Hi Everyone —

We had a small group attend the 2015 stitch and pitch, but it was a merry time — just like last year!  It was a gorgeous night for a ball game — not too hot and hot too cold.

It threatened to rain, but our luck held.

The Patriot’s Mascot really seemed to like our group!  He was flirting terribly with Rona and tried to sit on her lap!  I’ve never heard Rona laugh so hard — and of course, they featured it on the Jumbotron!

A group was giving out yarn and knitting and crochet patterns so that we could make chemo hats to donate.  Not being a knitter, I couldn’t believe how many women started AND finished the hats during the ball game.

Our luck didn’t extend to the Patriots.  But, no worries, there were fireworks either way!

BOOM! BOOM!

Cheers!  Rosie

Hi Everyone —

Last weekend I had the privilege to stay with friends on the beautiful Georgia island of St. Simon’s. On our way to sightseeing on Friday morning, we passed a shop that just called out to me.

The Stitchery on St. Simon’s Island.

The store was lovely and inviting on the outside.  The owner was off and so I wasn’t able to take a picture on the inside.  The stock was mostly yarn for knitting, but there were a number of painted canvasses.  I asked about stitch guides and was told that I was supposed to do those myself!  I found one needlepoint of the lighthouse on St. Simon’s, but that appeared to be the only local interest canvas — so I bought it!

St. Simon’s Island Lighthouse!

What do you think?  I thought it was pretty realistic.

St. Simon’s Lighthouse — the real deal!

My recommendation for stitchers going to SSI?  BYOS — Bring your own stash!

Cheers!

Rosie

Hi Everyone —

Today I finished the stitching for the pilot class of “Pair of Puffins Perched on a Prominence”.

Puffins are perched!  Gotta love that carved whelk!

I had finished stitching the beaded background on Friday.  However yesterday when I went to couch the puffin feet onto the rock, I discovered that part of the lower starfish was missing and a long length of thread was hanging from the canvas.  As far as I can tell, Ellie Bean decided to eat the starfish while I was working on a jigsaw puzzle on Saturday.  Or, she might have caught her claw in it when she was literally bouncing off the walls at the vegetarians (deer) in her new back yard.

So, I had to do some starfish repair before I could couch down those puffin feet!  Luckily I had plenty of thread and I don’t think the rework is too apparent.  Besides, aren’t starfish known to grow new arms when one is broken off??

The Pair of Puffins Perched on a Prominence is now perched prominently on a high TV cabinet — far from the wandering teeth and claws of one determined puppy!

Thanks to Ann Strite-Kurz for creating this whimsical design.  I haven’t enjoyed stitching anything so much in a long time!

Cheers!  Rosie

Hi Everyone —

I have been so thrilled to read all of the posts from Sue C and Linda M and Heidi’s comments!  What a great way to share all of the wonderful needlepoint exhibits and classes going on!

I have just completed a two day pilot class with Ann Strite-Kurz called “Pair of Puffins Perched on  a Prominence” with the SBCANG group in Ontario, California!  I have so much to share about the wonderful experience.

First, to the SOTM group, Ann brought a copy of Ruby Razzle Dazzle with her so that I could start to plan an agenda for our SOTM.  The kits and the rest of the “instructions only” will be shipped when Ann gets back to her home in Michigan around the end of March.  She is excited to see what we do with our own colorways and I promised to share the results with her.  Most of the other pilot stitchers stopped by to look at the design and ooh and aah over how lovely it is!  I think we are going to have a great time stitching it!

Some of you have heard me say that my last name means “Puffin”.  This is most of the reason that I just HAD to take this class.  Besides it is such a cute piece.  I had bought a sweater with Puffins on it just to wear to class, but as it was in the 90’s both days, I had to beg off!

Ann helped to bring this alive by sharing her inspiration for the design as well as her reasoning for the choice of stitches.  I loved that this was a cross between a charted design and a painted canvas.  The design was a picture, but it was charted — how cool is that?

Puffins are an endangered species and Ann shared articles about conservationists who are helping to preserve the puffin.  And it is working!  Sue C — I know you would have loved all the naturalist trivia.

I couldn’t help but think of Diane as Ann shared the fundamental origin of her stitches and then showed how she modified them to create the effect that she wanted.  So the 3-1-3 of Nuboku became 4-4-2-2-4-4 in a double Nuboku pattern.  And by alternating threads, Ann created a wet feather look on the puffin’s wing.

Puffins — End of Day 2!

I can’t wait to show you all the embellishment that goes into this canvas — and it stitches up quickly.

The side borders are designed to be symbolic of lighthouses along the east coast of the US which is one area where puffins are found.  I learned some skills for doing blackwork while creating the beautiful patterned border.  I will also need to employ needle weaving to add a couple of starfish to the rock!

Any class where you can learn AND have fun is aces in my book!

The first class that I took with SBCANG in Ontario was Michael Boren’s “Frankie”.  So when I read Sue C’s post about Woodlawn, it was like coming full circle in our craft.  What a great time to be alive!

Cheers, Rosie