You are the first to see my bag! You really are! It has been so tough not sharing this with anybody for ever so long, but I promised Ruth that I would not let anybody see any of it until…until she blogged about it. I know you are saying well that was ages ago, what took you so long? Well the holidays sort of got in the way I would say.

I am really challenged of where in my house can I shoot great pictures of a bag? On the floor so that the rug shows behind it? I even bought a piece of mat board and I don’t like that either. Plus that is an invitation to the cats to come and join the party from all corners of the house. Hanging from the door? One of these years I will figure it out!

I am thinking that this is Kathy’s combination of colors. I love, love, love…did I say love? the colors that were selected for me. The acid green and the Aqua or is it Teal? I was told that one color name was hipper than the other.

You know what fascinates me most about this project? That so many talented women stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. Sorry I needed that baseball reference as Kathy & I are both die hard baseball fanatics. I won’t mention the fact that her team The San Francisco Giants have won The World Series not once, but twice in the last 3 years. Okay I digress…

It was a brilliant idea! Once she came up with this marvelous surprise for us, Kathy contacted Ruth of Bedecked and Beadazzled fame to create the canvas. After the design was approved, well snaptrays and frameweights just had to follow! the embroidery machines with the nimble fingers of Carol Eix programming the design just so were created. Colors were selected and everything was moving along. I never did ask exactly how long this was a work in progress?

The prototype canvas must have been sent to Kathy for stitching as she even had a stitch guide for us! Several floss colors, a Kreinik and some black beads along with hot fix crystals were used to create this piece. I bought everything as suggested as stitched it just as it was written. I questioned a few of the colors and thought well I could better than this from my stash…but then I thought these colors were selected for a reason, so I went with it.

Kathy paid a visit to Marlene, well she does work close by to her shop with a bag in hand that she wanted to use. Marlene said “no! no! no! that will never work! not strong enough, not right! Let me design something for you and the bag was born.”

so the enabling continues…

Okay note to Brenda Hart…yes she is one of the Enablers Anonymous, ya think? I have offered now 2x to stitch your canvas for you. Remember the saying “you snooze, you looze?” so please send it to me and I will happily stitch it for you. I don’t remember where the floss is that I bought, but I will be thrilled to buy it again…only for you. Trust me I have plenty of black beads!

This enabling thing really is something wonderful you know…where would you find such dear friends otherwise? Kathy thank you for your generousity, you humble me. I hope that I can continue live up to my reputation and everytime I use my “stuff” I will think fondly of you. Maybe not of your baseball team, but of you!

if she was only this sweet and innocent all the time. and until next time…keep on stitching

p.s. so sorry Dale

You know who are…and all of us needle pointers, we are enablers! Having the very best of intentions when you tell your dear stitchy friend “did you see that canvas at this shop or on that website?” or it could be “do you know that there is a new book out that we just have to have?”

We do it unintentionally, or we do it with a purpose in mind. A subliminal message of a wonderful class coming up…well you get the idea! So let me tell you my story…

About 6 months ago, I got a phone call from a dear friend…” you are getting a package in the mail, but you CAN’T open it till we have our phone call and you need to have your computer on”

Well I have to admit, that curiosity was getting the best of the cat as I wondered what the heck it could be all about. The package arrived and all across ths top was scribbled “not to be opened until we talk!”

I was good and I listened and didn’t open it, actually stasthed the box away as I figured out of sight, out of mind. That worked some of the time, but must admit I did think about it, but again I didn’t open.

The night of the phone call was here, the package was out and a celebratory beverage was at hand. The phone rang and after some chit chat it was time to open! open! open!

Now Ruth Schmuff of Bedecked and Beadazzled fame shared her pictures with me as I was so excited that I didn’t think to take any… read all about Ruth’s package opening here

The power point presentation was on and as I first started reading aloud, I then said to Kathy “it would be much better if you read it to me!” and she did. Having her reading it to me, that really added the finishing touches.

Kathy had this brilliant idea to create an Enablers Anonymous canvas for a special group of her friends who have enabled her along the way. Brilliant! and when I heard this comment…

“You post photos on your blog of the “perfect for my new kitchen” canvas by Lani” I knew that she was speaking of me.

A canvas was designed by Ruth Schmuff…

and then some snap trays and frameweights by Carol Eix of course…

And then the bag was designed and sewn by Marlene. I was absolutely thrilled to be part of the founding members of Enablers Anonymous! Thank you Kathy for bestowing the honor upon me. I hope I can continue to live up to my enabling abilities. I so look forward to a get together of us all one of these days.

I had the best time that evening, my bag is stitched and finally back from the finishers. Now I am ready to face the stitching world as an Enabler Anonymous! Come back tomorrow to see the finished bags!

In the mean time if you too want to be part of the fun and get your very own, contact Ruth at Bedecked and Beadazzled or by calling 410.296.0405 and you too can be an enabler anonymous! See I do need to live up to my reputattion?!

AlleyCat is supervising the plants being watered and thinking what kind of mischief she can get into. and until next time…keep on stitching

Remember these? my pot of gold in threads that is … the threads that Tony Minieri selected for me. Tell me who else is better at picking out these thread combinations? In a matter of about 27 seconds, well maybe a little longer than that Tony had selected these 3 gorgeous colorways for a very special charted design that will be in the very next issue of Needlepoint Now. The issue that will be mailed to you on or about January 8th.

If you would like to stitch this colorway as you see it here and won’t this be a great start for next years holiday decorating? This is what you will need to go shopping for:

6″ x 6″ red canvas, #22 tapestry needle, #10 beading needle

Splendor S1005 Cranberry

Planet Earth Pepper Pot Silk Kiwi 83

Carol Collections Waterlilies 025 Holiday

Sundance #11 Beads 4 Gold

The charted instructions will be found in the January/February 2013 issue of Needlepoint Now as soon as it arrives in your mailbox! Now you can be ready to start stitching as soon as it is in your hot little hands. The other colorways will be listed in the magazine too.

You don’t get the magazine? OMGoodness, we need to remedy that! You can subscribe right on line to Needlepoint Now or if you would rather call in your information, you can do that too. This would be a great way to start off your New Years, with a subscription to the magazine.

My Christmas decorating is all taken down and put away for the year. I did some organizing of threads, a little organizing of my house or should I say allot? dusting and etc and finished up by bringing a box or two of donations to Goodwill. All is left is the laundry, new work for the March/April issue of Needlepoint Now, more stitch guide writing and lots of stitching!

AlleyCat is making it challenging to see my stitches that need to be charted! I like to have that done before I send it to the finishers. and until next time…keep on stitching

Wow where has the year gone to? I know that we all say that! But really where does the time go to? It goes by all too fast. I keep myself very busy and never let myself waste too much time…well you know there is just way too much to be accomplished, too many places to visit, new needlepoint shops to discover, new threads and stitches to fall in love with and new canvases to discover.

This canvas is not in my stash, but would be a great one to stitch for a very special way to welcome in the New Year. Maybe it is your birthday or anniversary and it would be a wonderful way to mark a most momentous occasion. Canvas by Sandra Gilmore and it is a bell pull that measures in at 5″ x 41″ so it is not a small undertaking. It is on 16 mesh though, but still is a larger than most.

What plans do you have to celebrate the New Years? Looks like Mooch will sleep through the festivities. Smart kitty I will say!

After all the years that I worked in the restaurant and having to work…it is a pleasure to be able to stay home because I want to! I see a little bubbly in my future and sometimes an early movie and then some stitching.

Do you have any New Years Resolutions? I am really not a maker of them as it is usually only a way to set yourself up for failure. I hope to set aspirations to stitch more, to find that perfect canvas that makes my heart sing, to live healthier and well you know all the other usual stuff.

Fireworks over the bay tonight…that is if you are brave enough to stand out in the cold with temperatures that will hover around 38 or so. Not for me!

Is there hope for these 2? that soon I will see them curled up in a pile together? or is AlleyCat giving Sylvester the stare down thinking “don’t you even think about getting any closer to me?”

and until next time…keep on stitching

Leaving my winter wonderland yesterday in upstate New York and am back home in sunny San Diego to balmy temperatures.

As much as I was looking forward to getting back home and to the kitties, a little piece of my heart was kinda wishing that I would have been snowed in for a few days.

I brought home allot of wonderful memories along with the sniffles, a fever and a sore throat…the later of which I could have done without.

My sister or should I say my crazy sister braved the elements driving to the Whistling Tea Kettle as is our goodbye tradition for a delightful lunch and a spot of tea.

Speaking of tea it is time for a cuppa for me and head back under the covers…

Sylvester found my jacket to curl up on and take a nap. I guess that is what I get for not hanging it up! and until next time…keep on stitching

The snow has been falling across the Rockies and is moving east…will I get home to New York before the snow affects my travels? Of all the years that I have been flying back and forth at the heart of the holidays, I have only been challenged once getting to my destination. Thanks to the determination of not spending Christmas Eve in an airport, I used the rails to make it there. An adventure that I will not soon forget.

The cats are supervising my packing as they cat nap in and around my suitcases!

I just need to figure out what stitching to take with me. I am thinking that between the cookie baking and all the entertaining that is scheduled, that there will be very little time for stitching.

I usually try not to add the clothes till the last minute so that my clothes don’t arrive covered in cat hair. AlleyCat didn’t even wait till I folded my sweatshirt before she curled up.

Even though I am headed home, home to spend holidays with my family…one cannot acknowledge what happened last Friday. I have been struggling with how to leave the blog over the holidays since I won’t be back for a little over a week. Precious little time with my family and I don’t want to bury my nose in the computer…so I think that this says it all. A dear, dear friend posted this to Facebook yesterday and even though it says author unknown, I think I know who wrote it. Miss P, I am sure you won’t mind that I shared this…

When these candy canes came out from Melissa Shirley maybe about 10 years ago, who would thunk that I would have this many in my collection? I absolutely love stitching them! They are actually more than this that have overflowed onto my other tree. I look forward to seeing what new ones that Melissa debuts this year. Might just have to order some at market.

I like stitching these so much because they are a quick stitch! It is a great sense of accomplishment to finish something and is a nice change of pace from the bigger and more involved pieces that we seem to be always work on.

I am on track to finish my 1/2 dozen of cupcakes and I am so thrilled! I have 2 more work days left, just a tad more stitching to do , a little stitch guide writing and then mail them.

Mooch has been a little mischievous lately and I am thinking that Santa might leave some coal in his stocking.

AlleyCat is being very mischevious too!

I am not sure exactly what she has her eye on…what could it be? She is as wide eyed as a little kid on Christmas morning!

I am sorry AlleyCat, those are not for you. She is not listening as she is bound determined to stick her nose in there.

Okay she says what’s in here? I keep telling her that Santa is not going to leave you anything if you keep getting into everything! I don’t think she believes me as she pokes her nose in there every day anyway. I will make sure that all the temptations are away before I leave.

and until next time…keep on stitching

Now that I have you totally confused! You say United Parcel Service…well I might say

United Purr Service!

As much as I love the latter, UPS are our best friends at this time of the year…just like Santa dressed in brown shorts. Well living in Southern California we never ever, well almost never see the drivers in anything but shorts!

UPS delivers Christmas and Hanukkah gifts and ships our presents to loved ones. They deliver our holiday finishing, our orders placed and who doesn’t just love getting a package left at the door?

Lately I have been getting allot of extra packages as you can see. No, these are not for me, but rather are the threads for my TNNA classes. Yes it is still 6 weeks away or maybe is it 5 now? But I have never been one to wait till the last minute.

Thank you to the generosity of our thread companies…Access Commodities, Kreinik, Planet Earth, Rainbow Gallery, Sundance Designs, Colonial Needle and of course the canvas designers who sponsor these classes by donating their goods. I will share all the luscious threads with you after the holidays.

It is has been raining lots lately which is just condusive to stitching! I just have 1 design center to finish up on my cupcakes…it is allot of searching through the stash for just the right thread in color that makes my heart sing. I need to scribble out a rough draft of a stitch guide before I can send them off to the finishers. Guess where I am off to this morning? Threads for these cupcakes! The colors that I have are just not purr~fect.

You have been seeing shots of this, but this is a full shot of one of my ornament trees…and after reading my favorites blogs the other day, I realize that I have lots of stitching to do! Living with Needlepoint spotlights the beautiful stitching, Christmas trees and holiday decorating of Don, one of the owners of Associated Talents. Wow it is wonderful! I better get busy…as I have allot of catching up to do.

To further add to the confusion…you are saying what this is Tuesday. You never blog on Tuesdays? well I am headed back east in a few days without my laptop, so no bloging then. I want to spend my time with my family rather than keeping my nose buried in the computer. So a little more now and none later.

Aahhhh Sylvester you shouldn’t have. and until next time…keep on stitching

Mooch and Earl are looking over their list that they are giving to Santa. I can imagine that it is loaded with catnip toys, lots of treats and many empty boxes for that purr~fect nap!

Santa has my list and I must have been very good this year! I left a clever comment on Catsparella blog, which entered me into a contest and I won this Fancy Feast Feline Ornament. I never win anything! Well I should say almost never and was absolutely thrilled when I got a message that I was the lucky winner. I think that it makes a wonderful addition to my feline tree. Yes BTW you do see a little red bird that hangs on the tree with all the cats? Well they need something to keep them amused, don’t they?

Like I said, I must have been very good as not only did I win that ornament, I won one of the Advent giveways that Sheena’s Sweet Stitches has been featuring on her blog. She has a new Christmas trivia question to answer everyday and then you submit your name when you answer correctly. Well I won that day! I have been answering the question every day since… well it is fun, but I haven’t been always submitting my name. I already won, so I want to leave a chance for others to be the lucky one for the day.

This is my loot! Swarovski 5mm Siam Crystals, 2 packages of brads and an exclusive magent from Bedecked and Beadazzled! Thank you so much Sheena!

Now maybe on the other hand I have to say that I wasn’t really that good afterall. I am stitching my fingers to the bone as I try to get as many of the NeedleDeeva cupcakes done as I can before Christmas. I was almost finished with the icing part of one of the tops and as came around to meet…well I am sure that you can figure out what I am going to say next. Well there was an error somewhere as it didn’t line up! Where is that mistake? I am thinking that I wandered off the count when I was with a group of sticthers the other day. I guess that I can’t talk and stitch…well at least count and stitch at the same time! It was a few hours taking it out and then 3 hours and 37 minutes to restitch it. Not to count the fact that I needed to go and buy more thread!

Okay 2 cupcakes are finished, finished and I should have 4 more ready to go to Kristine Kingston, the finisher before I leave for Christmas frivolities with my sister and our family. Six stitched cupcakes was my goal before Christmas, so I am thrilled! I have threads pulled for 1 more and can I get one more done? Not sure as they are at least 25 hours each and if I stitch 4~6 hours per night, I will let you do the math.

Guess who? You know AlleyCat, Santa is not going to leave you any new catnip filled toys or treats in your stocking if you keep this up. Just saying…

and until next time…keep on stitching

Yesterday was National Cupcake Day! So what a purr~fect time to introduce the NeedleDeeva Cupcakes that I have been stitching. This will be my other class at TNNA Winter Market on Thursday afternoon January 31rst.

This was the start of the cupcake challenge. Don’t I sound just like the Food Channel? Well they are a challenge as I dig and search for the right stitches using just the best threads in the most delicious colors. Not repeating stitches too many times, introducing new threads as I work along…but then again not over doing it! Some of these threads make the cut, some do not and trust me I am buying more threads and beads at least every other day. Well there are a bakers dozen worth of these calorie free cupcakes!

This was the most popular one at the last market when they debuted. It is my favorite too! I selected to stitch this one first for that reason and proposed it to teach at the TNNA Winter market. Of course I needed a cupcake magnet to put me in the mood. Thank you to Meredith and NeedleBling for adding one to my canvas!

I really wanted to bead all of the letters. I started with the O first and then realized I need to add some contrast, some interest, some diversity and not everybody is as crazy about beading as I am!

As I studied the canvas, it came to me that the O actually sits behind the other letters. So beading was not the way to go as I didn’t want to bring it forward. You know prospective and all that stuff. So the O was worked in basketweave and then one letter was beaded and the other in French knots creating a multi needle experience.

I created a fun stitch for the “wrapper” or what is the sides combining different stitches to fit into what was painted.

I have more than one of these on stretcher bars at a time. They are sticthed in no particular order and I just work from one to other. Sometimes I just do the wrapper and then move to the next one. Sometimes I do a little reverse stitching as I did on one of these cupcake tops the other night. If I spent 3 hours and 37 minutes to restitch it…I think you can figure out how much precious time I wasted!

Sylvester and I were having a “push of war” yesterday. You have seen my thread boxes from time to time which helps to keep me a little organized. Actually this is a big project and has moved onto TWO of these boxes. It also helps me keep inquisitive noses and paws out of the threads. Well he kept pushing and stretching and pushing and I figured I better move it before he wins. and until next time…keep on stitching