This time of the year, I sorta kinda eat, sleep and breathe baseball! Thanks to MLB TV, streaming and Sirius radio, it really feeds my passion.

I took one of those tests on Facebook the other day to see how much I paid attention to what was going on in baseball last week…and I got all the questions right. Maybe I do watch too much baseball after all.

I have this magnet from my sistah, Meredith Willett and she said that she added this to her line just for me. I love, love, love it! I need to find a baseball canvas to go with the magnet, what do you think?

I really have been stitching up a storm these days, believe it or not. but what I am working on these days are either class pieces or soon to be in the magazine, so they’re not quite ready for prime time publication.

and while we’re speaking of baseball, or maybe I should say… while I am speaking of baseball… the greatest player ever in baseball! and he definately deserves his own day.

I have tickets for a few games this weekend…and rain delays are something that we don’t usually have to worry about here in San Diego.

and until next time…keep on stitching

What would’ve thunk this without Google? I spend a fair amount of time on the internet, either for work or relaxation… and especially when I can’t get back to sleep in the wee hours of the morning and there is not much on tv.

I came across this and didn’t realize that it was Save the Frogs Day! nor did I know that the population of frogs and other amphibians are disappearing. So why not make people aware of it and have a save the frogs day?

I love, love, love this canvas of Vicki Sawyer for Melissa Shirley Designs…and if I were to have any spare time, I would want to stitch this!

My kids surprised me yesterday when I found them curled up together. Sylvester was sleeping in his favorite spot first and then you know who added to the cat pile! Miracles can and do happen…

and until next time…keep on stitching

This is World Penguin Day! (well actually yesterday?!) Did you know? I didn’t, but I found that fascinating that there is a day dedicated to these great animals. I absolutely love watching penguins as they can be so very entertaining!

“Our flightless, flippered friends of the Southern Hemisphere have just one request today. They ask simply that we express our admiration for them, maybe “ooh and ahh” a bit—oh, yeah, and while we’re at it, just for today, they would like us to not imitate their goofy ever-so-graceful manner of waddling. Also, you know, belly sliding is perfectly normal. Thank you. (Statement made on behalf of the Concerned Penguin Waddlers and Belly Sliders Society of the Southern Hemisphere.)

To that, we here at Britannica can only say that we’ll do our best, and in honor of World Penguin Day, we’ve gathered a selection of photos that may (or may not) support the cause of the Concerned Penguin Waddlers and Belly Sliders Society of the Southern Hemisphere. (For effect, we recommend imagining Morgan Freeman’s voice for narration.)” Thank you to Britannica for this eloquence about penguins.

Pick up a penguin today and stitch one! Now not a real one, but a beautifully painted one… on a canvas such as this from one of my new favorite artists, Scott Church!

Or pick one up and eat one from Burdick Chocolates - “World Penguin Day is a great opportunity to learn about and appreciate one of the few natives of Antarctica. This day coincides with the annual northward migration as theses flightless friends waddle their way to and fro on their journey home.” Well not eating a real one, but a chocolate one from my favorite place to order chocolates from!

So what is the appropriate attire for celebrating? perhaps wearing black and white… and tuxedos would always be nice.

Speaking of tuxedos! and until next time…keep on stitching

 

Take a few blank canvases from the Elizabeth Turner Collection and the appropriate magnet…

Lots of Kreinik, beads, Gloriana silks and Rainbow Gallery threads…

and mix in some creative ideas and you get this!

I always take pictures as I stitch to check for colors, stitches… which consist of raised knots, twisted cording, variations on diagonal beatty created for the count of the canvas, making your own glow-in-the-dark beads and creating 3 colors of beads while still using just 1 bead! Twisted cording…oh yes I did say that already. Create an applique by stitching your “witch is in” sign on a piece of interlock canvas, and why use interlock? Deconstructed Flair and so much more!

Step into these spooky houses at the TNNA Show in Columbus where we will have lots of fun while learning new and exciting techniques! plus all my tips and tricks for the beading that is the envy of most.

and you’ve already seen this guy! Canvas by Pepperberry. Sign up before they are sold out!

AlleyCat loves, loves, loves these cardoard carriers! She shreds them apart, sits on ‘em, sleeps in ‘em and just about everything else that you can think of…making my rug looks like it needs vacuuming most of the time.

Tonight’s a baseball game and tomorrow morning, well it’s Saturday and you know what that means… so I’ll see Sunday morning.

and until next time…keep on stitching

Mooch and Earl wanted to stop by to wish you a Happy Earth Day!

and what better way to celebrate than with Planet Earth silk ribbons! This is the new “Freckles” colorations. Note the F in the numbering sequence. It really looks like it has freckles and this is just another wonderful thread to use in our stitching!

Do something today to help our Planet Earth. Recycle a little more, save a bit more water (especially here in Southern California) recycle those batteries, electronics and more.

Sylvester is wondering why she is sitting on the bag instead of in it?

and until next time…keep on stitching

Do you recognize this? It is the finish line of the Boston Marathon where it will never be just another race again. I was told when I was there last year that they never wash the paint off, that is untill they get ready to repaint for the next race. Be strong Boston and all those marathoners who are bound and determined to finish their unfinished race from 2 years ago.

It is Patriots’ Day today and according to Wikipedia, it is a civic holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775.

It is a day off for those Bostonians and the day that the marathon is run and an early morning baseball game is played at Fenway. I am lucky enough to be home most times now to watch the game.

These are 2 exclusive ornaments from Wellesley Needlepoint and all proceeds are donated to the One Fund Boston. I am sure that Cindy would love to hear from you if you would like to order one! or even two 781 235-2477.

My kids who have to sit in the windowsill and wait for my return, even if it is just to run out to my car or something …and then they meow at the top of their lungs until I get back. Gotta love ‘em!

and until next time…keep on stitching

Everything’s better with Blue Bonnet on it! Do you remember those commercials? Maybe I am dating myself now and am not sure if that was an East Coast thing or not. But it’s true… everything is better with Blue Bonnet

An intimate stitching retreat held in the outer areas of Austin Texas held mid February.

These were our names tags which Mary Alice (or Maryellvis as she is known on Facebook) had these beautiful Shibori flowers made for the faculty.

In between classes you could ride a longhorn steer…

or kiss an alpaca!

These were just some of the classes that were going on…like theJapanese embroidery that was a full house!

Sandy Arthur’s Wizard of Paws was just as full!

Was this a stitching class…or Ironing 101?

More pictures to share yet of our fun, fun, fun weekend.

We celebrated Debbie Steihler’s 60th birthday all weekend long as Mary Alice made a big deal that she was now officially old! With Debbie’s amazing humor about it all, laughter was plentiful.

My old man is in his usuall su~purrvisor role as I am stitching. I am really starting to see his age take a toll on him as he is going on 19. Every day with him is still a blessing…

and until next time…keep on stitching

Sometimes I spend just a little too much time on my Mac between stitch guide writing and working on Needlepoint Now stuff…so a little diversion at times is doing some traveling through cyberspace. It’s amazing just what you can find out there!

I came across Etti~cat a little while ago, who lived on the NYC subway system some 50 years ago. Read about Etti~cat through all the links provided in this article. I found it rather interesting as first I love my cats and almost anything to do with felines and secondly since I am from NY…but you may think it not so interesting and that I am slightly out of my mind!

Well it is Saturday morning, breakfast at The Cottage and a quick stop to look at some threads. I am trying to match a beading thread that I used from my stash on 2 soon to be published stitched pieces. Okay stash is good, but not so good when you can’t FIND that color of beading thread!

Su~purrvisor hard at work!

and until next time…keep on stitching

Sometimes it can be like Christmas here year round! When this unexpected package showed up at my door the other day, I was thinking, what could it be? I hadn’t order anything recently….hmmm.

Well it was a package from Sundance Designs full of wonderful new products! To start is this selection of their new rayon raffia which will be great for baskets and so much more. I remembering buying just plain raffia at Michael’s and stitching with that. Now we have all of these amazing colors and the feel of the rayon I can imagine that it will be easier to work with.

Their new metallic accents. I love the little birds and I can see nestling one into a tree or a group of flowers.

and these new color of beads! I think that I see some Glow-in-the-Dark beads here. I am in heaven with all of my new goodies and I thank you Sundance.

It will be a great day today as I work away on the July/August issue of Needlepoint Now while listening to a baseball game or two. Then it will be out to dinner with Brenda Hart and some of her students…kind of a Friday night standing date when she is in town. We go to one of my most favorite restaurants, The Manhattan in La Jolla, where I usually order the veal chop or maybe it will be Italian tonight. Who knows? It’s just being special being all together.

AlleyCat was being a good girl (by not sitting ON my laptop) as she sat besides me su~purrvising!

and until next time…keep on stitching

It is the Ides of April and Tax Day…and nothing to do with needlepoint today!

Also this is the day that The Titanic sank, the day that Abraham Lincoln died and the day that Major League Baseball honors #42 Jackie Robinson, the first black player that broke into the big leagues.

It seems that AlleyCat thinks I am spending way too much time on the computer!

and until next time…keep on stitching