Needlepoint Now! Meet the ever so charming and delightful Elizabeth, owner, editor, publisher, graphic artist, photographer and the driving force behind the magazine. Yes she will be here in person! Tell her in person how much you love the magazine…she never gets tired of hearing that, trust me.

So mark your calendars and make sure you don’t miss this. You don’t need to be a member of our guild to attend…just RSVP please and maybe before the night is over, you will become a member! It is a very exciting time for The San Diego ANG Guild, starting off with Elizabeth’s visit next month to Barbara Elmore teaching her wonderful Sparkles class in early May as she works the national circuit, to Margaret Bending teaching an exciting charted piece for us later in June and all winding up with San Diego being the host chapter for the American Needlepoint Guild Seminar in Anaheim, California this year.

Elizabeth has a short visit here and of course we will try to cram in all the must do things. A great dinner in one of the wonderful “which one do I select” restaurants, breakfast at The Cottage, some stash enhancement from the many needlework shops in the area, a little retail therapy… well she does need a little memento of her trip here doesn’t she? and whatever else we can cram into a short day. I wish Elizabeth could stay here longer, but she’s got a new issue of the magazine to ready for the printers. In case you don’t know it, she works very hard and many long hours. But when you love what your doing, you don’t notice the hours?

So please join us. We would love to pack the room and give Elizabeth a wonderful welcome to America’s Finest City!

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood yesterday…sorry don’t mean to rub it in to all the snow, cold and winter laden areas. Sylvester was enjoying some fresh air

and AlleyCat was wondering where is the birdie?

I know I heard one! and until next time…keep on stitching

I shared this canvas with you just a few days ago…Right? Canvas by Needle Deeva. And no I didn’t just stitch this in a few days!

and here it is stitched! So this little birdie told me that he is happy that he (or she as the case may be) is winging his way to the finishers to be ready for our class at Destination Dallas! Hopefully the finishers magic will turn it into exactly what I have envisioned!

When I begin stitching a new piece I always, or almost always start with the area or areas that I am absolutely positive about how I will stitch it, the easiest, the areas that need not much thought or decisions. This gives me the time to study the other parts and think of what I might want to do. Well I knew that I wanted to bead the pumpkin. Believe it or not for this small canvas of the bird, there was a whole lot of reverse stitching going on!

Okay the beading was done and onto basketweave the background behind the pumpkin. Easy enough? Easier said than done! Well I first stitched it with a #8 Kreinik, but it didn’t cover the canvas the way I would like…so out it came. A little piece of green for the stem…dug through my stash and came out with something that I thought was just right. Well it wasn’t and out it came. Whew, well at least the wing was done!

Now it’s time to stitch the body of the bird. The diamond ray stitch that I stitched the body was uneventful (no reverse stitching!) but it will probably be mostly covered up by the wing. The rest of the bird’s body moved along until I got to the tail feathers, but I would worry about that later. I did redo the French Knots in the lower orange colored tail section as I originally tried to use the same Kreinik from the wing, but it wasn’t showing up…so onto the hunt and search mission for a better color.

I originally stitched the face in interlocking Gobelin, turning the canvas so that the stitches would move the same way that a birds feather’s would go. When the canvas was turned back to its normal orientation, I didn’t like the way it looked. So out it came. Gosh I could have stitched 2 birds by now!

Now I was agonizing how to stitch the tail feathers! what was I to do with that area? I kept thinking and looking at threads and then… then Elizabeth of Needlepoint Now fame suggested to me “why don’t you use some feathers?” wow is she brilliant or what? Hopefully the feathers will come through the finishing process just purr~fectly! You know needlepoint is all about sharing ideas, threads and stitches.

So if you are coming to Destination Dallas and just need to take a class…why don’t you sign up for it? I would love to have you join us. If you are not in the class taking mood, well just stop by the Needle Deeva room to visit with the Pumpkin Bird!

AlleyCat, well what can I say? she is being an AlleyCat! Thought she wanted out until she heard a strange noise and quickly ran to the door as she meows, let me in! let me in! and until next time…keep on stitching

or is it red? I think the luck of the Irish is with me as I stitch and bead and stitch and…well I think that you get the idea. No reverse stitching and making great progress. What could be better than that?

I am working on the Keep Calm and Love Dogs. Canvas by Unique New Zealand which needs to be ready for me to take to Destination Dallas. The most wonderful cash and carry market that is just a short month away! I love the intimacy of the cash and carry markets and getting to spend quality time with the buyers and the other exhibitors. It is like being home and seeing family! The staff at the hotel is wonderful and then…then the restaurants that we have discovered and fallen in love with, and we anxiously await our return visits. Risè, Tilman’s, Bogati’s, Pappa’s Steak House and that Cuban place that Raymond has taken us to, just to mention a few.

Okay so I digress…and back to the stitching! I am doing this the same as I did the Keep Calm and Love Cats, by beading 2 of the words and doing the other 2 words in French Knots. The paw print is stitched in basketweave and now I am working on the background. I have a little special something in mind for this as I remember something Wendy Harwood (we miss you!) told me “Give ’em something that they don’t expect!” yes Wendy I think of you often and Missy and I were just talking about you the other day. Did you hear us?

Speaking of beading, I have also been sneaking in a little time on this…

I have been beading the letters, each and every one double stitched and nice and tight so that they stand up straight. The thread ended at each letter and not dragged across the back of the canvas.

I have been using my Bead Buddie by The Elizabeth Turner Collection. There is a magnet attached to the bottom of that Bead Buddie which with that I can attach it to my canvas while working on my stand and have the beads close to where I am stitching. There is a little sticky pad there that also keeps the beads from spilling all over the place. I have discovered it is best to put the cover back on when taking the Bead Buddie off the canvas and putting it back on. The force of the magnets can make the beads jump right out if it!

Also I have been using the size 0 beading thread as Meredith suggests. Wow! she is right that size really does makes a difference. It is a thinner beading thread than what I have been using. I wondered why at times I would struggle with the beading thread…well it was too heavy! I am thrilled with the results of using this thinner beading thread. My plan is to bead the lotus flower, I have a purr~fect color of Bijoux Glints for the putty colored background…but just the right thread for the Buddha still eludes me. I know it is out there somewhere, I just haven’t found it yet.

I have been working hard all week…magazine work, stitching, working on stitch guides and more stitching

Sylvester was giving me the big yawn yesterday as he is meowing “why did you disturb my sleep?” and until next time…keep on stitching

Believe it or not today is the Vernal Equinox or the First Day of Spring! Well that’s what the calendar is telling me. The equinox means equal parts daylight and darkness and the vernal equinox welcomes warmer temperatures, longer days and saying goodbye to winter.

The cherry blossoms will be blooming soon and in just a few short weeks Passover, Easter and baseball will be here. But what is all this white stuff that I am seeing on the news? What is going on? I think Mother Nature is confused!

The Flower Fields of Carlsbad is a sign for us here in Southern California that spring is really here. A result of over 90 years of cultivation and propigation that brings the most breathtaking views year after year.

50 acres of extrodinary color in bloom of ranunculous flowers overlooking the ocean. It really is a wonderful site to see! I need to make time over the next few weeks to go and smell the flowers.

If you read the blog on Monday, you might remember that I was talking about the swallows return to Capistrano. Yesterday on the news they were talking about the swallows coming home to nest. It was said that there haven’t been so many swallows returning to the mission lately, but rather to the surrounding areas. The thought is that about 15 years ago when the mission was being restored, their nests were removed and relocated. Well the birds were confused and now when they come back they sort of scatter to the surrounding areas. Ornithologists and scientists have been called in to encourage the swallows by mimicking their mating calls and sounds to lure them back to Capistrano and especially to the mission. I learn something new every day!

I have been getting lots of stitching done this week…so stop on by this weekend to see what I have been up too!

AlleyCat was getting out of the way of the vacuum yesterday. and until next time…keep on stitching

Well tomorrow that is…

The miracle of the “Swallows” of Capistrano takes place each year at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, on March 19th, St. Joseph’s Day. This is something that has always fascinated me, ever since I was a little kid.

As the little birds wing their way back to the most famous Mission in California, the village of San Juan Capistrano takes on a fiesta air and the visitors from all parts of the world, and all walks of life, gather in great numbers to witness the “miracle” of the return of the swallows.

Each year the “Scout Swallows” precede the main flock by a few days and it seems to be their chief duty to clear the way for the main flock to arrive at the “Old Mission” of Capistrano.

With the arrival of early dawn on St. Joseph’s Day, the little birds begin to arrive and begin rebuilding their mud nests, which are clinging to the ruins of the old stone church of San Juan Capistrano. The arches of the two story, high vaulted Chapel were left bare and exposed, as the roof collapsed during the earthquake of 1812.

This Chapel, said to be the largest and most ornate in any of the missions, now has a more humble destiny–that of housing the birds that St. Francis loved so well.

After the summer spent within the sheltered walls of the Old Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the swallows take flight again, and on the Day of San Juan, October 23, they leave after circling the Mission bidding farewell to the “JEWEL OF ALL MISSIONS” San Juan Capistrano, California.

I was really going to share some stitching with you today as it has been awhile hasn’t it? But I remembered that tomorrow is March 19th, the Feast of St Joseph. This is the day that the swallows are supposed to return to Capistrano, the Mission at San Juan Capistrano that is. How they know it is time, I have no idea whatsoever. I just figure that they are smarter than I.

I have been to the Mission at San Juan Capistrano on March 19th more than once. And really you might see a few birds, which I believe are the harbingers of spring. The festivities are wonderful, very colorful in both the traditional clothing and the mariachi music. The food is delight and so many people come to San Juan Capistrano on this special day.

Not this year for me…too much work to do!

Everybody’s a little Irish today! Even Mooch…and make sure you check out today’s strip

yes even AlleyCat…

look at this beautiful selection of crystals and bi-cones and beads…oh my!

Just maybe, maybe the luck of the Irish is with me as I was inspired and am so close to being finished with my NeedleDeeva Pumpkin Bird. That is the piece that I am teaching at the Destination Dallas Market which is just a little more than a month away.

When the finisher works their magic, the pumpkin face is the wing and will be superimposed or appliqued onto the bird’s body. Speaking of the finisher, this has to go out tomorrow! I wrote the stitch guide last night and it will just need to have the stitches added and create a cover page. I always prefer to write the guide before I send it off for finishing.

A Food & Wine recipe I saw this week, Guinness ice cream served with salty milk covered pretzels! Make mine a double, please.

Of course I am going to have an Irish cat! Would you expcect anything less? a piece of Kerry glass that I bought years ago. and until next time…keep on stitching

Did you know that? well thanks to the wonderful world of Facebook and my “likes” I read about it!

Now my sister is the quilter, not moi. I love to needlepoint, I can spend hours and hours beading, stitching and whatever, but I don’t sew. It just never happened for me. Many of my needlepointing friends quilt too. Just like needlepointers, quilters have a stash, they have UFO’s, there is sit and stitch, retreats, sleepovers and all that good stuff. And they have shop hops…we need that in needlepoint too.

This one of the latest of my sisters masterpieces. The pattern is called “Labyrinth” and was my birthday present that arrived awhile back. So you are saying “well what took you so long to get it on your bed?” Well I had to do some deep spring cleaning before I would even think about putting it on the bed. I wanted to finish straightening and organizing the “stash” and I wasn’t even going to think about having boxes and stuff all over this new beautiful quilt.

The stash is about as organized as its going be for now and then next on the agenda was moving all the furniture, dusting and all that kind of spring cleaning stuff.  Vacuuming…and you know that saying that you could make another cat with the hair that you get up off the rug? well I think that I could have made 2!

It looks pretty wonderful doesn’t it? I might add I agonized over just the right color to purchase for the bedskirt and my sister approves of what I selected~whew!

Now I have even another new quilt to share with you…

This was my Christmas present and is called “50 Shades of Grey Kittens”

They are too cute! and I love all these kitties watching the movies and eating popcorn. You know Sylvester loves popcorn! This quilt sometimes lives on the couch with me as it makes for good catnaps.

I am pretty lucky to have such a wonderful sister who spoils me with these beautiful quilts! I love them lots, but of course I love her more…

AlleyCat wasted absolutely no time settling in for a nap! and until next time…keep on stitching

Do you recognize this? I know that some of you do. Or should I ask do you know what this is? Remember I said it is a test.

Now if you order needlepoint related stuff from that magical shop on the East Coast with the green walls, this is the envelope that your goodies come in. Beautifully wrapped and purr~fectly presented. Okay, now that I have your attention,  just what am I ordering from Bedecked and Beadazzled?

I started this canvas last year. I love, love, love this canvas…did I say love enough? I took lots and lots of classes, but parts of it just didn’t set my heart on fire. My deepest apologies to all the teachers that shared such wonderful ideas…but somethings I loved and others just weren’t speaking to me.

In my classes we talked about stitching the cat in Burmilana, in silks, in interlocking Gobelin, in tent stitch and in long and short. Never could make up my mind. Never really did work on it much and then…

Ruth of that Bedecked and Beadazzled fame announced that she was doing it as a mystery project. Wow that was purr~fect! so of course I had to sign up and wait with baited breath to see what Ruth would do. I thought well while I am waiting I could go ahead and stitch the cat, you know sort of get a jump on things, then I thought no. I should wait and see what Ruth does… I am sure glad that I did!

The first lesson arrived and just look at this! It is like getting a present with its wonderful presentation, the custom snap tray, the magnet, the wrapping, the entire look. It makes you feel ooh so very special when you see this.

Ruth you are brilliant! I see Bastet as a statue and of course she would be beaded! and the hieroglyphics for the background…it couldn’t be better. If you follow the link above, you will see what has been done so far on the canvas.

Now of course I wait with anticipation for your next idea to be revealed this weekend. I have a few stitching things ahead of this that have to be done and then I am going to dedicate allot of stitching time to this. I look foward to spending lots of time with Bastet!

Now if you just have to jump in and join in on the fun, it’s not too late to call Ruth and say I’m in. The more, the merrier!

AlleyCat was hard at work supervising me watering my plants. Ooh she has such a tough job! or is she modeling for Bastet? and until next time…keep on stitching

you’d seen all the new stuff from the Winter Market…guess what? well I do have some more up my sleeve yet! I was organizing some of my pictures and well… you know look what I found?

A few new canvases by Danji Designs. Aren’t these wonderful? I myself would love to stitch these swans. Someday when I have lots of time! ooh please don’t laugh…

I am sure by now you have seen these 2 Melissa Shirley Canvases…

My favorites of her new ones are these two…

Okay just add these 2 to my would love to have time to stitch list!

A new stocking cuff by Kelly Clark, Forest & Cranberry Cuff. I could see this done with lots and lots of beads!

Or how about a new Halloweenie? Meet Ratt Z. Witch or

Grimm. Pretty spooky looking these 2!

What about Raggedy Ann and Andy from Sew Much Fun?

Look at this from Sundance, beads and sequins and Sparkles…oh my! This would make a great project for your ANG Guild. See we are lucky here as we have Cassie, owner of Sundance and designer of this “Dazzling Delights” who lives here in town to teach us!

I have been getting the spring cleaning bug as I straighten, organize and really work on my stash closet and my bedroom. Yesterday was a day of much needed running errands and driving all around town…but with the beautiful weather that we have been having, it was great being outside. Today is a serious work day as I absolutely have to, well to me I absolutely have to, finish the stitch guide for Raymond for the Trick or Treat piece. After several comments on Facebook the other day, I am thinking that I want to redo a few of the charts, well make them just a little better. Then I have some new threads to try out and review for Needlepoint Now. A tough job, but someone has to do it!

AlleyCat is showing off her favorite color! and until next time…keep on stitching

OMG! I’ve lost my mind…and please whatever you do, please don’t tell Sylvester and AlleyCat as there will be no living with them.

At the TNNA Winter Market, I had a wonderful conversation with Brenda and Cheryl, you know the girls from Unique New Zealand. The canvas designers that started the Keep Calm canvas craze out there. They were thrilled with what I had done with my Keep Calm and Love Cats and wanted to know if I could do something with this canvas for the Dallas Market. Sure! I love a challenge. I’ve really lost my mind.

While I was walking around with the canvas on the show floor, dog parents would say “well I would stitch that, but it doesn’t have my dog on it” You know I learned from Doug Kreinik years ago that cat people will stitch anything with a cat on it, but dog people want their dog! We brainstormed with Elizabeth of Needlepoint Now and she repainted the canvas for us. Elizabeth, this inquiring mind is wondering …”which of the poodles gave you this paw print?”

So here I am, pulling threads and beads and stitch ideas so that I can stitch away on a canvas that says dogs. Do you think that my cats will ever forgive me? The canvas is all worked out in my head and all that is left is the stitching.

I am not sure if Unique New Zealand has this canvas in their line yet…so if your favorite needlepoint shop has any questions, they can get ahold of me. BTW make sure that you check out the March/April issue of Needlepoint Now as there is a wonderful spread in it on the Keep Calm craze.

I had a great day of stitching yesterday while watching the World Baseball Classic. You would’ve thought that it was Game 7 of the World Series! well for USA and Canada it was as it was win or go home.

I thought that I would try and make it up to the kids by having them both share the limelight.

Sylvester was enjoying a little fresh air since it was warm enough to have the door opened and…

AlleyCat was doing a little bird watching. and until next time…keep on stitching

BTW….I really do love dogs! but that is something else that we don’t need to share with the cats.