TOMORROW IS OCTOBER!  NO WAY!

I have no idea how many times I've said this but I can hear my Mother say time and time again - as you get older the time flies.  Well I must be ancient because time is really zooming by!  I was laughing with a friend the other day when we were discussing that this was 2015 and at how amazed and flabbergasted we were at the year 2000!  Growing up I never heard the words 'year 2000'!  It was just unabsorbable (is that a word?)  I was raised in the country in the Appalachian Mountains where poverty reigned and I don't ever remember any old people - if you made it to 60 you were unbelievably old - except for very few like my great-grandmother.  So thinking to another century wasn't something that was every touched upon.  Anyway, Welcome October and every other day that the Good Lord seeks to bestow upon me.

So being a new month brings on new deadlines like the last lesson in Ladybug Tea through the ANG CyberWorkshop.  What?  We just started?  This has always been a happy, colorful and fun piece for me to teach.

But wait!  Look at other looming deadlines!  The next one is personal fun for me!  I am meeting one of my CEU requirements under the Senior Master Teacher Certification program by being able to take a class locally with Phillipa Turnbull teaching her Oakapple.

Then, also personally, I am going to meet a friend and we are going to play at the Needlepoint Nation runaway at The Nashville Needleworks in TN for four blissful days.  What a lovely fall adventure!  There I will visit with treasured friends and meet and make some new ones too!  We are going to have a blast!

And to help stave off boredom, I get to post Lesson 4 of the Online Mystery Class - Easter Wreath

Here are some of the beautiful eggs we have finished so far:

                                     

Aren't they wonderful?

And of course Lesson 3 for the Online Mystery Class - Beijing Butterflies -

Here's one of the beautiful flowers we have done so far in this mysterious adventure:

This exclusive design from Leigh Designs has so much to offer!  I am enjoying every minute of sharing.

Then I am posting frequently in the special Online Embellishment Class -S.O.S. in CyberSpace.  What fantastic eye candy we have in this journey.  There are fabulous canvases presented from Brenda Stofft (multiple) , several Charley Harper, Melissa Shirley (multiple), the collection, Sally Corey, Peter Ashe, Strictly Christmas, Pepperberry, Leigh Designs, Alice Peterson - and on and on.  And the wonderful thing about this class is that we all get to share in each other's designs, issues and suggested solutions.  It just keeps getting better.  With such quality designs to work with how can it not be a fabulous adventure? It is so exciting and inspiring!

Next on the agenda is getting the next scheduled Online Mystery Class - Cats in a Dinghy registration finished up and invoices prepared.

This fun and happy piece is by Annie Lane and is going to work up quickly and provide entertainment along the way.  Look at those 'fishies'!  How can you not smile?  The first lesson for this class will be posted mid-November.  There is still time to enroll if you would like to join us.

We have so many more wonderful canvases scheduled for the year through September 2016 that I get antsy and want to share everything right now!  However, I need to learn to hold back and save a few surprises.  But I will say that we have in the wings designs from the collection, Brenda Stofft, Melissa Prince and Eye Candy just to name a few.  So be sure to stay tuned and don't miss a beat!  (Those of you coming to the Nashville Retreat will get to see some of the canvases in person as I select threads for my creative madness!)

FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE UPCOMING CLASSES EMAIL ME AT: duodesignsinc@yahoo.com.

And, as a friend so graciously reminded me, I need to finish my kits for my classes at the EGA National Seminar in San Antonio - oh gosh, it can't be that time already!

I better get my second cup of coffee and get to work on a custom stitch guide so I can 'play' with my other exciting projects!

Have a great week and remember to stitch with a smile!  Please enjoy your stitching at least half as much as I do!

Sandy

QUICKIE POST !  20% OFF SALE ALERT!

Just a quick special post to alert all that have signed up for  or are considering signing up for the Brenda Stoff class of the Easter Rabbit with Morning Glories class scheduled to begin mid-January:

Stitch Therapy Needlepoint is having a sale through Monday which they list as 20% off. Just passing along if interested.  If you need to sign up for class just email me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com - list is being maintained but registration will not close until December.

http://www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/optioncart/image.php?image=http://www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/images/products03/28338.jpg&id=28338&item=Easter%20Rabbit%20With%20Morning%20Glories&price=145.00&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases&cat=B-303&ret=www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/publishers.php?page=2&category=Brenda%20Stofft%20Designs&all=yes&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases


More later . . . .

Sandy

S.O.S. in Cyberspace - Online Embellishment Class

The S.O.S. class is in full swing and so challenging.  What a diverse group we have!  This is going to be a great ride!  I am so excited!

Currently on the registration board is the next Online Mystery Class - Cats in a Dinghy design by Annie Lane.

Lots of interesting techniques, stitches and/or threads are planned for this fun canvas.  Stitching has already begun on the model and in preparation of the upcoming 6 months'  of classes!  If you want to join us for this next adventure just send an email to me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com and state your interest.  We'll get you enrolled and in place on the secret Facebook page.  The class portion is $150 for the 6 lesson packet. You'll need to get your canvas ordered - that's the most time sensitive step right now.  A materials list will be provided as soon as it is completed.

Cats not your fancy?  Scroll down through earlier posts and see what adventures we have planned for the upcoming year - Melissa Shirley - the collection - Brenda Stofft - Melissa Prince - and many more!  A new Mystery is scheduled every two months with some special requests worked in there in between.

 I have been busily stitching the models for the TNNA Winter Market classes for San Diego and can't wait to share them with you!  They are some doozies!

Time will soon be approaching for the wonderful Needle Nook of LaJolla Retreat too.  I will be working on stitch ideas, suggestions and surprises for those participants as well.  And. . .

Somewhere in between will be the Callaway Seminar, Blue Bonnets Seminar and the ANG Oklahoma Chapter Seminar.  Lots going on here at Arthur Acres and we love it!

Keep in mind the online classes for those of you who cannot break away for the traveling seminars.  We'd love to have you join us.

Until next time remember to Stitch with a Smile!

Sandy

ANNIE LANE  FANS - NEXT ONLINE MYSTERY CLASS !

Our next Online Mystery Class has lightened up the atmosphere a little and is a little more laid back than maybe some of the previous ones.

Cats in a Dinghy by Annie Lane will occupy us for the next few months. This piece satisfies the Annie Lane fans and kitty cat fans alike!  (Are there fishy fans - don't hear from them too much.)

This sweet piece will be so much fun to complete.  While appearing rather simplistic, we still have plenty of techniques to investigate.  We'll do furry stuff, fishy stuff, wet stuff, padded stuff, dimensional stuff, shiny stuff, plain stuff, etc., etc., etc.

Registration is open NOW.   First class starts mid-November.  Fees for the 6-Lesson Packet are $150.00.  You will receive a PayPal invoice.  Once payment is processed you will receive invitation to a secure, secret Facebook Page. There you will meet other participants and read up on rules.  Materials lists will be posted here as well.  Then, lessons will be added each month.

Participants are encouraged to purchase their own canvas and threads from their local needlework shops.  Let me know if you need assistance in getting your 'stuff'.

So, what are you waiting for?  Fire off an email to me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com and tell me you want to join the fun!  We're waiting for you!

In the meanwhile, remember to stitch with a smile!

Sandy

HAPPY - SAD!

Seems we always have an opposite for every feeling that we experience.  It is with sadness that we finish the Online Mystery Class - Harvest.  It has been such a happy adventure.  We have met and made many new friends through this venue.  I even had the opportunity to meet one participant face-to-face.  Several have expressed how they have made new friendships and look forward to nurturing these through our common love of our passion for needlepoint.  I plan to post a picture of the completed project totally finished in the very near future.

Several are moving on with us to future Online Mystery Classes - Anne Lane Cats in a Dinghy, Melissa Shirley Thanksgiving Critters, Brenda Stofft Easter Rabbit with Morning Glories, the collection Pillow Collage and many, many more.  So, not only will they be able to continue these new friendships, they will be afforded the opportunity of adding more to the list as new members join us in the many diverse classes of the future.

I am happy to advise that we are on the final week of registration of our next Online Mystery Class - S.O.S. in Cyberspace.  This fun embellishment class will give you the opportunity to seek advise and suggestions for areas that have caused you concern on current canvases in your stash.  The class will last for 6 months with the last postings taking place in February 2016.  Several who have signed up have already presented their first challenge for me and we are having fun analyzing them and offering suggestions.  This class will address 6 individual questions that you have but will also offer you the opportunity to share concerns of the other participants and see the answers for them as well.  We find that it is advisable to start a notebook to keep all the fantastic suggestions for future use.

It is fun to see how many share the same canvas  that I am addressing and comment that they will be saving the responses for when they work on their canvas.  Notice I said it was 'fun' to see, not 'surprised' to see because it is amazing how many share similar tastes.

You still have a week left to join us if you so choose.  Just drop me an email to duodesignsinc@yahoo.com and we can start the process.  If you need more detailed information just scroll down through older posts and there are several references to this next class that begins on September 15.

In the meanwhile, if you have a long holiday weekend enjoy it to the fullest and be sure to stitch with a smile!

Sandy

KEEPING UP WITH KEEPING UP!

I feel so blessed with work!  Now you can take that any way you want too - seriously, joyfully, sarcastically or tongue in cheek (what does that mean exactly?)

What I mean by this statement is that I am having the best time 'keeping up' with my students of my various goings on.  We have 3 - count them - 1-2-3 - active Online Mystery Classes.  I so enjoy watching my students' reactions to certain techniques and how we work through various situations. We are developing new online friendships and many are repeat students - I lovingly call them my 'groupies'.  Students are reaching out across the country and world to share and interact with each other.  Our Secret Facebook Pages are so positive and happy that I am very proud to host them.

Add to this, we have a class that has some, what shall I call them????, johnny-on-the-spot, anxious annies, ahead of the game, eager beavers, chomping at the bit?  It doesn't matter how they are labeled I love them all and I am so happy to have had them come forward and excited to start on this new adventure.  The next class does not officially start until September 15 - S.O.S. IN CYBERSPACE - but we already have several people who are very active over on our Secret Facebook Page and making positive progress!  This is great for me because it gives me a chance to get a head start for when everyone chimes in.  So while the class hasn't started officially we have already posted some queries and responses.  This puts in place a great example for the newbies joining the group to see how things are handled and they already have the makings for the beginnings of a workbook.  Each person still gets 6 issues addressed some are just covered over an 8 months period of time instead of 6 months and those joining in are not missing one word or diagram from day one.

You only have until September 14 to join this group is you are interested.  Be sure to email me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com.  (More detailed information is available by scrolling down through older posts.)

The next 'keeping up' I am involved in is stitching the future mysteries.  Oh my!  It should be a sin to enjoy something so much!  I am in heaven!  Cats in a Dingy from Annie Lane  (Nov. 15) is going to be so cute and isn't overly complicated.  The Special Request Class - Easter Rabbit with Morning Glories by Brenda Stofft  (Jan. 15) - is going to be quite busy.  There are gobs of techniques we can play with here too. Melissa Shirley's Thanksgiving Critters (March 15) has all the wonderful autumn colors in it and has much to offer and techniques galore.  The Pillow Collage (May 15) from the collection designs by Needlepoint of Back Bay is going to be an astonishing class.  There is so much to create in this wonderful piece - velvet, ribbons, beads, fringe -that we will use a full year to give it justice (large canvas).  Registration is 'open' if you want to add your name to any of these lists but invoicing, etc., will not begin until a month prior to registration closing- which is one month prior to first lesson shown in parenthesis.  As you may gather, the buzz word for me in my classes is techniques - I love doing something funky here and there and playing with fantastic threads and embellishments. (Again for more details scroll through older posts.)

Add to that, I am being approached and prodded by designers wanting to add their designs to be auditioned for future classes.  I know you'll love the pieces we have in line for you for July and September 2016.  So, don't hesitate to let me know what you would like to see us play with.  Classes are arranged through September 2016 and more are on the drawing board being considered so don't think you guys are going to get to slack off on me.  We're just going to learn, learn, learn!  And have fun doing it.

Another 'keeping up' is getting models stitched for the TNNA Winter Market in San Diego in January.  Still have one model to go and I'll have those all done.  Then, of course, need to write the stitch guides.

The 'keeping up' that is really getting close is preparing kits for the EGA National Seminar in San Antonio!  How exciting!  I have two 2-day classes - Pumpkin Spiced Tea and Trio of Diamonds a self-finishing ornament class.

Somewhere in there is putting the polishing touches on Series V - but more about that later.

Oh, did I mention that I will be taking a class in Houston (certified master teachers are required to keep up CEUs) and the Nashville Retreat too!  Does anything think I am bored?

As stated earlier, if you would like more information about any of my classes, scroll down through several older posts or just drop me an email at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com.  We'd love to hear from you.

So have a great day and remember to Stitch with a Smile!

Sandy

NEW ONLINE MYSTERY CLASS STARTS TODAY!

We are so excited to start the new Online Mystery Class Beijing Butterflies today.

This is an exclusive design so if you did not sign up during the deadline then you will not be able to join us for the fun.

Easter Wreath has its second lesson going on and Harvest is in the home stretch with lesson five currently being stitched.

However, there is more in the future!

We are currently doing S.O.S. in CyberSpace which is our original online embellishment class.  This is a fun class that we have already started playing with although it does not officially begin until September 15 - don't worry you will not miss a thing!  It is all there waiting for you on the 15th.

Registration is still open on this class so if you need more information just scroll down through these previous posts and read all about it.  Also, feel free to email me at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com if interested.

The real purpose of this posting is to talk with those of you who are interested or have already stated an interest in these upcoming classes:

ANNIE LANE - CATS IN A DINGHY - NOVEMBER 2015

BRENDA STOFFT - EASTER RABBIT WITH MORNING GLORIES - JANUARY 2016

MELISSA SHIRLEY THANKSGIVING CRITTERS - MARCH 2016

PILLOW COLLAGE FROM the collection - MAY 2016 (1yr in length)

What I want to share with you is that many of you may not know that it takes anywhere from 8-10 weeks to get a hand painted canvas from the distributor (if you are lucky- remember they are at the mercy of the painters in most cases).  Now, add to that the time that it takes your LNS to be able to order it - maybe a couple more weeks up to a month from the time you contact them to order.  Next thing you know your time has lapsed and you are ready for class but you have not received your canvas.  So if you know for sure you may want to take the class your first priority should be to order the canvas.  (And guess what?  That sorta spreads out the expenses, right?)  I try to alert you of known trunk shows because I know some of them offer a discount and every little bit helps!

Invoices for classes do not go out until about a month before the actual class so that is pretty far off in the future still.  Other than the S.O.S. in CyberSpace class, all classes are $150 for the 6-lesson packet.  The Pillow Collage class, even though a year in length, is the same price we will just be issuing lessons every other month - there is a lot going on in this design!

We have so many more exciting things planned for you for the future but this should give you a good start for planning.  Remember that holidays and birthdays, Mother's Day, etc. all present excellent opportunities to say here is what I want and here is how you get it for me!  

OTHER GOINGS ON!

 I believe registration is still open for the EGA National Seminar in San Antonio, TX - ummmmm The River Walk, the Alamo, etc., etc.  Here is the link  http://www.egausa.org/index.php/registration-2015.  Event October 28-November 1, 2015.

I will be teaching two classes there - first I have the Pumpkin Spiced Tea 2-day class - needle felting, stump work, bargello - FUN.  

Next up is a self-finishing ornament Diamonds and Rubies offered in 3 color ways:

It's hard to choose which color to do they are all so beautiful in their own right!  Hurry over and look over this class opportunity before registration closes!

Next up:

Registration information is now available for August 21 and the brochure is online for the EGA Red Sails in the Sunset Seminar in St. Petersburg, FL where I will be teaching Back to the Beach: The Girls Reunited.  Event April 28 - May 1, 2016.

This is a 3 day class.  For details go to EGA's website   http://www.sunregionega.org/seminars-retreats-etc/2016-red-sails-in-the-sunset-5-1/3-day/

Download the registration form and come join us for fun in the sun and embellishing galore - - 

Until next time remember to Stitch with a Smile!

Sandy