Did you remember to change your clocks last night? Supposedly we were supposed to get up at 2am to change our clocks?! Not! Can you imagine having to change all of these clocks?

Since I didn’t have to get up to go out of the house and go to work, I really can’t say that I am late.

I used to hate it when in my previous restaurant career, the time for changing your clocks fell on Easter Sunday…as invariably no matter how many times you reminded everybody, somebody was always late!

In case you were wondering, the snippets that you see are part of this Alice in Wonderland collage by Lani. I worked on this with Brenda Hart a few years ago. Not to say that I have stitched much on this lately…

I have been spending some wonderful enjoyable stitching time in front of the tv last few nights while watching some amazing baseball. Baseball? you say it’s too early? But it’s the World Baseball Classic and some great ball is being played between Mexico and USA, Japan and the Netherlands, and so many more. The passion of the fans say in Japan and other points around the globe runs very deep. Great game between US and Italy last night, with Italy being the Cinderella story so far. Today is US vs Canada to see if the US can advance to the next round. You know where I will be with needle and thread in my hand.

AlleyCat is getting in my way…well that is nothing new! Well I guess she just has to lend a helping paw. So when I nudge her ever so gently to relocate herself, she has to give me some mouth. No respect! and until next time…keep on stitching

I teased you with this picture awhile back…remember? A few of you guessed who it was right away and some were very curious as to who’s canvas was hiding under all those threads!

Well this is the canvas! and as always Raymond outdid himself. Don’t you just love it? Well I do and that’s why I say “everybody loves Raymond!” I love stitching for Raymond as there is no pressure, no hurry up and it’s just relaxed and enjoyable.

Well here it is all finished! Lots of Glow in the Dark Threads along with a beading bonanza of different type beads in a variety of beading styles. It was fun to stitch! Now the stitch guide has been a different story. Now I am not even counting in my time for the basic text and making sure I get all the threads accounted for. I have learned to do the thread list as I go along and not wait to the very end! Just a little too easy to forget what color, how many strands, etc. The draft is forwarded to a stitching person who proof reads it and makes me think…did I explain that in the best possible way? Rewriting, tweaking it, drawing stitches and lining everything up and another 20 hours…pfft! I still need to add 2 more stitches and a final check before I get it off to Raymond. So thank you Raymond, thank you for being so very patient!

So if you just gotta have this canvas, give your favorite needlepoint shop or your local needlepoint shop a call and I am sure that they would love to order it for you!

For everybody that has been dealing with the snow this week…I empathize!

Doesn’t this look delish? I wish I knew how they did that!

Remember too, to spring ahead 1 hour tonight! Oh no, does that mean that I lose an hour of stitching time?

Sylvester wasted no time at all to move and until next time…keep on stitching

The winners have been selected by the random number generator, the loot has been lovingly packed as on its way! I sure wish I had something for everybody…I determined your number by the order in which your comment came in.

The Access Commoditoes bag and etc was won by…

Whitney!

The polar bear magnet was won by…

Dee!

The Sundance Bead~N~Go Tray was won by…

Joey!

The Ollie Clips was won by…

Margaret!

And the Bead Buddie by Elizabeth Turner Collection was won by…

Ronnie!

Again I thank you so much for coming to the party. I will look forward to doing this again next year. Thank you too to Sundance, Kirk & Hamilton and Elizabeth Turner Collection for their donations. The other items were purchased by moi.

I did stitch for a few hours last night, beading and French knotting. Is that a word? I am not sure! well if not, I just made knotting a word. Well anyway, I am working on a new canvas for Unique New Zealand for the Dallas Market…you know the ones that started the Keep Calm canvas craze. Stay tuned to the newest Needlepoint Now soon to be in your mailboxes to read all about it!

I am just giving you a little tease for now…

AlleyCat has to lend a helping paw while I try to package your gifts. Or either that she wants her moment in the spotlight? and until next time…keep on stitching

Rainbow Gallery introduced 22 new colors of Petite Silk Lame´ Braid at the last market. You should be seeing this thread in your shops by now. This is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite go to threads when you need just a little something. It adds a bit of sparkle and with so many colors available it is easy to find just the perfect one. Double it and basketweave on 18 mesh canvas for great results. Even doubling it, is just thin enough, thinner than Silk Lame´ for 18 and it is wonderful. Colors such as Antique Gold, Wild Rose, Blue Jeans and so many more! BTW where do they come up with these thread names?

More colors of Silk Lame´ Braid, these for 18 mesh. I especially like that one on the top, SL134 Misty Lilac. I will be on the lookout for just that right canvas that this will work with. Do you know that if this Silk Lame´ Braid for 18 is a little too bulky for what you are working on, you can thin it down by pulling out a strand of the base thread? Isn’t that a great idea?! Thanks to the brilliant minds at Rainbow Gallery for sharing that with us.

How about 2 new colors Neon Rays Plus, including a Glow in the Dark Orange. Seven additional colors in Fyre Werks Soft Sheen. I am sure hoping that I am going to find just what I need in this array for my new Needle Deeva canvas that I am working on.

This is a new canvas from Needle Deeva that was introduced at market. The little pumpkin face is it’s wing and will be appliqued as so by the finisher. This will be offered as class to the shops who attend Destination Dallas at the end of April. My favorite market of the year! I better get busy as I need to get this finished, write the stitch guide and in to the finishers very soon. At the moment, the tail feathers are just not speaking to me as I struggle with this a bit. Believe it or not I have not picked up a needle the last few nights… nada, zip, zilch!

Thank you to everybody who left the most wonderful blogoversary wishes! I was totally blown away…last year there were but a few, so that I was able to write the names on little pieces of paper and draw from a pile. This year there are way too many, so I am getting high tech and using the random number generator! I thank Jane of Chilly Hollow for being the first to leave a comment and Ronnie for finishing up our blogoversary week. I wrote everybody’s name down in order that your comment came in and noting what you liked. I sure wish that I had something for everybody! So you should see an email from me later today if you are the one of the lucky winners.

Speaking of birds…AlleyCat was totally mesmerized by this big black raven that was tormenting her. She is in the bottom left of the picture talking up a storm to the bird. I don’t think so AlleyCat. and until next time…keep on stitching

If you have been following my blog for a bit, I am sure that you have realized by now that I am a cat person! maybe not a certified bona~fide crazy cat lady, but I am a dedicated cat person.

So….anything, I mean anything at all…well mostly anything with a cat on it is a good thing! How about this needlepoint canvas tape? Needlepoint Nation was having quite a lively discussion on Facebook about canvas tape awhile back…what color, what it would say, etc, etc. Look what Susan from Quail Run in Scottsdale designed for us cat lovers! Thank you Susan and thank you for your generosity. I am sure that if you just gotta have this, that you can give her a call  480-551-1423 and order some for yourself.

Having a cat or cats as this case may be does keep you calm…well most of the time.

Many great friends help feed my passion for all things cats. I stopped into see Bill and Michelle at Needlepoint of La Jolla a few weeks ago…well for some stash enhancement, what else? I eyed this great new cat fob at the counter that will look absolutely purr~fect on a new pair of scissors that was given to me as a gift. Thank you Michelle!

A cat token has been recently added to the Monopoly board!

I love this cat artwork from the Cat Museum of San Francisco. Wouldn’t this be wonderful on a needlepoint canvas?

I am getting “that” look from the 2 of them. Sylvester wants some running water from the faucet to lap up and her royal highness wants fresh dry cat food added to her dish. Yes the cats do get on my counter…I don’t cook much anyway and they know that when I do that they are to stay away! After all those years in the restaurant business, I do know how to properly clean and sanitize from those paw prints from the counters. and until next time…keep on stitching

Here’s Naomie Harris wearing the Oscar dress, designed by Red Carpet Green Dress competition winner Michael Badger, mentored by Vivienne Westwood. Hand embroidered by a Royal School of Needlework team of 22 students, scholars, tutors and the winner himself spending countless hours embroidering this dress.

Did you see this last week on the Red Carpet? Naomie Harris is the new Bond girl! I missed seeing it, but went searching for it on the internet. A what a wonderful world it has opened up to us…

To study at the Royal School of Needlework is on my someday I hope to be able to…What an honor for this young man!

When Fashion meets the Red Carpet and I am totally fascinated with the size of this hand made koma. That is allot of gold!

Meredith explained to us how when working on a large piece like this, that we should cover up around the area that you are working on so as not to get the oil and dirt from our hands on the piece.

Okay my stitching can’t even come close to holding a candle to this amazing embroidery… but many of you have commented how you love, love, love the background stitch on my Keep Calm and Needlepoint. My sistah, Meredith thought it was a good one and I think you agree. We tweaked it slightly from the way it was diagramed in the Stitch Landscapes book…

I used a Kreinik holographic blue along with Planet Earth 6 ply silk Malibu for a purr~fect combination!

I usually don’t like to show my behind the scenes work or backside, but am making an exception! In order to keep all these stitches taut and straight, 1rst of all I started the rows with a very secure pinhead stitch in the border, more like more than one as I don’t want my stitches going anywhere! 2ndly when turning to the next row, I extended down into the margin with a single stitch to keep those stitches straight, count over to where I want to start my next row, take another stitch in the margin and then start my stitching on the canvas.

No I am not going anywhere AlleyCat…but I am sure getting that look of ‘tude, you know attitude? I was just putting the suitcase away! and untill next time…keep on stitching

Have you seen this wonderful new thread called Sparkles? a very new and interesting “embellishment trim” that has so many possibilities…but how to use it? Now that is the million dollar question! These were some of the new colors introduced at the latest TNNA market.

Join the San Diego American Needlepoint Guild for a wonderful day with the ooh so talented Barbara Elmore as she tells us everything we ever wanted to know about Sparkles. She will answer all your questions. Bend it, shape it, shred it, mold it and watch Barbara create interesting and unique effects on your canvas. This is not for every canvas, but every so often you come across that special piece that just screams for something oh very special!

A beautiful venue that is located in La Jolla. There is a refrigerator there to keep your lunch, snacks and beverages chilled while we learn everything we can from Barbara. Join us please, why don’t you? There are a limited number of seats available, so don’t miss out.

I am sorry to say that you really need to be present to take this class as this is one that you need to see what Barabra does. I know that I am really looking forward to it!

Now you didn’t think that for one moment that AlleyCat wasn’t going to get into the act? Surely you jest! and until next time…keep on stitching

Now who doesn’t love a party! I know I do…and when I saw that Ruth, you know that amazing shop with the magical green walls at Bedecked and Beadazzled announce that she was a having a Color Party…well how could I say NO?

Finding that delightful pink envelope in my mailbox the other day just put a smile on my face! Now every month I will get an assortment of threads, beads and whatever themed by color. How would I not know that the first month would be pink? Well I know, well allot of us know that pink is one of Ruth’s favorite colors!

3 Rainbow Gallery Threads, Soie d’Alger, Thread Gatherers Silken Pearl, 4mm Rondells and Miyuki Berry Beads. Some threads I am familiar with and some threads and beads that I have never used…and that is why I signed up for it! Besides between the ooh so reasonable price, the presentation and…

the crossword puzzle based on the thread names…what’s not to love? I wonder where I will find the answers?

Speaking of parties, it seems that everyone is having one! Many of my orchids have been setting up buds over the last few months and they are gradually starting to open. I recently replaced my 16 1/2 year old tv with a new flat screen and was worried that I was going to lose some of my prime orchid real estate. Instead I am able to fit some behind the tv and I think that the orchids are loving that extra warmth!

I have orchids babies too! This one has 3 little plants that have developed and between all of my orchids I have at least a half dozen little plants at last count. I was told that I need to wait till they grow roots, as this one has and then I can pot them. I can grow orchid babies, have my plants re-bloom, but if the bloom stem dies back…I just can’t get a new one to grow!

I just want to thank everybody that has been leaving me the most wonderful compliments and blogoversary wishes. Thank you! Thank you! I sure wish that I had something for each and every one of you. For those that love this polar bear magnet and since I only have one to give you, this is where you can order your very own. Even though I love this magnet paired with the polar bear snow globe, it would look wonderful with this canvas too!

The Sundance Bead~N~Go Bead Trays are also highly coveted. A large contingency of trays were sent to the boutique for the NAN assmbely, but check with The West in Tucson 520-299-1044 Thewestinc@aol.com or Old Town Needlework in Scottsdale 480-990-2270 oldtownneedlework@gmail.com as they are supposed to be getting some soon!

Sylvester I know you want to have a drink of water from the faucet…but you should get out of the sink BEFORE I turn the water on! and until next time…keep on stitching

Yes we are! and it’s not a bead party either…well what’s the party all about? In case you haven’t noticed, mostlyneedlepoint.com 2nd blogoversary came and went! Do you think I forgot all about it? Of course I didn’t and its never too late to have a party. And you get the presents! First we have…

Thank you to Sundance Designs for giving me their new Roll~N~Go Bead tray. It is cleverly made from beading mat material, a little bling added on the corners and a cleverly sewn in ribbon that ties it all together. Place your beads on the mat and bead away. Do you know that the best way to pick up the leftover beads from the mat and get them back in the tube? You just use the cover from the beading tube and slide it along, pour the beads back into the tube and repeat until all the beads are picked up. Or if you still have some more beading to do and don’t want to put your beads away, just roll it up and tie it with the ribbon! Too clever. I must add that this really works best if you work at a table rather than at your stand. I just need to keep the cats from walking through my pile of my beads!

Beads are not included and there is one for the lucky winner and the other one is for me!

The next gift I have for you is an exclusive magnet made for Kirk & Hamilton Designs to co~ordinate with that darling Polar Bear Canvas of theirs. The magnet is not even on the market yet and will only be available from 1 shop! Thanks to Jeremy of Kirk and Hamilton for giving me the magnet…which I promptly lost and then to Needlepoint Now who came to the rescue and quickly replaced it for us. Long story.

How about a Bead Buddie? Meredith is sending me some more…so you would get a brand new one! No beads included…

How about a set of Oli Clips? These are magnetic and slip onto the edge of your canvas!

Last but not least is this project bag from Access Commodities which is great to hold your extra beads, needles or whatever for your project. Along with a needle ID card and a pad of sticky notes.

I want to thank everybody who reads my blog, and those who read faithfully everyday, those who comment and especially those who mention when I don’t include pictures of Sylvester and AlleyCat! Originally when I started the blog, I was going to occasionally add a picture of them, but after so many of you would ask “where are the cats today?” well the rest is history! I love it when someone mentions “hey I read your blog everyday!” and I thank you. AlleyCat and Sylvester thank you too.

So these 5 presents are for you…leave me a comment to be entered in the giveaway and if you really want one thing or the other over another mention that too. I will use some sort of random generator to select the winners. The Bead~N~Go tray, the Polar Bear Magnet, the OliClips, Bead Buddie or the project bag is what you have to choose from. Sorry AlleyCat is not included in the giveaways! I will leave this open until next Wednesday March 6th and announce the winners on Friday March 8th.

Speaking of having a party…AlleyCat is having way too much fun. I was going through my stretcher bars when she got ahold of one and was having her own party. She never ceases to amaze me and entertain me! and until next time…keep on stitching

What a great stitching day! Beautiful blue skies, a purr~fect stitch that Meredith gave me at The Blue Bonnet Studio Time Needle Arts Retreat, spring training baseball on the air and then the Oscars! I though what could be better than that? Well I must admit that I was VERY disappointed with the Oscars and sooner or later I did have to switch the channel…plus by that time I was not in a good zen of stitching, so everything needed to be changed!

I have learned this week that bluebonnet is the Texas state flower and is spelled all in 1 word. But for this stitching getaway that is named after this gorgeous bloom, it is spelled with 2 words. Now why when I lived in Texas a few times and many years ago, that I never noticed the bluebonnets? Maybe I was too young to stop and smell the flowers. Thanks to those that took the time to tell me yesterday that the tree in question on the blog was a Texas Mountian Laurel. Thank you!

This was the spring training facilities in Arizona last week that maybe turned into winter traning instead? Well the snow is gone, the sun is out and the crack of the bat is music to my ears!

It’s finished! The basckground stitch really did go quickly and was quite enjoyable! I love the way it came out…now do I want to have this put on a bag? or do I just want to get it framed? I could start a little area on my walls of Keep Calm canvases now that I have this one and my Keep Calm and Love Cats.

Then wait to you see the next Keep Calm and Love _____ canvas that I have started. You won’t believe it! I can tell you that it has a red background and…well just stay tuned. I am working on this for a model for Unique New Zealand for the Dallas Market.

I also need to get busy for NeedleDeeva and work my class piece for Destination Dallas Market. It is one of her new 3~D birds that will be seen in the next Needlepoint Now. A stitch guide for Raymond and new magazine work has come across my desk. So no more stitching time for me, myself and I. But when I do have a little time again this is what I will be working on again…

This has been in my stash for awhile and have had a million ideas, but never started it. So I am beading the letters with these perfect brown beads and of course using my Bead Buddie from the ELizabeth Turner Collection. Meredith and I sorted through the many colors of bead that I had added to my stash for this.

The Bead Buddie has a magnet on either side that attaches to your canvas and holds it to your canvas. It is lined with a sticky paper, not too sticky now, but just right…and that paper keeps the beads from rolling away. When you are finished, just close the lid and the beads stay in place. I am also beading the lotus flower in a combination of beading stitches and the rest, oh well we shall see!

AlleyCat is working on her suntan! Now how they can search out the smallest area of sunshine is beyond me. and until next time…keep on stitching