needlepoint classes

With the slowing economy, people examine needlepoint classes with extra scrutiny.  Is this worth more than the actual canvas?  Do I want to spend 8 hours (or 4 hours or 16 hours) with a group of strangers?  What will I get from this experience?  Needle Nicely tries to answer these questions with the classes we offer.  This year our offerings have diminished, primarily because I want people to concentrate on the few classes I am offering.

Even though Needle Nicely is on the space coast of Florida, we (I think of the shop as we, because  while I am the owner, the shop also encompasses my employees who represent me) are in middle America.  Our customers in the "season" are from the mid-West and from New England.   

A project I started last summer (2009) is the first class I am offering this year.  It is a geometric doorstop stitched in silk 'n ivory in two color families.  I conceived this class last year when I visited the Historic Museum on Nantucket and saw a blue and white geometric doorstop.  It spoke to me.  Florida coast towns have lots of ocean breezes and the inhabitants need lots of doorstops to stop the slams.  I can foresee designing several companions to this "mango" doorstop.  I saw the central motif last summer while cruising the web on needlepoint sites.  What a marvelous focal point. 

My next class is a companion to one I taught several years ago, Aran Sampler I. (See right)

My first TNNA market (long before TNNA) was a New York market in the mid-70's where I encountered Ella Projansky, author of Sculptured Needlepoint Stitchery.  She was a wonderful picture of middle-European (Polish?) ancestry with marvelous apple cheeks and a crown of braids and very approachable.  Thank goodness her designs were as delightful.  I have now developed a 2nd pillow as a companion to Aran Sampler I, of course, Aran Sampler II.  This pillow-sized piece is done in Medici. 





Later this weekend I will discuss the other classes I will be teaching.  And I have been working on a wreath design to accompany my tree with crystals ornament.