The Quail s Quill News From Quail Run Needlework May 2011 Specializing In Custom, Innovative Finishing Mercardo del Lago Center 8320 N. Hayden Rd Suite C112 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 480-551-1423 480-551-1425 (fax) 800-635-9750 (toll free) www.quailrun-inc.com Email quailrun@quailrun-inc.com Hours Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Closed Sunday Owner Susan E. Barlow From Susan s Desk Spring is here with lots of great new items and ideas from the Dallas market in the shop. I always try to take advantage of as many classes at market as I can to learn a new technique, a new stitch, a new thread use or how to use a new gadget. Nothing like classes to peak your interest to finish or start a new project! At one class that concentrated on color and shading, the two important rules when working with color were repeated- what color you chose will depend on how much you will be using, and what color(s) will be placed adjacent. Color is such a fascinating part of needlework projects. From market, lots of new books are here with great stitch suggestions. Suzy has a new portable condensed version of her Lite Stitches and Small Stitches, a great companion to her first book. Sandra Arthur s new book, Shapes of Needlepoint, is divided into 4 sections one for each shape with stitches to create the shapes you want or to fill in areas you have. Many stitches have variations that completely change the look of the stitch. Squares can be turned to become diamonds etc. Sharon G s SENSE is a small, portable book with good diagrams including best uses for each stitch. In the new canvas section from Market: sparkly mini-stockings and globes from Strictly Christmas butterfly, horse and cat Laurel Burch designs from Danji Designs southwest designs from Kirk and Hamilton Sundance sequins mini stockings from Rebecca Woods angels including a new Grand Canyon angel from Painted Pony and unique oriental canvases from City Needleworks and much more. I continue to add to our vast thread inventory when I go to market. This time I chose over-dyed metallic braids in 45 colors from Threadworx and these should arrive soon. These add great color and sparkle to a canvas. I am busy working on several new projects including some new designs for the Quail Run Design line which will preview at the next market. It is great to have all these wonderful threads to choose from when stitching these new canvases. New accessories from market include pretty heart magnets, lovely music boxes in rectangular and heart shapes with coordinating canvases, beautiful lacquer boxes in rich colors, leather handbags and new eyeglass case designs. For the summer, there will be several projects offered that will be taught with a class meeting once a month, giving you time to work on your project. At the end of the class, finishing ideas will be offered and everyone will receive a gift certificate to use toward finishing. Stay tuned for emails about these great projects!
From Susan s Desk Continued from page 1 Also, a technique class will be offered once a month. The first one will be Beading Made Simple where you will learn single beading, line beading, skip tent beading, basket-weave beading and brick stitch method. The following monthly technique classes will be on backgrounds, borders, over dyed thread techniques, silk ribbon embroidery and more! Join us for these 2 hour classes in the morning and then stay for open stitching in the afternoon. Our children s classes will be repeated this summer. Each two hour class is fun and a great escape from the heat. Each child will stitch their initial in their favorite colors that can be finished as an ornament, key fob or appliquéd to a straw or canvas bag; or they can work on a project of their choosing. There are lots of children s kits to choose from with cats, princess and butterflies to take on trips or for those hot, hot days when it is best to be indoors. Come join us for a class or open stitching. Meet new friends, have fun and get great ideas for your projects. See you soon! Susan Not To Be Missed In case you haven t been to the shop since the Anne Wheat Pace trunk show arrived, we re posting a few of the finished models for you to see. They speak volumes for the art of finishing and display! A relatively small amount of simple stitching is the surround for this spectacular Spring vignette.
Not To Be Missed Who said needlepoint has to be serious? Certainly not the folks at Little Shoppe Designs. They must stay up nights dreaming up fun, imaginative 3-D designs. We loved the models that we received along with their recent trunk show. Finishing Next Month See the details of our July Ornament of the Month class further on in the newsletter. The finished sample to the right is an example of the piece when finished. Finished pieces, and works in progress are always interesting and provide inspiration. Designer, Jill Rigoli, recent paid Quail Run a visit and she didn t come empty handed. For show and tell she brought a couple playful mice that celebrate Halloween. And her work in progress is a stunning Laurel Burch canvas. Check our June newsletter for those pieces.
New From Dallas Market The new needlepoint items were exciting and endless. 90 different vendors with a vast variety of canvases and accessories. The Dallas Market was like an early (or late) holiday season!!! Laurel Burch never disappoints. Her bold, unusual designs and colors capture the eye and imagination. This canvas so perfectly captures the essence of the Southwest, that it s difficult to believe the designers, Kirk and Hamilton, hail from the United Kingdom. Imagine the impact this one-of-a-kind canvas will have as the centerpiece of your holiday decorations. (Did you spy the little creatures tucked into the load of presents?) Sundance Sequins add just the perfect glitter to your canvas. For the cat lovers among us, and others as well, what an off-beat, creative canvas! The time to relax is when you don t have time for it. ~ Sydney J. Harris
New From Dallas Market More from Dallas Market. Strictly Christmas knows it s always the right time to be stitching for the holidays. Rebecca Woods always succeeds at capturing the whimsy of Christmas. These mini stockings can be hung from the mantel, or grace a tree. What a stunning ornament, in a fraction of the time it takes to stitch a full-size stocking. Perfect for a tree ornament or small pillow. This icanvas, designed with falling, glittering snow, brings back warm memories of our childhood snow globes. Remember how we turned them over and over to be mesmerized by the fall of snow around the vignette in that lay inside? More Dallas Market items in next month s newsletter.
Alice s Wonderland of Needlework Hello Fellow Stitchers: I can't believe it is May already. Instead of my UFO's decreasing they are increasing. Hope you are having better luck. This month is about beginning and ending threads. What is the best way to start a new thread in an area where there is no existing stitching to anchor it. 1 Begin stitching with an away waste knot. Knot the end of your thread and place the knot on the top of your canvas. The knot should be placed in the direction you will be stitching, so that your stitches will cover the thread on the back. Once stitching with that thread is complete, cut off the knot and any extra thread and remove it. It is called an "away waste knot" because it is away from your stitching and you are going to cut the knot off - it is waste. 2 Pin tuck and L stitch are other ways to secure you thread. A pin tuck knot is easy to hide under your stitching. Bring your thread up from the back keeping a short tail - half an inch or less on the back. From the back of your canvas bring your needle to the front of the canvas by going over a vertical or horizontal canvas thread, bring your needle to the front again one canvas thread from where your first stitch went down, in line with that stitch, then return the thread to the back by going through the same hole the first stitch used to go to the back. Make sure the thread is now tight and secure, trim the short tail on the back. An L stitch is the same sort of stitch except one thread is stitch vertical and the other horizontal, both going to the back through the same hole. When working rayon or a similar type thread, you should do an additional stitch into either the first or second stitch. 3 Still another method of beginning is to use the loop method of anchoring the thread without a tail. To do this fold the thread in half, thread the two cut ends through the eye of the needle. Bring the needle and thread up through the canvas, but not all the way. Then take it back down through the canvas. Slide the needle through the thread loop on the underside of the canvas and pull gently to anchor the thread without leaving a tail. Knowing that a picture is worth a thousand words - if you would like a demo, please see one of us at the store and we will be glad to show you any of the above. More to come on ways to begin and end threads in my June article. Good news about your favorite indulgence chocolate. It s been reported that chocolate improves you overall cholesterol. Japanese investigators have found that polyphenols in cocoa attach to genes in the liver and intestines, activating the ones that produce HDL - good cholesterol as well as those that help suppress LDL - bad cholesterol. Now there is no need to feel guilty about eating chocolate, in moderation. Happy Stitching until we meet again. Alice Alice s Recent Project Basketweave and continental stitches on 40-count gauze. The cardinal is executed in 8 shades of red.
May Trunk Shows Gayla Elliot Designs are by no measure predictable. They run the gamut from whimsical to elegant. What they share in common is their artful design and eye pleasing quality.
May Trunk Shows Waterweave Designs are fun, bold and eye catching, with the subject matter often not found on needlepoint canvases.
Kids Stitching Children have been learning the art of needlework from the beginning of time. At times learning was driven by the necessity of survival. Yet at other times, children were taught as a way to express their refined talents and upbringing. Today in our society, the need to stitch has taken back seat to a desire to stitch. Recently, we ve begun to realize that teaching children needlework has an additional dimension. Teachers who have the luxury of incorporating needlework instruction in their curriculum, are seeing that their students are developing their fine-motor skills as well as patience. And not to be overlooked, any parent or grandparent who s taught a child some form of needlework will tell you it s a wonderful way to bond and pass on the family story. With summer break just around the corner, Quail Run has scheduled summer needlepoint classes for children. Saturday, June 11th Saturday, July 9th Saturday, August 13th 10:00 to noon Each child must be accompanied by an adult throughout the class. Sign-up early, seating is limited. Class cost: $15 Includes practice canvas, needle & threads. You can also purchase a beginner s canvas for the student to work on. A few of the canvases in the shop are shown. Additional choices are a fish, clown, flowers, soccer or basket ball, Jack-o-lantern, and sailboat. A smile is a curve that often sets things straight. ~ Sampler Saying
What s New Chinese Silk Who doesn t love stitching with silk. It s luster adds to the beauty of the canvas, and it s ease of use and durability are appreciated by all needlework enthusiasts. We now have a new line of high quality silk from City Needleworks to enhance your project. Chinese Silk comes in an awesome array of 190 gorgeous colors. It is bundled in 6m skeins of 6 strands. Bits & Bites Bits & Bites Bohin Needles The Bohin factory was built in Normandy, France around the time of our Civil War. 150 years of focusing on needle and pin production has made the name Bohin the industry leader. Fortunately, these fabulous products became available for the American consumer in 2000. This wonderful heart is eye catching! Self-finish the completed piece into the top of a box and you have a gift that will be forever appreciated. Or frame it and place it on a small easel to dress up a shelf. All materials, along with a guide, are provided in a kit. The high quality of Bohin needles can be attributed to their exceptional polish which produces a smooth glide through fabric and canvas and reduced thread breakage. Their maximum strength minimizes bending. Bohin needles are a perfect compliment to our new Chinese silk, or any other fiber. We stock Tapestry, Chenille & Beading needles.
Upcoming Ornament of the Month Classes Ornament of the Month classes are taught by resident instructor Alice Hall. They are a collection of unique projects employing a broad variety of needlework techniques. Projects are designed to be quick and easy to complete. May June July 4th Parade This fun piece celebrates our nation s birthday. What could be more American than our national bird, Uncle Sam s top hat & fireworks executed in red, white and blue. The chart comes from Rainbow Gallery. Other charted designs in the series are Easter, Halloween & Christmas. Design is worked in charted needlepoint. Canvas size is 7x9. Holiday Angel June s angel is a Quail Run design and comes in 3 versions. One angel is dressed in blue and is playing a flute, another has purple clothing and is holding a garland, and the third is draped in blue and holding a basket of poinsettias. Quantities vary per design so students will select their choice on a first come first serve basis. Stitch guides for each are by Alice Hall. Canvas size 8x10. Mini Shopping Bag July How sweet and festive are these mini bags! The Christmas tree design will be used for our class project. Use you bag to present a special holiday gift, or hang it on the tree. The chart will have designs for 6 different bags. These bags come from designer Carolyn Mitchell. Canvas size is 9x11 on white opalescence canvas. (See a model of a finished mini shopping bag on page 3.) Ornament of the Month classes are held the 3rd Saturday of each month. Canvas, fibers and instructional material are included in all classes. Seating is limited so early sign-up is recommended.
Quail Run Needlework Calendar May 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Closed Private Lesson 10:00-noon & 1:00-3:00 10:30-12:30 1:30-3:30 Beading Made Simple Class 10:00-noon noon-4:00 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Closed Private Lesson 10:00-noon & 1:00-3:00 10:30-12:30 1:30-3:30 Canvas enhancement 9:00-noon & 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Closed Private Lesson 10:00-noon & 1:00-3:00 10:30-12:30 1:30-3:30 Ornament of the Month (July 4th Parade) 9:00-noon Canvas Enhancement 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Closed Private Lesson 10:00-noon & 1:00-3:00 10:30-12:30 Japanese Embroidery 10:00-4:00 1:30-3:30 Japanese Embroidery 10:00-4:00 29 30 31 Closed Private Lesson 10:00-noon & 1:00-3:00 : : Private Lesson: Come join fellow needlework enthusiasts for a few hours of stitching. Bring a new or old project to life with a wonderful array of threads and amazing stitches. A one-on-one experience is the perfect way to get started learning the art of needlepoint. Canvas Enhancement: Receive expert instruction and creative ideas on the threads and stitches to employ on your current needlepoint project.