Peggy McGowan

Hi Everybody... Robin here...

It's a sad day today on the Needlepoint Study Hall blog. I heard that Peggy McGowan and her sister were killed in a car accident yesterday. Her niece is in critical condition. So sad for the family's loss. Sad for our loss, too.

It was Peggy who created the Needlepoint Study Hall blog. She was stitching the Halloweenies at the time, and wanted to create to a Study Hall format for others who were stitching the same epic series.

Peggy had asked me to join as a co-writer to the blog. Anyone who writes a blog knows life can get between you and the keyboard; soon one day passes to a week(s) without any blog entries. Having a co-writer helps to keep the readers entertained.

I was thrilled to be asked and have enjoyed contributing to the blog. A few years ago, Peggy got sick with cancer and told me wouldn't be blogging because she needed to focus on getting better. I told her the blog door would always be open for her return. Peggy did get better and overcame cancer!

Soon after Peggy's good health news, her husband Rob got bad news: non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The tumor kept growing and on November 2012, Peggy lost her soul mate.

I recently saw Peggy at Stitchers Inc. She was picking up some threads for a needlepoint project. She was looking good. She had regained that twinkle in her eyes. Today's news is a kick in the gut and lets us know how temporary life really is.

So in this tribute to Peggy, I would like to shine a light on some of the other phases of her life. There are two wonderful links with interviews from Peggy and Rob.

Robert McGowan

Peggy McGowan

Peggy's early career was one of the first camerawomen in the Television industry. Award winner, even. Yes, Peggy won an Emmy award for "Best Camera Operator" on Dick Clark's Live Wednesday in 1978. Peggy was the first woman to win the award.  I saw it in her house displayed under her husband's ceramic artwork. She had many nominations, too. Oh, the stories she would tell.

Peggy McGowan accepting her Emmy Award.

A very talented couple: Rob and Peggy McGowan

I met Peggy during her needlepoint phase of her life. She worked at Stitchers Inc and then at Amy's Golden Strand. Her passion for stitching was pure. She would often remark, "Oh, those threads are so yummy!"

Peggy was a quilter, a cat lover, and enjoyed Halloween. She loved Daffodils. Peggy was a gentle soul. I am so glad to have met her. I thank her each day for this blogging opportunity.

If you would like to read any/all of Peggy's blog entires, you can see her name on the Right Column of the blog under Previous Topics. Click on her name and all entires are bundled together.

Hugs to all of you, and Peggy, too...   Robin

Needlepoint Study Hall blog is 3 years old

Hi Everybody ... Robin here.

Join me in wishing a Happy Birthday to the Needlepoint Study Hall blog.

Yes, it was three years ago today (12-22-2009), Peggy McGowan started the NSH blog. A week later (12-27-2009) I joined her in writing blog posts. I want to thank Peggy for this creative opportunity.

Much has been shared over these past three years... that's what we like to do.

So far, there have been 281,442 Visitors and we have 106 "official" followers. There have been 419 posts and 224,665 page views. Wow. That's a lot of needlepoint information... plus, a few cat photos along the way. LOL.

Have a slice of cake on us. Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

I'm so fickle!

First I took home one of Kelly Clark's Halloween Apples.

Now I have taken home one of her bats.

Enough already!  I will be returning to the Dev L. Man, and the rest of the Halloweenie's characters, as soon as I finish this bat.  Amy has done stitch guides for three of the bats.  More on that to come.

Sorry I have been away so long.  I have been working on a website for my husband.  We are not publishing it for a few months.  But we wanted it to be ready when some events happen that we can talk about.  I will share the website with you as soon as we publish it.  You will see what a wonderful and smart man he is.

I'll be back soon!

Sidetracked

Hello.  I'll be back working on the Dev L. Mann soon.  All is well.  Just sidetracked.

Playing hooky.

Yes, I have been working on the Halloween Candied Apple instead of Dev L. Mann.  You will see more on this canvas in a couple of weeks.  So now I will be returning to the Dev L. Mann.

I want to share a tip with you.  I have, for some years now, been using hair tape to temporarily control threads on my canvas.  I have just started using this Scotch Matte Finish Removable Tape for that.  It doesn't get gummy like the hair tape does.

Also, while stitching all of the beads on Sarcoph A. Gus, I started using this Thimble pad to push the needle up to the top of the canvas.  I had some that I had purchased years ago when I was doing some quilting.  I was thrilled to see that we stock them at Amy's Golden Strand.  So these are a couple of tools that enhance my stitching experience.  Never mind that I just love stitching toys!

I'm going to be working on a computer project for my husband this week.  So I may not get back to the Dev L. Mann till next week.  See you then.

I can't believe I came home with another canvas.

Yesterday was a normal very busy day at Amy's Golden Strand.  Toward the end of the day we received a shipment of canvases from Kelly Clark.  I knew it would include a few Halloweenies and some stitch guides for the new Tassels that Kelly introduced at the January Market.  Jill took them next door to sort them out.  She came back in with two of Kelly's Halloween Apples.  "Look, aren't these great!",  she said to Amy and me.  I had not seen them yet and of course feel in love with them.  Someone said we should make shop models, (our ploy for getting to stitch them).  Amy said, " Maybe we can do some guides for them since we have so many customers who love Halloween canvases."  Jill and I squealed like a couple of ten year olds.  We actually played "enny meeny miny moe" to decide which one we would stitch.  At 4:30, Amy sat down and picked stitches and threads for BOTH canvases.  By six o'clock I was home with the canvas on bars.

I was disciplined enough to stitch some on Dev L. Mann last night.  But this afternoon, he is going to give up his dominate place in my que for a little while.  

I can't believe I came home with another canvas!

Hold on girls...and guys.

Stitch the birds before you stitch the background.  Amy has made the bird tails a little different than the painted canvas.   I had to take out a little of the background to accommodate the changes in the bird in flight.  However, I can't make a change to the crow on the pumpkin as his tail is already two threads from the edge of the design.  This may be another case of our canvases being painted differently than Amy's.  So have a good look at the crows and decide what you would like to do with their tails.  I have realized that it would be best to bead stitch the gecko before the background around him as well.

Also, when working the bird on the pumpkin, fill in more of a bottom on him to meet up with the pumpkin.  We will put the straw on top of bird, pumpkin and background.  Above is the way it is painted.  Below shows that I drew a small line the extend his body.

Stitch on!

Background and the Super Bowl.

As you work this background on Dev L. Mann, there are lots of little places to compensate.

If you can't decide where to place the background stitch, leave it open until you stitch the other element.  You can go back and fill in the background later.

Why not do the other areas before stitching the background you ask?  Well it gives me a good sense of  completion to get the background done.  But it is really your choice.

You can be helped in this area by consulting the picture too.

As I work on the background, I am looking forward to watching the Super Bowl.  I know there are shops that are hosting Superbowl Parties.  I wish I could join you, but will stitch here in my room with the TV on.  My career was in television, so I love to check out the commercials that debut within the game.  But I have another reason to be excited about the game.  One of my nieces is married to a Steeler.  He is a member of the practice squad, but has played in a few games.  My brother, his father-in-law, tells me he will probably not "suit up", but will be there ready to go if called upon.  It is the ultimate, "put me in coach".  Yeah, put me in for a play in the Super Bowl!  

So enjoy stitching today and, Go Steelers!

Dev L. Mann has arrived.

Here he is.  He apologized for being late.  He promises to be fun.  Isn't he cute?

Here is a thread that is new to this series and new to me.  It is made by the YLI folks and they call it Painters Thread.  This color is prefect for the Dev L. Mann.

The background is the same as the Mummy.  I think I will start with that. Though I am tempted to use the Painters Tread first.

OMG! He's done.

I will show you the last few thing I did to finish Sarcoph A, Gus.

 

I twisted the overdyed thread and attached it to the gold toothpick.

Read the directions for making the tassel several times.  Then, do it the way she explains it.  It makes a neat, tidy little tassel.

Trim the gold away.

Snip the ends and you have your tassel.

I positioned the stick and secured it in place.

Now the beaded Crook.  Again, the directions are great.  

Secure that crook down.  

 I am saving all of the bullion knots for last.  It will be quite a party.

Final bead area.

I've finished the beading.  It was really fun.  

The last area, at the top, was supposed to be string beaded...like the bottom of the sarcophagus.  I was on such a roll with the stitch beading, I just stitch beaded that area too.  Be sure to surround the area with black beads.  It is not painted that way.  If you look at it funny, you can see that it is a cuff of the hand that will hold the gold stick with the green tassel.  And that is all I left to do on this guy.  Well, except for the bullion knots on the geckos and the rat over his shoulder.  Wow.  This was a good one.  We will be getting Dev L. Man soon.  There will be a new thread in this kit that I think you are going to like.  So keep checking your mailboxes.

Top of the lid.

The directions for the top section of the lid calls for us to place the green beads first.  

The only problem is that there are no green threads.  

After consulting the picture, I have decided to put a green bead below the black thread which is below the purple triangles. 

Now stitch as usual.

Half way there.

Green section on Sarcophagus lid.

Here is the green section of the Sarcophagus.  

It is a bit hard to see the pattern.  The grey threads are for the darkest green bead, then the middle green threads are for the medium green beads.  The lightest areas are for the same green used on the gecko in the mummy's hand.

I can only imagine how difficult this canvas was to paint.  The beads are a great statement and would dominate the canvas if Amy had not added the strips to the mummy.  I'm loving the beading.  Remember, you are doing basketweave but with a bead on each stitch.  So easy!

New Beading Toy!

Before we  talk about the new toy, we will look at the bottom of the sarcophagus.  I did not enjoy this part. With practice I finally got it...sort of.  

I learned to push the current string of beads up into the previous row, like a zipper.

And so it went from the right side,

to the left, (which was done with the canvas at a 90 degree turn).

So here we are, ready to stitch bead the rest of the sarcophagus.

Amy gave me a personal tip to aid in the task. Turn the canvas upside down and work from the bottom

to the top of the beast.

Here is the new toy!  This disc has a magnet on the bottom and a tacky surface on the top.

  

What a wonderful way to have your beads handy.

Amy and Jill ordered this toy at market.  Hopefully they will arrive at the shop soon.

Here are my boys making sure I don't drop any beads.

Dressing the Mummy.

 I have gathered the materials to dress the Mummy.  He wants to get his arm free so he can grab the gecko.

A good fit.

A little muslin gives him an arm.

I added the gecko's tail after attaching the arm.

I believe this mummy is done!  Now on to the top of the Sarcophagus.   Lots of beads are in my future.

The thin green line.

I had to read the directions three times before I figured out that the tassel on the skull stick should have two green lines to separate the tassel into three parts.

So I drew a mark where the top green line probably was on Amy's canvas.

I stitched the top layer and began to pad the second.

Padding complete.

I then finished the tassel as in the guide.  I used the wrong blue, but I am going to leave it in.

And now the beads are between each section.

The next step was to couch a thicker stick and add the Mummy's fingers holding the stick.

And it was fun to add the loops of beads.