It has been awhile since I have posted.  Life got in my way.
My mother died November 11th.  She was an amazing woman!  At 91, it was time for her to join Dad.  We were blessed to have her as a mother.  I have big shoes to fill as the new family matriarch.  Later that week, my granddaughters (4 & 9 years)  came to live with me.  We are adjusting and getting into a routine.  They are very happy.  I'm trying to be.

So much for my "Dear Abby" Christmas Letter, back to business.
Needlepoint Tool Time is holding a 20% off sale until January 11th.

I have been intrigued by the mini sequins.  With so many colors, it wasn't practical to stock them.  I finally decided to carry the five most popular colors and sell them as a "set".  I also have all 16 colors of the new  Wonder Ribbon.  It's a 6 mm metallic tube that can be stuffed or spread out.  It comes flat on a bobbin so is different than the Sundance Sparkles.  If you purchase more than one color, you'll need an empty bobbin tube.  I stayed awake one night dreaming up different ways to use it (check the web site).  Wish I had time to stitch!  We also have replacement tips for the Thread Zap & Thread Zap II.  I have discovered that they are not interchangeable.

I even have Needle Valets & Bar Buddies in stock.  Both are hard to come by as they are manufactured by women in recovery who don't seem to think we are a priority.

The tree you see in the photo was made and purchased by an artist in Prescott, Arizona this past summer.  It was also dressed up for Halloween.  Bet I can find hearts for Valentines Day by next week.

As I packed away my needlepoint Christmas ornaments today (100 +),  I was in awe of all the work & time we put into them.  It also made me want to make more.

I wish all of you, and me, a wonderful and productive new year!!

Stitch with joy,
Tisha

www.needlepointtooltime.com 

NEEDLEPOINT RETREAT

I spent the last three days at a needlepoint retreat organized by Margaret Bendig.  It was a "stitch your stash" format.  It was held at a wonderful Catholic Retreat Center in Temecula.  Temecula is half way between Palm Desert and San Diego.  It's an area of large horse ranches, vineyards, wineries, and estates.  The Retreat Center was on a hillside surrounded by rolling vineyards.  There is a "middle class" in Temecula; they live across the highway.

There were 34 of us staying at the center and 4 day trippers.  The group included 4 women in their 20's (hooray!), 2 walkers and a man.  About three quarters of them were doing counted work on fabric or canvas.  That was a new experience for me.  Most of my acquaintances are painted canvas workers.  There was lots new to see.  Of course, we all worked on several pieces.  

We were provided with three meals a day in between all the goodies the stitchers' brought.  Root Beer Floats Saturday night topped off the evening. 

There was also a large quilting group there from San Diego.  We visited back & forth.  One needs an SUV & a strong back to haul around quilting equipment!  They make us look like novices.  One woman even had her own ergonomic chair.  Maybe I should disersify and add quilting tools.

I forgot to take my camera so no photos.  It was a very relaxing weekend and I have new friends.

Stitch in joy,

Tisha

Needlepoint Tool Time

STORAGE IDEAS

The wide unit holds canvases.
Tall unit holds Rainbow cards.
All these units were purchased at Ikea.

Sewing machine fits in the bottom shelf of the tall unit.
Other drawers on the tall unit contain all those things that we must have.

Lynis found these plastic trays which fit the drawers in the kitchen area of Ikea.  Drawer unit was in the office area.  Threads are sorted by color.  The two deeper bottom drawers will hold two trays with a little trimming of the edge.

Lynis sent me photos of her latest storage solution.  Lynis lives in Wales in one of the stone row houses built for the coal miners over a hundred years ago.  The only closet is located under the stairs.  It certainly makes one appreciate what we have in this country.  Lynis added a bedroom upstairs.  The passage way between the old & the new created a work space.  If you would like information on the names of the IKEA pieces, e-mail me.

I rushed right out and purchased the drawer unit & the trays.  The plan is to consolidate my DMC drawers into one unit - someday.

Stitch in Joy,

Tisha

SAN BERNADINO ANG CHAPTER MEETING

     Margaret Bendig  presented the program at the September meeting of the San Bernadino  ANG Chapter.  Due to the distance and time, I don't get to attend very often.  It was on my way to the airport for the Pocket Full Of Stitches Retreat.  Margaret taught the first of 4 witch's hats.

4" hat
After stitching the plaid on my Santa, this should be a breeze.  I was able to purchase the fibers while at PFOS.

Margaret Bendig

The Chapter meets at a museum in Redlands.   The room is round. The acoustics are such that one can hear what is whispered from across the room.  One must be very careful about making comments.  I kept looking behind me to see who was talking & realized it was coming from across the room.

I am attending a "no frills, stitch your stash retreat' organized by Margaret in November.

Stitch in Joy
Tisha

     

KREINIK STORAGE

This plastic box has been my Kreinik  storage system.
I have two of these boxes which are full.
I can read the top of the spools if I squint but I'm not sure about the color.

This is the new system.  I took a Bead Tube Tower with the loops.The biggest quandary was deciding how to organize the spools.  I finally decided to take all the Size #12 & organize by color.  I had no idea that I had 6 spools of white & 5 of black.  There were other duplicates.  The Bead Tube Tower will hold 138 spools - but who's counting.  This now folds into thirds so it 8 x 16" and slides into a clear, zippered pouch.  It is hanging in my closet.  Someday, I will tackle the size #8.  The #16 spools are too large for the loops so I can still use one box.  I will also see if the size #16 will fit in the Bead Tube Tower II which has larger loops for the boxes of beads.

Ready to store or hang
A larger case is available which will hold 2 towers.

This is my Bead Tube Tower with beads

The Bead Tube Tower is available from  Needlepoint Tool Time .
I'd give you the price but, I can't remember it.
www.needlepointtooltime.com

Stitch in joy,
Tisha

PROLIFIC STITCHER

Cindy shared so many finished pieces, completed in the past year, at the PFOS Retreat that I thought she deserved a post of her own.  Last year, we discovered that Cindy had no stash!  She actually completed one piece before she purchased another.  The group set about to corrupt her.  I'm happy to report that it's working.  Cindy now has a small stash.

Class project

Class taught this year by Rae, the former owner of PFOS.

Another marvel

Piece in progress.  Sunflower centers are the tiny sequins with a bead.

Cindy brought in three other framed pieces that I didn't have the sense to photograph.  One was a very  large witch which was the theme of the retreat two years ago when Julia Snyder was the featured teacher.

Stitch in joy,
Tisha
Needlepoint Tool Time

POCKET FULL OF STITCHES RETREAT

This is my Amanda Lawford Cowboy Santa
The plaid coat is Shaded Very Velvet & a solid Very Velvet.
One side of the coat took 10 hours on Friday to complete.

The holly berries are wooden beads wrapped with Kreinik ribbon.
Open stitch on the beard so the shading shows through.

Same open stitch is used on Santa's green robe & the background  night sky.  I've forgotten the the name of the stitch but it can be found in several of Julia Snyder's books.

Silk ribbon on the hat.  Gold circles are Jessica's.  Appears that the coat is an open stitch so the shading shows through.

Belt detail is wonderful.  Just can't remember what it was.

Amanda Lawford Santa
Coat is 2 rows of continental separated by 5 rows of  skipped tent.

Debbie Mumm Santa

Note the raised holly boarder.

The theme for this year's retreat was Santa Clause.  We each chose a Santa canvas.  Julia Snyder did the stitch guide for each Santa.  I don't know the designers of all the canvas's.  These are just a few of the 20 Santa's.  No two were alike.

Stitch with joy,
Tisha