THE NEEDLE WORKS

June 09, 2013

Share a Stitch Sunday - June 9

Good Morning Everyone!

The first thing I want to share with you this morning is a piece that one of my customers stitched. His name is Henry and he did this for a class project and got an "A". He was a little shy so all we get to see of him are his eyes peaking out over his piece. I think he did a great job. He picked up threads to add ground, shy and a sun.

The stitch for today is an Oblong Cross over 2 Foundation threads. I used a Kreinik 1/16th ribbon and a Trebizond for my doodle example.

This could be used for a belt, a border or even a structured flower bed. You could add a size 14 bead in between the oblong crosses if you want

Sandy Arthur has been here for the last couple of days teaching in the store and we have all learned so much. The students are having so much fun we have already scheduled her for next year.

She will be here January 24-26, 2014 (Friday-Sunday) for "Peacock Pride". I will post details on the website soon.

Donna G. also finished her Oaxaca class piece that she took last year (or was it the year before), time is going by too fast.

Beside having the classes going in the store we have all been busy writing guides. I have been working on Susan Riberts Nutcrackers, Eleanore has been working on a Zecca canvas and Corliss has been worj]king on a 3-day Snowman from Jane Nichols.

Now for a little more class talk.

Carol Wallin will be teaching this wonderful "Red Poppy" from Laura Perrin in July. You can get the details on the website.

Posted at 10:01 AM in Oaxaca, Sandra Arthur, Share a Stitch Sunday | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 03, 2013

Share a Stitch Sunday - June 2

One of the best ways to wake up is to the subtle roll of thinder and the sound of rain outside. Wish it was going to do this all day but the skies are already starting to clear up.

I love to use Blackwork for backgrounds. The Honeycomb Pattern that is todays stitch is one that I used on the backdround of some of the Angels in the Kelly Clark series I did last year.

Use a size 8 perl, either silk or cotton for the foundation stitch and cross stitches over it and a size 4 metallic for the Blackwork Patten itself.

How about using this for a background of a small floral piece?

Thank you eberyone for the wonderful notes and comments about Medici.

I was so lucky to have him.

Kimberly had a great picture that she sent me.

He loved his basket!

Posted at 09:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 30, 2013

R.I.P. my dear friend

Poem For Cats

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.

Author Unknown

Sixteen years ago when I bought the store there was a beautiful Tuxedo cat that lived in the shopping center. Almost immediately he adopted us and a wonderful bond was created. We named him "Medici" and from that day forward he was a permament fixture in the store.

We are not sure how old he was but we guess 23. He had a very pampered life and made us all smile, even when he was trying to bring us presents.

The last year or so he has been living at my house in his own en suite. He lounged the days away on a double bed looking out a picture window.

Yesterday Medici crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

He will be missed but never ever forgotten.

Miss you Meds.

Posted at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)

May 26, 2013

Share a Stitch Sunday - May 26

Rain, glorious rain......it has been raining of and on here in Austin for the last 2 days and it has been wonderful. Granted we need about 18 inches of rain to be out of our drought but we did get 4 inches over the last couple of days and that helps a bit.

Today's stitch is a Broken Byzantine. I think this would be great for a floor. Use a subtle over dyed for the Byzantine portions and then another thread color for the Scotch stitches.

I wanted to throw out a HUGE THANK YOU to my freinds husband Barry who made a new display for the Owl series from a couple of years ago. Canvas and guides are still available.

Happy Stitching everyone...

Visit the Web Store to see mew camvas.....

Posted at 07:41 AM in Share a Stitch Sunday | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 19, 2013

Share a Stitch Sunday - May 19

There is a whole lot of learning going on this week with Tony Minieri in town. As usual there is a lot of laughter coming out of the classroom.

I have updated the Web Site with classes for later this summer and classes for next year.

We have a class from one of our staff, Carol Wallin, Tony Minieri and Laura Taylor.

While you are checking out the classes, check out what us new in the Web Store!

Todays stitch is a Framed Eyelet. Use it for s night sky, using a size 8 cotton or silk for the framing and then a size 4 metallic for the eyelets.

Posted at 04:20 AM in Anthony Minieri, Finishing, Laura Taylor, Needlepoint Classes, Share a Stitch Sunday, Tony Minieri | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 12, 2013

Share a Stitch Sunday - May 12

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there.

What an amazing day we are going to have in Austin. Our days have been so beautiful lately. We did get some much needed rain on Thursday which woke everything up and settled the dust down a bit. The mornings have been cool and the days not too hot. I hope these cool days continue and the heat is slow to come.

Today's Share a Stitch is another combination stitch. We have combined a Double Cross and a Straight Rice Stitch to create this very tactile stitch. Use a Petite Silk Lame for the Double Cross and a subtle over dyed thread, either silk or cotton, for the Rice Stitch. If you don't want sparkle to your stitch use a Soie Perle or Petite Princess Perle.

If you have not visited the Web Store lately, we have loaded a whole slew of canvas just uploaded. We will be loading more throughout the week.

I will be loading the 2014 Canvas Enhancement Schedule for Tony Minieri tomorrow.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Happy Mothers Day to all Mom's.

As a tribute to mine, I am posting some of her Needlepoint and Paintings. Her first love was painting. She did not start to Needlepoint until she moved to Austin in 1998.

I miss you Momma!

Posted at 06:40 AM in Share a Stitch Sunday | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

May 05, 2013

Share a Stitch Sunday - May 5

Today is the first day in weeks that I will get to stitch all day and I can't wait. The King is coming along and I am pleased with the progress.

One of the fun things about stitching is letting your creativity take hold and create stitches. Give it a try sometime. Take a Mosaic Stitch and a Cashmere Stitch and play with placement to create a combination stitch.

When I was stitching the Angels I played about with a Strap Stitch and straight Giblins over 1 and 2. This is what I came up with.

Carol Eix and her Daughter Caroline Daigle are so creative when it come to coming up with new products.

The Needle Works carries ALL of the products that they have developed.

The newest is a Bead Snap Tray. It has a magnet in it so it will attach to your canvas. Very cleaver and very useful.

I picked up some more Sap Trays at the Dallas Market this past weekend.

We also have some of their scrolls bags in stock.

Don't forget the Button Snaps for holding your laying tool. Unfortunately I failed to take an updated picture of what we had . I will do that later this week.

Off to the Farmers Market before a day of stitching....

Posted at 07:06 AM in Eix/Daigle, Share a Stitch Sunday, Snap Trays | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)