Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives, ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Festival of Trees
The 47th Annual Festival of Trees has been going on since the beginning of the month and continues through December 29. It is an indoor exhibit of decorated trees by various community groups and individuals. New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) tree theme this year is “Stitched with Love”. Check days/hours open at
https://www.somersetcountyparks.org/environmental-education-center . It’s at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, NJ.
These are the heart ornaments that I contributed to the NJNA tree and shown unfinished in the September/October 2025 issue of Needle Pointers talking about hearts from past issues published originally in the early 2000s. They were designed by Michele Roberts. See also https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/09/16/hearts-from-the-2000s-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-september-october-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/
I did the finishing which wasn’t easy because they were done on 10 count canvas.
Bill and are visiting the display after attending the ANG Central Jersey Chapter (CJC) Christmas luncheon on Saturday (Bill will hang at the nearby library). Then, dinner at a favorite NJ restaurant.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
Pat Mazu offered Needle Pointers (NP) a stocking design done with her take on Trianglepoint after rereading Sherlee Lantz’s book of the same name. It’s in the November/December issue along with an article by Patty W, the editor of NP reviewing the book and a pattern I stitched from the book.
I selected Persian Carpets Knots because of the 3D effect it creates and it was described as a “mysteriously interesting pattern”. It was a bit challenging especially the compensation. This grid helped keep me on track.
Here is is stitched.
And, placed onto a tissue box for the bathroom (with a vinyl cover held in place by double stitch tape).
Luckily, there was one article/project in a past issue featuring Trianglepoint by Nancy Perry that allowed me to include that. So, it makes for a lovely, coordinated splash on Trianglepoint in this issue of Needle Pointers!
You are missing out on some great information if you’re not a member of ANG, the American Needlepoint Guild (needlepoint.org). It’s easy to join. There are many free designs exclusively available to members.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
The last of the articles gathering heart projects is in the September/October 2025 issue of Needle Pointers. Hearts abound after 2000 with 29 projects published between 2000 and 2020.
My favorite has to be the one by Michelle Roberts using ribbon. This is one of four colors that I did. It’s on 10 count and worked up quickly using Lion Brand Incredible Ribbon Yarn as suggested by Michele Roberts. I was so sorry to hear that she passed away recently. I couldn’t buy just one color, I had to buy three and must have enough ribbon to make about 40 more! But, that means more finishing has piled up on me! See the other hearts in the current issue of Needle Pointers. My paper copy just arrived!
Get access to all ANG has to offer for only $60/year (that’s just $10/ issue) plus other free designs exclusively available to members. If you are 35 or younger, ANG offers a 50% discount to new members when they join ANG for online access to all digital issues (no physical magazine is mailed). This is a great opportunity for younger stitchers to join the ANG community of needlepointers! I have alerted ANG that the discounted rate is not mentioned at https://www.needlepoint.org/page/MembershipOverview. Hopefully, once you get past that page, the option to join at that rate becomes apparent. Since I am already a member, I can’t view the registration steps.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
In the July/August issue of Needle Pointers in the Timeless Treasures from the Archives article, currently available online, I present hearts from the 1990s, three of the eight heart projects were finished into an octagon, diamond, and rectangle.
In one of the eight projects discussed in the article, you can learn about making thread cards and how to finish a piece into a frame weight, ornament, or needlebook.
I stitched one of the heart shaped designs, Diaper Crazy Heart by Kandace Merric, in one of my favorite monochromatic colorways. I’ll be sending this to support Hearts for Hospice.
Get access to all ANG has to offer for only $60/year (that’s just $10/ issue) plus other free designs exclusively available to members. If you are 35 or younger, ANG offers a 50% discount to new members when they join ANG for online access to all digital issues (no physical magazine is mailed). This is a great opportunity for younger stitchers to join the ANG community of needlepointers! I have alerted ANG that the discounted rate is not mentioned at https://www.needlepoint.org/page/MembershipOverview. Hopefully, once you get past that page, the option to join at that rate becomes apparent. Since I am already a member, I can’t view the registration steps.
Updated August 10, 2025: It was nice to hear from Joan K from Honolulu, HI who loved this heart and wanted to know what threads I used. Although I did not keep track, I was able to go to my stash and look at the photo since I already mailed it to ANG KC chapter. I finished this in May and am 99% sure I used:
Upper right: Vineyard Silk Classic C077 Aruba and C079 Reef Water
Middle right side, bottom left side, upper middle center: Impressions 8014 and 8092 and Treasure Braid TR277
Upper left side: Splendor S880 and S988
Thanks again Joan for reaching out. It’s great to know the articles in Needle Pointers are being read. Hope to see you in Denver next year.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
Besides the Hearts of ANG series discussed in the previous issue of Needle Pointers, many hearts have been featured over the years. Here’s my version of Spring Hearts and Ribbons Fantasy by Joan Scrutton. Read all about the one modification and the other heart projects from the 1980s in the May/June 2025 issue of Needle Pointers under Timeless Treasures from the Archives. You have to be a member of ANG and there are lots of reasons to join (https://www.needlepoint.org/page/MembershipOverview).
New photo using Samsung S25 Ultra with optical zoom (better than the one in the magazine).
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
There are 18 fantastic articles written between 1989 and 1992 by designers and teachers that are still available to members of American Needlepoint Guild (ANG). Each design features a different technique, and you can use these for chapter projects, Hearts for Hospice, or gifts.
I was fortunate to obtain a stitched framed piece by Nanette Costa with 9 hearts and provide color photos for several of the designs previously, only available in black and white. Here’s one of my favorite, Tasseled Heart by Debbie Deem.
Get access to all ANG has to offer for only $60/year (that’s just $10/ issue) plus other free designs exclusively available to members. If you are 35 or younger, ANG is excited to offer a 50% discount to new members when they join ANG for online access to all digital issues (no physical magazine is mailed). This is a great opportunity for younger stitchers to join the ANG community of needlepointers!
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives, Crescent Journey, Melita's Designs
The current issue of ANG Needle Pointers is chock full of good stuff, including an article in Timeless Treasures regarding a series, Design by Susan Dawson. She reviews principles of design and color over 5 issues.
I presented a Contrast Talk based on the original and several new Crescent Journeys colorways from ANG stitchers. Learn why this is the same design, but each one looks different. Practically an optical illusion! Several of the new ones and other Crescent Journey pieces will be on display at Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit in March.
And, saving the best for last. Meghan from my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter stitched and created an excellent stitch guide for a Mindy canvas, Folk Heart. I did the diagrams, and her notes made writing up the stitch guide a breeze. For a relatively new stitcher (3-4 years?), she really excels. She did the finishing herself too. Her first attempt at that! Amazing!!
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives, Medusa Sea Jelly by Kim Griffin, Needle Artists by the Sea
My experiment with optical color mixing or pointallism that was discussed previously in a post and in Needle Pointers (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/09/21/timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-covers-optical-color-mixing-and-more-in-september-october-issue-of-ang-needle-pointers-magazine/) has been finished into a coaster.
I wanted to practice before tackling the Medusa Sea Jelly.
I cut a round piece of Craftex, glued the canvas tabs to it, and placed it on the sticky side of a piece of cork. By making the circle smaller, I was able to cover the side and I only needed one length of Watercolours as it comes off the skein to placi in the slight space between the top and cork bottom. I didn’t bother sewing the 3 strand cording into place. It’ll stay taut with the ends tucked in.
The Medusa Sea Jelly was designed by Kim from the Needle Artists by the Sea Chapter to support an exhibit, Shoreline Stitchers Showcase.
I had stitched extra rows around the design because a few of the sequins went up close to the edge. Again, I cut the Craftex small enough to cover the edges. For this one, I tacked the Craftex into place on the back of the stitching so that I could lace the tabs to the Craftex to avoid glue. It really worked out great.
I placed the backing fabric on magazine board and glued it on. I love this fabric.
I placed a piece of felt between the front and back, thinking it would puff it up some, but it didn’t do much. Then, I used invisible Sulky thread to attach the two sides, leaving an opening at the bottom so I could slide an acrylic clear stand inside. The Sea Jelly is at a slight angle to give the impression of it swimming. I didn’t add any cord around the edge because the front and back cinched up close enough. I love it!!
Two finishes in one day! I did take breaks throughout the afternoon and evening. It is definitely easier, quicker, and less stressful than it used to be.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
A series of articles, “From our Mind into a Design” were published in American Needlepoint Guild’s (ANG) Needle Pointers magazine by Debbie Deem in the 1980s. Debbie takes a thistle sketch and leads you through the process to develop a very creative interpretation of the sketch (not pictured here). I’d love to stitch it. Here is how a thistle stem became a border. Very ingenious.
From a google search, I see Ann Strite-Kurz took a Color and/or Design class from Debbie. Debbie started a blog in 2009 but it didn’t last long (artneedlethreadstitches). She shows how she paints a canvas and a few designs in classes she was teaching, including Starship Needlepoint and Stitching Sudoku, both of which appeal to me. I haven’t seen her book, but she and Mary Anderson published Stitchery Under Southern Skies Eleven Needlepoint Designs for the Creative Canvas Embroiderer. I don’t know any more about Debbie. If you know/knew her, please leave a comment and share a memory.
Join the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) to get access to more about this topic in the Timeless Treasures from the Archives article in the current issue of Needle Pointers (November/December 2024 at https://www.needlepoint.org/page/NeedlePointers) and all the issues since the 1980s. The issue will be in the mail soon, but it’s online now.
Read about all the ANG member benefits at: Click here.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
The ANG Pine Tree Chapter (Maine) sponsored a series of three Zoom lectures by Susan Hoekstra in support of a non-profit heating assistance program by Penquis in Maine. The three lectures were:
April 10, 2024 The Elements of Design
May 8, 2024 The Principles of Design
June 5, 2024 Using Color Theory to Your Advantage
At the May lecture, I decided to see how well optical color mixing or pointallism would work with needlepoint.
So, I decided on a simple sunset scene (yes, I coordinated my needle minder magnet). You can easily see the red DMC #5 Perle 666 and yellow 973 have combined to create orange just as Susan explained. I am using skip tent basketweave.
As I was in the middle of stitching this, I was reading 8 articles on color and design written by Gene Wright. The 5th article mentions achieving optical blending through needle blending. The left side in my sample below uses 4 strands, and the right side uses 2 strands.
Join American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) to get access to more about this topic in the Timeless Treasures from the Archives article in the current issue of Needle Pointers (September/October 2024) and all the issues since the 1980s. Read about all the ANG member benefits at: Click here.
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