Dec 22, 2012

Stitch Guide for Christmas Death Ray Design Available

I had to laugh when Michele from the Bristly Thistle renamed this piece the Death Ray because of the way the elegant Christmas ornaments look from certain angles.  It is actually a beautiful Christmas design from Alice Peterson.  The kit including threads and stitch guide is available from Bristly Thistle in case you need a Christmas pillow with a hidden SciFi message in your holiday life.
http://bristlythistle.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/christmas-pillow-from-alice-peterson-now-available/

Dec 18, 2012

The History of the Caswell Stitch

Robin King just checked in at the Needlepoint Study Hall blog, reporting on progress on several custom stitch guides she just finished.  Note that any guide Robin has written is for sale and she promises to organize them better so you know just what is available in 2013.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2012/12/caswell-stitch.html

She also shows off a diagram for the Caswell Stitch plus some history of who created and named it and for what.  Very interesting!

Dec 12, 2012

Eye Candy Stitch Guides Summary

Ada Hayden just posted a listing of her designs that are kitted out with a stitch guide and threads, or that were featured in Needlepoint Now magazine.  If you love cheerful, colorful pattern, you'll want to take notes on just where to find your favorites.
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2012/12/still-more-kits.html

Dec 9, 2012

Halloween Collage Guide UPDATED

Julia Snyder has done a stitch guide for the Eye Candy Halloween collage.  All those threads look so tempting and you know Julia is a genius....
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/12/halloween-night-collage.html

Ruth Schmuff distributes Eye Candy canvases so you can call her shop Bedecked and Beadazzled to order the guide or kit.  Happy Halloween!

UPDATE:  Ruth has also done a stitch guide for the Eye Candy Halloween Garden collage.  It's the same except different.  LOL
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/03/witchs-garden-halloween-collage.html

Dec 6, 2012

Absolutely Needlepoint Exclusive Stitch Guides

Absolutely Needlepoint, located in Miami, has a page on their newly redesigned website that lists all the stitch guides Holly Crook has written for their customers.
http://absolutelyneedlepoint.com/absolutely-ours/

Some of the canvases are exclusive to their shop, as well.  Sadly there are no photographs.  I did find some links, though.  Here is the Mad Hatters Class from Leigh Designs.
http://absolutelyneedlepoint.com/mad-hatters/

This is the Spooky Ghost.  I wish I had more eye candy for you, but as the website redesign continues, perhaps the shop will post them for you.
http://absolutelyneedlepoint.com/stitches-just-flew-in-from-the-finishers/


Dec 4, 2012

Santa and His Sleigh (Sandy Arthur)

Sandy Arthur, whom you know as the author of the Shapes of Needlepoint series of books, also teaches and does stitch guides occasionally.  She has just added two new designs--"Delivering Dreams Santa" and the companion piece called "Sleigh Full of Dreams"-- to her website.  You can see them on the home page right now, but they also live in her Online Shop in case you don't find this article right away.  The designs are line drawn and come with Sandy's guide to recreating the finished pieces.  Apply threads and you will be ready for next Christmas!
http://duodesignsinc.com/wpsite/

Dec 1, 2012

Charley Harper Stitch Guides From Bedecked and Beadazzled

Bedecked and Beadazzled has a new stitch guide, this time for Charley Harper's A Good World canvas, which shows a turtle, cardinal, butterfly and chipmunk, all coexisting happily among a ripening blackberry branch.  Sadly, there isn't a finished photo but you can see all the supplies laid out and enjoy this piece as another of Ruth's mysteries.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/11/a-good-world.html

UPDATE:  With Julia Snyder writing the guide, Ruth Schmuff also offers a kit for Charley's "Biodiversity in the Burgs."  This huge piece is chockfull of the critters who lurk unseen in our yards.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/12/biodiversity-in-burbs.html