TNNA/Columbus 2012 - wrap up - part 2

Hi Everybody...  Robin here...

I have the Way-Back Machine waiting for you. Let's continue my story from TNNA/Columbus and go to What's The Point? Needlepoint, shall we?

I had been invited to teach the Sunflower and Berries canvas by NeedleDeeva (ND 309). Stumpwork, Beading, Silk Ribbon Embroidery, and composite stitches make this 8x8 design fun to stitch. And, don't forget, the canvas comes with my stitch guide.

Have you been to What's the Point? Needlepoint in downtown historic Dublin, Ohio? Located just outside of Columbus, their shop is filled with canvases, threads, accessories, and wonderment. Quaint, charming, and magical are the best words I can describe. Lynn and Becky (owners) have a jewel of a needlepoint shop. They even have a nice employee named Kitty. Too cute!

What's The Point? Needlepoint
Dublin, OH • www.whatsthepoint.biz

Class was held right across the street in the Dublin Chamber of Commerce conference room. Spacious, great lighting, comfortable chairs and a place to spread out... what else could you ask for? 

Most of the women attending the class were local to the Columbus area, but there were two ladies who drove down from Cleveland to take the class. Too cool.

The morning session covered the Stumpwork portion of the canvas. Look at these Strawberries. Everyone did really good. What a success!

Lunch was served back over at the shop and we ate outside under the shaded trees.  I believe Lynn & Becky had even ordered the Chamber of Commerce Weather Package; it was 83 degrees with a gentle breeze. Purr-fect.

The afternoon session focused on the rest of the stitch guide. Every detail was discussed. I believe I left them in good standing for what to do next.

I traveled back home the next day... to Memphis. 

Jim Neely's Interstate Bar-B-Que
Convenient locations including the Memphis International Airport

Home of BBQ, the Blues, Elvis and the HEAT. I know most of you are experiencing this heat, too. Crazy!

Best take a cue from Leo... and stay cool.

Glad to be home... I missed my mews. Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

TNNA/Columbus 2012 - wrap up - part 1

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Back home from an exciting TNNA/Columbus Market and teaching at
What's The Point? Needlepoint in Dublin, OH.

Step with me into the Way-Back Machine as I recap this wonderful experience...

Most of my time was spent working in the NeedleDeeva booth. Here is what the
Fab Firs looked like all together. The 6-foot Fab Firs banner was a nice beacon to draw people towards them.

Join the next Retailer's Club by NeedleDeeva
Fab Firs • Stitch Guides by Vicky De Angelis

The new NeedleDeeva designs were well received, too:  13 Christmas Cupcakes,
3 Cats and the Sugar Skulls that I am stitching (stitch guides available).

Can you guess which Skull goes with this preview? They are so much fun to stitch. Bring on the bling!

NeedleDeeva
0453-C • Stitch Guide by Robin King

I finally took the time to walk the floor and visit friends/designers. How exciting is it to call them by their first names... and, for them to know mine! Here are some of the new canvases which caught my eye at the Maggie Co / Ewe & Eye booths. I love anything mid-century modern so these really spoke to me.

Maggie Co
Blue Bird •  M-1488
In the Pink •  M-1487

Maggie Co
Mod Holiday Dove • M-1597

You know I had to include a cat canvas...

Ewe & Eye
EWE 391KB • Brown Cat

and my usual and customary fondness for anything Santa...

Ewe & Eye
EWE 390KB • Fat Santa

and Pumpkins, too...

Ewe & Eye
EWE 373KB • Pumpkin in Vase

I really enjoyed seeing the artwork by Lisa Krause from Deuxbijouxbijoux. Lisa lives in Arkansas with her husband, Jim, and designs hand-painted frames to coordinate with the Maggie Co and Ewe & Eye canvases. Just look at this frame for Sheep Quilt. I love it. Your local needlepoint shop can order these.

Hand-painted Frame by Lisa Krause
EWE-359 • Sheep Quilt

The class I taught at TNNA (Lotus Squared • ZE 134 by Zecca) for the shop owners was a success. Originally, I was told there were 10 who signed up... and then 14... and finally 15. How exciting to see all of their faces. Shop owners from Alabama, Ohio, Tennessee, Minnesota, Baltimore, Arizona, Indiana, Texas, Pittsburgh, and Hawaii were in attendance.

One of those dry eraser boards was brought in for my demonstrations and illustrations. A picture is worth 1,000 words, right?

Early plans were also made with some designers and shop owners for future stitching and teaching events. I will keep you in the loop as those materialize. Perhaps you could join me? Here's the schedule for the next upcoming markets. Whew! Who knew the needlepoint industry worked at such a fast pace?

On Monday afternoon, the Market came to an end... and it was time to pack up the NeedleDeeva booth. Soon after that, I was whisked away for my teaching of the Sunflower and Berries (ND 309) canvas at What's The Point? Needlepoint.

Sounds like a good stopping point for now. Next time we will pick up from here...  Until then...

Hugs, Robin

Have Teaching Manual - Will Travel

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Happy Father's Day to all reading this blog. I credit my dad for many of my creative talents. Sure do miss him.

This week is the "gotta get it done" week because I will be heading to Columbus, Ohio to teach the Lotus Squared class at TNNA, work the NeedleDeeva booth, and then to teach at What's the Point? Needlepoint shop in Dublin, OH. Exciting times are ahead, for sure.

Thread Kits for Lotus Squared • Zecca •  ZE 134

The Thread Kits for the Lotus Squared are kitted and ready to travel. All threads for the TNNA class were donated from these following wonderful companies. Be sure to patronize them when possible. Their generosity is greatly appreciated:

• DMC Corp. - Embroidery Floss and DMC Memory Thread
• Gloriana - Silk Ribbon Floss
• Kreinik - Kreinik Braid size 8
• Rainbow Gallery - Flair, Neon Rays, Splendor
• River Silks Ribbon - 4MM
• Wichelt Imports - Mill Hill size 6〫Glass Beads and Antique Glass Beads

Then, I printed and bagged the stitch guides. Zecca did the artwork for the cover sheet. I love her style. There are a few more seats available in the Saturday morning class. If you are a shop owner going to Market, be sure to consider spending 8AM - 10AM with me.

I also made my Lotus Squared Teaching Manual. It is a tradition I do for each teaching event. It is the same text as the stitch guides with large print and one design element printed per page. The charted stitch with a behind-the-scene photo are also printed as a reminder of what I did and when/how I did it.

Each page is then put into a sleeve protector and into a binder which has a place for front cover and binder edge information.

Blog readers who have been with me from the beginning may remember my earlier teaching manuals.

I also have the Sunflower and Berries Teaching Manual ready to go with me because I will be teaching the class at What's the Point? Needlepoint in Dublin, OH right after Market on Tuesday, June 26th.

My collection of Teaching Manuals is a reminder of the commercial stitch guides I have written. Looking forward to more opportunities... beginning in Columbus.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

Robin is teaching at What's The Point? Needlepoint

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Look what I found on the internet: the newsletter from What's The Point? Needlepoint (located in Dublin, Ohio).

Robin is teaching at What's The Point? Needlepoint
1-614-717-9008
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 in Dublin, OH

http://www.whatsthepoint.biz/news_postcard.pdf

Looks like I am in good company, right? Melissa Shirley to my left and Vicky de Angelis to my right. How cool is that?

I'll be back with my intended blog on Nutcrackers. Just wanted to share this late breaking news with you.

If you are in the Columbus, Ohio area .... and, are even closer to Dublin, OH... join in the fun of the Sunflower and Berries class on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. It will be great to meet you. You will learn a lot and have fun all at the same time... Guaranteed.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

Needlepoint Bermuda Bags

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

It's Monday. Hope everyone had a nice weekend. This morning, I just finished posting some new canvases to Amy's website: Bermuda Bag covers from What's the Point? Designs.

I was searching the needlepoint Bermuda Bag topic and (of course!) the first Google search I ran across was our dear friend, Jane/Chilly Hollow. She has already discussed that topic in April 2011.

Here is her link: http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/04/bermuda-bags.html

The Bermuda Bag was popular in the 1970's. (I still have my navy Bermuda Bag.) Glad to see the classics come back in style; entering our needlepoint world, too.

So, today, I will further add to the Bermuda Bag topic by sharing some of the photos I took at the TNNA/Columbus June 2011.

We were in the What's the Point? Designs booth; Jill, from Amy's, was with me. She became quite animated over what she was seeing on their wall: Bermuda Bag canvases! They had a finished model, too. Generously, they allowed me to photograph their bag. (Note: thanks to Jill for being the Hand Model, too.)

In June 2011 they had 3 designs:  Tulip Bermuda Bag Cover (219A), Stripe Bermuda Bag Cover (219C), and Confetti Bermuda Bag Cover (219D). Each are on 14 mesh.

Here's a closer look. They stitched one canvas for the front side and had fabric attached to the other side. So clever.

The canvas is attached with buttons. Notice how the arch of the buttons placement on the canvas mimics the arch on the Bermuda Bag form.

Being the thoughtful blogger that I am, I called What's the Point? to see if they had any more designs since the June 2011 Market. Yes, they did have new designs. I spoke with Lynn (a very nice lady!) and through the wonders of technology, Lynn sent the following photos. (These designs are so new... they aren't on their website, yet. Lucky you.)

Mannequin One • 219E 

Damask • 219G

Golf Design

Lynn's own Bermuda Bag with Monogram

What's the Point? wears 2 hats: a wholesale company called What's the Point? Designs as well as a retail needlepoint shop called What's the Point? Needlepoint; both located in Dublin, Ohio. The Bermuda Bags are listed under the Linda Lahm Designs heading of their website. Write down the number and ask your LNS to order, too.

Here's the link: http://whatsthepoint.biz/bermudabagspics.htm

What's the Point? is also on Facebook, too. Here's their Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whats-The-Point/81793177236

So, if you are interested in that retro-feel... consider a needlepoint Bermuda Bag. The beauty of the button-attachment is to change it out related to the season or your mood. The canvases are perfect for adding a monogram. What's the Point? has the best finishers, too.

Until the next time... Thanks, Robin