Needle Delights Originals

I'm back from two weeks vacation and have had to drag myself back to the computer to work again. I spent the first week of vacation in Shipshewana, Indiana at the Dear Jane quilt retreat. I missed going last fall so it was especially wonderful to see old friends and meet some delightful new ones as well. The weather was interesting the last day we were there - these two photos were taken 10 minutes apart! It was fun to see snow the last day we were there and a relief to not see too much of it on our drive home the next day!   I stitched all the way up on the drive but spent the rest of the past two weeks doing hand applique. I'm hoping to put a quilt in our local guild's quilt show in April and was able to get a lot accomplished but I still have to stay on task the next few months! I finished up the 40 applique blocks for the quilt - here are the last ones I finished up at the retreat - I'm not sure what I was thinking when I picked out the brown flowers in t

I've been home for a week and am just about caught up! It's a good thing since I'm leaving again next Sunday! This time I'm going to Shipshewana for a quilting retreat with my mom - we go every year but missed last year because we were in Santa Fe. We're so looking forward to seeing our friends, quilting, relaxing, and of course, shopping and eating! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year and is total ME time - no work although I will check emails sporadically. I had the most fabulous time in California - I taught two classes at Needle in a Haystack in Alameda. My students were wonderful and came from all over - east coast, Phoenix, Canada, and even England! Here's Annie from England - I had a special connection with her as we share the same birthday!   Here are a couple of fairly new canvas stitchers - they caught on quickly and were a teacher's dream!       Here's some of the class on the 2nd day - such fun ladies!   

Boots wanted to come but I didn't pack him! I'm leaving on a jet plane early in the morning and will land in Oakland tomorrow night (my time). I'm gaining two hours going so I'm thinking it will be good stitching time! Friday, I'll be spending the day oogling threads at Needle in a Haystack  and then giving a lecture on color. Saturday and Sunday I'll be teaching two classes and am especially looking forward to meeting one of my online students who is coming from Canada. She sent me a photo of her framed "Inchies" and it's fabulous! The framing and adding the black sashing makes it look very dramatic and elegant!   Until next time... Kathy

I received this photo from Gretchen at Threads, LLC in Charlottesville, VA ( http://www.threadsinva.com/ ) - she took Color Delights "Shamrock" and modified and enlarged the design by repeating it and changing the colors. I think she made it fabulous. She told me they're also stitching it in a jewel tone colorway and will be offering it as a future class. I love what she did with it - it made me think "Shamrock Garden"! I can't wait to see the jewel tone version!   Before I went left for National Seminar, my mom made a quick visit and brought some finishing she'd done for Marilyn H. in Texas to show me. She made BlackJack into a fabulous tote bag and here are a few photos of it. I wish I could have kept it!       She also had finished Spring Logs and Summer Logs into pillows - this is the best photo of Spring I've been able to get...     Below is a photo of Winter Logs stitched by Marilyn - she added a border with Ticking W

I've received a few photos lately and like to share them with you. First up is Burst of Stars from Jody D. I like the use of triple matting!     Next up is Pandora's Boxes from Chris D. He (yes, he!) has stitched several of my designs.     This next photo comes from Anne Marek who is the proprietor of Mrs. Stitches  http://www.mrsstitches.com/  in New Jersey. I met in person at a tradeshow last year and she was delightful! She helped one of her customers change all the colors for Rainforest Revisited and sent this photo of the finished piece. It's very colorful compared to the original and it was fun to see something completely different! It sort of makes my design juices start flowing...     My mom finished her Autumn Logs and made this pillow within minutes of putting in the last stitch! It looks great on my dad's brown leather recliner but I doubt that's its home!     Here's a sneak peek of what I'm working on right now - t

Just a quick post to show my finished Autumn Logs made into a pillow. The center looks washed out in the photo but I can't take another because I sent the pillow up to Fireside Stitchery - they're having a Needle Delights Originals trunk show right now and have over a dozen of my pieces - check them out if you're in the northeast! http://www.firesidestitchery.com/     Today is the first day of my online class "Inchies" - here's the Confetti colorway - one of my students already finished it and sent a photo!     I'm working on something new and will show you a peek soon! Kathy

I'm excited to announce I am offering a new class through Shining Needle Society. Enrollment is now open. The Official Announcement  has all the details and photos of the additional colorways I created. Here is my completed piece.   It was so fun I've started another in the Confetti colorway - I haven't gotten too far yet. I've just been stitching it during my breaks from instruction writing because I can't think about designing anything new yet!     Patterns for my new releases are at the printer - WooHoo! Now onto the instructions for class pieces! I'm now taking pre-orders for the three designs I'm releasing later this month - Autumn Logs, Bora Bora, and Color Delights - Mint. Here are photos in case you missed them!  Order Now  to be the first to receive them!   Autumn Logs   Bora Bora   Color Delights - Mint     Do you know about the Color Delights Club? You can join anytime. As a member of the Color Delights Club, you

I'm so happy to have this piece done! It completes my Seasonal Log series. The pattern will be released August 23rd! I'll also be releasing another Color Delights - it's Mint and I'll show it to you when it's finished - probably one more night of stitching...   Kathy

Inchies is now available as a class through Shining Needle - registration started today. I also chose threads for four additional colorways. The great thing about choosing threads for these choices is I now have four great palettes to choose from when I'm ready to start something new!   Confetti Colorway Earthy Colorway Martinique Colorway Pretty Pastels Colorway     Read all the info about signing up  here  - hope to see you in class!   Kathy

I've started a new teaching design and have hardly been able to put it down - I'm almost done! I think it will be my next offering through Shining Needle Society and it's called "Inchies" because the squares are an inch big. I can't wait to pick out some additional colorways and maybe even stitch another - after I get back to Autumn Logs and finishing it! Here's a part of Inchies...   I picked up the frame for Mint Julep and it will be in the mail to Needle in a Haystack in a few days after I finish writing the instructions... it's better in person than the photo, of course. Green is one of the most difficult colors to capture correctly in photographs according to a professional photographer we've used and I find it to be true for me.   I'll post a photo of Autumn Logs soon...   Kathy    

Here's Williamsburg, a design in my Destinations series to celebrate the 4th! It's raining here in northwest Florida but it will still be a great day!

Here are a couple of photos sent to me this week - I love getting them and being able to share them with you! The ladies who sent these are quite creative!   First up is the Rio Trio - all framed together with 2 wires on the back so they can be hung either way. From left to right, the designs are Carnival, Rio, and Samba. She took a little license and changed the orientation - what fun to have them all in the same frame! Lynne says, " The Trio hangs in our bedroom...first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning...an invigorating way to start my day ;-)."   Next up, all the way from England, is Rainforest Crunch. Ann finished it into a bag - what a fun idea!     Autumn Logs is moving along - I'll share another peek soon! Kathy