Robin teaches at the Bristly Thistle, FL

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

I've traveled 2265.6 miles since I last blogged. First, I went to the Bristly Thistle on Amelia Island, FL.

1477.2 miles round trip

Then 5 days later, I went to The Nimble Needle in Sandy Springs (Atlanta), GA.

788.4 miles round trip

Thank you Delta airlines 🛩 for smooth, safe flights. It has been a fun couple of weeks. I'd like to share my journeys... let's begin at the Bristly Thistle.

Bristly Thistle
811 Beech Street
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034
(904) 729-4020
www.BristlyThistle.com

The Bristly Thistle is on Amelia Island in the town of Fernandina Beach, just north of Jacksonville, FL. Michele Herron is the owner. Gracie and Max are the sweetest shop pups; Portuguese Waterdogs.

Bristly Thistle
Thread Room

Bristly Thistle
Thread Room and a visiting Trunk Show

Bristly Thistle
Gracie and Classroom

We had three days of canvas enhancement classes. New stitch guides were written; plus there were also help sessions. Lunches were delicious every day! And, did I mention the artisan Chocolate shop a few blocks away?!! Island life is good. 😊

Coffee Pot and Anemones • EW109
stitch guide by Robin King

Lemons  • AOG 106
stitch guide by Robin King

Loon • MSD 1827
stitch guide by Robin King

Mason Jars Christmas • ETC C-509
stitch guide by Robin King

Steampunk Owl • B-349
stitch guide by Robin King

Steampunk Witch • B-399
stitch guide by Robin King

Winter Sheep • DP-LS08
stitch guide by Robin King

Cat Carson Western Scout • HC-C21
stitch guide by Robin King

Melody's help session focused working on the Steampunk Mouse (B-347). We discussed the Pumpkin, Mouse, Background Sky and Umbrella.  We have a good game plan going.

Steampunk Mouse (B-347)

Linda worked on Sunflower Basket (MLT379) for her help session. We discussed the Basket, Sunflowers, Butterfly, Leaves, and the Background. Linda also learned the Stumpwork technique to make her first Flower Center. Big smiles! 😊

Sunflower Basket (MLT379)

Here's a fun stitch to try the next time you have a Border 3 threads tall.

a stitch for you!

I had a lovely time teaching at the Bristly Thistle and look forward to my return visit next year. 

Bristly Thistle 2017
Canvas Enhancement classes with Robin King

Give Michele a call to sign up for the 2018 canvas enhancement classes. Seats are limited. You will enjoy your time on the Island. 🌴 (904) 729-4020.

Must visit Pablo's when you are on the Island!
#bestChileRelleno  #deliciousMargaritas

Next blog we will visit The Nimble Needle in Sandy Springs (Atlanta), GA. 

Until then... Hugs, Robin

TNNA / Long Beach 2013 recap - part 4

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

More TNNA / Long Beach 2013 memories...

Easter Village by Melissa Shirley Designs (1627-B)

No market is complete without a visit to Melissa Shirley Designs booth. As usual, she did not disappoint. I really liked her new Villages: the Easter Village and the Halloween Village. Wouldn't each of them be fun to stitch? You can also see the Christmas Village on her website.

Halloween Village by Melissa Shirley Designs (1627-C)

The Halloween Village revisits some of Melissa's Tricky Treaters, and puts them all into one place. You remember the ones I stitched, don't you?

Tricky Treaters stitched by Robin King
Stitch Guides available.

And, Melissa expanded her Cat profiles. Look at this Cat Bird. Very clever.

Cat Bird by Melissa Shirley Designs (1633-B)

Her cats remind me of one of my "works in progress" ... a Cat Fish canvas by Boots Bailey. Hopefully, someday, I will be able to work on it again.

Boots Bailey 7026

There were new colors of Sparkles in the Sundance Designs booth. New Flower Beads, too called Fab Flowers. Just look at all of those colors and sizes. Can't wait to use these in a Stitch Guide.

new Fab Flowers by Sundance Beads

I stopped by the River Silks Ribbons booth. Met a lovely, talented Ribbon expert named Linda Hopkins. She shared with me creative ways to use their 13MM Silk Ribbon. Thanks, Linda. I can't wait to try each of these techniques.

Creative techniques from Linda Hopkins
in the River Silks Ribbon booth

Printing on River Silks Ribbons?
Oh, I am so going to try it.

But, remember, I was here at Market to do more than walk the aisles. LOL.

On Sunday, I taught the Thistle class (ZE 178) by Zecca. It was an almost sold out class: 18 out of 20. (Look at the other classes being taught at the same time... by our industry leaders. I was honored with such an attendance.)

Can you find my name? Whee....

I would like to thank the generous companies who donated their canvases/threads/ beads for the Thistle class kits:  Zecca, Crescent Colors, DMC Corporation, Kreinik, Rainbow Gallery, and Sundance Designs. Again, the two-hour class went by fast. Everyone was impressed with the Cut Turkey Work technique and the Appliquéd Felt. 

Who says only one thread color in the needle at a time, right? Thanks to Stacy's photo of her progress during class which was posted to her Facebook page, The Nimble Needle - Atlanta. Looking good.

Work in progress during the Thistle class 

I stopped by the Kreinik booth to show the finished Thistle. These photos are from Dena (@KreinikGirl on Twitter). Again, working all types of social media. Dena took some fun photos. Be sure to follow Kreinik on Twitter. You can follow me on Twitter, too. I am @catmom6.

Before and After of Thistle (ZE 178)

Thistle by Zecca (ZE 178)
Canvas comes with Stitch Guide by Robin King

Cute photo by @KreinikGirl
Be sure to follow Kreinik on Twitter

I have more to share with you. Visit again, why don't you. Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

12 Days of Christmas by Judy, Melissa & Robin

Hi Everybody... Robin here...

Christmas countdown is upon us, and, on Facebook, many folks have been showing their 12 Days of Christmas pieces worked in needlepoint. 

Several years ago, Judy Rogers (Arlington, TN) attended my Saturday canvas enhancement classes, and her epic project was working on all of the

12 Days of Christmas designed by Melissa Shirley (MSD 497A-L). 

Each piece is 3" x 4" on 18 mesh. 

'Tis the Season... so I thought it would be fun to share with you these stitchings by

Judy Rogers with my stitch design inspirations. 

Go ahead and sing along with me ... 

♬ On the First Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me... ♫

Thanks, again, to Judy Rogers. We had good times, didn't we.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

Caswell Stitch

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

One week to Christmas. Wrapping up Hanukah. Busy times, indeed.

This weekend, I returned to writing Stitch Guides. Many have been waiting their turn for far too long, and I do apologize. To those still in the queue... please know I am working as hard as I can to get these back to you.

I began with the Melissa Shirley Designs canvases: Pink Flower Purse 1306B and Mellow Yellow Flower Purse 1306C. Both designs were on 18 mesh. The same customer chose both of them.  Won't she have a fun time.

Here are the threads chosen for each stitch guide. Very pretty, right?

Pink Flower Purse • MSD 1306-B
Melissa Shirley Designs
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Mellow Yellow Flower Purse • MSD 1306-C
Melissa Shirley Designs
Stitch Guide by Robin King

When I was charting the stitch for one of the Leaves, I noticed the name
Caswell Stitch. I have heard the name, but never met the author of the stitch. Through Facebook, however, I did send a shout out to Ann and here is what she said.

"The stitch was actually listed and named by Father Bob for a county in North Carolina. However he often would tease me and my husband, saying it described the way we fit together."

It is fun to learn the history of stitches.

So... just in case you don't know the Caswell Stitch... here it is.

Work it in Horizontal Rows... very similar to the construction of Criss Cross Hungarian, but on a larger scale.

These two Stitch Guides are finished and ready to return to their owner. My queue has been reduced by two. Woohoo!

Next up: Elephant Walk by Treglown Designs and a sweet Strictly Christmas Large Stocking (CS323) featuring a Girl Teddy Bear decorating the Tree; both on 13 mesh.

Any of the stitch guide I write are available for purchase. On my To Do List for 2013 is to better organize/advertise all the stitch guides I have had the opportunity to write, so (hopefully) others might want them, too.

Well, that's all for now. I'll be checking in before Christmas. Fingers crossed, I will have some photos to share about the TWO classes I will be teaching at the TNNA Winter Market in February 2013.

Until then... Hugs, Robin

Golden Christmas Crackers by Melissa Shirley

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Have you heard about Melissa Shirley's Golden Crackers Stitching Club?

It is her first retailer's stitching club featuring her 10 Golden Christmas Crackers, beautifully stitched by Melissa with stitch guides by Robin King. Hey... that's me!

Several months ago, I received an email from Melissa Shirley asking if I would take her existing notes and write/ illustrate on the computer the stitch guides for each of her Golden Crackers. How fast do you think I said YES?

She sent me my packet of information: her hand written notes with wonderful sketches and the stitched models... stitched by Melissa Shirley, her very self.

I bet you didn't know Melissa Shirley is also a very good needlepoint stitcher, too?

Well, she is. In fact, you can visit her website and download two PDFs of her Stitch Guides: Yellow Apple Stitch Guide and My Shimmery-Snowy Angel Stitch Guide.

Side note: I had the pleasure of seeing the Yellow Apple Purse in person while filming/editing DVD #5 (Fancy Flowers). Look how stunning this purse is. Stitch Guide by Wendy Harwood of Aristeia. Such a talented lady! She will be missed.

Whenever you combine a well-known designer who also stitches, you get some creative out-of-the-box techniques. Many of which were seen on each of these Golden Crackers. Believe me, I took notes! Seeing/studying her stitching gave me "permission" to stitch outside the box. Thanks, Melissa.

You can sign up to stitch the Golden Cracker Stitching Club through any of the participating Retailers listed on Melissa's website. Here's the link. Check and see if your Local Needlepoint Shop wants to participate, too. Oh, and all the special embellishments used by Melissa will be sent along with each canvas making your Cracker just as pretty and unique as hers.

Well, hope you have a nice day. I have stitching to do. How about you? Look forward to hearing from you soon. Until then... Hugs, Robin