In case this is new to you, needlework shops around the country are collecting hand stitched bookmarks to be donated to local schools and libraries.  The program began in 2007 as a means of needleworkers recognizing the importance of literarcy and supporting our youth during Children’s Book Week.  This also give us stitchers a chance educated the public about needlework.

If you would like to participate, but don’t have a local shop, I would be happy to receive them from you and include them with our shop donation.

To learn more, Jen Funk-Weber, who started the challenge has a great website and will be blogging almost daily about how the Challenge is progressing.  Her website is www.jenfunkweber.com

Will update my blog on all my activities.  Have been away so need to catch up.

Hope everyone has been happily stitching. . .

Caroline

It’s that time of year again! Nellie’s Needlers, a volunteer auxiliary of Woodlawn Plantation, is hosting its 46th annual needlework exhibit.

This premiere exhibition of contemporary needlework will be held at Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, VA March 1-31, 2009. Exhibition hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limited historic tours of Woodlawn will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily. Admissions for adults is $10, students $5, and children under 5 are free.

An especially enjoyable part of visiting the exhibit is dining in the Underwood Room. Lunch and desserts are served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The menu is freshly created and served by members of Nellie’s Needlers and other volunteers. Income from the luncheon is used to help support this historic site. For groups of 8 or more, advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 703-780-4000 Ext. 26329.

In addition to enjoying the exhibit and lunch, visitors will want to stop by The Museum Shop selling unique finished needlework, samplers and kits. There will also by demonstrations throughout the month by local teachers, needle artists, and shop owners.

For exhibition information, call Woodlawn at 703-780-4000. Entries must be the work of a living person and stitched with a hand-held threaded needle. Acceptable techniques include beadwork, canvaswork, counted thread, cross stitch, embroidery, fine hand sewing, needle-made lace, samplers, smocking, miniature, and quilted accessories.

Mail-in entries must be received between January 16th and February 11th. Hand-delivered entries are urged to preregister prior to February 10th. Walk-in entries will be accepted on February 14th and 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I’m planning to update my site and went to look at the “existing” site to see what I wanted to change.  Guess what I couldn’t find it. It’s like it had gone poof!

After finally getting through to tech support, I found out that I had gotten “parked” in cyber space.  Great (sigh).

So after fiddling around with the tech holding my hand long distance, we changed a bunch of numbers and I was assured my site would be back on-line in 24 hours.

Well, looks like I’m still parked.

In the meantime, I’ve been spending more time on the computer than getting to play with the shop.  Promise I’ll try to get back into updating you with stitching news ASAP.

While I’m sorting things out, you might want to keep an eye on the blog since I’ll be using that to post hours, sales, classes–stuff that would otherwise be on my website.

Hope the updated site won’t be too long coming!

Thinking of Stitching here in Virginia. . .

Caroline

Caroline’s Thread and Canvas

110 Thompson Street

Ashland, VA 23005

In case, you’re wondering where I am & since you can’t get to my website–hope this helps!

My husband, Charlie, has always wanted to see the Grand Canyon so over the winter we decided to plan a trip to Arizona.  It was quite a challenge trying plot out exactly where we wanted to go and how to allow time for getting from destination to destination.

Our travels started out in Phoenix and the next day we drove up to Flagstaff.  There we spent the night at a lovely Bed and Breakfast called Conifer House.  Then we set off for Winslow which is a very, very small community and home to a beautifully restored hotel known as La Posada.  Actually renovations are still in progress, but it was a delightful experience to stay there. 

Next we headed to the Grand Canyon with a side trip to Sunset Canyon.  The Indian ruins, by the way, were fascinating!  Our final stop was in Sedona where we stayed at a fantastic B&B, Casa Sedona.  Sedona was marvelous. 

After having picked up my 430 digital photos yesterday–all I can say is that the photos don’t do the beauty of Arizona justice. 

Amazingly our itenarary fell into place with no mishaps!  Every experience along the way was such a delightful surprise.

My only trauma was during the last stages of packing when I had to decide if I was going to carry along a stitching project.  Ultimately, my decision was to leave the stitching at home.

I hate the hassle of worrying whether or not my supplies will be confiscated going through security even though I know I can safely take a cutter instead of scissors.

Then there’s the issue of lighting and magnification.  If I’m stitching on 18 count I definitely need my Dazor lamp, and if I’m stitching on 13 count my project is usually too large to conveniently carry on a plane. 

Then regardless of where we stay the lighting in the room is rarely adequate in the evening for stitching.  I do know of avid stitchers who will carry extra bright light bulbs with them and I think that’s a great idea, but not one I’m tempted to try when flying.

Bottom line is that I knew from past travel experiences my husband and I would be busy sightseeing all day and lingering over gourmet meals in the evening so needless to say, my needlepoint stayed home.
I must confess, however, that I had moments of stitching withdrawal.  On several occasions we had long periods of driving through desert scenery, and I knew I could be stitching something! 

Then there were those times when we arrived at our destination earlier than anticipated, and I got to *sit around* relaxing while Dear Husband napped.  Another moment of stitching missed.  The good news is that I got to read during those times, and that’s almost as important to my sanity as stitching.

Now if I could just come to grips with not packing so many shoes when I travel, I might be able to squeeze a project into my suitcase the next time! 

Didn’t get to visit any needlework shops, mostly because our travels took us off the beaten paths.  I did notice there were several in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, but we didn’t get to venture past the airport.

Anyway, now that I’m back, I can get back to stitching in between documenting my 430 photos!

Thinking of Stitching . . .

Caroline

Yes, this where I am on a little family vacation.  It was truly one of those last minute plans, but so happened our cottage was not rented and we grabbed the chance for a little family R&R.

Actually, I perceive it as a stitcher’s retreat!  I had the best time (or the most frustrating depending on how you look at it) deciding what projects to bring along.

Fortunately I’m able to store a suitable floor lamp, but there isn’t space to store a floor stand so that has to be carried along.  I usually carry 2 or 3 bags of projects, but since our time here is limited I decided to restrict myself to what I could pack in one large tote and one small tote for travel time.  Hey, it’s a 6 hour trip and that’s a lot of valuable stitching time–not to mention listening to a recorded book.

Anyway, Frisco Frog was finished by the time we arrived.  Now I’m switching between my Julie Mar frog which is almost finished and my “Princess Puppy” from Sew Much Fun.

Hopefully, everyone is happily stitching and have plenty of supplies to keep busy with while I’m away.

Will be back in the shop on the 11th.

Thinking of Stitching,

Caroline

I’m just finishing up my Frisco Frog which comes from a Julie Pischke design.  This has been fun because it’s small, on 13 count canvas, and not a lot of tedious detail.  I was able to use just a combination of Tent and Mosaic stitch which gave just the right effect.

I was able to match the canvas colors perfectly with Silk and Ivory and will use one strand of a very neutral Watercolour from Caron Collection.

The canvas is designed to fit into one of Julie’s ready made pillows–another nice feature–no worry about finishing.

As usual though, I had to do something different.  I wanted to name the frog “Frisco”. so I just added some basic lettering for the name.

There is a story as to how I came up with the name Frisco Frog. We have a cottage in Frisco, NC on the Outer Banks.  We go down several times a year.

A couple of summers ago, a cute little tree frog decided he liked staying in our cottage.  No matter how many times we tried to remove him to a neighboring tree, he always seemed to find his way back in.

I first discovered “Frisco Frog” hopping from side to side of a toilet bowl.  How he got there I don’t know, but he certainly came as quite a surprise.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline

For those of you who might try to visit my website, I just wanted to let you know that I am revising and updating my site.  It will probably take me a couple of weeks to try to put everything into place, but I think it will be a better site. 

 I will also be able to add a newsletter option which you can opt in or out of.

I also plan to add links that will keep up to date on events in the local area, local places to shop, eat and stay.  I hope to feature the Town of Ashland, Randoplh Macon College, The Quilt Man, and Train Town Hobby Shop.  Ashland, VA may be small, but we are easily accessible from Interstate 95 as you make your to or from Kings Dominion, Williamsburg, Charlottesville, and even our historic capital of Richmond, Va.

Hope everyone is having a safe and fun summertime.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline

What could be better than stitching something red, white, and blue!

I recently finished a Lizzie Kate punchneedle project that is perfect for the 4th of July.  It’s just really summery.

Then I got thinking about an Alice Peterson canvas I have in the shop in red, white and blue with a birdhouse as the central motif.  It’s kind of a brick red with a heart in the middle, and the border is a wonderful checkerboard (which begs for some decorative stitches)  Naturally there’s a star in each corner! 

Think it’s posted on my on-line shop.  It’s 4th of July perfect, but would certainly be a patriotic touch all year round, especially if you’re a bird lover!

Well, we’re debating whether or not to take our Bassets, Bennie and Billie to participate in the Basset Brigade in Ashland’s parade today.  Guess I’d better go see what the hounds want to do.  They’ll probably want to see their fellow hounds and show off their sniffing skills.

Happy 4th to all

and Happy Stitching, too!

Caroline

If you are not acquainted with Janet Perry, Janet is a leading writer of stitch guides for over 20 nationally known needlepoint designers.Her stitch guides are published under the name of Napa Needlepoint, not a surprising name since Janet lives in the Napa Valley region of California.

Janet is also author of the popular newsletter, Nuts About Needlepoint and highly informative blog at www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com.

Now, let’s learn more about Janet and her Bargello passion!

Janet, since ordering your book, Bargello Revisited, for my shop I’ve been anxious to ask you a few questions and want to thank you taking the time to answer them.

Caroline asks: How did you  become interested in Bargello and what was it that appealed to you?

Janet answers:  Being almost entirely self-taught as a stitcher, I relied greatly on my LNS(local needlework shop). Never mind that I was a good 20+ years younger than any other customer. My Mom indulged me by taking me there and one day I saw this glorious book on Bargello. I had to have it.  I bought canvas and wool and started stitching.  I loved it so much I wanted to do a set of dining rooms chairs (in fact I still do).

Caroline asks:  Why do you think there is a renewed interest in Bargello?

Janet answers: Bargello so easy to do.  It is less expensive than many other kinds of needlepoint and the results look really good right from the beginning.  Most experienced stitchers don’t like to be reminded of their first needlepoint, it looks so bad; but your first Bargello will look pretty good, and that’s wonderful positive reinforcement.

Caroline asks:  If  a needlepointer has only done Tent  or Basketweave Stitch, is Bargello much more difficult?

Janet answers: Bargello is much easier than Basketweave, which can be hard to learn.  I think it’s easier than Tent, but you need to think in terms of holes and threads, not intersections, since the stitches are straight.

Now if you know how to do Brick Stitch. Bargello is the same stitch, just longer and grouped differently.

Caroline asks:  Is Bargello as functional as basketweave or is it better used as a decorative stitch?

Janet answers: Bargello is functional to some extent.  You can’t use it for places which get lots of wear. it would be a disaster for kitchen chairs, but it certainly would be suitable for those occasionally used dining room chairs.

Janet, I think we’ve all wanted to needlepoint dining room chair seats at one point of our stitching careers. I gave up on the endeavor a long time ago, but I did actually complete one chair seat in Bargello a number of years ago and actually won a ribbon at the Woodlawn Needlework exhibit for it.

Thinking about that chair seat, it now resides in my shop.  It had *lived* in my living room next to my fireplace until we had a chimney fire many years back.  Once my children were safely out of the house, I went back to rescue my needlepoint and my Bargello chair escaped with only one hardly noticeable singe spot! 

Going back to the topic of Bargello being functional, you have some great tips in your book about selecting threads based on the type of use for your project. 

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline and Janet

Bargello is definitely making a comeback as witnessed by the number of new Bargello books and charts on the market today.  I have added a number of new and older books to my book section of the shop.

The book I would like to review today is Bargello Revisited by Janet Perry.  This is an excellent resource for stitchers of all levels, including the newcomer to Bargello.  This book is not just a compliation of traditional patterns, it includes over 30 projects with templates, thread suggestions, and ideas for finishing.  There is a color picture of every project with detailed instructions including where to start, how to compensate, and how to add special touches.

Bargello Revisted begins with a section on needlepoint techniques as it relates to Bargello.  The next section discusses typical problems and how to avoid them.  There is also useful information about selecting threads keeping in mind the wide range of choices available for today’s stitcher.

My favorite section of this book is on colors and color schemes.  Janet offers a wealth of tips for those who are timid about making their own color selections and how to make adaptations based on your personal color preferences, clothing and home decor.

Reference and contact information is included regarding supplies used, as well as a great bibliography for related Bargello books.

After working with Janet’s book, you, too, will be saying (and I quote Janet), “I Bargello, do you?”!

Reviewed by Caroline

June 18, 2008