The Future has arrived! Welcome to the newest version of Stitchamaze!

After five and a half years, we have grown so much that it’s time for a new appearance. I hope that you will enjoy the new look and the ease of navigating the site.

Our focus is always to bring you news and inspiration from our world of Needlepoint Art.

Our stats show that our visitor numbers continue to grow and that you stay longer on site and return often. That’s great and you are most welcome to spend time here!

My second Needlepoint Art Exhibit will be taking place at the Contemporary Art Gallery, 2719 Yonge St. in Toronto www.contemporaryartgalleries.com from November 6 to 15th. I’m very pleased to have this opportunity to share my work with those of you who will be able to visit the Exhibit!

Joyce Lukomski of Needlepoint Now has invited me to be a contributor to her fine magazine. My series is titled Joy of the Painted Canvas. The first article appeared in the September/October issue. The series will continue every other month. I hope that you already subscribe to this beautiful magazine. It’s filled with lots of fabulous articles, places to shop for your supplies and challenging projects to stitch. I will share tips and stories about my painted canvas creations in the months to come. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

Stitchamaze new Guest Contributor is Lorene Salt. Lorene’s work appears in the Guest Gallery and she’s a very creative award winning Needlepointer! Lorene will be sharing her Ramblings of an Avid Stitcher. I’m sure that you will enjoy Lorene’s tips as much as I do!

I’m looking forward to returning to Callaway Gardens School of Needle Arts in January. I attended Callaway last year and it was such an inspiring experience! I’ll be there longer this year and taking a course with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn. This promises to be an exceptional course! It will be such fun to reconnect with friends and teachers from last year and to meet people this year.

With some luck and a bit of discipline, I hope to complete my canvas called Drama Masks in time for Callaway Exhibit. I guess that I’ve just announced this to all of you so I’d better make it happen!

Stitchamaze Yourself Canvases continue to be very popular! Moonshine, Wind Dynamics and Flight of Fancy are the favourites! The canvases are painted so beautifully painted by Sharon Lee. Click here to check out these designs.

I have been told by some of my stitching friends that I am a font of "needlepoint information". Rosalyn suggested that I should share some of my information, tips and finds with you.

Here are 10 things that I found of interest for this issue

1. ANG has a fabulous Bargello type design as an offering for a cyber class. It is “Mexicali” by Toni McKelley. The colours are stunning and it is offered in 4 different colour ways. Registration is open from December 1, 2008 until January 31, 2009. For more details check www.needlepoint.org/CyberWorkshop/future.php.
2. Janet M. Perry has a new book out called “Bargello Revisited”. It is a soft cover book with 104 pages of detailed information, charts and coloured pictures. For more details check www.napaneedlepoint.com/bargellohome.html.
3. “Needlepoint Wisdom” by June McKnight is a terrific little book containing all kinds of answers to all kinds of needlepoint questions. Topics covered are Canvas, Needlepoint Tools, Stitches, Threads and Disasters.
4. Anyone interested in the Bayeux Tapestry should check out www.dugansbayeuxtapestry.com. Ray Dugan is a retired French professor from the University of Waterloo who has stitched a reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry. All 220 feet and 512 figures of it! This is thought to be the only reproduction of its kind. This is a truly amazing piece.
5. ANG is also offering a lovely Workshop by Mail by Ro Pace. The piece is called “Alori”. Registration is open from July 1, 2008 until December 31, 2008. For more details check www.needlepoint.org/byMail/index.php.
6. Fireside Stitchery a fabulous stitching shop in Frazer, PA is showing a trunk show of HP Designs. There are 28 pages of lovely painted canvases on their website www.firesidestitchery.com. The show is on from September 1 to 30, 2008. The rugs and pillows by Terian will be on display from October 1 to 27, 2008 and Rebecca Wood Designs will be on display from November 3 to 24, 2008.
7. Check out the Shining Needle Society’s Yahoo Group. They are offering a cyber class with Jane D. Zimmerman called Angulations I. Take a look at www.SNS_Home_Room@yahoogroups.com. You must join the Shining Needle Society to enter their group. Registration is from September 16 to October 16, 2008. This is a wonderful opportunity to take a class with an extremely accomplished teacher.
8. Anyone living in the Toronto area might like to venture up to Newmarket to check out That Bead Lady. Cathy has a large selection of stones, Delicas, seed beads and Swarovski crystals and pearls. For more information check their website at www.thatbeadlady.com.
9. Traditional Stitches in Calgary, Alberta is a fabulous shop. Janice and her team are a delight to work with. They have lots of stock and special orders are not a problem. They run a superb mail-order service. Their website is always up-to-date. www.traditionalstitches.com.
10. If you love bright colours check out www.artfabrik.com. They hand dye fabric, perle cotton #3, #5, #8 and #12, and 6 stranded floss in the most luscious colours. Be sure to check out the colour chart!

Well these are my "ramblings" for this issue.
If you come across a find or have any questions, please contact me at lorene.salt@sympatico.ca.
Till next time . . . Happy Stitching!