Really it is! I kid you not! Today is the national day to ride your bike to work day. These days I don’t have far enough to go to ride my bike to work, but I love the idea. It is a great way to exercise, diminish the traffic and a way to help the environment by decreasing the emissions.

This new canvas by Melissa Shirley, a Mary Lake Thompson design would be a great way for me to ride my bike to work! I asbsolutely love this and would like to put this on my must need to stitch in this lifetime list. Melissa has introduced 4 of these bicycles to her line, all of  which I could see myself stitching, but this one is my favorite! I think it is the watermelon with that little bird perched on top of it.

The weather has been picture perfect lately in America’s finest city. It has motivated me to spend my days doing some late spring cleaning. Well technically it is still spring, so I am not that late! but with so many college students graduating, I feel like it is really summer already.

My orchids are blooming up a storm and I still need to repot the succulents that I got the other day. They have overgrown the planter that they have been living in for the last few years, so I want to move them to something bigger and plant the smaller ones.

I am in countdown mode already for the Columbus Needlework Market which is just about a month away. I already rummaged through my stash looking for stretcher bars for my classes at market. Am I out of control or what?

I have been stitching the last few nights on my Sharon G’s Cat’s Night Out. This canvas does call for lots of beading too, which I have been enjoying. For me the beading is so relaxing as you don’t have to worry about counting, stripping and laying my threads!

AlleyCat has been quite the spoiled child the last few mornings. She has been sleeping in later than Sylvester & I, so that she is not making an appearance for her breakfast… so when she does decide to get up and stroll into the kitchen, she meows at the top of her lungs as if she is saying “feed me, feed me!” what’s a Mother to do? and until next time…keep on stitching

This is the latest in the Fab Firs Finishing! Now I have enjoyed working on these trees so much that in a way I am sorry to see them come to an end. I have been keeping all of the threads, beads and crystals together in the hopes that the Deeva just might design a few new ones for special occassions. You know maybe one that I can debut and teach at your favorite needlepoint shop…or maybe we can have a stitch~in together on the Mostly Needlepoint blog? Would you like that?

The Fab Fir that you are looking at is called Gingerbread Spice. I love the brown coloration of this one and all the beads! I really did try to stitch one or two with no beads at all, but for some reason that never did happen.

The guides have been signed, sealed and delivered to the studios of The Deeva. The Swarovski crystals have been counted and sent along with the stitch guides. Yes the rest of the crystals did arrive and I had a relaxing break sitting here and counting. It went rather quickly…even though I kept doubting my count as 20 crystals really don’t look like much of anything! I kept saying, well that can’t be 20! I should order some more of them now since it did take about 6 weeks for them to arrive from the Swarovski factories in Austria. I hate waiting to the last minute!

I started stitching again on my Sharon G’s Cats Night Out, but since it’s been awhile since I last worked on it, I had to keep getting up and look for this thread and that thread and then my favorite beading needles. I have also bought some more beads to experiment with, including the new Tila beads along with some 1.5m cubes and triangles. I am going to enjoy a few nights of stitch thinking and trying out some ideas and then it is back to what I need to be stitching for the Deeva and Raymond. Yes I am a bad girl, I haven’t finished that star yet. I think I should just call him and say Raymond, let me just pay you for this canvas.

The cats woke me up bright and early for breakfast, but both of them have now disappeared for their early morning nap. That is not like the both of them to go off into the deepest regions nestling into one of their favorite sleeping spots so early in the morning. No play time, no kitty massages…oh well. There isn’t much on kitty tv yet as the birds are very quiet this morning…not like yesterday!

AlleyCat was again busy supervising as I was replanting some of the succulents that had grown too big for their container! and until next time…keep on stitching

A little stash enhancement could be in the form of a new orchid or two or a canvas or two? They both seem to be multiplying…and as we all know that need and want are not always the one and the same.

This was the orchid that I came home with on Friday from Adelaide’s. I really do like the orchids that have the bigger blooms, but then I saw how many blooms and buds are on this one and had to look twice! I don’t have this coloration yet and I did especially love this pot with the very Asian feel. When you see AlleyCat modeling with that green colored tissue paper that looks so good against her fur, that paper comes home with me from Adelaide’s.

A few canvases added themselves to my stash enhancement. A Stitch in Time was having a sale…and who can pass up a sale? Anyhow, Meredith convinced me that I needed this one to honor my previous career of being a chef. Canvas is by Rebecca Woods.

I could pass up this kitty ornament! Canvas is by Patti Mann. Of course the candy canes are asking to be beaded!

This is to stitch a remembrance that I will be in Phildelphia later this year. Or maybe I will make it into a nametag?! Once upon a time I used to stitch a new nametag for seminar every year. Lately I just haven’t had the time!

The kids decided that they each wanted to get me an orchid! Actually this one came from an orchid farmer that was at a local farmer’s market. I had the pot already and I tied a little ribbon on it…maybe I am ready to strart working at Adelaide’s?

My house is clean, the laundry is done, the plants and orchids have been watered and tended to and have settled into their new spots…one more file to work on for the magazine. And oh did I say all the stitch guides are done? Later today I can start settling in for some serious stitching!

AlleyCat is hard at work supervising! I was getting ready to replant this container with the mini succulents that I had brought home. and until next time…keep on stitching

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! I have just decided that I am going to give myself the weekend off. Mutts is my favorite and this is an oldie but goodie!

Today will start off with a little breakfast at The Cottage and a stroll through Warwick’s for a little retail therapy. Of course when I walk back to my car, I will just happen to pass by Adelaide’s and I cannot walk by there without stopping in. The feline children know that Mother’s Day is approaching and they might want to give me a orchid. I don’t need another orchid, but you know the orchids are just like canvases…what you need and want are not always the same thing!

Tomorrow I am headed up to A Stitch in Time in San Marino to have breakfast with Meredith, you know Meredith from M’s Canvas House? She is teaching her class of the witch’s shoes this weekend. No I am not taking the class, but I can’t pass up a visit with her. I will also stop in at the framers with my Deco Kitty.

Sunday my plans are to go to an arts & crafts festival at that is in my neighborhood. They always have allot of wonderful artisan made treasures to tempt you. There is always a spot that sells some great little succulents as I would like to…well you know.

I will come home and stitch the day away while watching a little baseball, or maybe allot of baseball. Whatever you do, wherever you are, Sylvester, AlleyCat & I hope that you have an absolutely purr~fect Mother’s Day! I know that I am and I will take the weekend off from the blog too! and until next time…keep on stitching

The fun part for me is the stitching…loosing myself in my stitches, beads, Kreiniks and all kinds of threads. I think I do my best stitching especially at this time of the year when I can listen to the melodic voices of the play by play and the color annalists announcing the baseball games. I love baseball and to me it doesn’t matter who’s playing, just as long as there is some game on.

After the stitching is done, the stitch guides need to be written! Well at least for the pieces that I am doing for the Deeva or Raymond or Ruth or Sharon G or whoever else may ask me to stitch for them. Sometimes that is the tedious part and not my fav, you know writing the stitch guides. I keep saying that I need to visit the app store for the iPad and get a word processing program so that I can take notes on the iPad while I am stitching and it will magically go to my computer.

Once upon a time I could remember it all, every little stitch, every thread and number of strands…well just every little nuance about working on that canvas. Well can I say that the memory isn’t that sharp anymore? Or is it that I have took many threads and stitches to remember? Sure that is what I will blame it on!

I have a one more stitch yet to create on Illustrator and press P for print! Soon they will be packed up and on their way to NeedleDeeva so she will be able to fulfill some early orders. I am waiting for one more package of Swarovski crystals to arrive from Austria and wow I started working on these crystal orders as soon as I got back from Dallas which was over a month ago.

My cacti are opening their flowers! I am enjoying watching them come to life, that I am leaving them indoors where I can enjoy them all day long. The blooms don’t last long, maybe a week at the most.

okay is Sylvester meowing? or yawning? either way I caught him in the act! and until next time…keep on stitching

For those of us going to the American Needlepoint Guild Seminar in Philadelphia this year, this was a week of disappointments and a week of highs. Registrations were sent in weeks ago and the wait began to see if you got your classes. The letters arrived this week and I was fortunate enough to get my first choice, which is the 5 day canvas enhancement class with the Fab Four…you know Suzanne Howren, Tony Minieri, Beth Robertson and Meredith Willett. I was thrilled but yet heartbroken when I learn that some people didn’t get anything on their wish list. Did you get your classes?

Okay now for the big decision. Do I want to do this canvas? The gourmet collage by Lani?

or do I want to dig my Tapestry Tent stocking out of the deepest recesses of the closet and finish that? It is the Santa that is holding the Noah’s Ark and has all the natvity figurines as ornaments in the tree. I have a fair amount of it done, but there are areas that have puzzled me and still remain unfinished. Decisions! decisions!

While I am in Philly, I have selected the Pennsylvania Dutch Country tour where I will get to discover the Amish country and a lunch stop for a feast of Pennsylvania Dutch foods including shoo-fly pie. I am sure that there will be some retail therapy along the way too!

Of course I will go a Phillies game and explore the city. I have never been there, so I want to see Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and all that stuff, you know play typical tourist. And a real Philly cheese steak too! There will be all the needlepoint shops to visit, such as Rittenhouse, Fireside and Stitch Haus.

I need to get my Deco Kitty framed for my entry into this year’s exhibit. I will take care of that on Saturday.

All of my work for Needlepoint Now is ready and done! I just need to send the files over to Elizabeth later today. I may have one more project yet though if she was able to get the stitch guide over the weekend. Now I can turn my attention to the stitch guides for the Fab Fir’s.

AlleyCat was working hard supervising me! and until next time…keep on stitching

And yes I dare you to say that fast at least 5 times! This is the last one that I finished and is the favorite of Nancy, the dear sweetheart who has volunteered to proof my stitchguides! To me this was challenging to come up with stitch ideas because of the stripes. The Deeva herself has named this one Southern Yellow Pine.

I was trying to use some more Swarovski crystals in this one, but it just didn’t work. I poured through my stitch books yet again looking for that purr~fect stitch and just nothing was talking to me! Nothing at all…so I counted the squares and the lines and just came up with my own. It worked and it fit and I am thrilled!

These will be available very soon, very soon! The club officially starts in August with NeedleDeeva and ask your shop to order them when they come to the Columbus market in June. If you don’t want to do the club thing, single canvases will be available soon or should I say just as soon as I redo the pictures in the stitch guides, finish writing 4 more guides and get the crystals counted out. The Deeva and I will have the Fab Firs that have been stitched with crystals come to you with the crystals, so you don’t have to worry about finding them!

The cacti are finally blooming and I am thrilled! Between the orchids and the cacti it is like I have fresh flowers all over the house. I just need to stop break the blooms off!

AlleyCat has been Miss Busybody this morning. Doesn’t it look like she is getting sleepy eyed sitting here?

Well she did decide it was nap time. Smart girl! and I think I am going to follow suit and go back to sleep myself. I am not feeling 100%, so I think that I will curl up on the couch with the kids and take a nap. and until next time…keep on stitching

Cinco de Mayo~or the 5th Of May commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory in 1862 over France at the Battle of Pueblo during the Franco~Mexican War. A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, but in the US it has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage… especially in the areas with large Mexican American populations.

Sights and sounds of Cinco de Mayo traditions can include parades, mariachi music and street festivals!

The food! don’t forget the food! Now for me, I love…did I say LOVE?  Mexican food and could probably eat it almost every day. That came from working so many years in the restaurant business  with all of these wonderful cooks when there was always “something” special cooking on the back stove. The use of chilis and the cilantro and all of the flavors that I have grown to know and love. Of course you need a margarita to go with it all!

Today is also Derby Day. That is on my bucket list to see the Kentucky Derby in person some day! They say that it is the hardest race to handicap since there are 20 horses running 1 1/4 mile for the very first time…so just about anything can happen. Especially today where I hear they has been allot of rain, so the track will be very muddy.

In Japan, today is Children’s Day. It is always celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month. The day was originally called Tango no Sekku and it is a day set aside to respect children’s personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was designated a national holiday by the Japanese government in 1948. Tradition says to hang the carp streamers and eat rice cakes. I have always been fascinated with the traditions of Japan.

Now I broke yet another orchid flower! I placed it in this glass and am just waiting to see little paws dipping in the water for a drink or to play with the flower. Now if Felix was still with me, that would have already happened!

So much to do today that when am I going to have time to stitch? AlleyCat is keeping busy watching her kitty tv.  and until next time…keep on stitching

Everybody needs a little stash enhancement every now and then! Besides the new canvas and all these wonderful threads, I bought a bag from In Stitches, you know one of the plastic bags with the shop name on it. My collection is growing!

I also bought a few skeins of the new PepperPot Sik from Planet Earth Fibers. I love the Planet Earth threads, so I should love this too! See I am thinking Christmas colors with the red and green and I can always use some black and white. It is a non strandable silk that feels wonderful to the hands. And this Christmas ornament too!

In case you are wondering why my pictures are so much BIGGER all of a sudden? well ever since Sunday I have been having an absolutely miserable time loading the pictures… did I say miserable? This morning was so difficult that NO pictures were showing up for the show. I am never one that gives up very easily so I played around and figured another way to get the pictures to load. This newer way isn’t giving me a clickable option to size the pictures. Well who knows, maybe we will like this better?

I have been working hard away on drawing the stitches for the July/August issue of Needlepoint Now. I have one more project to do and then a little writing. My stitch guides for the trees are calling me as well as one for this month’s Halloween Heart for Pocket Full of Stitches. I guess I am just a little busy?

I have also been quite the busybody around the house these days. You know I am trying to keep up with that AlleyCat girl. I accidentally broke a bloom stem from one of my orchids, so I put it in some water and will enjoy this way as long as I can!

Speaking of AlleyCat, here she is with Sylvester and they are chillin. and until next time… keep on stitching

The NeedleDeeva Sunflowers & Berries was our class piece, taught to a sold out crowd of anxious stitchers! Robin was wonderful as usual and I always learn so much from her. I must admit too that I am a little partial to the Deeva’s canvases…the colors are so alive and they are always purr~fectly stitch painted!

This is the classroom at In Stitches, which was filled with natural light, lots of room and comfy chairs! We were surrounded by vases of fresh sunflowers, walls of fresh new canvases and threads! did I say threads? OMG! In the classroom we shared the space with Gumnuts, Planet Earth Fibers, Needlepoint Inc Silk, Renaissance Threads, Ribbon Floss, Prescencia Floss, Kreinik, Boucle…okay Bam what am I leaving out? They were about to hang the newest addition to the ever growing thread line, Planet Earth PepperPot Silk. Of course I had to come home with a selection of that! I will share my stash enhancement next blog as I still need to take pictures.

The next room adjacent to the classroomn was the Rainbow Gallery Room, which of course was filled with any Rainbow Gallery thread you could think of! Threads such as Splendor, Fyre Werks, Flair, Panache and many more.

The taping table was a Kodak moment waiting to happen! Between the plates & napkins that fit into the theme of the sunflowers along with the latest issue of Needlepoint Now. The water was placed out for the students.

As you continue to walk through In Stitches, you pass by the High Cotton and a hallway filled with canvases and into the Christmas room. The shop continues to the front room with an inviting place to sit down right next to the trunk show of Tapestry Tent canvases. Bags, snap trays, frame weights and just all the toys that we all love to collect! The last room of threads had just about everything else you could want…Impressions, Silk & Ivory, Overdyes silks, Vineyard Silk, River Silks and so much more. Never have I seen so many threads in one shop!

Ooh Prince Harry, how I miss you! shh, but please don’t tell my Sylvester & AlleyCat that. He loves his spot here on this table. Was it because of the heat from the lamp? or was it that Kreinik & a few skeins of floss that Mom left for his entertainment? and until next time…keep on stitching

p.s. “In Stitches, A Needlepoint Boutique” is located in Atlanta, Georgia