I love my Mutts and I just had to share this one with you!

I had a great first day of summer…how about you? I was up and out very early as I went digging around in my storage unit before it got to warm. I was looking for some props that I knew that I had from before from when I decorated the windows at the shop “beachy.” I didn’t want to spend more $$$ if I could find them, which I did, so I am a very happy camper. I love doing the windows and this one will feature the newest Needlepoint Now that will be mailed soon! soon! soon!

Then it was the market, Traders Joe’s, Costco and a haircut and was home by 11am and in time to get lots of work done…laundry, reviews for the magazine and stitch guides.

so I know that you are all waiting for the winner of Jo’s 3rd book and drum role please… and the Google random generator picked out #5, Joan… from numbers 1-14. I wish that I had a book for everyone! Thanks to all for your great comments.

is this life imitating art? or art imitating life?

and until next time…keep on stitching

A new canvas by Raymond Crawford fresh off the painting table! Doesn’t this just scream summer? all of my favorite things, ice cream, watermelon, margaritas, boating, flip-flops and sunshine! Of cours we need a little patriotic touch with the red, white and blue.

The summer solstice begins at 12:38pm on Sunday June 21rst, with lots more hours of sunlight for stitching and baseball. I love summertime, how about you?

A new canvas from market by Pepperberry Designs. I would love, love, love to stitch this one! By lately my stitching time has been greatly diminished…hopefully in a few weeks I can back to my regular schedule. I was in withdrawals for a little while, since my favorite stitching light was under the weather…but thanks to Mr. Bob (who was volunteered by Nancy) I am back in business. I thank you very much!

and the winner of the book? now that I have your attention? Monday! Monday!

Sylvester are we boring you?

and until next time…keep on stitching

I finally did get my preview copy from the published for being in Jo’s book! and I thank you for my book. I always love getting something in the mail or from those that wear those brown shorts…how about you?

Well since I have already purchased my book and I really don’t need two of them, I thought that we would gift it to one of you. So if you leave us a note, it can be to me or to the cats, I will do a drawing for it by the end of the month or when the comments totally taper off. It will be great summer reading, which BTW is right around the corner!

Was I getting the cold shoulder or what?

Good luck to all! and until next time…keep on stitching

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885… read more about it here.

This amazing canvas is a design by the collection! I am sure that your LNS would be happy to order it for you.

This is opening day at Petco Park 2015 as the flag is unfurled… I have seen this ceremony many times and it never gets old!

I am looking foward to June gloom going away. June gloom is the marine layer that is with us every morning and then burns off to blue sunny skies by noonish nornally. The only thing is it has NOT been burning off and it is cloudy and dreary and gloomy all day long and it has been that way for days or is it weeks now? I am tired of it and I want to see sunshine and blue skies!

I haven’t been stitching much these last few weeks and that really needs to change soon. My fingers are itching to pick up a needle and loose myself in my threads and canvas. I still have lots more pictures of stuff from market to share with you…soon! soon!

and until next time…keep on stitching

Fleur de Paris, representing Sandra Gilmore, dede, Trubbey, Sharon G and Machelle Summerville…added another talented artist to its family. Curtis Boehringer and he was there at the TNNA summer market to introduce himself and his new line!

I am sure you have seen his Santas, snowmen and angels out and about. Needlepoint Now had featured 2-3 of his designs over the last few years. Curtis has a memorable design style and I was soon to find out that his personality was just as memorable!

These last 2 were the hits of his show! Deciding which one you want to stitch could be tough.

Meeting Curtis was like finding your long last friend as he made you feel like you’ve known him forever! Look for his canvases in your local needlepoint shop.

Well as you can tell my crack webmaster was able to get me back up and running. Thank you LZ! and also thanks to the host server, which is where the blog lives for your help.

I was able to make my deadlines…well for this week anyway! The stitched piece came off the bars and headed to the finishers, stitch guide written and next I just have a few little pieces to start working on. But for now it’s off to work and with a baseball game tonight against those dreaded Dodgers!

Is AlleyCat looking at a picture of herself? anyhow, how am I supposed to get any work done young lady?

and until next time…keep on stitching

Well the blog is misbehaving today! I imported ALL the pictures to my laptop from market through the last few nights when I wasn’t able to sleep…but now I can’t get not a one to the blog. Not even one of the cats! OMG! what am I to do? well I have to wait for my crack webmaster to take a look see.

So this is as good a time to tell you a little secret. For those of you who knew me way back when, I used to work at The NeedleNook of La Jolla…for years and years and years. I started out stitching for them, then working 1 day a week while I still wore my chef’s jacket and then eventually gave that up and turned to full time at the shop.

Things happen and things evolve and I moved on. For the last 5 years or so I tested the waters as an independent contractor doing lots of things and that’s when mostly needlepoint blog started… My secret is that I am now back home at The NeedleNook of La Jolla and even though I will still continue to write the blog, it might not quite as often. I have been back there for a few months by now and at times, it has been challenging to keep up! and yes I will still continue to work for Needlepoint Now… as I could never leave Elizabeth.

It’s all good… and now to finish up my deadline for the magazine and get it in the mail!

Have forgotten that it was Hug Your Cat day the other day!? I sure hope that the kids forgive me!

AlleyCat doesn’t really like to be hugged…she is like a little kid that pushes you away with her paws. She is very loveable, but solely on her own terms. Now Sylvester is a different story!

Very short and sweet today as I up against some serious deadlines, the house is a mess, the plants need to be watered and I still haven’t totally unpacked yet! so I will see you in a few days.

and until next time…keep on stitching

Some of my favorite canvases from the TNNA Summer Trade Show were these by Purple Palm Designs. I am absolutely in love with the colors. This one is called Desert Gardens.

This is Cindy’s Garden! and the purple background is just stunning…

Desert Lights and again the purples and the blues just really attract the eye…

This is Desert Gems…

Desert Jewels and this is not the best picture that I have taken!

Blue Pots Four and this is one of the newest designs introduced at market…

Blue Pots Three…

Prickly Pear and again not y best picture…

and Leather…

and until next time…keep on stitching

“of National Doughnut Day, or National Donut Day, celebrated in the United States of America, is on the first Friday of June each year, succeeding the Doughnut Day event created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the men and women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I. The holiday celebrates the doughnut (a.k.a. “donut”) – an edible, torus-shaped piece of dough which is deep-fried and sweetened. Many American doughnut stores offer free doughnuts on National Doughnut Day. In 2009, both independent doughnut shops and large national franchises offered free doughnuts in the United States.” 

Co-incidentally I had just taken these pictures at North Market when I was in Columbus! This is across the street from the convention center. Teaching, walking the show floor and shopping, networking, talking and buying is hard work, so a trip across the street is always a must!

It seems as if the cloudy overcast weather followed me from San Diego. I love going across the street to North Market where you can eat your way around while you shop, shop, shop!

Card shopping, is another favorite of mine and it’s just the not the same looking at cards since I visited Whidbey Island and stayed with my dear friend Donnelle…this one’s for you!

Feeding the pig supports local charities and note the mouse peeking out of the chunk of cheese, which hung over the counter at this cheese shop.

Market was wonderful as always and over the next up and coming days, I will have lots of pictures of new canvases and stuff!

and until next time…keep on stitching

The show was awesome as always! I love, love, love…did I say love going to market? To see all the new and wonderful canvases, threads and books.To see all the rock stars of the needlepoint world…and even to meet a new one too. All is so very exciting! Socializing at night with a big girl drink, finding new restaurants (just ask Leigh where they are going!) and visiting a few favorites.

The halls as you walked towards our rooms once inside the convention center made it very welcoming and inviting.

This was my star of the show! a canvas in the making as at the moment this is but just a picture. But isn’t this amazing? artwork by Larry Jones and will be in the collection’s line. Just ask your LNS to order it for you! I know that there is one out there with my name on it.

This was another star of the show for me! My chatelaine that I have been anxiously waiting for and it was so worth the wait. Tony Minieri delivered this to me in person and it is just purr~fect! Tony’s husband Luis makes these one of a kind pieces and you can find more of a selection on Tony’s website. I actually brought a blouse to best show it off… and it worked! Thank you Luis and I really do love, love, love this.

My kids and they are really my true stars. I hope that you missed me as much as I missed you!

and until next time…keep on stitching