Hi All.  Boy it has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog.  Life has gotten in the way – and that is not always a bad thing.

After finally recovering from my pneumonia bout, I had the misfortune of breaking my tibia.  This put me in my first hard cast for 6 weeks.  With this event I also had my first fracture scooter.  I love little kids!  You could just see their little faces wondering why that old woman was on a scooter!  Then from there I got moved to a boot (another first) for 3 more weeks.  This week I got to finally shed the boot and wear a street shoe again.  I have to figure out how to wear the shoe on the broken leg for 9 weeks now so that it matches the other shoe that was worn by itself – LOL. 

Through all this I only had to miss one contracted engagement and that was the NAN Seminar.  Since I was in the hospital the doctors somehow didn’t understand how important the Seminar was.  Hindsight, I don’t know how I thought I was going to manage it anyway.

I will add, however, that the first shop visit I made the week following my dismissal was something else.  I still could not fly so talked my daughter, the other half of Duo Designs, into driving me to Montgomery, AL to fulfill my commitment to The Needle Bug.  I could not have asked for better treatment and understanding – from shop owners and students alike.  It was for me, though, very tough.  I am a control freak and having to wait for someone to bring me something or pull a thread, etc. drove me crazy.  We got through it though and had a good time.

TNNA Indianapolis Market went well with my having the scooter to assist the distance.  It would not have been manageable for me had I not had it.  Again hindsight – I would have rented an electric scooter had I known the distance involved.  But then, Amy Bunger's Baby would not have had someone to flirt with in class if I had not had the scooter.  Classes were great though and everyone tried to spoil me.  My students are the best!

I want to thank everyone for their well wishes, their willingness to be helpful, and their patience.  This is a great industry to be in.

All is well and I think we are back on track. (We won't discuss the fact that my husband slid and fell while cleaning the pond, went to ER, badly bruised knee with fluid which will need to be drained - appt. with orthopedic surgeon tomorrow, and the drama continues!) I have been able to get a lot of stitching done.  I leave next week for EGA SCR Seminar in Ridgecrest, NC, to teach Bright Holiday Tree so this will be my first flight since the incident and first outing without the fracture scooter.  Walker and cane will need to do the job! Wish me luck!

Bright Holiday Tree

When I return from this Seminar I will be visiting some shops for embellishment classes.  The first one will be STITCH in Louisville, and then over to The Needlepoint Clubhouse in St. Louis.

There are a few more in between now and the ANG National Seminar in Chicago where I will be teaching 5 days.  So, as you can see, we are very busy on this end of the Internet and time just doesn’t seem to present itself to allow me to sit and make a posting.  My 4-day class is Back To The Beach: The Girls Reunited and a 1-day class of Beading for Needlework. Rumor has it that one has gone to lottery.  Yea!

Back To The Beach:  The Girls Reunited

Beading for Needlework

For now, seems there is so much I want to share but I’ll call it a day for now and get back to work   and will provide more later.

Remember to stitch with a smile!

Sandy

MYSTERY OF YOLANDA!

Monday is the first lesson posting of the Mystery of Yolanda.  I am so excited!  And, we are still having people sign up.  That, too, is very exciting.  Of course it is never too late to sign up because we all work at our own pace anyway.  The lessons will be there for downloading as the individuals join the group.  What I find fascinating is that we have people from different parts of the world. Who would have thought that a Day of the Dead canvas would stretch so far.  Maybe the attraction is what drew my eye - all the beautiful, happy colors! Beads maybe?  Ribbons maybe?  Technique possibilities maybe?

Just drop of that email to duodesignsinc@yahoo.com if you would still like to join us and we'll get you all fixed up.  There are some groups that are meeting at shops and having fun stitch-ins to chat and make it a social event and I envy them the fun that I know they are going to have!

Well until Monday when the stitches start flowing . . .

Sandy

Good Morning!

Gosh, it seems forever since I have made a post.  Maybe because it has been forever.

I have been quite ill since the first of the year and that is very unusual for me.  Upon inspection by my family doctor we discovered that this nasty feeling of weakness, tiredness, horrible cough, etc., is really and has been, pneumonia.  After stuffing my body with antibiotics, plenty of rest and fantastic spoiling by my husband, and of course proper supervision by an old cat of 22+ years who is himself dying, I can safely say that I am on the mend and I believe starting to feel like my old self.

Things have been happening during this period, however.  Time does not stand still fortunately.  Class selections for EGA and ANG Nationals for 2015 took place the past 2 weeks.  I was honored to have some of my classes selected for the EGA National 2015 to be held in San Antonio.

Here is my new pride and joy   Pumpkin Spiced Tea.  She is such a pretty autumn piece.  Keep in mind that she is just off the stretcher bars and has not been setup nor framed.

She has needle felting added with silk roving - yes silk roving not wool roving.  We are going to have so much fun with this piece.  It is on 14ct. canvas and will work up quickly.  There are lots of fun stitches and threads provided for this 2-day class. Of course I had to throw in a little stump work techniques.

The other class was requested by EGA and is the popular Diamonds and Rubies.  This lovely ornament is a self-finishing design and will be offered in three color ways so you have many choices. 

It has been reformatted to be presented in a more relaxed paced 2-day class. This will even allow some turbo stitchers to finish the ornament and possibly start the finishing process before heading home.  There will be step-by-step demonstrating of finishing in class so that you can make your own needlepoint into the lovely finished product as photographed above.

The downside to this great news is that since EGA got to select first this year, ANG will not be able to offer this class this year.   So, since I proposed the same classes to ANG, I will not be teaching at ANG 2015.  This is the first time in many years that I will be absent from ANG National.  I will miss it terribly but I look forward to my new adventure at the EGA Seminar and hopefully will be able to return to ANG 2016, wherever it may be.

In a few weeks I will be teaching at the NAN Seminar in Troy, Michigan.  To The Beach

is the class that is being taught, and as always, is going to be lots of fun.  The gals signed up for the class seem to be excited and I know they will not be disappointed.

Until next time, remember to Stitch with a Smile!

Sandy

WOW!  Here it is February already.  Where is 2014 going so quickly?

I have been fighting a terrible cough ever since I left TNNA market.  And in spite of my impressions of the south and Alabama, I am freezing while I am teaching down here at Serendipity in Tuscaloosa.  I must say however, that the hospitality is very warm and makes up for the cold weather, sort of.  Every one is wonderful in spite of my short temper and barking cough.

Just wanted to remind those of you already signed up for The Mystery of Yolanda that if you have not already done so to be sure to contact your favorite LNS and order your canvas to give them time to get it in for your first lesson.  Those of you still wanting to participate you have time to join in.  Just send me an email at duodesignsinc@yahoo.com  and we will add you to the list.  I will be setting up a private yahoo group in a few days and you will get an invite to join.  Some have advised that you prefer to receive private emails and not participate in the group and I will respect your wishes.

The first lesson will be invoiced and sent in March.  I am getting excited!

Later,

Remember to stitch with a smile and those of you who are fighting the freezing weather hang in there!

Sandy

THE MYSTERY OF YOLANDA

Did you know that Yolanda is wearing blush?  Yes indeed!  And sparkly blush at that! She is no plain Jane.  And not only that, she is going to be sporting the latest in the new sparkly ribbons that we are going to pick up at market in San Diego.  She is so excited and can't way to see what we bring back for her.

Just imagine all the wonderful places we can incorporated the wonderful new ribbons we are going to explore at Winter Market.  You surely do not want to miss out!  More on that later.

Monthly diagrams, photos and instructions are only $25.  Abbreviated versions will be used for a stitch guide that will be sold commercially later.

Your local shops will have the supplies needed for stitching and we will be posting shops that we have checked with that say that they for sure will have them, so stay tuned for more details.

To sign up send email to:  duodesignsinc@yahoo.com

THE MYSTERY OF YOLANDA

Yolanda Mystery plans are moving right along.  More and more are signing up to participate.  You still have time to join in.  She is going to be so much fun.  Grab some of your friends and plan to meet and work on her together.  What fun and giggles will develop!  I have some shops that are offering stitching space for their customers to meet when the new section of the stitch guide is released and they will share the adventure together.  Doesn’t that sound like a bit of social fun?

Yolanda is a colorful,  beautifully  painted canvas offered by Tapestry Fair.  Her canvas size is 15” x 18”.  So, that means you will need one set of stretcher bars that are 15” and one set of stretcher bars that are 18”.  Don’t forget the tacks or staples, however you choose to affix her to the stretcher bars, to keep her nice and snug.  And while you are at it, and since it is Christmas, if you don’t already have one, a nice floor stand would come in handy, hint, hint, Santa.

For those of you who do not have a local needlepoint shop who can get the Yolanda canvas and supplies for you, I have contacted some of the following shops where I have recently taught and I specifically have asked to be sure that they will be willing to get them for you. They are listed in alphabetical order. Feel free to contact them.  Be sure to ask about stretcher bars as well should you need them.  If you still have a problem you can, of course, always contact me and I'll be happy to represent you.

Bedecked and Beadazzled (MD)

PH: 410-296-0405

www.BedeckedandBeadazzled.com

www.NotYourGrandmothersNeedlepoint.com

Designers Desk (IL)

PH: 630-262-1234 1-800-377-8087

ddesk1@aol.com

www.designersdeskusa.com

Serendipity Needleworks (AL)

PH: 205-758-0108

Ellen@serendipityneedleworks.com

Stitch -  (KY)

PH: 502-384-3424

stitchneedlepoint@gmail.com

The Needle Works (TX)

PH:Toll Free 1-800-851-6931 or local calls (512)451-6931

www.theneedleworks.com

You still have plenty of time, of course, since the first class will not be until March, but some of you are getting anxious.  And some of you are really, really, wanting to have this beautiful thing under the tree for Christmas.  So, anything we can do to enable the stash enhancement we are on the ready!

To sign up just send email to:  duodesignsinc@yahoo.com

Meanwhile, I will be merrily stitching away!

However you may celebrate, best wishes. We celebrate Christmas and we wish you and yours a very Merry, Merry Christmas!

Sandy