Mystery in a Corner: Color Combinations #9, #10, #11 and #12

Here are color combination kits #9, #10, #11 and #12 for my new mystery, Mystery in a Corner.
They are from Pam Douda and Kim Propst for Tomorrow's Heirlooms and are 4 of a total of 21 I will be posting.

If you find one you love, I am sure Pam and Kim will be happy to mail the kit to you.
Pam Douda and Kim Propst
Email:TomHeir@aol.com
Telephone: 630-790-1660
Address: Tomorrow's Heirlooms
650 Roosevelt Road Suite 103, Glen Ellyn IL 60137.

Enjoy!
Gay Ann

Mystery in a Corner: Color Combinations #5, #6. #7 and #8

Here are four more Color Combinations for my new mystery, Mystery in a Corner.
Enjoy!
They are #5, #6, #7 and #8.
Gay Ann

Mystery in a Corner: Color Combinations #1, #2. #3 and #4

Tomorrow's Heirlooms in Glen Ellyn IL is doing my mystery and Pam Douda and her daughter Kim Propst have put together some wonderful colors for their customers/students. When I heard they were going to do this, I asked Pam and Kim to take photos of the kits so I could post them on My Blog.

Kim has sent me 21 different photos and I will post them over the next couple of weeks, about 4 at a time. Here are #1, #2, #3 and #4.

If you find one you love, I am sure Pam and Kim will be happy to mail the kit to you.
Pam Douda and Kim Propst
Email:TomHeir@aol.com
Telephone: 630-790-1660
Address: Tomorrow's Heirlooms
650 Roosevelt Road Suite 103, Glen Ellyn IL 60137.

Enjoy this burst of color and watch for more in the next couple of weeks.
For information about my new mystery and a photo of Part 1, see the posting "My New Needlepoint Mystery: Mystery in a Corner"
Gay Ann

P.S. I have no financial interest in Pam's and Kim's kits, only think they are gorgeous, that's all.

Shining Needle Society: High Noon in Texas!

At High Noon Dallas time today, Shining Needle Society reached 1000 members!
Congratulations Kate and Marie-Therese!

If somebody out there in Blog-Land would like to be the 1001st member, write to Kate, KateGaunt@aol.com.
Gay Ann

The Butterfly Challenge in Needlepoint Now

For many years now Callaway has been my favorite needlework venue. We all call it Callaway, but officially it is the Needle Arts School at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain GA each January. It is just a wonderful experience and the present issue of the magazine Needlepoint Now has a great article on Callaway. A special thank you to Joyce Lukomski and her staff for writing about Callaway.

As a part of Needlepoint Now's celebration of Callaway, the magazine is also sponsoring a contest, the Butterfly Challenge. Why butterflies? Because of the wonderful butterfly house at Callaway. I am hoping many people will accept the challenge and stitch a butterfly or two. All the rules are in the present issue and I will include information how to buy a copy of the magazine at the end of this posting.

I am excited about the Butterfly Challenge and planning to spend some time on it in my classroom at Shining Needle Society. I am hoping I can convince many of my 'students' there to accept the challenge and work on designs for the contest. And speaking of Shining Needle Society, it is nearing 1000 members. Wow!

Gay Ann

How to Reach Needlepoint Now
phone: 804-732-9140 • fax: 804-732-5601
e-mail:Editor@needlepointnow.com
Website:www.needlepointnow.com

Subscription Information
Domestic Subscription $32
International Subscription $42


How to join Shining Needle Society:
write to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com) for an invitation.
Membership is free.

My New Needlepoint Mystery: Mystery in a Corner

Mystery in a Corner is a two-part geometric design.
The photo shows Part 1.
Part 2 is the Mystery.
Mysterious corners in mysterious patterns!

How the mystery works:
Registration is open from now until June 1 08.
I will mail Part 1 patterns between April 1 and June 15 08.
I will mail the Mysterious Part 2 patterns on or before July 15 08.


Supplies:
Ground fabric: 18-mesh canvas, 13" x 13"
or congress cloth if you wish (you must change the weight of the thread but it will work).

Threads:
Now is the time to be creative!
Begin with an overdyed thread (such as Watercolours) and choose coordinating colors of metallic thread and pearl cotton, floss or silk. Try a color combination you have always toyed with trying or return to an old favorite and try some new threads.

Shining Needle Society:
Join our online classrooms and enjoy chatting with others about your progress and your choices.
Membership is free, just write to KateGaunt@aol.com

Price for Subscribers who register on or before June 1 08:
For single subscribers: $38.00 for both parts plus $10.00 for 2 mailings (Part 1 and Part 2).
For groups of 10 or more all mailed to a single leader: $32.00 per person, plus $4.00 for 2 mailings by Priority mail.
After June 1 08 there will be a price increase.

How to Register:
For single subscribers: send name, address and email to
GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com
For groups of 10 or more: send leader's name, address and email to
GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com.

Payment in full is due on or before June 1 08.
Payment may be made by check or PayPal.
Please write to me for address: GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com

If you have questions, please write.
Gay Ann

Shining Needle Society hits 900!

A milestone for Shining Needle Society: it now has 900 members!
Congratulations Kate and Marie-Therese, and a toast to a long life and many more members!

If you are interested in learning more about Shining Needle Society, its online classes and other activities, contact Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com). Membership is free.

Gay Ann

Glittering Diamonds

Here are examples of my mystery, "Glittering Diamonds."
I would like to thank Karen Race, Marilyn Tofflemoyer,Sandy Schlueter and Jane Tanner for sending these photos of Glittering Diamonds.
Yes, they are all the same pattern!
Gay Ann

Three Mysteries from Val Reece

Thank you, Val, for sending me photos of the three mysteries you stitched!
The first is Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz.
The second is Glittering Diamonds.
The third is Redwork Mystery.
Gay Ann

Happy Valentine's Day in Hearts!

Over the last few years, I have stitched about 2 dozen hearts and here are a lucky bunch of seven of them to wish you Happy Valentine's Day!
Enjoy the day, eat a lot of Chocolate and stitch a bit. Remember to wash the chocolate off your fingers before you pick up your needle :-)

Gay Ann

A Mystery within a Mystery

Darlene Locke sent me her mystery which she identified as Glittering Diamonds but it doesn't look like Glittering Diamonds because of the square shape around the middle. Glittering Diamonds, as you will see shortly, has a diamond-shaped center.

When I designed these patterns, I offered all sorts of options and stitchers did some wonderful patterns with these options but often they stump me!

Is this indeed Glittering Diamonds?
A Mystery within a Mystery!
Thank you, Darlene. Your piece is a beautiful example, whichever it is!

Gay Ann

A Gallery of Mysteries with a Little Bit of Glitz

Here are five wonderful Mysteries with a Little Bit of Glitz. Thank you, kind stitchers, for sending them.
I have only one problem: your names got separated from the images and I don't know for sure which belongs to whom.
If you write to me and identify yours, I will happily add your name to my blog!

First (top one) was stitched by Carol Whitton, third from top by Linda Bell and fifth by Pat Sweet. Thank you to all three of you.

Yes, all five are the same pattern! They just show the different variations.

I don't remember which year I offered Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz but it was a while ago. I loved inventing the pattern because of the different options and I love the chance to see what options and colors different stitchers chose.
Often I recognize Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz only by the Eyelets around the center.

Gay Ann

Carole Lake's Anasazi Song

I just signed up to take a class online through Shining Needle Society. Kate and Marie-Therese are offering a design of Carole Lake's that I have long admired, so I signed up!

The class is available as a kit or instructions only, or also for former students with Anasazi Song in progress. It will be a nice opportunity to try an online class at Shining Needle Society and become acquainted with the organization.

Membership in Shining Needle Society is free, just contact Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com) for an invitation.
Right now Shining Needle Society has almost 700 members and seems to grow daily.

Gay Ann

Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz and Glittering Diamonds

Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz and Glittering Diamonds are two of my past mysteries.
I am hoping that people who stitched them will send me digital photos of their projects so that I can feature them in a gallery here on My Blog.

If you stitched either of these mysteries and would be willing for me to post your project here, would you please email me at GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com.
If you know someone who did, would you ask the person to write to me?
If you belong to a list, would you do me a favor and post a note that I am looking for stitched examples of my geometric mysteries.

I would greatly appreciate hearing from you!

Gay Ann

P.S. Mystery in a Corner (another geometric mystery) is coming soon!

Two More of New Year's Resolution Ornament

Here are two more color combinations of New Year's Resolution Ornament #1.
Look at all 7 (2 in this posting and 5 in the last posting) and you will see how New Year's Resolution Ornament is a little color lesson all wrapped into a quickie needlepoint project.
The ornament is almost 4" x 4" on 18-mesh canvas (canvas size is 8" x 8").
The pattern is $9.99 plus $1 postage. For more information: GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com
Gay Ann

New Year's Resolution Ornament #1

Here are 5 models of New Year's Resolution Ornament #1.
The ornament is 4" x 4" on 18-mesh canvas.

If you would like to stitch New Year's Resolution Ornament #1, you will have satisfied a whole bunch of New Year's Resolutions:
1. Start a New Project (always fun in a new year)
2. Finish a Project (it takes two 'television watching' evenings)
3. Use Threads from Your Stash (choose any threads in colors you like, thick or thin, glitzy or matte - they will all work!)
4. Try a new thread or color (visit your Needlework Shop or call Pam Douda, Tomorrow's Heirlooms or Vicky deAngelis, Needle Nook of La Jolla)
5. Learn a Bit More about Color in an Easy Way (just start, work out your colors as you go).

If you would like to buy the pattern for New Year's Resolution Ornament #1, write to me for an invoice.
The price is $9.99 for the pattern and $1 for postage.
GayAnn@GayAnnRogers.com

If you would like to stretch and learn a bit more about color and texture while you stitch New Year's Resolution Ornament #1, join Shining Needle Society (write to Kate Gaunt, KateGaunt@aol.com, for an invitation. Membership is free).
Gay Ann

Notebook Pages of Clippings and Cards

As an educational example of my collection of clippings from catalogues and magazines, cards and color samples, I compiled these pages in a notebook. Please look at the colors, the lines of the designs, the styles of the items. Clippings and cards like these are a great help and inspiration to me.

I made the booklet as an example for my Shining Needle Society classroom (where we are doing color exercises) and I am taking it to Callaway with me for use in my classes. I would share the pages with you first, before the booklet and I depart for Pine Mountain. Enjoy!

Gay Ann

I forgot this photo of a Rainbow of Grab Bags!

I forgot to post this photo of a rainbow of grab bags!
Gay Ann

How I spent New Year's Day

Liz picked me up at 8:30 and she, Vicky and I had breakfast at the Cottage, a dear little restaurant right across from the shop.
As soon as breakfast was over, I began putting together grab bags for Vicky. All in all, I put together 80 of them. The photos here are samples of the grab bags which I did by color and texture.

The bags are $8.88 at www.needlenookoflajolla.com. Each one has at least $25.00 worth of threads and beads, some considerably more.

I put these together essentially for my Shining Needle Society classroom, so that I could encourage some play with color. Each of these little grab bags has a core color on which someone can build. I have no financial interest in these grab bags, only an educational interest.

Needle Nook of La Jolla will continue to sell them for the month of January or for as long as they last.

Happy New Year!
Gay Ann

Wrapping Paper and Ribbon from Christmas

I made a rule this year, that I had to use up paper and ribbon left over from past Christmases -- I had to use it all up before I could shop for any more.

In the bottom of a very large box was this gold tissue paper. I combined it with an old old old satin ribbon that is a khaki green and then some curling ribbon in gold. Along with these I cut up some old wired ribbon and made bows, tied with the curling ribbon. The package tag is a much brighter gold and white, but when I finished, I thought, oooo isn't that pretty, I saved a bit of all of it for future inspiration and then today took a photo of it to post on My Blog and in my classroom.

This time of year is a wonderful time to clip inspiration from catalogues, wrappings and Christmas cards. It is so much easier when working on a visual project to have some visual aids. Surround yourself with lots of visual aids and they will begin to work their magic on your mind.

Gay Ann

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
Hope you had a wonderful day! I had a blissfully quiet one, even managed to stitch for a while this afternoon.
Early this a.m. I posted instructions for The Catalogue Game in my Shining Needle Society Classroom.

Still to come: The Christmas Card Game.
And a surprise Valentine's Day project.

I am having a great time thinking up games and surprises for my classroom at Shining Needle Society.
Wish you would come join us.
KateGaunt@aol.com for an invitation.

Gay Ann

Tis the Season: Still More on Catalogues

People in my Shining Needle Society Classroom have been busy collecting catalogues (at least I hope they have been) and stacking them under the Christmas tree with a bow and a note on top saying 'Merry Christmas to Me from Me.'

As soon as they check their computers on Christmas morning, the people who are in my Shining Needle Society classroom will find a note from me wishing them Merry Christmas and instructing them to open the catalogues and start our game.

I am hoping it will be reminiscent of childhood. Look at it this way: this year I am playing Santa for the child in each Shining Needle Society member who will learn the games soon!

Please come join us, save your catalogues, stack them under your tree and join my classroom by contacting Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com)

SEE you on Christmas morning.

Gay Ann

Tis the Season: More on Catalogues

Are you busy saving your catalogues? Even one or two will do the trick. Of course, more is
best, but one or two are better than none. Just set them aside for a while.

For those of you who are groaning at the idea of more clutter, I have a suggestion: put them
in a stack, put a bow on top of them, tie a gift card with 'to me from me' on the bow and put
the stack under the Christmas tree. If you don't put a ribbon around the whole stack, you can
keeping adding to the stack as you find them or finish with them.

What will you do with these?
Later....

Merry accumulation!
Gay Ann

Tis the Season, Part 1: Catalogues

All those catalogues that flood your mailbox?
DON'T throw them away! Save them carefully!
I have a plan for them....

Gay Ann

Information about Digital Cameras

Today is an exciting day in my Shining Needle Society classroom: Arlene Jones who is an avid stitcher and knows a ton about digital cameras will start answering questions about digital cameras and needlework late this afternoon.
Look for my introduction in my classroom.

For those of you who would like to participate, please feel welcome to join Shining Needle Society.
Write to: Kate Gaunt, KateGaunt@aol.com.

Exciting! I am looking forward to questions from members and Arlene's answers!

Gay Ann

The First Shining Needle Society Cyber Stitch-in

Yesterday afternoon, between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. we had the First Shining Needle Society Cyber Stitch-in.

What is a Cyber Stitch-in?
I set the time frame of 6 hours yesterday afternoon and anyone who wished to participate set aside half an hour (more time if she could afford it), laid aside the tasks of the day, picked up her needle and stitched.

Then many people reported back how long they had stitched and what they had worked on. Three people even got together, ate lunch and stitched for the afternoon.

I myself attended the Cyber Stitch-in. I worked on a project, in fact I took the first stitch on a little project I have been meaning to stitch for a long time. I saw the time as a gift and I felt refreshed. Time set aside for my favorite thing to do.

I am looking forward to many more Cyber Stitch-ins and I hope that many of you who follow my blog will come join me.

Membership in my classroom is open to anyone who would like to join.
My classroom is a part of Shining Needle Society whose directors are Kate Gaunt and Marie-Therese Baker. Shining Needle Society is up to 600 people now and Kate and Marie Therese are looking forward to offering all sorts of different activities in all sorts of classrooms over the next year. Mine is only one of the classrooms.

For an invitation to join, write to KateGaunt@aol.com.

Gay Ann

Shining Needle Society opens my new classroom

For 8 months now I have had a chatroom featuring my Redwork Mystery. My mystery has just finished and I am about to move into a brand new classroom at Shining Needle Society. Tomorrow, on Thanksgiving, Shining Needle Society will officially open my new classroom and welcome anyone who wants to join.

I hope you will join me for a series of online projects, classes and play, lots of surprises and along the way small exercises to encourage creativity in needlework. Membership is free, just write to KateGaunt@aol.com and she will send you an invitation.

At Callaway last year, Jennifer Taylor took a wonderful collage photograph using a small grouping of my projects. I think Jennifer Taylor is nothing short of amazing and the photo she took is my favorite photo ever taken of my work. Clever Kate posted the photo as the logo-photo in my new classroom, so right away I was at home there.

We hope you will come to see one amazing photograph and let us welcome you officially.
See you at Shining Needle Society!

Gay Ann

Redwork Mystery's Bonus Surprise

Here it is, my little bonus for all of you. It isn't a new scene, rather a way to use any one of the little rooms on the Redwork Mystery.

When I thought it up, I thought the timing would be perfect: it would make a little Christmas present for someone special. And here's the best part: no finishing deadlines because you can do the finishing yourself in about 20 minutes.

I will post the instructions in my Shining Needle Society chat room later on today.
If you would like them, please join Shining Needle Society by writing to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com).
Membership is free and if necessary, Kate will help you with the forms.

I am not posting the instructions on My Blog because they are odd: for the first time in my long career of writing instructions, I have done a simple list with no graphs. If you belong to the chatroom and you have questions, you will have a good support system in there.

Again, thank you one and all for stitching my Redwork Mystery. I thought I would be so happy to see it end, but I am not. I miss the anticipation of unveiling a new room.

SEE you in Shining Needle Society!

Gay Ann

My Redwork Mystery: A Surprise Bonus coming soon!

For all of you who followed my Redwork Mystery, I have a photo of a little Surprise Bonus which I will post late Wednesday or early Thursday.

I will post the photo here. Should you wish to make the the little Bonus, I will post the instructions in my classroom at Shining Needle Society. If you wish to make the ornament, I ask you to join Shining Needle Society by writing to Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com).

Membership is free and Kate will help you join.

Gay Ann

Shining Needle Society Reaches 500 People

Good News! Shining Needle Society reached 500 this afternoon! Kate Gaunt emailed me to tell me the news!
Congratulations to the fledgling organization! Wow!

If you are interested in joining, please contact Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com).
Membership is free and she will help you register if necessary.

Gay Ann

My Sampler Makers are Finished!

About half an hour ago I finished writing the instructions for the fourth of my Sampler Makers.
They are finished!
Hooray!

(Click on each photo for a larger image)

Gay Ann

Redwork Mystery's Window #8 is in the mail

I sent off Surprise Window #8 in today's mail, so you should have yours in a few days.

As soon as I start hearing from people that their letters or packets have arrived (in about a week's time), I will post a photo of a little bonus to wrap up my mystery. It is a little add-on surprise for all of you, a way of saying thank you for participating in my mystery.

I will post a photo of the little bonus here; instructions for the bonus will be available in my Shining Needle Society Chat Room.
Please come and join by contacting Kate Gaunt (KateGaunt@aol.com). Membership is free and Kate will help you.

For the past months my Shining Needle Society chat room has been a support group for my mystery. As those of you who belong can attest, it has been a lively room with lots of photos showing variations people have made of Redwork Mystery.

After I post instructions for my little bonus, my chat room will evolve into a permanent room called 'Gay Ann's Shining Needle Society Class Room.' My classroom will be one of several, as Shining Needle Society becomes an on-line seminar.

Already Janet Casey has joined Shining Needle Society and she will offer two of her Santas for a Christmas-stitching adventure. Early in the New Year Jane Zimmerman and Judy Souliotis will join in and I suggest watching for other well-known teachers also as Shining Needle Society moves forward. All of us will offer projects, ideas, exercises and on-line classes as Shining Needle Society grows.

I hope you will join us for this exciting new stitching adventure.

Gay Ann

Redwork Mystery: The Complete Sampler Revealed

Here is my Redwork Mystery Cottage with all its rooms in place.
Click on the photo for a larger image.

Thank you for following me for 8 months as the mystery's rooms were revealed.
I will be back with a new mystery soon.
Gay Ann