Stitching Bits and Bobs

12/18/2025

Thank you Just Cross Stitch! ❤

12/18/2025

12/18/2025

In late October Anya and I were off to France to visit Jan Hicks' new cross stitch shop and attend her inaugural retreat! Jan's shop is called Mon Aiguille Filetee and is in the beautiful village of Josselin. Jan's shop is well stocked and honestly it is just simply precious - I purchased some wonderful linens and European patterns that were new to me! I encourage you to visit if you have the opportunity. Her retreats are held just down the hill from her shop in a charming hotel that has amazing views of the chateau (castle) which was lit up with purple lights during our stay! You can tour the castle as well - which we did! We were treated to classes by Claudia of Dutch Treat and Michele of Tabby Cat Linens. Both ladies had a wealth of knowledge to share and I sincerely hope to see them again to learn more in the future! We were even spoiled with a private concern in our stitching room!! Jan's village has a market each weekend and we were able to tag along. Not only were there great things to buy, we literally adopted our very own French grandma and took photos with her! :) Anya had her first cross stitch finish and also made friends with the delightful lady that owns the shop next to Jan's. Time went by way too fast so I'll be going back in April!

09/24/2025

Michelle Ink will present Magic with Fine Silver Clay Workshop at StitchFest Emporium!

Whether you're a complete novice or have some prior experience, this workshop is thoughtfully designed to introduce you to the captivating art of working with fine silver clay and allow you to create exquisite pieces that express your unique style.

Explore the transformative process of turning raw silver clay into decorative designs for your needlework accoutrements. You will shape and sculpt your creative ideas into tangible works of art - something different and fun and exclusive by you to support your needlework!

Michelle's passion for metal clay artistry and her dedication to nurturing your artistic talents will inspire you throughout the workshop.

This class is open to all levels of experience, from absolute beginners to those with some prior familiarity with silver clay. All supplies and use of tools included! Just bring your enthusiasm for bling! Michelle will tailor her guidance to your skill level, ensuring that every participant enjoys a rewarding and successful experience. How fun to keep your needles or those orts in a glass bottle decorated with a fine silver charm curated by you! Have a whimsical charm for your floss keeper, topper for a counting pin, or mind your needles in style with the -OG- fine silver needleminder! Or decorate yourself with a cute pair of earrings or fun charm pendant created with your own 2 hands! Better yet, in a day! Without prior knowledge or needing any additional tools!

As part of the workshop, you will receive 10 grams of silver clay, with which to create 2-3 silver pieces. More silver clay will be available for purchase during class if you desire to create several pieces or larger pieces.

An extensive variety of molds are available for use in class.

Upon the end of class with pieces completed, they will be photographed alongside the student's name, address, email and accoutrement choices. Then carefully packed for firing off site, in Michelle's home studio.

When final process is done, the silver is polished and gleaming and the magnets or pins are glued, charms attached to glass or fobs as requested in class!

And lastly - they will be shipped to provided addresses. Shipping is included in the class fee!

When: Friday, October 10th @ 9:00am

Class Fee: $80.00

Duration: Will be determined by class size - usually 2 - 3 hours.

Contact Michelle to register!

For full details please visit https://stitchfestevents.com/2025Classes.html

09/21/2025

Such an honor to have Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor teach for our shop!!

09/11/2025

Hey all!! There are spaces left as of right now for the class with Rosewood Manor / Karen Kluba next Friday and Saturday! It is going to be a lot of fun to create a sampler with her and we are both giving some nice swag as well - you will enjoy it I promise!!

StitchFest Emporium in Troy is just under a month away! If you have not signed up you, please do! Being able to give the designers accurate numbers for attendees will help ensure they bring along enough inventory to have what you want to purchase. Were putting together an awesome gift for attendees and there will also be door prizes. $85 gets you into the shopping event all three days, meet the designers, ability to take classes, access to the stitching room and a wonderful lunch will be provided on Saturday and Sunday. Come for the day for just $50. If you don't register in advance you may not receive any swag or show booklet as I won't be making very many extras. If you stay in the hotel you will also get a free cooked to order breakfast and two alcoholic beverages / appetizers each evening. There will be two round robins and you are going to love what the designers have put together!!!

StitchFest Retreat in March is selling out fast! Session #1 is full / sold out - if you registered for Session #1 and didn't book your hotel yet please do so because they are nearly sold out as well. I have 20 spaces left in Session #2 (Monday - Wednesday) and ten left for Session #3. If you plan to attend, please do not delay registering - especially if you want to come with friends. I can't overbook the sessions or it will be too cramped at the tables!

To registered for any of our StitchFest events please visit:
https://stitchfestevents.com/

05/16/2025

A day later than planned but we are back! Flights were delayed and diverted but glad to be home now and to have missed the tornadoes and things that came through our area. Costa Rica was amazing and I highly recommend it! Great memories were made and we are so thankful to have had this time with Cam's parents to celebrate her special birthday.

05/08/2025

We will be closed Thursday May 8 - Thursday May 15 to celebrate Mother's Day and the 75th birthday of Cam's mom! We will have very limited internet access as we'll primarily be staying in the bush / rainforest.

This means there will be no sit and stitch on Wednesday, May 15th.

We will reopen on Friday, May 16th!

03/30/2025

My session #1 StitchFest attendees got a very special treat - Teresa Kogut was kind enough to not only drop off her trunk show for us she even set it up as well!! ❤️❤️❤️