Teaching (again) at The Nimble Needle - Atlanta

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Back from recent travels to The Nimble Needle - Atlanta.  What a fun time. Stacy Brown is a lovely shop owner. I was so pleased to be asked to return to her shop for another teaching engagement.

Teaching at The Nimble Needle - Atlanta

I taught the Thistle to an eager crowd of 10 plus ghosts. Inventive Turkey Work, Felt Applique, and fun composite stitch techniques were shared.

Inventive Turkey Work creates a fun Thistle

Everyone had a good time and really enjoyed the size of the canvas: 3.5" x 5.5" on 18 mesh by Zecca. If we had another day together, they would have totally finished the entire project. Sweet.

Want to stitch your own Thistle? Just ask your Favorite Needlepoint Shop to order it from Zecca. My stitch guide comes with the canvas.

Saturday and Sunday were Canvas Enhancement days at The Nimble Needle. Each person (8 per day) pre-selected a canvas for me to "zhuzh" up. What a fun selection, don't you think?

Day One Canvas Enhancement at The Nimble Needle - Atlanta

Day Two Canvas Enhancement at The Nimble Needle - Atlanta

Here are some of the canvases from Saturday with thread selections...

Christmas Fairies Stocking
Susan Roberts - TTAXS336

Daffodils Watercolors
Marcy Covington - 1212

Hooter Baby Owl C
dede Ogden - ED 17081 C

Peacock - Red Leaves
Maggie Co. - 1599

Here are some of the canvases from Sunday with thread selections...

Birch Bark and Birds
Treglown Designs - HC B186

Blue Bird
Maggie Co. - 1488 

Hibiscus in Pot
Melissa Shirley Designs - 867-A

Mom Knows Best
Maggie Co. - 1587

NOEL Acorns
Melissa Shirley Designs - 1515

Owl
DC Designs - 8116

Sunflower Rooster
Alice Peterson Co. - 2314

Three Striped Pots
Maggie Co. - 1457

Aren't beauty shots fun? I do believe everyone enjoyed themselves. I can't wait to see their stitching progress.

If you have these canvases and are interested in my stitch guides... just let me know. Email me: creativecats@comcast.net

I've been home a week, and have been working on other projects: writing stitch guides, stitching models, and answering emails. Oh, and giving many hugs to the Mews. Now, that's a full time job. LOL.

Leo says "Keep Calm and Take a Nap." Smart cat.

Thanks for visiting the blog. Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

2 times 20 Thread Kits for TNNA/Long Beach 2013

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

The Thistle Thread Kits (Zecca ZE 178) have been assembled. Thanks to these wonderful thread and bead companies for their donations: Kreinik, Sundance Designs, Crescent Colours, DMC Corporation, and Rainbow Gallery.

Thistle Thread Kit (Zecca • ZE 178)

Did someone say Kits? Yes, 20 of them... plus Lana.

Thistle Thread Kits (Zecca • ZE 178) and Lana

And... Leo. Both are good helpers.

Thistle Thread Kits (Zecca • ZE 178) and Leo

The Sunglasses Sugar Skull Thread Kits (NeedleDeeva ND 453-D) were assembled, too. Thanks to these wonderful thread and bead companies for their donations: Kreinik, Sundance Designs, Wichelt Imports, DMC Corporation, River Silks Ribbons, The Collection Designs, and Rainbow Gallery.

Sunglasses Sugar Skull  Thread Kit (NeedleDeeva • ND 453-D)

It is very helpful having a large work space when assembling these 20 thread kits. 

Sunglasses Sugar Skull  Thread Kits (NeedleDeeva • ND 453-D)

Informative brochures are included in the Thread Kits

Next on my To-Do List for TNNA/Long Beach: get my Meet The Teacher items together. I am participating in this event: Friday, February 1, from 5:00PM - 6:30PM.

Hopefully, shop owners will stop by my table, meet and consider me for future teaching events in their stores. Fingers crossed. If you are reading this blog, mention my teaching availability to your Favorite Needlepoint Shop. Thanks!

Well, time to get busy says the ticking clock.  Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

4 finished Sugar Skulls ready for TNNA/Long Beach

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

The Sugar Skulls came back from the finisher. Join me in doing my Happy Dance. Thanks to the entire team at Elizabeth Turner Collection; record speed and awesome results, indeed.

The Sugar Skulls (from NeedleDeeva) will be on display (Booths 1261/1360) during the TNNA Market in Long Beach, CA.

Each of the Skulls were finished on a stick with fun, decorative ribbons. I am using a clear vase with small clear glass marbles. Just stick in and enjoy.

Pink Sugar Skull (ND 453C)

Sunglasses Sugar Skull "Elton John" (ND 453D)

NeedleDeeva • Stitch Guides by Robin King

Blue Sugar Skull (ND 453A)

Star Sugar Skull (ND 453E)

NeedleDeeva • Stitch Guides by Robin King

We are ready for our close-ups...

Leo is on set supervising the photo shoot.

"OK, look at the camera and smile."

Someone is "mugging" for attention.

Sugar Skull photobomb

Market is in one week. Tomorrow I will make the thread kits for the two classes. There are still seats available for both classes. Come spend the morning 8AM - 10AM with me (Saturday/Sugar Skull and Sunday/Thistle).

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

A day of rest and reflection

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

I am enjoying this relaxing day: watching the Inauguration festivities and putting away some threads from recently completed projects.

Happy Inauguration / Martin Luther King Holiday.

Ribbons and Beads and Kreinik, oh my!

Soon, though, the frantic pace will be back, and I will be on to the next deadline: kitting the Thread Kits for the 2 TNNA classes.

After TNNA Market, I will also be teaching the Sunflower and Berries (ND 309) at Needle in a Haystack (Montrose, CA) on Tuesday, February 5th from 10AM - 4PM. Give Jody a call (818) 248-7686 to join in the fun.

Needle in a Haystack • Montrose, CA
www.needhay.com

Sunflower and Berries (ND 309) • NeedleDeeva
Canvas  comes with Stitch Guide by Robin King

There might be a nap in my future, too.  Leo is calling.

Leo, a good napping buddy.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

Happy Halloween from The Creeps

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Happy Halloween.

Today's theme is about the Creepy Characters. Purr-fect timing, don't you think?

To review for any new blog readers... the Creepy Characters were a Halloween club/series I stitched/wrote stitch guides for NeedleDeeva. They were offered through many(!) Needlepoint shops, and joyfully, many(!) folks stitched them.

Here are the ones I stitched:

Pumpkin, Devil, Frankenstein, Spider Queen, and Mehitabel
Creepy Characters by NeedleDeeva
Each canvas comes with a stitch guide by Robin King.

Drakula, Fraidy Cat, Hooty, Ghost, and Bones
Creepy Characters by NeedleDeeva
Each canvas comes with a stitch guide by Robin King.

Perhaps you saw their ad in Needlepoint Now?

Add to your Halloween Tree... today.

Or, when Leo & Lana were my helpers during the Creeps photo shoot.

No photo shoot is complete without Leo.

No photo shoot is complete without Lana, too.

Let's not forget the Creeps Apron. Talk about merchandising potential. LOL.

The Creeps apron was a hit during TNNA.

Recently, I have seen photos of some of the finished Creepy Characters stitched by others; both shop owners and customers alike.  I had to share. (Having a proud parent moment, if you will...)

Stitched by Palma Seljan

Stitched by Judy Greer / Needles & Threads of Ruxton
Finishing by Baltimore Needleworks

Cute arrangement by Judy Greer.
Finishing by Baltimore Needleworks

Stitched by Melinda Murphy

Stitched by Pat Thompson
Finished by West Coast Finishing

Stitched by Pat Thompson
Finished by West Coast Finishing

Stitched by Michele Herron
The Bristly Thistle

Stitched by Lori Mazza/ Waste Knot Needlepoint
Finished by Mountain Shadow Studio

Stitched by Lizette Walker Thomas

The Creeps were proud to inspire Lizette's first Halloween Tree.

Be sure to send me your finished Creeps photos. I will post them to the Creepy Characters' Facebook page as well as onto the NeedleDeeva website and Facebook page.

Have a safe Halloween. Until the next time...

Boo! Robin

Teaching Manuals

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Just finished creating my Teaching Manual for Flowers in a Vase (ND 311), and thought you might like to see what is involved.

First of all, why do I create a Teaching Manual?

• Present the project to the class with all details and sequences at hand.
• Showcase for some "behind the scenes" photos.
• Good review of the how/when/where/whys of the project prior to teaching.
• It is kind of like art project, and you know how I like art projects!

First, I write the Stitch Guide. This is a typed document describing each area in detail: the stitch, the threads, and the sequence of stitching. Charted diagrams are included for each area.

Screenshot of Flowers in a Vase (ND 311) stitch guide

When I begin the Teaching Manual, I use the exact text from the Stitch Guide. Each area is on its own page with the font size increased so I can comfortably read and refer as needed. The Thread types are in Red for easy reference. The same Charted diagram from the Stitch Guide is on the page, too... enlarged. 

Screenshot of Teaching Manual for ND 311

A work in progress photo is also included so the students can see what I experienced when stitching the model.

Now everyone sees the backside of my stitching... Yikes!

Once the Teaching Manual is complete, I put each page into a Premium Heavyweight Sheet Protector from Avery (affordable at Costco, bundled 250 sheets per box). 

Protective Sheets are so much fun.

And then, each sleeved page goes into a 3-ring 1" Binder. (Again, from Costco; bundled in 6 per group.) I really like this binder with clear sleeve on the front and spine so you add a descriptor page. Let the art project begin!

In Photoshop, I make the Teaching Manual cover art: Canvas Name, Designer, Number, my info, and finished photo. 

Cover Art for ND 311

There is the Spine art, too.

Spine Art for ND 311

Put all of the sleeved pages and the Cover/Spine Art into the Binder, and call me happy!

Blog readers who have been with me know I have done this procedure for each teaching endeavor.

Earlier teaching/stitching moments.

The Creepy Characters demanded their own Manual.

The Teaching Manual library continues to grow...

Recent and current teaching/stitching projects.

The art project is finished.

Did someone say photo shoot? Here's Leo...

Leo checks out the layout.

Well, it is time to print the Stitch Guides... I'll be at The Bristly Thistle (ND 311) real soon. The Needle Bug (ND 309) and The Nimble Needle (ND 311) soon after that. October is going to be a fun month. Hope to see you there!

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin