Diana just finished a pillow, which she showed us here at the shop:

” My youngest… a son is a Senior in High School.   We’ve sweated through the college application drama and he’s going to ASU (Appalachian State University) in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.   To bring a bit of home to his dorm room, I found this Appalachian Logo in the store and grabbed it.  While my husband thought I should frame the piece….I just couldn’t see following the dorm rules or “no holes in the walls” and somehow getting the framed piece hungs….so I opted for making a pillow.  I know….it’s gonna get trashed….being in a guy’s dorm room….but I so enjoyed stitching it and thinking of how exciting his time at ASU will be…so what the hey?

I used Silk and Ivory which made stitching the piece a breeze.  So smooth to work with.  I backstitched the logo but used a variation of a Diagonal Mosaic for the background…making it faster to stitch!   Shhhh…don’t tell him you know…it’s one of his graduation presents!”

If you’ve been in the .Com, you may have seen this bag.

Jo writes:

“Loved this San Diego ornament!  Loved tote bags!  Joined the two.  Added the red line around the ornament and then added the black so it would fit in the small tote.  Stitched from my stash of perle #5.”

What a great way to take a “traditional” travel ornament and convert it in a new way to make it a tote bag design! Way to think outside the “travel round” Jo

With graduation, weddings and Fathers Day nearby, we looked for a way to help our Procrastinating Stitching Friends and came up with a great solution — immediate gifts with no finishing required!

These journals and photo albums come in a variety of colors (including Carolina Blue, Dark Blue for Duke fans & Wolfpack Red for our local shoppers!).

Just stitch a small canvas of your choice & slide it into the pocket for an instant “handmade” item that works out well for whatever upcoming event you need.

Put a “UNC” logo in the blue photo album or find a bright design for the journal and you’re set! Stitch from your stash and this idea becomes a fast, inexpensive gift that is personalized and from the heart.

From Marilyn:

Springtime Topiary

“When I first saw Kelly Clark’s Springtime Topiaries, I was intrigued with the realistic effect of the many different threads and stitches. I had never stitched with Ribbon Silk and beading is not my strength.

Ready for a different stitching experience and knowing there was a Stitch Guide available from Kelly, I decided to give it a try”

It’s looking good! We can’t wait to see the finished piece.

Sometimes, you get the feeling that you just can’t stitch another needlepoint pillow or Christmas ornament.

That’s when we saw these needlepoint game boards. Although they’ve been around a little while, we’ve seen a resurgence in popularity lately for people who want to “Do Something Unique and Different” with their next needlepoint project.

Who wants to play a game of Tic-Tac-Toe?