The Thanksgivng pieces that I am working on for NeedleDeeva number just a few, including the Pilgrims, the Indians, their homes, the Thanksgiving feast and this, the backdrop.

This is one of the ships that carried the Pilgrims here and it has been designed anchored with Plymouth Rock in the foreground. I thought that it was time to start this piece and the hunt for a few threads began! but first…

I look for stretcher bars in the stash. Sometimes I am lucky and sometimes I need to go shopping. This time I had the right size. I make sure that the canvas is trimmed to the size of the bars as I don’t like the canvas hanging over the bars. It is taped and stapled onto the bars. I don’t do tacks as the stapling is much easier, well for me anyway. Next the thread hunt begins!

Most of the threads I already have as I will stitch the corners the same as I am doing in the smaller pieces. Along with the water, the sand and the bottom greenery will mirror the others. Okay that was easy enough.

Okay the hunt was on to find an overdye for the sky. Easier said than done! This maybe was the 3rd time that I was thread shopping for it. It needs to be just the right color…okay I tried Gloriana, Belle Soie, Waterlillies, Weeks Dye Works, Crescent Colors, well you get the idea. I then looked at ThreadworX, Sampler Threads and the latter was it! I was thrilled that I finally found just the right color. I need a another brown or two for the ship as well as something for the sails. I will experiment with an idea for that, but I will wait to see if it works before I talk about.

For those of you who are curious…just why am I stitching these for the Deeva? well they will be models for her and for a club coming to a shop near you. We are working out all the details and as soon as I have the final word, you will be the first to know!

Well I just happened to be in La Jolla yesterday morning, you know the weekly breakfast at The Cottage and the stash enhancement thing… and it always means a stop in Adelaide’s to say hi to the gang and to see if they had any orchids that were crying my name. I can’t walk by there without stopping in, it draws me like a magnet.

I was lamenting that I had to send one of my very first plants to orchid heaven. It was not in a very good spot, very dark corner with little light so I am sure that had allot to do with its demise. Orchid shopping is like canvas shopping for me now, as I look for a coloration that I love or don’t have. Well this one was calling my name and did come home with me!

I need to finish up my last 2 stitch guides for Needlepoint Now? ooh did I mention that I am headed up there next week? I can’t wait! Work and play and play and work…what can be better than that?

AlleyCat was playing peekaboo with me. and until next time…keep on stitching