What a weekend!  This past weekend I hosted the first Needlepoint in New England retreat.  So much fun!

Women came from all around the country.  I believe the farthest attendee came all the way from California.  We ate . . .we stitched . . .and boy did we laugh!

Linda did a wonderful job setting up the registration room.

The cocktail party on Thursday evening kicked off the event.

 Hyatt hotels has a brand of wine exclusive to the called “Canvas.”  Too funny!  Everyone thought I planned that.  I wish I had!

Classes started on Friday morning.  We offered six different classes, which I know you have all seen before.  But here they are again.

New England Santa

Mason Jar with Flowers

Stormy Weather

Chorus Line

Winter Cardinal

New England Wreath

All the kits are limited editions . . .meaning that when we run out of the special embellishments we’re out.  You can order the kits online or by calling the shop.

Classes started Friday morning.  Despite a few glitches (there always are and that’s a story for another blog), it was a fabulous day.  The lighting in each classroom was great, which is one of the reasons I picked this venue.  I didn’t hear one complaint about the lighting, and we all know that is a needlepointer’s biggest pet peeve.

Mary Susan and Becki were hard at work . . .so they say.  Their classroom was the loudest of all of the classes.  They were laughing away all weekend.   They were having a ball!

Meredith’s class was hard at work.  Making stumpwork leaves and all sorts of cool things.

  I know Kelly’s and Sandra’s classes were working hard, as well.  I just didn’t get a chance to take  any pics.

My class was a bunch of slackers.  JUST KIDDING!  Heather, Grace and Karen had a ton of techniques thrown at them since there were so many aspects of the Santa. We had a hiccup with my class.  I mistakenly ordered the wrong canvas number.  I found out two weeks before the retreat that there weren’t canvases for my class.  I could have just about died.  So, I spoke with everyone in the class and offered them any canvas from my wholesale line, free of charge with all the threads and that we’d do embellishment.  We covered nearly 2/3 of the techniques used on the Santa by working on other pieces.

Heather worked on the Blue Crab by Amanda Lawford.

Grace worked on the Cat with the Big Black Hat from Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery.  Now she has to find a cool ribbon to make the bow.

Karen clearly loves her Amanda Santas.

I can’t wait to see these finished.  I’ll write up the guides for the pieces at some point.

So, to continue the story, I had my painters overnight the canvases on Friday of the retreat.  They were supposed to be there by noon on Saturday.  But, the post office being the post office, they didn’t show up until 4 o’clock.  Argh!  When I got the text alert later that afternoon when we were all at the shop everyone cheered.  Phew!!!!!

I think that’s enough drama for today.  Be sure to check back here to see what happened the rest of the weekend!

It certainly doesn’t feel like Spring around here in Connecticut.  We had a little taste of it last Friday and Saturday, but now we’re back to cold, gray and raining.  So, to combat the doldrums of this supposed Spring, I stitched up a new piece from my wholesale line, The Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery.

This little guy makes me SO happy!  Look at his sweet little face.

And you know me . . .I love stitching abstract flowers.  you can do anything you want with them.

There’s tons of different techniques with silk ribbon and Straw Silk.  Love that thread!  What did we ever do without it?

If I had to pick a favorite flower, I think it’s the orange one in the center.

We have this canvas in stock and we can put together a kit for you.

You can order by calling the shop or click here to order online.

Happy Spring!  (one day LOL!)

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We had a few last minute cancellations for our retreat next weekend. I’m sorry that the people who planned on coming aren’t able to make it. But, the good news is, there’s a few spots open! So, if you were thinking about coming, or something changed in your schedule, call the shop and we can get you signed up.

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Meredith Willet just sent me a picture of her finished piece, a Chorus Line.

Isn’t it fabulous?!!!!!! The background is gorgeous The felted baby birds are adorable!

And the nest . . .what can I say . . .AMAZING!!!!

The retreat is at the Greenwich Hyatt . April 27-29th. Come join us for an amazing weekend of stitching and fun!

Our Needlepoint in New England Retreat is almost here!  Registration closes tomorrow.  So, it’s time to pull the trigger!

Meredith Willett is closing in on her Charlie Harper piece.  That background is amazing!

Kelly is stitching away.  Look at those yummy threads!

My Santa should be coming back any day from the finisher.  I can’t wait!

Becki hasn’t decided how she is going to finish Melania.  Yes . . .we named her. LOL!

I keep forgetting to take a picture of the finished finished piece of Sandy Arthur’s.  It’s a beautiful standup.

Mary Susan just got all the fabrics and trim to make this into a beautiful pillow.  But, we’ll wait to send it out till after the retreat.

The retreat is April 27-29 at the Greenwich Hyatt.  Hop on over to the website for all the details.  You can register online or by calling the shop or send me an email.

203-210-5107  enrichedstitch@gmail.com

We still have a few spots in each class, so you don’t have to worry that you won’t get your first choice.

It’s going to be an awesome weekend with six amazing classes to choose from.  We have a cocktail party planned, a banquet dinner on Saturday night, lunch and snacks every day.  Treat yourself to a little get away as an early Mother’s Day gift.  If you’re thinking this is only for advanced stitchers . . .you’re wrong!  Classes are the best way to learn new things and this roster of teachers is the best there is out there!

If you haven’t heard of Kimberly Ann Needlepoint, you’ve GOT to check out her website.

Her designs are adorable! Every year at Dallas I buy two sets of the Christmas street signs, one for the shop and one for me.  And every year, a customer has the nerve to want to buy them and I have to give up my set!  How dare they? LOl!

I managed to keep one for myself that I stitched last year.

Her makeup bags are adorable!

The onesie ornaments could be some of the cutest needlepoint designs I’ve ever seen!

I wish I had someone to stitch the our first Christmas ornament for.  I’m sure a lot of you have someone to stitch this for!

She has an Easter collection too!  You better hop in here soon before I take that entire series.

All in stock trunk show canvases are 15% off.  Give us a call to order or stop by!

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The Needlepoint in New England Retreat is a month away!  I can’t believe its almost here!  I started planning this event almost two years ago.  Boy how time flies!

We have six fabulous classes that are being offered.  Let me tell you a little bit about what you’ll learn in each class.

Mary Susan will be teaching this beautiful piece from Maggie.  It’s 8 x 8 on 18 mesh . . .a perfect size.  There is ribbon work, a really cool beading technique for the mason jar, continuous Buttonhole and more.  I can’t wait to see this piece as a finished pillow.  She has all the fabrics and trims picked out.  It’s gonna be amazing!

Becki Gebhardt is teaching “Stormy Weather” from Leigh Designs.  I love the movement  and the drama in this piece.  Becki has packed this piece with a lot of light coverage stitches.  If you know Becki at all, she wouldn’t have it any other way.  But, what you’ll learn is how to enhance a design that is so beautifully painted with open stitching and light coverage.  You’ll become a master of packed stem stitch and working with Accentuate.  It’s just stunning!
The amazingly talented Sandra Arthur will be joining us.  She will be teaching the Winter Cardinal by Maggie.  Another very manageable piece at 8 x 8.  Sandy hasn’t taught on the East Coast too much.  So, this is your opportunity to spend three days with her. She’s a Certified Master Teacher through ANG.  I took a class with her at the winter show one year.  Boy does she know her sh*t!  Wondering how she made the bird look so real?  Well . . .you’l have to take the class to find out!

I stitched the New England Santa from Amanda Lawford.  You’ll learn how to create a fabulous beard and fur, that you can translate to other designs.  I included some fun threads like Microchenille, which most people aren’t familiar with.  I can’t wait for him to come back from the finisher!

Kelly Clark will be teaching this adorable Seaside Wreath.  It’s 6 x 6 on 18 mesh.  I can’t wait to see what she does with it.  I’m sure it will be packed with lots of stumpwork, beading, some ribbon and who know what else Kelly will dream up!

The Divine Miss M, Meredith Willett, will be teaching “Chorus Line” by Charlie Harper.  There’s felting stumpwork and god only knows how she made that nest?  I can’t wait to find out!

So come spend April 27-29 with us at the gorgeous Greenwich Hyatt in Greenwich, CT.  This hotel is amazing!  The entire first floor is a beautiful garden.  So cool!

The entire hotel is like an old New England estate.  It’s unlike any other hotel in the area.

All of the classrooms have windows and natural light!  I know that lighting is one of the most important things for needlepointers.  I’ve got you covered!

Greenwich has so much to offer.  The shopping on Greenwich Avenue, or “The Ave” as we call it around here, is like the Rodeo Drive of the Northeast.  There are tons of amazing restaurants, like Valbella.  If you used to watch Regis in the morning, I’m sure you heard him talk about that restaurant.  I’ve been there myself and it’s to die for!

Greenwich is about a half hour outside of New York City, a quick train ride in.  The Enriched Stitch is about 20 minutes the other direction, so you’ll definitely be able to check out the shop.  Saturday afternoon of the weekend we will have the store open later in the day just for retreat attendees.  We have a cocktail party planned for Thursday night, lunch planned every day and a banquet dinner is planned for Saturday night.  It’s gonna be a three day party!

We still have a few spots in all the classes, so you’ll be guaranteed your first choice.  You can sign up by calling the shop or sign up online.  Registration closes April 3rd.  So, if you’ve been thinking about it, join us.  It’s gonna be a blast!  Treat yourself to three days of stitching  and relaxation.

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Six years ago today I opened the doors of The Enriched Stitch. What a wild ride it has been!

I will never forget that first day. I had no idea what I was doing. I was a deer in headlights. I thought I had figured out how to use the POS system…well enough. Until Mary Susan’s husband came in to buy her a gift card for her birthday. Needless to say, I had no idea how to do it. 

Then Mary Susan walked in with her daughter while her husband was there. Kinda blew his cover. Lol! Mary Susan thoroughly embarrassed her daughter when she said to me, “You and I are going to be great friends!” Who knew that six years later she’d be my right hand. 

The last six years have had their ups and downs…but mostly ups. Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I think about the great friends that I have made throughout the industry. I will always have that fan girl aspect when it comes to the designers. I still can’t believe that Amanda Lawford, Kelly Clark and Melissa Prince are some of my most dear friends in the world. Crazy!

When I opened the shop, Aggie was my only employee…my Saturday girl. I was still teaching Zumba at the time and would race in after class on Saturday mornings. The family grew from there. Nancy, Aggie, Becki, Mary Susan, Linda, Andrea, Mary and Kim, I couldn’t do what I do without you. You are all so unbelievably talented. You keep me sane. Your support means everything to me. I can’t wait to see who joins this wacky family next!

I can’t thank my customers enough for supporting me over the years. You inspire my creativity, make me laugh and so much more. 

I have so many wonderful things planned for the years ahead. Yes…I plan that far ahead. This is the needlepoint world after all! 

If you’re in the area, stop by the shop today for a glass of champagne and celebrate with us. Our anniversary sale is going on. All in stock canvases are 30% off. If you missed that blog, you can check it out here.

https://astheneedleturns.com/anniversary-sale-30-off-all-in-stock-canvases/

We also have the Kathy Schenkel trunk show till next Thursday. 

Stay tuned…lots more to come! I’m not done yet! And yes…I do sleep if you’re all wondering that. Lol!