The Nimble Needle-Atlanta experience - part 1

Hi Everybody... Robin here...

I wanted to let you know about the wonderful time I had teaching at The Nimble Needle-Atlanta last month. I was there for 3 days... action-packed fun-filled days.

The Nimble Needle
Sandy Springs, GA

The first day was what we called the "Help is on the Way" class. People came in with their work-in-progress canvases and asked my help... getting stitch suggestion for certain areas on their canvas. The day was divided up into appointments by the hour. It was a most productive day.

The second and third days were "Canvas Enhancement" classes. By definition, the canvases had been previously sent to me to write a detailed stitch guide.

The suggested threads were pulled (with fabulous teamwork from The Nimble Needle-Atlanta) so when it was each person's turn, I was able to talk with them about the complete stitch guide vision.

There were 8 canvases on the first day and 8 canvases on the second day.

We had a funny, yet effective, way of keeping time: we used the clock feature on the Smart Phone. When the bell rang, it was time to move onto the next person. Kind of like Speed Dating? LOL.

Here are some of the beauty shots of the canvases with their thread layouts:

Lawn Mowers • Ewe & Eye • EWE 259
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Melons and Peaches • Colors of Praise • FF111
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

The Fourth • Sandra Gilmore • SG-18-295
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Bunny with Flower • Maggie Co.  • M-919
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Approaching the Skies • Quail Run • QR-020A
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Cookies • Maggie Co. • M-1206
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Tree Tallit Bag • Sew Much Fun
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Pagoda Birdhouse • Melissa Prince Designs • A134
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

These canvases were also there for the Canvas Enhancement classes...

Who Gives a Hoot? • JP Designs  • DDB 003
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Slippers • Colors of Praise • MC226
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Large Tulip Field 2 and Small Tulip Field 1 • Jean Smith • 169B and 169C
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Stand Up Santa • Alexa • SC 112
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

Witch Tree Skirt • Melissa Shirley Designs • MSD 552
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

I showed some demonstrations of the Colonial Running Rose for the Flower Pot in front of the Boylan's Pub...

It is always fun to do a demonstration.

and the Twisted Lazy Daisy for one of the Witch's Hair on the Witch Tree Skirt...

Love to show and share what I know.

Dining was a treat as well. We went to Table & Main located in Roswell, GA. Their slogan: Simple, Seasonal, and Southern. Definitely worth going.

Another meal was at Seed located in Marietta, GA. Remember I've mentioned my fondness for clever restroom signage? Seed did not disappoint. Here's an example of the chairs; the legs are hand-dipped in red paint...

Seed Restaurant

... and so are the restroom signs... very clever.

Seed Restaurant

Seed Restaurant

The pinnacle meal was at Bacchanalia located in Atlanta, GA whose offering was a five-course prix fixe menu composed of two small appetizer courses, an entrée course, cheese course and dessert course. Oh, my goodness. I selected the Chocolate Cake with Mint Ice Cream for dessert. I can still taste the freshly picked naturalness of the Mint.

Dessert at Bacchanalia

I'll be back to The Nimble Needle-Atlanta the first week in February 2014 for more "Help is on the Way" and "Canvas Enhancement" classes. Their canvases have already started to roll in... so far both are Charley Harper designs. What a treat!

I have more to share with you about The Nimble Needle-Atlanta adventure. The stitchers brought in their finished pieces from my previous "Canvas Enhancement" class in April. Let's do it next time, OK?

Wishing each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Nutcracker
Christian Ulbricht

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

Autumn Blossoms (LL 532) is finished

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Remember we just spoke about the PFOS event... and all the many canvases...

Patricia Sone, extraordinary stitcher/teacher at Creative Stitches, Dallas TX, was in the class. Her selected canvas was "Autumn Blossoms" by Labors of Love (LL 532).

Autumn Blossoms • Labors of Love • LL 532

I really enjoyed working on the stitch guide and pulling the threads. I was smitten with her outfit.

Vineyard Silk Top Jacket... yummy warm.

I had an idea about the Top Jacket, and had an idea about the Green Dress, but really studied the Vest to make it special.

Inspiration was found in one of my Brenda Hart book. (If you don't have each of her books you are really missing something!) I took her stitch (one of the Kennan Variations) and then morphed it into the stitch of my needs.

Patricia is a very fast stitcher; during the class she made strides of coverage. Each flower treatment was discussed. It was fun watching this canvas come to life.

Pretty Pansy with Buttonhole Technique

Marigold Mums with Ribbon Embroidery

Imagine how surprised I was to receive an email from Patricia last week. She had finished "Autumn Blossoms" and sent me the photo. Remember, the PFOS event was only 6 weeks ago!

Autumn Blossoms • Labors of Love • LL 532
Stitch Guide available from Robin King

I was thrilled beyond words and wanted to share with all the blog readers. Thank you, Patricia!

Well, back to writing guides and doing some stitching for a fun upcoming project, too. (Can't wait to share the news with you!)

Next up on the blog will be my review from teaching at The Nimble Needle-Atlanta.  It was a weekend-full of Canvas Enhancement classes. Wait till you see those guides!

Until then... Hugs, Robin

The PFOS wrap up

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

It dawned on me I never did tell you about my wonderful time teaching at the Pocket Full of Stitches Retreat in September. Well, so sorry! Let's talk about it now.

Traveling from Memphis to Lubbock

When last we spoke I was getting ready to fly from Memphis to Lubbock, TX; a very surprising distance indeed! It took the same length of time to go from Memphis to Dallas as it did to go from Dallas to Lubbock. Yes, Texas is a big state!

From the airport, we checked into the hotel (a very nice hotel!), and then went to Pocket Full of Stitches. What a store. Megan Lewis is the owner. She has a very dedicated network of employees lovingly called the Pockettes. Canvases, threads, accessories, Texas stuff, books, DVDs... they really have it all. PFOS (pronounced P-FOS) was one of the first needlepoint shops to have an online internet business. They were ground-breaking then, and are still going strong today!

The place was buzzing with their "regular" Thursday stitching group. Nice ladies and wonderful stitchers. They made me feel very welcome. Soon, the Retreat people started to arrive. It was fun meeting everyone... putting names and faces to the canvases.

So, now I can mention the Retreat details. There were 20 different women attending, each with their own selected canvas. I wrote their 20 stitch guides and pulled their threads. The common theme was Halloween/Autumn/Fall/Harvest. What a delicious group of canvases. I had so much fun!

Friday morning was the first day of the Retreat. The event started with the "Parade of Canvases." The Pockettes delivered the Large PFOS Tote bag, canvas, guide, threads, a souvenir Magnet, souvenir Snap Tray, Small PFOS Project Bag with needles, and a PFOS notebook to each lady. It was like Christmas morning.

Soon everyone settled in, and I went to each person, described the stitch guide vision, and answered  questions. Let the stitching begin!

Friday evening we were treated to the most tasty meal I have had in a long time: Smokey BBQ Chicken, Beef Brisket, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, and Peach Cobbler. OMG. Bone cleaning good!

Smokey good.

We had a special visitor that night: Rhea Irish, the former owner of PFOS. As it turned out September was a milestone for  Pocket Full of Stitches: it was their 30th birthday of being in business. Congratulations to them, indeed.

Megan and Rhea

Saturday was another delightful day: questions were answered, demonstrations were given, and more fun was had getting to know each stitcher. This event was truly a special sisterhood.

As the canvases were stitched my visions came to life. Very exciting.

Thanksgiving Basket • Melissa Shirley Designs • MSD 1700
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Harvest Scarecrow • Ruth Schmuff Designs • RS 9050
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Bella and Stella • Mile High Princess • MH2674
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Autumn Banner • Melissa Shirley Designs • MSD MLT 284
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Pumpkin  • Cheryl • CH41
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Halloween Patchwork • Kelly Clark • KCA 013-18
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Who Said That? • Cooper Oaks • WK2050
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Neighbors • Ewe & Eye • EWE 88
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Thomas the Scarecrow • Melissa Shirley Designs • MSD DM51-D
Stitch guide available from Robin King

FALL • Raymond Crawford • HO-363
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Autumn Blossoms • Labors of Love • LL532
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Sheep with Pumpkins • Ewe & Eye • EWE 360
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Fall Heart • Pat Thode • HS 2115
Stitch guide available from Robin King

The Witch in In! • Raymond Crawford • HW 76
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Haunted House • Ewe & Eye • EWE 295
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Halloween Night • Ruth Schmuff Designs • RS8174
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Patchwork Turkey • CBK • ESG-PL04
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Halloween Patchwork • Kelly Clark • KCA 013-18
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Halloween Village • Melissa Shirley Designs • MSD 1627-C
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Autumn Floral • Amanda Lawford • AL 22060
Stitch guide available from Robin King

Saturday evening we were on our own for dinner, and then everyone regrouped for a stitch-in at the Hotel. Even I did some stitching! Thanks to Pat T. She let me borrow her ornament, and I stitched the light plum area doing the T Stitch with the Kreinik size 8 Braid. It was just what I needed.

Be Merry Xmas Star • Kirk & Bradley • KH384

Sunday was our last day. Last minute questions were asked: "show me again"... "is this what you meant?"... "when are you coming back?"..."what's your email?" Friendships were bonded. My soul was fulfilled. It was a very fun experience teaching at PFOS. Thank you, Megan! See you in 2015.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

P.S. Each of my stitch guides are available. If you are interested, just let me know. Email: creativecats@comcast.net.