There are numerous ways to learn or improve needlepoint skills. Informal "stitch and chat" sessions are set up for the stitcher who needs a little help on a current project or who just wants to come and stitch and gossip with her needlepoint friends. More formal classes including a wonderful beginner's class have been developed by Eileen and the staff as well as visiting teachers who will include Carole Lake, David McCaskill, Tony Minieri, and Deborah Wilson in 2010. An on-line option for some classes has been developed.

When Eileen Aird opened Ridgewood Needlepoint in 2002, it was a dream come true. Eileen, who had thought about opening a needlepoint store for a long time, visited other needlepoint shops on every business trip or vacation she took (often dragging along her very patient husband, who has become famous in the community for coming in on weekends, changing the canvas display and quickly changing the whole creative energy in the store). When visiting the stores, she found that seeing the stitched models inspired and challenged her and she loved seeing what other stitchers were making. Eileen realized that, much like the old-fashioned quilting bee, a store could become a community of stitchers. When her family moved back to Ridgewood, NJ it was time to make her dream a reality. In 2002, Eileen opened her store. As the community has grown, needlepoint creativity and skill improvement has also.

A featured canvas line is Needlepoint Broad, which is run by Eileen's identical twin sister, Elizabeth. The line includes canvases of baseball/football stadiums, scenes from US postcards and many other designs. (Jane of Chilly Hollow featured a two part blog on Eileen (http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2009/07/interviewing-eileen-and-elizabeth-part.html) and Elizabeth (http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2009/08/interviewing-eileen-and-elizabeth-part.html).

Ridgewood Needlepoint currently has The Doors Club, a series of six needlepoint canvases of doors decorated for the seasons and special holidays. The store also has the stitch guides and canvases for its Paper Dolls Club, which can now be purchased individually. In 2010, Ridgewood Needlepoint will be introducing the New Jersey Bear Club.

This community of stitchers includes individuals throughout the United States and Canada. Ridgewood Needlepoint stays in touch through email newsletters and the blog:

http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com.

Eileen updates the blog /regularly with pictures of canvases, newly finished items and her current projects. If you are interested in being on the email mailing list, you can sign up by going to our website: www.ridgewoodneedlepoint.com

Ridgewood Needlepoint is at 6 South Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 (just twenty-two miles outside of New York City). For directions or additional information, we can be reached at 201-612-7770 or at stitches@ridgewoodneedlepoint.com.