LISA KRAUSE & FRIENDS

If you haven't had time to look, there is a new slide show on the site with Lisa Krause's frames & accompanying canvases.  They are included in the 20% off sale.  Lisa does frames for any of the Maggie or Ewe & Eye canvases.  You can view them on her web site at www.deuxbijouxbijoux.com.   I can order any of them.  As they are ordered, I will list them in the "canvas-frames" category on the web site.

Happy New Year.

Tisha
www.needlepointtooltime.com

SALE, SALE, SALE

Christmas day is history.  My dinner included my 92 year old father & 90 year old mother.  Every year we play the "this one may be the last one" game but, it never is.  I am so lucky to still have them!!!  The entire family will gather in two weeks in Palos Verdes, CA for Mom's 91st birthday.

Needlepoint Tool Time is having a 20% off everything sale in order to make room for the shopping extravaganza at TNNA.  www.needlepointtooltime.com.

I will make time for some stitching today.  I am taking the Nancy Cucci Amazing Grays class the weekend before TNNA.  There is a lot of pre work outlining.  Counted work is not my thing.  I've used counting pins & have basted and still I'm off!  I'm using those words that I learned from Jane.

Have a happy week.

Tisha

LAST OF THE NEEDLEPOINT CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

I started the collection of needlepoint Santa's for my husband years ago.
He eventually went by the wayside but was gracious enough to let me keep the Santa's.
I did eventually give him his stocking and all the ornaments with his name on them.
It was just too much pressure to find a boy friend or a second husband named Mike.
I went through a brief Angel period.

NEEDLEPOINT CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

I have over 100 needlepoint Christmas ornaments.
Does that make me an addict?

                                                                  

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS

The large Carol Costello pillow was my first Christmas pillow.
The white wool in the plain squares has yellowed thru the years

                                      Needlepoint Ornaments hang on the swag going up to my office/loft.

                                                    Needlepoint stockings.  Large Santa.
                                                          Cushion on Santa chair.

FIR TREES HAVE RETURNED FROM WALES

The Fir Trees arrived home today and are ready for the tree.
Lynis did a great job finishing them.
How long do you suppose it will be until I get the other 7 stitched.
Below are last year's ornaments.



This will be their first year on the tree.  They got lost in the mail last year and didn't arrive until January.
Baylyn gets the Melissa Shirley Candy Cane.
Skylyn is a nutcracker fan.  She gets the Kathy Schenkel Toy Soldiers w/ Mouse King.

Tomorrow, we (as in father of the grandchildren) start pulling Christmas out of the garage.  It's called a garage but, I use it as a storage facility.
Tisha

BACK TO BUSINESS

For the past four weeks, I have been attending Boot Camp.  I report at 4:45 AM for tortuous exercise until 6 AM.  This goes on six days a week for six weeks. (Thankfully, I was late in enrolling.)  I lost 5 lbs of fat & 6" in the 4 weeks.  I am also learning to box.  Even wearing training gloves, I was hesitant to hit anything with my hands,  They are my lively hood and my hobby.  I got over it.  I have had to adjust my bed time so have not accomplished much.  Tomorrow I start Fit Camp which is only 3 days a week.  I need to eat "better" but that probably won't happen this week.

I was reviewing the web site today.  Several products have mysteriously disappeared.  Several others need to disappear.  As a result,  there are new sale items.

I am grateful for all the help, love, and support I have received.  Oh, it's starting to rain.  We have so little rain, we are always excited & thankful when it arrives.

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!
Tisha

NEW ITEM

HOUSE ON POND

I have decided to feature one of Lisa Krause's frames & matching canvases as they are not seen very often in needlepoint stores.  I was going to select one a month but there are so many charming choices that I couldn't make up my mind.  I will change them on my home page more often.  House on Pond is the first offering.  The canvas is by Ewe & Eye with the frame by Lisa.  They will be priced and sold as a set.  The creativity & talent blows my mind!

Stitch on,
Tisha

ANG CHAPTER MEETING

Pam & I drove into San Bernadino last night for the San Bernadino  ANG Guild meeting.   Margaret Bendig was teaching her Hepzabah's Boot, the second of her three dimensional witch's boots.  Pat Correz had the samples of the upcoming weekend classes.  I signed up for two including Nancy Cucci's Amazing Grays.  it is amazing!

Tisha

.LABLES

Evertite Stitchery Frames is sending out custom address labels with their orders.  They are so creative, I thought they should be shared. I can't bear to throw them away.  I am taping them to the side of my file cabinet.

Tisha

HALLOWEEN HAS ARRIVED IN THE DESERT

We are still having 100 degree days but the Witches have arrived.  I have joined a Boot Camp which requires working out six days a week for an hour at 5 AM.  I feel like a witch.  It's given me new compassion for military boot camp.  I am having to go to bed earlier which has interfered with my stitching.  I'm sure I'll be thankful in six weeks when I've lost the weight & inches.  Tomorrow is the annual Golf Cart Parade.  The theme is Carnival so the golf carts are decorated appropriately.  It's fun to watch.

GAME BOARDS

I have added Lisa Krause's game boards to the Needlepoint tool time web site.  They are so unique and rarely seen in Needlepoint stores.  Eventually there will be a slide show on the web site.  I have been forced to use a new Slide show provider.  It's a challenge!  Look for the game boards under "new items".  We have had 3 gorgeous cool days in Palm Desert this week.  They are predicting more 90+ degree weather for next week.  Halloween is usually our summer weather cut off.  Can hardly wait!

Tisha

LESSON LEARNED - maybe

I arrived home one evening exhausted & aching.  I decided a cocktail was in order.  I mixed a Blood Orange Martini using my home made Lemonchello.  It was so good that I chugged it down and mixed another.  I knocked the glass off the end table onto the tile floor.  My plastic PFOS stitch bag was in it's path.  Unfortunately, I hadn't zipped it close.  The white canvas margin of the Tic Tac Toe Board is now stained pink.  I choose to think that it didn't get on the design.  My threads were all in Floss-aways.  Every Floss-Away bag was sticky but the threads were safe.  Dual scissor case, Thread Zap and inside of bag had to be washed.  I will start zipping the bag when I put my stitching away.  I will try to drink slowly or limit myself to one drink.

Tisha

Tic Tac Toe Canvas

While at the PFOS retreat, I pulled fibers for my Big Horn Sheep & the Tic Tac Toe Board.  It was the Tic Tac Toe Board that I chose to work on.  I chose 18 different grass green threads.  Of course, I get home and need another.  I went to my stash and found 18 differeent grass green choices.  Now I am somewhere between confused and overwhelmed.  I'm also impressed with my stash.

Tisha

HOME AGAIN

 I thought those of you who haven't had the good

fortune to visit Pocket Full of Stitches would like a

small peak.  This is what you see when you enter the front door.  The wall to the left is lined with

threads all the way back.

 Finished pieces are displayed all the way around the room.  Stockings hang from the ceiling.  Small baskets on the shelves contain small canvases by subject & designer.  Racks of canvases on the floor are separated by designer.

Looking to the left as you enter the store.  In back of this room is a very large room for
     office & shipping

This is the classroom..  It held the 22 of us comfortably.  Alice Peterson & Dream House Ventures trunk shows were displayed on the walls.
The wreaths display the various PFOS Christmas Clubs.  There is another small room between the classroom & the main store.  It contained sale items, tote bags, etc.

LUBBOCK, TEXAS

We are having a great time at the PFOS Retreat. We are too tired to stitch any longer; four of us are sitting here with our I-Pads. Anna, who posts the PFOS Blog, was called out of town on a family emergency which is why the PFOS Blog has been quiet. The ladies of PFOS (the Pockettes) have prepared all the food for the welcoming party, 2 lunches, brunch tomorrow, and snacks. We are stuffed!

I have pulled all the threads that I needed for background of the Bighorn Sheep & my tic tac toe board. There were so many choices! I have started selecting stitches and threads for the squares on the Tic Tac Toe board.

This is my third year at the PFOS Retreat. Seeing repeat attendees & the staff adds to the enjoyment of the weekend. I will post pictures when I return home. Three of us even share the same flight home as far as Las Vegas.

Tisha

POCET FULL OF STITCHES RETREAT

                                                         Big Horn Sheep by Molineux

Tic Tac Toe Frame & Canvas by Lisa Krause & Maggie

I have been sorting thru supplies as I leave the middle of the week for the retreat at Pocket Full Of Stitches in Lubbock, Texas.  I am flying Southwest so I can take 2 suitcases for free if needed.  Can probably get there on one but coming home may be another matter.  The focus of this year's retreat is to work on pieces that we already own with the Pocketts providing their input.  I finally decided upon two canvases.  Both need threads.  PFOS offers so many options!  There is no LNS in my area.  I will have my I-Pad but there is no way to transfer a photo from the I-Pad to an e-mail or the blog.  Read about our adventures on the Pocket Full of Stitches Blog.
Tisha

PUFFIN NEEDLE NANNIES

A new supply of the Puffin Needle Nannies has arrived.  My favorite is the Witch Hat.

A NEW FRIEND

I am spending the week in Sedona,AZ. Today, I had lunch & an afternoon of stitching with Leigh Shafer. Leigh is active on the ANG Yahoo Group & in ANG. She is a professional needlepoint finisher. Leigh has been involved with starting a second ANG chapter in the Phoenix area.

I have read lots about the Kissing Pillows but didn't know how they were used. Leigh had a sack full of 2 x 2" Pillows that she was finishing. She explained to me how they work.
When a Battalion of soldiers is shipped overseas, each soldier, the spouse, & child is given a Kissing Pillow. Leigh's grandson put his Kissing Pillow under his pillow. Each night he would take it out and tell his Dad about his day. Made me cry. Unfortunately, many more pillows are still needed.

It was fun to finally put a face with a name and have another needlepoint friend.

Tisha

A NEW FRIEND

NEW CLASS ACCESSORIE

The Drink & Stash/Trash Caddy is the new "must have" for class.  It attaches to the table with a screw clamp. The cup holder is largest enough for a Big Gulp Soda or a pint of Ben & Jerry ice creme.  Uses for the stash caddy are limited only by your imagination..

I forgot to post the photo of the Needle valet & Itty Bittie Magnets.

Tisha

NEW STOCK

The Needle Valet & Itty Bitties (magnets) are now in stock.  The Needle Valet attaches to your canvas with a magnet.  When you are working with more than 1 threaded needle, you wrap the excess thread around the Valet, and let the magnet keep the needle handy for the next time you need to use that thread.  A set of three Valets are included on the strip.  Each has it's own magnet, so you can remove a Valet if you don't have 3 threads going. 

 The Itty Bitties are small  (1/2") magnets in a safari motif.

These two items are manufactured and packaged by women in a treatment  program at Arkansas CARES.  The wholesale proceeds from this product are used to assist the women with dental care & prescription costs.  Since I am a practicing Dental Hygienist, I whole heatedly support the program.

Tisha

NAMASTE ITEMS ARE NOW IN STOCK!

If you are tired of looking like a bag lady or need a more professional look,  the Nameste Mini Messenger is the bag for you.  The cross body strap & fastening hardware make it very secure.  I'm still trying to figure out how the latches work.  I was able to get my medium Walker bag with the frame,canvas ,fibres, & tools, my I-Pad, paperback book & glass case in the Mini Messenger.  There was still some room.  Those are my daily essentials.

The Skinny Mini is a new product from Nameste.  It's 8" x 3" size holds a lot of tools.  For cross stitchers, it will handle crochet hooks & rotary cutters.  It would be great for make up brushes.  I think my travel cosmetics would all fit in one.

The Buddy case is back.  It features hidden magnetized interior walls so, your needles, threader & scissors stay in place.  A removable interior divider protects your scissors.

The Nameste products are animal friendly as they are made of faux leather.  The interior's are Microsuede PET which is made from recycled plastic bottles.

Tisha
www.Needlepointtooltime.com

SLIDE SHOW

I have finally been able to install a slide show on my web site.  New inventory is on order and will be featured as it arrives.

http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/

Tisha

MORE NEW INVENTORY

                  The Klemscott Needle Minders come to us from Canada.  They look like cameos.

                                                          Scissors for the cat lovers

DE- STASHING

I have been eliminating some of my stash.  I don't have to tell any of you how tastes change etc.  I pulled my tabletop Gripit from the deep recesses of my closet.  Probably haven't seen it for 25 years.  I set it up on my new desk top.  Hm mm, pretty neat.  I got my Big Horn canvas which is on 18 x 18" Evertites. There are 7 different places to adjust the table clamp. The Gripit griped it!!  This will be my new class frame holder.  The Gripit company is no longer in business so these are no longer available.  If you have one stashed away, dig it
out.
Tisha

LITTLE GEMS

The Little Gems scissors are now in stock. Tiny blades (3/4/"), faceted handle holes, airplane friendly - these are a few reasons why they are called Little Gems!

NEW ITEMS HAVE ARRIVED

I've added new items to the web site.  The Bead Tube Tower II is designed for those who store their beads in the square, flip-top boxes.  The Thread Zap II is half the price of the original.  I haven't figured out why.
The Totally Trendy Scissors are for stitches who like color.  There are also Scissors Protector points, John James Beading Pebbles, and a Telescoping Magnet Wand for all the dropped items.  i need one on a chain around my neck.

The grandkids just called.  They want me to come to the park for a concert & fireworks.  I'm to bring chips
and water.  It's after 7 PM & still over 100 degrees with unusual humidity.  The picnic has been on & off three times today.  Guess they will be eating chips.

Tisha

PEOS FIR TREE CLUB

I have been struggling to keep up with the PFOS monthly Fir Tree Club.  The canvas comes with a stitch guide.  Sometimes I follow it and sometimes I don't.  The background gave me the most trouble.  I don't care  for white backgrounds.  When I looked at all the different colored trees, I realized why PFOS chose white.  I wanted to make my trees into ornaments which made basket weave the stitch of choice.  The first five trees are on their way to the finisher. It's back to work on my Big Horn Sheep canvas.

Tisha

BE STITCHED NEEDLEPOINT

Be Stitched Needlepoint is a new needlepoint store in Scottsdale, AZ.  WOW!  It's a happy place.  Black, white, lime green, and hot pink, the interior decor is impressive. There is a lot of attention to detail.  Note the paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling.  Lisa Kessler & Jeannine Bartnicki, the owners, have the personality to match.  Along with threads, & canvases, the store has an impressive inventory of bags.
The goal is for their store to be just a "little different."  They have a great start.

Visit Be Stitched at  TheGirls@BeStitchedNeedlepoint.com  and Facebook.com/BeStitchedNeedlepoint 

Looking forward to a return visit to Scottsdale.
Tisha

QUAIL RUN, SCOTTSDALE, AZ.

This past weekend, I traveled from the Colorado Desert to the Sonoran Desert.  It was still 109+ degrees.
The visible difference is the Saguaro Cactus in the Sonoran Desert.  That's the tall one with the arms.
The most important difference is that the Phoenix area has needlepoint shops!

                                               Quail Run, Scottsdale, AZ, Courtyard location

                                                                     Class Room 

                                                                Southwest Wall

The first stop was to visit the new, larger location of Quail Run in Scottsdale. The shop exudes warmth & charm.  There was a special area to park the man in your life complete with appropriate reading material.  Quail Run has a large variety of threads along with canvases.  I was impressed with the number of accessories.  They have a wonderful classroom!   Susan gave me a  behind the scenes tour which included the work area, her private office & the Quail Run Wholesale department.  Check out more at http://www.quail-run.com/. .

Tisha

SOLUTION FOR STITCHING ON LARGE CANVASES

      K's Floor Frame with new wooden legs, Scroll adapter & Universal clamps in the Iron Man Pose

My friend, Lynis, has a stash of very large canvases.  Think Melissa Shirley Houses.  The collection has been languishing because the canvases are so awkward to stitch.  Lynis ordered a Scroll Adapter for her K's floor frame.  This adapter will extend out to 24".  (larger available by special order).  The adapter is designed for Scroll frames but...  If you invest in the Universal Clamps, it will hold Evertites!   Lynis sent pictures of three different canvases on the frame.  The Scandia Santa was the smallest canvas.

These items will be available at Needlepoint Tool Time.

Tisha

RETREAT CALENDAR

I have finally gotten the Needlepoint Retreat Calendar on my web site operational.  Go to www.needlepointtooltime.com. click on Calendar on the top headings, page through the months.

If you her of other Retreats, please let me know.

Tisha

NEED YOUR HELP

HI,

I've been ask if I would post a list of needlepoint retreats around the country on my web site.  That's a service that I can provide but will need your help to let me know about various retreats.  The Calander & Events tab is located on the upper righthand tool bar.  The Calander will list retreats on the date they start.  Click on the retreat name for further details.

Tisha
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/

WOODEN LEGS

I ordered the  new wooden legs for the K's Stainless Steel Floor Frame.  I  love, love, love them!
As they are longer than the steel plate, I can slide them further under the sofa to bring my stretcher bars up close to by body. The easy chair in my bedroom has a center rocking mechanism.  The legs are wide enough to fit around it.  There are two width options.  I am using the narrow width.  I placed the usual ss plate under the legs so you could see the difference.  The plate is not needed with the new legs. My floor tiles are 18" square so that give you some idea as to size.  The frame is lighter to move with the wooden legs.

Needless to say, I will be carrying K's Wooden Legs on my web site www.needlepointtooltime.com