A disappointment; or, that's life?

Well, January 11, 2012, I was delighted to blog that I had completed the stitching of a canvas to be made into a key fob.

I also commented that I wanted the finished model the next day, not in 4 to 6 weeks.  Silly girl!  I received the model (after 2 inquiring phone calls) last Tuesday after two months.  Here was the "beauty" that I unpacked:

So, another finisher crossed off the "Use" list.  Especially since I had taken the time to call and ask if there were any space requirements for the fob attachment.  I called the company, explained my unhappiness to the woman who answered the telephone, and asked "Why did he continue when he saw part of the phone number and name was being covered up?".  She said, "Please hold, and I'll let you ask him that".  I hung up.  Great customer service/damage control.  There are other finishers out there and I will find one who will finish a key fob reasonably, I hope.

On a more positive note, Diane asked as a comment on my previous finishing blog how I would finish Melissa Shirley's Christmas pear banner currently being stitched  by customers of Amy's Golden Strand.
Amy's latest newsletter shows how one of her customers has framed one of the banners (I think Thanksgiving).  It looks gorgeous and is a wonderful way to go.  Other options that I can envision are:
         a.  Adding a fabric frame with a tiny inner fabric cord (or it could be metallic), perhaps 2 or 3" in width, keeping in mind the desired size of the finished item.  The outer edge would be finished with either a self-welt or a commercial cord.  And depending on how fancy you want, you could do plain or add multicolored tassel fringe.  Then, you could either do a simple slip casing on the back of the top where you could slip a rod for unobtrusive hanging; or do a few fabric loops (I can't think of the correct term right now, of course) through which you can slip a decorative rod with finials and from the ends of which you can hang tassels. 
            b.  Take if to a frame shop and ask them to mount the canvas on a board.  Have them attach grosgrain ribbon to the edge of the wood and have them also attach a ratchet hanger to the back.  Then you can hang it on the wall.  A totally different look since it eliminates the frame and its attendant questions (color, width, etc.).  It could also then be displayed on an easel rather than hung on the wall.
             c.  Finish it as a 3-d footed piece like some of the smaller ornaments are shown.  You could have the edge be shirred or plain, the feet polka dotty or stripey or whatever you desire.

Above all, the finishing of an item should be accomplished with the stitcher and his/her environment in mind.  

If the shoe fits...session 4

I've been steadily working on the background.  I did stitch the right-hand stocking, in the process straightening the stripes.  I decided that life was too short to worry with compensating on each stripe.  I used the t-stitch (or woven) using Balger holographic orange metallic and black fyrewerks.

And I wanted to show the back of the canvas so you could see how I handle jumping from one spot to another on a canvas.  Having the background stitched first makes this process much simpler.

I try to eliminate as much "hair" from the back of my canvas as I can,  Primarily because if it exists, I manage to pull it through to the front with my stitching.  And that's not a pretty sight! 

Swimming with the fishes...part V

What a wonderful feeling it is to have stitched all of the fish (they just lack eyes--hmmm).  Now to concentrate on the seaweed and water.  I think that will take another two weeks.  Fear not, I have another project already on stretcher bars. 

Here's my progress thus far:

You've stitched it, now what?

So, you've ruined the family budget by buying a needlepoint canvas that speaks to you.  Compounded the problem by purchasing fibers that are just too, too.  You've completed the stitching and now it's time to decide how your jewel should be finished.  Framed, pillowed--??  

The reality is that needlepoint shop owners are aging.  Even worse, needlepoint finishers are even older.  In these tough economic times, I have many customers who are stitching projects and tucking the finished item into dresser drawers or closet shelves.  Finishers are getting older and retiring.  Their prices are increasing.  Just because you tuck projects away doesn't mean that one day it will be cheaper to finish them or that the finisher will be as competent as those we have today.  I get lots of phone calls asking about finishing prices.  Please be aware that price does not reflect quality of finishing.  You must see samples to make an educated decision.

Needlepoint shops must be careful about who they select to do your finishing.  You, as a customer, must also decide who will do your finishing.    Needle Nicely has over 20 finishers for various items.  We have 5 finishers for belts, depending on what style of finishing is required.  We have 2 finishers who do door-knob finishing,  one soft and one hard. Customers don't realize that there are so many choices.  Needle Nicely has one rug finisher and one frame finisher.  We also have two Christmas ornament finishers.  Purses are sent to 5 finishers, depending on the style of finishing.  Some of these finishers do multiple items, some only do one item.  Needle Nicely has one framer who is local and who we highly recommend.  We also have one upholsterer we use locally.  However, there are some upholstery jobs we prefer to refer to other finishers because we have discovered no local finishers who satisfy our standards.  Too often upholsterers treat needlepoint like fabric.  Not a good idea for a successful finish!

 When I tell you I don't finish an item, don't insist.  That means I don't have a finisher who consistently does a job I like.  Take my word for it.  I don't like to sell items that I don't have a finisher for.  I will tell you that when you purchase the item.  That gives you a head's up that it may be difficult to finish in an acceptable manner.  However, we're in a small rural area and I realize that people in large, urban centers have artisans that we don't have.

About 10 years ago, I sent a special style of purse to a handbag finisher that had always done wonderful work.  The model came back with defects and I returned it to the finisher.  When it looked no better the second time I received it, I sent it back to the finisher for their use or disposal, even though I had purchased the canvas and stitched it for a shop model.   I decided not to sell that style of purse since I had no finisher for it.

Swimming with the fishes...part IV

Well, to catch everyone up on the rack and its problems:  Monday I talked with John at Rainbow Gallery about the problem.  I had looked at the base Saturday and again Monday morning and couldn't see any damage.  I was all ready to start putting it back together, but decided to wait until I could pick John's brain.  Since I'm in Florida and he's in California, I had to wait until 12:30 to make the call.  Thank goodness I did.  John walked me through the rack's possible problem areas.  I had the rack base in my lap and was rubbing it (my employees tell me that I rub lots of things.  Guess I'm in the right business since I obviously like texture.).  All of a sudden, I realized that I could feel the long crack in the black plastic, but I couldn't see it.  After I tilted the base here and there, the crack showed up.  John wasn't surprised at my discovery and is sending a replacement base.  In the same box will be a small fiber order I placed--free shipping and a free base!  What a deal.  Of course, next week I'll have to reload the fibers on the rack.  That will definitely cut into my shop stitching time.  I should have asked John to come visit and help!

Speaking of visitors, I had the manager and her husband today from Rittenhouse Needleworks in Philadelphia.  It's always nice to meet people from other shops.  Often at wholesale markets we are all too focused on what we're seeing and how much we're spending to spend much time chatting with each other.  I like to visit shops when I travel.  The region of the country and the personality of the show owner govern the inventory.  Often I see items I had overlooked at market.  For instance, Needle Nicely has an unusually large inventory of belt canvases.  That's partly because golfers will wear needlepoint belts; tennis players are less apt to.  We also have a studio where we design custom belts for customers.   

Some of you might have noticed that I'm a sports fan.  I grew up with 6 brothers and 2 sisters--and guess who controlled the television?  As I grow older and athletes change teams for money with no loyalty, I am less apt to watch professional team sports(with notable exceptions like Peyton Manning and his brother Eli), but I love individual sports like tennis and golf.  This past weekend, Boo Weekley was in the running to win the Heritage Golf tournament in Hilton Head.  But Boo has to get some putting lessons, because his putting cost him over $200,000. if not the tournament.  But I was there with him Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.  At least, by television viewing!  And I got quite a bit of stitching done between watching those "just a moment ago, Boo did..."  Here's my progress:

Not only did I finish the Lilac fish, but I got over half of the fins done on the golden fish.  So I estimate another two weeks of stitching before I start on the next project.  I can't wait!

EDIT:  I forgot to mention, I'm going to be doing a newsletter, perhaps randomly, but if you'd like to receive it, either put your email in the comments or email me at nnicely@gate.net  I'm trying to come up with content that hasn't appeared in my blog.  We'll see if I'm successful.

An emerging newsletter

Sometime in the immediate future (2 or 3 weeks), Needle Nicely is planning an inaugural Newsletter, that will appear at least quarterly, but perhaps as interest develops it will appear more regularly.  You must understand that the NN crack technology team is studying night and day...and day and night...to bring their readers late, breaking news about the happenings at the brick and mortar Needle Nicely.  I don't know about you, but the anticipation is killing me!! 

If you would be like to be added to this extremely exclusive email list, please send a comment to this blog with your name and email address OR send an email with that information to nnicely@gate.net and I will add you to the super special listing.  I can feel the anticipation mounting!!  You may mention this magnificent offering to your nearest and dearest.  Thanks!

If the shoe fits...session 3

Well, every so often life provides a little unnecessary excitement.  First thing this morning I was helping a customer look for a specific fiber.  I spun on of Rainbow Gallery's large rack and all of a sudden heard a loud crack and the rack immediately developed a list to the right.  That will definitely get your heart pumping!  And of course my Saturday fiber restocker, Lynn, immediately got on her knees trying to get a good view of the problem area.  That scared me even more, since she was right in the way of the listing rack.  We immediately started finding homes for the fibers, doubling up the fibers on our three other racks.  It took over 2 hours to complete the transfer of fibers. We even enlisted a customer, Marilyn, to help. 

With the rack empty, at 12:35 I walked across the parking lot to watch the HD Metropolitan Opera presentation of La Traviata.  It felt good to sit down!  Before the show started, I realized that I had totally forgotten lunch.  Thank goodness my opera buddy had some oreos for me to munch on.  I've learned that I put too much "butter" on my popcorn to eat on an empty stomach--definitely major indigestion.  It was a great performance with wonderfully lyrical music. 

Back at the shop and time to analyze the rack's problem.  The base is plastic and all I could determine was that the central post had managed to slip in its holder.  And now I believe I could have removed the full panels without emptying them to diagnose the problem, although perhaps the full panels are too heavy and unwieldy for a woman to handle.  I think I'll chat with John at Rainbow Gallery before I put everything back together again.  He may have some suggestions.

Now on to the stitching in my life--I started doing the outer border of If the Shoe Fits... in the alternating Scotch stitch using black fyrewerks and Kreinik holographic orange Balger #16.  It is really glistening and pretty.  And I almost finished the right-hand side of the bottom area of the canvas. 

I'm also stitching on the black background of the Christmas stocking we're stitching in the shop for a customer.  I'm about 45% finished with my part (the black) of that project. 

And tomorrow I'll be stitching on my fish while I watch Boo Weekley golfing at the Harbor Town golf tournament.  He's 4 behind the leader, but maybe he'll have a fantastic day and win!