ahhh December ...

 ... it's the most wonderful time of the year.

This is a one of a kind piece for Moi. 

I started this about eleven years ago, 

needed an evening project 

and Voila! a finish. 

I'd like to have it finished as a 3D stand up boot... 

maybe it could hold the all important 

candy canes for the hot cocoa. 

Introducing

'Menagerie'

a virtual online

stitch-a-long!

Join in anytime.

I started launching tutorials 

about a week ago to my

Instagram and Facebook feeds.

I'm aiming for each Wednesday and Friday to 

post a lesson. There will be twelve altogether.

YOU can join anytime, 

the canvas, stitch guide by Moi and thread kits 

are ready to ship. 

We 

[that being the royal we... which means Ruth Schmuff

my team mate in the needlework 

design life for maybe 30years now!!] 

has put together 35 beautiful packages for the 

'Yay! from Ruth' gang.

We've sold many but still have some available 

and more on order. 

Trying for the unheard of 

'No Waiting' 

in todays

crazy world!

Marbles Two

 debuts in

 August 2022 

at

Labors of Love Needlepoint!

[sign ups will open soon]

Next... thank goodness there is always a NEXT!!

This is called

Abstract Floral 

 and it will debut at

Chandail Needleworks

in Houston

April 2022!

Happy Holidaze 

Everyone!!

Journey...

The word 'Journey' comes up in my

conversation often.

Of late, even more.

Last weekend my friend and fellow artisan,

Marcia Morse-Mullins 

Borderweave.com

invited me over to learn a technique she

was calling 'Knotless Netting' or Looping.

She'd worked it around a rock and I was

all about learning how to do this.

I think my brain was all about 

revisiting my younger hippie.

Why NOT!

So, I showed up with two orders of

fish tacos and a bottle of our 

favorite red blend.

She instructs me to take this 

linen thread 

3x's around

this fabulous moonstone 

[my favorite rock ever]

she'd provided for me.

Then I was to take a threaded

needle over the wrap and through the 

'loop' and continue around.

This is the point where I began

laughing at myself loudly.

In my world this stitch is called

'detached buttonhole'.

And... I use to teach it from 

coast to coast in my 

tassel making classes.

Journey

Below is an example of another

way to work this crazy stitch.

I saw it, screen shot it,

and now can not find where to give credit.

But do not be surprised to see it 

pop up in a present design I've 

been a bit stumped on.

YOU just NEVER know 

what will inspire 

your next adventure

in stitching.

This woman was a driving force for me.

Sue Jennings

aka. Auntie Sue

Her journey here was an 

adventurous one for sure

and now, I'm positive 

she

 is on another.

She will always be close by 

in my heart. My deepest 

sympathies to her family.

The Nine

'The Nine'

I recently posted these on social media...

the reaction was pretty fabulous. 

So I thought they deserved a new blogspot 

about their creation.

Small pieces that are a quick stitch and 

might teach you a new technique.

That was how these started and 

morphed into a wall of art

that could be a visual trigger 

for future canvases.

Books are great, 

but I'm extremely visual.

I want to see how it looks in thread.

When I first started working on painted canvases...

I didn't always visualize how a stitch would 

work in a given space.

 

Sometimes... I still don't.

Then you are required to do a little reverse work.

rip rip rip

do over

'Tree of Life'

This piece has been very

popular. It highlights so many

different stitches. Plus the split 

background intrigues many.

You'll learn applique, 

several types of ribbon work, 

beading,

and bullions!

'Yes! I'm Special'

I taught this a couple of years ago for

Blue Bonnet Studio in Houston.

John Sinton loved popping into 

the class room announcing the name

and then loving the laughter.

Turkey work, blending silk on it's head, 

but the main focus is layers of needle

weaving topped with crystals.

And another crazy background 

with String Art.

'Movement'

This is being taught at

Blue Bonnet 2022

[still taking sign ups! tap link above]

This one features kid leather applique,

bullions with velvet, 

couched silk wrapped 

pearl purl and gimp.

'Caps 'N Curls'

This one glistens. The caps are 

stitched in layers with 

appliqued organza that is 

then overstitched for 

more depth.

'My Castle'

Where to begin, this one is

beadazzled. Basic stitches with

laid silk, over stitched for neat 

shading effects. Sequins in the 

flower garden. String art for the 

rooflines and finials.

This was the last one I stitched,

finished during the pandemic.

I'm still getting the guide together.

It will be available soon.

'Happy Little Bug'

This one is just fun. 

Loops of Turkey work with

Silk Straw!, bullions,

sequins and beading.

'Bubbles'

Cut work needle weaving plays 

across the top of this design.

Brick beading, over the shaded

water, patterned sequins for the 

body via basketweave.

Ribbon ruffles with French Knots.

'Curly Flower'

So much texture, ribbon work 

with piles of uncut turkey work in the

center. This piece features a thread that

is now extinct! So frustrating when 

companies off a magical thread.

Now... you'll learn how to wrap

floral wire to achieve the same look.

'Leaves'

Like a small sampler of stitching.

Each leaf is different.

From applique with surface

embroidery, raised stem, 

needle weaving, and some

detached buttonhole.

And always my favorite...

bullions!

Order any of the above

through my distributor at

Bedecked and Beadazzled

 

 

\

 

No Fear...

 One day during a class I was teaching,

a student said to me...

'you're just not afraid to try anything'

This statement now floats through my brain often.

I don't think I ever thought of it as a 

'no fear'

approach to designing.

I tend to go after whatever will give me

the result I have visualized in my head.

So maybe no fear but there is way more 

to it than that.

For instance...

I'm presently working on 

'Marbles Two'

My brain has been of two minds...

this piece should be similar to Marbles One

...but

How to make it different and challenge 

my students to think out of the box.

Dorset Buttons... you can search them

for cool 'how to' videos.

Cut Turkeywork...

because I couldn't find the right fluffy

thread to cheat with.

The picture above show the canvas

off the frame. You have to bend

your canvas to get the perfect angles

to trim and trim and trim and..

remember it doesn't grow back.

This is where the 'no fear'  stitching

comes to in. It's just thread, if you cut off

too much, you may have to re stitch it.

Just trim little bit by little bit to sculpt 

what I'm calling the donut.

More than having 'no fear'...

you have to be willing to put the time into

your work. I started this 'donut' 

yesterday morning about ten...

eleven hours later,

I added the last of the 'sprinkles'

to the center.

Maybe it is 'no fear' or maybe

it's knowing that I want a certain look

and..

I'm not afraid to put in the time

to achieve it.

Have a fabulous week!

xo

P. S. This design will be a class at 

Labors of Love 

in Atlanta, Georgia

August 2022!

What isn't up !?

 The end of May pretty much slid into June. 

By mid June I felt like it should be July!

Crazy life full of wonder. 

Trip to see my grandchildren, trip to 

Houston to teach my piece,

Father and Son.

The following weekend I had an art 

opening one night and Zoom classes

starting the next morning for my 

Transformation piece.

Whoosh!

Since I seem to thrive on this behavior, 

I'm not complaining.

I made a big step about a month ago 

to retire from working outside

of my home. No more part time job, 

I'm now full time ART!

My new 'boss' is very demanding!

Guide writing in the morning,

studio time in the afternoon...

both run into the evening hours!

Loving it all!

My next in person class is in November in 

Chicago with the guild there.

It’s already full! 

So exciting as I get to see my long time 

friend Libby Sturdy 

and reconnect with another friend 

from my needlepoint beginnings 

back in New England, 

Jennifer Shekaran! 

She happens to be living in 

Chicago and is great friends 

with Libby, this world just 

keeps getting smaller. 

The project is 

'Tree of Life' 

from my original 

five by five series.  

NEXT live is in Sugarland, Texas!

Blue Bonnet Studio 

is back and raring to go!

[click on the link and scroll down]

I have two pieces for you to choose from...

'Santa Up Close'

He's 8" square with lots of fun stitching, of course!

'Movement'

from my five by five series.

This one features appliqued kid leather, 

couched gimp and silk wrapped purl.

I can't say enough great things about this 

stitching retreat put on by 

MaryAlice Sinton and husband John.

They are the best and most organized.

And... they treat us like gold!

So let us get back out there

stitching together again!

process... journey... adventure

 When my daughter was small, she was gifted a 

talking teddy bear, he was all about 'adventure'.

To this day I hear his little recorded voice when I

talk about adventure. 

The voice was so full of 

hope.

My life continues to be a journey 

with adventure around many corners.

Hope for a new balance now is huge!

Below are progress shots of my newest design.

Sure to be an adventure when I start pulling

fibers and stitching. 

This all happened because Ruth posted 

these cool glass beads she'd discovered on line. 

That same evening I went down a 

rabbit hole looking at 

beautiful glass beads on line.

I felt a need to DO something and started to draw. 

My all time favorite way to ART. 

The drawings became paintings and one

 of the paintings became Marbles One.

Now, let me introduce you to Marbles Two!

It is an adventure and sometimes a struggle 

to decide how to paint a piece 

for you to stitch. 

I have to make my brain think about 

how the piece will be interpreted with a 

plethora of different fibers and beads.

I also have to think about how 

to make what's in my head

translate in the written word to you.

Luckily now, I can take a zillion photos

to use in my guides along 

with numbered charts.

AND... 

thank you to those that edit my words 

for each stitch guide I compose. 

They have become very

proficient at taking out my awful grammar 

but not the conversation 

I hold with you the stitcher.

Ta-Da!! Flowing or rolling into

'Marbles Two'

As a kid, the front yard of my grade school

became a marble playing arena.

I still have my crown royal bag of 

marbles with one steely!

Most of the girls played jacks,

a rebel from the start, I liked

marbles way better.

On a side note...

I love to read, 

I love illustrated children's books.

This morning I popped into my favorite

local book store to pick up a new treasure.

Of course, I came home with two!

A book full of illustrated Faeries and 

one of illustrated stories.

IF you're ever in Central Florida

Lakeland specifically...

you simply must visit this 

wonderful little treasure shop.

The Unbound Bookery 

owned by the equally colorful

Sandi Silverman

[863]670.0110

I'm all about being a mischievous fairy. 

This is currently under construction, two pages

of hand written decorative stitching ideas to 

get into the computer and diagram. 

Stay tuned.

dipping my toe ...

Getting back out there is going to be a slow, 

steady process.

The flying part was stressful. 

Just no two ways about it.

The teaching part, 

FELT SO GOOD!!

I had a small class of socially distanced students.

The class was a complete departure from the norm.

Why NOT? You could say I'm just rolling with it! 

I presented the idea of a 

"Choose Your Own Journey" 

class platform to the owners of 

The Needle Works

last February and I'm infinitely glad for it.

The perimeters were that each student 

choose a piece from my line available through 

Bedecked and Beadazzled.

Each student came to class with 

their own set of questions. 

I was there for three days to work 

through all of them 

with each student. 

Total immersion!

They loved it! 

They loved setting the pace! 

As a result,

the pace was casual and

they all learned from each other.

If I'd taught a project class... 

Completely different, 

I have a schedule of what needs to 

be covered during class time, 

when best to do it and

how long we'll spend on each section. 

Which is great and 

the way I am use to teaching. 

Now, I have two

ways to teach and I am 

a happy camper doing both!

The Needle Works 

is thread heaven!

Fabulous classroom, this was taken

before opening, it was so well

organized and peaceful.

I had to document it.

Any of you that have worked one of my painted

canvas guided designs... 

well, you know I love texture.

Which I often accomplish with beautiful 

BULLIONS!!

One of my students focused completely on 

this for most of the first day.

Her piece had three different bullions with 

three different threads.

Above is her practice canvas, 

this woman was determined!

By George, I think she's got it!

ALL OF IT!!

They are all smiling under those mask!!

Some of the stitches taught were,

pulled work needle weaving, sequin application, 

string art, ribbon embroidery, 

applique, copper mesh wings,

and BULLIONS!

I also showed them how I finish and frame.

Keep an eye out for a repeat of this 

class platform next year.

Back home and after taking Mum for her 

second covid shot and finally getting an

appointment for my first ...

I have resumed work on my painting

for the 

FLOWERS! Florida in Art show 

coming up.

Opening will be June 11.

[I'll post again before then]

Every line of my Passion Flower

is fine line brush work. One of my

favorite ways to ART!