Maybe I shouldn’t really say goodbye, but rather until next time as you will always hold a very special place in my heart! Starting with my wonderful evening with Judy & her husband enjoying a fun evening of eating hard crab under the stars on her deck. Savoring every single morsel along with the local artisan beers. A good nights sleep and then off to work in the morning!

Work brought us to the home of Needles and Threads of Ruxton, a darling shop with such a heartbeat. I enjoyed a morning of chatting and working on my latest Pischke Pocket along with the staff gathered around the stitching table. I eyed their selection of wonderful threads, canvases and accessories thinking that I was in heaven! Every customer that entered the shop was greeted by name as Sue and Linda assisted them in selecting just the perfect thread and finishing choices.

The morning time passed every so quickly and after a delicious lunch from the deli a few doors down, class was ready to start! The stitchers and I were gathered round the table as we started on the Needle Deeva Happy Heart which just happens to be my favorite from the group! These hearts are so fun to stitch as they finish up rather quickly, giving you such a sense of accomplishment. The students are all such great stitchers which made teaching the heart such a pleasure. The ribbon roses can be a little challenging and each stitcher needs to get the feel of it the technique their-self. Even though I gave myself a refresher course Tuesday night before the class, it still was a little challenging. I brought some extra River Silk from my stash so we could practice to get it just right! It is such a thrill when the roses come to life and an even bigger thrill when you hear the excitement of “I got it!” Before I knew it, class was over and wishing that we had more time together at the shop…and I thank you all for a delightful day.

It was time to head to the hotel and meet up with the rest of Team Deeva…even though Judy did try to tempt me to a repeat evening of eating crab with them again and it was ooh so very hard to say “no thank you” as my other work awaits me. I love the beginning of the show as it is the same as a blank canvas just waiting for you to start stitching.

The fall TNNA show isn’t really that much about the new canvases and threads, but rather a chance for the shops to add some new and different canavses to their shops. A few designers do have “new, new canvases” such as Amanda Lawford’s newest Santa…isn’t he amazing? Now he needed to be ordered… do you see that amazing owl on his shoulder?

and of course Leigh Designs never dissapoints as she debuts her new series of Skulls and Bones! These are my favorites of the group and I especially love the spider web inside the eye of Miss Barthold. These were ready to be carried away for the exchange of cash…well a check or a credit card would work too!

I did come home with more than I went there with as I showed very little restraint. Well a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do! I will share the new stash with you soon as I still need to unpack and reorganize myself!

AlleyCat is keeping her eye on me and Sylvester went back to sleep on the bed. Even my favorite cartoon characters were trying to enjoy a little crab. and until next time…keep on stitching