a fun time at Peacock Alley Needlepoint

Hi Everybody... Robin here...

Before I take off to teach this weekend at Beth's Needlepoint Nook in Louisville, KY... I MUST finish up with my wonderful time at Peacock Alley Needlepoint last month.

Where did the time go? (I know the answer! Writing the 12 stitch guides for this weekend's class.)

The 2-day event at Peacock Alley Needlepoint was so much fun! You know Sandy is a wonderful hostess: even her tongs match the store's namesake.

Peacock Alley Needlepoint serves up a good time.

Sandy and her gals, Machelle, Holly and Jenny were on hand for the Thursday evening Meet & Greet; complete with yummy hors d'oeuvres, etc.

Machelle and Holly

Jenny

This is how you say Hello.

Look at the wonderful gifts everyone received: a Walker Bag in the beautiful "peacock" colors.

Lovely presents.

Everyone received a Felt Needle Minder Magnet (with a duo purpose: holds your needle and cleans it, too) made especially for Peacock Alley Needlepoint!

Pretty "peacock" colors.

Here's my Walker Bag with goodies, too... complete with the Felt Needle Minder Magnet, Peacock Magnet, Graph Paper Note pad, Pen, and a special Peacock color beaded-Chatelaine to keep my scissors and needle threader near to me. Thanks, Sandy.

Beautiful and functional, too.

Class was Friday & Saturday. The guides had been written & the thread kits were pulled. Everyone was able to start stitching immediately.

Diane and Stephanie 

Dawn and Jeannine

Terri, Lizette, and Emily from Arkansas

Janet

Dot selected Machelle Sommerville's "Second Chances" canvas (MS-36). Lovely colors.

"Second Chances" by Machelle Somerville
Stitch Guide by Robin King

It was nice seeing Dot again.

Look at the fun threads, ribbons, and Beads for the "White Rabbit" (AS724).

Betsy is going to enjoy stitching the "White Rabbit."
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Saturday: another day of being pampered. We had Chamber of Commerce weather. 

Delightful

More nourishment

Would you like a Mimosa?

Emily's bird is looking good.

Stitches were confirmed, new friendships were made. My job was done... big smiles.

The 2014 "graduates"
Enhancement Class with Robin King
Peacock Alley Needlepoint

A fun time was had by all. 

See you next year at Peacock Alley Needlepoint

These stitch guides are now available. Email me at creativecats@comcast.net if you are interested.

New stitch guides by Robin King.

New stitch guides by Robin King.

Until the next time... HUGS, Robin

New stitch guides and a stitch for you

Hi Everybody... Robin here...

I'm back home from Michigan, and went directly into stitch guide writing mode. Sorry for being so quiet. I know that's not a good thing.

Here are the stitch guides for my next teaching event at Beth's Needlepoint Nook in Louisville, KY.

A new group of stitch guides by Robin King
 soon to become available... mid-September 2014.

Look at the Amish Quilts and Wild Horses by Danji, 4 Sandra Gilmore canvases (a record!), 2 Strictly Christmas stockings (another record!), Puppy Dogs x2, Many Birds by Zecca, and No Name Chicken... oh, my!

I do plan on writing a wonderful review of my time at Peacock Alley Needlepoint. We sure had fun.

So until then... here's a stitch for you. Let me know where you see it being used.

Until then... Hugs, Robin

Teaching at Peacock Alley Needlepoint 2014 - part 1

Hi Everybody... Robin here...

Today I am traveling to Peacock Alley Needlepoint in Ada, Michigan for 2 days of Canvas Enhancement classes: August 1 & 2, 2014.

Heading back to the Mitten State

Blog readers will remember all of the good times I had there last year. I'm so fortunate to be asked to return again.

This time there were 9 stitch guides to write, and Peacock Alley Needlepoint has pulled the threads. We will have two days devoted to stitch development and all things for the love of needlepoint.

Let's look and see which canvases will be in the class...

5 new stitch guides by Robin King

4 new stitch guides by Robin King

There are two Melissa Shirley canvases, as well as a Machelle Somerville canvas, a Melissa Prince canvas, a EWE & Eye canvas, a Sandra Gilmore canvas,  a Charley Harper canvas,  a Birds of a Feather canvas, and the classic Lee's Needle Arts canvas. Quite a wonderful assortment.

Look at the colorful threads pulled for "Second Chances" by Machelle Somerville. There will be beads added for a little bling, too. Pretty Peacock-y colors, wouldn't you agree?

"Second Chances" by Machelle Somerville (MS-036)
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Machelle is the General Manager at Peacock Alley Needlepoint, as well as one of the hottest designers in needlepoint today. You can see her canvas line at Fleur de Paris.

Here's the link: Fleur de Paris - Machelle Somerville

I will take photos and will post them upon my return. It is fun seeing these canvases come to life.

Leo, the cat, wanted to say hello. He's the best suitcase-packing helper.

Until the next time... HUGS, Robin

Teaching at Peacock Alley Needlepoint 2013

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Back home from teaching at Peacock Alley Needlepoint in Ada, Michigan. Oh, what a fun time. Let me share with you...

Welcome Sign
Artfully drawn by designer, Machelle Somerville.

Thursday evening was the Meet & Greet. There were 12 women in attendance for my Canvas Enhancement class: one from the Chicago area, two from Cleveland Ohio, many from Michigan (both local and hours away), and one from Memphis. It was the first time to be in Sandy's shop for many of us. We made good use of the available time and began pulling threads for the canvases.

I can not think of one thread line not represented at Peacock Alley Needlepoint... what a joy!

Friday morning the class began. To our excitement, we each had a wonderful gift from Peacock Alley: a heavy duty canvas tote with our name embroidered on it.

Here's my bag.

But, wait... look at the reverse side. Sweet!

Awesome way to remember an event.
Thanks to all at Peacock Alley Needlepoint.

Here are some of the canvases with their thread layouts:

Sailboats • SharonG • SCT-24
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Summer Tree • Machelle Somerville • MS-23
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Sunny Side Up! • Kelly Clark & Dan DiPaolo • KDP 11-18
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Girls at Beach • TS Designs • 6161
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Halloween March • Susan Roberts • TTAL108
Stitch Guide by Robin King

We laughed and shared stories. Some stitching even was done. It is always nice to see the plan come to life...

Stitched by Cheryl.

Stitched by Jamie.

Stitched by Teri.

Stitched by Jeannine.

Stitched by Anne.

Everyone received a Peacock Alley Needlepoint graph paper note pad. It was most handy for me to use as I further explained the stitch guide directions. (You should see me play a game of Pictionary. LOL.)

A picture is worth a thousand words.

We received more gifts through out the event. Everyone received a Peacock Alley Needlepoint beaded scissor fobs (in Peacock colors). Note the pretty Peacock charm.

Peacock Alley Needlepoint scissors fob.

There were also Cookies! 

Peacock Alley Needlepoint cookie.

 Locally baked and decorated with the Peacock Alley logo. So tasty!

Yes. They were that good.

During class, I showed technique demonstrations related to someone's stitch guide: Colonial Knot, Colonial Running Rose, Twisted Lazy Daisy, Gathered Flair, and how to make a Kreinik Twisted Cord.

We received a wonderful lesson from Judy: how to use a discard thread when stitching the background. Judy was stitching the background of the Charley Harper piece, Cardinals Consorting (HC-C172). 

Stitched by Judy.

Note the discard thread Judy used to work the background stitch through the Cardinal. Once she made it to the other side, she will continue again with the pretty overdyed thread. Then, the discard thread will be pulled out and thrown away. It's always fun to witness an "ahh-ha" moment.

Our lunches were catered by the class angel, Laurie. She is the best!

There were good eats at Peacock Alley Needlepoint.

I had the best time teaching at Peacock Alley Needlepoint. I believe everyone had a good time, too. Hopefully they will send me photos of their progress.

Anne working on the Haunted House Banner.

Canvas Enhancement Class with Robin King August 2013
A good time was had by all.

Well, time to get ready for my next travel and deadlines. Until then... Hugs!  Robin