For those of you who love to needlepoint and love looking for inspiring ideas, organizing tips and techniques, well look no more.

Janet Perry of Napa Needlepoint has done it again with her wonderful book, Needlepoint Trade Secrets and she’ll be visiting my shop on Thursday September 13th for a Virtual Book Tour.

Janet has been gathering tips from teachers, professionals, and us *regular* needlepointers to help everyone from beginners to advanced get fired up about our stitching.

I’m looking forward to her tips on organizing!  I always know that perfect thread is somewhere, but the question is always where.

As part of the tour, you don’t even have to visit the shop.  You’ll be able to visit with Janet by e-mail from the comfort of your home.

If you’re not familiar with Janet and Napa Needlepoint, she’s a great designer and has fantastic stitch guides for handpainted canvases. 

Recently I got in some Kelley Clark canvases for Halloween and Christmas with Janet’s guides.  I love just studying the guides and seeing what kind of threads and stitches she used. 

Oh, and if you’d like an autographed copy of Janet’s book, let me know so I can order some in advance.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline

I am really excited to be part of a new project.  I was asked to “teach” embroidery as an after school club at our local elementary school!

I’ve had a blast looking through some of the new embroidery books I just added to the shop’s stash.

It really brought back memories of my early stitching days.  It’s funny how so many of those first projects were so simple and yet so much fun!

As I was browsing Kristin Nicholas’ book, Colorful Stitchery, I came across a photo of  felt bookmarks, each decorated with different stitches.  It really made me want to run out and buy up felt to start embroidering.

In fact that might be how I introduce my *Club* to the different stitches.  I was going to start with a doodle cloth, but a felt bookmark is a quick take home first project.

If anyone has any thoughts on your experiences teaching elementary school age kids to stitch, I’d love to hear from you.  I’m always open to suggestions.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline

We just received our copy of Hanover County’s fall class schedule for Parks and Recreation.

If you’re a resident here in Hanover, you should have received a copy in the mail.  If for any reason you didn’t, they usually have extra copies in the libraries.

My two classes are listed under Arts and Crafts for Adults. I’m offering punchneedle embroidery again at two locations.  One class will be at Pole Green Community Center in Mechanicsville and the other at the Ashland Library.

I’m also offering a Beginner Needlepoint Class.  This will be a 4 session class and will cover tent stitch, basketweave, and several decorative stitches.  Classes will be held at the Taylor Complex which should be convenient for residents from both the eastern and western ends of the county.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to call me here at the shop.

Also, if you’re not a Hanover County resident, but would like a class, I can schedule just about anything anytime here at the shop. I also offer individual instruction so you don’t have to wait for a group to form.

Fall is a great time for classes–not that I’m ready to think in terms of fall, but there are all kind of cute Halloween designs out there and Thanksgiving , and it’s never to early to stitch for Christmas.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline

I don’t know what it’s like where you are, the heat here today is brutal.  I just ran next door to Ashland Tea & Coffey to grab a bottle of water & I thought I would melt.

Only two options I can think of are swim or stitch.  In 100 degree weather I think I would opt to swim first, but A/C and a stitching project sounds pretty appealing, too!

 This might be a good time to finish up some UFO’s.  I mean, what else can you do?  You sure don’t want to go out gardening.

Speaking of gardening, I need to check with Tink and see how her Armchair Gardener blog is coming.

Thinking of stitching though, I have a 2 more needlepoint canvases to finish up and then I can start something new. 

I have an adorable 3 dimentional puppy from Sew Much Fun that I can’t wait to start.  I started pulling threads last week, and found Silk & Ivory colors that are perfect.

Well, stitchers keep cool and keep stitching. . .

Caroline

Just finished unpacking my latest shipment from Dutch Treat Designs.

I had to add some new Table Toppers.  If you like large and quick, these are great projects. 

 I like to stock them with the Anne’s cloth as a kit and this time picked out some sparkly fabric for the Holiday themes.

What I’m really excited about are Claudia’s motto designs based on original Victorian projects.  The charts give instructions so you can work them on perforated paer as was they were traditionally done or you can stitch on fabric if you prefer.

These are classics like  *The Lord Will Provide* and *God Bless Our Home*.

I found out from talking to Claudia at TNNA that she is a collector of these antique perforated paper mottos and that has served as her source of inspiration.

 I have 2 in my shop.  One reads *Scatter Smiles* which hung in a relative’s home.  I don’t know who stitched.

The other reads *Christ is Risen*.  My husband found that one for me at an auction.  I wish I could find more, but I’ve got more antiques than I have space–both at home and in the shop.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline