The Gift of the Stitch

HARMONY

Designed and stitched by Nandra Hotchkiss

Cassie and I just returned from a fabulous weekend in Scottsdale, AZ. We were invited to teach our canvas "Harmony" at Old Town Needlework. Our trip started in Tucson and we drove to Scottsdale. We had the best mother-daughter time! Cassie and I have such a fun and easy relationship. In the car we laughed, listened to our favorite pod casts, caught up on the happenings of friends and family and we even sang a few bars of a great song.

Janice, of Old Town Needlework, was a fabulous host and we had awesome stitchers in our class. The class moved along in pace as we all shared stores, tips on how to exact stitches, and our favorite threads.

As class drew to the end we had some time to visit with a special student who is batteling some very serious and long term health challenges. She expressed to us how important her stitching is to her. Not just the completion of the canvas, but the whole process--from choosing the right canvas, threads, and stitches. To the act of blending all the components together along with the most important ingredients of --"friendship", "comradery" and the love of a "common thread."

Cassie and I reflecte on just how blessed we are to have such a love of stitching to share not only with each other, but also with our kindred spirits--our sister stitchers.

May you all have a Peaceful Easy Day, A Happy Easter and Passover,

Nandra

Old Town Needlework

Nandra, Janice, and Cassie

Harmony is available at your local retail shop from Sundance Designs. The handpainted canvas comes with a stitch guide. Some of the materials used are: River Silks for the center flower and sun's rays; Sundance Beads for the sun, snowflakes, tree leaves, and buds; Sundance Sequins for the flower center*, and Sundance Sparkles Embellishment Thread for the apples in the Summer square.

*Note: A tutorial for doing the ribbon flower with bead and sequin center is in our September 2012 Blog!

Happy Stitching!