Too Many Cocktails...?

Above is a copy of the revised ad that we have in the current issue of Needlework Retailer.....the correction was with the stitchers ...Ronnie and Carole are best friends and I mail all the canvases to one or another and sometimes I let them decide which design they want to work...they are both master stitcher's and their work is so beautiful that frankly I can't tell who worked what sometimes....I try to keep current and of course all the models that go into our traveling model shows are tagged..but I don't tag the models if they are off to a photo shoot at one of the magazines because the
tags get in the way...anyway...I will be on top of this so this doesn't happen again...believe me know one likes to be left out or not given credit where credit is do...I know for this has happened to me too many times to count...there is nothing that makes me crazier than to see one of my designs on a web site or print without giving me credit as the artist...it is a pet peeve of mine....so please accept our apologies Carole and Ronnie.....Squiggee will try not to have that extra cocktail before checking an ad....lol

Embellish Me ! Please ..................

Above is our new little turtle called Fleur.....she is not the usual turtle....unlike Mr. Slide or Lewy Loggerhead...she is strictly a fantasy turtle.... this design begged for embellishing...ever so often a Squiggee Design allows me to go  a little overboard with embellishing...Fleur certainly leaned in that direction....she will be very fun to work and ought to be very rich in texture when finished...

Let's Hear it ! a big Cheer for Ginger !

Our newest addition to the ever growing family of little Squiggee frogs ...shall we say with attitude....
Ginger is no exception...she is a cheer leader frog....actually she will be leading all the other frogs in a cheer for a great season....since she has the mega phone...printed with Go Team on the side....I bought these around six months ago like I do many embellishments and then Ginger took shape...made for each other, you bet...lol...she even has little white pom-poms on the back of her socks...dressing these little frogs is a challenge...since they are created from behind....Mr. Squiggee  says flat like road kill.....but when they are finished and stuffed, that's when you get the full Monty...lol.......I have been embellishing shopping and have some great new little goodies....all they need is the design...sometimes it is easier having the embellishments and then the design...sort of the cart before the horse....vendors come and go, but we have always managed to find something special...Ginger's pom -pom is a big gold sparkler tied with a gold  sparkle pipe cleaner.These pom-poms were huge when they arrived...sometimes the size is deceiving and over time I have become much more knowledgeable with the lingo...I have had these for years and yesterday when I was looking to ad a pom-pom...they were perfect...I do have quite a collection of embellishments....lol...

Go see Mr. Squiggee's blog

The Moon is Full !

First of  all , we here in Squiggeeland send our love and warm hugs to one of our own...Saundra...she has been a loyal Squigger and one of our prize stitcher's...Her model the two sided Santa, Naughty and Nice has created a big stir....Saundra is recovering from a scary hospital stay...we here in Squiggeeland believe in keeping a person's private life private...so it is enough to say that we are so relieved that Saundra will recover and stitch again....she was very lucky, as are we all, when some health issue is discovered in good time.
That being said, we all send Saundra big buckets of love...?
A couple of days ago a box came with the above handmade basket for moi...my grade school friend (second grade) made this basket just for me...she calls the design her birthday basket, because years ago she took a class on making this basket, on her birthday...Jane and I have a strong connection of memories ....we went to the same schools 2-12 grade...she lived on my street, Allan Road , on the opposite side , around three houses up the hill. Jane and I are the product of Bethesda Chevy High School, she is a lawyer and me the artist......I think we cover the spectrum of a working career....She loves flying her hot air balloon , dogs, and helping people....funny we seemed very different our school years , but except for the balloon business( not my thing), we love the same things now, and would be very close if we lived on the same street now....lol......it is a warm feeling to have someone care about you, after such a long time !!!!
The second photo is of my pal at Needlepoint Retailer the editor ,Megan, smack down in the middle of having a great time at her first Dallas cash and carry...she handed out ice cream bars to all the gals while they were busy setting up for the next days business....Megan is such a sweet carrying person, and a real star in this business filled with people that could  care less ...they should take a leaf out of her book and add something fun to life...Frankly I think this business has become stayed and oh so dull...lol...

I JUST LOVE THE ABSURD !

I found this picture this morning on the net and it just tickled me...simple and yet so cleaver...it made me laugh....I  wish more people found the humor in life instead of just sitting with their hands folded in their lap and taking it....life is hard and as my mother always said..."It would amaze you how much people don't care what you are doing".."they really are only concerned about themselves"..."so just enjoy life and try not hurt anyone".....haven't we  all felt this way t one time or another  and never expressed ourselves, just waited another 30 minutes until someone one took the time to  ask what you wanted...but like polite enlightened humans we try to hold our tongue and be good little soldiers .....not me ...and FYI Mustard also makes a statement....

Put a name on It !

Humans love to put initials on everything....so why not our own personal needlepoint turtle with your name on his back....and you don't have to worry..he will not wander off....
the model was worked by our very own Saundra Campbell and finished by Stitchery Square in Camden Maine ...who else...lol...
he is on 13st , small and fits in the palm of your hand....he makes a great gift for a child...they can't overfeed him and he won't escape...he will live forever !...he can be lost but most children won't let him out of their sight.....what else can you ask for...
This turtle is a Squiggee Custom Item....

Everyone Plays Golf But Mr. Squiggee !

Above is a sample of a Squiggee Custom Design...a small golf ball with initials on it...I worked it up ordered a plain hat and off they went to Stitchery Square and behold a new Model .....when it gets old and worn from being handled too much...Mr. Squiggee has a personalized Golf Hat...now we live in an area where golf is king...all our neighbors have golf carts and we have our own personal golf range in the estates where we live, with a golf pro-shop..the works...mind you everyone here is over 55 so we are not looking at any world records...we don't play , watch or have any interest in golf, but still Mr. Squiggee looks cool in this hat and could pretend I guess...lol...I also have a model of a fuzzy pink tennis ball made into a key chain with my initials on it...I don't play tennis, never have, never will !!!!
there you go..thank goodness these are models and off to travel...we also don't play shuffle board or any card games, hate jamborees and cowboy music , along with coffee clubs, and craft clubs.....we make a lousy pair of old folks...lol...I guess working is just for me!!!.

Getting back my pace !

Thought all you Squiggers would like to see the original snap that Needlework retailer took of the little Oz guys...gives you a real clear look at the finishing ...wooowza !..Anyway...had to take care of taxes...always a feel good moment...not!...a we are still in the process of changing the studio...almost there , but more to do... at least I can find things again and getting my pace back...all artists have slumps and interruptions are a bitch !...we like everything to move at a pace that is familiar and smooth...changing my chair ...ugh !...we have been supper busy with models and such...a lot of action and trying to plan ads is no joke...you have to be way ahead...like a fashion designer...working on clothes for a season down the way......
The response to our ads and current cover of Needlework Retailer is worth all the fuss and bother...lol
so stay tuned...more to come...
xoxoxoxo
Squiggee

34 years ago I said " I do ! "

Yes it is Mr. Squiggee's and my 34th anniversary.....who knew, especially when all my friends said it would only last six months. When you marry your friends are always quick to give you their take on the plus and minus of marrying...most young people can't  see past the wedding party, the dress the presents and maybe the honeymoon....OK these things are exciting and fun, but quickly you realize that life has so many twists and turns, you are lucky to have chosen a partner that will weather the changes and sees the humor in life above all. The secret to a happy marriage is accepting that your other half is only human , like yourself and all that that entails. We have weather life together and have always tried to be honest with each other , about the good and bad. The two of us are lucky because we have always been big communicators, and share everything. We aren't saints and each has
their own little ways , sometimes driving the other crazy. Our secret weapon is humor ....we love to laugh together...life is hard enough as you age,sag and your looks change, and if your can see the humor  you are doing just fine.
When I think of our wedding day I smile and am amazed at how much we have shared over the years and how much more I love this silly man than when I married him....my love on our wedding day seems very shallow and childish compared to how I feel today.....most of all..... I still get excited when I hear him come in the front door...

Oz without Dorothy...?????

When I submitted the Squiggee Oz Gingerbread cookies for consideration for the cover of the March/ April issue of Needlework Retailer...I was unaware that two new oz movies were coming out....We are the exception here in Squiggeeland...ever since the TV went crazy and digital ...we have not been hooked up....no cable ,no streaming through the computer...we get our news from the paper and internet....both Mr. squiggee and I are not the fan of reality TV..or the cooking channel or fishing channel or the thousand of channels geared to such out your brains slowly...instead we buy movies we preview through Netflixs...or just follow a writers career as in  Lynda Plante who wrote all the Prime Suspects  Series we first viewed on Public Television.....we have since  bought many things from the UK that have never been seen here...it is a wealth of wonderful entertainment.....anyway...off the subject, being I was unaware that a big New Oz movie was coming out....my little Gingerbread Cookies couldn't have been better timied...right...!!!! So Last week I finally looked at the new Oz movie previews online...well to my surprise, did it not only not include the beloved cookie cast...but three witches and  a  look was so dark and creepy I wouldn't take my dog to it for fear he would have nightmares...I then  I took a look at the cartoon..now that included Dorothy and her gang but also a host of strange new characters...yikes.... I think another look at the original movie  starring Judy Garland  is in order  and you then might enjoy our gang of OZ Gingerbread stand-up cookies...I must be getting old...I particularly hate changing things that have become a classic part of one's childhood....every Christmas Day Eve, we would gather in front of our little black and white TV and enjoy the Wizard of Oz....no color then, just a wonderful story with great charters and lots of scary parts...those monkeys...wow they scared me as a child.....I have plans to add to the Oz cookies...some munchkins and flying monkeys and even the Wizard...with a little shaped Emerald City Castle Gingerbread House for good measure...I guess I am just a traditionalist in certain respects....and besides who needs a third witch...good...evil and what...so so !

Lucky to Find Such Talent !

As an artist I have a certain vision of how my work needs to be presented. I have found that both the trade magazines are tuned into my vision, most of the time better than even I could imagine.Needlework Retailer and Needlepoint Now are the big guys in this business and reach both the retail and private sectors . I have been very pleased with how they have taken Squiggee under there wing and created such inovative and fun  ads for Squiggee Designs. They get me,as do my wonderful finishers at Stitchery Square in Camden Maine. In this economic climate , you need to pay attention to every aspect of your business. Just having nice designs is not enough.  You have to push and make plans to show your designs in the best light to the viewing public. This my friends is a group effort. It starts with me and my design, moving on to my group of very talented stitchers . Then my finisher works her magic, and is always open to any suggestion I  may have, as I in turn am open to her excellent  ideas.Lastly the ad people take over spinning Squiggee into Gold...lol !!!!!! I am like a captain  with a world class crew and everyone is out to do their best. I am one lucky designer ! So enjoy the new ads and take time to think of how many elements go into making Squiggee Shine. It doesn't happen overnight ,but somewhere along the way we have become a well oiled ship., just cruising along and having so much fun. Just what I had in mind when I started Squiggee Designs...........

Somedays you just need a Treat !!

We have two dogs...A little Boston named Squiggee-Buns (12 years old) and our Miniature Black Poodle (three  years) named Omar...each and everyday they wake with only one thought...what treat/food will be be able to score today...Oh you think I am exaggerating...oh no, these two are chow hounds...and since Squiggee is now very old and blind , she is even more determined to make everyday day food wise count...so we just roll with it and try not to get too crazy about their shamless begging...this will never happen unless we go out of our way to only eat what these two bums don't like....in Squiggee's case this is almost impossible...she even has a sweet tooth and can detect food anywhere in the house ...so unless we start eating our meals in the car and leaving the dogs inside ,we will always have follows on the scrounge...

OMAR AND SQUIGGEE !!!!!!!!

It has been pretty sad here in Squiggeeland ...I had dental surgery and Omar is sporting a cone to prevent him from scratching his infected eye....we are both on antibiotics...Omar has the cone to bare and I have the side effects of all my meds....I don't do well with medicine...I have had restricted activity...and the cone has forced Omar to take it slow....we have been snuggling and it has helped....Omar is a trooper...if you put one of those cones on my heads...I would go postal...enough said...anyway, it  IS back to work for me tomorrow..and Omar sees the vet...maybe he will get a cone-head reprieve...lol...i can have cold and hot liquids again....there is something about tepid everything that is simply kootie !...i have been mean and hard to live with...i don't do pain or sickness......happy days for Mr. Squiggee...I am on the mend !!!!

One Never Knows...

Above are two rather large Dickens's Characters I created more than twelve years ago....Tiny Tim and his parents....there was a Scrooge and two small boys as part of the series..they were painted on 18st and  as tall as 13"....well for some reason I have been getting emails and requests for these characters that are retired...and some fan want more...Mr. & Mrs Fizziewick seem to be the most requested....as an artist you are inspired  in one particular direction....It is almost impossible to pick up years down the way...been there done that...I am a big Dickens's fan and love the writer,,,and I find it very flattering that people would ask about these designs.......as I say ...you never know !!!