Day One of Color Play by Jennifer Riefenberg

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She is the designer of the Carrots, the Radishes , and the Beets! This piece is fascinating in the way that the underlay of paint on the canvas changes the thread and the thread changes what you see. Add onto that the use of variegated thread, Wildflowers, and it is amazing. I should have taken a picture of the unstitched canvas.

Note the canvas colors

 

If you just look at the small top hexagon, you get an idea of what we are doing to the colors you see. When you realize that the area it is covering was once the same color as the other hexagons, it seems as though you might be looking through smoked glass.

Today we began the stitching on four of the hexagons with the more difficult (read careful counting required) before lunch and the easier stitching after lunch. Later this morning we will begin the last hexagon as well as the background stitching and learn about the outline stitch we will do. Jennifer loves explaining about color and the various features of what we see as well as the why and how of what we are perceiving.

Robin is also taking this class and enjoying it. I am sitting next to a woman that Rosie and I spent much of an afternoon with when we were in. Phoenix. It took us about half the morning to recall how/where we met, but it was long enough to recall a number of facts about each other. She is a pleasant stitch ing neighbor as is the woman on the other side of me. Once I returned in the afternoon wearing my winter weight sweatshirt jacket, I was comfortable!

End Day One

 

 

Autumn 3 Ways – Day 1

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I’m taking Toni Gerdes’ class called Autumn 3 Ways. Believe it or not, we did no stitching until this afternoon as we spent the morning learning to attach fabric to the canvas and needle felting today. Just picking the fabric to use for the leaf on the top left was an experience! Learning to needlefelt the leaf on the right meant picking what colors felt roving we wanted, then figuring out placement on the canvas, as well as learning to use felting needles with the felting block (hint: the needle must go in straight!)

Learning to Needlefelt

As you can see, I haven’t made much progress as I’ve spent a lot of time frogging both the blanket stitch around the fabric leaf and some of my needlefelting.

Day 1 Progress

I’ve definitely been outside my comfort zone in this class but Toni is an excellent teacher. Her instructions are very clear, she repeats instructions, and she is more than willing to answer questions. I’m looking forward to Day 2 of this class.

Diane

The Gang’s All Here

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Hi Everyone —

The rest of the NJNA contingent made it into Myrtle Beach today!  We celebrated with a group dinner at the Sea Captain’s House on the ocean.

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A Beautiful Garden to Welcome NJNA!

A Beautiful Garden to Welcome NJNA!

We had a LONG, LONG dinner, but the food was lovely.  The Sea Captain’s House is known for their seafood and I had a lovely meal of grilled sea scallops.

Bon Appetit!

Bon Appetit!

My class today was Colorful Croton with Joni Stevenson.  This is my favorite piece in the whole seminar.  Today we colored dryer sheets and fused them onto our canvas!  Then we started stitching.  I think we got quite a bit done for one day!  What do you think?

Two Colorful Croton Canvasses!

Two Colorful Croton Canvasses!

The Main Event!

The Main Event!

So that was my day in pictures!  Now I have to get back to the game!

Cheers!  Rosie

Welcome to Myrtle Beach Seminar 2015

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I arrived at the Sheraton this afternoon in prep for Seminar classes starting tomorrow. After checking in, I registered and then visited the the boutique, which is run by The Needle Nest of Columbia, TN. They have lots of painted canvases, especially some interesting ones that once stitched are finished as 3D sweater ornaments.

Then Sue, Rosie, and I found an interesting little restaurant called Croissants Bistro & Bakery and had an awesome dinner. It started with the fresh, hot baguette they brought to our table with cream butter with Maldon sea salt and black eyed peas hummus. For those who don’t know, Maldon sea salt is from England and is hand-harvested with the distinctive flaky texture and taste that lends a certain piquancy to virtually any dish.

Sue was looking for something light so she had crab asparagus salad with avocado and mandarin orange vinaigrette. Rosie was also looking for something lighter so she had 2 appetizers: mini crab cakes and then tuna poke with balsamic vinaigrette for which she also asked for some extra baguette, which was a perfect complement. I decided to go with a regular dinner of the Bistro Chicken, which was 2 large chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto and cheese on a bed of pasta, spinach, dried tomatoes, and tomato sauce. It was to die for and I even have lunch for tomorrow!

Then Sue and I decided we needed to have dessert after looking at this wonderful display case for the entire meal.

Dessert case at Croissant Bistro

We chose the triple chocolate mousse cake, which like the rest of the meal was outstanding.

Triple chocolate mousse cake

For those attending Seminar and looking for an interesting place for dinner, we highly recommend Croissants. Its website is http://www.croissants.net and it’s a 5 minute drive from the hotel.

Now, it’s time to get some sleep as class starts at 8:30 tomorrow. My stitching bag for Toni Gerdes’ Autumn 3 Ways class is ready to go!

 

 

 

 

NJNA Myrtle Beach Retreat 3

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Today dawned a bit rainy and overcast. Lucky for us, it slowly cleared, a watery sun came out, and it started to warm up. I took a long walk on the beach which had a lot of others walking, relaxing, hunting for sharks' teeth, and even swimming! Despite a strong breeze from the north, it was a great walk.

Later, Carol and I decided to play tourist and played a round of miniature golf at the Hawaiian Rumble course, the #1 rated course in America and endorsed by the PGA. Unfortunately due to the rain, the volcano wasn't working so we didn't get to experience its rumble! Neither of us managed to hit par, however we did each get a hole in 1! It was a lot of fun especially since neither of us had played mini golf in years.

Meanwhile Sue did some more stitching on her humbug. Carol and I also got to do some more stitching before it was time to finish cleaning up and get ready to go to the Sheraton for seminar.

Thanks Carol for arranging a wonderful spot for us to relax and get in some stitching and camaraderie before Seminar classes begin.

From relaxing retreat to stimulating seminar

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It is hard to believe that this morning I was sitting on a fifth floor balcony overlooking the ocean watching the beach walkers and waves, and now I am in my hotel room at the Myrtle Beach ANG Seminar, 2015! I did accomplish some stitching on my Summer Wonderful Humbug by Ada Haydon, a CyberPointers chapter meeting project this morning before packing and getting ready to leave our retreat hosted by Carol. I am currently working on the ladybug walk section.

Summer Wonderful Humbug

My first class begins at 8:30, my stitching bag is packed and ready to go!

Sue

 

NJNA Myrtle Beach Retreat 2

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Rosie left Wednesday morning and Diane arrived in the evening after a minor detour inadvertently to the same address in Myrtle Beach, which unfortunately was 1/2 hour south of where she was supposed to be in North Myrtle Beach! When will I learn to check the map rather than just trusting the GPS?!

Carol, Sue, and I had dinner Wednesday at a lovely Bistro that Rosie and Carol had eaten at earlier in the week. The food was fresh, plentiful enough to bring home for Thursday’s lunch, and quite delicious. The apple vinaigrette salad dressing was unique and light but flavorful. We passed on dessert, although the tiramisu was really tempting.

Thursday was gloomy although the sun kept trying to peek through. Sue and I tried walking on the beach but were turned back by the rain. We enjoyed being inside stitching, listening to the rain, while staying dry. Diane made progress on another block of Serengeti and the first ribbon on Razzle Dazzle, Sue made significant progress on Summer Humbug and Kurdy Biggs’ Diamond design, and Carol has begun work on the sky on her Cow Jumped Over the Moon nightlight.

Thursday progress

We did venture out to do some food shopping particularly for breakfasts during seminar. Meanwhile, there were a few brave fisherman and others on the beach right outside our condo.

Looking North from our condo

Looking South from our condo

Dinner at Flying Fish was excellent. The fish was fresh, delicious, and plentiful enough to bring some home for lunch Friday.

Tomorrow we head over to the Sheraton for the start of Seminar and the arrival of many of our members.

Diane

NJNA’s Myrtle Beach Retreat

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Hi Everyone —

Carol, Sue, and I are prepping for our week of stitching at the ANG Seminar with a retreat in North Myrtle Beach!

Sue and Carol enjoying some quality retreat time!

Sue and Carol enjoying some quality retreat time!

Carol traded her time share for a PERFECT setting in North Myrtle Beach!

Bargello Wallpaper in the Bathroom!

Bargello Wallpaper in the Bathroom!

We’ve spent most of the time stitching, listening to the ocean waves, and reading!  Tomorrow, Diane will join Sue and Carol.

We are making progress on our stitching:  Carol is stitching a Cow Jumped Over the Moon night light, Sue is stitching a Summer Humbug and a Kurdy Biggs’ Diamond design, and Rosie is trying to catch up on Razzle Dazzle for SOTM.

Stitching Progress at the Retreat!

Stitching Progress at the Retreat!

Get ready to be bombarded with posts from NJNA at Seminar!  We have nine members attending this year’s seminar!  That’s about a third of our entire membership!

Enjoy!

Rosie

Stitch and Pitch 2015

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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.

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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!

IMG_1930 IMG_1931A 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!

BOOM! BOOM!

Cheers!  Rosie

Need Suggestions, please

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Hi there,

I’m starting to spend a lot of daydream time thinking about the ANG annual seminar that is coming up in late September/early October.  I will be a first time attendee.  I’ve attended many other needlework seminars, so it’s not entirely new to me.  I have also attended multiple-day needlepoint classes, so I have some notions (pardon the pun) of how I want to organize myself.  However, as a first time attendee, I value your ideas of how and what to pack needlework wise.  I want to make sure I don’t leave something important at home.  That would be distressing!  I will be driving, so there will be no issue with space.  I also would like to know your comments on what to expect.  I’m signed up for one three day class, only.  I wanted to enjoy my first experience without feeling overwhelmed.  I hope that strategy works!  Can’t wait to read your ideas.

I am unable to join the rest of the drivers due to the Jewish holy days, so I will be driving solo.  I will be stopping in DC the first night to visit with a friend.  Due to some physical issues, I’m not sure I will be able to drive the remainder of the trip in one day or will have to make another stop in North Carolina somewhere.  If any of you have driven to Myrtle Beach, do you have favorite towns to explore?  I will be going down 95 most of the way.

Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing all of you again once the summer is over.

Myrtle Beach, here I come!

Barbara