There is nothing better than that phone call from your LNS…local needlepoint shop or FNS… favorite needlepoint shop saying “Your finishing is here!” The excitement, the anticipation of seeing it all put together and getting ready to hang on the tree…it is like being a little kid with a present awaiting you. I didn’t get as many ornaments stitched for this year as I would have liked to as my what I need to be stitching took over what I wanted to be stitching!

The flip flops are from Associated Talents, the mitten is a Kelly Clark canvas and the sleepy owl is an Amanda Lawford canvas. Love, love, love…did I say love the way they came out? The talented finishers that are out there can really make all the difference in the end result.

The trees are going up, the decorating is pretty much done and even though I cleaned the house before I decorated, it needs it again! A little vacuuming and some straightening up is on the to do list. The boxes that hold all these treasures need to be put away. Now for me the question is do I want to move them back to storage? or just live with them in the house for the next month? I really don’t live in a very big place and even though they are in the back of the house, you know out of sight, out of mind? I will feel better if they were moved, but I can get allot of stitching in that time. Decisions! decisions!

I ran out of room on my trees, so next year I will need to add yet another ornament tree for my treasures. There is a candy cane tree, a tree just for cat ornaments and the last one covered with more stitched ornaments and ones that I pick up from my travels.

AlleyCat is being an alleycat…getting into stuff and just looking cute!

Then she had to crinkle the paper and make sure that I knew that she was there!

Sylvester was not to be outdone!

and until next time…keep on stitching

A beautiful Christmas tree, southern California style! I have discovered that poinsettias actually do better with cooler temperatures. Even though these are a vibrant red, I love seeing all the colors that are out and about. What color do I want? Red, pink, white or a mixture? Being that poinsettias are really not good for feline tummies, whatever comes home with me will live outside my front door. This is the gorgeous tree that was assembled at one of our outdoor malls for the holidays.

Yes I should have been home working on stitch guides and ordering threads for my up and coming classes at TNNA, but instead I goofed off a bit from working. I needed a thread so I could finish my Keep Calm and Carry On canvas, so while I was out and about I thought that I would enjoy a little retail therapy. I always add a roll or 2 to my holiday gift wrap supply. I probably don’t need any more, but if it is a really special one that talks to me… well I can’t resist!

I think that this would make a great ornament canvas! I love being surrounded by all the Keep Calm…and am fascinated with all the combinations. I wouldn’t mind finding some Keep Calm wrapping paper.

All my boxes of Christmas decorations are out and I will be busy decking the halls. I have some more new finishing to pick up to add to my tree this year! Of course the cats will have a grand time supervising and lending a helping paw.

Does my Christmas Cactus realize that it is not yet Christmas?

Mooch is staying warm in the house while Santa walks Earl. Too cute!

Guess who is up to her old tricks? I knew that coming in and out of the house with the boxes of decorations, that sooner or later she would sneak outside. She can’t go very far, so I just let her be as I don’t want to hurt her with the door. and until next time…keep on stitching

As if you didn’t know it already, today is Cyber Monday…supposedly to be the biggest online shopping day of the year! No wonder why I have been getting so many catalogues in the mail the last few weeks. I do enjoy looking at them and checking out all of the wonders in each and every one. Many are recycled right away as I don’t want to be tempted. I must admit it that I love it when packages are delivered as it feels like Christmas everyday!

It would be a great day to shop with your favorite needlepoint shop today as I am sure that they would love to get a package out to you!

Did you shop small? Well I did and it was a really great reason to go shopping! Somebody commented on Facebook “My husband wants to know if Small Business Saturday shopping is a euphemism for needlework shopping. I married a smart man.”

I supported one of my FNS…that would be favorite needlepoint shop. I added to my stash, a book on blackwork, a thread or two and a magnet…as one can never ever have too many magnets!

Did you go out shopping on Friday? I did not and have not attempted to brave the malls and the big stores on the day after Thanksgiving. I just don’t like to deal with the crowds and struggling to find a parking place.

Did you have a great Thanksgiving? Mine was absolutely wonderful and surely one for the memory books! It looks like Mooch sure enjoyed his Thanksgiving too.

My plans for today are to get all my boxes of Christmas decorations, cards and gift wrap out and start my holiday decorating. Lots of stitching to do and getting my home ready for Santa will be keeping me busy the upcoming days.

The kids are keeping themselves toasty warm in front of the heater that lives by my desk. They are actually touching each other! and until next time…keep on stitching

Happy Thanksgiving to you! My countdown to the big day gives thanks for the fact that I don’t have to work on Thanksgiving! After 30 something years in the restaurant business and cooking 100’s of pounds of turkey, peeling and mashing bags and bags of potatoes, gallons of gravy, baking dozens of pies…well you get the idea. I get to enjoy a wonderful and I know what will be delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out!

I am thankful for that I have so much to be thankful for. I truly am very lucky.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday…the kids and I, Mutts included will be back with you next week.

and until next time…keep on stitching

p.s. I couldn’t resist adding this!

As my countdown to Thanksgiving continues of what I am most grateful for…how could I not dedicate an entire day to the felines in my life?

Their unconditional love, the company that they give, their non stop entertainment that they offer, the wonderment of what will they get into next? So I present to you…

A day in the life of AlleyCat who is always so very entertaining, very lovable, but only on her terms and is forever talking up a storm.

This is the extent of my Thanksgiving decorations. I needed a little something to liven things up after I took down Halloween. It was in part of the boxes that I am slowly going through, it was in the house…so I figured why not? Well its been up for about 3 weeks now and why all of a sudden has a certain person taken such an interest?

I could some little paws come up behind the table. Is she after the turkeys? Are they coming alive? All I could think of that there was a fly or something there that got her attention.

She tried from this angle…

and then from this angle…

and then she thought maybe there is nothing there after all?

okay one more try! well maybe there is really nothing there. Okay AlleyCat, but I had fun watching you!

Sylvester was the smart one as he was dozing on the couch waiting for me to settle in for a day of stitching.

yes I am grateful for my kids. and until next time…keep on stitching

A rainbow can be defined as:

1. An arch of colors formed in the sky in certain circumstances, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun’s light by rain or…
2. Any display of the colors of the spectrum produced by dispersion of light.

According to Wikipedia:

In a “primary rainbow”, the arc shows red on the outer part and violet on the inner side. This rainbow is caused by light being refracted while entering a droplet of water, then reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it.

In a double rainbow, a second arc is seen outside the primary arc, and has the order of its colours reversed, red facing toward the other one, in both rainbows. This second rainbow is caused by light reflecting twice inside water droplets.

I was driving to La Jolla yesterday on a beautiful sun shiny morn and went through a momentary torrential downpour. It was gone as quickly as that and look at the rainbow that appeared! I can see a second rainbow starting to form to the left, very faint but it is there. Can you see it?

Is it true that there is a pot of gold to be found at the end of my rainbow?

Well maybe not gold in the sense that we are thinking of, but I did strike it rich with these beautiful threads! I just happened to be meeting Tony Minieri along with another dear friend for breakfast…so who else is better at picking out these thread combinations? In a matter of about 27 seconds, well maybe a little longer than that Tony had selected these 3 gorgeous colorways for a very special charted design that will be in a future issue of Needlepoint Now.

I think that I am pretty good with color, but when it comes to selecting threads like this I am totally lost. One overdye, a bead, a Kreinik, a stranded silk and a Pepper Pot Silk or a pearl cotton would work. There are just too many choices and I keep going in several different directions. I continue to second guess myself and will keep asking is this right? or should I do this? or that? Well you get the idea!

Well the fun was over and back home to get to work. I spent a few more hours with my Mac and am 99% finished with my charting. I promised that I would have everything ready for the magazine by Monday morning and I never ever want to be the one to hold up the presses! A little nap, a little adult beverage and a little stitching finished off my evening.

My countdown to Thanksgiving continues as I think about what I am most grateful for.

The magazine and my association with Elizabeth and the entire crew of Needlepoint Now. I feel very lucky and extremely fortunate to be one of the lucky ones that gets to work with the magazine. The new friendships that have grown are the best part.

The magazine work also brought around the creation of this blog. I thank each and every one of your every day for reading my blog. The comments that I get to read are frosting on the cake! Meeting you in person and hearing those words “I know you…I read your blog!” is absolutely priceless. AlleyCat and Sylvester thank you too.

and until next time…keep on stitching

Okay my arm was twisted…stay 2 days with Meredith or come home and work? Well what are you thinking my answer would be?

Canvases by Sandra Gilmore, Charlie Harper, Tapestry Fair, Leigh, Maggie, Melissa Shirley and more than one Charlie Harpers were being turned into masterpieces. I love Charlie Harper canvases and have figured they are absolutely the best, the very best…did I say best for canvas enhancement classes.

Look at this Charlie Harper canvas of all these cardinals flying together in a blaze of red. Meredith came up with this awesome stitch that will be for all the birds. So awesome! Some of the details need to be worked out, but Meredith will be back in a few short months just before the winter market in Long Beach. Her classes are already booked, but call and get on the waiting list. Just saying…

See I was there… Elaine snapped this of me while I was in my zen of stitching!

Ooh I think I need a new magnet. One can never ever have too many! These are the ones that Meredith designs…is there nothing that this girl doesn’t do? They make great stocking stuffers, gift exchanges at your guild holiday party or bring ’em back for your stitching friends from your travels.

These are the new Heritage Ornaments by Kelly Clark that are offered exclusively at A Stitch in Time. They are gorgeous! I would love to do these…but just not enough time in my stitching day.

They are beautifully finished and are not heavy at all. They would make such a statement on your tree.

Another beautiful series from Kelly Clark exclusively for A Stitch in Time

They are waiting for baby Jesus to arrive!

I have been working very hard spending way too much time with my Mac. Over a dozen stitch guides written for canvases that I have stitched and charting my little heart out for the January/February 2013 issue of Needlepoint Now. But this morning I am goofing off. Out to breakfast with a few dear friends, a little thread shopping and some retail therapy.

My countdown to Thanksgiving continues as I stop and think about all I have to be grateful for. Mooch is helping me along the way…for those who asked about this wonderful cartoon, you can find him and his cast of characters at Mutts Comics and I have it delivered to my inbox every day.

It has to be illegal! You know this needlepoint stuff is hard work…yes believe it or not. You think I am kidding? Learning all these stitches, selecting just the right threads, beads, bling and Kreinik. Then remembering how to do these stitches? See I did tell you it was hard work!

My travels took me from Tony’s class in Denver to Meredith’s class at A Stitch in Time in San Marino, California as I persue the purr~fect stitch, the ultimate canvas and just the right bead. Well you know one of my favorite bead shops is not far from here.

Meredith is demonstrating how to create a tail by wrapping part of it a la’ Tony’s technique of repousse’, then cutting it so it hangs just like a real tail. Way too cool! I want to say that this is a Patty Paints canvas or is it Patti Mann? I should know!

Elaine was praying to “The Divine Miss M” oh please give me a good stitch! not too hard, just the right threads and drop dead gorgeous! Elaine was working on a Sandra Gilmore canvas. It was great meeting her as we have been Facebook friends for awhile now.

Look at this awesome canvas by Maggie that Carole is working on! Meredith is now coming to A Stitch in Time 2~3 times a year, so you can keep working on a canvas with her.

So back to having way too much fun…it must be illegal! Meredith not only wows you with all of her amazing stitching ideas, she entertains you at the same time. Needlepoint should be about having fun and being in class should be about having even more fun. She was making sure that we were doing just that! You know this mustache thing is having fun with Tony Minieri. I think Meredith wears it well, don’t you?

Yes I was working on my cat canvas again as there was a few areas that were in question. I see that Ruth of Bedecked and Beadazzled is going to use this canvas for a mystery project next year. Maybe I might have to sign up for that and I can combine the best of both. Anyway I think I need that limited edition snap tray that will be created for this canvas. What do you think?

Now our class was on Halloween and let me introduce you to…

Alison, the owner of A Stitch in Time and Dan her husband, who was really into the Halloween spirit. Meredith and Alison were up very early dressing Dan and putting on the makeup. He played the part very well!

My countdown to Thanksgiving continues as I stop and think about all I have to be grateful for. Mooch is helping me along the way…for those who asked about this wonderful cartoon, you can find him and his cast of characters at Mutts Comics and I have it delivered to my inbox every day.

I am thankful for my friends….each and every one of you.

and until next time…keep on stitching

The demise of any stitcher is not having enough light! We are always trying another light, the newest one, the best one, the one that gives us enough extra light to help execute those stitches purr~fectly. Okay now once you find one for the house, what about one that travels with you effortlessly?

I came across this Foldi Light at market earlier this year. It is a slim design, folds up flat and slides into its very own little pouch to make it very easy to travel with. I do love this light! Lightweight in your suitcase or stitching bag, great looking and has gives enough light to work by.

It runs on 3AA batteries which are included with your purchase of the lamp. The best part is that you don’t need to find a screwdriver to change the batteries! Not only does it come with batteries, but also a USB cable to power it with your computer. Now how great is that?

This was me the other morning working away bright and early with not quite enough light to really see what I was doing. The Foldi lives on my desk, well that is when it is not coming to class with me. When I do need a little extra light on the subject, I plug it into the computer and it goes to work! If you just have to have one, I am sure that you can find this at your LNS (local needlepoint shop) or FNS (favorite needlepoint shop)

Another ornament came back from the finishers to add to my tree for this year! A Melissa Shirley Candy Cane in very nontraditional colors. A pale icy green background that I stitched in basketweave and all of the snowflakes are beaded!

I spent the day yesterday just taking care of stuff. You know all that stuff that just piles up and gets the best of you. Plants are watered, orchids taken care of, a little much needed housework.

My countdown to Thanksgiving continues as I stop and think about all I have to be thankful for. Mooch is helping me along the way…for those who asked about this wonderful cartoon, you can find him and his cast of characters at Mutts Comics and I have it delivered to my inbox every day

In light of what the East Coast is going through, I am grateful for the roof over my head and the power delivered to my home. The basics of life that we so take for granted. I can’t even begin to imagine…

Sylvester is waiting foand until next time…keep on stitching

Seriously…what were you thinking? I would like to introduce you to “Dan in the Garden” as the new man in my life. Canvas by NeedleDeeva, stitch guide lovingly written by Tony Minieri and stitching by moi.

Every single flower is designed with a different stitch! There is no way that I could come up with that many different ideas. Even the flowers across the bottom, the one that Tony calls bowling balls all have a different stitch for each and every one of them!

I love the way that this flower came out. Tony charted out a fly stitch that fits purr~fectly into the painted area. A woven picot was added to the center. Lots of bullion knots, Jessica’s, French Knots and beads throughout the canvas will make this a showstopper. I absolutely love what Tony has done with this. You too can have his stitch guide by ordering that directly from him for NeedleDeeva canvas 323G, well that is after you order the canvas from your LNS (local needlepoint shop) or FNS (favorite needlepoint shop)

I was loving stitching on this so much that I am anxious to get back to it! I thought that I would reward myself with stitching a flower in between finishing each cupcake…doesn’t that sound like a great idea? Another cupcake is about ready to come off the bars, so I am sure that I will be working on this very soon!

Have you always wanted to take a class from Tony? Well don’t miss this chance to take a class with Tony times 4… that is a class with the Fab Four. There are less than a dozen spots left, so if you have been hemming and hawing and thinking…I wouldn’t wait much longer. Just saying.

Let me introduce you to the Fab Four; Suzanne Howren, Tony Minieri, Beth Robertson and Meredith Willett. The famous Fab Four will be teaching the Long & Short of Canvas Enhancment at A Stitch in Time in San Marino, California…okay and here is the sign up sheet! You can just sign up for the class, no waiting, no hoping that you will get in, no waiting on pins and needles, no lottery selection…you are in with just a little deposit to hold your spot. Classes will be on August 29, 30, 31 & September 1, 2013.

I have taken this class 3 times and this year will be my 4th! It is a wonderful class, way too much fun, amazing stitches and the most unbelievable ideas for your canvas. Don’t miss out on this as you’ll be sorry.

This is the canvas that the Deeva worked on. You can see that a few of the flowers have been started and they look wonderful! You can order this one too and then order the stitch guide from Tony. This is canvas 321 Turquoise Flowers and you should see what he did for the border…now I took a picture of it, I know I did, I know I did. I am thinking that I will find it sooner or later.

I thought that I would start a countdown to Thanksgiving as I stop and think about all I have to be thankful for. Mooch is going to help me along the way

I am most thankful for my sister, all of my family and for my 4 legged children with fur. and until next time…keep on stitching