The only thing you can really expect from me is the unexpected.
At least that’s what I try to bring to the table.
And Santa’s Pup? He understood the assignment.
Our final class wrapped up this past Sunday, and I can officially say he’s complete—and he is an absolute show stopper. The coat and pants are stitched in playful Laid Filling Stitches using gorgeous threads that add depth and personality. There are plenty of beads (because of course there are), and the fur on the jacket and boots? Flooofy, cozy, and shockingly easy. Simply tack the furry thread in place and voilà. Magic.
But the part you definitely didn’t see coming was Santa’s thought bubble.
The original artwork includes the bubble, but I chose to have the canvas painted without it. I’m not generally a fan of needlepointed words—unless the piece is charted perfectly from the start and the entire design is built around the typography. That can work beautifully… but it usually means a very, very large canvas.
So I asked myself: How do we keep the cheeky charm of the thought bubble and still make it look crisp?
The answer?
Custom iron-on patches.
Yes. Really.
Position your thought bubble and iron it on. You can stitch it down if you prefer, but either way you get the best of all worlds—playful needlepoint, clean edges, and uber-crisp typography. Sometimes thinking outside the hoop is worth it.
I hope you love Santa’s Pup as much as I do. If you’d like one of your own, more canvases will arrive in June. You can reserve yours now with a $100 deposit and join the fun when he returns. Here’s the link.
Because if there’s one thing you can expect from me… it’s probably something you didn’t expect at all.
Mystery Class News
Our first Mystery Class of 2026 starts January 25th. Dots Upon Dots by Barbara Basso. This 10″ x 10″ canvas on 18ct is everything I love: modern, whimsical, and packed with possibilities. Over three lessons we’ll bring our fashionable duo to life with threads, beads, and stitches that celebrate every single dot. Future class dates are February 15 and March 8 from 1-3pm on Zoom. Here’s the link to reserve a canvas for May delivery.
Starting in Spring 2026 we will be stitching the Secret Garden by Mary Charles. Official zoom class dates are April 19, June 28, September 13 and December 13 plus one or two more as needed. Design is 12″ x 15″ on 18ct. It is packed full of tiny details that will be so much fun to stitch. If you would like to join us, here’s the link.
Zecca’s Window of Opportunity is a long term mystery. The first lesson just shipped so there is plenty of time to get caught up before lesson two. This is a combination of three 8″ x 11″ canvases that when combined are show stopping! Here’s your link for this one.
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