Since we have been snowed in more times than I want to count, I have gotten in a lot of stitching time.  I guess there’s worse things.

Needle Deeva’s Birdhouse Garden is one of the many pieces that I am currently working on.  A number of people have already signed up to stitch along with me.  You can always join in.  I’m just waiting for canvases to arrive and then I will get the first installment out.

I did a laid and tied stitch for the roof of the birdhouse.  Reverse check is a great stitch for the side of a house.  Very simple, but a nice texture.  Didn’t need a busy stitch on the house with a bold purple roof!

Colonial knots are my new favorite thing.  They add so much dimension to your stitching.

The red birdhouse started with me looking at a stitch diagram, then realizing the cross stitches were to compact for what I was looking for.  So, I laid in the cross stitches and realized it was WAY too open.  So, I went back with a Kreinik called “Chili Pepper” and laid in a design.  I think it turned out pretty cool.

I think the flower made of sequins is my favorite.  The sequins are actually purple.  Photography . . .not my best feature.

Some of the flowers were painted as semi circles and I thought I would just cut sequins in half.  Not a good idea  I wouldn’t try it if I were you.  So , I figured out another way around that.  The answer is in the stitch guide.

The bee skep, (boy the things I learn through needlepoint) isn’t exactly realistic looking.  I always research things in pieces I’m stitching with Google Images.  I have files upon files on my computer of what appear to be the most random things.  I didn’t want this to be realstic looking, like  a basket because that is just not the mood of this piece.  This  design is very whimsical, almost cartoonish.  So, you gotta work with what ya got.

Many people have been asking and the answer is Yes. . . The Enriched Stitch will be hosting a retreat again this year.  I don’t have all of the details yet.  It will be in October at The Water’s Edge in Westbrook Connecticut.

I know you are all dying to see what the featured piece will be. So here it is.

Ewe & Eye will be turning this beautiful work of art by Karen Cruden into a canvas for me.  It will be available exclusively through the shop.

Ignore the pink splash on the bottom.  I pulled this pick from the art licensing website.  That will definitely not be in the finished piece.

As soon as I have more details, I will post them.  Hopefully everything will be solidified by the end of next week.

Hope you can join us!

How much is too much?  Can there ever be too much?  Not for me!

I’m enjoying a few days of R & R with my family up in Vermont.  We managed to get up here before the snow storm.  After a 4 hour drive and unpacking the car, I finally sat down at 11:30 with a glass of wine and my stitching bags.  Yes, I said bags . . .plural.  I started pulling all of my little friends out, contemplating what I was going to work on first.  Then I started counting.  My husband, curious as to what I was doing, decided that people really needed to know how serious my needlepoint issues really are.

21 pieces in total!

Now, cut me a little slack.  Some are sets, like the Melissa Shirley Thimble Nativity that all come in the same project bag.

Let’s see how many I finish.  1 down. 20 to go.

Becki and I are going to tackle Melissa Shirley’s new Woodland Basket.  We think it’s it’s her best yet.

This is only half of the threads we pulled.  I couldn’t fit them all in the picture.

We’ll be posting our progress as we go.  Let us know if you want to join along in the fun.

All in stock canvases are 20% off throughout the month of February.

 For all of you who can’t make it to the shop, I’ve put up pictures of all of our boards.  Almost everything you see has come into the shop in the last few weeks.  We have had a ball playing with all of our new friends.  Now they need to go to good homes.

Call the shop or email with questions or to purchase something you see.  The sale does not apply to the online store.

203-210-5107   enrichedstitch@gmail.com

I can email you a close up of any canvas you are interested in.

Look what I get to work on!  I’ve been sent two canvases to write custom stitch guides.  This  is going to be so much fun!

While I have your attention, let’s talk about stitch guides.  I feel as though there is a big difference between when I write guides for something I haven’t stitched versus something I have stitched. At The Enriched Stitch, we prefer to call guides that we haven’t stitched “Stitch Suggestions.”  We can give you lots of ideas, but we can’t guarantee  what will work.  We know most things will.  If we aren’t sure, we’ll give you a couple of options.

When I do custom guides, I pull threads and select stitches as though I were going to stitch it.  I love being able to stitch vicariously through other people.  I can’t stitch as fast as the ideas shoot out of my head!

If you have a piece you’re stumped on or just want it to be really special, send it our way.

All in stock canvases are 20% off in the month of February.  Here’s what we have from Melissa Shirley’s new designs.

The prices listed are the full price.

MLT 290 Beach Bag  $210

Spring Bird Topiary $178

Valentines Basket  $248

Mini Berry Basket     $172

Spring Floral   $192

Lamb Egg   $68

Bunny Egg   $68

Spring Table    $219

Winter Table     $219

Meadow Birds     $259

Heart Tree    $192

1604E  Heart   $54

1604D    $54

1604A    $54

Gunilda and the Cauldron   $158

That’s just a taste.  I will get pictures of the boards up over the weekend.

Have I told you that I have the best job in the world? Sure, there are parts of owning a shop that I could do without. . . inventory, paying bills . . .all that boring stuff.  But, the perks certainly outweigh the negatives.  Three pieces I ordered for myself from market have come in.  I’ve just had a bee in my bonnet about these pieces.

Deeva’s Birdhouse Garden by Needle Deeva

Christmas Pageant by Annie Lane.  Every time I order this piece for myself, a customer has the nerve to buy it.  How dare they!  I snuck it out of the shop on Saturday afternoon, despite Aggie giving me the look.  She tries to keep me in line.  Not sure it’s working.

I love this piece by Ewe & Eye.  And it’s little.  Smaller than their March Winds piece.

Decisions, decisions.  What to start first on this snowy day? Maybe I’ll start all three.  Why not?

 Want to stitch along with me?  Let me know and I’ll order a canvas for you.  The pieces should be stitched and stitch guided by the time your canvas comes in.

Becki just finished the first little guy in the Russian Santa club.  He is stunning!

She’s going to have this made into a square pillow where this is appliqued on top of the fabric.  How cool?  It would also make a really neat standing weighted if you put it on a base.

His coat if beautiful.  Too bad the purple Painter’s Thread doesn’t photograph well. Boy does it sparkle.

I love how

I can’t wait to see what she does with the rest of the boys.

There’s still time to join the club.  You can call the shop, email or sign up online.  The club starts in March and will ship quarterly with a total of 4 canvases.  Each canvas with stitch guide is $110.  Thread kits additional.

http://enrichedstitch.myshopify.com/products/russian-santa-club

The canvases from market are pouring into the shop!

Sandra Gilmore

Machelle Sommerville

Janet Watson

Give me a jingle or shoot me an email for more information on any of the canvases.

203-210-5107

ernrichedstitch@gmail.com