Exactly where have I been? Well pour a cuppa and I tell you! I had just come back from Chicago and the American Needlepoint Guild Seminar, haven’t even gotten all my pictures from my phone to my computer yet…

and it was time to get ready for Destination Dallas. The fall cash and carry show of the needlepoint industry. Cash and carry you ask? Instead of placing orders, you get to take it home with you! Pay with cash, check or credit card and you get to take it back with you to the shop. I remember the good old days, when the show was in Phoenix, we would burn the midnight oil pricing all the canvases so that they were ready to go as soon as we hit the shop!

I see many shops that are advertising “revealing” parties when they will show off the new goodies. What a brilliant idea! The show was wonderful some new, some oldies but goodies and of course some sale items. Busy! Busy! Busy! It was like Christmas in the hallways with the hustle and bustle of all the shoppers and walking around with arms laden down with precious stash. Many designers had sell outs, sold out or taking orders now only!

This first picture was a new canvas by Lani. Melissa Shirley had new as did Leigh, Raymond, Amanda Lawford and so much more!

A technique class taught by Sundance Designs on Saturday night….

This was my class piece, an Amanda Lawford canvas. You may remember this as originally part of the HP line, much bigger and on 13 mesh. Amanda made it smaller and worked it up on 18 mesh. I loved stitching this and it was just one of the many canvases that I stitched on over the summer when I wasn’t sharing much of what I was working on.

Elizabeth of Needlepoint Now reminded me that the stitch guide is going into Needlepoint Now next year! I had forgotten all about it…so be on the lookout for it. Now I just need to get it to the framers.

Right after my class was dinner at Risé n°1 with about 20 hungry show goers! Missy, our social director assembles a group of us every year, and every year more and more join in. She loves it there so much, so would just be happy going there every night!

This was my entree, a lobster souffle and this was just half of it! I split it with Laura and OMG it was delicious! We were there not only to enjoy a wonderful dinner together, but to help celebrate Cassie’s birthday…well you know Cassie even if you don’t realize it, since she is Sundance Design.

This was her birthday selection, bread pudding souffle. Our table shared 3 different choices including this one, Key Lime and blueberry, all which were amazing.

Now you are still wondering where I’ve been? well my router in my house decided that it didn’t want to work anymore, so I couldn’t sign on with my laptop and it just gets more complicated after that. But I am back now! I have lots of stories and adventures yet to share with you.

I remembered in my heart and thoughts that yesterday was 9.11… and yet another reason to mark the sad day, as one more special person enters that wonderful needlepoint place where Beth has saved a spot for her. Margot, one of the owners of It’s A Stitch moved on to a better place. I was able to get to know Margot and her shop partner Linda as we were in the same class at last years Blue Bonnet retreat. I remember exactly what Margot (and Linda too!) were working on. My sympathies to you Linda and all of Margot’s friends and family;( you will be missed.

Just in case you were missing the kids, here they are…Sylvester & AlleyCat on the couch and actually touching! This rarely happens, so maybe AlleyCat is softening up in her old age.

It is supposed to be very hot, hot, hot this weekend as in the triple digits. Oh well and until next time…keep on stitching