yarn | NJNA is Blogging!

We had a great meeting this past Wednesday. Even though we ran long I don’t think anyone cared. We had a visitor at the library and really hope she decides to join us. We finished up with Melita’s band sampler and picked her brain about how she did what she did. We also marveled at so many Show and Shares.

ANG has announced they are having 2 FREE Lectures in September (yes, it’s almost here!) Both are by well known designers and have to be interesting. The first is being given by Jennifer Riefenberg – “What Makes a Design Work” on 9/9 at 6PM EST and the 2nd is by Sue Reed – “Tips and Tricks” 9/19 at 12PM EST. You should be getting an email to sign up starting August 31.

Congratulations to ANG for the haul they brought in on the silent auction. They raised $35,045 !!! Watch for the next one coming in October !

Have you checked your email??? Penny Linn just put out a phone APP. Like many others you can have new items at your finger tips !! Ugh – just what we needed !!

Since we are talking Penny Linn – they are trying something new at their New York store – Men’s Stitching Night ! Hope it catches on ! https://pennylinn.com/pages/new-york-store?srsltid=AfmBOop7p7o4vpcEgXIVgnIHAGslhwppulcLuor3vQd9WHEByMdSTX7v

Are you ready to welcome back Mrs. Meshugga?? Mrs. Meshugga can’t wait for the Grand Re-Opening and has set up a special event !!! The actual Re-Opening is 9/6 but Lisa has been busy setting up all new threads, canvases…. and wanted to give everyone a “sneak peak”. To help those frazzled parents of school children she is opening on 9/1/26 from 10 am to 5 pm so you can drop the kids at school, come see the new store, grab a Mimosa and decompress. The place should be something to see as they have taken over the entire space ! https://www.mrsmeshugga.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooi36GFeYOb1XKEMMDxEX-wvufM_WjSxTU2y0Be9th6ioQBZBtA

One of the newest shops in our area “Lucy Lane” is planning a full Fall Schedule ! Check out her events as she is having a Gilmore Girls Movie night (pop tarts, Mallomars, hot cocoa, Chinese Food…). Monograming a luggage tag class and an 8 week Decorative Stitch Master Class. Ashli is excited to start the Fall !! https://lucylaneneedlepoint.com/pages/events

Get ready for Stitch By Stitch’s 2027 retreat. I went earlier this year and it is an amazing time. The lottery opens on September 10th at 8 am and is cut off Sept 17th at 8 PM. There is room for 80 people and the lucky winners names will be pulled on Instagram Monday Sept 28th. Good Luck to all !! https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/pages/needlepoint-retreat-at-mohonk-mountain-house

There is also a new retreat – this time to the Caribbean! You can sign up to take a cruise with Kathy Rees of Needle Delights and Toni Gerdes for “Sailing Stitches 2027”. This is a 9 night western Caribbean Cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse. It departs on April 2, 2027 from Fort Lauderdale and goes to Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. Sounds good to me !!! https://www.funseas.com/stitches-carib

Tips & Tricks: For those times when you want to make an “impression” – how about a Lipstick Needle Holder. And it even comes in 3 colors ! Who thinks of these things? The pin cushion is made of wool so it actually cleans your needle when you use it ! https://www.canvasqueenneedlepoint.com/products/lipstick-needle-holder-white-tube-with-pink-wool-cushion

Who was that Famous Stitcher? That is Melissa Prince – you know her from her women on a vespas or her angular colorful animals along with many familiar designs. She started out in a family advertising firm. A friend introduced her to needlepointing. She did some paintings for her local LNS and the rest is history. https://www.melissaprincedesigns.com/

Do you know who this Famous Stitcher is?

I hope you didn’t miss Jacqui’s last program on color where she tied it all together. If you couldn’t make it, it should be on the web site so you can catch it and realize how you have been picking colors rather blindly all these years. I believe we all have a much better understanding of color and it’s many variations along with how to use it to your advantage on your projects. The color wheel – never leave home without it !!!

Tick – Tock – the ANG Seminar is around the corner – do you have your needlepoint packed yet? July 18 – 23rd in Denver this year. At this point registration is closed and classes are full. So if you missed all the festivities ANG has something new that they just posted a few days ago – Fun Freebies. Go to ANG’s web site and under “Educational Offerings” you will find 11 small projects that are free for the taking. Many are beginner level but there are also several for the experienced stitcher. A great way to make an ornament, use up stash and learn some new stitches. https://www.needlepoint.org/page/fun-freebies?_zs=QhCog1&_zl=oGpoA

All you Bedecked and Bedazzled fans – Ruth has opened up her October Zoom-bellishment class. It will be given on October 17 – 18 from 11 – 4 est. She has 11 canvases, both old and new to choose from. Sign up quick before she runs out of the canvas you like. She has already had 34 people sign up before she announced the class or which canvases she is doing! Die hard fans! https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2026/06/october-zoom-bellishement-2026-is-open/

Stitch By Stitch’s Famous “Mohonk Mountain House Retreat” is coming again. No surprise that it is a lottery as there are so many that are dying to go. I don’t blame them – I went last year and it is an extraordinary event. You will be able to put your name into the lottery in August. The retreat will be from March 14 – 17, 2027 (It will be here in a Flash!).

Want to try a retreat but don’t want to go thru the hassle of a hotel and transportation?? Check out Lindy Stitches. They do a series of “Virtual Retreats”. Stitchers from around the world will be getting together on July 18 – 19 for the “Midsummer Stitch”. This is mostly a cross stitch event but they have classes, shopping opportunities and different rooms to join in stitching with people. At the end they have a session where everyone shows off what they have been stitching. For the price of the ticket it might be a fun thing to try. https://www.accelevents.com/e/midsummer-stitch-2026

Have you tried some of Tilli Thomas’s threads – Essential’s or Milan? Essentials has 243 colors and is so convenient to be able to buy them on the small cards for when you have a small area. Milan has 276 colors and so soft to work with. Now you can buy both, threads on cards AND in skeins. The skeins have 30 years compared to the cards with 10 yards. Stitch By Stitch in NY carries both but check out your LNS. https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/collections/planet-earth-essentials-1

Gone Stitching has a new book “Fine I’ll Do It Myself” This is in addition to their other witty titles and can now be preordered. This time the book includes canvas samples to stitch and the book has a storage pocket for what you have completed. They expect shipment soon. https://www.gonestitching.net/products/ill-do-it-myself

The rather new store Mrs. Meshugga closes tomorrow 6/28 at 4 pm – but it’s a good thing. They are in a small space that is part of a larger space with several vendors. They are now taking over the entire space and are closing for a short time to renovate. In the mean time they are having a Stitch & Swim event. When you pay the fee they give you the location to come to on LBI (for those non NJ people – Long Beach Island!) Of course there is a limited number of seats so don’t be disappointed if it’s sold out. We will have to watch for her Grand Reopening. https://www.mrsmeshugga.com/pages/our-story

New LNS Alert !! Lucy Lane Needlepoint is opening today 6/27/26 in New Providence NJ. From the few pictures on Instagram it looks like a big and bright space. Looking forward to see this new shop when they open the doors.

Needlepoint .com has a new “Stars & Stripes” collection just for the 250th celebration. There are 18 designs – all adorable. Check them out – there is always next year ! https://needlepoint.com/collections/two-sister-stars?_kx=SpNrwJYeSg8JHGV3vDRNkpeUD67Ddf2hdz1HBTATTO0.TxAVmM&utm_campaign=2026_06_25+July+4th&utm_klaviyo_id=01EY735XHE675Z0Z1C4Z7SB8DK&utm_medium=campaign&utm_source=Klaviyo

Tips & Tricks: Confess – how many needle minders do you really have??? And Then – where are they all ??? I know that I have them all over the place. They are in every WIP, on metal carts – every where but the refrigerator. A solution to the madness – no, not stop buying them – our favorite place to shop – Amazon. (17.7″ x 11.8″ 2 Pack Metal Magnetic Board – Magnet Bulletin Board to Display Magnetic Letters Numbers Animal, Poetry, Spice Jars, Notes, Photos, Suitable for Wall, Refrigerator, Cubicle, Cabinet) I leaned it on a stand to prop up a picture or frame and perfection ! Works great !!! (and I am glad you get 2 of them as there is overflow !)

Who was that Famous Stitcher? I am sure you all got this one correct – Brooke Shields. She says she “doesn’t leave home without her needlepoint”. She says it keeps her calm so she doesn’t spin out of control” I think we all do it partly for the same reason !!

Do you know who this Famous Stitcher is?

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