For those of you who get Needlepoint Now magazine…and if you don’t, what are you waiting for? well I digress! This is our featured canvas that we are working on in 3 issues. The 4th of July March; designed by Ashley Dillon of Tapestry Tent and distributed by Susan Roberts. You are thinking Ashley? shouldn’t I be saying Liz? well it is her daughter and it has been a pleasure watching her grow up over the years and it is so true what they say…”the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

The amazing stitch guide is by Susan Portra and there are 5 of us that are stitching it in tandem for the magazine. We email, text and call each other with what we did and what we are doing, while of course following Susan’s guide. Sending pictures back and forth and all that fun stuff that is made so easy through the world of technology that we live in has made this a great project to be involved with.

The current issue takes us through the stitches of the 3 little figures, the drummer boy, the little girl that is in the wagon of firecrackers…or is that a little boy? and is that Betsy Ross?

The feather in his cap and that amazing hair do! and ooh the side of the drum. My canvas has the drum painted differently, so I will just add another twisted cord around the edge of the drum, rather than satin stitch it.

The bonnet is a very fun stitch and gets so many compliments. Oops I think that I see a cat hair on the botton of her dress…and since it is white, I guess I know who it belongs to!

Another twisted cording will be made that will go over her dress and attach to the wagon. Thank you to Susan Portra who helped me many of these areas.

We all happened to be together at the Fab Four class where we really compared notes and handed out the homework for the next issue. Elizabeth is working on the feathers for the bald eagle, Nancy is working on the gray and white feathers, Joanne is doing George… his coat and his hair and I am working on the eagle’s hat and his tummy feathers.

hmmm…just realized that Pat didn’t get any assignment?! Pat how did we miss you?

I stitched his hat and now I am ready to bead the band. Meredith had reminded me about these samples of beading needles that we had gotten at the Summer Market…so I am going to try them. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!

Something really has her attention! you know they just cleaned the outsides of the windows, but being that I probably had them opened, mine didn’t get very clean.

and until next time…keep on stitching