Try these, you will LOVE them!

If you've listened to my chat on "Fiber Talk" you know that I love sharing great finds with you. These are certainly great! These very large stainless steel rings, with sharp looking brass screw closures are a fantastic solution to storing and hanging your fiber skeins. They work for over 100 skeins, seriously! Take a look at the photo below, there are over 40 skeins on the ring and that doesn't begin to fill the capacity of this cool device.

The measurements are 4" at widest point by 5 5/8" length.

$7.50 each

Stop by our Etsy shop and take a look.

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Organizational genius: meet Rae!

Wherever we are, and wherever we will find ourselves, I know Rae will get us organized!  We are now located in my living room/dining room/kitchen area.  We have a corner of the room as seen in the photo, and we are doing great!

Rae has put the cutest labels on each of our drawers, some with little vines... awwww.  You may not think it's makes a difference, oh, but it does!!

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Can I have some sympathy here?

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and about my crazy life...

This week Rae is away.  She is off to help a friend artist set up an exhibit and will be back next week. This also happens to be the week before Passover, or the week of buying, cooking, buying, cooking, getting excited!  It's also the week of Nina's tennis varsity matches as well as the week after Nomi's birthday when we were away celebrating.  It's the week we found out that we will need to leave our home by the end of June and the week I'm trying not to think of that until I finish buying, cooking, (see above).

I want to ask you to please be patient with me this week.  We may be a little slow in answering your questions, sending out your orders or just about anything else.  I apologize.

A little glimpse at Nomi's beautiful hair which I put in a braid with flowers for her birthday.  She lets me work on her hair without complaining.

We also went to the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival while in the DC area.  Nina got her first real Kimono and we all let the sun turn our cheeks pink/red.  It was a great day.

We'll talk again soon, the chicken soup is boiling...

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Cool storage for you too!

You all know me by now, know my addiction to presentation.  That includes, of course, how I store my supplies here at the studio and how I send orders out to you.  Storing beads can be tricky, especially if you like looking at them and marveling at their beauty.

I'm now offering the same glass vials and matching acrylic boxes I use for your please, so you too can store your seed beads.  These are 5/8 drams each, which is about 4 - 4.5 oz of seed beads, (this varies depending on the weight of the seed beads).  9 vials fit in the acrylic box perfectly!  You can order multiples of 9, with a big discount.  Check it all our HERE!!

Store them in groupings of size or color, they are very attractive!

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If you were designing a Needlepoint Website you would...

Some of you may remember that unfortunate episode I had with a BAD, BAD web designer? As I have found out many times in my life, good things can happen as a result of setbacks.  (Believing things will work out is good as well!)  I turned to a different source and found an excellent web designer! I'm not going to tell you too much about him, I want you to hear from him directly when my site is up, but I will say... what a pleasure!!
We are working on the Product pages.  What do we show, what do we tell, and how do we show and tell it?  We have come up with a solid basic plan but I would like to get your input, if you don't mind...  What do you want to see when you browse a needlepoint website in search of your next project?

• How do you like to have designs presented? 
• What information do you want to have available? (i.e., so you don't have to email the designer asking how big is the piece, what canvas is it stitched on, etc.?)
•  If the design has multiple colorways, what do you want to see?
• Do you like options? With kit, without kit, with stretcher bars or canvas, without?
• Do you want to be able to browse on your phone device? 

If you had to choose a website that answers your needs, can you share which site it would be? (Doesn't have to be a needlepoint site).

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By night.

I re-wrote the book, redid all the charts, diagrams, instructions.  Whew!!  Now it's up on etsy for an instant download. 

This is one of the few designs I did on black canvas.

Rae has been working here for some months now and has caught on wonderfully!  She will introduce herself to you next week.  We all have our strengths.  Rae is an absolute detail person.  She is very careful and methodical and also loves organizing.  You all know how us fiber people need to stay organized...  Rae is doing wonders with that here in the studio. She has been helping me keep up with my Instagram page.  I haven't really been using much of the special lenses, (the antique, or 70's kinda look).  I can't give up the colors that are there naturally.

I'm off to set the place up for a potluck this evening for Nina's school parents and principal.  Having a loft is very helpful when you have a big gathering.  Should be a fun time!

Have a lovely weekend!
xo
Orna

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What have I been up to, you ask?

Busy with this and that, organization in the studio, paperwork for some Cyberworkshops I'll tell you about very soon.

I bought a new/old mirror that works perfectly on a narrow strip of wall in the loft.  It's about 7 ft. tall and has the worn out look to match the other elements of the building.

Remember that new design I was telling you about back here and here? It hasn't disappeared.  It's in the computer stage.  I've been working on the Master Chart which is where I always start.  The individual charts stem from the main one.  

Next I sourced the AMAZING frames in orange, green and white. They are a heavy solid resin and painted in strong matte colors. I'm working on some ideas for a perfectly sized piece of needlepoint.

I've started cooking for Passover.  Yes, I know it's early, but freezing chicken soup for two weeks only makes it better!  Tonight I'll make a few of my turkey-loaves, which are, seriously, the bomb!  (Sauté chopped up mushrooms, onions and shallots, once they cool down add them to the ground turkey along with spices, some fine chopped fresh herbs and a couple of eggs. The mushrooms promise to prevent the turkey meat from being dry, it works like a charm.  Then shape the loaves, roll them in Panko if it's a regular day and in broken small pieces of Matzah if it's Passover. In a hot pan with a bit of oil sear the loaves on all sides.  It makes the outside crispy and keeps the inside moist.  Shove the lot in the oven and when the inside of the loaf is absolutely positively cooked thru and thru, take out and serve. Or freeze).

and then I'm also doing some mundane dusting.  I love this little guy, one of Shiri's past birthday gifts to me.  The glaze color is wonderful!

and that's what I've been up to.  And you?

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My studio this morning...

I'm off to Syracuse NY tomorrow morning to teach "GAYLE".  I love that piece, it's an oldie but absolutely a goodie, challenging and rewarding at the same time.  

So, this is what my studio looks like this morning...

PUTTING KITS TOGETHER

PACKAGING THE FIBERS

CUTTING THE CANVAS

PRINTING THE BOOKS

LAMINATING THE CHARTS

GETTING THE MODELS TOGETHER

ADDING FUN DODADS

AND HAVING THE CUTEST MAD HATTER READY FOR SCHOOL!

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"things" I LOVE!

I thought it would be fun, and also nice, to share with you a few of my favorite things.  Not raindrops on roses or bright copper kettles, (although I love brown paper packages tied up with strings), but some of the stuff I use in my studio that I really love.  Who knows, you might find that you will love some of these too.  So here's a first list -

1.  MOO.  Yes, the company is called Moo, they are British and they print the most awesome business cards ever!  They will print a batch of cards for you, let's say 50, and you can ask to have a different photo on each of these cards.  Really!  The paper is thick and lovely, the turn around is very good and although they are a bit more expensive, they are totally worth it!!  They also print greeting cards, postcards, labels and more.

2. Clear seal-able bags.  I've only been using these for the past three months but I love them!  They come in all sizes and the seal can be opened again and again.  They are more expensive than regular Ziploc type bags but they are worth it.

3. Laminators.  You know I laminate my master charts, and my front page in all my design books.  I've been doing this for years and have found the best supplier of laminator machines and pouches.  The owner is very knowledgeable, always has time to talk me through my needs and when there's a problem, he takes care of it.  Also, they have a great deal on laminator pouches, buy 2 get 1 free.  These pouches are expensive, (hmmm, is there a theme here?),  so it's great to have a good deal. 

4. Ikea for storage.  You know about their office type storage solutions, I'm sure.  They do have great merchandise for good prices.  But what I like most is to use some of there kitchen solutions for my office needs.  These jars are great, I have dozens of them.  Buttons, beads, paper clips, tacks...

5.  My camera.  I love my Canon EOS Rebel T3.  I'm sure they've come out with a newer model, but I love my friend.  A good camera makes a huge difference!

6.  Moleskin little journals.  These little notebooks/journals make whatever I'm writing much more fun!  Very pretty colors and easy to stick in my bag.

7.  Slat walls.  Nothing more to say except there is no better way to store and see your threads!

8.  Bisley cabinet inserts.  The cabinets are expensive, (that word again...), and if you don't want to splurge for them, get the inserts!  They work so very well for spools of thread, such as Soie Perlee, which is how I store mine. 

That's it for list #1.  If you have any recommendations you'd like to share, please do!

xo for now

Orna

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Intern-A-Mazing!

Last week Bong Mee, a painter from PAFA, (Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts), began interning here with us at the studio.  She has a penchant for organization. What a stroke of luck! Look at what she did to my Kreinik drawer:

For the first time it is in perfect order, colors, types of thread, just perfect!

She is now working on my metal beads and findings, see...

I even went to town on my own, organizing my pearls, crystals and beads. I found that using these small plastic containers, and flipping them upside down allows me to easily see what I have, and the lids stay on tight, so no more spills, or endless amount of embellishments rolling around in the drawers. Now I can see what I have, and what I need.

 
Now, at least 3 times a day, I will open my precious drawers and just stare.  Then smile. The gently shut them till the next time.

Bong Mee is, as I mentioned, a painter, however she has asked to learn about fibers and stitches and how to put them together.  Yesterday we did our first study period and it was fun to see her interest.  I sent her home with canvas, stretcher bars, a book on stitches and threads of her choice.  I can't wait to see what she will come up with.

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