Introducing the easiest self finishing there is!  These glass topped coasters are available through the wholesale line, Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery.  Any shop can order them for you.

These coasters fit any 4 x 4 canvas.  You can have beads and ribbon work on your stitched piece.  It’s amazing what fits in them!

The “Elegant Collection” comes in black, gold and pewter.

The “Slim Line Collection”  comes in orange, red, charcoal, sage green and chestnut.

All you have to do is trim the canvas leaving two canvas threads all around.  Make a diagonal cut at the corners and fold the edges in.  Super easy!  Pop your canvas in and voila . . .you’re done!

Did I mention the best part?  There is glass on the top so you don’t have to worry about anyone putting their sweaty glass on top of your beautiful needlepoint.  God forbid!  They might lose an arm!

Amanda may have retired, but she’s still painting new designs.  We collaborated on most of these designs .  We went to the gift show in New York last winter and got a lot of inspiration.  Love . . .love . . .love the colors!

Stitch guide available for the bunny – I’ll show you the stitched pieces later

Stitch guide available for the flamingoes

5 1/2 x 5 1/2 on 13 mesh

4 x 4 on 18 mesh

Amanda was very busy painting this Spring.

Hop on over to the website for the dimensions and mesh sizes for all the designs.

The new designs have just been released on the Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery website!

vngcanvas.com

Contact your local shop and tell them to stop by rooms 414 and 415 to place your order.

There are show specials, beginner kits (that are really cute designs) and self finishing coasters!  I’ve been dropping hints about a new self finishing product so there it is.  I’ll show you pictures in a later blog.

For now, here are my favorite of my new designs.

Breast Cancer Awareness Heart – Free stitch guide available to download online

Dragonfly Heart

Gucci Heart

Tiffany Heart

Hanging Around

Rose Crowned Fruit Doves

Regal Bunny

Flamingoes

Friyay!!!!

We celebrate every week in our house!

I guess I have to stop there.  I don’t know who I’m kidding . . .they’re all my favs!

Stay tuned!

Stop by the shop on Saturday September 29th for a very special day at The Enriched Stitch!  It’s a little later than most people are holding the event, but I like to host events like this on a Saturday so everyone who works during the week can attend.  I would do it on the 22nd, but I’m having 40 people to my house that night for my 40th birthday.  Yikes!  Let’s not talk about that. LOL!  Also, this way all our boxes from the show will be back in the shop so there will be even MORE goodies.

All the new designs from Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery will be on display, over 100 of them! We’ll be having various demonstrations that day of ribbon work, beading and other goodies.  We’ll also be releasing our fall class schedule so don’t miss out on being the first to sign up since the classes fill really fast.  I’ve got some new classes planned, as well as the basics.  Anyone who attends that day will receive a gift certificate for free studio time with Suzie and you will be entered into a drawing for a store gift certificate.  Sounds pretty good . . .right?

We’ll be there our usual hours from 10-3 so make sure to put it on your calendar.  It’s gonna be a blast!

We have two fabulous trunk shows in the shop right now. I don’t usually do more than one trunk show at a time, but when a spot opened last minute for the Plum Stitchery trunk show I had to take it!

I love her designs. I think they are quiet and calm, the colors are very soothing, and there’s a really sweet quality to her designs.

Our other fabulous trunk show is Point2Pointe. I think this line is so cool! Nearly everything is self finishing. And it’s easy to finish yourself. Last year I stitched a pair of cufflinks for my husband for Christmas. There is a video on the designers website that shows you exactly how to do it. The only thing I would suggest is use a lot more E6000 glue than you think you would need.

There are key fobs, cuff bracelets, needle minders (totally have to make one of those for myself), wine bags, necklaces and coasters. You can mix and match your canvas of choice with whatever way you want to finish it. Super cool idea!

All the trunk show canvases and special orders are 20% off. Give us a buzz or stop by to check out the trunk show!

Destination Dallas is only 9 days away!  I can’t wait to show you everything!  There’s over 100 new designs, a new self finishing product that I absolutely love and a few other surprises in store.  There will also be a new retailers club offered by any shop throughout the country.

I have spent all summer working on this show.  If you’ve been in the shop, you know I haven’t been there too much this summer.  Plus, my little guy gets a little tired of hanging out at the shop, even though he basically plays on his computer there which is exactly what he does at home. LOL!  But he really hates when I put him to work hanging threads or helping me with a trunk show.

I packed up 8 huge boxes last weekend and FedEx picked them up yesterday.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much work goes into these shows by exhibitors.  We have to update prices lists and websites, photograph and edit the new designs, and all the other tedious things we have to do.  But it’s not all drudgery .  I love creating new designs and stitching the new pieces.  It’s so worth it when you open your door in Dallas.  There’s an energy at this show that is palpable.

Be sure to stay glued to Needlepoint Nation, my blog and other designers websites and Facebook pages next weekend.  I’ll be posting blogs throughout the show. And before you think how the heck is she writing blogs in the middle of the show, I’ll tell you a dirty little secret . . .I write them before hand and schedule them to publish at certain times.  I’m good but I’m not that good!  LOL!

My abstract animals are back from the finisher!  I just love them!

When I first saw these designs I envisioned them on a tree just like this.  Andrea brought this into the shop last year and it’s made a permanent home there.  Well .  . .I think so.  Hope she knows that LOL!

My favorite part about the finishing is that they aren’t overtly Christmasy.  That way they can be on display all winter long.  Or all year long for that matter.

The ribbons on the reindeer are my favorite.

It’s not too late to join our club with these designs.  You’ll start in November instead of October since it’s a little tough getting canvases quickly this time of year because of the Dallas show.

You can sign up online or by calling the shop.

There’s a special surprise and bonus for club members that I wish I could tell you about now but I have to wait until the Dallas show.  This darn Dallas show . . .so much I want to tell you and show you but I just can’t yet.  I will be sharing one of my favorite new designs soon so stay tuned!

You know the drill by now. But this sale is even bigger. The first set of canvases are 30% off. There are select canvases that are 40% off!

And then there are canvases that are significantly reduced to $15-$30 dollars. When you call or email, please refer to the frame number ABOVE the canvas. The canvases are grouped together by the discount. Give us a call or shoot me an email if you find some goodies you can’t pass up. At these prices you can’t resist! 203-210-5107

The sale starts tomorrow August 21st and ends Saturday August 25th. The sale is in store only.  The discount does not apply to our online store.

30% off canvases featured below

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The canvases below are 40% off!

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The canvases below are $30

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The canvases below are $25

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The canvases below are $20

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The canvases below are $15

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Give us a buzz!  203-210-5107.  The phones should be very busy so leave us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

The CBK trunk show ends this week. If you’ve missed “Suzie’s picks” on Facebook,  here are some of my favorite pieces from the trunk show.

All the canvases are 20% off and include a FREE stitch guide!

I think this piece would make the most beautiful pillow, inset in a periwinkle fabric.  A cool stitch for the off white border . . .a little ribbon work (nothing over the top), maybe just some gathered stitch and French and Colonial knots.  And voila!

You know I’ve got a think for penguins.  They’re just too cute!  I see Rhodes stitches in the sky for the snowflakes, maybe repousse for the branch.

I just love the colors in this piece.  And how about the magnet?  LOVE it!

Scott Church pieces crack me up.  Each one is cuter than the next.  I didn’t put it in the picture, but as I look at it while I’m typing, there should be some Flair in this piece to make the snow on the branch with a gathered stitch.  The hats could be done in Kalem or a wrapped kind of embroidery stitch I often use to make scarfs, hats and sweaters.

Let me start with I have no affinity for French Bulldogs.  But I love the colors in this piece and he’s just too cute.  You could do a really cool open background stitch with a large pattern, which makes a background really interesting without overpowering it if you use a thin thread like Impressions.

I can’t take credit for this piece.  Mary Susan stitched this a few years ago.  The finishing on it makes me want to stitch it!

Take a look at the CBK website and give us a call if there’s something that catches your eye.  We’re full of creative ideas for these pieces!