The Quail’’s Quill News From Quail Run Needlework April 2011 From Susan’s Desk Specializing In Welcome to the first issue of our new newsletter! Custom, Innovative Finishing This inaugural issue profiles our beautiful new store. The new location is perfect and our view of the fountain, courtyard and lake is just gorgeous. The wall of windows provides great light for the retail space. Our window displays are gathering much attention and many questions about needlework from people walking by our shop. Mercardo del Lago Center Parking is easy and there are lots of comfortable stools and chairs to sit in while you 8320 N. Hayden Rd look at canvases or catalogues for that special design. There are many special new models to give you great finishing ideas. Come in and see our shop if you have not Suite C112 had the chance! Scottsdale, AZ 85258 This month our new thread is a lovely Chinese silk in 190 colors from City Needleworks. It is 6 meters of 6 ply and works well on 18 mesh canvas. If you have 480-551-1423 not tried the new High Cotton, it is another fine thread we introduced this year. The colors are marvelous , it plies easily and has a slight sheen. I have used it on a new 480-551-1425 (fax) Laurel Burch design as the new colors in this line are perfect for the brilliant colors. 800-635-9750 (toll free) New canvases from market have arrived - the new Leigh pagodas, Sophia’s fans and kimonos, Mindy’s oriental quilts, Debbie Mum’s Halloween, Mary Lake Thompson’s www.quailrun-inc.com bottle bouquets and ribbon candy from Melissa Shirley, Napa wine scene from Susan Roberts and many more. Two great new books are from market. Reserve your copy of June McKnight's fifteenth book "Spooky Stitches" filled with treats for your Email canvas. "Everything Blackwork is New Again" is Julia Snyder's new book. Blackwork [email protected] can be used on needlepoint to allow canvas to show through or it can be stitched over other stitches to add detail and contrast. Try Blackwork for an accent on backgrounds and borders. Hours One of my favorite new items are the gift cards featured in this newsletter. Some Monday-Friday are humorous, some are serious and some are like a little diary of the project you 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. are giving. I chuckled at one of the greeting which read: Saturday “I told myself, 'No new needlework projects!’, then I realized I actually said, 'Know new needlework projects.' You should see what I am working on”! 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The cards are handmade with much attention to detail, acid and lignin free so ideal Closed Sunday for storage and archiving. Our great class schedule offers lots of choices to fit your busy schedule. Come in Owner and take a class to get a project started, to put the finishing stitches in a current project or learn about a new thread and stitch. Open stitching is a great time to Susan E. Barlow make new friends and great ideas from others who love needlework. I am working on guest teachers for the fall and next year so stay tuned for more great classes. My staff - Barb C, Merrill, Barb M, Sandi and I are looking forward to seeing you soon! Susan Quail Run’s New Shop We are very excited about our new shop! We’ve worked hard to provide you a beautifully furnished store that meets all your needlework needs. We hope you’ll come and see all we have to offer—canvases, threads, accessories, classes, finishing and inspiration. All this located just steps away from McCormick Lake. Quail Run Needlework, Inc. 8320 N. Hayden Road, Suite C112, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Staff Selections It’s obvious Easter is just around the corner since both staff selections are inspired by this special holiday. Merrill’s selection is this adorable Easter inspired canvas. The design is perfect for using our new Chinese silk (in 190 Barb C. chose this lovely colors); as well as, ideal for embellishment stitches (A great egg stitched in soft colors opportunity for a canvas enhancement class.) Perhaps Fuzzy reminiscent of Spring—pink, Stuff for the ducks, raffia for the bunny’s hat, overdyes for yellow and white. Finishing the hills, and a darning stitch for the sky. with a light lavender gimp and tucks around the sides makes this otherwise simple canvas adorable. A quick, Easter March is a Susan Roberts Design, Designer: Ashley Dillon 18 mesh fun project. Stitching Tip How many times while stitching a canvas do you see that your latest stitch wasn’t as clean as you would like. Inadvertently, you pulled threads from the back of the canvas forward . You could turn over your canvas and begin pulling those wild threads back, or you could take an easier route. Working from the front of the canvas, take a needle with 4 to 6 strands of thread folded through the eye, and gently guide it through the hole of your last Either in an accessories case or attached to your stitch. This backward motion pushes those wild fibers to needlework stand, keep a correction thread and the back while leaving your stitch in place. needle handy. Since this happens with some degree of frequency, keeping a threaded needle just for this purpose is suggested. At- tach it to a magnet that is always at hand, or in container your keep close at hand. This is tip comes to you from Alice Hall, our resident instructor. Quail Run Needlework, Inc. 8320 N. Hayden Road, Suite C112, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 What’s New Needlepoint makes such a special gift that it would be a shame not to present it in a special way. Our new note cards let you do just that. Choose from a wide of variety of sentiments from heartfelt to funny. Note Cards The back of the card is enhanced with a diagram of the stitch that appears on the front. Needlepoint has taken over my life… And my Living Room, Bedroom, Closets I made this just for you (You fill in the inside message for the appropriateness of the occassion.) I told myself “No New Needlepoint Projects!” Then I realized I actually said “Know New Needlepoint Projects.” You should see what I’m working on! Quail Run Needlework, Inc. 8320 N. Hayden Road, Suite C112, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Alice’s Wonderland of Needlework Hi to all stitchers: My name is Alice Hall and I teach at Quail Run. By way of introduction, let me tell you a bit about myself. I have been stitching needlepoint since I was 5-years old. My paternal great-grandmother lived next door to us and she was a needlepointer. When I hit the advanced age of five, she decided it was time I learned how to stitch. She proceeded to teach me basketweave (to a 5-year old – can you believe that), with my learning tools being wool and a Penelope canvas. In the 1960’s I became bored with basketweave and I ventured out into other needlearts. The 1970’s took me to San Francisco where I discovered new and exciting threads and stitches. With that I was hooked and have been an avid needlepointer since. My teaching began in 1995. While working at a local shop in Mesa, I was asked to teach and have been teaching ever since. I like to say, ―Needlepoint is my passion, teaching is my love.‖ In future newsletters, I will write about all areas of needleart. I’ll discuss bits and pieces of information that you may have known but forgotten. My articles might discuss a specific subject, provide you information about new and old items, contain a quiz, or cover tips with do’s, don’ts and whys. I may even share a favorite poem. In other words, I will aim to provide you information that hopefully you will find interesting and enjoyable. Tips of the Month Always be sure your hands are clean before starting to stitch - a stitcher can have no better accessory than clean hands. The ―poke‖ method of stitching is best for needlepoint as it has less wear and tear on the threads. Use the two handed method – one hand under the canvas and one hand on top – come straight up through the canvas and poke straight down. A needlepoint canvas should be taut in order to produce the best results for threads and stitches. Stretcher bars, either tacked or stapled, are the best; scroll frames are okay. By keeping the canvas taut, you piece will retain its shape and not need to be blocked, a savings in time and money. And perhaps most importantly, all your hard work with those familiar and new stitches will look their best. This is a poem that I found years ago. I do not know who the author was. Irish Wishes May there always be stitching for you to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near. May your heart be filled with gladness and cheer. Happy stitching until we meet again. Alice The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary. ~ Mary Kurtz Quail Run Needlework, Inc. 8320 N. Hayden Road, Suite C112, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 April Trunk Shows Little Shoppe Designs takes needlepoint to a whole new level with their sensational 3-D designs.