This weekend we were so lucky to host the amazingly talented Cynthia Thomas.  She is the author of “Noses, Roses and Other Fun Stuff” as well as hundreds of stitch guides. She stitches and writes guides for many designers, including Melissa Shirley, Maggie, Princess & Me, Rebecca and many many more.

If you have ever used a stitch guide, I would bet you’ve used one of Cynthia’s.

On Friday she taught an adorable Melissa Shirley cupcake.

Debbie is listening intently to something very important while Iris is studying the stitch guide.

She taught the class how to make these beautiful roses out of wired ribbon.

Cynthia covered off canvas weaving for the leaves.  And, the icing on the cupcake, literally, is the pulled Silk Lame Braid technique.  How cool is that?

On Saturday she taught the Noses, Roses and Other Fun Stuff workshop.  This book is full of amazing techniques, from crazy things with O rings to beading a bead and much, much more.

This is the infamous Aggie (orange shirt) who teaches and works at the shop on Saturdays.  Right now, she is best known for the beautiful peacock by Maggie that she stitched earlier this year.  Wait till you see what she has planned for the fall!  oh my!

What crazy things is she going to put on her canvases after hanging out with Cynthia?  I think we’re all in trouble.

Debbie and Nancy came all the way from Albany.  Behind them is the Nancy Taylor and Suzie Vallerie Unfinished Gallery.  Look at all those WIP’s!

We look forward to Cynthia’s next visit and teaching some of her amazing pieces.  Let us know  if we can send you a cupcake kit or her book.

The Unique NZ trunk show has arrived.  It will be here through the month of June.  be sure to check out their website.  This is a very eclectic group of designs.  There’s something for everyone.  All trunk show canvases are 20% off.  http://www.uniquenzdesigns.com/

Aboriginal Design

Detective Cat

Cat and Dog

Mail Dog

Sunflower

Poppies

Tile

Love Tattoo

Maid Service

Maiori Landscape

Mexican Turkeys

Seaside Collage

Peacock

Puffin Family

Russia

Kneeling Soldier

Sunburst

Teacup with Daisies

Venice

Mr. Walrus

Don’t wait to sign up!  These women are amazing!  Class sign ups are open for all of the visiting teachers for the rest of the year.  Here’s the lineup.

Cynthia Thomas:

June 14th: Melissa Shirley Pink Cupcake  $200 10-3

June 15th: Noses, Roses and Other Fun Stuff Workshop   $175    10-4

Vicky De Angelis

July 20th: Red Bicycle by Alice Peterson  $200   10-3

July 21st: Trick or Treat by Raymond Crawford   $200   10-3

Julia Snyder

September 20th: Embellishment   $150   10-4

September 21st: Class piece TBD

September 22nd: Embellishment   $150   10-4

Barbara Elmore

October 5th: Sparkles Workshop  $175

October 6th: Black Cat   $250

October 7th: Embellishment  $150

Laurie Walden

November 8th, 9th, 10th: Peter Rabbit   $650 Advanced Level Stitchers

November 10th, 11th 12th Mrs. Rabbit: $650

This class will be taught over 3 days per bunny.   You may choose one bunny or both.  The cost for both bunnies is $1200. A deposit of $400 is required to sign up for this class.  The balance will be taken in two other payments.

All classes require a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit at the time of sign-up. Balance is due 1 week before class. Embellishment classes must be paid in full to sign up.

I can’t wait to get a needle into this canvas!  This was my other choice for the retreat piece this fall.  I better finish up Summer at the Shore so I can work on this.

There’s still a few spots left for our retreat in October.  But, sign ups do close on July 15th!

http://enrichedstitch.com/seaside-retreat/

Give me a buzz or shoot me an email if there’s something you just can’t live without!

203-210-5107  enrichedstitch@gmail.com

Zecca has given her website a facelift.  It looks fabulous!  I know just what a nightmare redoing your website can be.  So, to celebrate, all Zecca canvases ordered by June 10th will receive 10% off! Call or email your orders.  203-210-5107  enrichedstitch@gmail.com

http://zecca.net/needlepoint/

All in stock canvases are 20% off now through June 15th.

Give us a jingle if there’s something you’re interested in. 203-210-5107    enrichedstitch@gmail.com

One Saturday I taught the first of the classes on Melissa Shirley’s peacock ginger jar.  I stitched this piece back in January.  I just loved it!  One of my favorite pieces that I’ve ever stitched.

There’s been a lot of talk of stretchy flair or “ensnared flair” as Becki here likes to call it.  It’s a really simple technique where you tack down the stretched flair around the border of the area you are covering.  You use 1 strand of a matching floss or Splendor to tack down.  Flair will stretch an amazing width.  It’s like pantyhose.  Wait . . .what are those?  I’l  try to make a video of that and put that on the YouTube channel.

This is a close up of the “scrollwork.”  It is a angled satin stitch padded with Frosty Rays.  You fan out the satin stitches in order to create  a smooth appearance.

The bottom of the jar is a combination of laid stitches, Van Dyke, Satin stitch and beads.

The border is a Herringbone stitch.  The background is a Chinese Rice variation done with Ribbon Floss.

Close up of stretched Flair with beads on top

The peacock was a little challenging to bring out his features.  The painted canvas is a little hard to distinguish his head and neck.  So, I employed the same technique as the scrollwork.  I padded the area that I determined was his neck and head, in order to make it stand out from the body.  I tent stitched the body and Satin stitched the head and neck.

Ahh, and then there’s the plume.  To me, this was the show stopper of the piece.  The challenge was that this is not a real animal peacock.  It is a painted peacock on a jar. So, I didn’t want it to be furry and fluffy.  That would be weird.  So, I used 6 different fibers to create this long and short variation stitch.  There’s Silk Lame Braid, Painters Threads Overdye Ribbon Floss, Waterlilies, and tiny beads.

The corners are done in a Norwich stitch with a bead placed in the center.  I have always wanted to use this stitch!

Our second class is in a few weeks.  I can’t wait to see my students’ progress.  Two ladies were in the classroom and two on video chat on Skype.  How fun!  We have more canvases on their way.  Let us know if we can send a kit your way.

203-210-5107    enrichedstitch@gmail.com

Laurie Walden will be teaching her AMAZING Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit from Labors of Love at The Enriched Stitch on November 8th-12th. When I saw this piece at market in February I was blown away.  This is one of the most unbelievable pieces of needle art that I have ever seen.  I knew as soon as I met Laurie that I needed her to come teach him at the shop.

She will also be teaching Mrs. Rabbit for the first time outside of her home base shop Needle House in Texas.

 In this five day workshop, she will cover BOTH bunnies.  She will teach everything from stumpwork to needle felting.  The secrets of the Easter baskets will be revealed.  And most importantly, how did she create the amazing fur?

Please email or call for more information.

203-210-5107

enrichedstitch@gmail.com

This piece just takes me away to vacation in Block Island.  My husband and I have had many adventures on Block Island, as well as harrowing trips getting there.

Many  years ago, when my husband and I first got back together after college, he talked me into bringing his boss’ 26 foot boat from Block Island back home to Connecticut.  Everything started out just fine, but then turned into 2 of the three hours of crashing around through the waves, and then being rained on. I was soaking wet and soar for days.   And I still married him!

We have missed the last ferry a few times and stayed in roach motels.  I’ve blocked most of that out of my memory.

But, when you finally arrive at Block Island, all is right with the world.  There’s nothing like sitting on the porch of the National Hotel having their delicious lemonade cocktail.

As I’m stitching, I am day dreaming about this adorable little cottage being my stitching cottage.  To me, it is the guest cottage of the main house overlooking this beautiful panoramic view.  There is a view like this to be seen from everywhere on the island.

Doesn’t this look wonderful?  I’d love to go here.

Or here.

This would work, too.

I’m really not picky.  Any of them will do.

Wouldn’t you love to stitch one of these?  Thoughts are brewing.  I see an island getaway for The Enriched Stitch next year.  Wanna come?