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How-To: Lorax Mustache Pillow

Rachel Hobson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

The 25th anniversary of Earth Day happened while I was in college, and happened to be part of an environmental group on campus. As part of our festivities to celebrate, I read The Lorax at a local coffee shop. Yes, it was very 90s of me, but it was a story I'd loved since I was a kid. I'll be curious to see how the new Lorax movie turns out. I'm hopeful after laughing heartily at the previews. Nikki of Whimsy Love has a fun project for creating a mod pillow showcasing the iconic bushy mustache of the Lorax.

More New from TNNA

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:51:10 +0000

There are several new accessories that debuted at TNNA. Probably the hit of the show was Pischke Pillows. from the makers of the the popular Pischke Pockets. Using ten-mesh canvas with your choice of three designs, the kit comes with the same sturdy fabrics as the totes, grosgrain ribbon, and threads. The pillows are made amazingly easily and the three designs will work in almost any setting, even outdoors.

Rainbow Gallery has brought out new acrylic laying tools. Each is a unique design. The laying tool is a BLT with an acrylic handle and removable cover.

DMC has a lovely “designer” accessory collection with storage for your project, stitch bows, and a needle holder in a matching print.

Krienik has add four new Stitch-A-Pen kits including three hearts designs and a wedding pen.

Tuitto showed and interesting line of luggage and cases. They are soft, with tons of pockets, four wheels, and a PVC frame on either side. They use an ergonomic design and were very popular among shopowners. They come in up to 12 colors (depending on the piece).

Lee Needle Arts has an iPad case. They have also expanded the bags that can use the removable inserts. Bags with BR and now, I think, BG inserts can use the removable inserts. Anne Brinkley has brought back those lovely porcelain and crystal boxes. I have some of them I stitched ages ago and I’m excited about being able to get more.

Do you have tons of thread hanging around? Is lots of it in uncut skeins? Then you’l love Clover’s new Basket Frames. Available in two sizes in three shapes, they are cardboard frames that make your basket sturdy. Wrap your thread or ribbon around the frame. Then you can add embellishments if you like. These are great because they are much easier to do than traditional baskets and because they allow you to use soft threads and ribbons to make a great basket.

BagSmith has decorated wooden tubes that contain six needles. Several types of needles and design styles are available.

Two great new books are coming out. June McKnight’s new book is called Bling, Glitz, and Glamour for Needlepoint. It’s dedicated to embellishments and, from the models, it looks great. Sharon G’s second book will be out in the spring. It’s dedicated to borders and has over 20.

What’s your Needlepoint Question? – Book Sneak Peek

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:12:20 +0000

How do I replace a missing needlepoint chairseat?

Can I use a embroidery hoop to stitch needlepoint?

What is the American equivalent of 7 HPI canvas?

These are just three of the questions I’ve been asked recently, mostly through this site’s contact form.

I’m collecting these (and many, many others) into a Needlepoint Question & Answer Book that will come out later this year.

It will certainly be an ebook, PDF, and app ebook, and it may be available as a printed book and on CD as well.

You can help me as well by sending me your best needlepoint question. It can be something you’ve often wondered about, something you don’t know how to do, something you want to find, or anything else related to needlepoint.

Use the contact form, add a comment, or just email me. Be sure to let me know it’s for the book.

If your question is selected as one of the 200 in the book, you will get a free electronic copy (PDF).

IN the case of two or more people sending in the same question, the earliest one wins.

More:
What’s your Needlepoint Question? – Book Sneak Peek

Gift Guide, Expectant Moms

Meg Allan Cole — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you are like me, you have friends and sisters expecting little bundles of joy. The babies always make out like bandits with tons of cute clothes and adorable toys, but I want to be able to pamper and spoil the moms-to-be this holiday season. So here are some great ideas for those expecting moms.

Sheep Creek's Etsy shop is filled with adorable hand-felted creatures like these sloth and sheep mobiles. So sweet.

St. Kilda Jewelry has this sweet Mama ring that any mother would love.

Your favorite children's book is always a thoughtful gift to give. The Giving Tree is my very favorite, and one I have given to a few special moms-to-be.

For the active yogi mama, some all-natural yoga mat spray will keep her clean and chemical-free.

Add a handmade yoga mat bag and this yoga mama is ready to downward dog.

As a reward for her healthy lifestyle, what woman doesn't want something as soothing as Homemade Essential Oils? Functional and sweet, these handmade goods will make anyone feel special. Just double-check that the essential oils you choose are 100% safe for pregnant women.

For the last few months of taking it easy and the first few of being awake around-the-clock, handmade bunny slippers will make the transition a little cozier.

Gift Guide, Expectant Moms

Meg Allan Cole — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Sheep Creek's Etsy shop is filled with adorable hand-felted creatures like these sloth and sheep mobiles. So sweet.

St. Kilda Jewelry has this sweet Mama ring that any mother would love.

Your favorite children's book is always a thoughtful gift to give. The Giving Tree is my very favorite, and one I have given to a few special moms-to-be.

For the active yogi mama, some all-natural yoga mat spray will keep her clean and chemical-free.

Add a handmade yoga mat bag and this yoga mama is ready to downward dog.

For the last few months of taking it easy and the first few of being awake around-the-clock, handmade bunny slippers will make the transition a little cozier.

Gift Guide, Expectant Moms

Meg Allan Cole — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Sheep Creek's Etsy shop is filled with adorable hand-felted creatures like these sloth and sheep mobiles. So sweet.

St. Kilda Jewelry has this sweet Mama ring that any mother would love.

Your favorite children's book is always a thoughtful gift to give. The Giving Tree is my very favorite, and one I have given to a few special moms-to-be.

For the active yogi mama, some all-natural yoga mat spray will keep her clean and chemical-free.

Add a handmade yoga mat bag and this yoga mama is ready to downward dog.

For the last few months of taking it easy and the first few of being awake around-the-clock, handmade bunny slippers will make the transition a little cozier.

My Life in Bargello — Virtual Book Tour Stop

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:42:00 +0000

Originally posted 2008-06-06 07:23:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Pierrette has put up the article for my visit to her blog, Love to Stitch. It’s about My Life in Bargello.

It has pictures of some of my earlier Bargello pieces and includes my newest piece, the Swag mini-sock along with a free pattern for it.

Pierrette did a fantastic job on the article in terrible heat and I really want to thank her for it. I meant to have this post up last night, but my server wasn’t cooperating, so I watched BSG on on-demand instead.

Next stop on Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

Go here to read the rest:
My Life in Bargello — Virtual Book Tour Stop

An Insight into Bargello Revisited – Virtual Book Tour Stop

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:57:45 +0000

Originally posted 2008-06-27 06:48:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Today I’m visiting Independent Needlework News on my Virtual Book Tour.

There you’ll get some insight into my inspiration for writing the book and my passion for Bargello.

Have a great weekend!

Read the original post:
An Insight into Bargello Revisited – Virtual Book Tour Stop

What Makes Something Scrap Bag Needlepoint?

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:23:10 +0000

Because of the upcoming Stash Busting Needlepoint Club, I’ve been getting questions about what these projects might be. I thought I’d take today’s post to explain a little bit about my philosophy for making (and designing) stash busting projects.

My motivation for learning to use my stash had its origins in many things.

This Amish Quilt has dramatic stripes in several colors of scrap wool

First I love quilts and I’m particularly fond of of quilts that “make do” by using up little scraps of fabric. I thought these would translate well to needlepoint, as indeed they do (all pictures come from my Scrap Bag Needlepoint book, available in mid-November as an ebook).

What if you mostly have threads of one color? There are stash-busting projects for that.

Then there was my husband asking me to shop my stash first. This took care of many things, but I still had odds and ends of thread.

Finally there was a realization that when we buy threads for projects we always end up with leftovers.

Like Bargello? Make a stash-busting piece like this one.

I wanted to make something lovely from them, so I thought back to those quilts.

Essentially a Scrap Bag Needlepoint is any project that uses small bits of many colors. So it’s easy to get out stuff you have and make them. It can be as small as an ornament or as big as a pillow or a rug.

But the important thing is that the design does not require continuity of color, so it won’t matter much if the color changes.

That’s why quilts are so often my inspiration. I have also done many pieces that were painted canvases, some geometric, some not.

The important thing is color, lots of it and in discrete bits. Look for those things and you have great stash-busters.

See the original post here:
What Makes Something Scrap Bag Needlepoint?

Back to School Sale Ends Sunday

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:23:51 +0000

Remember folks my Back to School book sale ends on Sunday. You may have missed out on getting some of the Missoni items at Target earlier this week (my out of the way Target was stripped by Tuesday afternoon) but you can make your own wonderful Missoni inspired Bargello with the wonderful patterns in Bargello Revisited.

Bargello Revisited is $23.37 (instead of $37.95)
Needlepoint Trade Secrets is $10.77 (instead of $17.95)

Media Mail shipping and sales tax (CA only) is added to each sale. These would make great gifts for your stitching friends as well.

Don’t delay, order your book today!

See more here:
Back to School Sale Ends Sunday