The registrations for our stitching challenge have been pouring in!  Over twenty people have signed up since we opened up
registration a few days ago.

Here’s just a few of the pieces that our customers are determined to finish.

Lisa wants to finish up this piece she took in a class with Mary Susan at the shop a few years ago.

Carina clearly has a theme that she’s working on.

Joy submitted the Botanical Bunny as one of her pieces.

Here’s a pic of my bunny to inspire Joy.

The girls and I are figuring out what we’re going to do for the challenge.  They don;t know it yet, but I’m proposing a twist for us.  One of us gets to choose a piece for someone else who works at the shop to enter into the challenge.  Let’s see if they go along with it.

After Becki finished stitching her stunning nativity scene, she had a tough decision to make.

Which music box should go in the back of the finished stand up?

Well if you know Becki at all, she decided to have six music boxes put in the back.  Too funny!

 I agree, it’s a tough decision between O Holy Night, We Three Kings, O Little Town of Bethlehem and the other three runner ups.

The stitching is amazing.  The finishing is tasteful, elegant and spot on with the color choices.

If you’re interested, Becki did write a stitch guide since it was an online class we offered earlier in the year.  Currently we are out of stock on the canvases and so is Susan Roberts.  But if you want to order a kit, they should be arriving just in time to treat yourself to a holiday present.

I know I’ve been quiet since the Dallas market, and I’m not going to bore you with the same pictures everyone has posted already.   When you see these fabulous new designs what are you thinking?  Do you feel like I love it but I can’t possibly purchase another canvas?  I have too much in my stash?  I’ll never live to finish what I have.  If so . . .you aren’t alone.

Believe, no one knows better than I do that there aren’t enough hours in the day to stitch.  And I do this for a living!  And sometimes I am actually committed to finishing a piece and writing a stitch guide.  I know most people don’t fall into that category, but I do understand.  I haven’t always been a shop owner.  I am totally overwhelmed by my stash . . .or “inventory” as I like to call it.  Here’s a pic of just ONE of the shelves where some of my stash lives.  I’m not going to tell you how many different shelving systems I have full lol.

There are so many pieces that I have started that I would love to finish, but for whatever reason I get sidetracked by pieces I “have to stitch” or I get stuck or simply just lose interest.

So what do we do about this?  Sometimes, we just have to let a piece go.  Much like that pair of shoes in your closet that are so beautiful but gave you blisters and an agonizing evening, they need to go to a better place.

So . .. here’s what I’m proposing.   Starting October 1^st, you have two weeks to register three pieces with The Enriched Stitch that need to be finished by January 3^rd when we reopen after the holidays.  If you complete any of those pieces, you will receive 20% off the finishing!  You don’t have to finish all three.  The only finishing we are excluding is framing because we don’t do that at the shop, unfortunately.

Stop by the shop to register your pieces.  If you don’t live near us you can participate too!  Just send us an email with pictures of the unfinished canvases next to the newspaper or something with the date on it and you’re part of the finishing challenge.  The finished pieces must be turned in by January 3^rd.

I’m going to play along, as well.  I have a few pieces that I’ve picked up and put down for various reasons that I would LOVE to be gracing the walls of my home.

In order to help you with this, we will have a free class for those that are registered called “Get Over the Hump” on October 22^nd, November 8^th and December 10^th.  The local class will be from 10-12 and the online Facebook live class will be from 1-3.

There’s nothing more satisfying than finishing a piece.  Well . . .that’s not exactly true.  The tail end of a piece gets a bit torturous for me.  Why isn’t there a triumphant fanfare that randomly sounds when we finish a piece?  Becki and I do that for each other . . .but that’s another story.  But there’s nothing better than when you get that phone call or email from Mary Susan telling you that you have finishing.  And when you see that little beauty, you fall in love with that piece all over again.

Mary Susan and I are heading off to Dallas for the Destination Dallas trade show this weekend.  It is my favorite show of the year.  It’s a much more intimate environment  than the convention center shows, where everyone is gathered in one hotel.  Everywhere you turn you run into some one you know.  Not to mention my favorite lounge singer.  And I hear that there will be hot cowboys line dancing this year.  My cowboy hat is packed.  I’m ready!

I won’t be posting on the blog over the weekend.  BUT . . .I will be be posting videos on The Enriched Stitch Facebook page.  Even if you’re not on Facebook you can still view them.  Just google Enriched Stitch Facebook and the page will come up.

You’re going to meet some of the designers as well as see a ton of new canvases and assorted other goodies.  I’ll be back on here next week after I’ve recovered from all the fun.

If you see anything on the videos that you would like more information about, don’t hesitate to email me at enrichedstitch@gmail.com.

Yeeeeeeeehah!

Sasha . . .The Lady in Red

Sasha will be making her debut at the Dallas trade show this weekend.  However, she is not be delivered until February.  She is part of our national fundraiser for the American Heart Association, Go Red with Thread.

Leigh, of Leigh Designs, and I collaborated on this beautiful design.

I’ve decided if needlepoint doesn’t work out for, then I could be a pretty bad ass hair stylist.  Look at those highlights!  Yup . . .five different colors blended in her hair.

She has tulle in her dress, silk ribbons, and beads.  And boy do I mean beads.  I know you won;t believe but I beaded the entire bodice all by myself.  I didn’t hook one of the girls at the shop to do it.

Now Sasha has a gorgeous dress, but she wasn’t quite ready yet.  So, Melissa Prince gave her shoes and a handbag.

I’m not quite finished with this piece.  I need to basketweave the white background.  And yes. . .that’s more beading. For someone who doesn’t like to bead much, I think I’ve had my fill for the year lol.

Amanda Lawford is participating in Go Red with Thread.  She designed this adorable heart that Mary Susan is going to stitch.

 She’s been frantically working on a belt for her brother so she hasn’t gotten to the heart yet.  But I’ll share it as soon as she does.

All of these canvases are available for preorder at The Enriched Stitch and any store that is participating in the Go Red fundraiser in February.  You can read more about the event on our website. 

Click here to order

Paint the Town Red

Lady in Red

Whimsical Heart

I’ll share more detail about these pieces later.  I was just so excited for you to meet Sasha!

Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to summer.  But in my mind  . . .summer never ends.  One of my favorite sayings is “My body might be here but my mind is at the beach.”  I should put that on a canvas.

All in stock canvases are 20% off September 8th-September 10th.  Please call the shop to order. 203-210-5107.  Sale is not applicable in the online store. Clubs and special orders excluded.

Please refer to the frame number below the canvas when calling to inquire about canvases.

Frame 1

Frame 2

Frame 3

Frame 4

Frame 5

Frame 6

Frame 7

Frame 8

Frame 9

Frame 10

Frame 11

Frame 12

Frame 13

Frame 14

Frame 15

Frame 16

Frame 17

Frame 18

Frame 19

Frame 20

Frame 21

Frame 22

Frame 23

Frame 24

Frame 25

Frame 26

Frame 27

Frame 28

Frame 29

Frame 30

Frame 31

Frame 32

Frame 33

Frame 34

Frame 35

Frame 36

Frame 37

Frame 38

Frame 39

Frame 40

Frame 41

Frame 42

Frame 43

Frame 44

Frame 45

Frame 46

Frame 47

Frame 48

Frame 49

Frame 50

Frame 51

Frame 52

Frame 53

Frame 54

Frame 55

Frame 56

Frame 57

Frame 58

Frame 59

Frame 60

Frame 61

Frame 62

Frame 63

Frame 64

Frame 65

Frame 66

Frame 67

Frame 68

Frame 69

Frame 70

Frame 71

Frame 72

Frame 73

Frame 74

Frame 75

Frame 76

Frame 77

Frame 78

Frame 79

Frame 80

Frame 81

Frame 82

Frame 83

Frame 84

Frame 85

Frame 86

Frame 87

I’m sure you’ve found a few things you love.  Give us a call!

203-210-5107

A few weeks ago I posted about the Jaws movie coaster by Melissa Prince that I did for my son.  He’s crazy obsessed with sharks.  He’s even set up a pretend shark tank in the bathtub that he takes care of.  He’s too much!

Here he is with the framed piece that’s now hanging in his bedroom.

There’s even a little video of him and his reaction if you click here.  Let’s hope the link works. LOL

Here’s a close up of the stitched canvas.

Don’t you just love the teeth?  I’ve got a stitch guide for it, of course.  Don’t I write one for everything I stitch?

Winter Village by Alice Peterson

The class starts in December and we’ll send you your canvas, complete thread kit and the first installment of the guide.  The will be four installments of the guides that you will receive a PDF via email after you receive the first one in the mail.  Each installment is $25.  The canvas is $288.  The thread kit is yet to be determined . . .but my guess is it will be somewhere around $150-$200.  I’ll share a picture of the finished piece when the last stitch guide is sent out.  It’s going to be darling! And you know me . . .I’ll make that background go quickly!  It’s a sizeable canvas measuring 22 x 9.  Long but narrow. Not so bad.

There will be video demonstration on a closed Facebook group.  Also, I will be answering any questions you leave on the page.  But . . .more than that . . .you will be able to live message me on Facebook at designated times where I will answer any questions that you have.  If you are not on Facebook, you can still participate in the class, however you will not have access to the videos and live chat.

I have a beautiful sky stitch and a new stitch that I made up for the snow.  The center house is going to have the most precious decorations!

You can sign up by calling the store or clicking here to sign up online.  If you sign up online, we will contact you for your payment information since we can’t access it from the online store for security purposes.

You must sign up by September 25th to be included in the first shipment in December.

Come stitch along with me!

I flipped over this canvas the minute I saw it.  I love the colors, the flowers, the cute little rain boots. . . everything about it.

Here’s how our online classes work.

The class starts in November and we’ll send you your canvas, complete thread kit and the first installment of the guide.  The will be four installments of the guides that you will receive a PDF via email after you receive the first one in the mail.  Each installment is $25.  The canvas is $215.  The thread kit is yet to be determined . . .but my guess is it will be somewhere around the price of the canvas or less.  I know you haven’t seen it stitched, but don’t you trust me by now to do something fabulous? LOL

I have some amazing techniques for these flowers that will have video demonstration on a closed Facebook group.  Also, I will be answering any questions you leave on the page.  But . . .more than that . . .you will be able to live message me on Facebook at designated times where I will answer any questions that you have.  If you are not on Facebook, you can still participate in the class, however you will not have access to the videos and live chat.

I’ve got some cool new beading techniques for the centers of the flowers and some amazing ribbon work planned.  And you’ve seen what I can do with silk ribbon.

You can sign up by calling the store or clicking here to sign up online.  If you sign up online, we will contact you for your payment information since we can’t access it from the online store for security purposes.

You must sign up by September 15th to be included in the first shipment in November.

I hope you join in the fun!

I’m having a little trouble with this Facebook live thing.  But the videos are being posted.  So be sure to check out our latest video on our upcoming Online Cyber Classes.   We’re offering three different canvases and the classes will start in late November or early December.  I’ll get more info to you about signing up in the next week or so, once I get the threads lists together.  In case you’re not on Facebook, here’s what we’ve got planned for you.

Winter Village by Alice Peterson

Pineapple Wreath by Melissa Prince

Flowers and Rainboots by Alice Peterson

Be sure to comment and let us know what you think.  If you post a comment here or on the Facebook page you will receive 10% off your canvas is you take the online class.