Transitioning out of E-Week and Back to Normal Life

As a part of E-Week in October I posted my Townhouse Sewing Case, soon to become a class at Shining Needle Society. I first taught the Townhouse at EGA's 50th celebration seminar in Louisville, then at Callaway. I look forward to trying a cyber class. Although I have had my ongoing classroom at Shining Needle Society for 2 years now (just past the second anniversary), this will be the first time I have taught a class online. I am hoping my students will help me do it well by making recommendations.

I am curious to know what people like and dislike about online classes and would be happy to hear any opinions, along with suggestions how cyber-classes might be improved.

Technology has come such a long way toward helping the prospects of online activities. I realize I am such a beginner at this whole technology game. I keep trying to learn more about it and one of the highlights of my week is going to Apple's classes.

Last week at my Apple class there I showed several people the most awesome thing I have found connected with needlework online: Tricia Nguyen's animated needle! I hope you will go and see her needle make a stitch. As I said, it is awesome!

Here are the links to the animated needle:

http://thistle-threads.com/animationtest/animationtest.html

It is also in the middle of the movie on this page:

http://thistle-threads.com/teaching/projects/onlineclasses/goldworkmasterclass/teach_goldworkmasterclass.html

The animation was done by Tricia's brother a freelance computer animator and also an embroiderer in his own right. His company, Smudge Animation, is doing animated needles demonstrating 28 different stitches for her upcoming Tudor and Stuart Master Gold Work class.

I would love to take the class just to watch those needles!

Gay Ann

Mail Jail: maybe not forever after all

Mail Jail, at least E-Week Mail Jail, may not be forever after all. I am almost at the end! If I stick with it through the weekend and I have no bumps in the Jail Road, I should finish next Monday.

Then I plan to do some serious stitching!

I am working on a chatelaine right now. I had an idea for how to make the chatelaine chain and I can't wait to see how it works. I have been following my own 12 Stitches a Day program to get through it and it amazes me how much stitching my little 5-minutes-a-day accomplishes! I should finish the stitching for the chain about the same time I finish E-Week.

As soon as I am out of Mail Jail, I will plan a special week of stitching assignments for my class at Shining Needle Society. I can't wait to try this and see if people follow it. It should be a very fun game!

More about it when E-Week Mail Jail finishes....

Gay Ann

Mail Jail is Forever

I just finished E-Week, my big sale of the year, and now I am in Mail Jail. If I could wish for one thing in my life I would wish for organization skills. I look at my friends with their perfect files and lists and I sigh. Somehow I missed the Organization Gene. It just isn't there.

Here is a typical example: I haven't emptied my purse yet from seminar in Pittsburgh. My plane ticket is still in there and so is my paycheck. I need to empty it and sort it all out and at least deposit my check. So what am I doing? Writing this post instead.

Poor MacSoph, my computer. She isn't organized at all and the Apple tutors, those I have regularly, have given up. They don't bother to teach me organization any longer because they say I don't do it.

So now I have E-Week Mail Jail which is my low point each year. I am doing better this year but it is far from the way my organized friends would proceed. Take for example my friend Julie who came to help me. She gave me some suggestions about the way it should work, but I fear I am light years from that point. And Pat, to whom I sent two copies of Cranfield House by mistake, suggested many of the same things Julie talked about. They both mentioned terrifying concepts like spread sheets and QuickBooks, etc. etc.

One time Julie (who loves organization) told me I should quit worrying about it, that I have a creative brain and creative brains don't think in columns. Is this a plausible excuse? The problem is, it still doesn't solve the problem, so on I go.

Back to Mail Jail. Mail Jail is forever. Alas, so are mess and disorganization.

Gay Ann

Early Morning E-Week Sales

It's early morning and I am up and waiting to start my Special E-Week Sales. They start at 7:00 a.m., in 45 minutes.
I think I have checked everything and am set to go.

Off to have breakfast and watch the morning headlines.
Gay Ann

E-Week Eve and Day 1

E-Week Eve was one of those beautiful fall days in Southern California! Bright sun, blue ocean and a nip in the air.

I actually finished Queendom Website late on Tuesday afternoon and DH said, why not go out to dinner and celebrate!
We went to our local bookstore and browsed awhile then to a restaurant new to us and great! We were home again about 8:00 and I was all excited about E-Week. It was like I was 7 years old again on Christmas Eve.

I watched the time. I had hoped to stay up till midnight. Kate was helping -- she was writing emails, so we were busy having an E-Conversation and I was busy checking everything.

At 10:20 I started posting everything and by 10:30 it was all live. I checked it and Kate checked it and we found some errors, so I changed some things, then shut down MacSoph (my computer) who had been working so hard.

The next morning (yesterday) I woke up thinking just how magical E-Week Eve had been. What is it that makes a basically ordinary day seem like magic? I am not certain. Just the mood, I guess, the lull before activity, maybe just the beauty of the day.

Yesterday, Day 1, was a scramble and MacSoph and I hit it hard. Questions, corrections, re-do's and in the midst, my cleaning lady was here. That is always a scramble because I have TOO MUCH STUFF!

So I fled for an hour and some. I went to a favorite bead shop and came home with new ideas. New Ideas are always magic to me! And beads. I have too many beads! I would have to live to be 650 to use all my beads, but I added to the stash yesterday.
Home again and emails into the evening.

And today? I am working all day on my Special Sales for Saturday and Sunday mornings. These sales began 3 E-Weeks ago on my blog and now they are a tradition. It is lively and a scramble, but I love doing it!

I have neglected blogging in the first year of Queendom Website. My website took all of my attention, but now I have decided I should return to blogging a bit.

Gay Ann

E-Week Eve

It has been a while since I have blogged. I have been away at the EGA Pittsburgh Seminar and since, I've been at work almost non-stop on my E-Merchandise Week Sale (E-Week for short).

I am almost finished with E-Week and it is a good thing because it starts tomorrow!

This is E-Week Eve.

This year I have 30 designs for sale (not counting my early morning sales on Saturday and Sunday), many are ones I have never sold before, except for the EGA, ANG and Callaway classes where I taught them. As I scroll through it, I must say I think it is a pretty sale!

I think I will post it all just before I go to bed tonight. This is my Third Annual E-Week and I must confess, it is exciting!

Gay Ann

My second design for my pre-week sale: a Sewing Case

This morning I posted the second design for my pre-week sale: Townhouse Sewing Case. It isn't actually for sale, it will be a class for Shining Needle Society in the spring; people who sign an interest list now will save a bit of money on the class, should they decide to take it.

www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on 'Pre-Week 2'.

My third design will arrive on my website just before I leave to go to EGA's Pittsburgh Seminar on Oct. 2.

Gay Ann

The First of My Designs for Wind-up to My Yearly Sale

Tomorrow morning I will post the first of the designs I will sell in the windup to my yearly sale, E-Merchandise Week.

Gay Ann

The Epilogue to my Month-Long Needlework Mystery

My month-long needlework mystery finished yesterday with a trip home on our private jets.

Today begins a week-long Epilogue, followed by Prizes for E-Gemstone Star Awards.

www.GayAnnRogers.com

Gay Ann

A Special Class on my website tomorrow

As my month-long fantasy draws to a close, I offer a special class in a very special place on my website.
It will all appear tomorrow morning.

www.GayAnnRogers.com

I hope to see you there.
Gay Ann

August's Mystery: what is missing from my Birkin Bag

Something is missing from my Birkin Bag. It will be essential to Part 4 of our mystery.
But nobody has guessed yet what it is.

I asked today: what is coming next? And so many people were so close, in fact a couple had it right, but only in part.
If you can think of what is missing from my Birkin Bag, chances are good you will know a good part of the answer to what comes next.

Why bother with this in a needlework discussion group? Because it dovetails with our discussion.
I think there are a handful of ingredients that help the creative process and a playful nature is one of them.

Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com

August's Mystery: Part 4

We know about Jane Birkin, we have been in Richistan for quite a while and we all have E-fantasy Birkin Bags that we have filled with stitching goodies, so what now as my mystery winds its way through August?

Part 4 started today.
Stay tuned to see what happens.

Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com

August's Mystery: Part 3: the Ultimate Tote Bag

This morning I posted on my website the beginning of Part 3 of my mystery: the ultimate stitchers' tote bag.

Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com to have a peek

August's Mystery: Part 1 Revealed Today!

Today I posted the identity of the Mystery Woman on my website.
You will now know who she is, but a part remains a mystery:

What does she have to do with needlework?

Coming soon!
Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com

August's Mystery on my Website

On August 1 I started a month-long mystery on my website. It is a Mystery in 4 parts and Part 1, a Mystery Woman, is well under way. Two more days and we learn who she is.

Who she is, but not what her connection to needlework is. That will come later.

Join me on my website and in Shining Needle Society as the mystery unfolds. Take part by answering each day's question and earning an 'E-Gemstone-Star award'. The three people who accumulate the most E-Gem awards will win prizes and take part in an E-Ceremony at the end of the month, a farewell to summer and a hello to autumn.

To join Shining Needle Society, write to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com). Membership is free.

Shining Needle Society is now 2500 enthusiastic stitchers strong.

Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com

Techniques 4

This morning I posted Techniques 4 on my website. Again it is about Bullion Knots and comes from a question I received.
Next time, unless I receive another great question about Bullion Knots, I will move on.

Gay Ann

Techniques 3

I just posted Techniques 3 on my website.
I also posted new colors for Summer Sunshine, colors I wish I had used when I stitched the design.

www.GayAnnRogers.com
for Tecniques click on navigation bar.

for Summer Sunshine's new colors, scroll down on home page and click on the geometric.

It's been fun to do both of these projects!
Gay Ann

Bullion Knots 2 in my Techniques Column

On July 8, as a part of my website's anniversary celebration I began writing a column on needlework techniques I have found helpful over the years. I began with Bullion Knots, fitting I thought because my students have always dubbed me 'The Queen of Bullion Knots'.

This morning I posted 'Bullion Knots, Part 2'.
Enjoy! And remember, the secret to making a Bullion Knot is not a mystery; it is simple practice.

Gay Ann

12 Stitches a Day: I've Completed Week 4

I just posted my progress for week 4 of 12 Stitches a Day on my website.

I am surprised again by my progress, particularly when I look at where I started and where I am now. I have hardly spent any time on this program. Admittedly I have done it every day, but I have stitched on it in little minutes I probably would have wasted, like time spent waiting for DH when we are going somewhere, minutes like that.

The secret is leaving the project out and set to go so that I sit down and take 5 or 6 stitches instead of twiddling my thumbs.

If you go to see my progress, you will see that I have now completed two of the four little pieces and am quite far on the two others.

www.GayAnnRogers.com
and click on 12 Stitches.

Happy Sunday!
Gay Ann

A Surprise Column Coming Tomorrow

As my week of Anniversary Celebrations concludes, my last surprise is a new column. It will be an ongoing column on my website and I saved it for last because I hope it will carry us into Year Two.

I will publish it first thing in the morning.

And if you haven't stopped by to check out a video of one of needlework's most popular teachers, do so!
www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on 'Surprise Video'.

Gay Ann

Posted on my Website: Video of My 'Surprise Guest'

My video is in place on my website and working.
Just hit the movie controller button and let it load.
If it doesn't start automatically, hit the button a second time.

It's a silly interview!
I enjoyed making it, although shooting it and interviewing someone at the same time is difficult for those of us who can do only one task at a time.

Still, my interviewee's charm overcomes my video-making inadequacies!

Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on 'Surprise Video' on the navigation bar

A Surprise Video Tomorrow Morning!

As a part of my week-long celebration of my website's anniversary, I am posting tomorrow morning a 2.5 minute video of one of needlepoint's favorite people!

Who is it?

To find out you will have to go and see:
www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on 'Surprise Video on the navigation bar.
And enjoy someone with a spicy sense of humor.

Gay Ann

A Week of Celebrating My Website's Anniversary

I am indeed celebrating my website's first anniversary.

Here is the new design I posted on my website 2 days ago, a geometric called Summer Sunshine. This is the first time I have sold the pattern.

Yesterday I posted an ornament from last year, the very first thing I sold on my website. I brought it back for sale in 'Small Designs'.

Today I posted a story about my year at Apple and about my first tutor there, Brian.

Tomorrow I will post my progress on 12 Stitches a Day. At the end of three weeks I have made some genuine progress, in fact I am in line tomorrow morning to finish one of the little pieces of the sewing case.

Then Monday comes a surprise! A little video which lasts for 2.5 minutes. I shot it at EGA's Regional Seminar last June and I just love it if I do say so! Am I a wonderful movie maker? Absolutely not! But my subject makes the video!

So here I am, celebrating my website's anniversary and having a great time doing it!
Gay ann

Online Anniversary!

Today is a big day in my online life for it was a year ago that I began managing my website. With this in mind I think a celebration is in order and some new treats.

Coming soon:
a new design (one I have never sold before),
a new video (a favorite)
a new game
a new column
a new story.

They will unfold over the next few days.

Gay Ann

12 Stitches a Day: I've Completed Week 2

I just posted a photo of my progress at the end of Week 2 of 12 Stitches a Day on my website.

This week I changed the rules just a bit: I worked 12 stitches on each of the four little pieces of my sewing case.

What I like about this program: it isn't a huge time commitment and I have taken to stitching it in those spare minutes while I am waiting to go somewhere, minutes I probably would have wasted. The trick is always leaving a needle of thread set to go so the prep doesn't take any time.

To see my progress go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on 12 Stitches Week 3.

Week 3 starts tomorrow.

Gay Ann

Mail Jail (or when I send out patterns you've ordered)

I have received several inquiries from people about the dates I will mail out patterns they have ordered.
Please note that I always post my Mail Jail progress, ie what dates I mail things, on my website:

www.GayAnnRogers.com, then click on News&Views. Mail Jail report is on the right side of the page.

Gay Ann

12 Stitches a Day: I've Completed a Week

For 7 days I have added 12 Stitches a Day to a sewing case I am making. That's a week's worth of minimal stitching and I am surprised by the progress I have made, just by keeping at it each day.

Mid-week I counted wrong and had to rip out and correct my count. To make sure I was back on track, I ripped, figured out where I was and took about 50 stitches to make sure I was right. That day I spent about 20 minutes; otherwise I spent about 2 minutes a day stitching and an additional minute or so making certain I was set up for the next day. That's hardly a commercial break's time on the television!

When I compared the two photos on my website, I was quite surprised that so nominal amount of stitching time added up to a bit of progress.

Years ago my Mother-in-Law said, if you clean out a drawer a week (which isn't really that much), you will have cleaned out 52 drawers in a year's time. That's what made me try 12 Stitches a Day.

People have commented so far that it is difficult to stop at 12 stitches and they are right, it is. So go on a while if you wish, but not too long. I fear if you overdo one day, you won't return to it the next day, and the point is to work a bit each day.

The other secret I have found is making certain, at the end of one day that you are set up for the next day. Have the needle threaded and set to go.

So tomorrow begins Week 2 of 12 Stitches a Day.

Gay Ann

To see my progress:
www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on "12 Stitches a Day" on the yellow navigation bar.

12 Stitches a Day Challenge starts TODAY!

Amidst all the turmoil in the world, stitching is a bit like meditation. It carts me away and into a little fantasy world of color and texture, if only for a couple of minutes a day. With this in mind, here is a new little challenge: 12 Stitches a Day.

I worked 12 Cross Stitches over 1 Mesh this morning and it took me approximately 2 minutes!
I will keep a little journal and report my progress on my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on '12 Stitches a Day'.

I am hoping you will try it too, just 12 Stitches a Day and report your own progress in my classroom at Shining Needle Society.
To join Shining Needle Society, write to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com). Membership is free.

Gay Ann

A New Idea for Stitching Productivity

In my Shining Needle Society classroom we have started a new program: choose a project, leave it set up, make a commitment to working 12 stitches each day. Always leave a threaded needle for the next day's work.

I am doing it too, right along with people in my classroom. My assignment for the weekend was to find the project and its threads and set it all up. We all start stitching on Monday.

I found my project, took a photo of where I am as I start; I will photograph it each week to see how much progress I make.
So stay tuned.
I will publish photos and my comments on my website.

It will be interesting to see what happens.
Gay Ann

EGA's South Central Region Seminar

I am just home again from EGA's South Central Region Seminar in Dallas (actually in Arlington).

Super time! I posted photos from around the seminar on my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com, then click on Region Seminar.
The photos include an all-time favorite of Kate Gaunt and Marie-Therese Baker as they were standing at their Merchandise Night table right before the crowds descended. They weren't really selling, but were advertising Shining Needle Society and its classes. My, how the organization has grown!

As travel to seminars becomes more of a hassle and more expensive, Shining Needle Society is offering an alternative. As time goes on, and as we learn how to use more and more of the technology available, I wonder if we won't be able to bring the feeling of a seminar right into your computers. If it happens as I suspect it will, you will feel like you are attending a seminar, but you will be at home in your pj's.

The one element of real seminars that cyber-seminars won't be able to replace: seeing friends face to face. That's the joy of it all and the reason I had such a good time in Arlington!

Gay Ann

Redwork Revisited

For the month of June a new goal: Redwork Projects.

I am hoping people will pull these projects out of their closets and work on them throughout June.

To support the month, I will be leading a month-long Stitch Along in my Shining Needle Society classroom. The goal: a few minutes each day and maybe by the end of the month we will see some completed Mystery Cottages, Redwork Cat Samplers, Friendship Samplers and hearts.

These projects are not expensive to stitch (most use a single color of floss or silk), nor are they difficult. And best of all, they go quickly.

In the last couple of months several people have asked me if I would sell some of my redwork designs, so I have also posted them for sale again.

So here's a kick off for June's month of Redwork!
Gay Ann

Susan Boyle, aka Boylemania, Revisited

I had a great time because I found a 'live stream' video of Britain's Got Talent and watched it in realtime. Amazing!
Sat on my couch, stitched and watched and listened to the whole program. I even exchanged several emails with a Brit friend who was watching and stitching at her house.

It's over. While the dance group 'Diversity' were incredible, my heart belongs to Susan Boyle. She sang her beautiful song better in the final than in her audition. She sang it with a subtlety, a greater depth and a bit of pathos that wasn't there the first time around. Maybe a realization that fame has a sting.

I was disappointed with the results, but then someone gave me a great idea!

I went to Amazon and signed up to be notified when Susan Boyle's first CD comes out.
Then I felt better. Likely this vote will make a greater difference to her life than had I been in the UK and been able to vote for her.

If you want to do the same, click on the URL below.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Release-Susan-Boyle/dp/B0026P3G12/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1243723237&sr=8-1

Gay Ann

Boylemania has hit my little Stitching World

Today is the final for Britain's Got Talent and I am having a little personal Stitch In while I wait by MacSoph (my computer) for ITV to post the YouTubes of the performances and the results later on this afternoon.

I invited my class at Shining Needle Society to join me.

I confess: I am caught up in this one. I have never watched any of these reality talent shows before (I am a news junkie not a reality show junkie), but I got caught up in this one and Boylemania. Anyway, any excuse to stitch!

Gay Ann

Scissors Finale, Part 2 Today

Earlier this morning I posted photographs of the 'house' I created for the scissors I bought on eBay.
I loved making this sewing case, even though the details took such a long time.

I had started the sewing case but hadn't planned the insides of it yet, ie I hadn't decided what tools I would use in it. Then I found an eBay listing for two pairs of scissors; at first I didn't think of them for the sewing case, I simply posted them on my website with the details of the sale. They were a 'Buy it Now' item and I thought they were pretty.

I watched the listing for about a week, all the while stitching on the sewing case. One day I looked at the scissors and thought 'perfect!' and bought them. They were just the right size and I love the way they look in the case and best of all, they are the same age as the house that served as my inspiration for the sewing case.

It is fun to look at eBay listings for antique needlework tools. When I find tools I like, I post notice of the auctions, photos of the tools and the details about the close of the auction and how many people have bid so far.

This morning, for example, I found a listing for a white opaline egg with tiny sewing tools. These eggs were trifles, toys made to delight the 19th century lady, and they are so charming. They are also very collectable and the prices they fetch are often very high.

Even though too high for many collectors' budgets, particularly today, I enjoy seeing them for sale, finding out the details and watching what happens with the auctions. And every once in a while, I find a great bargain! Isn't that always the hope of the collector.

To check eBay listings I have noted on my website, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on eBay listings.
To see my sewing case with its eBay scissors, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on Scissors, then on Scissors 17.

Gay Ann

Scissors Finale on My Website

For the better part of a month I have been posting photos and descriptions of scissors on my website and chatting about them in my Shining Needle Society classroom.

So here we are, toward the end of May and with it, My Scissors Finale.
The Finale is in two parts: today the scissors, tomorrow what I did with them.

To see them and read the story, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com
click on scissors, then on Scissors 16.

I had SUCH a good time with this project!
Gay Ann

A Scissors Treat This Morning!

Kate Gaunt found a listing on eBay for an old pair of scissors with mother of pearl handles. These are scarce and fragile and the fact that any survived at all is amazing as they are over 200 years old now. And here is a pair on eBay.

Kate's find was perfect timing because I had planned to post a photo of my own old and new ones.

I posted one of my favorite pairs of old ones and also the modern scissors with imitation mother of pearl handles that are now for sale in many needlework shops. Both are beautiful! Of course the old ones are so thin, intricate and delicate but they wouldn't hold up to use on our work (imagine trying to rip with them! -- on second thought, don't imagine: they wouldn't last 10 seconds!). That's the advantage of the new ones: they are much more sturdy and they preserve some of the beauty of the old ones.

Enjoy!
Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com
click on Scissors, then on thumbnail 15.

A Dramatic Pair of Scissors this morning

I just posted a dramatic pair of French scissors now 200 years old on my website, along with a couple of the ways to tell French scissors from English or American.

If you are interested in identifying the differences between English, French and American scissors with silver handles, the photos I have posted are a good place to start. Here's what to look for: the shapes of the blades, the general proportion, the style of the silver work, and the finger rings.

It is a fun hobby particularly if you are addicted to scissors, as I am.

Enjoy!
Gay Ann

www.GayAnnRogers.com, then click on Scissors, then on the thumbnail for Scissors 14.

Scissors and More Scissors

On my website I continue to post photos of scissors. At first I posted modern scissors for A Case for Color. Now I am posting antique scissors, special ones that I love.

Yesterday I posted two of my favorite pairs, one English, one American and if you look at them carefully you will begin to understand the differences between the styles.

As for use, I have favorite scissors for favorite tasks, as I am certain everybody does. I love scissors with long thin blades for snipping and for ripping, but I think there is more to it all: there's also balance or the way the scissors feel in your hands. Some time back I posted my favorites for work, a pair of Dovos and a pair of Ginghers. I couldn't get through the day without them.

Gay Ann

My Scissors

Hello Gay Ann,

I love your new topic of scissors, the ones on your website are so colorful!

Will you talk about the kinds of scissors a needleworker should have for her craft. I don't mean like brand names, but more for function. For example, I assume the cute little scissors are for snipping threads as one stitches.

What about cutting canvas or linen? What about cutting silk, wool, or metallic threads? And what works well for the tiny cuts in hardanger and such.

I would love to hear your ideas on this.


Reply: Hi Cindy,

Thanks for your note and for the ideas.

I just posted photos of my all-time favorite scissors this morning, then ones I couldn't live without, my little workhorses. I confess to having more than one of each :-)

In the next days I will post more scissors good for A Case for Color; I will also start posting photos of vintage and antique scissors, a serious weakness of mine.

Gay Ann

A Surprise Topic on my Website

Some time ago we started this topic in my Shining Needle Society classroom and I have always meant to return to it.

Now is that time!
To see the first and second photos attached to the topic, go to my website

www.GayAnnRogers.com

and click on Surprise Topic 1 on the navigation bar.

This is one of my favorite subjects so I hope it goes on for a long time.
Gay Ann

Twitter: My Account

I did it, I signed up for Twitter and left two tweets (is that how you spell it?)
My Twitter name is GARogersinSts. Now I have to find out how it all works. Anybody know?
Gay Ann

Twitter

I am curious to know, does anybody in my little needlework world belong to Twitter?
If so, would you write me about your experiences there?
Thanks
Gay Ann

GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com

A Case for Color Deadlines

MAIL JAIL is the mail division of my little business. It is a necessity but I like to escape MAIL JAIL as often and soon as I can. In the interest of escape, I have put some deadlines on A Case for Color.

Here are the deadlines: You have until April 10 to order A Case for Color if you wish to receive the pattern now.

After April 10 registration will remain open for A Case for Color but I won’t mail patterns again until mid-May.

Why am I doing this? I have five sets of instructions I must write before the end of June, so I am carving out time away from Mail Jail to go into Instructions Hell.

On a lighter note, we are in week two of Color Inspirations on my website and in my Shining Needle Society classroom and this morning I have posted my own personal favorites. To visit them, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on Color Inspirations 8 on the navigation bar.

Gay Ann

A Case for Color starts tomorrow!

A Case for Color starts tomorrow in my classroom at Shining Needle Society.
For membership write to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com).

I hope you will come along and enjoy the conversation about the mystery of color.
Membership is free!

Gay Ann

A Case for Color and Pam's and Kim's Colors

In the last few days Pam and Kim from Tomorrow's Heirlooms have sent me pretty color combinations, 16 of them, for my new mystery, A Case for Color. I published them 4 at a time and they are all now on my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com, 'Colors.'

Information about A Case for Color is there also, along with 6 different models.

A Case for Color is a simple little sewing case with places for scissors and a packet of needles. Easy and fast to stitch and finish, it is an exercise in juggling color and I am hoping people will use the opportunity to try some colors they have always wanted to try.

I made two different cases. On the first one I was much more conservative and chose colors that are the sorts I normally use; for the second I used colors that are very strong, much stronger than I normally choose. I enjoy now comparing the different effects.

Gay Ann

A Case for Color

Both styles of A Case for Color are now on my website.

A Case for Color is my new 'mystery project' for 2009. Why a mystery when you can see it? Because the mystery is in the color.
You have to choose your own colors and watch how they unfold. In fact, there are no color numbers in the pattern, so you have to take part in the mysterious part of color evolution.

To see A Case for Color, go to my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com. All six are on my home page, then click on the numbers to travel on my Magic Carpet to see details of each.

A Case for Color will be my 2009 project in my classroom at Shining Needle Society. The term will begin in April, as soon as I mail out the patterns.

Gay Ann

A Case for Color #2 arrives this morning

For the last three days I have posted different versions of A Case for Color #1 on my website; this morning, I will post the first A Case for Color #2. Tomorrow another version and the next day as well.

I mixed the colors on the cases, ie the colors are one way on the front of the cases, another way on the back of the cases.
I had a great time making all the different ones and probably would have made 5 or 6 more just because they are easy to make and fast too. A Case for Color will be the project for the spring in my classroom at Shining Needle Society, so I may just have to make another one or two of them just to stitch along with everybody else.

To follow A Case for Color and see the different versions, visit my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com.

Gay Ann

A New Mystery is coming tomorrow!

Tomorrow is a big day on my website because I will start announcing my mystery for 09.
It will all unfold through the next week on www.GayAnnRogers.com.

This year's mystery is different: you get to see the whole design up front.
So what is the mystery?

Ahhh, The Mystery of Color!

Gay Ann

I think a Mystery is unfolding....

A Mystery is about to unfold on my website.
This is all I know so far: it involves color.
Follow along and see what happens.

www.GayAnnRogers.com

Change is in the Air!

Change is in the air on my website as we transition from Courting Inspiration to March.
Watch it all unfold starting tomorrow morning at

www.GayAnnRogers.com

Happy Valentine's Day

I invite you to visit my website and see my Valentine's Day offering, one of my favorite samplers called 'Love Sampler' and its story. It has my favorite poem about love and marriage, just a bit of romantic offering for the day. Nothing to buy, no quizzes, just a bit of Eye Candy (not even fattening) to say Happy Valentine's Day.

www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on Valentine.

Antique Sewing Tools on eBay

I have just had good luck finding some great listings for antique sewing tools on eBay. If you would like to see the listings I found and numbers to link to eBay, visit my website www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on eBay Listings.

Among my favorites currently: French silver gilt scissors, stiletto and thimble at a very low price right now, with only a day or so till the end of the auction. Others include a pretty mother of pearl silkwinder, a Tartan waxer and a dear little mother of pearl emery from an English workbox.

Enjoy!
Gay Ann

February on my Website

February has arrived on my website and along with it hearts, flowers, candy, romance and a new topic, Courting Inspiration.
All month long I will post small sources of inspiration for needlework, beginning with computer wallpapers on my Magic Carpet .

I hope we will discuss all sorts of inspiration in my classroom at Shining Needle Society along with New Year's Resolution Ornaments, maybe people will even incorporate small inspirations into their editions of the ornaments.

www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on any of the photos on my home page.
Enjoy! See you at Shining Needle Society.
Gay Ann

The Date is Set

The date is set for me to start my Shining Needle Society class for New Year's Resolution Ornament #2.
This is a simple little ornament, small, fast and easy to stitch, a perfect project to start and finish and enjoy a couple of color lessons.

We will officially start class for New Year's Resolution Ornament #2 on February 1. I hope you will join us.

Then after New Year's Resolution Ornament comes my group project for the year, called A Case for Color.
I will post information about it soon. Meanwhile, I hope to see you in my classroom at Shining Needle Society.

Gay Ann

Classes at Callaway 2010

I am home again from Callaway 2009 and have just posted photos of some of the classes for next year (2010).

If you would like to see some very nice classes, go to my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on
'More Callaway' on the yellow navigation bar.
Then click on the blue buttons called Callaway 15, Callaway 16 and Callaway 17 and then enjoy!

It is good to be home again. Soon I will start 'New Year's Resolution #2' in my Classroom at Shining Needle Society.
To those of you who ordered patterns while I was at Callaway, I will start filling orders very soon and will post my progress in News&Views on my website.

Good to be home again!
Gay Ann

Inauguration Day at Callaway Gardens

In celebration of Inauguration Day today, I have posted a video of Tony Minieri and all the stitchers at Callaway School of Needle Arts singing 'America the Beautiful' on my website.

To find the video, go to www.GayAnnRogers.com and click on 'Callaway 1' on the yellow navigation bar, then click on the blue button 'Callaway 12'

Each day I have been at Callaway I have posted photos of our needlework seminar in hopes people would see beautiful Callaway and have a feeling for the seminar here that goes on each January.

Gay Ann

I am at beautiful Callaway Gardens School of Needle Arts

For 11 wonderful days I am at Callaway Gardens School of Needle Arts in Pine Mountain Georgia.
Here each year in early January we who love embroidery meet for classes, companionship, beautiful scenery and entirely too much FOOD!
One photo I have posted is of the view from my room -- truly A Room with a View.
The other two photos are of the needlework boutique here where all students and teachers too may shop.
For information about Callaway Gardens, call 1-800-7-NEEDLE.
For many more photos of my life at Callaway, visit my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com, click on 'Callaway 1' on the Navigation Bar and then on the blue buttons saying Callaway 2, 3, 4, etc. Most of all enjoy! I hope you will feel like you are here with me.
Gay Ann

New Year's Resolution Ornament #2

New Year's Resolution Ornament #2 is the second of my New Year's Day color-exercise ornaments for people wishing to expand their color horizons. Details are posted on my website, www.GayAnnRogers.com, Small Designs.
We will soon be discussing New Year's Resolution Ornament #2 in my Shining Needle Society classroom, so I hope you will join us there.
Gay Ann