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Some bits & bobs to end our coverage of the Summer Needlework Market and entice you to add to your stash.

Treglown Designs has introduced four new Charley Harper canvases. Some of them.

There are a couple of new designers out. Colors of Praise is designed by Marie Barber and has a wide variety of canvases, including two series of alphabets with decorative backgrounds. Kelly Clark is distributing canvases based on the artwork of Dan DiPaolo who has a delightfully whimsical style.

I’ve written about Leigh’s Fash-inserts and Leigh has teamed up with Colonial Needle to sell the bag/insert combination. Some of the canvases will only be available through Colonial Needle (Lee Needle Arts). Two of the ones available only from them are the butterflies and the lilies.

Leigh has all the new designs pictured on her site. I love them because they have all of Leigh’s wonderful detail and style, but they are small. They’d be great choices for a first Leigh canvas.

I wrote about the Staccato line earlier in the show, but what I didn’t tell you is that this series of designs is also available as coasters. Leigh’s coasters are big 6″ square, so they can also be framed with mats as pictures. Personally, I’d do this; they’re too lovely to put drinks on.

I also mentioned Maggie Co’s bar-themed canvases. In that same great Deco style, there are also some city scenes and coffee drink canvases. She also has some delightful mini buckets and a whole slew of great canvases adapted from the art of Rennie Britenbucher, that I just love. She also has great dressed up roosters, penguins and cats.

Continued here:
Finishing Up at TNNA

New Canvases at TNNA (Winter 2011)

in Halloween,Nuts About Needlepoint

Packaged wish from Patt & Lee’s new hand-painted line, available in 13 and 18 mesh

Lots of exciting new canvases had their first showing at TNNA today.

My friend, Patt, of Patt & Lee Designs, has premiered her first hand-painted canvas line. The canvases are all available in either 13 or 18 mesh. Several of here popular glicee printed canvases, such as the two kitty geishas and her Halloween cats, are now available stitch-painted, and there are lots of other great designs as well, over 50 in all. I am particularly fond of the packaged good wishes, such as the one pictured above. You can see them on her website, be sure to see all three pages.

Since learning to use embellishments in my needlepoint is one of my resolutions, I just love Squigee’s new designs. There is a glorious shell canvas that is great by itself, but even more amazing when paired with two more shells to stitch and applique on. She also has winter hats with pompoms and a new Witchy Poo with a sparkly jewel and tulle on her hat. There are also some incredibly silly flamingos, my favorite being Carmen Flaming with her fruit-filled hat. You can see them all as a slideshow on Gail’s site.

The Elizabeth Turner Collection has a full-size Noah’s Ark stocking that is so cute I wish I had a grandkid for whom to make it. The clever animals include a penguin, a pig, a whale, and the dove with an olive branch. The water is swirly in shades of blue with a bit of green. The sky is a star-filled night sky that adds the right amount of sparkle.

JL Canvas Company has added to their selection of canvas with matching ornaments. A box with two chocolate candies and a three-tiered cake are new. DJ Designs has a stunning new realistic daffodil canvas. The plants are shown from the side which makes the design unusual as well as lovely.

Kelly Clark always has the most innovative canvases out there. Her new club, Tassels, was introduced at the show with 15 designs in five families. They are in a variety of sizes, shapes, and color groups. She also has a new series of Candy Canes, another 12 in all. They are on 18 mesh canvas and are almost 7″ tall. There are also 8 new pears to extend her current collection.

Beth Gantz has brought out a series of 12 cupcakes, one for each month. They are available with stitch guides. Lee Needle Arts has a new series of crosses in many colors that are 5″ x 7″. This smaller size makes them suitable for framing or for applique onto church linens or vestments.

Dream House Ventures introduced some new canvases that are adaptations of Cross-Eyed Cricket charts, including Ho Ho Ho for Christmas. They also have a lovely Moorish-inspired panel from Nooxie Noble. There is also a charming Love Letter canvas with the envelopes ties up in a big pink bow.

needlepoint package from Barbara Bergsten Designs

Barbara Bergsten is not able to be at the show, but has a What’s New section on her website. Her new designs include several colorful crabs, some needlepoint sayings, a great Christmas polar bear, stitch painted ribbon designs of many kinds, and a delightful series of packages (one pictured above).

Leigh Designs is always innovative and this show is no exception. She has a new line of eight fantasy pagodas. They are 11″ x 14″ on sage green canvas. Jane Wood has stitched one of the models which is on display at the show. She also has new inserts designed for the lovely Lee Italian Leather Bags, she’s starting with two, but more will be coming.

River Silks has added a stunning iris to their Kits To Go line. The canvas is from Amanda Lawford. The kit includes the painted canvas and the ribbons needed to complete it with instructions. Sekas & Co. has three stocking biscournu ornaments, available on 13, 16, or 18 mesh.

Canvasworks*Traditions has new flamingo whose feathery tail takes up most of the canvas. This would be a piece for great stitching. They also have a lovely canvas with motifs from Oriental Rugs and elaborate borders. And Turkoman Game Board that adds small rug motifs to the border or a chess board in two shades of blue.

Julie Pischke has added some great new floral canvases. MAP Designs has a new series of 14″ square canvases on 13 mesh for easy stitching. Two of the designs are an elegant bird and two fish. Ciao Bella (from CBK Needlepoint) has made their delightful designs available in a 4″ round ornament size.

The Caron Collection has a lovely new charted piece, Mountain Laurel that has a central medallion and several borders. It can be done in several colors or in a single color stitched in a variety of threads for an “interesting study in textures.”

More here:
New Canvases at TNNA (Winter 2011)

TNNA Coverage Starts Tomorrow

The Winter TNNA Market begins tonight in Long Beach and tomorrow will be the start of my coverage of new products coming out for the show.

Tomorrow will be painted canvases. Sunday will be threads. And Monday (and into the week if needed) will catch up on new things announced at the show.

There’s lots of exciting things on the way. Stay tuned.

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TNNA Coverage Starts Tomorrow

ABS Designs New Blog

Originally posted 2008-11-30 21:40:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I’m always so excited when there is another needlepoint blog and this one makes me particularly happy. My friend, the talented designer Anne Stradal, has just started a blog called The Cape Stitcher.

You may remember Anne, I’ve written up some of her delightful designs as stitch guides from her models. These include Rainbow Clown, The Morning After & The Night Before, and this one with the duck and ducklings.

You can see more of Anne’s designs on her website, which always makes me itch to stitch.

I love Anne’s tale of how she started designing and I’m looking forward to her future posts.

Here is the original post:
ABS Designs New Blog

Recovering from TNNA

Originally posted 2007-01-17 08:44:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Yes I froze. Foolish me, I didn’t bring my winter coat and it was about the same temperature in SD as here in Napa.

Yes, I saw great stuff. I’m hoping to write the newsletter later today, so you can learn all about what I saw, but first I have to unpack.

Yes, I’m tired, but I did eat two real meals yesterday and got enough sleep last night, so I may be able to get beyond the emergency urgent to the merely urgent today.

Here is the original post:
Recovering from TNNA

TNNA Round-Up, Part 2

marshmallow roasting cats needlepoint canvas from Amanda Lawford

Once again, today I will focus mostly on new hand-painted canvas needlepoint, kits, and charts. Since canvases and projects often inform our choices in threads and such, the thought of a lovely new project will inspire you to try new threads (it does for me).

Amanda Lawford has a bunch of new canvases based on nursery rhymes. There are square canvases as well as nightlights. More grown-up night lights are available as well. I particularly liked another series of three canvases showing cats enjoying a camping trip. My favorite was probably the marshmallow roast, pictured above.

Dizzy Daisy focuses on ornaments. They have three different monogram ornaments, and two initials. These are as great way to make a delightful gift. Winnetaka Stitchery has a sports Christmas stocking, perfect for the player or fan. You could even personalize it by doing the backgrounds in team colors.

bride groom wedding heart needlepoint canvas from Cooper Oaks

If you are looking for needlepoint canvas with the rich colors and patterning or oriental rugs, look no further than CanvasWorks. Their designs come in a variety of shapes, including brick covers and round pillows. Cooper Oaks has some charming new designs as well, including this delightful bride and groom heart

Elizabeth Bradley has come out with three single flowers in a modern, almost hyper-realist style. They are striking and a new direction for her. I just love all four. Jane Nichols has a new line of kits and beginners canvases, lots of new belts, and a fun, different birdhouse of the month series. She also has some witty aprons to needlepoint.

dove folk art birds retro needlepoint canvas from DC Designs

DC Designs, an artist new to me, has delightful round ornaments and other charming designs, including a great heart of hearts (perfect for trying out stitches and threads) and these retro doves.

Another new artist, Designs by Heidi, has a line of quirky canvases in a soft color palette that is quite unusual. She has lots of designs for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween. If you buy on eBay, you may have seen many of her designs there.

beach or waterfront house needlepoint brick cover fro Needle Crossings

I just loved this “living on the water” brick cover from Needle Crossings. Wouldn’t it make a great present for someone with a beach house?

Julie Mar has lots of new designs featuring the peace symbol, in 60’s colors, but lightened for today. Patty Paints is now doing needlepoint adaptations of Sue Spargo Art Quilts. She also has lots of folk art inspired designs.

Coral needlepoint tote needlepoint kit from Pischke Pockets

Julie Pischke has announced Pischke Pockets a series of pocket-sized needlepoints you stitch and apply to the front of colorful tote bags. The bags are striped and come with leather handles and bases. Best of all they come with the fibers, so this is a complete kit.

Kathy Schenkel has come out with a nativity set of ornaments with each figure in a star. They are lovely. I am also crazy about the nativity version of her popular mini-socks with animals, this one with a little donkey. Kirk & Hamilton, a British company, has new double-sided key fobs in three designs. You stitch each side, and fold them over to finish.

retro and witty needlepoint design from Unique New Zealand

Unique New Zealand has a bunch of tongue-in-cheek pieces with a retro feel, including the design above. They join their wonderful and ecclectic collection.

The Point of It All has some great holiday votives, you wrap around a clear glass candle holder. There are designs for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Hanukkah, birthdays, and Halloween. A great series from The Princess & Me has five related small designs hanging from a string all one one ornament. There are 12 in all, so you are sure to find one you’ll like. Silver Needle has cardigan and polo shirt ornaments in a variety of colors.

Check back on Wednesday for the final TNNA round-up (and think of me I’m getting a crown replaced and a veneer put on my front teeth.

See the rest here:
TNNA Round-Up, Part 2

TNNA Round-Up, Part 1

in Halloween,Nuts About Needlepoint

There’s lots of new items premiering at TNNA, beginning today. In posts today and tomorrow, you’ll hear about what’s new at the show. Whenever possible, I have included links to pages with the new designs. Many designers don’t have these pages up yet, so keep checking back for the new items.

Barbara Bergsten’s delightful designs are a real thrill to stitch. She has a ton of new designs including lots of sayings, two delightful curly-toed Christmas socks, and lots of coordinated inserts for wallets, totes, and bags. You can see them all on her site’s What’s New? page.

Kelly Clark has some great new things, including several new topiaries (my favorite is the wisteria),some wonderful baskets and containers (one of them the pot of gold), and an absolutely delightful sarcophagus opened to reveal the mummy. I know that hardly sounds like something delightful, but it is. Check them out on her site.

My friend Patt, of Patt and Lee Designs has many new cats (some with stitch guides available), a cool dog, and, my favorite, an autumn landscape. Alice Peterson is now carrying hand-painted canvases by Gayla Elliott.

Renaissance Designs is showing Madame Fate, a patchwork witch, and accompanying her are several “posters” for types of fortune-telling. There are also several other Halloween designs, including their Halloweenies (which have stitch guides) and lots of cool Christmas pieces. Another series, aimed at beginners is “Kit & Kaboodle.” These small square designs include a fabric-covered frame and finishing instructions.

Leigh’s new designs include the Floozies, which premiered in Dallas. They are “slightly trashy ladies” enjoying adult beverages. Joining them will be Water Babies, a series of cute designs, that is, if I remember correctly, supposed to coordinate with the Sirens. They will also have two new colors of Ashland Sky bags, turquoise and orange.

Melissa Prince Designs is a new designer with a lovely, soft take on traditional designs. Mindy has some great new designs including four whimsicaL cupcakes, a stunning Asian circles piece (I want this one) and lots more whimsical and ethnic pieces.

Sharon G has a new line of scarecrows and several more Ponza, Italy scenes. She is also exploring her triptych idea with a Tuscan scene and a wonderful, colorful set of oriental fish and black cats. She has also re-released the doors series and has several new eye canvases.

Come back tomorrow for more news from the show.

Go here to see the original:
TNNA Round-Up, Part 1

Celebrating Babies with Needlepoint

baby needlepoint canvas from Melissa Shirley Designs

Two of our closest friends welcomed their first baby, a girl, into the world on Sunday morning. This got me thinking about needlepoint and how wonderful a little needlepoint “something” is for a baby gift. I thought I’d help fan the fires of inspiration with some great baby needlepoint.

The design pictured here is from Melissa Shirley in her children’s category. Along with many charming Victorian children, she has several delightful canvases based on nursery rhymes. This is my favorite, by Mary Lake-Thompson. There are also some lovely canvases by L. Carter Holman.

I love Kathy Schenkel’s designs for babies. she has several wonderful series picture on her site. She has First Christmas mini-socks in several different designs and colors, including some with stuffed animals. There are baby samplers, baby sleeping signs, footstools and really clever designs based on nursery rhymes and children’s stories.

A simple but effective way to combine needlepoint with practicality, would be to stitch a great initial, such as this one from Kelly Clark and the inset it into a diaper bag. You could buy a self-finishing bag or make your own using a hot glue gun.

butterfly night light shade cover to needlepoint

Another wonderful (and practical idea is to make a night light cover using a design from Sandy Grossman-Morris. You know that every new mom is going to need a night light , so why not make it something really special. On the page, you can see pictures of some of them stitched and finished to fuel your imagination.

Designs by Petei also has many delightful ideas for baby gifts. Along with the many boys and girls that are part of the Petei People, you could also make a figure a year from one of the story lines as a special gift. I’m doing this with Alice in Wonderland for one daughter and Peter Pan for the other.

Last but not least is my popular Birthday Mini-Sock Project Pack ($12 retail, email for details). The one pictured above is for a little girl born in 1998. I love this as a baby present because you can make it in any colors and can’t start it until the baby is born.

I can also chart the plaid for you, or chart out a birth sampler (email for more information).

No matter what you choose to make, a needlepoint gift for a new baby is something special.

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Celebrating Babies with Needlepoint

Wendy Costa’s Art Now Available in Needlepoint

Wendy Costa’s art has now been adapted to needlepoint and is available from Maggie Co.

There are nine whimsical dresses and two delightful veggie designs that would be great in a kitchen. They are on 18 mesh.