Baltimore Market: Saturday... part 1

Hi Everybody... Robin here... in Baltimore.

On Saturday the Market began. Yes, there were the Early Bird sales on Friday evening from Participating Designers, but the main hustle and bustle began on Saturday morning.

The Embassy Suites was an interesting location for this Cash & Carry Market. I liked the atrium feel of the place.

The Designers were mainly on floors 5, 6, and 7. Many banners were hung to announce their location.

Also, the windows were decorated with lights and signage.

Here's the little Halloween Tree with all of the Creeps. They got peoples' attention, for sure. The kittens, Leo & Lana, picked out the right tree.

Team Deeva wrote more orders for the Creeps. As a Cash & Carry Market, shop owners were able to come in and purchase canvases for their shop to begin stitching their own Creeps. It was fun to put names with faces of the shop owners. It was a good day. I'll be back soon with more about Saturday (part 2) as well as my teaching experience at Bedecked & Beadazzled. Thanks, Robin

Teaching and Feasting in Baltimore

Hi Everybody... Robin here... in Baltimore.

On Friday afternoon I taught the Fraidy Cat class to the Shop Owners attending the Baltimore Fall Market.  Yes, what you have read on other blogs is true: the arrival of the Fraidy Cat canvases were delayed one day beyond the teaching class. ( Déjà vu 2, anyone?) Luckily, this time we had  advanced notice and were able to devise a Plan B. Practice canvases were provided to the students thanks to Ruth Schmuff/Bedecked & Beadazzled, and we stitched our way through the stitch guide. Judee/NeedleDeeva came to the class and gave each student a Hooty Owl canvas as a "we apologize" gesture. Fraidy Cat did arrive the next day and all is right with the world.

Friday evening was a lovely dinner spent with a great group of people including Leigh Designs, Be Stitched Needlepoint, Sharon G, Team Deeva, Missy G and beau, and Stitchers Inc. We went to Kali's Court; ranked high on the Missy G favorites list.

My quest for crab continued. But I also tried some other food as well. I ordered off the Appetizers Menu: Cheese Tray, a chilled Gazpacho soup with Lump Crab meat, and Sea Scallops with Crab Ravioli & Goat Cheese. HEAVEN.

Oh, I forgot to mention the cocktail of the evening: the French Martini. I'm gonna do some more research on that drink. Ooo la la...  I really had the best time, and it's only Friday. More days to come. Thanks, Robin

I'd like the Crab again, Please

Hi Everybody... Robin here... from Baltimore.

Crab Tour 2011 continues. Let me tell you... Maryland people know how to do Crabs!

Friday morning I joined Missy G (from Baltimore), Sharon G (yes, the designer!... not related to Missy G), Vicky De Angelis (yes, the stitcher/Team Deeva compadre) for breakfast at Miss Shirley's Cafe. It was one of Missy's favorites restaurants. I was a Missy-lemming. I KNEW I didn't need to re-invent the wheel... just ask Missy what she has had in the past, and go with that!

First off was the Breakfast Cocktail... a Spirited Beverage, if you will. I had the Pink Lemonade with the Blues. I live in Memphis. I know the Blues. Let me tell you.. this was wonderful. Here's the direct description for those playing along at home:

Pink Lemonade with The Blues

Strawberry Lemonade & Stoli Blueberry Vodka

Garnished with Blueberries, Strawberry, Lemon & Rock Candy Swizzle Stick with a Sugar Rim

Missy ordered a plate of Fried Green Tomatoes for the table as well as Sweet Potato French Fries with Lemon Aioli for one dipping sauce and Mango Ketchup for the other dipping sauce. Heaven.

I could have stopped there... but I didn't. Next, we ordered our main dish. 

(Wait for it... what do you think I ordered?) I ordered the Crab Cake & Green Fried Tomatoes Eggs Benedict. I'll break it down for you:  Poached Eggs, Mini Jumbo Lump MD Crab Cakes on top of Fried Green Tomatoes,  Corn & Tomato Relish with Asparagus & Old Bay Hollandaise Sauce. So plentiful. So wonderful. I ate what I could and brought the rest home for lunch. 

It was a great way to start the day. Big thanks to Missy G. She is the ultimate Hostess, indeed. Next on the agenda was to check in with the Deeva as well as prepare for teaching the Fraidy Cat canvas. I'll report on it later. Thanks, Robin

Be sure to try the Crab Cakes!

Hi Everybody... Robin here... in Baltimore.

The flight from Memphis to Baltimore was bumpy but that didn't stop me from making Bullion Knots. I brought this Kathy Schenkel piece, "Mummy & Spider" as one of my travel pieces. Needlepoint Study Hall readers might remember it was mostly finished except for the Spider. Here's the link to Mr. Mummy goes to Nashville.

I think the Frosty Rays Spider Legs look nice. His body is stitched with Fuzzy Stuff. I changed up the original design to give him a red smiling mouth and pumped up the volume for his eyes. Remember... it's all about the EYES.

Team Deeva arrived at the hotel and finding a dinner location was next on the agenda. Greg, the Deeva's husband, picked a fabulous restaurant, G&M Restaurant and Lounge. OMG. What a night. It was packed; you could tell it was the place to be.

Our waitress recommended the crab cakes, and I am glad she did. I got a single crab cake (bigger than my fist, it was!) with cole slaw and french fries on the side. The bar has now been set for the ultimate crab cake. YUM.

Here's a pic of Vicky De Angelis, Judee/NeedleDeeva and me. Team Deeva is in the House. Let's get this show started. More to come... from Baltimore. Thanks, Robin

Creepy Characters helpers

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

I have helpers. Good kitten helpers.

Lana and Leo are assessing the small Halloween Tree selected to travel to Baltimore for display in the NeedleDeeva room at TNNA/Fall Market. I also found my ORANGE mini-lights and my PURPLE mini-lights for decorating the display window. Plus, I am bringing my favorite Black Feather Wreath to also display the Creeps. I'll be posting photos once things are decorated.

The Ghost and the Skeleton arrived from the finishers yesterday. Once again, the workmanship from Elizabeth Turner Collection in Lexington, KY is awesome. All of my Creepy Characters are with me and ready to travel. Here is a quick photo of them. Both are stitched with the Neon Rays Plus NP300 Glow in the Dark. I'll be teaching the Skeleton at Ruth Schmuff's shop, Bedecked & Beadazzled, on Sunday. Looking forward to that experience, for sure.

My suitcase is packed. Carry-on bag is manageable. NOW, it's time to figure out what stitching to bring for airplane traveling. I will go through my other works in progress to see what is small enough for the trip. (Sure do with I had another Creepy Character to work on; they are just the right size.)

Here's one last photo. Pat took the pix of Leo and surprised me with it. He said, "Here's one you didn't know about." So true. I think it's one of my favorites. That's all for now. Next time it will be from Baltimore. Thanks, Robin

Creepy Characters stitch guide manual

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

I'm on the less than one week count down to Baltimore... 4 days, to be exact. I've got my teaching manual all ready to go and though I would share what I've been doing.

Needlepoint Study Hall readers might remember in the past I made individual manuals for each teaching piece.

This time I went LARGE. I've got a 2" wide 3-ring binder to house all of the 9 Creepy Characters stitch guides plus the 10th Character (Skeleton ND 0467-J) available through Ruth Schmuff/Bedecked & Beadazzled.

Then I purchased the Avery Ready Index Table of Contents Dividers 11135, 10-Tab Set, to separate each stitch guide. It worked out just fine because there were 10 pieces total. I used different fonts for each Creepy Character... setting a mood, if you will. I am most happy when I can do an art project.

And, I put the pages in sheet protectors. I love sheet protectors, don't you?

Well, back to my list of things to do; it's a long one, as you can imagine. I'm printing The Pumpkin (ND 0467-A) stitch guides because they are shipping to NeedleDeeva right after Baltimore. Be sure to tell your LNS you want to stitch the Creeps. Stitch one or stitch them all. You'll have fun. I know I did. Thanks, Robin

Elliot Stitch

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

I have the printer revving at high RPMs; printing the Creepy Characters stitch guides. I am bringing them with me to Baltimore for the TNNA Fall Market Cash & Carry. The Shop Owners are anxious to get the Creeps in their hands for their customers.

As I was reviewing each stitch guide, I came across the Elliot Stitch. Needlepoint Study Hall readers encouraged me to name a stitch after Elliot; this is the one I chose. It is on the light purple background for the Spider Queen (ND 0467-D). It is a nice stitch to use when there are dots with 2 canvas intersections between them.

Elliot Stitch - step 1

Elliot Stitch - step 2

Elliot Stitch - step 3

I'll be posting some of the "behind the scenes" stitching photos of each Creepy Character... beginning with The Pumpkin. And, did you know the Creepy Characters have their own Facebook page? Here's the link... Like them, won't you?  Creepy Characters 2011 by NeedleDeeva

The Creepy Characters are being offered as a monthly series but they can also be purchased individually. Once you stitch one... you just can't stop. I know I had the best time.

Speaking of The Pumpkin (ND 0467-A), NeedleDeeva will begin shipping August 15 the first wave of Creepy Characters to the Participating Retailers. Time to reload the printer and check on the ink levels. I'll be back soon.

Thanks, Robin