Mary Pat's Pillow

Mary Pat finished this delightful needlepoint of a frog for her daugher. This frog has plenty of attitude and Mary Pat chose great velvets to highlight her work. The use of a welt in a contrasting color can give a needlepoint pillow just a bit more pizzazz.

Cappy's Pillow

Cappy is a wonderful needlepointer who is also very generous with her stitching. She has made this pillow several times now since her sons have attended the school. In addition to giving a pillow to the headmaster, I believe she has also donated ones to the fund-raising auction.

Because she has done it so much, we keep on changing the background stitch so it can remain interesting to her.

Good Night, Moon Ornaments

If you read my blog regularly, you probably know that one of my favorite canvases for a child is the Good Night Moon Canvas. When my children were little, we hung a Good Night Moon Poster up in the baby's room. When my husband was growing up, he played with Thatcher Hurd. His father was Clement Hurd, the illustrator of Good Night Moon. So when our first child came, my mother -in-law how Mr. Hurd sign the poster for us. So this canvas is really special for me.

So in the past, I've tended to carry the full-sized canvas. But this past week, Sally was looking through the catalogue. She suggested that we carry the ornaments. And so here they are. A perfect gift for a new baby. Any of these could be finished as an ornament but you could go beyond. The canvas could be inset in fabric; then do a round gusseted pillow. Wouldn't it look great on a rocking chair like the one in Good Night Moon?

Chickadee Ornament

It seems that no matter what time of the year, we are always stitching or finishing Christmas items. I think this lovely ornament belongs to Vanessa but I wasn't at the store when the photograph was taken. I just think it's beautiful. I love the way the Petite Peluche makes the bird look realistic. And notice how the red berries just pop out. From the phot, it looks like the bakcgroun is done in a T stitch so part of the painted canvas comes through. Wouldn't you like this ornament on your tree.

Electronic Book Insert

I know that we have become an IPAD world with many people using their IPADS for everything. But I got my Kindle first, so I still tend to use that for reading. And I do like to protect the screen and make sure that the kindle is protected.

The ebook covers are a great gift. There are a variety of needlepoint designs for the inserts.. Originally, almost all the designs were by Lee (who makes the leather covers.) But recently, some other companies have started to adapt their designs for the covers. I really like Zecca's Owl for insert.. Owls are often a symbol for knowledge so it's perfect for the insert. I would do a sparkly sky using Vineyard Silk Shimmer of Silk Lame. I would also use a green Kreinik braid for the eyes (unless I decided to use glow in the dark threads).

Diane's Pillow for her Granddaugher

Diane did this delightful floral pillow for her grand-daugher-Ayla. She was very pleased with her work and I'm sure that her granddaughter will cherish it. What I like about this project is that it's timeless.

Dog Sayings

Occasionally, there are really fun sayings related to our pets. Among our favorites is the two-sided needlepoint bone saying "Feed the Dog/Dog Fed. and its companion "Feed the Cat/Cat is Fed". And if you have a pet like our Lily who constantly lies about being fed, you understand how valuable the sign can be.

In addition, I thought these signs would also be great for the dog lovers/owners in your life. The Sit, Stay, Drink can actually be painted with your particular breed. I chose the black lab since labs are the most popular dog in the United States.

Recently, Warning Dog Doesn't Know Sit! has appeared on T-shirts and the like. But I though a needlepoint would add to the fun. Of course, I can see this needlepoint embellished with bone shaped buttons. You could also experiment with the border. You could couch down Frosty Rays to give is some pizazz. This canvas is on #13 mesh.

And for those of us who feel that our daily life is dedicated to the dog (or dogs), there is the To-Do List.

All of these canvases are perfect for the novice stitcher since they have blocks of color.

Flower Stall Class

This delightful class is being taught by Helen. This time, she will also provide some additoanal flower and basket stitches to give the piece more dimension. The class will meet on Sunday and Monday, April 10 and 11 for three hours each time.

In this class, the stitcher gets to work with a variety of threads and stitches. As stitchers, we can choose to embellish our canvases with just threads, just stitches or both. In this class, you will get the chance to do both. It's the perfect class for the novice stitcher who wants to learn about threads and stitches.

You can find out more information by checking the class description.

Pet Dishes

When I came back with the fliers from the show, my staff wanted to make sure I had ordered these pet dishes. Needless to say, I had already placed the order. There are two bowl sizes. The larger one is for a medium to large sized dog. There are various designs for the insert.

The smaller one has designs for cats or dogs. In addition to the ones I'm showing, there are pawprints and other designs. Wouldn't this be a great gift for someone who just adores their pet -- or for the friend who is about to get a pet?

It just goes to show that you can almost needlepoint anything.

Estalle's Pillow

This beautiful needlepoint was finished by Estalle. It's really quite lovely. her colors are lovely. I particularly like the contrast between the flowers and the background. Our finisher did a great job turning the canvas into a pillow.

Embroidery Scissors for Left-Handed Stitchers

Recently, we had a customer inquiring about embroidery scissors for left-handed stitchers. After checking with out distributors, and then on the internet, I found that it's much easier to find sewing scissors for left-handed stitchers. But ultimately, I located these three embroidery scissors.

I am right-handed but I have come to appreciate the difficulty in living in a right-handed world. I know that it's harder for me to teach a left-handed person to stitch. I have to try to remember what the differences are. And most scissors are designed for right handed people. So if you are a leftie, these scissors may help you with your needlepoint.

Suede Cosmetic Bags

Boots Bailey has some wonderful designs. She's from Texas so you won't be surprised that she has cowgirl designs in addition to beautiful flowers and paisleys etc. At the show, I fell in love with these small suede cosmetic bags. The colors are luscious and the designs are intriguing. After stitching, just ssew the lining seam and you're done. I think it would also make a great case for your needlepoint tools.

Recycling Needlepoint

Our customer came in with an older piece of needlepoint. The piece wasn't completely finished but she had decided to decrease the size of the canvas to focus on what she liked. The piece had been stitched a while ago. But she loved the design and the its soft colors.

She had a vision for the finished needlepoint and came in with trim and fabric she had picked for this needlepoint. So we sent it off -- and when it came back, we realized how right she was. The finished needlepoint is just beautiful. It looks like a fabulous antique.

If you have a finished piece that you have hesitated to finish it, give it a try. You can use one of our fabrics -- or go to a fabric store to pick your own fabric and trim. That way, you can be a greater part of the final piece.

Knots, Fur and Turkey Work

In the Coat Ladies/City Snow Class, I encourage the participants to find their own stitches for some areas. It's easy to be creative with the hair and the hats since they are great areas for threads and fur like stitches. In class, we look at several different books. Knots, Fur and Turkey Work by Meredit Barnhill Willett is one of the best books for searching for a stitch. Meredith has included photos using the various stitches so the stitcher can see how the stitch actually looks. It is quite inspiring.

In our class on Monday, we played with bullion knots and the various spider web stitches.

Coat Ladies Class

Yesterday, the fall/winter City Snow Class met for the last time. The class is based on Maggie Co.'s City Snow Canvas. The canvas itself is perfect for an embellishment class because it has large blocks of color. The students are given the stitch guide and encouraged to select their own colors, threads and even stitches. The photos in this blog are Diane's and Mary Lee's. (Somehow, my photos of Peggy's and Nancy's canvases didn't come out.)

The last class is when we focus on hair and hats. The hats lend themselves to whimsical threads. We create braids, buns and curls for the hair and then work on the hats. I love
seeing how the individual canvases develop.

Stitching on Sunday-PATTERNS OF THE ORIENT

Five of us met yesterday  morning to work on our Patterns of the Orient canvas. The push to meet came from the fact that we need to have three sections finished before the next class. (Actually, for two of the sections, we just need to have the silk stitching finished. We will do the gold couching in class.) There were four different colorways represented. We are actually at different stages on our canvases. Diane missed the last classes soshe is more behind. Gretchen is speeding along. Nancy, Rose and I all of lots to do but you can see our canvases coming together.

I always enjoy seeing a design stitched in different colorways.  Inevitably, the colors change the prominence of an area.  I know this time I found it disconcerting that my wave pattern isn't in blues -- although it does look wonderful in the folds and browns.

It was really a wonderful morning with great stichng and great conversation. At the end, we had all made significant progress!

My Colors

Nancy's Colors

Gretchen's Colors

Rose's Colors



Smaller Projects

I often work on larger canvases. Right now, if you have been following the blog, you know that I am in the midst of Tony Minieri's Footsteps of the Pharoahs and his Patterns of the Orient. I am about to start on St. Basil's. But sometimes when I come home from the store after teaching two classes or just after a busy day, I am too tired to have to count. (You may not know this but I really can't count. I should have one of those t-shirts that say "English Major -- You do the Math!)

I really enjoyed stitching the six inch rules. I did it in the new High Cotton and Kreinik. I used basketweave for all the yellow, backstitch for the lines and continental for the outlines and numbers. It was soothing and did not require me to concentrate. And I have the finished ruler in the store. I think this would make a great gift for a special teacher!

Estelle's Turtle

Estelle did a great job stitching her turtle. She used decorative stitches for the surrounding areas but used tent stitches for the center of the needlepoint designs. By using brighter threads for the center and plain stitches, she helped to keep the focus on the face.

Joice's Pillow

Joice finished her needlepoint several months ago. She wanted it to be fabulous but the finisher we suggested was already overbooked. Joice knew she wouldn't see the finished pillow until after Christmas but she was willing to wait. It did seem like a long time but the pillow arrived this week and it's fabulous. Joice loved the cording and the color. She can't decide where to put it but it will definitely have a place of honor in her home.

She did a great job on the stitching -- I think it's just her second piece.