I say “Beard of the Month” VERY different! Each month is a new pattern to create a different looking beard. All of the designs are by Janet Zickler Casey. Not just for Santa or a Nutcracker, they can be used on any canvas needing a beard or maybe some interesting hair !?!?!?!
Was your interest tickled to hear what Pantone’s color of the year is for 2026? What were they thinking?? White ! They may call it “Cloud Dancer” and we know there are enough whites to make you dizzy but – it’s white ! They need to step up their game for next year !
Stitch Stash has a new club that runs for 6 months starting in February. Each month you get an ornament designed by Elizabeth Crane Swartz (known for her dots). You have to commit to 3 months or go for all six. You receive the canvas, stitch guide done by Patti Hoffmann, thread kit and it all ships for free. These ornaments are ECS’s original artwork she used for her past Christmas cards. https://stitch-stash.com/products/the-card-art-club
Stitch Rock has a bunch of holiday canvases (for next year) on their web site – one cuter than the next! You have to love the “Pug in a Pumpkin” needle minder also. Check out her array of canvases from The Griswold Family Vacation, new stamps etc. Not small canvases but certainly not big – like Goldilocks – “Just Right”. https://stitchrockdesigns.com/
Tips & Tricks: Have you ever dropped your scissors – silly question. What happens to the point? Does it get damaged hitting the floor or worse hitting your foot. Protect the point with fun scissor protectors ! Check out Etsy for all of these to protect your 2nd most needed piece of equipment (needles first !)
Who was that Famous Stitcher? That is Maggie Boroujerdi – the founder of LOVE mhb Studio. A graphic designer right out of the Parsons School of Design. She worked at Martha Stewart Living and Conde Nast before venturing out on her own having been stitching for most of her life. When you look at her web site you will know many of her canvases. https://lovemhbstudio.com/
The December meeting is now in the archives for NJNA. Even though I was not able to attend this meeting I understand “Needlepoint Bingo” was a big hit. Congrats to the winners ! Hopefully we will see a repeat performance of it !! The slate of officers and the budget were all voted on and approved so we are ready to head into 2026 with more interesting topics to come. 2026 will be the Year of Color !! Each month there will be a discussion about a different color based on the color wheel and the DMC color chart – I can’t wait for blue !
Just a reminder – our holiday lunch is on Saturday January 10th at the Grain House. Last I heard there was still 3 seats left. Contact Cathryn C. – come join a fun afternoon will fellow stitchers !! Don’t forget to bring a stitched piece.
As VP of Membership, I have to thank all those people that were so quick to renew their membership for 2026. You actually have until the end of January to send in your dues. You also have to remember to first renew your ANG membership which is due by Dec 31 !!!! ANG sent out an email on 12/24 with details on the various ways to renew. They also allow you to renew for 2 years ! You must renew ANG to be a member of NJNA. You can use this link to go to ANG’s membership renewal page. https://www.needlepoint.org/general/custom.asp?page=Membership&_zs=QhCog1&_zl=JHaVA
ANG has made it official the 2026 seminar is in Denver Colorado AND 2027 is now going to be held in Nashville TN. October 21 – 24, 2027. In the mean time, you can view the classes being offered in Colorado on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di8wwUp8ZTk
Such exciting news from one of our favorite local needlepoint stores !! Stitch By Stitch is moving. If you have been to their store you know that it is very long and narrow. Barely room for a class. I have to say, they have made the most of their space over the years. Very difficult to not fall in love with numerous items at every turn. (I made the mistake of using the bathroom and left the store with a canvas that was on the wall in there !!) They will be opening on Jan 17th only one block away on the same street but in a much bigger space. Yikes – I can’t wait ! https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooH6_X6wJCDBrOoWraDtc2co2C_Yr_6w_z-KYpYT5MboZbMw3ep
We have a new LNS here in Northern NJ – Morgan Julia Designs has officially opened her new brick and mortar store – 278 Monmouth St. Jersey City NJ. From what I read the grand opening was a big success. Good luck to them – the store looks very nice in the pictures.
If you have been to The Edwardian Needle you will notice on the wall a fabulous piece of black work stitching by Marion Scoular called “The Princess and the Pea”. She has decided to retire and is downsizing her “stash” !! She lives in GA and a sale of her things is being arranged at a church in Peachtree Corners, GA. The sale is scheduled for Sat Feb 28, 2026. If you would like to know more, here is a link. https://egausa.org/marionscoular/?inf_contact_key=977581ccf15901ac24902f4399b93e28680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1
So – I have one word – MIRANEKS ! Friends saw this at a new LNS recently. Versatile and light weight. Lots of thought went into it’s design. I am talking about a new stand for stitching ! I have seen it in 2 colors (but there are several), and for the price on our “Go To” Amazon – it might be worth a try. Endless adjustments but the biggest feature is the weight – at 1.3 pounds it’s easy to take with you. Watch a video or two so as to see it in action. https://www.instagram.com/miraneks_llc/
Who doesn’t love Ann-Marie Anderson’s designs ?!?!? She was wonderful when NJNA had her come for a workshop. Her threads and colors were eye popping and the nicest person you want to meet. Get ready – she has some new designs out ! She calls them Braids and Blackwork for her 2026 Block of the month. It will be done in 5 lessons – a release on the 2nd Sat of the month from March thru July 2026. https://beautifulstitches.thinkific.com/courses/braids-and-blackwork
TIPS AND TRICKS: If you do stitch guides or complicated charts and graphs you know how easy it is to lose your place ! Try using “highlighter tape” to easily find where you are working. The Needlepoint Clubhouse has an array of colors though I bet you can get it in Staples. I have used it and it’s a wonderful thing – less frustration !
Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is NJNA’s own Melita Glavin. She is a life long stitcher and writes a column for each issue of ANG’s The Needle Pointer Magazine. She has been very involved with the ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, chosen for the 2023 ANG Stitch of the Month – Crescent Journey and has won numerous awards. Check out her blog (melitastitches4fun) she is always doing something interesting.
Do you know who this famous stitcher is?
Kirk & Bradley – Happy New Year Ornament
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and Happy New Year.
Are you ready for Needlepoint Bingo?? Our final meeting of the year is a week and a half away and it’s going to be just for fun! A quick business meeting and then sit back relax and stitch while we play some Needlepoint Bingo. Having played it before – have your “The Needlepoint Book” by Jo Ippolito Christensen handy as all the names of the stitches come from there. I had never heard of some of them and now – I just have to look them up to see! I hope to find something interesting for my next canvas !
ANG is looking for donations as it’s the time of year to give. The nice part is if you give them a donation to help keep the organization going – there is someone that is matching the donations up to $10,000. What a wonderful gesture. You should have gotten an email with the details on Friday the 5th.
Morgan Julia Designs is also doing a charity deal called A Stitch of Strength. The canvas below comes in 2 versions and 20% of the proceeds will be given to American Cancer Society. This is being done as a partnership with The Courtly Canvas, a long time supporter of ACS. They shared the journey of Caroline Parker who stitched the canvas during her treatment. She stitched the “Shuck Cancer” version. Whether you stitch it for yourself, gift it, or display it as a symbol of hope, this is a canvas that carries purpose in every detail. Here is where you can order it: https://morganjuliadesigns.com/collections/retail-only?_kx=rV4MBEfWGkwURglkyUXCLopGavY2DCJQzP6Y94aO8T4.RWeQns
Another way to give this season is thru Evergreen Needlepoint. They are doing Charts for Charity which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For $15 you get a digital download chart of a classic German Christmas Gnome. It’s 4 inches on 13 count and 3 inches on 18 count. Orders during the month of December are a 100% donation. https://www.evergreenneedlepoint.com/
The time has finally come – the end of an era – Melissa Shirley is retiring after 46 years of designing needlepoint !! Yikes! One of the most beloved designers, but fear not – the company is not going out of business. The employees of the company will continue to produce and sell all of her wonderful canvases. She plans on going back to painting on surfaces without holes !! I am sure everyone in the needlework community wishes her well.
The very well known needlepoint shop in Dallas, Chaparral, has had a lot of issues !! The store is closed due to health issues by it’s owner Heidi. She was planning on moving her operation to Tennessee and becoming an online only store. She had a moving company pack up all her things along with the store – her entire inventory. Along the way the truck caught on fire – everything was lost !! At least no one got hurt. If you haven’t gotten a call from her then your finishing was still with the finishers. How devastating, she is starting all over again. We only wish her well and the best of luck.
Now for some good news !! Morgan Julia Designs has been doing their soft opening in Jersey City – already ! They are still doing by appointment only and their address is 278 Monmouth St. Jersey City, NJ https://morganjuliadesigns.com/pages/visit-us-nj
Penny Linn has a new Nantucket Stroll Village that she just launched. Bet they are fun to stitch and you can do what ever ones appeal to you. She has other buildings, like the front of her store that you can put into the mix. They look small enough that you want one of each as they will stitch up quickly. https://pennylinn.com/search?q=Nantucket+stroll+village
Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Laura Love of Laura Love Designs. https://www.lauralovedesigns.com/ She is a 3rd generation needlepointer from Oklahoma. She moved to London in 2018 and fell in love with life there. She was asked to design canvases for various people and that is when her company was born. Her canvases are inspired by things she loves and stitch painted. You will recognize her designs right away.
The meeting on Wed was fabulous. We had a large attendance and no one walked away without having a new appreciation for Toni Gerdes. I was asked several times how someone could talk about one stitch – well, not only did she, but I think there were several hoping to find some of Mary Rhodes patterns by the end of the talk. They were so beautiful and contemporary. Mary Rhodes authored several books of which many are still on the market as used if your interested. What a GREAT talk. Next month is a holiday celebration game and stitch in – no pressure !
Have you checked out the “Spring Fling”? There is still time to register because after all, the classes don’t start until April !! Registration closes on Nov 26 but by then your in the middle of the holiday. Check out the offerings and hopefully there is something your interested in AND it’s not sold out.
The new Needle Pointers magazine is about to hit your mailbox with the Nov/Dec 2025 issue. As usual it’s bright and colorful and packed with lots to read and admire. This issue in particular has a local needlepoint store to us in the “Shop Hop” article. They spotlighted “Ridgewood Needlepoint”. The Tale of 2 Stitchers canvas is amazing – I want to know how each did the bubbles !! LOL This magazine is a wonderful part of being a member of ANG. You can check it out online at the ANG web site if you can’t wait for the “snail”. While your at it – don’t forget to renew your membership. Earlier is always better and they now have options.
The Woodlawn Needlework Show registration is now open. NJNA will be participating in the show as usual. Go online to the Woodlawn web site to register the pieces you want to enter. You have until 2/1/26 to register and NJNA will coordinate getting the pieces to and from the exhibit. Linda M recently sent an email about it. Nelly’s Needlers is celebrating 51 years and their cookies should not be missed if you go. https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/nwshow26
Thanks to Sharon B. for the interesting update on Kreinik thread. Probably one of the most widely used threads and soon it will be in the LNS on a more reliable basis. Here is what she found out from the new owner – Rainbow Gallery : We have been waiting for 10 new high-speed braiding machines to arrive from Europe for several months: they were delayed due to manufacturer adjustments. After that and time to ship via boat and clear customs and tariffs, they didn’t get here until middle of October. It takes some time to set everything up, arrange electrical acccess, and get connected/started, then building up stock, but we’re on it. These 10 machines are equivalent to 40 old Kreinik machines, and we have 10 more on order. We know it has been a long wait for both Kreinik and Rainbow Gallery threads, and these additions will help dramatically.
Moore Stitching has some new people in their line up of famous people to stitch. My Ina Garten was fun to do and someone else I know did Lucy. She came out adorable with French knots for her hair !! They have a wonderful sense of humor with the addition of Alfred Hitchcock to Coco Chanel to Snoop Dog and more. They just make you smile ! https://moorestitching.com/collections/new-arrivals
One of the newest items hitting the stores are coasters. When you think of it – they are small so they are a quick stitch. Many of the coasters in acrylic you can swap them out for new designs. They also make a great gift. I was looking at Needlepoint .com and they had holiday ones along with different flowers and seashells…. Choices, choices, choices ! And there are Sales, Sales, Sales everywhere !
Someone I know showed me an unusual “ORT” holder. How cute is this? I believe Home Depot also has them but they don’t have a lid like the Lowe’s version. Smaller than a coffee cup and very inexpensive – they make a great stocking stuffer for all kinds of things – even ort’s !!
Don’t forget – Nov 29th is Small Business Saturday – support your LNS !
Tips and Tricks: So you are stitching a santa and you need his beard to be fluffy. Or your doing turkey work on a project and it needs some fibers to be raised for effect – then you need a “Bunka Brush”! Watch the video and you will want one !! https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/all-about-the-bunka-brush
Who was that Famous Stitcher? That is Judith Baker Montano – a Canadian fiber artist with many best selling books such as “The Art of Silk Ribbon Embroidery” or “Crazy Quilt Handbook”. She has had a career that spans many artistic mediums. Read her biography: https://www.judithbakermontano.com/JBMwebsite/bio_html/bio_about.html
Do you know who this famous stitcher is?
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday with family and friends.
NJNA is Blogging! 
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