Thursday, June 30, 2011

Stitching Glasses

Frequently, customers complain that they have trouble seeing their needlepoint.  Unfortunately, the reality is that as we age, our close-up vision often gets poorer.   And needlepoint is actually closer work than reading. 

 But with stitching glasses, you can still stitch on smaller mesh canvas.  I recommend taking your needlepoint with you to your eye doctor's office to show what you need to be able to see.  (Tony Minieri takes 40 count silk gauze and #13 mesh canvas and explains that he wants the silk gauze to look like the #13 mesh.)

First, don't wear progressive lens when stitching.  The benefit of progressive lens is that the focal point changes -- but that is not a benefit when you are stitching.  (It is also not a benefit when reading in bed!)  Instead, you want the straight line bifocals.  The American Needlepoint Guild recommends a  flat-top or straight line bifocal, preferably 35 MM wide (if smaller frames, 28 MM). This person also recommended that the bifocal line should be set at the margin of your lower lid.  She also recommended that the bifocal be +.50 stronger than your regular reading  glasses .

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Professional Symbols

A new designer, Melissa Prince has these great canvases that make perfect gifts for the medical school or law school graduate. It would be easy to add the name and/or date to these designs.

Over the years, we have searched for interesting canvases with a professional theme. We like these two very much. They could easily be finished as a pillow, or be framed. And I know that next May seems like a long way away, but it's time to start those graduation gifts now.

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Stitch Landscape


We sold out of our original order of this great needlepoint book. We just received a new order of four copies (actually five but one sold already). It's a great book -- very portable and with suggested stitched and tips for landscapes.
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Monday, June 27, 2011

Kids Kits



The public schools in our area closed for summer vacation this week. As I saw the kids swarming the streets, I remembered that it was in the summer that I learned to knit. (Alright, I really never knit well but it was a summer learned skill. I also took basketweaving.)

We have some great kids kits that come with the canvas, threads and directions. Sometimes, it's great to have a surprise activity for kids to do. The kids have many different themes including a seahorse, crab, mermaid, football, lion and lots of animals.

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Seven Species


Every once in a while, a customer has a request that takes a little research. Sometimes, I can find the requested items -- sometimes, I can't. But I do enjoy these requests when I end up learning something new.

Our customer was looking for a Judaic canvas with the theme of the seven species. I didn't know what the seven species were. (If you aren't sure either, they are: wheat, barley, grapes, pomegranate, dates, figs, olives).

I did find two canvases with the theme although the designer of the top canvas left out the dates.

The top design is 14" x 12" ( tallis bag size) while the bottom design is 19" x 14". (It's a challah cover.)

If you like either of these designs, just let us know. We'd be glad to get either one for you.
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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Degas Dancers

This beautiful canvas is based on Degas's dancers. It is a stunning needlepoint canvas. It could be stitched for a dancer's room or in a family room. I love the colors, and the whole idea of this particular canvas.
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Friday, June 24, 2011

Recycling Needlepoint

Our customer rescued old dining room chairs with the seats stitched. Cleverly, she removed the needlepointed seats and had us turn the needlepoints into pillows. Our finisher found the delightful trim.

If you have an old needlepoint, think about giving it new life by having it refinished. Think of changing the trim or the fabric. These pillows are just stunning.
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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Helen's Rockefeller Center Panel



Helen finished her Rockefeller Center panel. She did an absolutely superb job.

I have to admit that I love seeing the stockings and panels when they are finished. Each one is just a little different -- and reflects the artistry of the individual stitcher.

Helen used a Kreinik facets to outline the angels. She created great perspective by having the more forward angel have more definition.

In addition, I loved her Prometheseus. She used a copper thread for the base and it really stands out.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Suzanne's Bunny Brick


Several people fell in love with this canvas when we had the Susan Robert's trunk show. But Suzanne got started right away and stitched away. As a result, she has her bunny brick back already.

Often, people with summer houses use a brick to keep the screen door open (or shut).

There are many different designs so you can pick the one you like best. We have many customers who enjoy stitching the baseball bricks during the baseball season.
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Perfect Projects for Vacation


I ordered these delightful gingerbread houses at the January show. I loved the three D aspect of the houses. I also liked that they came with the beads needed to make the ornament sparkle. Of course, I could also see using either DMC's memory thread or
Kreinik's hot wire to further embellish the houses.

Recently, I've been stitching quite a few ornaments. They are incredibly satisfying to stitch because you can actually see the end. In addition, they are so portable -- perfect for a summer vacation.


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Monday, June 20, 2011

Stephanie's Garden Room

Stephanie has been beading and stitching like mad. She brought in her finished garden room for us to see. She chose to do this delightful design on a #13 mesh canvas; it also comes on a #18 mesh canvas.

Stephanie was initially a little frustrated when she worked with the Watercolours thread for the floor. But then she go the hang of it. Look how great the floor looks -- it's great when the thread does the work for you.

Stephanie also likes beads so many of her flowers have beading.
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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day

I  stitched the above grill master for my husband as a Father's Day Gift.  The finished ornament arrived just in time.  And I just loved the way it was finished! (When I gave it to him, Bruce asked if I had been stitching it next to him.  I had done part of it sitting right next to him.)

This is a great example of using a stitch guide as a guide.  I loved The Princess and Me's idea of using frosty rays in  bullion knots for the hot dogs is absolutely brilliant.  I  added a few more dogs and lots of smoke.  I also changed the background to a blue sky and added a patio deck so Santa wouldn't be floating in the air. 

With Princess and Me ornaments, the background is not usually painted so it's easy to change the color.

Sometimes it's easier to work from a guide.  You don't have to follow exactly but can choose what you like and don't like.
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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Klimt Piece

We got this wonderful canvas based on Klimt's work in recently. It's not as well-known as some of his other pieces. But I believe it uses the same model. I love the various designs in the piece. It would be great with a needlepoint canvas of one of his other designs.
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Friday, June 17, 2011

Finshed Cross

This lovely cross was stitched by Ginny. . It's a great gift to commemorate a christening or a first communion.

Occasionally, we are fortunate to have multiple generations in a family who stitch.  Ginny's mother-in-law is also an incredible stitcher.
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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Carrots for the Reindeer




In our house, we have been leaving carrots for the reindeer when we leave cookies for Santa. So I just loved these carrot ornaments for Christmas. Each canvas has the name of a different reindeer. Each carrot has a night sky top. But then the designs varies. Comet's carrot has swirls while Cupid's carrot has hearts. Rudolph's carrot has green, red and white peppermint sticks. Vixen has a plaid bottom.


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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

A Fabulous Queen

Unfortunately, we didn't get this canvas in our Labors of Love trunk show.  But their picture of the finished piece was so fabolous that I had to post it.

This finished piece of  Queen Elziabeth I. is really wonderful.  The  face and hands come with the canvas; I assume they are china..  I love the hair and the details on the dress.  I wonder how historically accurate it is; it looks great to me.

I think it would be fun to stitch the details on this piece.
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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

More Angels


The last two angels are dressed in purple and pink. One is holding a harp.
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Christmas Angels


Labors of Love ahs a series of Christmas angels. Each angel is holding an item - a wand with a star, a lantern or a book. There are five different colors. Fortunately, the hair on each one is light so it would be easy to change it to the colors of your child's or grandchild's.

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