Next Meeting Reminder - February 10th

Our next chapter meeting will be held on February 10th at the Brighton Recreation Center.  In support of our community please bring non-perishable food items (nothing in glass) for donation to the Brighton Food Bank.  Checks made to The Brighton Food Cupboard will also be accepted.

During this meeting  we will be doing needlepoint hearts for the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong.  We will provide the 8 X 8 inch mono canvas and the counted pattern or the printed line drawn heart pattern. Bring the threads you would like to use, a Pigma pen or hard pencil (4B) to copy the design onto the canvas and 8 inch by 8 inch stretcher bars and tacks to mount the canvas. 

If you have any questions call: 585-377-3730 or email: mmdebesis@gmail.com. Margaret Debesis, Outreach Chairman.

Our Meeting Agenda will also include: 

• Our local shops will be invited to share what is going on in their shop.
• Business Meeting
• Problem of the month
• Show and Share  

Some of us will be meeting for dinner at 5:30 at Root 31 Cafe and Eatery in Pittsford Plaza (3349 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford, NY 585-383-5660) if you would like to join us.

A Wonderful New Year of Stitching

Here we are on the last day of the first month of the new year. January has flown by and we in Rochester barely got any snow. Lucky us. Today I thought I would share a program provided by the National American Needlepoint Guild titled "The Stitch of the Month." This a way of introducing our members and others to new stitches. This year it will be done by introducing new stitches that are part of a piece called Feuilles d' ananas  ( Pineapple Leaves) which was designed by Susan Hoekstra.
In addition to learning new stitches this piece is designed to help learn about color values. So if you ever said (like I have)  I wish I knew more about color theory this is an excellent way to get started.
While you are provided with the thread list for the model colorway you are free to create your own. What is your favorite color?  Design this piece around that.

The design is divided up into sections and each month instructions are given to complete one or more sections. 

An introduction  to the piece and the fiber selection for the model colorway can be found at the national ANG website by going to the following link: 

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2016/SOTM201601_Introduction.pdf

Even though it is the end of the month it will be easy to catch up. The only section to be done in January is the center block (1). 

For directions for the January block go to the following link: 

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2016/SOTM201601.pdf

If you are looking to try something new and exiting for the new year and also extend your  knowledge of needlepoint stitches  you may want to try this piece. 

If I didn't already have so many projects started I would  head to my stash to see if I have a piece of canvas the right size and a color of thread to base this piece on. I hope some of you try this piece. If you do bring it to our meeting each month to show off the previous month's progress. It will be fun to compare.  

Our Holiday Pot Luck and December Meeting is December 9th

• Please bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Brighton Food Bank.  Checks will also be accepted.
• This is our annual Holiday Pot Luck Meeting.  
• We will be starting the meeting at 6:30 instead of our normal time of 7:00.  
• Please bring a dish to share with others. 
• Don't forget something to serve it with if necessary.  
• Also, we will be in a different room - just follow the crowds!  
• We will not be meeting for dinner at 5:30.  

Meeting Agenda

• Our local shops will be invited to share what is going on in their shop.
• Business Meeting
• Problem of the month
• Show and Share
• Sit and Stitch

There be no Sit and Stitch the 4th Wednesday of this month.

WIP Wednesday

This Wednesday we have a design right out of the November/December 2014 issue of Needlepoint Now. It is Winter Scene by Martina Dey done in a fall color palette with DMC Perle 5.

November 18th Program

Before I describe this month's program I would like to remind you all  to bring your canned good donation for the food cupboard. 

This month our program is titled  Beyond Needles and Scissors 

This month be prepared to discuss: 

~What tools are in your tool box?        

~ What do you use for a tool box? 

Many of us find that collecting the newest and best tools is almost as much fun as stitching.  We will be discussing our favorite and most unusual tools Wednesday evening, so everyone prepare to participate in the following discussions:

• What is your most essential tool other than needles and scissors?
• What 3 tools would you want while deserted on a desert island?
• What non-traditional needlework "tools" do you use? (I have straws, coffee stirrers, and fingernail file in my at home tool box)
• What is your favorite laying tool, stand? Why?
• What do you travel with and what restrictions do you find?
• What does your "tool box" consist of?
• What is your most unusual tool?
• Can you stump the chumps with your tool? (we guess what it is used for)?
• Do you have a collection of one kind of tools that you would share with us? (scissors are included in this) laying tools, needle cases, magnets, etc.?

For those of us old enough to remember Art Linkletter walking through the audience and looking through a woman's handbag, be prepared for us to look through your tool bag.

We would also like to start a list of our favorite books and web sites that you find especially helpful.  We'll have paper ready for you to write or bring it already written on a post-it note so we can attach it to the list.  If we have time, we will talk about any of them that you feel is important to share. 

Looking forward to seeing your tools and talking with all of you Wednesday evening.

Your program team.

November Meeting Date - November 18th

The November chapter meeting has been moved to November 18th because the Brighton Recreation Center will be closed on November 11th in observance of Veteran's Day.

WIP Wednesday

This week I would like to highlight a painted canvas Barbara has been working on the last few months. It is called the Fourth of July Flag and it is designed by The  Collection Designs. You can see more of their designs at http://www.thecollectiondesigns.com/flagsfourth-of-july.html.

She purchased the canvas at the Wool and Willow in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. You can see more about the shop by visiting their web page at http://www.woolandwillow.com/dev/.

The stitch selections are by Barbara. She has almost completed all of the white background which she is doing in the Nobuko stitch.

We are all looking forward to seeing what stitches she selects for the the rest of the piece and how she intends to finish it. 

Finish It Friday

While we each enjoy  different stages of the stitching journey for the painted canvases or counted designs we choose the happiest day is the day we complete the stitching on that cherished piece.  Today I want to share a piece Patty finished this week called Christmas Flowers designed by Mindy with a stitch guide provided by Aristeia Needlepoint in Santa Monica, Ca. If you want to see more of what they offer you can visit them on the web by going to http://www.aristeianeedlepoint.com/.

I can't wait to see how she chooses to finish this piece and 

 I wonder which of her children or grandchildren she will give this beautiful piece too.