TEXAS BOOT SCOOTIN' has come and gone . . .


What fun we had at Chandail doing this one of a kind class in Houston.  Seems some students were having fun 'with' me as well!

Can you tell it is getting near the end of the day and class? 

Now our focus turns towards what is coming up in the very near future.

We are all anxiously awaiting the first posting for our "Special' Online Mystery Class - Arctic Santa.

Brenda Stofft Designs

Canvases have been ordered, threads are being gathered and excitement is in the air for this wonderful piece.  The first lesson will be posted on June 1.  You may still join us if you wish.  There is plenty of time because we are devoting approximately 2 years to this project.  If you desire more information just email me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com.  Planet Earth did a special overdye for us that is to 'dye' for!  It is called Polar and is so scrumptious! You can feel the winter snow in the air.  Love, Love, Love stitching with it!.

Next up is our regular scheduled Online Mystery Class - Happy Haunted Grounds -

Eye Candy Designs

Gosh, when we first auditioned this piece to join our Online Mystery Classes lineup it seemed ages away in the future.  And here it is!  First lesson in this whimsical piece is July 15!  Invoices will start going out next week on/about June 1.  There is time to join us on this beauty if you want to come on board.  Ada even had extra canvases painted for us because (having been a previous Online Mystery Class selection) she knows how there people at the last minute who wished they had gotten on board.  So come on over!  Just email me as above at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com. We'll get you all fixed up.

Next up for me is to teach at the fabulousEGA TVA Regional.  I get to teach my ever-popular Pumpkin Spiced Tea.  We'll play with needle felting (this time with silk roving), some stumpwork techniques and lots of fun stitches.  It will be a good time.

In the background we are preparing kits for the upcoming 2016 ANG Seminar being help in New Orleans.  Hurry and register!  Registration closes soon.

And, as always, we are auditioning pieces for upcoming classes.  The final slots for 2017 have been filled and I can't wait to share them with you.  Just confirming sizes, etc., so we know what we are going to be working with.

Well, have a wonderful weekend and please remember what the holiday represents and pay our respects to those who are away from their families fighting for our freedom and safety, those who have served before and those that have sacrificed their lives on our behalf!  Being the daughter of a WWII veteran, the sister of a Medically discharged brother, and the wife of a former U.S. Marine, I am very proud of what our family has done on behalf of this great country and feel the same pride for those who are carrying on this battle at great sacrifices!

Sandy













LOTS OF CLASSES AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE:

Today I am teaching at Chandail in Houston, TX.  This is an exclusive class for them and we are having fun!

Keep watching for news of a possible embellishment class sometime in 2017.

Then be sure to check out our embellishment class at Designers Desk on July 15-19 - also have a special 1-day class on Beads and Such!  Contact Pat and get details.

If you are not familiar with the organization, NAN has a wonderful group of classes lined up for their next seminar to be held in Troy, Michigan.  Go have a look at the wonderful pictures they present for you to drool over then go sign up for some classes  http://needleart.org/assembly/

Then we have the ANG Seminar in New Orleans the last of August and first of September.  These classes can be viewed at needlepoint.org.  There is a drop down menu for the Seminar and has class information, registration forms, hotel information as well as things to do and sights to see.  Hurry and get it all done before my classes which begin on August 30.  Registration is open until June 30 I believe (but check on that!)

1-Day class on August 30 -  CAN DO HAIRDOS

Hairdos for all occasions and ages!

1-Day class on August 31 - NEEDLE FELTING ON NEEDLEWORK

Learn the proper way to prepare canvas for extensive needle felting, determine what should be needle felted and in what order.

2-Day class on September 1-2  PAPILLION - beaded frame weight, etc.

Photo by Mike McCormick M3 Photography

Plenty of beading techniques covered over combination foundation stitches.

Gotta head out to class - more next time.  Have a great week!

Sandy

HAVING A GREAT TIME IN GENEVA (IL) THAT IS!
(Oops!  I mean they are working my butt off in Geneva!)

Had the greatest bunch of students yesterday at our 4-day embellishment gathering at Designers Desk in Historic Geneva, Il.  It is always so much fun to see the different canvases and the challenges they prevent.

Some returned with canvases from my last visit and it was fantastic seeing their results.  I have one student that was introduced to or nue` and after working diligently he has mastered the technique and his canvas is looking marvelous.

Another student has a fantastic canvas of Chicago icons and the Cloudscape (bean) sculpture and the building waterfall are to die for!  Oh my!  I almost got goosebumps!

A mother and daughter team are always great to have.  I had such a team at my last visit and this time I have a new team.  One is working on a Laurel Burch canvas from Danji and one is working on a Vicki Sawyer piece from Melissa Shirley.

There is Purple Palm - which is always a challenge for me - the cacti and the large, beautiful florals included.

A sweet halloween canvas that presented opportunities for great background bands - sizes 2 canvas threads up to 14 canvas threads!  Oranges, oranges, oranges - and of course, a wonderful witch broom.

Then there is also a sweet bunny rabbit - I always have such fun with those.  And, I even resisted needle felting!  I know, I must be slipping.

I also cheated - as I am oft known to do!  I posted the first lesson a couple days early for the Online Mystery Class Pillow Collage.

Pillow Collage - Needlepoint of Back Bay from the collection

Oh my goodness!  Are we having a great time or what?  There is still plenty of time to join us if you so desire.  Also, if you are in this class and not in the secret Facebook page, be sure to check your junk mail! All have been invited.  Just email me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com

There is a lot of activity going on in registration for the next upcoming class from Eye Candy.
Happy Haunting Grounds.

This fun piece is so happy and colorful.  While I am here at Designers Desk, Pat and I are auditioning buttons to see if there are some fun ones available through the needlepoint shops to be included in this piece.

And hotly pursuing the first posting for our fantastic Brenda Stofft piece Arctic Parade is a great group of participants.

This project is very long-term.  Lessons will be posted sporadically.  Check further down in older postings for more details on this or any of our other Online Mystery Classes.

TO REGISTER:  EMAIL ME AT   duodesignsinc@yahoo.com

I'll only be home a few days then I am off to Chandail in Houston to teach this exclusive boot class.

Contact the shop to see if there are any openings for the May 21-22 class.  I'd love to see you there!

Okay, gotta get to class or else . . . . .

TROOPS ARE GETTING RESTLESS!

Wonder if the fact that mid-month is here?  So many are chomping at the bit to get the lessons posted!

Well, first I want to let you know that I am heading for Historic Geneva, IL at Designer's Desk playing again with some fantastic canvases and fantastic people!  There should be a law against having such fun.  Even though the shop is on the market Pat and her staff are not going to be missing a beat!  Always a great hostess and a great time.

Once I return from there, I am home a few days and then off again!  This time I will be with Saira at Chandail in Houston, TX!  Saira is hosting a special class on a fun boot - Texas Boot Scootin!  Contact the shop is you would like to participate in this class  series.chandail@gmail.com (yep that's series).  Saira is also accepting ghosts too! 

ONLINE MYSTERY CLASSES UPDATE:

TO REGISTER:  Contact me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com and just let me know you want to join the fun!

First up is Lesson 5 in the Brenda Stofft canvas - Easter Rabbit with Morning Glories.

In this lesson we are growing our Morning Glories; stitching the leaves and stems, and adding the tendrils.  What a great lesson!  I had fun doing this one.

Next is Lesson 3 of Melissa Shirley's Thanksgiving Critters.

This lesson we added the cute little mouse in his/her unique stocking cap!  Interesting stuff going on here.

And probably one of the most anxiously awaited at the moment is Lesson 1 of the Needlepoint of Back Bay Pillow Collage.

The class is for the piece pictured however stitches can be easily converted to also stitch the companion piece if desired.

Participants have been presented with the option of painting a chest under their pillows if desired.  Those who chose to do so have been working away on that procedure while awaiting Lesson 1.  The lesson will cover the background and/or the chest.

The next class up is a  "Special" ONLINE MYSTERY.  It is a Brenda Stofft design - Arctic Parade presents us with so many opportunities.

Many have their canvas(es) on order (Brenda has agreed to let participants order the front side only if they desire) and are patiently (cough! cough!) waiting for them to arrive.  In the meanwhile, I have been working on some of the lessons.  One thing that has happened is that Tracy at Planet Earth has honored my request and hand dyed a special thread for us to use in our sky.  And, she named it Polar!  Isn't that cool. And of course it is my favorite - Pepper Pot Silk!

I am very excited to get stitching with this and sharing it with our participants!

Looming on the horizon is our next Online Mystery Class Happy Haunting Ground by Eye Candy.  Invoices  will be mailed out the first of June and the first class is scheduled for July 15. Registration is still open for this class and there may be some shops that have ordered extra so if interested just let me know.

You don't want to miss any of the exciting class offerings that we have lined up for you so be sure to scroll down through some older posts and see what we have in store.  We are continually auditioning pieces for possible inclusion and are open for suggestions as to what you would like to see.  I am awaiting a very cute canvas to add to the classes for 2017 and will share the picture as soon as it is received.  It is being painted as we speak!

ON THE ROAD - OFF THE ROAD - ON THE ROAD

Another teaching assignment bit the dust!  I just returned from teaching at the EGA Sun Region seminar at St. Petersburg, FL.  It was a great place and the weather was wonderful.  It had been a few years since I was in St. Petersburg and it continues to expand!

A fantastic group of ladies joined me for 3 days of fun, giggles, memories, stories and wise cracks created by the design of Back to the Beach.  Somehow this class obtained the nickname of the 'hair and boob' class.  Can't imagine how that came about - oh well!

The girls are now officially retired from the teaching circuit so they can stay home and stitch!

I'm home for a few days then off to Historic Geneva, IL to Designers Desk for May 13-14-15-16 embellishment class.  Drop in and see us!  Pat is a wonderful hostess!

Then, I'll be off to Houston to teach a design specially made for the Texans - Texas Boot Scootin'.  

This is a fun 2-day class that incorporates many of the southwest icons - yes, I know the saguaro is not native to Texas but I had to add it.  And the armadillo is just to die for he is so cute!  This design can be a pillow, picture, or stand-alone.  The model was made into a vase holder - can't you see the bluebonnets beautifully arranged?  How about a fun 4th July streamer arrangement?  Or needlepointed stars on dowels?  

If interested check with Saira at Chandail  series.chandail@gmail.com for information.  She may still have a spot open and I think she is accepting ghosts as well.  We would love to have you come play with us.

Well my travel laundry calls so until next time be sure to Stitch with a smile!

Sandy