A New Year gift - A Sweet Pea design!!

I missed wishing my friends who celebrated Christmas warm wishes for a very merry holiday! I have come across quite a few Facebook friends who write about their difficulty with the holidays, perhaps not being a part of a large family or living
far from friends. These times can be difficult and to those who spent the day on their own, I hope you had a peaceful, gratifying day!

As 2019 comes around I wish all of you wonderful followers, stitchers, readers, and friends a new year filled with peace, contentment, creativity, and health.

A gift for the new year from me to you!

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My Shiri

If you've been reading my blog you have been introduced to my daughters, Shiri and Nina.  

Shiri is my eldest.  She was born in Israel and at 5 months I began raising her as a single mother.  For the next 12 years she and I created a bond of mother-daughter that was so strong, so brave and complete. We loved each other's company, we enjoyed the same things, and we understood and reacted to the world in very similar ways.  Shiri has always had a unique ability to be fun and wacky while still being responsible and mature.  She was easy to mother, I just had to follow her lead.  When she was 12, Reid came into our lives and Shiri made room for him, and yet the bond she and I had stayed strong, it did not change.  We continue to be very close.  I have watched her become a wife, a mother, a career woman and I admire how beautifully she chooses to live each of these parts of her life.  

There is one part of her life which I selfishly enjoy and that is the part of her as my daughter.  She loves, cares, and nourishes our relationship and I can't imagine what I did to be so lucky!  This year, as a gift for my 60th birthday, Shiri surprised me with a trip to Paris!  She arranged to get away from home, made sure my calendar was cleared and organized a week of wonder for the two of us from start to finish.  All I need to do is show up. Can you believe it????  How lucky can one mommy be?

In 10 days Shiri and I will fly off to explore, enjoy and be together. I am oh so lucky!!  

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I am nothing without.

I am nothing without my wonderful friends, who help make my work possible.

I am nothing without Kathy Gordon, who with her enthusiasm, her brilliant stitching, and her intelligent and thoughtful suggestions, makes my designs look their best.  Today I received a package from her that included 4 pieces, stitched and proofed.

I could not do what I love doing, and do it well without my friend, Kathy.

I am nothing without my stitching friends who come to spend time with me, who allow me to share with them what I have learned, and who ask for more.

Holding Joseph's coat in our hands

Thank you Buff and Lori, Linda and Lisa, Patrick and Karen, Ann and Carol, Jo and Father B, for spending the last three days with me, letting me lead them to places they did not know they wanted to see. 

Thank you!

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It's Nina's birthday and here are some gifts for YOU!

Today, July 10th, is Nina's birthday and for the past four years she has been away.  Today she in in New Hampshire, composing music and hopefully having a grand time!

In honor of Nina's birthday I thought I should give you some gifts, (Nina already got hers).  So here you go, use the discount codes below, click HERE, unwrap and enjoy!!

15% discount on ALL thread bundles with the discount code: THREADORAMA
$10 off every order over $75 with discount code: 10FOR
$20 off every order over $150 with discount code: 20FOR.

It's a little lonely without Nina at home. We will see her at the end of the month when we travel up to New Hampshire to hear the pieces she and the other students composed and professional musicians play.  Quite exciting!  This is where she is: Walden

Here is little Nina, and look at what she's holding in her hand!  A Kanya cuff!

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Happy 4th!! (read this, I've written it to you...)

Today is the beginning of the holiday weekend and I'm feeling accomplished!

• I sent out almost all of your orders, (thank you so much for your support and excitement about my new website!)  
• Then this morning I finally went for my annual physical!!  I hate going to see doctors which is why when I do without being prompted by being sick, I feel so good about myself!  
• I've written two out of the 5 instruction guides that have been sitting to the left of my computer.  I know they are inanimate objects, but I swear they were sitting there with a frown, wagging their fingers at me.
• My house is sparkling clean and I'm about to leave to see our grandkids and of course Shiri.    

Tomorrow is the 4th of July and on this day, every year, I remember what a wonderful country this is and how good it's been to me and my family.  I'm not big on flag waving and external showing of patriotism, but let me tell you, I am in love with this country in a way that only an immigrant can be. I see what you, those of you who have lived here all their lives, do not see as clearly.  This is a wonderful place with people who are so generous in spirit and in pocket.  In 1991 I came here and 5 years later I had this idea that I could design needlepoint. I ventured and was immediately embraced by so many of you, encouraged and led to believe that I had something to offer.  It continues, so many years later, and there is not a day that goes by that one of you does not tell me how much you appreciate what I bring to this needlepoint world of ours.  You can't imagine what that means to an artist/designer.  It's the ultimate.  I believe there are many places where generous people live, but I believe that this is a place where people are proud to be generous!

Thank you for all that you have given me over the years and thank you, the United States, this wondrous country that you are!

(... the 15% coupon code: Grandopening, ends on the 6th.  Take advantage of it!)

SUNFLOWER on of my first 10 designs, and a favorite

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Big Easy! Here I come!

My birthday gift from my wonderful daughter, Shiri! We will rendezvous in New Orleans and spend 4 days together, just the two of us, with great music, good food and the best company! Can one be envious of oneself?!

Keep sending me your website advice along with recommended websites, (doesn't have to be needlepoint).

Back soon!
xo Orna

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Happy Birthday, Ruben!

There is nothing quite as amazing as the first year of a baby's life.  No other time brings with it so much change, from a newborn to a one year old.  

Ruben is born 11/11/13

Six months into his first year

Ruben with his beautiful mother, one year old.

Happy birthday, little man.  We love you sooooo much!  

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You have heard so much about it... Here it was!

The flowers are being picked up and will be arranged in little vases.

If you get a shipment of threads with a bit of wine, will you complain? Just kidding!!  My studio is a hub central.

The jazz band warming up.

Caterers are prepping, things are looking yummy and smelling to die for!!

The room is alive!

I love how the runners are laid in different directions.

Each table is very similar but really nothing is the same.

At first I didn't think I wanted candles, but they looked lovely along the window sills.

The menu...  so good!

 

The doorbell rings...

Beginning to arrive...

See my threads peeking out from the right?

Wine in hand, chit chatting away.

Beverages are poured

Scrapbook  pages laid out and guests write wishes for Nina.

Reid giving a wonderfully funny and touching speech.

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What I'm doing -

 Sewing runners, choosing bud vases for little clusters of flowers, planting terrariums for the tables.

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an invitation

Nina's Bat Mitzvah is approaching.  She is very committed to the spirit of the event, her transition from being a child to becoming an adult.  She is working hard at preparing for the service she will lead at the synagogue.  She is bringing all aspects of the cultures of her life to this moment. We are so proud of her.  It all became even more poignant with a gift her sister, Shiri, gave her.  Shiri painted and wrote about Nina in the invitation to this event.   When Nina saw this beautiful piece of art her eyes filled with tears.  I wanted to share this gift with you.  

The invitation is in the form of an accordion book

Shiri writes:  To my dearest sissie, there is no me story without you. Love, Shiri

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Wishes for a healthy, peace-filled New Year

Shanah Tova.  May you have a good year, full of happiness and contentment.

xo

Orna

שנה טובה ומבורכת

שלכם,  אורנה

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I'm back from a week of joy and excitement.

Welcoming our grandson, Ruben Morris Wolf, named after my father (Ruben), and Orin's grandfather, (Morris).  Parents, sister, grandparents and wonderful aunt and photographer, Nina, are enjoying every moment.
Nina has taken some beautiful photographs these past few days.

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Celebrating 500 with you!

Today I am writing my 500th blog post.  

500 times I've sat down to write, always wondering... do I have something interesting enough to say, to show, to share? Always marveling that you would read my words and then when we meet, tell me how you follow my blog, know this or that about me because you read my blog.  I am so flattered and honored that you would do that!

500 times I've pressed the Publish button, sending off my thoughts into this strange and amazing cyber world.  Each time a bit of trepidation, excitement and anticipation runs through me as I press. 

Today I am celebrating with you, because you are the reason for this blog and for me continuing to write in it since February 12, 2008.  I've got a brand new batch of the new needlepoint cuffs, The Ocean, Tree, Flower and Nightshade cuff, in stock.   Regularly $40 each, for one week there will be a special offering of these kits,  4 cuffs for the price of 3!  A free cuff kit for you!!

Here is the link to this offer, The Anniversary Offer.  I will have it up on my Etsy site till next Friday at noon. 

and here's to the next 500 posts!!

xoxo
Orna

My First Post EVER!!

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How it goes...

The two "Big-Time" Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), came and went.  There was so much cooking and baking going on around here, I don't know when I'll be able to look at chicken soup again without feel nauseous.  

From the book...

I mixed things up by trying many a new recipe from a most fabulous book,  Ottolenghi The Cookbook. The Sour Cherry Amaretti cookies are to die for.  I gave the recipe to my friend Dalia. She called the other day to tell me that she was upset with me, she made the cookies, they came out amazing, she kept eating them and finally decided to put them in the freezer so she wouldn't eat them anymore.  But that's not why she called, she said, she just wanted to tell me that the cookies are very tasty frozen as well!  Sorry Dalia...

I've spent many hours at the computer writing instructions for my new color class design.  So many hours, and I'm still not done.  It's such a long process and demands so much attention to details.  Let me explain: below you can see a tiny section of the design, probably not more than 1.5" x 1.5" in size.  This tiny section is more than 3 pages long in the instruction book!

The written pages go through proof-reading and style-adjusting and marking and marking until they are ready to move on to my stitcher-gals, who will painstakingly proof stitch the design.

So, back to work until I find an excuse to get up and move away from the computer.  In about 2 hours doing laundry will seem like a fun activity.


PS -
I also wanted to give you a teeny, tiny peek at a new design I've started.  It will be an Ikat pattern.  I love the interesting combinations of shapes in Ikat patterns so I'll be working on a few stitched ones for you and me.

 

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Prep and Prep and Prep!

Since yesterday I have been prepping...

in the Kitchen for the Holidays -

in the Studio for Color Classes -

and on the Web for inspiration -

Jazmin Berakha

Kimika

Emily Barletta

What have you been doing?

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