This past week we had our monthly meeting and it had a few surprises. Someone discovered how to get the meeting notes electronically since our secretary is nursing a broken arm – feel better Sharon. We also discovered how easy doing the stem on the pumpkin is! It read in the directions to be much more complicated – thank goodness for Jacqui and her great explanation of how to make it come to life. She also had some finishes for us to look at. They all look so different. Makes you want to finish as they all look so great.

The last surprise was having a possible new member join in on the fun at the meeting. Diana W. was on and hopefully enjoyed hanging out with us. We hope to see you again at the next meeting Diana.

Next month we are doing Ribbon Candy ornaments. Please let Jacqui know ASAP if you want to do this project. It’s a quick item and will look great on any holiday tree. The chapter is picking up the cost of materials but they need a count right now so they can get them in the mail in time for the next meeting.

Mark your calendars for the ANG Annual Membership Meeting. It will be held on November 20. The meeting is virtual so you must register to get the Zoom link. If you can’t make it they will be recording the meeting and posting it on the ANG web site. If you have any questions, this is the time to submit them and the Board will address them. They will also be going over any updates, volunteer positions, upcoming programs, and events along with reports from Committee Chairs. See what your organization is doing !

The Needlepoint Stores that offered fund raising for the hurricane victims raised quite a bit ! Needlepoint.com raised over $65 thousand dollars for Operation AirDrop. Stitching Fox and Planet Earth raised $5,500 from the sale of their exclusive canvas and thread packs. They helped the Red Cross of Western North Carolina. 2’s Company Needlepoint has created a chart of the state of North Carolina and 100% of the proceeds from the sale will go to Craft Futures Fund Emergency Relief. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, artists have lost their studios, their work, and their livelihoods. Craft Futures Fund Emergency Relief at the Center for Craft in Asheville, NC will provide direct critical resources to artists in Western North Carolina. You can get this chart at: https://www.2sconeedlepoint.com/shop/Charts-for-Charity/p/Chart-for-Charity—Craft-Futures-Emergency-Fund-x85935459.htm

Morgan Julia Design has a “Bar Cart Club” that sells out in the wink of an eye! She just announced her 3rd one for this year and if you want it you need to put your name on the wait list ! This one is all about the season with a Cider Stand Bar Cart. It’s shouts the flavors of fall. This box contains the canvas, a golden laying tool, a white and gold tweed project bag, a scarf with a needlepoint mesh design, an array of threads to compliment the canvas and the cutest needleminder to go with it all. To join the wait list for a box use this link – https://admirable-snowflake-808.myflodesk.com/sv8nz4etlv?_kx=rV4MBEfWGkwURglkyUXCLopGavY2DCJQzP6Y94aO8T4.RWeQns

Patti Hoffman, the owner of Stitch-Stash is a breast cancer survivor. Each year she does something to bring awareness. This year she is doing 12 months of PINK. It starts this month and will go over 12 months, releasing an exclusive needlepoint canvas each month, designed by a different talented artist. Each canvas will be pink-themed and will help support breast cancer awareness, with a portion of the proceeds donated to various breast cancer organizations. The first week of the month she releases a new design and there is no commitment, you buy the months you like. It’s all dona a la cart so you can buy just the canvas or as a kit. The October Special:  if you purchase the canvas, the threads, and the Rachel Barry Everyday Bag, you’ll receive 10% off your purchase! Simply use coupon code OCTOBER at checkout. Octobers canvases were designed by Maddie Sweet Designs and distributed by The Gingham Stitchery. https://stitch-stash.com/collections/12-months-of-pink

If you are a cat lover you may be interested in this new club from The Needlepointer called Feline Friends. This club runs for 6 months but you work on just one canvas. Over 6 months you get a monthly packet with a stitch guide and threads for each new section. The first month is expected to be February and you will get the canvas then. It is Puurrrfectly adorable. https://www.theneedlepointer.com/feline-friendsdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8514209?cse=nl101124&goal=0_3621358244-1a8af9cd8e-69343533&mc_cid=1a8af9cd8e&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

I have found that many people that needlepoint are also voracious readers. Needlepoint.com has a neat looking way to combine the two. Kirk and Bradley has come out with the London Bookends. They are selling them as a kit with 2 printed canvases, threads, stitch guide and embellishment packet. Gotta love the corgi and the pigeon on the guard’s hat!! https://needlepoint.com/products/london-bookends-kit?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=2024_10_15%20Bookends&utm_klaviyo_id=01EY735XHE675Z0Z1C4Z7SB8DK&_kx=SpNrwJYeSg8JHGV3vDRNkpeUD67Ddf2hdz1HBTATTO0.TxAVmM

DMC has a new way to store their floss. They call them modular storage boxes and they stack on top of each other. Inside the top one is an extra space for needles, scissors etc. They are offering 2 deals. You can buy a 3 drawer set and get 100 skeins of their floss OR you can buy the same thing with an additional expansion set (total 6 drawers) with 150 skeins of their floss. As an added bonus they throw in a pattern to monogram the the top and the fabric which can be put under a plastic window on the top. You can always buy more 3 drawer sets depending on your need. They suggest using the top to put your project in and you can just pick it up and go. (Yes, I am laughing at that one). They look neat and appear to hold a lot. https://www.dmc.com/US/en/new/modular-storage-boxes?products_en_production%5Bquery%5D=

Tips And Tricks: This is a cute stocking stuffer for a stitcher – a deck of playing cards with a different stitch on 50 of them. The other side shows thimbles. Apparently these go quickly so order soon. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/deal-a-stitch-cards?_pos=1&_sid=46d1137cd&_ss=r&omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Deal+a+stitch+%2866f3063515e5347977319991%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend

Who was that Famous Stitcher? That was none other than Kelly Clark !! She has been designing and teaching for more than 35 years. What she loves and is most known for is her “stumpwork” – so creative.

Do you know who this famous stitcher is?

Have a “Funky Pumpkin” kinda Halloween !!

March 31, 2024

Hi Everyone —

A few weeks ago, I was stitching with Erin, one of our newer NJNA members. Erin told me about a beading exhibit at the Morris Museum. So, the two Sues (C and R) and I decided to make an outing to see the Jan Huling “Everything is Alive” exhibit.

I haven’t posted for a long while, but I know we have some beading fanatics in NJNA, so I wanted to share a few pictures and encourage you to get out to see the exhibit if you can. It runs through May 26.

The star of the show is the Preying Mantis.

Here’s a picture that will give you some idea of the scale of the Preying Mantis.

Now a little close-up of her tail(?) — I’m sure there is a more scientific name.

I though this dog looked so regal.

Many of the dozens of creatures are whimsical and feature wings and jewels. Erin had gone to the lecture and showed me a picture of the artist’s car hood — yep, fully beaded!

A permanent exhibit of Native American artifacts also features beaded items. So this makes an interesting juxtaposition of the old and the new beads. There were so many beads on the artifacts that we stopped to think about where the beads came from. This too was explained by signage — in trade with European fur trappers!

I hope I convinced you to make a field trip to Morristown! Prepare to be amazed!

Cheers, Rosie

September 1, 2023

Hi Everyone —

Two of our NJNA Members were recognized at the opening banquet of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America (EGA) National Seminar in Boston.

First, the NJNA VP for Programs, Cathryn C, received the Gold Thread award for the Metropolitan Region.

Moreover, some of you will remember Melita’s presentation about the EGA Master Craftsman Program and the beautiful items that she stitched and submitted. Tonight she was recognized for finishing the program and becoming a certified EGA Master Craftsman!

Further congratulations are due to Melita for taking a prize ribbon for her Lady Sybil piece in the exhibit!

Aren’t we lucky to have such talented members of NJNA?!

Cheers, Rosie

Get out your threads and your cording tool – for those that have everything – and you know who you are! This coming week our meeting is about cording. Jacqui C. will be teaching us all how to use that item that looks like it belongs in a fishing tackle box to create those beautiful edges on ornaments. Perfect for finishing the chapter project on picking stitches for small ornaments. Have you finished your ornament yet ????????

We have a winner in our chapter – Cathryn C has won the EGA Gold Thread Award for 2023 for our region. She will receive the honor at this years Seminar in Boston. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who have given freely of their time and talents and best exemplify EGA’s purpose. Like we didn’t know that about Cathryn ! A national recipient is selected from all the regional winners – we are all routing for you Cathryn. She is always involved in so many ways with the chapter and does a wonderful job with programs. We are lucky to have her in our chapter. Congratulations Cathryn !

A few days ago I had the most lovely conversation with the owner/designer of Hedgehog Needlepoint. Her company is only around since 2020 but she has made a big splash in the needlepoint world. Who doesn’t love those Retro Luggage Tags?? (over 200 hundred places and counting) I had the opportunity to help a friend put her stitching in the leather self finishing tag they offer and was impressed by how well it’s made – it would surely survive airplane travel these days (but who would chance it on their luggage after all that work !) She has come out with a round version of those tags. The same as the original ones minus the numbers and letters on the bottom. Great as ornaments for a travel tree. AND – Even better, she has some new items coming later this year – can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve !! Hedgehog Needlepoint

It’s finally hitting the stores – Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 4 – and this one is all about stitches for small areas ! What is different about this book, each stitch has a QR code on the page. If you want to see an actual stitched sample, you can use your smart phone camera and it will show you a sample on Mary’s Instagram page. Check your local LNS to see if it’s in stock yet. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches — whimsicalstitch.com

Fans of the SuZy Murphy books will be happy to hear that they are back in stock. Rainbow Gallery is the distributor and has brought back several of the out of print books. Contact your LNS for a copy. What’s New – Rainbow Gallery

Retreats and Classes –

The Needlepointer has a new club starting in September – a Pride Flag. It’s going to last 6 months and includes canvas, threads and stitch guide. https://www.theneedlepointer.com/pride-flag-clubdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8503060?cse=nl0610&goal=0_3621358244-d82b883e08-69343533&mc_cid=d82b883e08&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

They also have a new holiday club that will last 12 months starting in August – Christmas Lights !! Check out their web site for the details – very festive ! https://www.theneedlepointer.com/christmas-lightsdiv-idclubsubtitleopen-enrollmentdiv/p8502994?cse=nl0527&goal=0_3621358244-9e8c9712fc-69343533&mc_cid=9e8c9712fc&mc_eid=2e6039e84f

If by chance your on vacation near Spartanburg SC you might want to sign up for a Patriotic Star class. Megan Smith will be doing an embellishment class of some new Associated Talents star canvases. The classes are 3 hours long and include not only all materials needed but an introduction to beading and the finishing as well !!! Home | Needlepoint Lane | Spartanburg, SC 29302

Bestitched is doing a fall retreat in Scottsdale AZ – 4 days Sept 10 – 13. They will be closing the store for the retreat along with the day before so all participants can come in and claim your table spot as well as shop the entire store with a 20% discount. Starting at 4 PM they will even have a welcome cocktail party. Definitely something to consider if you are an advanced stitcher and love southwest canvases as this is a stunning canvas. Can’t do the trip? They have an online option – they thought of everything !!! https://bestitchedneedlepointshop.com/products/desert-oasis-stitch-retreat

A little closer to home, The Enriched Stitch is going to do a Zoom class on June 27th. How to Read Diagrams. The class will be recorded so any participant can go back to it for a refresher. https://enrichedstitch.myshopify.com/products/how-to-read-diagrams-zoom-class

Absolutely Needlepoint threw a teaser out there with the introduction of their new Fall 2023 Store Project by Five Chix Designs. They will be stitching “America The Beautiful” using a stitch guide written by Holly Crook and Maryann Barber. You will need something aside from the canvas and threads – the new issue of Needlepoint Now !! The finished canvas will be in the new issue and they promise gorgeous stitches and LOTS OF BEADS !! Absolutely Needlepoint – Discover a world of needlepoint and everything that comes with it.

Check out the DMC web site – they have revamped it to give it a new look. They also have a sale going with 30% to 50% off 2 pages of items. https://www.dmc.com/US/en/offers/clearance-us

KC Needlepoint is celebrating their 8th Anniversary in business. So everyone can celebrate with them they have an exclusive kit and canvas – a Morgan Julia designed Birthday Bar Cart. Each kit contains the canvas, threads and stitch guide from Jinny McAuliffe and the cherry on this birthday cake is they ship it for free. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/birthday-bar-cart?_pos=2&_sid=fce0a4851&_ss=r&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Happy+Birthday+email+%2864838be0f615ea18bd570552%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend&omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d

While your checking out the KC Needlepoint web site you can get ready for summer with their adorable bunting canvases. So summery looking and quick stitches. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/search?type=product,article,page&q=bunting*&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Bunting+%286486621330e673bf6cc42165%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend&omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d

If you are a lover of Ehrman needlepoint you will be interested in their sale going on now. They have such classic needlepoint to start with but some of the designs are really quite striking. Much different from what you expect to see. Some are also deeply discounted. Worth a look. Sale – Ehrman Tapestry

As a “Public Service Announcement” please be aware that the Edwardian Needle will be closed for vacation from July 26th thru August 15th. Make sure you have what you need – we all hate to be caught short of supplies as it will feel like an eternity before we can get back in the store !!

Tips and Tricks : I have never heard of a “Ribbon Laying Tool” before until I ran across something talking about Rainbow Gallery making it. It looks like it would make some of those beautiful ribbon items easier to create. Easy to mistake for a regular laying tool. This one is not stiletto sharp so your not going to snag the ribbon. I could not find it on the Rainbow Gallery web site so here is an alternate site to look at : rainbow gallery laying tools petite ribbon laying tool cross stitch (stoneycreek.com)

Who was that Famous Stitcher? This was no easy one to guess – this is Drake Dickerson, Kate Dickerson’s son. He has come into the business and has designed several items in the newest collection.

Do You Know Who This Famous Stitcher Is ?

Today is “National Eat Your Vegetables Day” so do the right thing knowing that tomorrow is Father’s Day which requires Bar-B-Ques, hot dogs, hamburgers, salads and Father’s Day cake ! Sort of balances it all out in the end !! Enjoy the holiday !!

So now that I have regaled you with my celebrity sighting, the opening of a new shop and a picture of cute, young guy hard at work, let me tell you about another needlepoint day in my visit to the Bay Area.

What could be better than a field trip? In addition to my membership in NJNA, I belong to a few other chapters, that I “attend” mostly online and through email. If I could stay up late enough, I could attend some via zoom, but I’m an early bird. Back to topic. The only other chapter I attend in person is the Golden Gate Canvas Workers, a chapter that is soon to be 40 years old and based out of San Mateo, CA. As you can imagine, I don’t get to too many meetings, but when I do, they never disappoint.

I was very lucky this visit to be there during a regular meeting time. However, this was no regular meeting. About a dozen chapter members took a field trip into downtown San Fransisco. What a treat. Side benefit, not being from the area, I did not have to be one of the drivers. So three cars of chattering stitchers went into the city. First stop, the retail shop of Needlepoint Inc.

As many of you stitchers know, Needlepoint Inc, produces a luscious stranded silk thread in a Crayola style of many, many colors. In addition, Needlepoint Inc. (hereafter known as NI) does finishing of every variety and maintains a retail shop. In previous days, the shop was located in Ghirardelli Square, but has since moved to a location in the financial district. As soon as we entered the shop, one saw wall to wall samples of finished projects in every way imaginable. It was such a sight that I had no idea where to look next. Of course, it was also hard to miss the entire wall of NI silk thread. There are some varieties of thread from Rainbow Gallery and Kreinik as well, but the highlight is their own silk. The store is filled with many, many canvases, so a stitcher cannot go away empty handed. The owner came out to greet and chat with us and was very generous by allowing us observe work that was going on. That meant that we got to watch the finishers at work. How fascinating. I was taken in by the sewing machine that was sewing by itself. What I didn’t realize was that, that machine was busy monogramming. While that was going on, we watched an ornament being finished before our very eyes! So interesting. Enjoy some of the pictures below.

After a really yummy lunch, we then ventured to the San Fransisco School of Needlework and Design. I had been to their old location, and was wowed then. Since my last visit, they moved (within walking distance of Needlepoint Inc.) and was I in for a treat. Their new location is divine. I immediately had the same reaction I had the first time – where do I look first? My eyes could not help traveling all over the place. There was so much eye candy. I heartily recommend that you look at their website (https://www.sfsnad.org) to get the professional photos of what my humble snapshots tried to capture.

The school takes up a floor and has many breakout classrooms in addition to the shop and exhibit areas. There are very large windows giving lots of light, but when not in use, the windows have black out shades to protect the fibers from the sunlight. The collection room is thermally controlled with dim lighting to preserve the very old pieces that are housed there. There is a curator on staff, who researches and studies the pieces that are to be exhibited. While there, we saw some of the works for the next exhibit and they were breathtaking. They know who the stitcher is, but are still scant on details about her life. Perhaps by the time the exhibit runs, there will more to report.

In addition to being a school, running a myriad of classes, the organization has a permanent collection of really old and beautiful embroidered pieces as well as traveling exhibitions. I was lucky enough to see two different exhibits as well as talk to the curator of the next exhibit. There are jars and drawers filled with every thread imaginable as well as so many samples hanging on the walls. The course offerings go from intro classes to multi leveled studies that give you a certificate in a particular area of needlework. There were some methods of which I had never heard, but there were also the basics of embroidery, goldwork and the like. I know that if I ever move permanently to the Bay area, I will live at SNAD, just taking classes. There is an extensive library (mostly donated by patrons) with so many books on a variety of subjects. The school is still taking donations for their library, except for needlepoint books. Their collection is quite extensive already! The shop is filled with new items such as books, embroidery hoops, stands and bundles of silk thread put together in packets by color range. There are also donated painted canvases that are sold at a fraction of suggested retail as well as used tools. All proceeds go back into the running of SNAD. I wish I could be more explicit in all of my explanations, but I was too busy wandering around and looking, that I have to admit, I missed some of what was being said. The school accepts donations of every variety of thread, so that the student just has to go to the cabinet and find what they are looking for.

Last visit, I was privileged to see many bands for the longest band sampler, that SNAD is amassing. The woman touring me was amazed when I told her that I knew several of the stitchers of the bands. When I inquired this visit where the sampler was, I was told that the bands were out with volunteers who are sewing them together so that the bands could truly be the longest sampler. Hopefully the next time I visit, I will see it. The making of the sampler bands is on-going and anyone can participate. Please just check the website and/or call the school to inquire how you might make and donate one.

There are usually two exhibits going on at the same time. These exhibits rotate. One is a visiting exhibit and it hangs in the Hanging Thread Gallery. The one I observed did not even seem real. The work was breathtaking. The artist was from India and is named Asif Shaikh. He exhibited on the resurgence of needlework artistry in India. I will show you a few snapshots, but this work is better viewed on the website. Truly, do not miss this. The exhibit closes at the end of November.

The second exhibit is the Corridor Exhibit. This exhibit can only be viewed by walking around the hallway that is square with the classrooms on either side. It is usually a challenge that the school puts out and one creates their interpretation of the theme. The current exhibit is called “Purple Reign”. It was originally promoted as a celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. However, since then, it has taken on the tone of a memorial. The pieces are all original designs and I think most of them are really clever. Please enjoy the photos below.

Here are some pictures of classroom samples:

This is a sample of one of the pieces being curated for the next exhibit.

This is a teaching sample of a new piece designed by Lucy Barter, one of the founding members of the school.

Many, many thanks to SNAD for allowing me to take all these photographs. I really am sincere when I suggest that you go to SNAD’s website and look at all their eye candy. I also highly suggest that you arrange to take a field trip with some like minded folks. It was truly a wonderful. wonderful day.

As many of you readers know, I visit the Bay area often. I have to see those “little people”, aka grandchildren, grow and thrive. However, as busy as I am driving carpools, attending soccer games, finding Halloween costumes and the like, I always leave time for needlepoint adventures. Most of the time those adventures are attending stitch-ins at someone’s home or in a shop.

Unfortunately, two of the area’s local shops closed during the past several months. It has been so unfortunate for the local stitchers as their easy access to supplies and a place to hang and be inspired, was sorely limited, until now.

The week before I arrived, “Stitched Up Needleworks” opened its doors in Morgan Hill, CA. Kay Lawless, the owner, had been managing one of the two shops that closed and decided the time was right for her to take the plunge and open her own shop. Boy, am I glad she did.

“Stitched Up” is a bright, airy shop filled with samples, trunk shows, growing thread walls (arranged by color) and even a classroom!

So I made two visits to the shop while I was on the west coast. The first was a reconnaissance mission (and to give Stuart and me some breathing room – we have close quarters while we are there). As I walked through the front door of the new shop, I was enchanted by the brightness and the inspiring decor of trunk show canvases, threads arranged by color and a bench with many, many pillows on it. I learned that the purpose of the pillows on the bench was so that a customer can choose how they want their pillows finished. How clever!

As I was moseying around the shop, I heard two other customers come in. It was hard not to eavesdrop as I heard one customer say to the owner, “I’d like to introduce you to the teacher who is going to teach our chapter this weekend. This is Margaret Bendig.” My ears popped and I immediately wondered if this was “the” Margaret Bendig”, who designed the wonderful kimonos that we all stitched together as a chapter. So, I plunged right in and went over and used the words above, “are you the Margaret Bendig, teacher and designer? I then explained I was visiting from NJ to visit with grandchildren and that I was part of the chapter who stitched her kimonos. Of course, I immediately pulled up my finished project on my phone and showed it to her. It turned out Margaret was visiting grandchildren too in the Bay area, as well as teaching. Margaret is the one on the left. I didn’t know I needed my platform shoes that day!

The woman who was introducing Margaret was Pam Thompson of the South Bay Needlepointers ANG chapter. Margaret was there to teach “Star Dance”. The photograph below doesn’t begin to do it justice. I bet the chapter members lucky enough to be in the class had a really good time!

Here is my favorite piece of decor in the shop (besides all the antique cabinets!):

While I was at the shop, I found a product that I had never seen. How could that be?! It is a darling project/thread bag made by “It’s Sew Emma”. These are made out of needlepoint canvas with a diagonal printed plaid on it. One could use them by themselves, but even better, Shephard’s Bush has created cross stitch designs with which you can decorate your bag. I have already shown the bag to Pam at Edwardian Needle. She is considering having them in her shop, so if you have an interest in obtaining one, make sure to let Pam know, so she will order some.

On my second visit to the shop, I was there mostly to stitch, however, there was an interesting project going on in the classroom. There was a young man (at least to me) doing something in front of an enormous white box. When I inquired, he told me that he was photographing threads for the soon to be online shop for Stitched Up Needleworks. I asked permission to photograph him at work and promised to show his boss that he was working hard.

So I hope you enjoyed my celebrity sighting, the new projects and most of all the tour of the newest Bay area needlepoint shop. Stay tuned for part II of my trip to the Bay area.

I have spent the last few days at the EGA Seminar in Chicago and I have seen the classes being offered next year up close and personal with my white gloves on! Broadway Bound, the EGA Seminar for 2022 has some stunning needlepoint pieces as well as such a wide variety of other embroidery techniques.

Broadway Bound runs from August 24-28, 2022, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. There will be nine one day classes on Friday, 25 two day classes that run on Wednesday and Thursday and another 25 different two day classes offered on Saturday and Sunday. There are also 6 four day classes that are taught on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and one three day class on Appraising Needlework. The boutique will be run by a store we are very familiar with, Needleworker’s Delight! I cannot offer any photos but you will be able to see them soon.

The photos of all the classes will be posted on Sunday morning on the EGA website (egausa.org). You can find all the information about each class as well as the photos. The link for early registration will be operational as well. I am excited that this will be available so close to many of us offering an opportunity to take a class (or two or three!) from a national teacher. Plus it should fit the schedule of those who are working if you see and take a class offered on the weekend.

Take a look! I hope that you can join us there!

Sue

Hi Everyone —

A few months ago, I signed up for “Ahwahnee” by Lorene Salt which was being offered as a workshop by EGA. I thought the design looked balanced and interesting; I ordered the PDF and skipped the kit because I wasn’t fond of the color. The design was supposedly based upon a stained glass window at Yosemite Lodge. So, I was thinking of using shades of green, redwood bark, and blue sky to evoke the feeling of the Yosemite National Park. So when I got the material list, I started combing my stash.

The class instructions came in six lessons spaced about a month apart. With the first lesson, Lorene sent a picture of the window that had inspired the design and I immediately knew that I would try to emulate that window instead of following my original plan.

Now came the hard part! I was determined to use my stash so that I didn’t have to shop during Covid. Needless to say, that didn’t work out so well. The only red in my stash was bright Christmas red. I had a nice green, but adjusted when I didn’t have a Kreinik that would work with it. I had lots of bright yellow, but only a few strands of gold that might work. So I stitched and ripped and stitched and ripped until I finally went to Needleworkers Delight and just bit the bullet!

You will note that I took a few liberties with the design. I didn’t like the Chilly Hollows around the center motif — they felt too large, so I changed them to emulate the little triangles in the stained glass. I think it is too busy now, but I’ve stitched this area too many times to count. I’m also not completely happy with the middle side panels — they need more red, but I couldn’t figure out how to get it. Those areas have been stitched at least three times!

My base colors were DMC 815 for the red, 704 for the green, 783 for the gold, and 310 for the black. When I was almost finished, someone told me about this nifty program on Stitch Palette where you could upload a picture and it would convert it to DMC colors. So I uploaded the picture of the Ahwahnee window. Stitch Palette converter recommended DMC 355 for the red, 904/906 for the green, 832 for the gold, and 3371 for the frame and dividers. So epic fail on my part!

No, I don’t plan to stitch it again — but it was interesting to stitch and a real challenge for colors!

Cheers, Rosie