After news that the Edwardian Needle was closing on March 28th to relocate, I figured I had better get down there to select my threads for St. Margaret’s Star since I wanted a different color way. I wanted the look of the pink–the outline around the squares and arrows–but in blue/greens. It wasn’t as hard as I had anticipated. First I pulled the thread in the pink and matched it in an aqua. I started with the Watercolours and selected South Pacific. (Can’t you just picture it?) And then worked off that. Since there was no appropriate color canvas, I got a white with the opalescent. I am looking forward to starting this project! She had all the threads that I needed, no substitutions were needed.

I learned that Pam will be having a sale the week before closing and will be opening at her new location on April 12th. I signed up for an e-mail announcement for the opening and will be glad to share!
Sue Chadwick

Diane, Rosie and Sue C. spent an afternoon stitching together and Rosie said how much she would like to do this year’s SOTM designed by Debbie Stiehler, who taught Asian Collage at the Philadelphia ANG Seminar.  We all looked at the SOTM on the ANG website and decided that it would be fun to do.

2013 SOTM February

Since the programs for this year have already been established for NJNA’s regular meetings, we decided to do this SOTM as a sub-group outside of the regular meetings.  This is what we came up with:

• Meet monthly — either the first Saturday of the month or the first Wednesday of the month starting at 11:00 AM
• Bring your own lunch and take turns making dessert
• Stitch from 11 to 12:30, eat lunch, then stitch until 4:30-5:00.

We’ll meet on Saturday if some who work during the week want to join our group – otherwise, we’ll do Wednesday.

The stitching on that day would be the SOTM, but no one needs to be up to date and ready to start the new lesson when they arrive!  You won’t be able to work ahead since we will have to wait until the new month for the next stitches to be revealed!  Sue and Rosie offered their homes (both in Mendham) for the stitching meeting.

If you look here http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2013/feb.php, you can see what the first lesson looks like.  The previous lesson http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2013/jan.php shows the supplies needed.  Read down and Debbie explains how you can go about selecting your own colorway.  If you are a member of the ANG Yahoo list, you can go to the photo section to the SOTM photo album for 2013 to see the start of this design in blue.

Interested?  Contact Rosie or Sue C. or Diane!  Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

Yesterday afternoon I was making a dessert for a meeting today. When I took it out of the oven, I knew it was a complete flop. Carol had made a delicious fruit compote for the board meeting last Sunday. I sent her a desperate email for the recipe and she sent back in less than 30 minutes! I made it this morning, served it at lunch and it was a hit! Thanks, Carol!

(I found this post from Susan H when I set-up my new ipad mini — Enjoy!  Rosie)

Friday I spent the day at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center in Pennsburg, PA.

They have a great collection of PA German articles, including, but not limited to:

Fraktur’s, Berlin Work, primitive paintings and artifacts.

If you are ever in the need of a place to go for a day trip, the Schwenkfelder is a great place to go!

The chart below is a superb example of a Berlin Work piece. It is for a beaded purse.

The purse to the right of the chart is it completed. If you look closely along the purse bottom you can see where the beads were once attached!

Last night the NJNA chapter met to consider programs for 2013. I was so happy that so many members came with great ideas . I am fascinated with exploring the or nue technique – I have never heard of this but as members share their research, it is gorgeous!

After much deliberation, the choice was narrowed to two.  I got both, but will do the one pictured here for my first grandchild.  Both selections are by Strictly Christmas, which paints all their stockings the same size, so as not to have jealousy among siblings, which was the case with my two girls.  I’ll bring my purchases to the January meeting.  I can’t wait to get started.

My daughter Margaret and I went to Needlepoint in Paradise to find a stocking for my first grandchild expected to arrive in late May.  I wanted Margaret to pick out a stocking she would like for her child.  My mother needle pointed stockings for all four of her grandchildren, and I wanted to carry on the tradition.  As we walked in, Margaret exclaimed “oh Mom, this is the jam for you!” That means my paradise in her generation.  I’ll try to attach a picture of the corner of the store with the stockings.

Since I am unable to attending the meeting on Wednesday, I wanted to share with you what I have done.  Pictured below are the three Christmas items I have stitched and finished.  The red and black ornament to the right, which I got at a previous NJNA Dec. gift exchange, is a gift for Pam  this Christmas.  The stocking in the middle I purchased at a trunk show at Mrs. Stitches., and started down in Florida in Oct.  Bill and I are going to be grandparents for the first time in May.  I will hang this little stocking with our others next week to recognize the the coming baby.  The little red square ornament is a gift for my coming grandchild.  I intend to gift an ornament each year.

While my daughter is with me in Florida, we are going to this fabulous needlepoint store, Needlepoint in Paradise, in Naples, which I discovered in Oct.  I will have her pick out the Christmas stocking that she would like me to stitch for her child.  I’ll have a deadline of a year to get it finished.  May you all have a joyful Christmas and a wonderful new year.

Hi Everyone!

When Sue C and I visited Gladstone Country House last year, we decided that this outing needed to be a December tradition.  So today, Sue R joined us for our second annual Holiday visit to Ellen T’s store in Gladstone, New Jersey.  And what a wonderful day it was!

Gladstone Country House

Ellen’s beautifully decorated Christmas trees and clever decorating ideas are inspirational and can even put a Grinch like me into the holiday spirit!   I bought a “smoker” from Germany — when you place incense under the snowman, smoke comes out his pipe!  He is adorable!  I bought some Christmas scented incense and even my daughter, Meg, liked the smell.  (Of course it doesn’t hurt that there is a fox in front of the snowman!)

Four NJNA members enjoying the Christmas atmosphere at Gladstone Country House

After we made our purchases — complete with gift wrap when needed — we tooled on down the road to Cafe Azzurro for lunch in Peapack, New Jersey.

Lunchtime at Cafe Azzurro

A yummy time was had by all!  We’re already anticipating our “third annual” visit next year!

Cheers to all —

Rosie

PS — Ellen has an awesome tradition of providing a complimentary Christmas ornament with your purchase!

About two weeks ago, I got an e-mail from Sue C inviting me for an impromptu stitch-in at her house.  It seems that two of her stitching friends were bunking in with her because they didn’t have power restored after hurricane Sandy.  So — we spent a fine Thursday afternoon stitching and making new friends.  A great time was had by all!

Carol, Sue, and Jill stitching in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy!

NJNA members will recognize Carol and Sue, but did you know that they are both members of EGA with Jill?

We hope other members will share their stitching experiences on our blog.  Please contact Rosie to set up author privileges.  If you blogged at seminar — you are ready to go!

Cheers!