Back from the Celebration of Needlework in Nashua, New Hampshire

Hello wonderful people, I'm back..... I know, I know, I just got back from Branson and then took off to go to Nashua.  Well, to be honest, I did unpack part of the suitcase, did the laundry and then re-packed it!  I had a wonderful time there, it was great meeting some designers, meeting new people.  My friend Janice and I had wanted to go to the Needlework show but every time we checked it out, there was anything that interested me.  I didn't realize it but you don't have to take any classes (I thought you did) and you can just go and stitch and meet up with some friends or do as I did and make new friends.  I have to tell you this story, I was coming back from my room and as I stepped out of the elevator I saw a lady who was pushing an elderly lady in her walker.  I just stood there, kind of laughed to myself and saw my mother and I.  When Mom and I used to go shopping, she would use her walker to get around and when she got tired, she would sit on the seat and hold her feet off the ground and I would push her around.  So being the nosy person that I am, I had to go over and introduce myself and find out if they were mother and daughter.  Betty (the daughter) and her Mom were laughing when I told them that they were a familiar sight and the wave of love that I felt when I saw them was wonderful.  Betty, I apologize but I can't remember your Mom's name.  These ladies were great, every time I ran into them (not literally), we would share a smile and a laugh.  Betty was also in one of the courses with me so that was great.   So what courses did I take, well.... I had to take the course on the History of Perforated Paper by Claudia Dutcher of Dutch Treat Designs.  I had met Claudia on the stitching cruise I took a couple of years ago and she is one heck of a designer and teacher.  She had brought with her some of her pieces from her collection of perforated paper, it was fascinating, some of these pieces dated back to the 1840's!!  Simply stunning and before you go thinking perforated paper ... that's not stitching... you might want to do some research and check it out.   I also took a course on Colour Play with Tracy Horner of Ink Circles designs. That was so neat, this lady is an engineer and likes things symmetrical (so do I) and she was showing us how to use some really wild coloured floss, and the way to stitch the design so that it appears as if you are changing colours but you aren't.  If you ever get a chance to take a course with either one of these ladies, Claudia or Tracy, I highly recommend it.  Both were informative as well as making the classes fun and interesting.  Tomorrow I will tell you about the other designers that I met.  Until then, take care, and remember that you are loved.  Louise