There are some amazing pieces on display at this year’s ANG Exhibit. It’s always fun to see your own piece on display. And, even more fun to see a ribbon next to it. Shelly the Turtle was awarded a First Place ribbon in the Adaptation category. I am thrilled!
This was my inspirational photo.
The shell is a canvas applique of Congress Cloth placed onto 18-count canvas, the stems on the left are needle weaving over thread and wire, the growths on the rocks and frog are stumpwork both using wire. Here are better close-up photos.
My special packaging to protect the three dimensionality of the stitching was applauded by one of the woman unpacking the pieces. I’ll need because Shelly will be heading to Florida for EGA’s exhibit in October 2026 and Virginia for the Woodlawn exhibit in March 2027.
It got the Second Place Award and The Muse’s Kiss/Peggy Laflam Award for innovation or imagination at the National Academy of Needlearts Assembly in March (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/13/2026-national-academy-of-needlearts-nan-assembly/).
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2026
It’s begun. I picked up my Welcome bag and Tote Bag for the ANG 2026 Seminar in Denver, CO yesterday. I bought an extra magnet. There is a tape measure, book with post-it notes and tab markers, a cleaning cloth, and may be a gel pack that can be heated up in the microwave or cooled in the fridge for sore muscles (I haven’t verified this yet).
Attendance is at least 265 & more if everyone didn’t want their name listed. But, it wouldn’t have hit 300.
If you get a chance to visit A Stitching Shop in Denver, CO, you will be amazed by the selection of threads. Good lighting throughout the store. First down one long aisle:
Then down the next long aisle:
You can see a room over on the left with more threads.
They had the Japan Silver, Silk Lame Braid, and one of the Neon Rays+ I needed but not the white or red Neon Rays+. But, more about that another time.
Beads, sequins, Sundance Metallic Accents, and charms are available.
And, bins of charted instructions organized by designer (canvaswork in these and cross stitch elsewhere).
Painted canvases are available as well. It’s nice to see a store represent counted and painted canvases.
And, so many books!
A few ANG Seminar atendees were shopping in the store. Some I knew. Some I met for the first time. One lady was shopping for threads for Cherith by Karen Dudzinski of Textured Treasures. It was a great find that I wouldn’t have even looked for and I got the last copy of the instructions but more about that another time.
Apparently, there may be drivers willing to take people to and from the Seminar on Expo day. Since I have already visited, I didn’t need to inquire about the logistics. Uber worked well for me today.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz
When I work with needlepoint up close, I forget to look at it from a distance. So, I really didn’t think the Petite Very Velvet V662 was so light that it wasn’t going to be seen from afar. But, when I set it down for the night, I realized the star points between the ovals were practically invisible against the canvas.
There wasn’t a darker Petite Very Velvet that matched the Elegance that I had been using. So, I decided to match it to a Trebizond that I seperated and ironed. I learned from Kay Stanis while taking her Nautilus class that Trebizond is not meant to be taken apart but the three plies of flat silk can be separated. Then, I carefully wrapped the Petite Very Velvet with one strand.
It turned out great. Tedious but you can see it!
And, here is the autumnal colorway. Looks good too. This Petite Very Velvet was dark enough.
Here are close-up photos of the center. I switched around colors in the Teal version but not in the Autumnal version.
We got insights from Linda at our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting on this past Monday night for the smallest of the ribbons. Looking forward to seeing these develop.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, Lotus Blossom by Brenda Kocher, Or Nué Hearts by Brenda Kocher
My Or Nué Hearts and Lotus Blossom by Brenda Kocher are all framed and ready for Tuesday at our EGA Brandywine Chapter Quarterly meeting.
I had enough thread and canvas space to make three pieces. The extra framed Heart is going to Olga, the woman who works the gate at the retirement community where we meet. Very nice lady.
The frames are from Michael’s. There are a few canvas threads left unstitched around the edge of the stitching so that it fits snuggly. It’s stitched on a black canvas and black really helps set off the gold.
It sparkles more in person.
Filed under: 2026, Magical Color with Jennifer Riefenberg, National Academy of Needlearts (NAN)
While preparing for painting mainly in the upstairs bedrooms and hallway, I tried to let go of stuff that has been displayed or tucked away in drawers. We donated 2 boxes of stuff. It’s a start. But, I came across one item that is going to be repurposed. It’s a cover for my daily planners that I used in the 80s and 90s. Yeah, I have a hard time letting go! And yes, I like pandas and my panda cookie jar currently filled with Keurig coffee pods fulfills my tribute to that adorable animal. Elephants and orangutans are right up there and are also represented in our home. Bill brought an owl into the fold when we married and later 3 dogs (statues). But, I digress.
This cover is perfect for Magical Color by Jennifer Riefenberg. It’s the perfect size, is stiff, will hold a notebook, and will stand up to be displayed if desired. I stitched the gobelin border as Jennifer intended. Then, I stitched a buttonhole border over 2 canvas threds so that I could cut right up to the stitching. I didn’t want bulk from folding the edges back like when you finish as a flat ornament. I laid long strands in the well between both borders.
I used a piece of black felt with a sticky back and tacked each piece onto the felt by couching the long laid thread into place before applying the felt to the daily planner cover. And, I can easily take it off the felt if desired.
Filed under: 2026, Magical Color with Jennifer Riefenberg, National Academy of Needlearts (NAN)
Black borders really allow the colors to pop in Magical Color by Jennifer Riefenberg!
The same threads are used across each row. The difference in appearance is all due to the different canvas painted colors showing through.
I have the finishing planned. Stay tuned.
Filed under: Leftover Threads and The Arte Johnson Stitch, Needlework in Progress
In April 2021, I blogged about Leftover Threads and The Arte Johnson Stitch using some of my leftover threads from my EGA Master Craftsman bargello project.
Shortly after my initial post (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2021/04/16/leftover-threads-and-the-arte-johnson-stitch/), I added one more thread, an overdyed green thread, Watercolours 206 Guacamole. I’d been stitching with random selections of 9 different threads using different numbers of 18″ lengths of thread before switching colors.
It turns out that I set this piece aside for 5 years! It was tucked away out of sight and out of mind until cleaning up for some house painting.
I am hoping to obtain an Impressionistic, watercolor effect. The original way Arte Johnson did this was to use 2 different threads in the same needle. So, this is producing a different effect due to the larger areas of color. While it is not wowing me, I’m also not disliking it. It’s easy stitching and surfaced just in time for me to work on during a Zoom call and when I need something mindless.
I’ll see how far I can go with my threads in these colors to form a rectangle and then decide what to do with it. Clutch bag perhaps?
My stitching cup overfloweth!
Some stuff has to go.
Top of the list is this Thread Straightener. I can’t remember where I got but I have used it. The blue and white material is a dense foam and I can see where threads have been pulled through it. I don’t recall it working that great and my flat iron works really well. So, it’s going.
Gone is a large paper clip with a pompon perhaps was for a bookmark, an extra red pen, a red marker, and a pen with a supposedly erasable ink that never really worked great. Moving the glue stick to the basement tool bag opened up the whole cup allowing me to keep most of it! Yes, I have a stitching cup (thanks Linda) with frequently needed items, an upstairs handmade quilt tool caddy with often needed items (thanks again Linda, https://melitastitches4fun.com/2017/06/02/threads-tote-for-tools/), and a basement Find It Media caddy (can’t remember where it came from) with infrequently needed items.
Fess up, how many tool caddies do you have?
Previously, I posted about the various laying tools in my arsenal (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/11/24/laying-tools/) that includes my Stitchers Best Friend manufactured by Rainbow Gallery.
That post was November 2024 and despite being right by my side, I haven’t used it. I was surprised to see they sell it in Size 20, 22, and 24.
Do you have one, use it regularly, and use it for what?
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