The last time I was taking a class with my sistah, Meredith at A Stitch in Time in San Marino … she had brought a handful of her newest canvases with her. You know just to tempt us into adding something to our collection.

It is our duty to enhance our stash every so often as we need to keep the shops, the designers, the thread companies, the finishers and lets see who else? in business!

Meredith picked the perfect Pepper Pot silk for me and I dare you to say that fast 5 times! If and when I ever have time to stitch for myself, which I don’t see that happening any time soon…this would be a wonderful basketweave project. I have that funky green, the cats will also be basketweave in black and the white would be a T-stitch with Krienik.

These are the newest thread colors from Planet Earth that I told you about a few weeks ago, but didn’t have any pictures…well here they are!

The Planet Earth silk ribbon comes in 4, 7 and 10mm widths and the latter is a great idea since everyone else is 13mm. Be different… that’s good!

Sylvester is still keeping his eye on me! we had a great night of stitching

and until next time…keep on stitching

You can never have enough threads! These were the new items introduced to market by Access Commodities. You know the distributor that your LNS orders Trebizond, Bijoux and Soie d’Alger from…

I will say it again…you can never ever have enough threads! You know you are home stitching away and you need a Kreinik 005 Black in size #4… you get up and look for it. You have a 12 and an 8 and ooh you find a 4 but its 005C, which is cord. Not going to work.

So I love to have lots of possibilities at home while I’m stitching. You never know when you are going to need some special thread!

New colors of the silk wrapped pearl purl, which one of these days I am going to find the right canvas to use this! The purl is in the small plastic boxes and now they are grouping it with a silk couching thread.

Many of the these threads that you are seeing here are threads to be couched and not necessarily stitched through your canvas.

Now this is what you can do with that silk wrapped pearl purl…isn’t this amazing?

These are silk combinations that are group together in color families. Beautiful colors! and these are threads to stitch with.

All good things must come to an end as this was the end of the show as Meredith of Elizabeth Turner Collection and her amazing crew were breaking down their booth. See ya soon sistah! This is also the end of my pictures from market, but soon enough we will be in Dallas for yet another market with more picture and more adventures.

Sylvester is working hard supurr~vising! and well you know it’s Saturday morning and its time for breakfast at The Cottage and a little retail therapy.

and until next time…keep on stitching

Now that summer is here and soon it will be sultry days and sooner then later the dogs days of summer…it’s time to think cool!

I love this impish cub that is tugging on Mama’s scarf. Too cute! All the canvas today are from Melissa Shirley Designs. These are the last of the new canvases that caught my eye and that I have pictures from the summer market.

If you are thinking that you want to stitch and/or finish things for this holiday season, it is time to get your fingers in high gear. Like objects in your rear view mirror… finishing deadlines are closer than you think!

I love the paw prints in the snow! These are Debbie Mumm Designs for Melissa Shirley…

What a great stocking for the grown-up in your life! If I were to select one for myself, this would be it.

Melissa always has the most wonderful displays of her stitched items. Every night when the show closes she puts all the models away, so that they are out of sight, out of mind… or if they are on loan from a stitcher, those travel back and forth to her room at night!

Everytime I go to Costco, I always look for a cat approved box to carry my stuff in. Since I live within a mile or 2 from there, it is easy for me to stop in once, maybe twice a week. These boxes are a magent for AlleyCat as it takes all of about 27 seconds to get her attention and for her to give us another Kodak moment!

and until next time…keep on stitching

Will it? Will the new items from the summer trade show…will they ever end? well sooner or later, yes! and too what I have to share with you, usually only scratches the surface. It really amazes me as when I see the pictures shared about social medias of new items, more times than not, we all photograph different items.

This canvas is from Ewe & Eye and Friends. If I had time to do any stitching for anybody besides my stitching commitments, I would love, love, love to stitch this for my sister. But sorry my dear sister, the thought is there, but it’s not happening!

another purr~fect canvas from Ewe & Eye and Friends…and of course it caught my attention because of the cat!

This is a Maggie canvas and the game board is by Lisa Krause. It is Shut the Box and is a dice game for 2 or more. Players roll dice to cover (or flip) a set of numbers 1 to 9. The player with the lowest score wins (or the person who manages to close the box)

This is a grouping of beads and bling from the collection, which I purchased at Sample It. Sequins, Swarovski crystals and so much more! A stitching friend of mine is working on a Halloween canvas with a night sky that was stitched with Kreinik…so what do you do with those little white dots? a little star was added using a bead to hold it into place. It came out great!

How about these new bullion needles from Colonial? I haven’t seen them in the shops yet, but these longer needles will be great…and they are blunt tipped too!

Tomorrow is the deciding game for the US to see if we can play with the group of 16 or if we will be sent home. Root on the red, white and blue! and if you thinking about watching any of the game, the fans are the real attraction!

AlleyCat has it tough…what do you think?

and until next time…keep on stitching

yes please join the San Diego American Needlepoint Group as we sit out on our patio and stitch this beautiful piece. A lesson in silk ribbon embroidery in 4 different techniques using Gloriana and River Silks Ribbons.

Beautiful stitches finish off this piece to make it truly a show stopper. Please come and join us and even if you can’t make it, you can order the piece to be sent to you. Don’t miss out on this very special piece. I’ve signed up…now how about you?

This is just a reminder that it’s not too late to sign up! The deadline is July 1rst as we need to have the time to order the threads and assemble the kits. Who would not want a little San Diego patio even if you live somewhere else!

AlleyCat is looking to see if I have a treat for her! (and I think that I need to dust that knife rack. see I told you…I really don’t cook!)

and until next time…keep on stitching

Been watching any of the World Cup Games? Do you know that it is the most watched sporting event in the world? Bigger than Superbowl and NASCAR…seriously!

Food and Wine has come up with 32 Official(ish) Drinks for every country playing in the World Cup… and a few countries have been elimanated already.

See the first round is what they call group play and the team that comes out with the most points in each group after these first 3 games is the winner and they get to move on. Today the US plays their second game and they pulled the card to enter what they call “The Group of Death” or the most difficult opponents.

After group play is completed, it becomes a one and done tournament until there’s a winner! Last time the world champion was Spain, and since they have already been eliminated…they won’t be repeating.

My love for the World Cup Soccer came from working in the restaurant days as all of the guys were avid about the games. I took the time to ask questions and learn, so that we could talk about the plays, the players and much more. Now I still follow it, maybe not as much, but I still do. And I just might find myself down in Little Italy watching one of the games as the World Cup preogresses. Nothing like being there to view the enthusiasm!

So lets root the USA as they take on Portugal. When the World Cup was held in Los Angeles area, I did go to a few games. Nothing like it!

Make sure that you check out the Google Doodles as not only do they change everyday depending on who’s playing… they are animated!

And until next time…keep on stitching

The Summer Solstice is here! It begins June 21rst at 6:51am and is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The most daylight for stitching and the official start of summer! While Googling Summer Solstice, I found many interesting facts and celebrations from years past and many current solstice happenings surrounding this day. For me it will be all needlepoint as I stitch, stitch and stitch some more!

This canvas is by dede and it has always been one of my favorites! Oh what fun with a variety of beads and stitches that I could have! Looks like Belle Soie 3 Alarm Fire to me. If this canvas is too big for you, dede has now done the 4 seasons faces in a much smaller size.

While I’m thinking of summer…

My favorite…lemon ice!

It seems that Mooch and Earl are too!

“Dog owners at many businesses won’t have to leave their furry friends at home Friday, when “Take Your Dog to Work Day” marks its 16th anniversary!

Companies including Procter & Gamble, Amazon and Google are among a few of the big names to welcome pets into the office not just once a year, but every day.

“Having pets in the office boosts morale,” said Julie Franklin, P&G Communications specialist. ”It’s a definite stress-reliever. It makes our employees healthier and calmer, which means they’re much more productive.”

A report released by Wellness Natural Pet Food last week shows that bringing your four-legged friend to the office — cats, too — can actually make you healthier and happier.”

This new canvas is one by Melissa Shirley Designs or how about this canvas by Unique New Zealand?

Bring your dog to work… bring your cat to work…

Bring your cat to work too? are they serious? what are they thinking? even though my cats do come to work with me every day… and yes I normally get a cat in front of the monitor, on my lap top or something like that.

And while we are on the subject of cats… see how quickly I can get onto the subject of cats? I will be teaching Mr. Cat, you remember him?

Mr. Cat, a Pepperberry Design that I stitched and taught at the Summer Trade Show. Lots of different techniques and some easy fun stuff too that made this canvas an enjoyable stitch!

Thanks to Laura Z who always makes my pictures purr~fectly straight. I don’t know how she does it, but I send her the cover shots for my stitch guides and ask her to work her magic, pretty please.

Okay the class will be at Newport Needlepoint in Costa Mesa, CA on Friday July 11th. Why don’t you come join us? It will be lots of fun and if my class was only 2 hours at market, we will definately have plenty of time to get all your questions answered and the sticthes mastered! If you can’t make the class, you know things like work gets in the way, you live too far away and stuff like that, Peggy will be happy to send you one! Just give her a call 949.650.8022

Hope to see you there!

and I am working on Mrs. Cat too! well the border is done, the fish are beaded and I selected a color for her cape…and well that’s as far as I got. Next I will probably do the cauldron, the bats and the background. Not now, maybe next month, and gosh that’s really not that far away.

AlleyCat is being… well an AlleyCat.

and until next time…keep on stitching

there is crying in baseball. Did you ever see the movie with Tom Hanks “A League of Their Own?’ when Tom yells “there’s no crying, there’s no crying in baseall!” Well, for now you are wrong Mr. Hanks.

I am usually a very emotional person and have shed a tear or two these last few days. Along with many other San Diegans, announcers and baseball players as we remember T Gwynn. Today I went downtown and paid my respects, along with hundreds of others.

This statue of Tony Gwynn was commissioned and erected in 2007, the year that he was elected and inducted to The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY…

Notice the brick that has my name on it? I ordered my brick way back and had forgotten how close it was to Tony’s statue. I did rember that it was in the back and did have to look around a little bit.

I have a funny thing to tell you about his induction to The Baseball Hall of Fame. As soon as it was announced, I signed up for a chartered tour to attend his induction cermony. Me and 82,000 other baseball fans. It was quick trip, short and sweet and see I grew up less than an hour from there…but I didn’t tell my family as there was no time to visit and they wouldn’t get it. So I basically snuck in and snuck out, had a wonderful time and memories for a life time!

My sister was coming out the next month for a visit and I did tell her then as I didn’t want anyone else to spill the beans. So her comment was “and why would you have gone to Cooperstown?” and “Mary I said, did you not even look at the front of the newspaper? as with the record crowds of over 82,000… I am sure that it was front page news!”

and I promise next time…back to stitching

I shed a tear or two today along with the entire city of San Diego and the baseball world as Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn entered A Hall of Fame greater than Cooperstown. Gone at the age of 54. WTF, 54? that is all to soon to leave us Tony.

I know this has nothin’ to do at all with needlepoint, and that’s why I call this “Mostly Needlepoint.” If you have been following my blog at all, you know that I am a diehard baseball fan and especially of my home team, The San Diego Padres…even though I swear I am switching alleginace every time that have a lousy season, like this year AGAIN!

I reignited my deep love for baseball watching Tony Gwynn, starting around 1996. That was the year that we did the improbable and swept them Dodgers in the last 3 games of the season to move onto the playoffs… and I have had season tickets every year since. Well excpet for this year as my travel schedule and work schedule just gets in the way of   attending the games, but I don’t miss not a one on TV or the radio.

I remember going to opening day every year with my BFF, Ms. Payne and she would say “I  just love watching Tony Gwynn play!” as did I. His smile, his infectious laugh, his hitting prowess of nailing that 5.5 hole, his love for the game, his love for the city of San Diego and I could go on and on. He owned Maddog Maddux, has accumulated records and stats that will never be broken in our lifetimes…and was such a good person. Never heard a bad word about Tony, never ever.

My best memory of Tony would be the 1998 World Series when he hit that home run off of Boomer Wells in Yankee Stadium…I really thought we were going to win that game. And oh yes, who could forget his pursuit of 3000 hits?

A tweet from earlier this morning.

U can’t live on what u’ve done yesterday. U have to go out and prove yourself again today.” #Tony Gwynn RIP Tony Gwynn. You will be missed more than you know.

I am sure that you are talking hitting right now with Ted Williams…