This weekend starts the TNNA Winter Trade Show…San Diego is always one of the favorite destinations for the show! Its the weather, its the locale, its the restaurants downtown…

but it has been literally raining cats and dogs this week! But that won’t deter the shopping. We really need the rain to keep this America’s Finest City.

I am headed down to the convention center in a bit as I am taking a class with Kelly Clark and, and, and I have a project for TNNA that I am working on. Will start it before class, work on during our break and finish it up tomorrow as #1 I ran out of room in my car for “stuff” and #2 many of the vendors are bringing me “stuff” tomorrow for display.

okay…gotta go finish packing now

The 12th day of Christmas is celebrated on January 6th and the holidays are already just a memory. The decorations have been packed away, the holiday stitching finished up and already it is time to start exciting new canvases with fun threads and great ideas.

January 6th is also the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men finally completed their trip to see baby Jesus and deliver their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Many people think of the 12 days of Christmas leading up to the holidays, but it is really the 12 days after Christmas! Growing up, we usually took down our decorations on this day, but today my house has long been undecorated!

As I decked the halls this year, I realized that I have no nativity, no creche’ set, no manger, none of that, wether it be a stitched set or something special that was purchased. I really would like to stitch a set for myself, one of these days!

In Italy, on the eve of Januray 6th or the night of January 5th, it would be the day of La Befana, a lovable good witch who brings presents for all the boys and girls.

When Christ was born, The Three kings passed the house of La Befana on the way to Bethelehem to see the Christ child. They invite her to take the journey with them to find the Christ Child. She says she is too busy. Sweeping Constantly.

She goes to sleep and the Christmas star wakes her up. She changes her mind and wishes she went with them.

She goes to find the three kings and angels come and help her fly. She brings her baked gifts to all the good children and looks for the three wise men. To the bad children she brings coal and ashes. Now every year in Italy the good children wait for La Befana, their version of Santa Claus.

Now in New Orleans as they ready for Mardi Gras, it is King Cake that is plentiful during this day. A little treasure is tucked inside and if you are lucky enough to find it, it allows you certain privileges and obligations.

In Mexico it is Dia de Reyes or Day of Kings. When I worked in the restaurant the guys would bring in Rosca de Reyes or King Cake. A sweet bread braided and loaded with fruits and if you were the lucky one to get the little baby hidden in the cake…well you were lucky enough to host the party! As the host or hostess, you are the one to bring the tamales to the party traditionally held February 2nd which is Dia de la Candelaria. This is the day that candles are brought to the church to be blessed. February 2nd is also the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox and if you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and spring training as I am…you know that it is only a few short weeks till pitchers and catchers report! I still need to make the trip east for my first experience with Spring Training. One of these years!

Is this how you feel about New Years resolutions?

I have been asking myself lately… is it “Happy New Year?” or “Happy New Years?” and with or without the apostrophe? however, whatever, I wish us all a healthy and happy new year filled with wonderful stitching adventures, more time to stitch, great canvases, threads, books and must have needlepoint related stitching accessories!

Now that the holidays are over with, it is time to pack up all the festive holiday decoartions, both here at the house and at the shop.

And then…and then…it is time to get ready for TNNA Winter Market that is here in San Diego. I am not teaching this year, so you ask we what do I need to do to get ready? Well Needlepoint Now ships all the magazines et al here to me and that needs to get loaded up in my car…  I am taking an all day class with Kelly Clark on Thursday, so I need to gather my stretcher bars and stitching supplies. And last but not least, TNNA has started doing a “shop display window” and I need to design and set that up. They don’t give you much to work with, so I need to get rather creative with boxes that are wrapped, etc. I am going with a Christmas theme and as I take down the stuff in the shop, some of it will get used there! I have been asking for new Christmas canvases from the designers. Wish me luck that it will look fabulous when I am done!

This is a kitty cat selfie as we went back to sleep on the couch yesterday and enjoyed a very lazy morning…

In just a few days it will be a new year…which you know, so why am I telling you THAT? Wow where has this year gone to already? and we all say the same thing. But really where does the time go to? It slips by all too fast. I normally keep very busy and never let myself waste much time… there is just way too much to be accomplished, too many places to visit, new needlepoint shops to discover, new books, new threads and stitches to fall in love with and new canvases to find. Another stitching venture to relish and ooh just so much more!

I had a wonderful time in NY with family and friends… the cooking, the cookie making, the Feast of the 7 Fishes on Christmas Eve, a lunch out with my sister and a little retail therapy! The snow showed up late for the holidays and made a travel day yesterday very, very, very long day…did I say long? But I am home now with the kitties. Off to the shop in a bit and then we will be closed for the New Year weekend.

My plans for this weekend are ready, which will be stitching the New Year in…how about you? I do need to do a little grocery shopping too, since there is nothing here, seriously!

Many years ago, because of the 4 legged feline residents of the house, well you know after all they do allow me to share their home with the…I stopped putting up a live tree. A lot of it was too if I traveled back East for a White Christmas, I didn’t want to leave a tree alone in the house and especially with the cats! I thought I would try a small live tree. Hmm, not sure about that idea.

Then for a few years I had no tree at all and that just wasn’t right. Well as the years progressed and I started stitching Christmas ornaments, thought I would try an ornament tree. I could mix the stitched pieces in with other ornaments. The collection grew by leaps and bounds and soon I ran out of room, so I bought another and another and yet another.

This is my kitty kat Christmas tree and I hang only cat ornaments on it of stitched and other handmade type ones or purchased. I do like to add one new kitty ornament every year, and this year’s search found 3 new ones to add to the tree! The bottom ornament on the right is one of a cat fish and is definately a favorite.

I’ve stitched kitty mittens, a Gay Ann Kitty heart, cats by Amanda Lawford and a few by Stitch~Its. There are a few special ones on there that were gifts from a group that I did an ornament exchange with. This one is getting full, but of course I can always find room for just one more!

The kitty mask is another standout, along with the cat made from a few wine corks by my neighbor downstairs. Then there is the silver piece that is made in the likeness of a merry go round figurine. The cat is holding a fish in his mouth!

I wish you all a very meowwwy Christmas! and with the hustle and bustle of this week…I will see you next week.

Notice that AlleyCat decided to curl up on my WHITE sweater! I keep telling her that Santa Paws is not going to leave her anything this year.

Dear Santa,

I’ve been a very good girl this year…seriously! The shopping is finished, the packages are wrapped, the cards have been mailed, the stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, the cookies baked, the menus planned, so is it time for me to ask Santa for what I would love, love, love to have you leave under the tree for me?

I would love to take this class with Tony Gerdes! The Wright Kimono which Tony beautifully designed and has been teaching it in numerous locations. Everytime I turn around it is sold out! It is a fab, fab, fabulous piece and wouldn’t you love to take it?

Maybe if you ask Santa, he will grant that wish? I think that as we age, it is more important to find that special gift that you really want, whether you give it to yourself or you ask for it?! If you can’t join us in person, we will be happy to mail it to you so you can stitch it in the comfort of your home. Somebody in class usually takes copious notes, so all the tips and tricks will be shared with you!

Registration will close soon so that Tony can hand draw all of the canvas and ready the threads and gather all that will be needed for class.

And only with the San Diego ANG can you add the purchase of this custom magnet designed just for this class!

Don’t miss out on this special weekend…so ask Santa very nicely. Remember he only comes once a year!

That is my question! will it? Will I have a White Christmas?

It is beautiful, a fresh new snowfall! but after looking at the forecasted weather, I don’t think it’s happening this year…as it’s way too warm!

It seems like Mooch is not thrilled with the thought of snow!

I am wrapped, packed and shipped, cards are mailed and my decorating has been done!

One of my favorite ornaments, a Gay Ann Rogers designs from way back when.

Maybe a little “me” stitching time is in my forecast!

AlleyCat is being a busy body!

Every once in awhile you come across that very special canvas that just speaks to you! and it can speak to you in several different ways…

Do you love the canvas?

Think about the stitching possibilities!

Sandra Gilmore does some of the best faces, look at the detail, look at her blue eyes… and the red hair!

The hearts on that darling green dress!

All of these attributes together make this a very, very special canvas, don’t you think?

But then the canvas has a very special meaning… which you can read all about it on Fleur de Paris’ website

So we have ordered 4 for the shop, as most of the girls want to stitch one! and wait…wait… drum roll pleae… Tony Minieri is working on a stitch guide for it as we speak! So as soon as it’s available and on his website, you will be the first to know! Of course I cannot and would not ever share the stitch guide, you will just have to get your own.

Debbie (as you read about her on Fleur de Paris’s website) is a very special lady and so very, very, very special to all of us in the industry. So ordering a canvas from your favorite needlepoint shop would be a very good thing…. run, don’t walk to you LNS and get one now. Just think; its the holidays and it will make you feel good helping a dear person!

Here’s proof that Christmas miracles do happen… as they are touching!

BTW this was Mostly Needlepoint’s 1001 posts… I wanted to celebrate with a little giveaway…but no time right now.

Well it’s really Saturday, but why not start early? I am sure that you have bought one or two already for your home… a gorgeous blossoming plant with colorful foliage. They used to be just red…but now we have white, pink, coral, mixed variations and even

curled leaves!

Although the plant is native to Mexico, a majority of all the plants are exported from the US. The Aztecs considered them a symbol of purity because of their gorgeous red color. Joel Poinsett, the fiirst US ambassador to Mexico introduced them to the states after discovering them growing on the hillsides while visiting Taxco in the early 1880’s.

But actually the poinsettia can be traced back even further than that. The flower produced a red dye and the sap was known to control fevers, so Montezuma had poinsettias delivered to his home to what is now known as Mexico City.

In Mexico, they are are known as “La Flor de la Nochebuena”-flower of the Holy Night or Christmas Eve. Use of the plant to celebrate Christmas in Mexico dates back to the 17th century. As the legend is told, a young girl had nothing to honor baby Jesus in a procession and an angel tells her that any gift given with love will suffice. She gathers weeds by the roadside to place around the manger, which miraculously transform into the beautiful red starflower we know as the poinsettia.

Of course poinsettias are part of our holiday stitching! This was a canvas designed by Terry Enfield and then became part of the Jane Juell line, but not sure if it still being painted…it is one of my favorite ornaments to hang on my tree!

Are poinsettias poisonous to your kitties? Not really, unless they eat the entire plant! But I usually don’t tempt fate since certian people in this house and not mentioning any names, do chew on a plant or 2 of mine from time to time…so this will live outside my front door.

This was from the January market earlier this year. The so very talented Liz…you know and love her stockings…usually paints a new piece on the show floor during the duration of the show.

you can watch it come to life over the weekend…

and this beautiful poinsettia sure did!

December 12th has been designated as National Poinsettia day as it marked the passing of Joel Poinsett, an American botantist, physician, minister and ambassador to Mexico who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant that he discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina.

This day also honors Paul Ecke, a southern California native who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry. It was his discovery of a technique to propigate these plants that has turned it into a multi million-dollar business!

One of my favorite pictures of Sylvester!