Bill and I made it to Woodlawn’s 63rd Annual Needlework Show on Friday. Not the prettiest of days but at least no rain. Sunny enough to make photography difficult in some parts of the house though some rooms are dark.
Nelly’s Needlers handled over 600 pieces for the show and baked 6,000 ginger cookies. One room upstairs held a non-judged exhibition from the Loudoun Sampler Guild and the ANG Northern Virginia Chapter. This one was my favorite in that room (a sunny room). It’s Stumpwork Iris designed by Michael Roberts.
The winners were posted beforehand & I had to look. So, I knew Flowers Along a Rhode won Honorable Mention (410). Tag numbers are in parens. I sent it down with other members of New Jersey Needle Artists. Sorry if I missed someone but I count a total of 11 members who submitted 31 pieces and won 8 awards. They all looked great! I think you can spot mine in the first room you walk into (far right, 2nd down).
Also on the wall in the center, 2nd down is Noelle Drolles (141). This piece was featured in the ANG Needle Pointers magazine in July/August 2025. It’s a painted canvas called Small Window Box #1 designed by Jean Smith Designs. The Editor of NeedlePointers, Patty Walcott, also stitched it as one of the features, A Tale of Two Stitchers, written by Linda Mosch (also from NJNA). Congratulations Noelle on your Blue Ribbon!
Speaking of Needle Pointers, there were 2 stitched Art Deco Trees. That was interpreted from a cross stitch pattern into canvaswork by Deborah Reichert, on the Editorial Staff of Needle Pointers for the November-December 2024 issue. The stitchers were Norma Hiller (205) and Eileen Kee (210). It’s so exciting to see pieces from the magazine being stitched!
Speaking of Norma Hiller, she put in 3 pieces and I love them – as usual – we have similar taste! The other 2 were Holly (221) by Dawn Donnelly and Klimpt Kimono (207) designed by Toni Gerdes. I’ve got to finish mine.
More exciting than seen pieces from Needle Pointers stitched is finding my designs stitched by others! I was double excited to find two of mine on exhibit. First, I saw Overdyed Spools (866) stitched by Paula Davis. This is an EGA Petite Project, free to all members. It’s also a free project for ANG Chapters through the 2017 Chapter Project Book. One skein of Watercolours is used, and the thread is manipulated to create the color flow in the upper left and lower right corners. She did really well.
Second, I saw A Spring Sampler (240) stitched by Sherri Gordon with the EGA Mollies Chapter in PA. They had 20 people who decided to stitch this. This is counted canvaswork and a pdf is available for purchase. If interested, leave a comment and I’ll contact you. Anyway, hers is fascinating and looks great. I love what the difference in values does to the design.
Back to other popular counted canvas designers. Toni Gerdes who was already mentioned for Klimpt Kimono (207) had more representation. There was Zelda the Zebra (222), Gertrude the Giraffe (224), and Monet’s Kimono (208) all by Eileen Kee.
Moon on the Water designed by Wendy Moore was represented 4 times (417, 561, 651, 792). It’s getting too late to type all the names of stitchers. Wendy’s Nola Lily (140) too.
Ginnie Morrow’s Nova (200) goes back awhile but is timeless. It’s a patchwork collage of 396 squares.
Debbie Rowley of DebBee’s Designs was represented by Angles (630), Starstruck (232), and Tribute (401 & 419). List.
There was Summer Fireworks (409), Perfect Squares 2 (402 & 418), Passages (407), and Versailles (406, 408) by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes of BeautifulStitches. NJNJ stitchers! They hosted her for a workshop after Seminar in 2025.
Lorene Salt’s Laissez les Bon Temps (404) was there.
Patches by Susan Kerndt (223-Eileen Kee again). I have her Holiday Patches on my To Do list.
Instructions for Pieces of Eight (249) by Gayle Bicknell are available at Project Reprints – Needlepoint Now https://share.google/1ayOk01FlXDtXd6TP They are reprinted all in one issue for $18. I stitched this years ago (search my blog).
I never framed my Gay Ann Rogers Downton Abbey pieces because the way Deborah Logsdon (793) framed hers is how I would love to frame mine but I don’t have the space.
Jennifer Riefenberg’s More Color Play (443) was there. And, if you look back to the wall photo from the first room, you’ll see three of hers (442) – Beets, Carrots, and Radishes. Also, on the wall is a triptych (760) called Flowers in a Garden under the category Surface Embroidery. I digress from the counted canvas designs.
Joyce Marshall’s Mystic Convergence (403) is a lovely design and lends itself to various colorways. She’s a relatively new designer and her pieces are at joyous-designs(.com).
Gail Stafford’s Arrival of Spring (790) was fun to see. And, I love Dusting of Snow (791).
Lattice-Scape (698) by Kurdy Biggs looks complicated and interesting.
I saw pieces designed by Kathy Rees of Needle Delights including Ripple Rotation #2 (143) stitched by Karen Milano of Nimble Needle in NJ. And, Rainforest Revisited (627).
Speaking of Karen Milano, she also stitched Grace (142) designed by Orna Willis the members of her EGA Monmouth chapter did as a Stitch of the Month. Congratulations to Karen for a Second Place Award. My mother would have loved this colorway!
Obviously, that is my favorite category of needlework. But, I appreciate all types. So, here are my favorites in other commercial categories:
Surface Embroidery (560) Jacobean Design. Congratulations to Donna Pence for a Blue Ribbon.
Crewel, Enchanted April, designed by Elsa Williams (604) and is impressive at 10″ x 24″.
How could you not love this stumpwork butterfly (581)?
Counted Cross Stitch, Oyster Bay New York Landscape, Louis Comfort Tiffany (681).
Bill’s People Choice vote went to My Grandpa (836).
My favorite commercial design goldwork piece was Jubilation taught and/or designed by the Royal School of Needlework (631 and 128 just as pretty but not shown here).
It seemed like more Blackwork was present than in past years. There were geometrics Latitude & Longitude (772) that came as a pair at about 5″ wide and 18″ long, Save the Stitches (247), and Peppermint Purple 2024. The non-geometrics Avice Tyndall (233), Take Me to Church (704), and Crowned Crane shows that Blackwork can be any design!
Beadwork goes to a Panda Amulet (827)
I recognized Ornament Stack (823) designed by Alison Hodgkins as a painted canvas and think they should go in their own category. Apparently, from what I learned from Google, she wrote the stitch guide too. Love the background.
Charlie Harper designs are fun. There were Birds (326), koalas in Down Under (434) and my favorite Birrrrrrd Feeder (705).
I won’t post original designs on my blog but if you can go, be sure to check out:
- Deborah Merrick-Wilson’s pieces (137, 138, 139) for goldwork, canvaswork, and surface embroidery-she won the Woodlawn Award!
- Christine Vinh has a Sashiko strip (451) representing 65 days of stitching. It’s 3″ wide and 7 feet long at least that rolls up onto a wooden spool. So timely! I along with 2 other ladies on Tuesday will be talking about Sashiko, Boro, and Zokins.
- Dawn Donnelly’s Christmas Baubles (119) is lovely. She’s taught that.
- Melanie Dyarman must be working on her EGA Master Craftsman in Canvas because I recognized her Geometric Analogous Sampler from Step 2 (226). Nicely done.
- Tina Tapley’s November’s Garden is classified under Surface Embroidery, Original and got my People’s Choice vote. It’s large and covered in such a variety of interesting stitches.
- Two chairs are on display! One was last year’s Directors Choice and People’s Choice Award winner. The other has very fun motifs on it! So much work.
There are still more lovely pieces but I’ve got to get to other stuff! A visit would be well worth your time and effort.
Just about everyone that I know has been shown how to make cording! This past week was my Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media.
This past Tuesday, I demonstrated the 2 color candy cane, Herringbone, and 4 color candy cane methods described in the instructions. Sally brought enough thread to cord a tree (like a ‘yarn bomb’ – google it if you’re not familiar with the term). I’d love to see a yarn bomb in person. Anyway, . . .
In preparation for the evening, I had to practice the 4 color method. Between Bill, a table, and tape I got it done. It’s too complicated to do routinely and 2 colors are fine. But, we had a nice turn out at the meeting and 4 other people had cord makers. So we broke into groups and practiced.
Prices of the Kreinik Custom Corder vary at different sites online so shop around. Or, you can put a pencil at one end and hand twist the pencil. You can also use a hand drill.
I’ve gathered quite a selection of samples of cording.
Filed under: General comments
It’s that time of year to review what I accomplished over the year and reflect on what’s lies ahead in my needlepoint journey. This year I am thanking you for being one of the 11,300 interested visitors of my blog. That’s quite a jump from previous years.
Last year I wrote about my 2025 goals and that is where I will start my review of this year. Happily, I accomplished most of them. I won’t repeat all that here but I did update last year’s post with links to those goals that were completed. Check them out at https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/01/01/2024-year-in-review-a-look-forward/
The 30th goal was not to get any more goals which was/is/will always be impossible. But, of the 29 doable ones, I only did not do:
- Goal #3 something like Jan Huling’s beaded pieces
- Goal #9 rug hooking with Katie Kriner from The Bee and The Bear
- Goal #12 Scarlett’s Stitch Gothica’s Skull & Succulent piece (stumpwork)
- Goal #18 Project Runway with Dawn Donnelly (adaptation and a surprise)
Only Project Runway is important to me at this point and I have made good progress. That will be my January priority since it must be done by March.
There are a few projects that I will be doing/want to do in 2026 including Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz which our chapter starts in March, Florentine Fancywork by Toni McKelley, Golden Candles by Toni Gerdes, and the rest of the Cabochons.
I’m also planning to go to 3 seminars (NAN, ANG, and EGA). I know I have 2 classes at NAN (National Academy of Needlearts): Exploring Needlelace with Diane Clark and Magical Color with Jennifer Riefenberg in Warm and Cool colorways. At EGA, I hope to get in Laura Smith’s Going Places: Hands-On Design and Color. I’m waiting to see the Jan/Feb issue of ANG Needle Pointer’s to decide on those classes.
The ribbon class at Fireside Stitchery in April with Tamara Abdee should be interesting. She does lovely work and am curious about her and learning her techniques.
Ideally, I would like to finish a few of my oldest unfinished counted projects begun in a class setting:
- Rozashi – Patterns in Blue and Green with Margaret Kinsey (Aug 2016)
- Fire and Ice with Toni Gerdes (Feb 2017)
- A Toast to Tiffany with Kay Stanis (Aug 2019)
There is no way that I’ll say all those are goals! They are options. Paths along my journey. Along with some finishing, it’ll be a busy 2026.
But, I haven’t finished reviewing 2025 yet. I addition to the goals I did accomplish, I also led/spoke about:
- Festive Fireworks (my design in ANG Needle Pointers July 2017) to the ANG Shenandoah Valley chapter via Zoom
- Ort Boxes by Marilyn Owen for ANG Main Line Stitchers
- Making round coasters with cork bottoms for ANG Central Jersey Chapter (CJC)
Other projects that I hadn’t plan on but stitched included:
- Daisy Delight Box with Mary Alice Sinton via Zoom
- Winter Lights by Jennifer Riefenberg with ANG CJC
- Morning Glories by Lani at Sue Parson’s Finishing class
I visited two needlepoint stores new to me:
- Threads Too Needlepoint in NJ
- Stitching Fox in NC
I was busy participating in my EGA chapter projects including a cross stitch needle book, Zokin, porcupine quill, chatelaine, and pin cushion.
The Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media covered a variety of topics but the icicles were the most fun.
I used a few stitched designs to adorn tissue boxes this year. In the September-October 2022 issue of Needle Pointers, I stitched two Bargello Samplers designed by Gail Stafford once in stranded threads and again in sparkly threads. I added a binding stitch border as I attached a black felt backing (with a piece of magazine board for stiffness) and attached it with strips of a double stick archival tape. It went as a 2-sided tissue box for a Christmas gift for my brother John and sister-in-law Sher. Eventually, they may get something in browns and golds for the other two sides so they can rotate it periodically.
I think that about covers the highlights of 2026 and shares most of what’s ahead in 2026.
What’s ahead for you?
Happy New Year and enjoy your stitching time!
As a reminder, these natural, hand-faceted, rondelle gemstones in small (around 400), medium (around 100), and large (24) in each of these colors: Royal Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald were obtained at the Bead Expo in 2011. It took me awhile to find a bead cord that would work with them.
The teardrop ones I made (https://melitastitches4fun.com/category/jewelry/gemstone-earrings/) used about 140 small gemstones (5 columns), these used about 100 (4 rows), and there are still about 70 left! And, I haven’t used the medium or large ones yet at all although I have experimented with some options!
This pair of earrings used the Royal Blue Sapphire beads on Perlseide blue #2 bead cord (natural silk thread with a needle attached from Blue Santa Beads) on a silver round bead frame (from Michael’s).
These were my hand made gift to Linda for Christmas. She was very happy with them.
And, I am thrilled with the ByAnnie Travel Essentials Organizer in a fabric that matches the Bowl Me Over Bag from 2023 that Linda made for me.
It’s great and is perfect for storing my cords and fabrics for finishing. The A Place for Everything ByAnnie bag was filled to the max! So, now I have them in here with the duplicate cords in the other bag. I love it!
I enjoyed getting organized since I have several pieces to finish – hopefully, I can find time this weekend or next week.
I pulled out my Beeswax following a suggestion to possibly use it to prevent the silk thread from snagging while working on Nautilus.
The first thing I noticed is how much red thread got left in the wax from a previous project. So, I cleaned it up by scraping off the top layer. I also see in the photo that this only cost $4.40. So, getting a new one wouldn’t break the bank but I like the heart shape! This looks better.
Before I did use it though, I decided to research the issue on Mary Corbett’s website (On Thread Conditioning & Beeswax for Embroidery – NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/oEKTD6N6ppVkR75pm).
She says in part: If you coat your threads with beeswax (or anything, really) it changes the look (darkens) and performance of the thread (won’t spread or reflect light as well).
So, I searched her website again and found her post with lots of great suggestions in Working with Soie de Paris (& Other Filament Silk) at NeedlenThread.com https://share.google/8Z1Z6onu77qKHBRZ1 .
Thanks to Mary, I’m less afraid of starting back on Nautilus now! Mary is on vacation and taking a well-deserved break from posting. Her website is such a great resource. If you haven’t checked it out you’re missing out!
I found this stitch tossed in a bag of canvas scraps. Very pretty motif. I have no idea of the source. I’m not sure how I stitched it. Does anyone recognize it?
Filed under: General comments, Radiance Metallics by The Meredith Collection, Threads
I had plenty of Radiance left from Nights in White Satin by Jennifer Riefenberg so I cut one length. It was more difficult to get the first strand out and each one got easier to remove. I needed to gently massage small bits at a time but I got it separated. Then I tested three strands unironed and ironed. The strands did get smoother with ironing.
It’s like stitching with Accentuate which I find difficult to handle. Ironing improved my ability to get the strands to lay nicely. The ironed strands are used in the stitches on the left. As you would expect, longer stitches reflect more light and are shinier than shorter ones. They would make great snowflakes or window panes (Scotch Stitches).
So, you could separate this thread into strands, iron or not, and you could also couch with it.
Overall it’s a nice thread and I would use it again. It really sparkles in person and does in close up photos too.
The American Tapestry is telling stories from the Revolution to commemorate the 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. There are thirteen stories. Read all about them at https://www.americastapestry.com/about
Thanks to Amy and Becky who are leading the Delaware efforts. I joined them at The Chester County History Center in West Chester, PA today.
I worked on Delaware’s panel
https://www.americastapestry.com/tapestries/delaware
Yes, the panels are all that big! The ground is 32-count Belfast Linen backed with muslin.
Gretchen from Oklahoma stopped by after enjoying the samplers on display in the museum. She was in town visiting her sister and just happened to stop in the museum and was so excited to be able to contribute to the work. She and I worked on 4 x 4 cross stitches for the sky (they are small and tougher to count on linen). Gretch is in ANG too. Then, Marnie joined us. I enjoyed it.
To find where and when you can stitch on the Delaware panel in PA and/or Delaware, follow along at https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1JAADnKEG4/ I’ll join them again at some point.
I’m case you’re wondering, I heard about this through my EGA Brandywine chapter. The members of Brandywine are contributing as well. Karen S is stitching the sails for the British warship at home using silk threads with eventual plans for the sails to be applied to the panel. Tom is working on the main body of the ship using crewel yarn and Patrick is designing a British flag for the ship.
Pennsylvania has a panel too (https://share.google/qduFTN3S4sThOvcJj).
The PA panel is available to work on every Thursday from 5pm – 9pm and every Sunday 12pm – 5pm at The Glenshaw Public Library (1504 Butler Plank Road in Glenshaw, PA).
I hope these all get displayed nearby eventually. That will be impressive.
Maybe it’s too well known that I was looking for Rhapsody! But, thanks to Kristen and the great Ebay deal she found that I couldn’t pass up, I now have enough Rhapsody to keep making another set of these ornaments in a variety of colorways!
Eventually, I will need more cabochons. I bought more rimsets because some were bent. The 10 mm (also sized 45 ss whatever that means) pointed rimsets in silver were not available so I got them in 40 ss hoping they would work but they do not. So, I will have to find slightly smaller cabochons. But, that should be easier than finding Rhapsody or rimsets!
Luckily, I was able to unbend the existing silver rimsets and got extra gold 10 mm rimsets. I remembered seeing a jewelry tool for enlarging rings and found a pen to substitute allowing me to reshape to round with a little the help of jewelry pliers.
It’s funny that as much as I love overdyed threads I know one woman in my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter who hates them! On which side of the thread aisle do you gravitate towards? Overdyed or not and can you explain why? I’m intrigued by the combination of colors and seeing how the color shifts.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
Filed under: General comments, Needles, Technique Issues, Zokins
Last night, Judy, Merril and I joined forces to cover Sashiko stitching at our Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media (we meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 pm). From my research on the topic of Sashiko, it is a traditional Japanese stitching technique used for decorative and functional purposes, while Boro refers to the patched textiles resulting from repeated mending, embodying a history of resourcefulness and sustainability. So, a Zokin must be a type of Boro since it is a traditional Japanese cleaning cloth made from old clothes, towels or fabrics.
I showed my Zokin and discussed it previously (Zokins | Melitastitches4fun’s Blog). After Show & Tell, we dove into Sashiko. Merril had fabric swatches and threads. I brought threads too. The chapter purchased Sashiko needles for everyone. This is one large needle! Puts my 2 needles to shame.
We each got 3 fabric swatches. Two decorative ones and a blue denim to make a needle book for the Sashiko needle. But, I have a box I store my needles in. So, I made a bookmark.
Merril came with rulers and fabric marking pens. We didn’t have a lot of time and I just did 3 parallel lines in the basic running stitch. It’s a reversible stitch. Without marking the stitch lengths, this was as even as I could get. I wasn’t going to get particular about it. Having loose edges with threads fraying makes this an art form that I don’t need to pursue although I do have a small notebook that I was thinking of covering with fabric.