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This month at NJNA we have Part 2 of Melita’s “A Spring Sampler”. As a member of NJNA you can purchase the instructions for this project for $7.50 for the PDF. I am looking forward to her presentation this month and hear about the stitches she chose. In the instructions, Melita gives other colorways besides the purple – or – do your own thing!

We also have a new member at NJNA – Robyn Z. We hope to meet her on zoom at this months meeting to say Welcome. She is already going to join in with Melita’s project and is looking to join us in the MET Region EGA event that NJNA was invited to “Africana” by Lorene Salt. As a reminder you have until September 8th to register. Many NJNA members are already part of the group !

The ANG Denver Seminar is finished and they have published a list of all the ribbon winners. (Our Melita was among those names !). The only picture they shared so far is Best Of Show and Star-Lee Corpuz certainly deserves that honor. Her piece is called Bonnie Blue Boy and looks amazing. It must be a master piece in person ! You can tell how large it is in the picture – not easy to stitch ! Congratulations for a well deserved ribbon.

It’s almost that time of year – Vacation at the Edwardian Needle. Pam will be closed from Wed August 26th thru the Labor Day weekend and reopen on Wed. September 9th. She has a Zecca trunk show of small canvases in the store that will be going back in about a week. She also has some new bead handles for those acrylic hand bags that are just stunning and a new colorful batch of laying tools along with other baubles to grab your attention. Stop in before vacation !

It’s also the time of year for Gone Stitching’s annual sale. As of right now all in store canvases are 20% off including all Judaica. There is also a DMC sale on select colors of DMC #3 and #5 for $1.50 each. Check out their newest book while your there “Got Stitches – Fine I’ll Do It Myself” https://www.gonestitching.net/

I am seeing email after email that one of the most anticipated new books is hitting the stores – Mary Legallet’s Book #5 Needlepoint Stitches for Backgrounds. If you put your name on a list at an LNS you should be hearing from them soon. Can’t wait to thumb thru and get ideas for all those WIP’s !! LOL

Fireside Stitchery just announced that they will be carrying 2 new thread lines by The Thread Gatherer – Sanibel and Oriental Linen. A group of us are planning a small trip to Fireside and I can’t wait to see these – they look so soft. They are also hinting at another new line of thread that is coming soon! They already carry over 120 thread lines ! A busy store – they are making more room in the shop for larger classes and events. This should be a fun trip ! https://firesidestitchery.com/

Another busy store is Penny Linn, they just keep adding to the experience! They had a pop up today with Atlantic Blue Canvas (the same store that gave us all those Mr. and Mrs. Claus playing various sports). If you missed that, they are also doing “Stitching in the Stands” at Citi Field. They will all be sitting together in the left field porch to watch the Mets take on the Washington Nationals on Aug 16th. https://pennylinn.com/products/stitching-in-the-stands-at-citi-field-1?variant=46183770882105&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=August+Events&_kx=95-hSwAYM_w1abxIXjXQMDX2ZPJpMD1KDiXnRxmVLaI.RspkHP They are doing pod casts from the CT store and lots more. Here is her calendar for both stores. https://pennylinn.com/pages/events-happening?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=August%20Events&_kx=95-hSwAYM_w1abxIXjXQMDX2ZPJpMD1KDiXnRxmVLaI.RspkHP If that makes you tired then she has just the thing – needlepoint pajamas with matching children’s pj’s !! That store works hard !! https://pennylinn.com/search?q=pajama&type=product

Stitch Stash is back with their 9th year of 25 days of Needlepoint in December. Delivered before Dec 1st is a box with 25 individually wrapped gifts related to needlepoint with the last package an exclusive canvas and stitch guide. Choose between 13 or 18 mesh. I think this sells out almost as fast as Penny Linn’s so hurry if your interested. https://stitch-stash.com/collections/25-days-of-needlepoint-signups

I did not know what a “Stitch-Its” was. KC Needlepoint explained all about it as part of their introduction of the “Stitch It’s” Breast Cancer Angel. I can now tell you that the creator of “Stitch-Its”, Barb Selders, had a dear friend that passed away from Breast Cancer. She developed the concept of the “Stitch-It’s” angels with Barb and as of now there are hundreds of designs for everything you can think of. Barbs friend also came up with the idea of the bow in the back for the wings. In memory of her friend she has designed a Breast Cancer Angel. A portion of each Breast Cancer angel sold is donated to Breast Cancer research. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/angels?omnisendContactID=61fc368aa1816e00226a532d&sort_by=created-descending&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Breast+Cancer+%286a7364cd2ff5225cfdb4c40c%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend

While you are on KC Needlepoint’s web site you can check out their version of needlepoint pajama’s. Totally different print !! It’s all about choices ! https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/needlepoint-print-pajamas?_pos=1&_psq=pajama&_psid=5707976e8&_ss=e

Hedgehog Needlepoint has received long awaited stock ! She just got numerous items from her collegiate series including mini Christmas stockings. There are 22 new additions to her “Wee Flag Tag” series. What a great quick stitch as they are only 2″X4″ on 18 mesh. She also has exclusive leather finishing tags for them. Great to stitch while traveling and a wonderful gift. https://hedgehogneedlepoint.com/

Rachel Barri Designs is looking to do a retreat. They are looking for input on how to make the experience something that everyone would love to do. If you would like to put your 2 cents in then take the survey. It is not long and easy to answer. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQKvxhaKF9_LDhyU_aSEtGD9OUJwU-bvsgpSdfXVDtBS1HcA/viewform?_kx=IbiE6FbsWlQDlZ5xW1wsPrWLGJAJnjPlv0XjcQZiJeo.V6RsJQ

Tips & Tricks: Several friends were sharing places that they found project bags, Amazon (of course), Target….. All great. I was going thru emails and came up with a bag I had never seen before. The ultimate bag for needlepoint – one for your stretcher bars !! Now when you are done laughing, think about it – might be a good idea if your traveling so nothing gets snagged !?!?!? Go ahead – laugh !! https://heirloomdesigns.studio/products/a-tsssb

Who was that Famous Stitcher? Everyone knows Sarah Jessica Parker. She is well known for her love of needlework and has been seen on set working away between takes.

Do you know who this Famous Stitcher is?

Memorial Day Weekend and with weather like this it’s perfect to stitch the weekend away. I know we need the rain but it is soggy out there ! Thankfully this past week our meeting was all on Zoom and I believe they recorded it. It was another “you didn’t want to miss” program by Jacqui !!! So interesting and lots of questions as we went along. She was showing us that by taking a picture of your project in black and white how to tell if there was balance in the color choices. This opened a whole new avenue of understand on how to pick colors for your project OR how your framer can completely change the look of your project with the matting and frame. If you missed the program watch for it to be posted on our web site. Next month Jacqui will be talking about other parts of the color wheel – triads, tetrads, complements, etc. I had no idea there was so much information on a color wheel !! This will be the last of the series on color so don’t miss !!! Of course you need to be a member to enjoy all this – we love new members !!

If you have not heard about “America’s Tapestry” then check out their web site https://www.americastapestry.com/exhibitions In honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary you will be able to see this amazing collection of tapestries of the original 13 colonies starting in June. Virginia is the first that will be on display until September. In October New Jersey can be seen at the Passaic County Arts Center in Hawthorne NJ. Information with times and location are on the web site. This project is just amazing to see. I went to an event that had a piece of it there set up on a slate frame and anyone could stitch on it. I can’t wait to go see it finished. Below is the NJ piece called “Women on the home front”. On the web site below the picture is an audio description. Poke around the web site as there is a lot of interesting tidbit’s.

Island House Needlepoint in Norwalk CT is having another retreat on July 10th and there may still be a seat or 2 left. Several of the NJNA members are going and having been to their first retreat I guarantee they will have a great time. The project that comes with the retreat is a 3D London Phone Booth. The class is being taught by Deb Bryan (who I see at more and more store events in other states). She has a certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery from the Royal School of Needlework among other things. If you can’t make the retreat look thru the web site. They are now selling the bag I received as part of the “swag” for going to the first retreat along with other really nice bags. She is selling more and more items so check back often. https://islandhouseneedlepoint.com/

Since we are all bag ladies to start with – KC Needlepoint has a new line of bags – Becco Bags! They come in an assortment of sizes and shapes and colors BUT they are also offering a neat new “Round Canvas Self Adhesive Patch”. You stitch a very small canvas (and yes they sell a bunch of them to fit) then insert the canvas in the “patch”. The patch sticks to the bag with Velcro. You can move them all around or swap them for an occasion. https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/collections/becco-bags?page=1&sort_by=price-ascending

Still need options? Look to Stitch Stash in Delaware – she has very cute Ric Rac bags in different versions. In expensive in case you need more than one !! (And you do!) https://stitch-stash.com/collections/ric-rac-bags

New Thread Alert: Vineyard Silk has a new product – Silk Thirteen. As the name implies it’s made with 13 count canvas in mind. Fireside Stitchery is carrying it and when they get the full line you will have 199 colors to choose from. It’s 100% Chinese Silk that they say feels buttery to the touch, has a beautiful sheen and great coverage. https://firesidestitchery.com/products/vineyard-silk-13-mesh-000-199

We have a relatively new needle point store called “Mrs. Meshugga” in our area. She has shared space in a place called The General Store in Maplewood NJ. The General Store is closing but the great news is that Mrs. Meshugga is taking over the entire space! Sometime in the summer the place will close and she will be renovating to have more canvases, threads etc. As she puts it ” Your WIP pile is about to get even more out of control” We wish her luck and success as there is nothing better than another destination to shop. https://www.mrsmeshugga.com/collections/great-for-beginners-1

I just passed around an email from Moore Stitching – they are having a BOGO 50% off sale for the holiday. Yes, we all have too much but they are so adorable and quick to stitch up ! Who can resist Lucy and Ina or Martha and all the others???? https://moorestitching.com/collections/modern-muses

I know, I know – I just tempted you again BUT – if you need to make room in your over flowing stash Rittenhouse Needlepoint has just started a destashing service ! You take a picture or 2, go to their web site and answer a few questions then up load the picture. It goes out to their platform where you can buy and or sell. You set the price and get 80% of the sale in cash OR you can choose store credit and get 110% of the sale price. They went live this past Thursday. I just looked and there were already 17 pages to look thru ! https://destash.rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/about/info?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=QNbnum1iUEN5weUC3DuK75aOlVx0Dud-BR0a603hRFw.TU8N4e

In honor of the holiday (or be a head of the game for July 4th) Old World Designs in CA is having a Hot Dog Party on June 27th. They will be having hot dogs for lunch and you can stitch with friends while working on your Hot Dog kit which comes with canvas, guide and threads. If that doesn’t make you smile ….. https://www.oldworlddesigns.com/module/class/637985/hot-dog-party

Tips & Tricks: You know supplies are getting tight when a store starts to create their own stretcher bars! The Needle Works in Austin TX is now selling 3D printed stretcher bars. They are compatible with the wood ones, you can use tacks or staples on them and soon they will come with the size printed on them. Call the store as I didn’t see them on the web site. (512) 451-6931 https://theneedleworks.com/

Who was that Famous Stitcher? This is Lucy Millet the owner and founder of Mopsey Designs. She started the company in Maine in 2020 and named it after her great – grandmother, Mopsey. She had plenty of inspiration from other women in her family and studied art therapy and print making.

Do you know who this Famous Stitcher is?

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