Filed under: Uncategorized
The Opening Banquet was enjoyable, especially because I was seated next to Debbie Stiehlar. She’s a hoot! Someone asked about Bill, and I mentioned that he really only enjoyed one banquet, and that was when someone gave a hilarious talk at ANG Seminar. Then, I realized it was probably Debbie, and she’s actually going to repeat a version of it at this closing banquet. Debbie suggested that I text Bill and have him come in for it after dinner. I encouraged Debbie to consider publishing the talk since she’s retiring. And said she might just do that. I hope so. Had I known she’d be retiring, I probably would have taken her class!
I also met one of the judges who has written several of my critiques. Come to find out, she reads my blog and was glad to see that I appreciated her thoughts. I do enjoy getting critiques even though I may not agree with everything. I never mention the judges’ names and won’t start now!
It was great to spend time with Chris Louden and meet her friend Kathy at the Opening Banquet too. I can’t remember the names of the other 2 ladies at our table and even though tables are round, I find it hard to connect across the table.
The two Best in Show (Japanese piece and a stumpwork piece) was announced along with the Challenge winner, a lovely Temari ball. I’m sure they’ll be posted soon since Jennifer Reifenberg was busy photographing the pieces.
Diane Herrmann is retiring her Walking on the Water’s Edge as a teaching piece. It will remain available for purchase to benefit the National Academy of Needlearts. Nice!!
The business meeting was short enough. The one speaker had a reason for not using a microphone, but since I couldn’t hear her, I don’t know what it was! I was enjoying my carrot cake and trying not to laugh out loud at Debbie’s side comments.
My earrings didn’t win anything, and after seeing the other pieces exhibited, I totally agree. I really didn’t expect to. I just wanted to contribute something to the Ruby challenge portion of the exhibit. I’d like to see if anybody is interested in a class to stitch these. Goal #13 accomplished.
Wow!! Speaking of Debbie Stiehlar, her beaded basket lid was amazing. Each piece was prettier than the last. She had several stunning pieces. There was an owl that looked ready to take flight. There are so many amazing pieces. It’s was overloading my ability to take it all in which is why the classes for next year didn’t register.
I had a nice chat with another judge, Patricia Trector, who writes regularly in Needle Pointers and is being recognized for her lifetime achievements this year. Congratulations!
We had an excursion to The Needleworks and met Lisa, another young owner. I got threads to start on my background.
I drove a couple of classmates back to the hotel, got a short nap, and headed to Merchandise Night. It’s a small event for an hour. I got Dawn Donnelly’s book (more about that another time).
Filed under: 2025, Knotted Needle, National Academy of Needlearts (NAN), Needlepoint Shops, The Wool and the Floss
Yesterday, we really enjoyed the tour of the Motown Museum, and I really enjoyed the two needlepoint stores we visited afterward.
We stopped at the Knotted Needle first and then a half mile down the road to The Wool and the Floss. We’ll be going to The Needleworks (5 min from the Somerset Inn) as part of Dawn Donnelly’s class to buy our threads. And, Homestead Needle Arts is too far northwest.
Becky, the owner of Knotted Needle showed me around her store. The rooms are huge and filled with all sorts of goodies! She’s getting ready to display the new Radiance Metallics, adding to her 135 lines of threads. These photos don’t show the yarns for knitting, tables up front for casual stitchers to sit around, or the back room with more goodies and 2 more tables for classes! There is a finisher, the Finishing Fairy, Amanda Metes teaching there this weekend, and Julia Snyder in July.
I couldn’t resist the 2 books (more details another time), and I will definitely use The Thread Gatherer, Sea Grass, Tuxedo for my class piece. The thread stock listed online is accurate to the quantity available when you order it. A nice feature.
The women at The Wool and the Floss were all busy getting busy for their grand opening Saturday. They moved recently to this cute store. I hope to fit those embellishments onto my design too. And, I had to have a tiny laying tool!
The area is lucky to have both stores!
This thread will make great cording for finishing. I have it in red for my heart. Fireside Stitchery carries the thread as well.
We enjoyed a few hours in The Rock and Roll of Fame before arriving a day and a half early to get acclimated to the area (Troy, MI) where the annual National Academy of Needlearts Assembly for Embroiderers occurs.
We checked in, and I got my registration package. I bought the special 40th Ruby Anniversary needleminder/magnet (love Accoutrements Designs, Mag Friends). I am new to NAN and one of 21 “First-Timers.” There are around 100 attendees.
My husband and I went to PF Changs (love their chicken lettuce wraps) and then strolled around the “rich” side of the Somerset Collection Mall! Wow. One store was serving drinks to their shoppers.
I happened to see a window display and knew it’s the one for my class with Dawn Donnelly, Project Runway! I probably should not blog about this design since Dawn is encouraging us to submit it to the exhibit next year. But, it is more “whimsy” than what you would normally see me do. But, that’s what I like about class, it’s about trying new things.
The Needlework and Textile Guild of Media meet in the Media Bourough Hall in Media, PA on the 2nd Tuesday at 7 pm.
Back in November, Karen showed us how to add beaded fringe. Tuesday night, she showed us a different way than before. I also played with the spacing on the diagonal row.
Sally and I were surprised that the thread lays on the outer portion of the 3 side by side beads. But that’s what the pattern calls for.
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2024, Treasures from the Great Lakes - Dawn Donnelly
Back to Treasures of the Great Lakes by Dawn Donnelly, one of my ANG 2024 Seminar classes.
The ribbed Spider seashell uses Watercolours 001 Sandstone but the length in my kit had no color variation.
So, I purchased a new skein and am much, much happier.
With Dawn’s piece, Blue Hills, from my ANG 2022 Seminar class, we were supposed to include a fake bullion across the whole design which was 6″ (requiring 72″). I elected to use an alternative thread, Woolly Whites. This time, the bullion only had to be 3-4″. So, I added it. DMC Pearl Cotton #5 is tacked down which required about 38″ to create the coil.
This will not get done before my next class with Dawn Donnelly. Oh, well but I am happy with how it’s progressing.
Filed under: Books in My Library, Mary's Whimsical Small Stitches by Mary Legallet, Needlepoint Books
Mary’s Whimsical Small Stitches, Volume 4 is the book I picked up at Stitching Fox earlier this week.
It has my favorite features: The stitch diagrams are easy to follow. It’s a small book at 6″ x 8.5″ with hard plastic covers on front and back but has rings, so pages flip and stay open.
It has a new feature. QR codes for stitched samples. Scan and the link takes you to her Instagram account for photos ofthestitch in action.
As the title states, these are stitch suggestions for small spaces. There is an excellent discussion of various issues under Stitch Planning 101.
Here’s the TOC:
The Decorative Stitch Index is a wonderful feature.
This book should get a lot of use.
It took a while to do 92 Jessicas and fill each one in Byzantium by Lorene Salt, but it’s worth it! It turned out great.
I’ll probably recreate the 16 spoke center for myself. Although that would be adding to my list of 2025 goals, and I was trying to avoid that!
My cousin Kathy picked it up yesterday, and she absolutely loves it. She’s right. It looks better in person. I’m glad Byzantium has found a good home!
Just over the border from North Carolina lies a lovely store, Stitching Fox owned by Kathryn, who gave me a tour of the store. She’s been growing and learning along with her clients since she fulfilled her dream of opening a needlepoint store in 2020. She’s bound to succeed!
I bet a few significant others have enjoyed these chairs! Bill was golfing, or he’d have been there.
She has several monthly clubs for Fall Leaves, Foxes, and Candy Canes.
There are trunk shows and 30% off clearance items so she can bring home new items from Market.
Mary Pat is one of her right hand gals along with Vicki G, who teaches on Saturday and writes stitch guides for the store. This place may be the Southern Fireside Stitchery! Friendly people and really well stocked thread lines, especially for the most popular threads with 12″ deep pegs.
And there will be a good number of classes in 2025 with Kelly Clark (canvas embellishment), Brenda Stofft (sessions for Baby Santa and Baby Bunnies & Cart), Kate Dickerson & Elaine Aidonis (canvas embellishment), and Cynthia Thomas (Halloween Hat canvas, 2 sessions of BYO canvas embellishment & Help I’m Stuck, and a 1-day retreat for an anything is fair game day). She has great lighting and plenty of space. You can’t even see the 4th table at the far end and around the corner.
Stitching Fox has a nice selection of threads (about 50 thread lines), some miscellaneous items such as Access Commodites Double Twist Gimp, rhinestone chains, and a rack with leftover threads from past classes.
Then, I was blown away by the suite upstairs. See the link to Book Your Stay on her website! You can book the 2 bedrooms/1 bath/kitchen/living room by the night. How cool is that! The teachers get to stay there when they teach. No wonder Brenda will be there 6 days and Cynthia will be there 8 days. It certainly would make a great escape trip for 3 or 4 people to stay.
I did get her store’s magnet that looks just like her store! Accoutrement Designs has fantastic magnets.
The thread and book that I picked up will be subjects for another time.
Filed under: Crescent Journey, General comments, Melita's Designs, Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition
The Nellie’s Needlers are celebrating their 50th Anniversary with an excellent show, the 62nd Annual Needlework Show at Woodlawn. We made it on March 1 this year!
There are 579 judged entries listed but over 600 with the non-judged pieces on display by Nellie’s Needlers and ANG Checkerboard Chapter, who are celebrating their 50th Anniversary.
Congratulations to both.
That is Nellie in the photo above. And, look at stitched frame around that mirror by Eman K. Wonderful.
I got to see Chris L and her Janet Casey Zickler Santas. We had a nice chat when she returned from lunch. And, I found out we’ll both be at NAN in a couple of weeks. How fun is that!
To see more information on each piece exhibited, use the QR code listed in the brochure. That’s all the information in the docent paperwork located in each room. Fantastic feature! Now, if Woodlawn asked for and people included the name of the designer for commercial pieces, it would be incredible! I recognized about 3 dozen of the canvaswork counted pieces. Too many to write about but lovely to see.
My photos are not great this year. The light was super bright shining in the windows or there was glare from artificial lights. Woodlawn allows glass and reflections are impossible to avoid. And, I was reprimanded by a docent for taking photos too close.
Link to the photos of the major award winners and a list of all winners are available at: https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2025-nws-award-winners
Theresa B swept Original Senior Sampler Multi-Stitch awards as she does here and in Rehoboth Beach’s exhibit. I won’t share photos of any original designs without permission. See the link above for photos of the major winners.
The American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter was well represented with 24 entries by Sylvia B, Diane B, Sue C, Cathryn C, Noelle D, Barbara L, Rosie L, Linda M, Janet P, and myself.
There are 3 Crescent Journeys, my design, and the ANG Stitch of the Month from 2023, on display. Diane’s B did hers in black and red, earning Honorable Mention. Rosie’s green and pink colorway remains my favorite one despite not getting a ribbon. Linda M got 3rd place for the neutral colorway.
Linda M got 4 awards in total – one for sampler, miniature, and 2 for canvaswork. Linda M also stitched Interchange by Linda Rienmiller (which I stitched too). Fun piece.
Noelle D and another person stitched Bermuda Reef by Kathy Rees. Love those blues. And, it’s a great light colored (sandy) frame and blue mat that Noelle selected.
Kristin S went in the opposite direction with a blue frame and white mat. Do you have a preference?
The NJNA members got 14 total awards, including the Director ‘s award for Janet P for Frank Lloyd Wright in Needlepoint #2. Big congratulations! But, I preferred FLW #3.
Heather G, from my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, must not have anything left on her walls because she entered 6 pieces! Heather led discussions for our chapter on Flowers of Italy designed by Ro Pace, Stitch of the Month in 2011. It looks great in a tray.
Brenda C. from the ANG Delaware Seashore chapter stitched it as well, but framed it. They both pulled the green for the mat surrounded by wood.
Nissa W flipped Walking the Water’s Edge by Dianne Herrmann making for a very interesting interpretation.
Kathy W oriented as in the original but changed the seashell and named hers Granddaddy’s Beach.
Thomas S-G from my EGA Brandywine Guild submitted a crewel piece. It’s a commercial design by Sunset Stitchery from 1978 but looks timeless to me (there is one on eBay).
Norma H did it again! She does pieces I absolutely love. This year, she had Brrrdbath, a Charlie Harper design and got a Blue Ribbon (723). And, even better, she was there in person, and we had a wonderful chat.
It’s not just cross stitch when you have pieces like Vixen by Nancyanne C where the shading makes you feel the soft fur and deserved First Place and the Eleanor Custis Lewis award. Bill voted for the fox.
Butterfly Effect by Richard S gives a fresh new look to cross stitch designs.
Fractal by Gay S (24″ square?) has amazing shading. Between the size and burst of colors using cross stitches, I made it my People’s Choice vote.
Being in the midst of stitching Dawn Donnelly’s Treasures of the Great Lakes, I probably should have voted for the 10 times more complex, A Bleached Coral Reef by Kim B-R. It’s an original design 8″ diameter full of beachy stumpwork and surface embroidery. A must see!
Bob-Bon Basket by Bonita S is an adorable piece of needle lace.
Before I left, I saw Dana C, who informed her chapter would be doing Festive Fireworks from Needle Pointers Magazine July/August 2017 issue. I love to hear that published pieces get utilized by chapters.
They have commemorative tins! And, I got 2 bags of their cookies (yes, one has been eaten as I had to make sure they were up to their usual standards before I recommend them-they are delicious). They made 5,200 of them and expect to sell out. So, don’t delay!!
Filed under: Architectural Stitches by June McKnight, Books in My Library, Decorative Backgrounds by June McKnight, More Backgrounds by June McKnight, Needlepoint Books, Plants and Animals by June McKnight, Shading and Thread Blending Techniques by June McKnight
Most of my needlepoint booklets are 8.5″ wide x 11″ or 5.5″ wide x 8.5″ high. But these by June McKnight are 5.5″ wide by 4″ high, and they are thick at 1.25″ with heavy weight pages printed on one side only.
June McKnight has quite a few books of which I have these 5:
Architectural Stitches: Foundations, walls, masonry, windows, doors, roofs, and fretwork.
Plants and Animals: Foilage, flowers, garden structures, and animals.
Shading and Thread Blending Techniques: Precise thread blending, random thread blending, tweeding, twilling, twiddling, shading with dynamic threads, and decorative stitches. It’s my favorite book of the ones I own.
Decorative Backgrounds: In addition to the Ten Commandments of Backgrounds, there are basketweave and continental variations, fast and easy, delicate, trellis stitches, Florentine backgrounds, pattern darning & blackwork, pulled lace, and bold.
More Backgrounds: Covers lace, satin, stripes, wallpaper, chenille (patterns combined with FrenchKnots), and darning.
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