new products

Last month, during the TNNA Round-up, I talked about many of the new threads that were coming out. I have some more details about colors and I wanted to let you know about them.

Rainbow Gallery brought out new colors of several of their threads. Some of these are just perfect for popular applications.

Sparkle Rays has two new colors, both orange, that will be perfect for Halloween. These are not flourescent oranges, but a lovely bright orange (think Netherlands World Cup uniforms) and a lighter orange. The two together will be perfect for pumpkins.

Soft Sheen Fyrewerks has come out with a vintage silver. It looks absolutely wonderful, a dark, almost matte silver. It would be great for shadows, or areas of tarnish or maybe even an old mirror. I can’t wait to try it.

Wisper is my favorite thread for fur. I like to combine it with a strand of crewel wool and I love it nice furry effect which can be controlled by the amount of brushing. But sometimes I had a hard time finding the right color. Fourteen new colors came out of this popular thread. They include a lovely light taupe, called mink (an excellent name), three very light tans, two new grays (one light one very dark), a good rust (think red fox here) and three very dark browns.

Vineyard Silk has added twelve new colors including great dark and light orange, a lovely family of teal and another family of grayed blues. The new colors of Silk & Ivory are all in their wonderful very pale colors. These colors are almost white with just a hint of color, perfect for backgrounds.

Threadworx has added their new colors to their catalog pages. In the Overdyed Merino Wool, there are some multi-colors, but I was particularly struck by the great brown and a very pale gray. There are many colors here that will add some wonderful effects to your needlepoint.

Continue reading here:
Details on New Threads

TNNA Round-up Part 3

in Jewelry,Nuts About Needlepoint

leather clutches to finish yourself with needlepoint

Finishing Items

I am just crazy about this chic self-finishing clutch from Timeless Totes. This is their first self-finished item. It comes in four colors (red, burgundy, blue and black).

Lee’s Needle Arts has added leather Kindle covers to their self-finishing line. There are also new photo boxes and albums. I’m excited about the albums, because, although sometimes you can find albums that have openings deep enough to hold needlepoint, most of the time the albums you find won’t work

Threads

Crescent Colors has added new shades to both their perle cottons and silks. Valdani has added pure silk perle to their line-up of threads. This is great because silk perle is a wonderful thread to use.

Rainbow Gallery has new colors in Very Velvet, Silk Lamé, Fuzzy Stuff, and Wispers, along with new colors in some other threads. They have the handy blue magnets back and will be carrying Ann Strite-Kurz’ new book on pattern.

The Pure Palette has added a new thread to their popular Soy Luster and Baroque Silk. It’s Empress Elite, a blend of Ultra Fine Merino, silk and Cashmere. It comes in 20 yard skeins. I can’t wait to try it.

New Artists & Distributors

Ruth Schmuff has added a new artist, Paper d’Aq to her line. The popular designs from The Studio in Kansas City are now being distributed by Chapel Hill Needlepoint.

Crooked Tree Needlepoint is now has brought the artwork of Donna Race to needlepoint. One of her specialties is Christmas stockings. All about Stitching is now distributing the Lund Belt Collection.

Stitch-its has also added a new artist, Trail Creek Farms. The popular cross stitch designs of Lizzie Kate are now available in needlepoint, from Patti Mann. Designing Women is now represented by Canvas Connection.

Canvas, Kits & Charts

Sundance Designs has new Gypsy Flowers, pieces with Bazrgello centers, designed to show off their new Boho beads. In new canvases, they have a delightful series of ornaments based on Mexican painted tin ornaments.

Barbara Russell, well known for her dog canvases, has added a line of needlepoint jewelry. Alice Peterson & Co has expanded her Stitch & Zip line with new tallis bags. Tallis Bags are popular needlepoint items, and with these new Stitch & Zips, finishing is easy too.

Sew Much Fun has introduced a line of 3-D animals that includes five baby animals. GailVail has many new designs, including a “Date Night” series of wristlet bags for something quick to stitch and easy to finish.

Gone Stitching has introduced a line of Judaic canvases. All the canvases in this line include detailed, easy to use, stitch guides in full color. DeElda has added lots of new beginners kits to her line.

There is so much stuff, I’m doing one more round-up, this one focused on canvases on Friday.

Read the original:
TNNA Round-up Part 3

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

Needlepoint Stitch Guides Now Available

wicked needlepoint stitch guide by Janet Perry

Get the stitch guide for this Raymond Crawford canvas

You are probably a stitcher like while I often like the challenge of picking my own stitiches and threads, sometimes I want the relaxing pastime of stitching from a stitch guide.

melissa shirley needlepoint chocolates stitch guide by Janet Perry

Innovative and easy techniques for these popular canvases

This propelled me into writing my own stitch guides and continues to keep me designing. On the one hand I do custom stitch guides (click here to get started with one) that are comprehensive and affordable. They are customized to you and even to the shop you use. No one offers a better guide at a lower price.

tink boord-dill peach tile needlepoint stitch guide by Janet Perry

learn shading with multiple colors in this stitch guide

I have long been thinking about a way to make the guides I’ve written available to a wider audience. I hear from many of you about your frustration with the lack of guides, your desire to have some help, and your love of the canvases you find.

chinese letters needlepoint stitch guide by Janet Perry

You can use this guide to stitch any canvas in this series and make up to 8 canvases

Today I’m preannouncing my new site, Needlepoint Stitch Guides, where you will be able to buy already created guides, order custom guides, and download free stitch guides. The pictures you see throughout the article are some of the guides available.

needledeeva nativity needlepoint stitch guide by Janet Perry

Make your own needlepoint nativity with this guide

Until the site is up, email me for the list of guides. And as a special bonus to you you can get 20% off already published guides, either as PDFs or in print, and 10% off any custom guide. This offer is good through June 30, 2010, just tell me you saw it here.

Read the original post:
Needlepoint Stitch Guides Now Available

Last Chance! Sign-up to Learn Shading

in Classes,Nuts About Needlepoint

shaded needlepoint kimono cyberclass by janet perry

three types of needlepoint shading are showcased in this kimono

Has shading needlepoint stumped you in the past?
Do you wish you knew a way to shade with non-strandable threads?
Are you looking for an easy way to create dramatic

Your search is over. In this four-lesson cyberclass you’ll not only learn how to shade with any thread, but you will also learn how to develop a good color sequence for shading, when to shade and how to substitute one color for another.

The class is so much more than just the lessons, by stitching this kimono you will become skilled in this technique that can create both dramatic and naturalistic effects on your canvases.

Shading can be done by any stitcher from beginner to experienced. The class, comvined with the lively Yahoo discussion group enhances your experience. The class is only $27.50 and includes both the canvas and lessons.

Class starts May 15, 2010, so don’t delay.

Continue reading here:
Last Chance! Sign-up to Learn Shading

February 2010 New Needlepoint Products

Over the next week or two, I have lots of news to share with you. There will be detailed posts and reviews on some new products, designer interviews and sneak of my new stuff coming out this month. For now, let’s start off with a round-up of some new needlepoint products just announced.

Maybe you love the look of Elizabeth Bradley, but wanted to star with something smaller. There are two new small pieces, available for the first time as a kit. One is a cherub and the other is a Christmas pudding.

River Silks has added a delightful Yellow Floral kit from Shelly Trubbey to their line. A series of single flower designs by Terry Dryden is also available as kits. These include Dahlia. They have also brought out their popular assortment packs in a three color size.

DebBee’s Designs has ventured into jewelry with a set of counted canvas designs for necklaces. Jewelry and hardware are included for one necklace, additional hardware can be ordered. I saw the book at my LNS on Monday and these look great! They also have additions to the Color Delights series ands new hand painted canvases.

Week’s Dye Works has added a crewel wool, #12 perle, and 2-strand floss to their line of threads. Dinky Dyes is coming out with new color of silk later this month. Planet Earth now has vegetable dyed 6 ply silk. If you haven’t used naturally dyed threads before, the colors are much more subtle.

Magnolia Collage is the newest in the Secret Garden Collection by Laura Perin. It’s stitched on sage green mono canvas. Raymond Crawford has an adorable graduation owl with lots of room for creative stitching and personalization.

The Caron Collection has a new instruction pack, Tiny Treasures, colorful geometric designs, many of which will fit in Sudberry’s new small box. Each uses one of their overdyes and a color of Snow. They also have a larger piece, Starry, Starry Night, which is now adapted as a chart pack in three different sizes.

CBK Needlepoint Collections has some great simple canvases from Designs by Karen. They are in a clean style that can be done by any stitcher with plain or fancy stitches.

View original post here:
February 2010 New Needlepoint Products

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.

Originally posted here:
Wendy Costa’s Art Now Available in Needlepoint

New Congress Cloth Colors

There are some new colors out in Congress Cloth.

Powder Spice – a pretty light cinnamon
Country Blue – a nice medium blue, very light-filled and bright, but not too bright
Khaki – an olive green
Vintage – a striking burgundy