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It's A Stitch of Charleston, SC Newsletter
March 2011
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Dear (contact name),
The signs are all here - Spring is on its way. Our trees are showing red buds and the pear trees are in bloom. Bulbs are popping through the mulch, and the pansies have continued to bloom.
We finally have mild weather and spirits are lifted. We will explode with a show of color in the coming weeks, so for our frequent out-of-town visitors from colder climates, it is the perfect time to enjoy Charleston and the islands before the big crowds arrive! We hope you'll stop by to see us when you are here.
The Charleston Garden Class with Tony Minieri took place in early February. While we had a nice time, travel woes two years in a row with our February classes have led to a change in scheduling for 2012 classes. Instead of a February class, we will move to a more beautiful and reliable time of the year, April 13-16, 2012. We are planning to have two 2 day classes at that time. We have a class list started and will be posting photos of the two classes as soon as we have them. These will be intermediate - intermediate advanced classes. Requirements will be ease and experience using a laying tool for stranded thread, working on stretcher bars, ability to read graphs and instructions for these projects as well as being able to follow along with verbal instructions. There is a class list started for each class, so if you are interested, please call as soon as possible to sign up and to insure your place for one or both classes.
Our July 2011 Canvas Embellishment Class with Tony Minieri is full, but we are continuing to add names for his July 2012 Canvas Embellishment Classes. In this issue, we will feature several FINISHED projects from recent Canvas Embellishment classes. You will be amazed at the work of Martha Spence and Margaret Wood. We wonder how they complete things so quickly!
Most of our spring yarns are arriving in the coming weeks, but we are featuring some in stock right now. We hope you agree that the colors will inspire you to knit something wonderful for yourself, or for someone special in your life.
Happy Spring!
Linda, Margot, Jean, Pat, Lee, and Joan
It's A Stitch of Charleston
Look for the Smile sign and come on in!
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NEEDLEPOINT NEWS
WHAT'S NEW?
A few of the arrivals from Melissa Shirley Designs:
Please Note: As with all designs you see on the designers' web sites, if we do not currently have something you want in stock, we can and do special order for you!
New Arrivals From Colors of Praise Needlepoint Designs These are just two examples of several belts from Colors of Praise. Each and every time we get new ones in the shop, they fly out the door. The colors are so rich and go with just about anything. The new belt canvases are 47" long, so you can have them finished to wear at hip length and still have a nice long tail.
Note: these make wonderful camera straps too!
New from Sharon G
We've all been waiting for Sharon's new stitch book, and it's here! Titled SENSE, it is a must for your stitching library. We have the spiral bound signed copies in the shop now. This is the first in a series of books Sharon will be writing which will include theme stitches, borders, backgrounds and stitches she has designed, as ell as many variations on well-loved needlepoint stitches. Along with easy to read graphs of the stitches, Sharon also shares valuable hints and suggestions of how, when and with what threads to stitch. The 5x7 book is a great size to tuck into your needlepoint bag.
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FINISHING GALLERY
We love sharing recently completed work from all of you in our monthly newsletters. If you live outside our area, but would like to share your projects with other readers, who will appreciate your efforts, please send us a photo or two, and we will be delighted to publish them.
Here are some recently completed projects.
Margaret Wood
Margaret Wood did an amazing job on this canvas from Decorations/JB Designs. With the help of Tony Minieri's custom stitch guide (created for this piece for Margaret for our July 2010 Canvas Embellishment Class), and with Margaret's additions, this large carp is certain to be an heirloom. Amazing job Margaret! You must be the Queen of Couching after all these months. Can't wait to see what you will do with your Chinese Drama mask from Leigh Designs in this summer's class.
~
Martha Spence
Here are TWO finished projects stitched by Martha Spence! Martha loves Asian influenced projects and has chosen many wonderful canvases for custom stitch guides by Tony for our July Canvas Embellishment Classes. The first is a Chinese Drama Mask by Leigh Designs started and completed in 2010! Pretty impressive! Great job Martha!
Here is Martha's second canvas COMPLETED! It is a beautiful geisha with carp from Boots Bailey Designs. This canvas was chosen for a prior Canvas Embellishment Class with Tony Minieri. It is always so inspiring to see what stitches and threads he chooses to make these canvases come to life. This is just beautiful Martha. 
John Degni John Degni completed the Stuart Ornament from Leigh Designs' British Dynasty Series. He stitched this piece in Basketweave with Vineyard Silks, which give such richness and light to his ornament. The back of the ornament is finished in Silk Dupioni, with custom cording. Congratulations John ... on to the next one! 
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Thread You Will Love!
It's All About Silk!
It's All About Ease!
Ever since Vineyard Silk (on the right in blue and blue green family) was introduced at market a few years ago, it has been a winner. It is a lustrous one strand Premium 100% Chinese silk, perfect for 18 mesh canvas. There is no plying involved - no laying tool required. It is our #1 best selling thread. Each skein has about 28 yards and comes in 218 colors in Classic Vineyard Silk, and 46 Shimmer Vineyard Silk colors (blending filament added for sparkle).
Introduced more recently, but now flying off our walls as well, is Planet Earth Silk (pictured on the left in the red/pink/orange family). Every bit as lustrous and easy to use as Vineyard Silk, Planet Earth one strand silk is perfect for size 13/14 mesh canvas. We now carry Planet Earth Opal, which is one strand silk with lurex for sparkle. We love to use this thread on Christmas stockings, under the sea canvases, etc. The unique quality of this thread is that it works on 13/14 and 18 mesh.
...and...just arrived...Planet Earth 6 strand silk in more than 140 gorgeous colors!
 
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What's New?
Yarn
Arriving Each Week - Our new spring yarns
From Mango Moon
more Chakra (beaded)in intense and pastel colors
Also from Mango Moon
"Lambada" from Italy
45% poliamid/27% polyester/28% cotton
150 meters of pure fun!
To inspire you to knit for spring and summer, we offer you a few of our newest yarns:
From Filatura di Crosa
"Millefili" Fine
130 yards/125 meters - 100% cotton with beautiful color/sheen
3-4 needles - Machine washable
Italy
From Louisa Harding
"Albero"
110 yards/100meters
Size 7 needles - 50% Cotton/50% Viscose
Handwash
Also From Louisa Harding
"Mulberry"
136 yards/124 meters
Size 6 needles - 100% Silk (beautiful twist and sheen)
From Universal Yarns
"Marina"
30 meters/33 yards
Size 11 needles
A truly unique yarn knit in unique method. What looks like a 1/2" tape yarn actually opens to a lacy wide yarn with a lovely edge. It gently ruffles as you knit with it.
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Charleston Garden Project
Despite travel delays for many, our Charleston Garden project began with Tony Minieri on Feb. 5. Last month, we showed you our progress stitching the many walls of the garden. This will be on-going over the months ahead, and all of us will decide how we would like to adorn those walls with climbing noisette roses, wisteria, trellises, etc. In class, we worked on the interior of the garden and will continue to stitch over the coming months. Here is a hint of what is happening in the garden:
Below is a comedy interlude with Tony at lunch during class. Susan and Ellen are trying to hold it together, while MaryAnn collapses in hysteria at the table.
The gals at It's A Stitch thank each and every one of you who participated in this project. It was an adventure from beginning to end!
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Contact Information:
phone: 843-557-0401
fax: 843-557-0205
e-mail: itsastitch@bellsouth.net and itsastitchcharleston@gmail.com
web site: itsastitch.net (and yes...we are still under construction, but nearing completion-bear with us)
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March Special Offers:
March 12-19 - 20% off Green Yarns in honor of St. Patrick's Day !!!
Month of March - 20% off Frosty Rays and Flair from Rainbow Gallery Threads
Rotating sales - great selection of needlepoint canvases 30-50% off
Selected yarns on sale
Note: It's a Stitch discount coupons are not applicable on these items
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