WITH THY NEEDLE & THREAD - COMING TO AMERICA

 TAKING ORDERS SHORTLY!!!

Here is the actual text of the announcement :

Greetings!

Well, here we go! I hope you are all staying well! I have decided to go ahead with the release, as there has been much excitement and enthusiasm about the Coming to America - Women of the Mayflower sampler AND I've got a lot of time invested in this piece! Hopefully, we all will be back to a bit more normalcy by the late Summer release date of the sampler. Stitching is therapy for so many, and I am hoping this release will be just that!

Without further ado, I am happy to share with you the finished & framed Coming to America ~ The Women of the Mayflower !

The inspiration for this piece came from a book that was written 100 years ago by author, Ethel J.R.C Noyes, titled - The Women of the Mayflower and Women of Plymouth Colony. Her work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization, as we know it. The work is now in public domain in the United States of America. It is well worth the read, its history that wasn't taught in our history books. I read the book a second time, as I stitched the sampler. The sampler gave me a small connection to each woman, as I crossed each stitch, of each letter of their names. I normally don't like stitching letters, but for some strange reason I thoroughly enjoyed stitching the names of these women!

The sampler was designed in bands. Long and narrow, much like samplers of the 17th century, but not in 17th century-style. Each band and it's motifs represents a time of their journey... the landing at Cape Cod , the animals that traveled with them, the women - a listing of the names of the 18 married women, Plymouth - the place they would eventually call home, the rock - Plymouth Rock, a lastly, a reminder that we are living in the tomorrow for which they wrought.

All the details for the sampler are listed below, click here for a video clip, further explaining the piece. There is a lot of information, please read through this carefully! There is also a link at the very bottom of this email to print off all the information. This will be helpful to have at hand for future reference.

Celebrate 66 days of stitching to coincide with the 66 days at sea!

Kick off date Sept 6, 2020 - Nov 9th, 2020.

Stitch count: 125 wide X 422 high

Finished sizes: (NOTE - sizes listed below do not include additional fabric needed for framing purposes, you will need to add that to these measurements!)

40 count linen * (worked over 2 threads) - 6 1/4" wide X 21 high

36 count linen * (worked over 2 threads) - 6 7/8" wide X 23 3/8 high

32 count linen (worked over 2 threads) - 7 3/4" x 26 3/8" high

*recommended count linens, 32 count is doable; end results will just be pretty big!

Linen: Vintage Country Mocha by Zweigart

Our cover model was worked on 40 count, one over two.

Stitches used:

Cross stitch (all over 2), small amount of Back and Straight Stitches.

Floss usage (40 count, one over 2): One skein each, unless noted otherwise.

Weeks Dye Works - 1092 Grits & 2197 Oscar (2 skeins, with not much left....may want to add a 3rd skein)

Gentle Arts - 7041 Apple Cider, 7045 Mountain Mist (2 skeins), 7066 Wood Trail & 7080 Endive

Classic Colorworks - Chesapeake Bay

DMC - 355, 371, 3778, 3830, 610, 613, 640, 647, 729 & 754

Floss usage (36 count, one over 2): One skein each, unless noted otherwise. NOTE - This is only a floss estimation as provided by the cross stitch program in which the design was charted. The cover model was not worked in this count, so cannot definitively confirm!

Weeks Dye Works - 1092 Grits & 2197 Oscar (3 skeins)

Gentle Arts - 7041 Apple Cider, 7045 Mountain Mist (2 skeins), 7066 Wood Trail & 7080 Endive

Classic Colorworks - Chesapeake Bay

DMC - 355, 371 (2 skeins), 3778, 3830, 610, 613, 640, 647, 729 & 754

Floss usage (32 count, 2 over 2): One skein each, unless noted otherwise. NOTE - This is only a floss estimation as provided by the cross stitch program in which the design was charted. The cover model was not worked in this count, so cannot definitively confirm!

Weeks Dye Works - 1092 Grits (2 skeins) & 2197 Oscar (5 skeins)

Gentle Arts - 7041 Apple Cider, 7045 Mountain Mist (3 skeins), 7066 Wood Trail & 7080 Endive

Classic Colorworks - Chesapeake Bay

DMC - 355, 371 (3 skeins), 3778, 3830, 610, 613 (2 skeins), 640, 647, 729 & 754

 

FAQ

What is all included?

1. Chart for the sampler, "Coming to America ~ The Women of the Mayflower",
2. Self-adhesive sampler label to sign and date the finished sampler
3. Pilgrim Lady Needle Anchor - a cute little magnet to keep one's needle safe & secure.
4. Piece of cotton backing fabric for the free bonus chart. The fabric is a reproduction of Mayflower passenger, William Bradford's handwritten journal and was designed specifically for this project.
5. Custom printed box to house the items. This also doubles as a project box to keep all the goodies safe & secure while stitching the sampler!

Lastly, WTN&T is including a free harvest-themed chart.  

 

BACK TO ME: The newsletter will give you easy ordering options so don't get overwhelmed by the above! You might think about the fabrics now because you will be able to opt for the suggested fabric, or if you will work on either 36 or 40 count, we can offer a hand-dyed linen from Seraphim.

If you are not a newsletter subscriber, write to me at twisinc@comcast.net and ask to be. 

I am aware that the link to the video doesn't work. It will be in the newsletter.

 

LIFE AT CHEZ NELSON

Many have written to me in emails sending messages of love and encouragement. They are greatly appreciated and since it is Sunday, I will take some time and acknowledge them. Until then, business life goes on. Some of you knew that I had taken on a consignment job for the daughters of a needlepointer who had passed away. Normally I enjoyed this and do it in the background of the regular activities at TWIS. During this time of quarantine, I was not getting much business from TWIS customers, but was getting some wonderful orders from people elsewhere who were referred to me by TWIS customers after those locals realized that I could do business via email and phone conversations. Either people were trying to use up what they had at home, or they finally began to run out of threads or fabrics they needed to do projects. 

In any case, it was insufficient to even provide the funds for all the basics: rent, business insurance, heat, electricity and phone. There wasn't sufficient money to even stay current on some of our invoices that are broken down into two, three or four payments. Large yarn orders are made to try to save on shipping and then you get friendly terms. In this time where knitters want to see the colors and feel the texture, we are selling very little knitting yarn.

When this estate presented itself, I jumped at the opportunity for some cash flow. There was a lot of it and I distributed it in piles in various parts of the store since you couldn't come anyway. Most of the times when I take on projects like this, they come in pretty well organized. This was not the case. I felt like I was getting behind the eight ball on the project so I tried to gather up the threads that were loose in bags and in totes, falling down between canvases. I brought them home, vowing I would stay home today, Sunday. I started last night on my bed while I ran movies on Prime. I made a dent, but then had to make a place to sleep so I hauled it out into the living room to finish today. I had to document the mess for you.

It starts out looking pretty good, doesn't it

 Mess I will deal with later.

 This printer box is still almost half full.

Haven't even started this big tote bag's mess!


Where can you have access to these treasures? You have to join Facebook and ask for access to these Groups:  Good Buy Needlework which I run along with my friend Theresa from Homestead Needlearts in MI. We made a rule to keep people from overtaking the group by limiting listers to 15 items at one time. I have way to much stuff, and have to wait for a purchase and then have the party remit before I can delete the listing. Therefore I have had to also start using Needlepoint Swap Meet.

Just go to the groups and use the search mechanism and put Randi Nelson in the box and my items come up.

There are floor frames and lap frames too which I will picture later here in the blog. These will be available for pick-up at the door of the store, but Lynn has to come in an put some of them back together first so we are sure that we have all the necessary pieces. 

This poor woman mounted most of the canvases that she bought on stretcher bars and then took a few stitches. When I have sold pieces, I have unmounted them to save the buyers shipping, so we will have lots of stretcher bars in the shop at tiny prices. ( I have a gas fireplace, not a wood burning one! )

Now, an early lunch and back to my sorting! Hope you enjoyed this little window on my life.

Randi

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT

It is so wonderful to be able to embark on a long term project, one smaller piece at a time. Building a Nativity Grouping is a very rewarding project. I have a small 6 piece set completed and I have two others that I slip back into my needlepoint rotation whenever I can. This first post will deal with a larger set from Danji. You can choose to start with the Creche, or leave that for last as it is the largest investment in time and money.

The nice part is that each of these pieces has a stitch guide to help you work through these on your own at home. This piece measures almost 11 by almost 9 inches.  $150

Let's deal with the Holy Family next. Mary and Joseph are each $53 and the Baby Jesus is $46. Don't forget that you can click on these and enlarge them.

  
  The Three Wise Men are each $53.

The Angel and the Shepherd are each $46.

Last but not least, my favorite part of any Nativity - the animals! Each of them is $53.

As always, you are welcome to discuss a discount on purchasing at least three at a time.

BIGGER NEEDLEPOINT PROJECTS

 This looks like Judy! We had a river that ran through our farm and if the water was high, the girls would want to stay over on the other side and eat, rather than come home and be milked. My dad used to strip down and swim across to get them to come across and they would gather to watch him. Judy would let Dad get on her back and she would ferry him back across to his clothes. There was the one time when she stopped suddenly and he went over her head and caught himself up to his elbows in the mud. The sunglasses show Judy's choices : fun in the sun in the pasture or walk home. This design is 8 inches on a side on 18m and is perfectly stitch painted. The canvas is $99.

  





This is a beautiful adaptation of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed window know as SAGUARO FORMS AND CACTUS FLOWERS. Again, another perfectly painted canvas on 18 count, measuring 5.75 inches by 14. A great stitch guide accompanies this canvas. $130

It's time to do Christmas! Here is a Bumblebee Santa, complete with a stitch guide. Santa measures almost 4.5 by 7.5 inches on 18 count mono. $95

LITTLE NEEDLEPOINT PROJECTS

 Sometimes a little project is a big reward after finishing a monster project. 

We have to start with these cunning gnomes:
I think the one on the left (#124 - $40) wearing the buffalo check jacket is the most beguiling. The one on the right (#136-$40) has disguised himself as Santa Claus. Each is 4 inches tall.

Here are three good friends for us to memorialize.
The Golden Ret. on the left is 4 inches in diameter and is adorned with a floral wreath. This would be a good place to apply silk ribbon embroidery. (JA04, $48)

Lily Llama is sporting the floral headgear too.  (JM01, $53) Lily is 4 by 5 inches.

Here is my Miz who wouldn't be caught dead wearing this! (JA12, $48)
 

This is for all my supple and graceful friends who have improved their sense of balance through Yoga! I can't do this; I don't have the pants for it!
(CH580, $48) 


Below, is a larger challenge. This Laurel Burch hummingbird is 8 by 6 inches on 18 count. (All of these have been 18) So pretty! Use some metallics and some beads! LB145, $86. 

NEW 40 counts from SERAPHIM

 I am not a professional photographer! I have no special lights and no filters. I use my little iphone. Even if I took great pictures, they would all look different on your monitors. The best I can do is to pick a pair of embroidery floss colors to suggest the base color and the mottling. Sometimes I have to use Anchor floss when DMC isn't up to the job. Click on each picture to enlarge, but I have listed the colors in case they don't read well.

This piece is a gentle Caramel. There is a half yard left of this plus a fat fourteen inches. My matchy-mismatchy colors are A388 with D612.

This is a fairly bold piece of Dragon Dust. 3790, 640, 3826 and 3773. I have 3/4 yard.

 This is a dark Old Stationary. I have  half a yard left. D 3782 and 642. My photograph is darker than the actual piece!

We have had a fabric named after TWIS, and now I have one named after me. It is mottled Randi's. We have 3/4 yard left. D3841 and D3325.

ONE SKEIN project using CAIRNS

Kate whipped out this little shawlette using a pattern called Sundae Summer Shawl on Ravelry and it's a FREE download. She used a #13 needle. FAST!

If you would rather crochet, you might use two different colors, one skein each, and a J hook with Crochet Infinity Cowl by Karen Klein. This, too, is a free download. 

The color numbers are (Top to bottom) 33, 22, 19 and 10. 

Cairns is $16.00

THIS made me very happy this morning

Maybe it made me think about winter and being out of this abysmal "detention", as my friend Carol labeled it. Perhaps it was the quintessential covered bridge, or maybe it was a possible canvas to sell to mark a wedding or an anniversary instead of our standard "Mr. and Mrs", "Mr and Mr" and "Mrs and Mrs". I get tired of the trite things that are sometimes the only options available. This design is 9 by 12 inches on 18 count.

Speaking of quintessential, please enjoy this traditional New England church. This ornament is $60 and came to us from THE PLUM STITCHERY. I would be tickled to do more special orders from this delightful woman. She's the one to whom I gave a nod in the newsletter that is about to come out.

AUTUMN with MILL HILL KITS

Hi Mill Hill Enthusiasts!

I received a quick order of these this morning. There are three each of the little ornaments and one each of the Bead and Button kits, except for "MOCHA". I was the last of the big spenders and bought two. Why not more? Because you are not here to urge me on!!! The little guys are $8.75 and the 5 inchers are $15.75.
 

 

 Kate brought in this finished 
"The Shift", pattern available as a download on Ravelry. I can do it for you and send it to your email for $7 or use your own Ravelry account and do it yourself. Since it was MY color, we popped it over my head and there I am. (NOTE - I originally called it NIGHT SHIFT which is for heavier yarn and by same designer.)

 Then she overachieved and put together these combinations for you that are available via an email order to twis@comcast.net  and making certain you include your phone so that I can get a credit card number and put these right in the mail to you. This is colorway #1

Colorway 2
She discovered that you have sufficient yarn to reassign where they are used and you have enough for another cowl!
They don't call us Thrifty Yankees for nothing! Of course I am home right now without price lists, so just call me tomorrow, if you need to know!

Colorway 3

Colorway 4

Colorway 5

Colorway 6

Colorway 7

Colorway 8

BEADACIOUS LITTLE BUGGERS

Most of you didn't know that I was an avid beader, so here I am doing missionary work for that industry. In addition to that, I just happen to love the two women who make up this company, FERN RIDGE COLLECTIONS. These all arrived yesterday. The very next Sunday when we can start to populate this store, I will have a peyote stitch class for you who wish to bead. Until then, there are amazing tutorials on YouTube. 

 This is what came along after the show. The first set consists of fobs, although Casanova can also be a pin. He's just slightly more talented! The first number is how many kits came and the second is the price.

DEATH ROSE - there is an actual flower that resembles a skull, and this is how this kit came to be named thus. 2/ $38

SUMMER ANGEL - try to resist this angelic mermaid. 2/38

 CASANOVA - I am making one of these. He matches everything I wear! 2/38





LITTLE WITCHES - Don't wait for Halloween! 3/38

Now, a bracelet and a lot of bead bugs. Bead bugs are little bags that have a magnet in them and they will sit on your mounted work and hold your needles. These are all singles, and each costs $41.

MORE NEW ARRIVALS SINCE THE TRADE SHOW

I will just prattle on while we wait for the pictures to come over from my cell phone. I have been here at the store, everyday (exc. Sunday) since the ordered shutdown. You and I consider my business more essential than maybe a liquor store as my products certainly can help you stay relaxed and it stimulates your brain cells in lieu of killing them, so I probably could have made a case with Governor Baker. Because I have an iffy valve, asthma and an 84 year old husband, I shouldn't be putting myself in the position of increasing the likelihood of exposure to Covid-19. Therefore, I am at the store and you are not invited to come in and squeeze the skeins, or anything like that.

 I am the designated shopper and shipper. I need you to email the order and include your phone number and address. When I have assembled your dream-come-true, I will call you with the amount and you can read me your credit card number. As soon as that is accomplished, I will shred your info. Ah, yes -- if you decide to order more, I need to have that same info all over again. SORREEE, but I prefer to keep your data sacrosanct! Email is twisinc@comcast.net. Do not use my gmail, nor messenger, nor text nor Facebook store page/message system because there are too many places in which necessary information gets put and I don't know where to go to retrieve it. 

9718B  24.50

9768B  10.50