Greetings Stitchers from Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Yes, this where I am on a little family vacation.  It was truly one of those last minute plans, but so happened our cottage was not rented and we grabbed the chance for a little family R&R.

Actually, I perceive it as a stitcher’s retreat!  I had the best time (or the most frustrating depending on how you look at it) deciding what projects to bring along.

Fortunately I’m able to store a suitable floor lamp, but there isn’t space to store a floor stand so that has to be carried along.  I usually carry 2 or 3 bags of projects, but since our time here is limited I decided to restrict myself to what I could pack in one large tote and one small tote for travel time.  Hey, it’s a 6 hour trip and that’s a lot of valuable stitching time–not to mention listening to a recorded book.

Anyway, Frisco Frog was finished by the time we arrived.  Now I’m switching between my Julie Mar frog which is almost finished and my “Princess Puppy” from Sew Much Fun.

Hopefully, everyone is happily stitching and have plenty of supplies to keep busy with while I’m away.

Will be back in the shop on the 11th.

Thinking of Stitching,

Caroline

Has everyone settled in with a perfect sumeer theme project?  I usually get inspired with those canvases in summery colors, flip flops, or beach themes.

I’m just finishing up my Frisco Frog which comes from a Julie Pischke design.  This has been fun because it’s small, on 13 count canvas, and not a lot of tedious detail.  I was able to use just a combination of Tent and Mosaic stitch which gave just the right effect.

I was able to match the canvas colors perfectly with Silk and Ivory and will use one strand of a very neutral Watercolour from Caron Collection.

The canvas is designed to fit into one of Julie’s ready made pillows–another nice feature–no worry about finishing.

As usual though, I had to do something different.  I wanted to name the frog “Frisco”. so I just added some basic lettering for the name.

There is a story as to how I came up with the name Frisco Frog. We have a cottage in Frisco, NC on the Outer Banks.  We go down several times a year.

A couple of summers ago, a cute little tree frog decided he liked staying in our cottage.  No matter how many times we tried to remove him to a neighboring tree, he always seemed to find his way back in.

I first discovered “Frisco Frog” hopping from side to side of a toilet bowl.  How he got there I don’t know, but he certainly came as quite a surprise.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline

Things have been pretty hectic here in the shop so I haven’t had a chance to put up too many posts.  I’ve gotten in a great assortment of books and plan to be updating my book reviews over the next few weeks.

For those of you who might try to visit my website, I just wanted to let you know that I am revising and updating my site.  It will probably take me a couple of weeks to try to put everything into place, but I think it will be a better site. 

 I will also be able to add a newsletter option which you can opt in or out of.

I also plan to add links that will keep up to date on events in the local area, local places to shop, eat and stay.  I hope to feature the Town of Ashland, Randoplh Macon College, The Quilt Man, and Train Town Hobby Shop.  Ashland, VA may be small, but we are easily accessible from Interstate 95 as you make your to or from Kings Dominion, Williamsburg, Charlottesville, and even our historic capital of Richmond, Va.

Hope everyone is having a safe and fun summertime.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline

As I’m sitting here blogging, I’m thinking about what a perfect way to spend the 4th of July – eating watermelon–and , of course, stitching!

What could be better than stitching something red, white, and blue!

I recently finished a Lizzie Kate punchneedle project that is perfect for the 4th of July.  It’s just really summery.

Then I got thinking about an Alice Peterson canvas I have in the shop in red, white and blue with a birdhouse as the central motif.  It’s kind of a brick red with a heart in the middle, and the border is a wonderful checkerboard (which begs for some decorative stitches)  Naturally there’s a star in each corner! 

Think it’s posted on my on-line shop.  It’s 4th of July perfect, but would certainly be a patriotic touch all year round, especially if you’re a bird lover!

Well, we’re debating whether or not to take our Bassets, Bennie and Billie to participate in the Basset Brigade in Ashland’s parade today.  Guess I’d better go see what the hounds want to do.  They’ll probably want to see their fellow hounds and show off their sniffing skills.

Happy 4th to all

and Happy Stitching, too!

Caroline

Welcome to Caroline’s Blog and our interview with Janet Perry, author of Bargello Revisited!

If you are not acquainted with Janet Perry, Janet is a leading writer of stitch guides for over 20 nationally known needlepoint designers.Her stitch guides are published under the name of Napa Needlepoint, not a surprising name since Janet lives in the Napa Valley region of California.

Janet is also author of the popular newsletter, Nuts About Needlepoint and highly informative blog at www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com.

Now, let’s learn more about Janet and her Bargello passion!

Janet, since ordering your book, Bargello Revisited, for my shop I’ve been anxious to ask you a few questions and want to thank you taking the time to answer them.

Caroline asks: How did you  become interested in Bargello and what was it that appealed to you?

Janet answers:  Being almost entirely self-taught as a stitcher, I relied greatly on my LNS(local needlework shop). Never mind that I was a good 20+ years younger than any other customer. My Mom indulged me by taking me there and one day I saw this glorious book on Bargello. I had to have it.  I bought canvas and wool and started stitching.  I loved it so much I wanted to do a set of dining rooms chairs (in fact I still do).

Caroline asks:  Why do you think there is a renewed interest in Bargello?

Janet answers: Bargello so easy to do.  It is less expensive than many other kinds of needlepoint and the results look really good right from the beginning.  Most experienced stitchers don’t like to be reminded of their first needlepoint, it looks so bad; but your first Bargello will look pretty good, and that’s wonderful positive reinforcement.

Caroline asks:  If  a needlepointer has only done Tent  or Basketweave Stitch, is Bargello much more difficult?

Janet answers: Bargello is much easier than Basketweave, which can be hard to learn.  I think it’s easier than Tent, but you need to think in terms of holes and threads, not intersections, since the stitches are straight.

Now if you know how to do Brick Stitch. Bargello is the same stitch, just longer and grouped differently.

Caroline asks:  Is Bargello as functional as basketweave or is it better used as a decorative stitch?

Janet answers: Bargello is functional to some extent.  You can’t use it for places which get lots of wear. it would be a disaster for kitchen chairs, but it certainly would be suitable for those occasionally used dining room chairs.

Janet, I think we’ve all wanted to needlepoint dining room chair seats at one point of our stitching careers. I gave up on the endeavor a long time ago, but I did actually complete one chair seat in Bargello a number of years ago and actually won a ribbon at the Woodlawn Needlework exhibit for it.

Thinking about that chair seat, it now resides in my shop.  It had *lived* in my living room next to my fireplace until we had a chimney fire many years back.  Once my children were safely out of the house, I went back to rescue my needlepoint and my Bargello chair escaped with only one hardly noticeable singe spot! 

Going back to the topic of Bargello being functional, you have some great tips in your book about selecting threads based on the type of use for your project. 

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline and Janet

Bargello is definitely making a comeback as witnessed by the number of new Bargello books and charts on the market today.  I have added a number of new and older books to my book section of the shop.

The book I would like to review today is Bargello Revisited by Janet Perry.  This is an excellent resource for stitchers of all levels, including the newcomer to Bargello.  This book is not just a compliation of traditional patterns, it includes over 30 projects with templates, thread suggestions, and ideas for finishing.  There is a color picture of every project with detailed instructions including where to start, how to compensate, and how to add special touches.

Bargello Revisted begins with a section on needlepoint techniques as it relates to Bargello.  The next section discusses typical problems and how to avoid them.  There is also useful information about selecting threads keeping in mind the wide range of choices available for today’s stitcher.

My favorite section of this book is on colors and color schemes.  Janet offers a wealth of tips for those who are timid about making their own color selections and how to make adaptations based on your personal color preferences, clothing and home decor.

Reference and contact information is included regarding supplies used, as well as a great bibliography for related Bargello books.

After working with Janet’s book, you, too, will be saying (and I quote Janet), “I Bargello, do you?”!

Reviewed by Caroline

June 18, 2008

From the looks of things at TNNA in Columbus Bargello is definitely making a big comeback.

I took 2 Bargello classes with June McKnight and those were loads of fun.  She has just published 2 new books on Bargello and as soon as they arrive I will be posting a book review as well as more information from her classes. 

Today I finally got to browse Janet Perry’s newest book, Bargello Reviisted and she has done a splendid job covering all the basics of Bargello and much more.  First of all, this isn’t just of compilation of patterns.  It is packed full of over 30 projects for stitchers of all levels and each project includes detailed instructions from where to start, to the handling of specific threads and even tips on finishing. 

The book begins with detailed instructions on Bargello techniques, moves on to common problems and how to avoid them, and offers a wealth of information on selecting threads. 

 My favorite segment was on color and color schemes.  I think that is one of the things that intimidates many stitchers, especially beginners, but Janet has laid out the fundamentals of color schemes in such a way that you’re surely going to have a satisfying project.  

With all the tips in Bargello Revisited, you’ll be able to head to your LNS confidant to start that new Bargello project, and I bet if it’s your first, it won’t be your last!

I was so inspired after reviewing Janet’s book, I e-mailed and asked if she would consider doing a Bargello Question and Answer series with us.  She was most enthusiastic!

*Tune back in* on Wednesday, June 25th and let’s talk *Bargello* with Janet!

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline 

Greetings Fellow Stitchers!

It’s great to be back from TNNA in Columbus, Ohio and it was also a great show!
I took 2 wonderfully informative classes with Tink Boord-Dill and a class on classes by Gwen Bortner of Knitabilities, a professional knitting instructor and an all-around entertaining teacher.

Tink’s classes have me on the way with updating my web-site and starting an e-mail newsletter.  The new and improved web-site will be the first order of business, but we will announce when we are ready for newsletter sign-ups.  It will be an opt-in/opt-out process meaning you will need to go to the shop’s web-site to register.  (It will be a painless process, and one you are probably already familiar with.)

 from SajouThe class on *Classes* had tons of ideas for implementing classes, finding teachers, and better ways of promoting shop classes.    Hopefully this will help me get started again with more classes here at the shop.  It’s been kind of tough to keep regularly scheduled classes going, but there are a lot of *Sit & Stitch* or *Make It & Take It* ideas out there.

Findings at the show were fantastic.  I was able to add in some additional River Silk colors in 4mm ribbon.  I also added to my line of baby bibs and *hoody* towels by ordering the larger baby towels for cross stitching.  I also added basic white which I think will look great with the free charts STS is providing for the towel sets.  What a perfect baby gift!

Now things are really getting exciting.  I just received 3 more deliveries!  It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas at Caroline’s Thread and Canvas!

I haven’t had a chance to unpack the boxes yet, but there are new charts and books from Caron Collection, orthopedic gloves (I had to have a pair to bring home immediately) and if you are a collector-the reproduction, thread winders, thimbles, and needle packs are to die for!

Also just received copies Bargello Revisited by Janet Perry.  Will tell you more once I’ve had a chance to browse it.  These are autographed copies by the way and *hot off the press*.
Thinking of Stitching. . .
Caroline

It is absolutely great being here in Columbus at the TNNA show.  I’ve already spent one day in classes with Tink Boord-Dilll learning how to get up-dated with e-mails while not boring you at the same time

Tomorrow I’ll be *walking the aisles* checking out all the cool needlework stuff and deciding what to bring home.

I’m also taking 2 classes on Bargello with June McKnight. She has a new book out, by the way, on Bargello.  I’ll be ordering it for the shop I’m sure.

Janet Perry has also agreed to do a Question and Answer series on Bargello so if you have any burning questions about Bargello, be sure to e-mail me.  We’re targeting June 18th as our Q&A day!

Hope you’re enjoying your stitching!

Caroline

Just a few hours to go and I’ll be off to TNNA in Columbus, Ohio.  Sorry fellow stitchers I can’t take you all with me!

The good news is that hopefully I’ll find lots of new goodies for the shop. I’m looking forward to seeing the *Pebbles* and also what *The Bag Lady* has.  From the previews I’ve seen, scissors look outstanding.

I’m also awaiting our newest book on Bargello from Janet Perry of Napa Needlepoint.  Unfortunately she won’t be able to make it to the show, but her books should be arriving here at the shop during the time I’m gone. 

Will have lots more to update you later.

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline