Santa is done! finished! He is riding in on the Giant Panda to help us celebrate Christmas in July. This canvas is by Brenda Stofft and I worked on it for well over a year with Susan Portra. With her stitch selections and thread choices. When I first started it, I really thought the stitching gods were looking down on me as I really flew along…and then all of a sudden I came to a screeching halt. That was because I so struggled with the original bag that we were trying to create. I didn’t really stitch on it but only when I was with Susan and sort of avoided it when I was home as in my mind I was avoiding my failure of able to get it. Every time I went to class or took privates with Susan I would ask “please start me on this bag again” and every time I would do okay when I was there with her, but when I was home by myself, well that was a whole different story.

Once the stitch for the bag was redesigned the stitching really moved along with few problems. I learned so much from Susan, so much about technique, so much about how to think out your thread and stitch choices. Yes, I could have stitched this canvas on my own, but never ever in a million years would I have thought of the stitches and effects that you see on this canvas. Never ever!

Well the stitching lessons didn’t stop there. I can remember finishing up the last parts of the canvas with Susan as she asked me what kind of frame did I have in mind? Ooh I said that I had picked out a great red frame, but wasn’t sure of the mat color. I thought Susan was going to come out of her skin as she says “are you out of your mind?” Then I got a great education in framing from Susan and from Peggy who is the owner of Newport Needlepoint as they sent me on my way to see Bob the Framer in Santa Ana.

The frame that you see was my first selection as to me it makes me think of a brick stitch. The gold in the frame is a perfect match to the gold on the beads that I used to make the fringe on the blanket. I had selected a dark celadon green mat with a black liner and being pleased with my choices I merrily went on my way. In the meantime Peggy of Newport Needlepoint  fame, where I take my lessons from Susan, went to the framers to check on my selections of frame and mats. Oh no the mat would never do, too dark, too nubby, too many lines, so Peggy scooped up every mat available in that color family and headed back to the shop.

Peggy and Susan sent me on a fabric shopping spree as I scoured the Internet for shops. I was lamenting the fact that it would be great if I was closer to Marlene’s and Britex Fabrics in San Francisco. Maybe a quick trip would be necessary, but a dear friend who works right in Union Square quickly volunteered that she would be my personal shopper. I gave her the numbers of the Needlepoint Inc Silk that it needed to match and off she went! What you see is the final results and the piece is now on its way to San Antonio to be on exhibit at the American Needlepoint Guild Seminar this year. My wish is that it will come back to me graced by a ribbon from the judges.

A special thank you to Susan Portra, Peggy of Newport Needlepoint, Bob the Framer and Kathy my personal shopper. I really can’t thank you all enough…I couldn’t have done it with out you! You will be the first to know if it takes a ribbon. Wish me luck! and Brenda Hart, I haven’t forgotten about you as I have my canvas in mine for the next time I am in your class! and until next time…keep on stitching