We still have some great Halloween canvases in stock.  If you’re looking for something to stitch in season or planning a project for next Halloween, take a look at the images below and give us a shout if you’d like us to send something your way!  203-210-5107

All in stock Halloween canvases are 30% off now through November 1st.

If you haven’t had a chance to stop by the shop and see Linda’s Halloween displays you definitely should!

I’ve been so crazy busy that I totally forgot about posting the 12 Days of Christmas wreath when it came back from the finisher.

I had the finisher make the ribbon really long so I had options of where I want to hang it.

 Or, I could also find a glass candle holder and put it in the center of the wreath on a table and tuck the ribbon underneath like in the last picture.

Now to find a place to hang it in my house!  Should it ever make it home from the shop LOL!

Saturday was a sad day for me. My Yankees lost and are out of the playoffs. I’ve probably never talked about my boys before on the blog, but I have been a crazy Yankee fan ever since I was a little kid. I would make my family stay until the end of the game so I could hear their theme song, “New York, New York” by Sinatra. I’ll admit, I haven’t followed closely over the last few years, ever since the dream team had all retired. But we have hope again.

Mary Susan stitched this ornament from DC Designs a few years ago. It’s adorable. Our finisher did it again! She even used a stitch that looks like baseball diamonds. And yes . . .she planned that. LOL!

So, if you’re a Yankee fan (or have a Yankee fan in your life) like Mary Susan and I, maybe one of these designs will tickle your fancy.

Becki has outdone herself again with the Rooftops of London canvas by Abigail Cecile!

 I don’t know which piece I like better . . .Paris or London.  Both are magnificent.

A few weeks ago I was talking with Becki about the London canvas and was asking why she used certain threads in places.  She pointed out that the sun is setting or rising on the right side of the canvas.  So she used threads that accentuated that concept.

See what I mean of how differently she worked with the source of light on each side of the canvas.  Very cool.

I know a lot of people are waiting for their kits they preordered before the piece was finished.  They’re coming soon . . .I promise.  We have more canvases on the way.  So if you’re interested in a kit give us a buzz at the shop. 203-210-5107

A number of people have asked if Becki is going to do a guide for the New York City rooftops in this series.  I don’t think that is going to happen.  But I’ll let you know if it does.  Becki has a strong affinity for  European cities.  And she’s got her hands full stitching on her piece for our retreat next April.

   What I’ve seen so far on this piece is amazing.  I can’t wait to see what she does with it!

Mary Susan just finished up her piece for our Needlepoint in New England retreat in April 2018.

This piece is stunning in person.  The entire jar is beaded and just glows.  Don’t be intimidated by that.  It’s Brick Beading so it goes fast.  But what she’s done to change the colors will blow your mind.

Her ribbon work is exquisite.

  You’ll learn a lot from Mary Susan in this class . . .ribbon work and beading just to name a few.  She’s even got something going on in the leaves that I had never seen before.  She’s on fire with this piece!  And wait till you see what her and Linda have picked out for finishing it in to a pillow.

 If you were thinking about coming, don’t wait too much longer.  All of the pieces are almost done and the classes are getting full.

For all the details about the retreat, hop on over to the website.

You can sign up online or by calling the shop. 203-210-5107

I better hurry up and finish the background on my Santa!

A few weeks ago I was digging through a drawer in my needlepoint room looking for God knows what, probably stretcher bars and I stumbled upon a little ornament that I stitched over 25 years ago.  It was all done in wool and Continental. Gasp!!!!!  We all start somewhere. LOL!

It just came back from the finisher the other day and I couldn’t have loved this piece more.  Our finishers are fantastic!

 I know we all have finished pieces hiding in a drawer that we don’t know what to do with.  It’s so nice to see these oldies finished.  They are a part of my progression as a stitcher.  So, if you look back at old pieces and think “Oh my God . . .I can’t believe how I used to stitch” that just means that you’ve gotten a lot better.  And isn’t that what we all strive to do?

Yesterday I got a text from a dear friend of mine, Katie, who moved to Dallas last year after she got married.  She had a great idea to needlepoint a stocking for her new husband as her wedding gift.  She stopped by the store around the holidays almost two years ago and picked out the New York City stocking by DJ Designs that I had stitched for myself.  She picked the design because they met in the city.  She worked with me on the stocking over the course of nine months.  She was stitching down to the wire to get it finished, trying to keep it a secret the entire time from her fiance.  When they would chat at night she would make up excuses as to why she couldn’t face time with him so she could stitch.

He was over the moon with his gift.  So much so, that apparently her entered her stocking into the Texas State Fair without her knowing and SHE WON SECOND PLACE!

This was her first needlepoint project.  She is totally inspired to do another stocking now!

I’m so proud of her and all of my students that work with me privately or in studio time.  You all do such amazing work.  Next year, Katie . . .first place is yours!

It’s been CRAZY since I got back from Dallas!  I had no idea what an endeavor it would be to purchase a design line.   But things are under control now.

At Dallas we stopped at the Point 2 Pointe room and had ourselves a little shopping spree.  If you aren’t familiar with this company, they do self finishing (gasp!) canvases that come with the finishing product.  They have cuff bracelets, pendants, wine charms, coasters, bottle stoppers and cufflinks.

So on Saturday I treated myself to some stitching time at the shop, 21 minutes to be precise and stitched up a pair of cufflinks for my husband.  Yes . . .it only took 21 minutes.

I was dreading finishing them myself.  But then I watched the video that the company provides on their website and didn’t think it was too hard.  And it wasn’t.

Sure it takes some fussing with but it wasn’t bad. I just noticed in the picture that a little white canvas is showing on one of them.  Thank God for Sharpies!

So Saturday night my husband and I were out to dinner with some friends and he mentioned he saw needlepoint cufflinks in a store earlier in the day.  He was on his twice a year shopping trips.  . .once for my birthday and the other for Christmas.  All I could do was laugh when he brought this up.  I was going to save them for Christmas but how could I not tell him that I just stitched them for him that day.  He’s a good husband noticing needlepoint products in gift shops.

Check out the Point 2 Pointe website.  I’m sure something will tickle your fancy!

I wasn’t able to share the lovely Serafina before the Dallas show, since she was top secret.  But now she can make her debut!

Leigh designed the series, “Witchy Women” for the the Dallas show.  I am so honored to be in Leigh’s secret stitchers group.  I am among the company of Pat Miller, Jane Wood, Sandra Arthur, Carolyn Taggert and Sharon Quick.  Quite the crew!

This was such a fun piece.  But boy was it challenging!  But I like a challenge.  As that’s what Leigh’s pieces do.  Sometimes a little too challenging.  Yes Leigh . . .I’m speaking directly to you. LOL!

I found these really cool black Swarovski crystal stars to put on her dress.  Thank god they were the right size!

Serafina is available as a kit at The Enriched Stitch.  She measures 8 x 14 on 18 mesh (really cool I might add) canvas.  The canvas has a gold metallic thread running through it.  No background stitch for me!

The guide is also available to retailers through Leigh Designs.  There are 8 ladies in total.   I can’t recall who stitched which of the designs, but there are five or six of the ladies stitched with guides.  Leigh’s website has all of the details.

Give the shop a call if you’d like to order a kit or for more information. 203-210-5107