NJNA News for July 2026

The New Jersey Needle Artists chapter of ANG is at it again with their bi-weekly newsletter.  Besides the normal ANG news, there is plenty about new designs and products.  It's a Don't Miss for sure!

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/07/11/whats-happening-at-njna-7-11-26/

The second posting for July has a lot of ANG news.  There's are new shops, a new needle minder, Morgan Julia's shop in NJ needs full time help, mahjong designs, a new color in Rachel Barri's pouches, a new project bag and a new light that attaches to the Lowry floor stand plus a recommendation for a cheap effective tool to remove thumbtacks from your stretcher bars.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/07/25/whats-happening-at-njna-7-25-26/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow 

logging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.co

© Copyright July 12, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Note About the July/August 2026 Needle Pointers Magazine

Melita writes a column for ANG's Needle Pointers magazine, which you get as part of your subscription to the American Needlepoint Guild.  Unfortunately, her latest article had to be moved so it won't be near another article on the same topic.  Just keep an eye out for September/October's issue so you get the full story.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/07/27/timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-july-august-2026-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 28, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Melita Talks Needle Pointers Magazine

Melita's latest blog posting is all about the front and back cover designs for the March/April 2026 issue of Needle Pointers magazine.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/23/stitching-projects-in-the-march-april-2026-needle-pointers-spinning-threads-and-lakeshore/

She also posted about background stitches from Ruth Ann Helpern and Susan Portra in the Timeless Treasures article from the January/February 2026 issue.  

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/24/backgrounds-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-january-february-2026-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Melita's next topic is the classic Bargello, which is also covered in the March/April 2026 issue of Needle Pointers.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/23/bargello-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-march-april-2026-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

If you belong to ANG, you'll get their bi-monthly magazine to read, either in the mail or online.  

https://www.needlepoint.org/page/NeedlePointers

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 24, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Jennifer Riefenberg's "Heron"

Jan of the Stitch Lady blog has just taken a pilot class from Jennifer Riefenberg.  This class will be offered at ANG's 2026 Seminar and the designer wanted a group of people to test drive the instructions.  Jan volunteered to work "Heron."  She's right--it is beautiful!

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2026/03/01/heron/

The heron also has a lot of compensation.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2026/03/15/the-heron/

But it is lovely.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2026/04/20/playing-and-stitching/

Looks great!

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/finished/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 2, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Jeannie's Windmills (Pat Mazu)

Melita worked Pat Mazu's 'Jeannie's Windmills" from ANG's chapter project book and had it made into a cute project book.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/02/21/2013-2014-chapter-book-project-jeannies-windmills-project-bag-by-pat-mazu/

ANG's chapter project books are sent to chapter presidents for free to use as chapter projects, just another benefit from joining the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG).

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 22, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The NJNA April 2026 Report

The New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter of ANG's bi-weekly newsletter is out.  It's full of ANG news, of course, but there is much more:  new books, new threads, new shops, new designs, and even needlepoint socks!

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/04/11/whats-happening-at-njna-4-11-26/

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/04/25/what-happening-at-njna-4-25-26/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 12, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Let's Talk February Needlepoint News with NJNA

The New Jersey Needle Artists chapter of ANG has dropped their first bi-monthly newsletter for Feb. 2026.  As usual, there is a lot of news, both ANG-related and shop/designer/tool related.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/02/07/whats-happening-at-njna-2-7-26/

The second posting for this month is for the threadaholics among us.  

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/02/21/whats-happening-at-njna-2-21-26/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 8, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Gail Stafford Bargello Tissue Box

Melita stitched two versions of a Gail Stafford Bargello sampler (the design came from the September-October 2022 issue of ANG's Needle Pointers), one in stranded threads and one in sparkly threads, and turned the two pieces into a tissue box.  She describes how she finished it at the bottom of this summary of her stitching in 2025.  It looks great!

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/01/01/2025-year-in-review-a-look-forward-bargello-sampler-tissue-box/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 2, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Let's Talk Trianglepoint

Melita Glavin explores trianglepoint in the latest issue of Needle Pointers magazine.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/11/14/trianglepoint-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-november-december-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine-with-persian-carpet-knots-tissue-box/

Sherlee Lantz's book on this stitch was really popular in the late 1970s.  You can browse a copy through the Internet Archive, or buy your own copy through eBay.

https://archive.org/details/trianglepoint0000lant

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 15, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ribbon Hearts (Michele Roberts)

Melita stitched some of Michele Robert's ribbon heart designs for the Festival of Trees in New Jersey.  These were published in ANG's magazine, Needle Pointers, and various heart designs are listed in the October/November 2025 issue if you are interested and a member of ANG.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/12/15/ribbon-hearts-at-the-festival-of-trees-in-nj/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow 

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 16, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NJNA Speaks

The latest newsletters from the New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter of ANG are out.  Besides all the ANG chapter news, you'll learn that the Needlepoint.org website is having issues, ANG's National Seminar and their new online learning classes, bout new canvases and clubs, DMC's great new tote that comes with skeins of their new naturally dyed organic crewel wool, and of course try to guess who that famous needlepointer is.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/01/10/whats-happening-at-njna-1-10-26/

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2026/01/24/whats-happening-at-njna-1-24-26/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 11, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Sunflower Heart in the Depths of Winter (JudyAnn)

Melita is treating herself to a JudyAnn heart as a break from a more complicated project.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/12/03/sunflower-heart-by-judyann-needle-art-canvas-design-background/

The heart features a sunflower.  Melita is using the Ginny Stapleton stitch guide published in ANG's Needle Pointers (the July-August 2025 issue) for this and five other JudyAnn hearts.  It turned out great!

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/12/14/sunflower-heart-flower/

The finishing is lovely, too.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/01/28/sunflower-heart-finished/

If you are charmed, you can order JudyAnn's designs from her website or her Etsy shop.

https://judyannneedlepoint.com/product-category/hearts/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/judyannneedlepoint/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 4, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Michele Robert's Ribbon Heart

Melita shows off Michele Robert's ribbon heart design and tells you all about joining ANG.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/09/16/hearts-from-the-2000s-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-september-october-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Hint:  If you are under 35, you can get a half off membership.  The magazine will be digital only but it's a great deal.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 17, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NJNA Talks ANG and More

The New Jersey Needle Artists chapter of ANG has put out their bi-monthly newsletter for late November 2025.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2025/11/22/whats-happening-at-njna-11-22-25/

It is full of ANG news, recommends Mary Rhodes' books (ignore those 1970s covers, it's the inside that counts), includes news about next spring's Woodlawn Exhibit, updates us on the new machinery arriving at Kreinik's new California headquarters, shows off Moore Stitching's adorable people to stitch, talks about the popularity of coasters and mahjong, and much more.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 23, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kandace Merric's Diaper Crazy Heart

Kandace's Japanese Circle Diaper Patterns

Melita stitched one of Kandace Merric's heart designs from the 1990s published in ANG's magazine, Needlepointers.  ANG is republishing old projects in their current issue and this is one of several heart designs made available again.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/07/09/hearts-from-the-1990s-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-july-august-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Kandace's Rabbit Pet Guardian Angel

Kandace Merric died in 2016 but she left us some amazing work.  In 2008-2009 Blog readers stitched Kandace's Pet Guardian Angels.  They were donated to the ANG auction to raise money for the organization.  If you search on "Pet Guardian Angels" here on Blog, you can see the finished animal angels.  They were amazing!  If you have old copies of Needlepointers, the first of the Pet Guardian Angel charts were published in October/November 1996.  There was a cat, a dog, and a parakeet, a rabbit, a fish, even a pet rat.  All were adorable dressed in their gowns and wings.

You can see more of Kandace's stitching (and admire her dogs--she was a major fund raiser for Westie dog rescue organizations) on her Facebook page and on NAN's website.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200171172546999.198471.1381993964&type=1

https://needleart.org/gallery/permanent-collection/accession_thedogshow_kandacemerric/

Miss you, Kandace!  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 10, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

August 2025 NJNA Newsletter

ANG's New Jersey Needle Artist chapter has posted their regular newsletter.  It's full of ANG local and national news with the ANG Seminar coming up very soon.  The most important thing is a quick update on Tony Minieri's health, but there are new designs showcased, a look at Sudbury's little octagonal box which is self-finishing, new totes from Rittenhouse, thread news (Silk Straw is getting hard to find), and a needlepoint "Advent" calendar of sorts, plus a retreat and a good thread tip.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2025/08/09/whats-happening-at-njna-8-9-25/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 10, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NJNA Happenings Mid-July 2025

The New Jersey Needle Artists chapter of ANG is reporting all the needlepoint news in their area, especially from ANG.  There is a lot of shop news this time, too, as well as a source for needlepointed padded coat hangers, new canvases from our favorite designers (Hey, they ALL are our favs!), and tips for items that do and don't need extra rows around the outside edge.  

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2025/07/12/whats-happening-at-njna-7-12-25/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 13, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The NJNA Mid-May Newsletter

As usual the New Jersey Needleartists chapter of ANG has published their mid-May newsletter full of ANG and ANG chapter news.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2025/05/17/whats-happening-at-njna-5-17-25/

The newsletter is full of shop and designer news, new items you'll want to check out and of course some fun tips and tricks to make your stitching easier and better.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 18, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NAN Announces Death of Carlene Harwick

The National Academy of Needleartists has announced the passing of Carlene Harwick, designer, needlework judge, and teacher of so many of us through NAN and the American Needlepoint Guild.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1130885679078281&set=a.562869925879862

Everyone who knew her thought she was a wonderful lady.  We mourn our loss today.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 12, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

New Products, Designs, Clubs, and More Courtesy of NJNA

The New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter of ANG has published their early April newsletter.  There is plenty of American Needlepoint Guild news, both national and local, plus news of new designs, products, clubs, and much more!  Thank you for keeping us all up to date, NJNA!

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2025/04/05/whats-happening-at-njna-4-5-25/

Ok, who needs a Fluffity Fluffity Fluffer?!

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/product/fluffity-fluffity-fluffer/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow 

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 6, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.