The National Needlearts Association has been sponsoring a program called *Stitch and Pitch* with the idea of combining two American traditions–baseball and needlework.

At selected baseball games around the country, volunteers are offering needlework demonstrations before the game and handing out “goodie” bags of needlework stuff and all the stitchers attending sit together to knit and stitch throughout the game!

We got a group of family members and friends together and headed up to Washington D. C. for a Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves game. It was my first time at a pro-baseball game.

 Not being much of a sports fan, I was really surprised at how much fun it was.

I was also surprised to see many folks actually stitching and knitting away.  I was even more surprised to see how many young knitters were doing projects I wouldn’t even begin to tackle.

Needlepoint I can do; but when it comes to knitting, my skills are limited to a straight row back and forth.  It’s kind of frustrating because there are so many beautiful knitting yarns out there as I’m sure all you knitters know.

Anyway, if you’re a knitter or stitcher, you may want to check out any “Stitch and Pitch” games in your area.

I want to post some photos from the game once I get that figured out.  I’m still in blogging 101!

Keep thinking of stitching . . .

Caroline

If you’re new to our shop blog, you probably don’t know that we adopted a rescue Basset hound over Memorial Day weekend.  His name is Bennie and he is a sweetheart, but a little shy around new humans.

 I had been bringing Bennie into the shop so he could adjust to different environments and people.  Then I had to start leaving him at home while we do renovations to the back of our building.

Anyway, over the weekend Bennie started limping so we took him to the vet first thing Monday.  Would you believe x-rays confirmed that Bennie has a broken toe!

To correct the problem, the vet had to put a splint on the toe and then a cast up to his shoulder.  We were given strict instructions not to let him chew on the cast. 

To keep an eye on him I brought him to the shop  and he was so happy to be here thumping around and greeting customers.  The only problem was that the vet said to keep him calm, but he just wanted to charge around to check everything out.

Anyway, yesterday morning the temptation to chew at his cast became too great; and we had to make another trip to the vet’s for repairs.

Poor Bennie!  His unfortunate chewing earned him one of those “Elizabethian” collars that make pets look like they’re wearing a satellite dish. 

Bennie is trying to be a good sport, but it’s tough when you love to snuggle and you have you head stuck in a plastic “dish”.

Too bad his collar is plastic or I could embroider a decoration on it for him.

Thinking of stitching. . .

Caroline

It was great fun teaching a class for Hanover County’s Parks and Recreation Program. 

 I had an enthusiastic group of stitchers ready to take on the technique of Russian Punchneedle Embroidery.  All of the students had experience in some type of needlework–cross stitch, quilting, needlepoint, hand sewing–and wanted to try something new.

Almost everyone *admitted* to wanting to find a way to use up some of their floss stash.  (Yes, we all have one, don’t we?)   and that is one economical feature about punchneedle.

Being the teacher, of course, I had to introduce my students to some thread options.  I love using Weeks Dye Works in my punchneedle.  Even the most subtle of their overdyes just add a different look.

I also had to show them the Valdani 3 ply floss in solid and overdyed colors.  I just started using it in a project, and it’s great not having to separate your ply.  Not to mention the cute little ball you can continuously punch from.

The floral project that I just started calls for a black background.  The flowers all use a gorgeous assortment of Weeks Dye Works

Anyway, I couldn’t see using a black background.  It just seemed too stark to me. 

I kept thinking “Black is Black” –but what can I do –(isn’t that an Oldies song)?  So after pulling some greys, browns,  & dark blues in Anchor, I still wasn’t happy.

 I don’t know why this took me so long to figure out, but when I went to my Valdani threads I found a black that isn’t just black!  Somehow it’s just softer  and it’s not a grey–it’s black!

 It’s perfect for this punchneedle project and I get to use that cute little ball!

 Thinking of stitching and punching. . .

Caroline

I can’t believe it!  My on-line shop is up and operational!

I’m just starting with painted canvases, but if you take a look right away, don’t be disappointed if you don’t see too many canvases.  I’ve got a ton more to add.

It’s been a little slow because I’m personally doing the photography which I know nothing about.  Thank goodness my web master can help straighten me out.

Anyway, I hope to get more on in the next couple of weeks so I hope you’ll keep checking back if you like painted canvases.

And if you like quiche, take a look at Tink’s Armchair Chef.  I saw a mouth watering recipe there yesterday.

Thinking of Stitching,

Caroline

Can’t believe coming back from a vacation can be so disorienting.  I’ve got boxes of new orders waiting to be unpacked, classes to teach, new ones to plan, and customers to help!

But it’s falling into place.  Finally got my e-mail address for my blog working so if you want to e-mail me, here it is:

caroline@threadandcanvasthoughtsfromva.com

Got an interesting e-mail today from Janet Perry with Napa Needlepoint.  She has a new needlepoint book coming out and is planning a virtual book tour.  I’ll keep you posted on how it will work as I learn more.

Janet’s date for “visiting” my shop is September 13 so mark it on your calendars!

By the way, I just got in some Kelly Clark’s painted canvases especially Holloween and Christmas designs.  Several of them feature Janet’s stitch guides which are wonderful.

Thinking of Stitching

Caroline

In case you’ve been checking my blog and wondering what happened to my posts, well, I must confess  I’ve been away.

Went on a cruise to Bermuda with my best friend, Diane, and her husband, Billy. 

 Diane’s a travel agent and she had booked a trip for a group of folks from Ashland, and I got invited along!

Unfortunately, my husband, Charlie, couldn’t go, but he was a really good sport about me going without him.

Needless to say, the cruise was fantastic.  I’m typically not the cruise type, but I was with a pretty lively bunch so they kept me hopping.

The only thing I was disappointed in was not having more time on shore.  I especially would have liked exploring St. George’s more. 

 All the houses and buildings were so colorful.  They just begged to be in a needlepoint design.

Speaking of needlepoint, one of my favorite activities on the ship was , you got it, stitching.  I took an entire bag of projects with me.

I finished a Lizzie Kate punchneedle project and straightened out a tricky little needlepoint design.  I also worked on my denim shirt which I’m embroidering with Sublime Stitching patterns.

My favorite project I worked on was a Julie Mar canvas of a frog in leaves.  I’m using all Silk and Ivory, Impressions, and J. L. Walsh silk.  I don’t usually do *just* basketweave, but for this project it’s perfect.

My cabin had a window which let in perfect daylight for stitching so every afternoon I had to sneak away for my private *stitch-in*.

I do need to confess that my projects were not the end of my stitching.  The real *treat* was when I got myself stitched up.

Would you believe on the 4th of July I ended up with 4 stitches on my shin and it was a result of my snorkeling adventure?!

Actually I never got to snorkel since I slipped on a rock getting into the water.  At least I can say I was in the water at Tobacco Bay if only for a couple of minutes. 

Anyway,  my stitches are a lovely shade of royal blue although I would have preferred lavender. Oh well. . .

Keep Thinking of Stitching,

Caroline