We are all saddened by the loss of another needlepoint legend - Brenda Hart.  Rest in Peace Brenda knowing that your knowledge and work lives on through all the beautiful pieces that have been made under your guidance.  You will be missed.

WELCOME A NEW YEAR!

I feel most of us are not too sad to tell 2022 goodby and are looking forward to 2023!  One thing for sure, we can all say we made it through another challenging year!  We always celebrate royally and may even manage to stay awake until 10:00pm or so.  You know as you get older you tend to get a little more wild and loose!

One of our most exciting expectations for 2023 is the introduction of our Duo Designs Stitching Retreat - 2023.  This will be held September 21-25, 2023 at General Butler Resort State Park in Carrolton, KY.  We plan to share so much with our participants and are having so much fun putting the activities together.  I think of this as a stitching cruise on land.  Those of you who have been able to go on our cruises with us have an idea of what is in store for all participants!  FUN!

It seems that Santa may have left a few wonderful surprises as we are getting more registrations now that gifts have been opened!  Be sure to complete your registration and choose the class that you want to join!  Both are going to be great fun!  Remember that everything is included except travel and lodging - yes, that includes a full kit of your choice with hand painted canvas mounted on stretcher bars, all meals and break refreshments, two-day structured project class, nightly stitch-in/classes with two instructors to assist, prizes and surprises galore! We start off with a bang of a Meet and Greet the first evening where you will meet the fabulously talented Gayla Elliott - creator of the Stitching Girls!

Did I mention that designs have been finalized for the 2024 Retreat?  A totally different theme!  Think Fall!

Email us at duodesignsinc@gmail.com to get your very own brochure and registration form.  Also email with any questions you may have.  We'd love to have you join us!

Some HIGHLIGHTS of 2023 for Duo Designs, Inc.

January        Besties - Session IV
                    Wisemen  Session VIII - final lesson
                    Chinese Lanterns Session VI

February      Begin Sea Shells on Seashore Online Class Session I

                    Besties - Session V

                    Chinese Lanterns Session VII

March        Sea Shells on Seashore  - Session II

                    Besties - Session VI - final lesson

                    Chinese Lanterns Session VIII

April          Sea Shells on Seashore  - Session III

                    Chinese Lanterns

May            North Carolina - Winter Cardinal Workshop - Private

                    North Carolina - Buffalo Check Cardinal - Salem Chapter

                    Sea Shells on Seashore  - Session IV

                    Ornaments Galore - Session I and II (tentative)

                    Chinese Lanterns Session IX

June            Sea Shells on Seashore  - Session V

                    Chinese Lanterns  Session X

                    Ornaments Galore - Session III

July              Sea Shells on Seashore  - Session VI

                    Chinese Lanterns Session XI

                    Ornaments Galore - Session IV

August         ANG National Seminar - Atlanta

                     Sea Shells on Seashore  - Session VII

                    Chinese Lanterns Session XII - final lesson

                     Ornaments Galore - Session V

September   Duo Designs Stitching Retreat - General Butler Resort State Park

                    Sea Shells on Seashore  - Session VIII - final lesson

                     Ornaments Galore - Session VI

October        Greece Stitching Cruise

                     Ornaments Galore - Session VII and VIII (tentative)

November     Ornaments Galore - Session IX

December    Ornaments Galore - Session X

Gotta hustle off for now and get out to that New Year's Eve Dance!  More to come next year!

Stay safe and have a healthy, happy New Year!

CHRISTMAS IN FLORIDA!

Well, this is going to be different for us.  First of all we are having the worse few days of below 0 weather of the season at home  Those of you who follow me know what a dramatic year we had last year and I don't know if I'm up to a repeat this year.  Fortunately (I think) our house sitter can deal with it (LOL) !  We'll still worry and be concerned though. It made it through the first night fine and we are praying we get the same results from our friend today.   I guess that's what you do with an old house huh? But it is managing to hold its own so far.  The temperature is slowly inching its way back up one degree at a time (I am not exaggerating folks) but at least it is going in the right direction.

But the Florida kids have all kinds of things in mind to keep us occupied.  I, for one, will probably try and do nothing except stitch and enjoy the warmer weather . (cough! cough!  They are having their own cold spell here - lol - nothing like back home but the mornings and evenings are a bit chilly.) Never was a fan of cold, dreary weather.  In Kentucky we know it won't last very long but you still must deal with it.

HOLIDAY GIFTS!

I hope many of you remember the wonderful adventures we have in store for 2023 and 2024 and that you have told your gift givers about them - money always works, right?

 ONLINE CLASSES:

Registration is still open for a couple more weeks on the Sea Shells on the Seashore design class.

This is an 8 session class that you enjoy at your leisure.  Lessons and discussions are shared in pdf format  in a private facebook group.    Enjoy at your leisure. The first session is scheduled to begin mid-February.  Email us at duodesignsinc@gmail.com to join.

Yes, Juli has done it again.  She has given us a playground to try out all kinds of techniques and embellishments.  Did someone say embellishments? Surely we can find somewhere to put a gem or two, some beads, maybe ribbon, metallics, oh dear!  This will be a 10 Session class.  Do you think I can work in an Or Nue` class in there?  How about another possible peyote on canvas class - that was popular a few years back.  Maybe we can share that technique again - it has been awhile.While we normally share one session a month, there may be a few times we can work in 2 sessions a few weeks apart.  We'll see how it goes.  I love my returning participants for this class because I know they have some idea as to what's in store for them - LOL.  Email us at duodesignsinc@gmail.com with questions and to sign up.  This class will tentatively begin the first quarter of 2023.

DUO DESIGNS STITCHING RETREAT 2023- September, General Butler Resort State Park

I am so anxious to share some of the things we are working on for you - but if we share them then they won't be a surprise will they?  Hmmmm. If you have been on one of our stitching cruises you know you won't be disappointed.  We're doing a stitching cruise on land - lol.

This beautiful mezzanine is where we will be hosting our Meet and Greet.  Here you will register for the Retreat, meet Gayla Elliott - the artist of the Stitching Girl Series - snack a little and socialize.  We will leave for a brief time and return to the area for dinner.  Depending on number of people the Resort will decide where it is best to serve our dinner for this night.

During the day, your guests can come sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery (assuming they are not out wandering the Bourbon Trails, visiting Churchill Downs, etc) while you are at the Conference Center getting into trouble.  In this beautiful area we often sit near the windows and look down at the river.  Hubby takes a book to read (as he naps) and enjoy the serenity of the area.

Email us at duodesignsinc@gmail.com for your brochure of details and to ask any questions.

NEEDLES 'N FINS STITCHING ADVENTURES - private facebook group

Our agent has finally heard back with the hotel information in Venice and Athens and will be sharing the brochure soon.  The cruise part remains the same - we're just adding on some extra enticements for you.  We figure, heck, since we are there might as well take in as much as we can!

Email us to get more information on this wonderful Stitching Cruise.  We have had the good fortune to have sailed on the Pursuit before and she does not disappoint!

While we do spend most mornings running around touring, sightseeing and shopping (of course), we do get in a lot of work in the 'down' times.

If there are seats and a gathering I take my place and teach whoever (or is it whomever?) will listen.

Just email us for more details.  The brochure will be available after we settle in from the various holiday celebrations!  duodesignsinc@gmail.com

Have a great and safe holiday however you choose to celebrate - we celebrate Christmas so to all our friends  and followers MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 COMPUTERS!  

Can't live with them and can't live without them now days.  I have had a terrible time trying to recover my Blog so I hope that I have finally conquered that step.

ONLINE CLASSES

This week we shared another Session in our online classes.

Three Wisemen  so near the end that I can't help but get a tiny bit sad. We are working on the last king's cloak.

Besties - the Ostrich  is moving quickly also.  This month we were a little light because we mainly just did beading.  Many do not care for beading.  Somehow Besties best friend - Froggie - just told me that he needed to be beaded and so he was.

How can you not be best friends with a face like that?  LOL

The next Session shared is in the Chinese Lanterns class.  This Session covered the top part of a two-part lantern that has beautiful koi swimming around. As I shared with the class, this is one of the areas that caused me to want to do this piece in a class.

I am having major computer issues and I am having difficulty accessing my Blog to update.  It always asks me to build a new blog - hopefully I'll get it figured out.  Before it explodes on me I want to share with you another upcoming new Online Class.  We are scheduling JP Needlepoint's Ornaments Galore next year.  Won't this be loads of fun!

Doing a quickie assessment it looks like this might be 10 lessons.  However, if I can get my stitching done I might be able to post 2 lessons a month thereby making it go quicker for you guys.  Can't you just visualize how my mind is going crazy.  I see so many possibilities and can't wait to get started.

If you would like to participate in this class send me an email to duodesignsinc@gmail.com and I'll start getting particulars together.  We will invoice you for a non-refundable $150 deposit once you commit to taking the class.  Looks like the canvases are going to be around $210 but don't hold me to that yet.  I won't know for sure for awhile.  

Registration is still open for Sea Shells on the Shore by Alice Peterson.

I am having so much fun stitching on this as I audition threads to suggest to the shop for the optional kit.

I am loving the sand, and the water, and, and,. . . 

Duo Designs Stitching Retreat 2023 -- General Butler Resort State Park, Carrolton, KY

Working away on the models and fun surprises for the participants!  We will soon be sharing more WIP pictures to entice you if you have not already registered.  We are so looking forward to this Retreat.  Just email us to duodesignsinc@gmail.com to receive your brochure or with any questions you might have.  We have participants from California to Massachusetts!  Woo Hoo!

This is my classroom!  We forgot to get picture of Teresa's room!

Do you know why horseshoes are supposed to be hung with the open side up?  It is so the luck won't drain out! Hanging the other way will have all the luck flowing out of the home and leave room for evil.

Needles 'N Fins Stitching Adventures

Greek Island Stitching Cruise - October 2023

Island Stops on the Greece Stitching Cruise

                                                    Optional Stitching Kit - Santorini Splendor

We are still waiting the hotel prices for our Greece Cruise!  In the meanwhile, folks are registering to take advantage of the fabulous deals and perks that Azamara is offering participants.  Email to get more details.  Duodesignsinc@gmail.com

Hope this gets posted correctly - and bigger hope is that I can do it again next week - lol. 

Stay safe!

HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US!

Thanksgiving Day has come and gone here in the States.  Not everyone waits for the passing of Thanksgiving before beginning to celebrate the Christmas and Chanukah/Hanukkah observances.  Some retailers are rather ridiculous in when they begin putting out their holiday decorations.  It has gotten so bad that it seems some holidays are skimmed over and almost missed!  I find this very sad.

ONLINE CLASSES

We have almost completed our thread selections for our current class that is still open for registration.  We audition stitches with the threads as we go along. Sea Shells on the Sea Shore has some interesting techniques and threads to share.

Here's a sneak peek at the seaweed along the shore.

The class is scheduled to begin in mid-February.  To participate send us an email at duodesignsinc@gmail.com.

This month we will finish our class on the Three Wisemen.  Stay tuned to see the finished design. This progress will be shared mid-December.  We will also share lessons on Besties and Chinese Lanterns.

DUO DESIGNS STITCHING RETREAT 2023 - General Butler State Resort Park - September 2023

These classes are such fun to work on in preparation for this event.  Gayla's Stitching Girls always have something interesting to offer. 

Each class is 2-days in length.  All the 'getting ready' has been done for you once you register.  You only need to make travel and lodging arrangements.  All meals, supplies and socialization are provided - fun goes without saying! So just throw whatever clothing you want to bring and personal stitching supplies and come on over to beautiful Kentucky to join us.

First up is the popular Boss Lady. Teresa is putting her special touches to task on this design.  

Can you see 3 colors in the back wall?  Teresa does!  She has totally changed the floor as well!  We shared earlier her personalized office wall sign. It is hard to tell what all she will be sharing with you when she has this finished.

Next is an exclusive design done for this Retreat by Gayla for Duo Designs, Inc. - Stitching Girl with her Horse.

Mercy!  Look at all the wood variations - the barn, barrel, bridle holder, stall and door trim.  Wait until you see the jeans!  So much going on here! Sandy is in her element!

Come play with us on September 22-25, 2023.  General Butler State Resort Park is easily accessibly by air or auto.  How about doing a car pool?

Remember all your meals are included (plated dinners), full kits including canvases mounted on stretcher bars), all class fees, Goody Bag, free nightly stitch-ins with access to both teachers, and lots of surprises along the way. You will not be disappointed!  Remember to email us at duodesignsinc@gmail.com to get your brochure and registration form!  

Needles 'N Fins Stitching Adventures - private FB group - sign up to join

GREECE is next up for our journeying! However, Azamara has given us the opportunity for a special treat!  We are to fly into Venice and go to embark on the ship from there.  Our agent is working on 2 days to stay in Venice before getting onboard!  If you have not been to Venice you will be amazed at all the wonder that surrounds you!  If you have been to Venice before you know why we are excited to be returning.  One of my favorite things to revisit is the Murano Glass shops - we might even be able to go to the factory again - who knows!  We will have multiple opportunities to purchase murano beads no matter what! The beautiful glassware, etc., can be shipped home thankfully. Gondola ride anyone?  Mercy!

Have you seen the optional class kit?  

This trip is scheduled for October 11-23, 2023 - the current brochure is being created.  We are awaiting information from Azamara concerning hotel arrangements.  

We are also looking at a side trip at the end of the cruise to spend some quality time in Athens for those that desire to do so.  Stay tuned.

Have a great week!