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Originally posted 2008-02-06 08:01:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Needledeeva Nativity Shepherd with Geese

I promised you yesterday that I’d show you the finished Needledeeva Nativity (they are about halfway down the page) figure. Here she is, the first of three shepherds. This one has geese, the one I’m working on now has a rooster, and the third has a lamb. They are some of the figures which complete this charming Nativity.

I’ve done the stitch guide for them all and now I’m stitching the last figures to complete the set. As I’ve said in the past, I love Nativities and I’m so glad to add this one to my collection. I had it up with my Christmas decorations and folks just loved it.

At TNNA we showed the first set of figures in a wooden creche, it was just too cute. We’ll be showing it that way at Dallas as well, so I’ll try to take a picture.

One thing which I have tried to do in the set is make a distinction between the three kings and their animals and the more humble Holy Family and shepherds. The main way I have done this is through my choice of threads. For the most part, the humble folk use cotton threads and simple stitches. The kings and their animals use silks, metallics, real tassels and more complex stitches. It is a subtle difference but, because threads like Vineyards Silk Shimmer are both luxurious and sparkly, it really shows in the finished pieces.

The stitch guide is unusual for a set in that it is completely integrated. The backgrounds and borders are coordinated, similar threads are used throughout, but there are lots of great stitching effects as well. These ideas, because they give life to these small figures (under 2.5″) are things you will be able to use in lots of different canvases.

The guide is available now from Needledeeva. If you are a shopowner coming to the Dallas Market (in early April) stop by and see the finished figures and the ones I’m working on.

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Needledeeva Nativity Shepherd – sneak peek

Celebrating Babies with Needlepoint

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About 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

Thread Alert – New Colors & Threads from Crescent Colors

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

I just got word that Crescent Colours is adding new colors and a new thread to their hand-dyed line.

Coming out later this month there will be new colors in cotton floss, silk and #5 perle. They will also be bringing out a line of #8 perle with 30 colors.

Crescent also publishes cross stitch charts and there will be some new series in these.

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Thread Alert – New Colors & Threads from Crescent Colors

AMH Designs iPod/phone Cases

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint,accessories

Originally posted 2008-11-07 07:12:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

AMH Designs has made a huge impact both in and outside the needlepoint world.

Amy’s modern designs and inventive uses of needlepoint have been talked about everywhere. I just love her clean, modern style and the way she is making needlepoint easy for people who have thought they couldn’t needlepoint.

She wrote to me recently about a new product — needlepoint iPod/phone cases. She said: “[They] are stitched on plastic canvas- which gives them a
nice rigidity. And I use Paternayan wool thread (no acrylic junk) so they
look really nice when they are all stitched up. People love them although
many don’t want to take the time to make one themselves (at least that is
what I am finding in New York where people seem not to have a lot of free
time. Maybe with the economy going sour, they might be spending more time at
home and doing more crafting!)”

I’m so excited about this. Because they are made from PC, you’ll be able to finish them yourself. And because they will be clean and modern and made from good thread, they will be a lovely gift.

I’d say go check it out.

As a side note, another neat thing about her is that you can find her products in places where you just wouldn’t expect to find needlepoint. For example, her needlepoint notebooks, which have a grid punched into the cover to hold a small needlepoint design is now available in some Urban Outfitters stores.

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AMH Designs iPod/phone Cases