KATHY SCHENKEL TRUNK SHOW
 June 19-July 3
Make time in your busy summer schedule to attend this very special trunk show! Kathy Schenkel's canvases are easy to stitch and are perfect for experimenting with different stitches and threads. Many of them come with stitch guides. There's a whole series of international Santas like the Viking pictured here. She must love dogs and cats, because you'll find lots of cute ornaments, pillows and standups featuring them. Her "Baby Sleeping" signs are among our best sellers. She's added lots of adorable mini-socks with felt critter inserts, round ornaments for many U.S. cities, tooth fairy pillows, and more to her already extensive line. You can't help but smile and have a good time when you stitch these designs.
Custom Designs
 Did you know we have a custom designer who can paint a canvas just for you? Our very talented artist Elaine Pollack painted the rug pictured here based on a request from someone who found us on the Internet. She creates custom belts, ornaments, pillows, etc. from pictures and ideas provided by customers. If you have a special occasion, hobby, or holiday item that you would like to stitch, contact us with your request.
TNNA Summer Market
Sally just returned from The National Needlearts Association summer market in Columbus. As always, there were wonderful new designs, products and ideas. Great leather purses and inserts, lovely holiday canvases, new artists, beautiful framed pieces, many new scissors, and dozens of new fiber colors will be arriving during the next few months.
All of you who miss Medici (its distribution was discontinued in the U.S. last year) will be happy to hear Sally ordered a wonderful replacement: Bella Lusso, a 100% fine Merino wool made in Italy. Most of the colors have already arrived in the shop. It has a beautiful hand and the colors are gorgeous!
Spotlight on Our Staff
This month we want to tell you about the fiber and gadget queen of The Canvasback: Jennifer Posner. Jennifer is a long-time employee who knows everything about almost every needlepoint fiber and gadget in the business. She knows what's new, what's in, what's out and what to substitute for those discontinued or obscure items in your stitch guides.
She must have cloned herself because she completes more projects than anyone and is unphased by challenging techniques such as Japanese Embroidery. In addition to needlepoint, she's an accomplished quilter and is always "just finishing up" a quilt for someone.
Fortunately for her, but unfortunately for us, Jennifer spends most of the winter in Arizona. We're always glad to see winter end, especially because it means she'll be back in town. The mother of three married children and grandmother of two, she's always entertaining family, babysitting, or spending time with husband Jeff.
Summer means lots of heat and humidity here in the Chicago area. We deal with it as best we can: staying inside and stitching! Whatever you do, have fun and stay safe.
Sally and The Canvasback Staff |
