Filed under: Books in My Library, Needlepoint Books, Stitchery Under Southern Skies by Mary Anderson and Debbie Deem
I know I read several of Debbie Deem’s article s from old issues of ANG Needle Pointers for an Archives article on design. This booklet, Stitchery Under Southern Skies by Mary Anderson and Debbie Deem, must have been mentioned but I can’t remember why. Again, I found it online a few months ago, Bill put it away when it arrived, and I forgot about it.
It’s technically not a “needlepoint book” as you can see from the Table of Contents because it has 11 projects. But, I gleaned some interesting things from it. Ruth Cameron explains how to use one color of stranded threads to create depth and contrast. Mary Anderson diagrams Smyrna Cross Variations. Susan Porter created an interesting Mosaic Border with a Running Stitch Accent. That’s what popped out on the first pass through the booklet.
It ends with 18 tips. One was using a #16 or #13 needle to make eyelet holes consistent. And, the couching procedures are interesting. Couching over a thread is common enough but into the sides and down the center of a thread offers some variety.
Filed under: Florentine Fancywork by Toni McKelley, Other People's Designs
Florentine Fancywork by Toni McKelley was an ANG Correspondence Course years ago but I didn’t get it and regretted it. So, I put a saved search on Ebay quite some time ago and forgot about. Back in June, I got notified that the instructions had been posted and I bought it. When it arrived, I asked my husband to put it away for Christmas. Again, I forgot about it! What a wonderful surprise to open it today. That’s definitely going to be on my must stitch list for counted pieces in 2026!
Toni used Rainbow Gallery Overture which she calls a space-dyed thread! Haven’t seen that term before. It’s what I call overdyed. And, it calls for V114 Victoriana that has been discontinued! Of course. Toni uses segments of it in the border but not everywhere. Apparently, it has greens, yellows, and peaches according to the text and photos. I have one card of Overture that isn’t V114. But, the separated strands are slightly thinner than strands of Watercolours. Since I have lots of skeins of Watercolours and coverage will be better, I will switch to one or two skeins of Watercolours.
There is also Rainbow Tweed RT66 Leaf Green which is still available but I think I’ll stay with Watercolours.
First, I will pull the solids. Flair, Mandarin Floss, Neon Rays, and 3 Splendors are all available at Fireside Stitchery which I can pick up on Saturday January 3rd at our rescheduled December Stitch-in. That leaves Gold Rush 14, WG53C, Violet Blush that is not available at Fireside Stitchery but is still available elsewhere. I do have Gold Rush 14, WG86C, Lilac that is a bit darker but might work just fine. Once I obtain the solids and decide on the Watercolours, I will decide on the Gold Rush.
Very pretty design combining the various bargello patterns together.
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.
Filed under: Susan Portra, The Cabochons, Peace
Tiara by Rainbow Gallery is next on my list of threads that I don’t like!
Good news is that laying the long lengths of pearl in advance of couching was not difficult except for the thread. Tiara separated at the ends and was catching. I’m not getting a break with nasty threads.
I worked on the background during a Zoom call, during football games, and a movie. It’s interesting to see Susan’s choice to do the denser tent stitches on the sides and skipping every other for the more open pattern on the top and bottom.
The cabochons went on easy enough.
It’s now added to my finishing pile. And, I won’t allow myself to start the next cabochon until this one is finished. So, I’ve got to find time!!
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Festival of Trees
After joining the Central Jersey Chapter today (or hanging out at the library), Bill and I enjoyed the 47th Annual Festival of Trees. They have some great trees decorated by community groups and individuals that are on display through December 29. Check days/hours open at
https://www.somersetcountyparks.org/environmental-education-center . It’s at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, NJ.
The New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) tree theme this year is “Stitched with Love”. Lots of lovely ornaments!
I was thrilled to see the 6th of Susan Portra’s Cabochon series, Faith. I do have the instructions but haven’t gotten to stitch it yet and am curious to see which member did. Just found out it’s Jacqui C’s. Lovely!
There are some silly trees.
And, elegant ones.
There are some wonderful crafts on display.
A very enjoyable day!
By the time I got to this point, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Once I filled in along the top right, I went back and added pink and darker aqua highlights. Then, the outline of the large swirl was accomplished using La Lame #14 Braid Rainbow to nicely pick up the various colors in a sparkly metallic thread.
On to the jewel embellishment phase with lots of beads!!
Filed under: ANG Central Jersey Chapter, ANG Seminar 2025, Christmas Ball Canvas
The ANG Streetcar Chapter had at table at Expo this summer and I picked up this little ornament. It’s marked CB6 (maybe CBK Needlepoint Collections). I have to work ‘in the well’ because the canvas measures 4.5″x5″. I could lace it to larger size bars but this should be fine.
Needing a small piece to work on at the ANG Central Jersey Chapter meeting on Saturday, I pulled threads from my stash including 2 sparkly threads and 2 non-sparkly threads for contrast. I’ll pull a gold for outling later.
Then, I went to my Sandy Arthur book for a parallelogram stitch that would work. Most were for larger areas but Nobuko should work in all the areas and will compensate easily.
Looks like a good project for Saturday!
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, Sunflower Heart by Judyann Designs
For the flower and stem in Sunflower Heart by Judyann Needle Art Canvas Design, I had Treenway Silks 7 mm Yellow 201, River Silks 7 mm yellow variegated 260, and River Silks 7 mm green variegated 265 in my stash (different but similar from what Ginny Stapleton used in her stitch guide from the July/August 2025 issue).
I found Splendor Lite Golden Brown S902 and used 6 strands for the French Knots and beads of 2 sizes of the same color (unmarked) but only used the large ones for the loft.
I couldn’t be happier! Goal #16 is done (finishing it was not stated in the original goal).
So, “finishing” this may actually be a reward for stitching the next 6 pairs of strands onto Nautilus. I wouldn’t have said that a year ago!
Here’s an update on Nautilus by Kay Stanis.
Thanks to Mary Corbet’s post on handling silk threads, I can say using a larger eye needle to open the holes is helping alot. Also, even though my hands didn’t feel rough, Gloves in a Bottle helps too. I’ve had this bottle almost 10 years. I haven’t used it much because my hands aren’t a problem, generally! Just like my spool of invisible thread, this bottle will last my lifetime. I got it at Stitch by Stitch in Cape May, NJ in April 2016.
The other strategies that I am employing are starting in the smallest areas to see visible progress, using 2 strands to cover more, and staying with Trebizond (not using Silk Serica). After cutting 2 lengths of white and 2 lengths of light Turquoise Trebizond, I separate and iron them. That gives me 6 strands of each color. Once I finish stitching them using 2 strands, I have to take a break. It helps. Some.
It’s time for a break!
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