Wiseman Gasper (Labors of Love and Sharon Quick)

Sharon Quick has posted three photographs of one of the Wise Men from Labors of Love on Facebook.  Use the side arrows to see the three photos.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1171164976281453&set=pcb.1047433332000491&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1220082994722984&set=gm.1089663637777460&type=3&theater

The stitch guide is available from Sharon if you are interested.

Fitting Hat (Mary Engelbreit and Patricia Sone)

Beth posted a photograph of her Mary Engelbreit "Fitting Hat", stitched using Patricia Sone's guide.  The canvas is available from Painted Pony Designs.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207895584960384&set=gm.1047335172010307&type=3&theater

Church on the Hill (Maggie and Tony Minieri)

Cathy just posted her finished "Church on the Hill" from Maggie, stitched using a Tony Minieri stitch guide. Contact Tony for the guide and ask your favorite shop to contact Maggie for the canvas.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209742080287381&set=gm.1046843555392802&type=3&theater

Stitch Guides Available Only from 3 Kittens

3 Kittens Needle Arts in Minnesota has updated their website to show off all the stitch guides available only from their shop.  Besides their Minnesota State series of ornaments from Melissa Prince, they have canvases from Purple Palm, dede Odgen, Associated Talents and Raymond Crawford.
http://www.3kittensneedlearts.com/shop/Needlepoint/Stitch-Guides--3-Kittens-Exclusives.htm

Halloween Pumpkins (Burnett and Bradley)

A Collection of Designs (now Burnett and Bradley) has a wonderful Halloween pumpkins piece that comes with a stitch guide from the incredible team of Joan Lohr and Ruth Dilts.  Many thanks to Stitch Point for posting the photo of the canvas and guide cover.
.https://www.facebook.com/490945687712529/photos/a.596935470446883.1073741829.490945687712529/663433093797120/?type=3&theater

Kimberly Stitch Guides: A Review

"My Castle, My Dragon"

I've long admired Kimberly Smith's wonderful charts, so when she started creating painted canvases for Ruth Schmuff, I was thrilled!  Then when Kimberly started creating stitch guides for some of her creations, it was the icing on the cake.  (And I LOVE cake)

If you aren't familiar with Kimberly's work, check out her painted canvases here.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/Products/?category=260

Some of her charts are still available here, but keep an eye out on eBay for others.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/Products/?category=13

Now that I've whetted your appetite, Kimberly kindly sent me the PDF version of the stitch guide for her "My Castle, My Dragon" for review.  This is going to be a class taught by Kimberly herself at The Black Sheep in Orlando, Florida in June, by the way.
http://www.theblacksheepshop.com/module/class.htm?classId=135845

Since some of Kimberly's designs include a stitch guide (to date Emma's Pillow, Flying Jewels, A Portion of My Garden, Dream Fragment, Austintatious Peacock, and her Bisconu series all have guides included in the purchase price) I thought you'd like to know what her guide for a fairly large and complex piece is like.  (If one of Kimberly's canvases with a stitch guide catches your eye, check out her blog to see the finished model.)
http://akimberlydesign.blogspot.com

The painted canvas of Dragon itself is a foot long and seven inches high on eighteen count canvas.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/Dragon/

The Dragon stitch guide is twelve pages long plus the cover page with a good photo of the finished piece, a materials list, and a "treasure map" which shows the whole canvas with various sections numbered so you know that Area A is the dragon's snout and Area 17 is the middle tower of the castle.

As you can see from the photo above, this is a pretty elaborate piece.  The stitch diagrams show you exactly how to attach the crystal sequins for the castle's garden, how to work each unusual stitch (there are 44 diagrams included and 22 closeup photos not including the map and cover page photo), and tells you the best order to work the various sections.  This is not a beginner's canvas but a really determined beginner could probably work the design with help and determination. The instructions are that good!

The guide itself has the materials list on the second page.  Shops like to have the materials list at the end so they can put guides in plastic bags and the list can face out on the back for shoppers to refer to without getting the pages dirty taking them out of the bag. That isn't the case here.  (NOTE:  Kimberly says the materials list is on the back side facing out in the real life version.  The PDF file has moved it around!)  The only other minor quibble I have with the materials list is that the thread company name isn't set off in any way from the list of thread colors so I found it hard to know if "Kreinik" belonged to the thread numbers above or below it.  Enlarging the PDF file really helped here.

Being able to enlarge the PDF file helped me with the diagrams, too.  They are in various colors, so if you are color blind, you might have trouble with some of the diagrams.  The more elaborate stitches are numbered but the diagrams for common stitches are not.   In some cases a closeup photo has lines drawn on it to help you stitch that area, which is a very nice touch!  The guide itself really reflects Kimberly's personality (she tells you that the dragon is called Hurrumph, for example) without being too chatty.    The instructions are minimal but there are a lot of photos to help, so that although the guide, for example, doesn't tell you which shade of yellow to use for what step for the sun, the photo makes it perfectly clear which goes where.  All in all, this is a great guide for a great design.  It has everything you need clearly explained so you can stitch a fairly complex piece along with Kimberly.

New Stitch Guides from Bedecked and Beadazzled

Ruth Schmuff just did stitch guides for an embellishment class at Bedecked and Beadazzled.  You can see the various canvases underway on her blog.  The canvases are from Sharon Hendy-Moman,  Ruth herself, Laurel Birch/Danji, Julie Mar, Melissa Shirley, Lulu My Pink Turtle, Corina  Luyken, and Share One's Ideas.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/04/another-wonderful-weekend-of-stitchy-fun.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/04/more-stitchy-fun-and-new-guides.html

Contact Ruth at the shop for help choosing which canvas, guide and/or threads you need.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com

Mia Makes a Grand Entrance

Mia, My Miami Gold Digger

Guess who has been announced in the May 2016 Leigh Designs newsletter?
http://www.leighdesigns.com/News/

Yes, that's the Miami Gold Digger, complete with stitch guide, fabulous purse and heels, a darling little dog and a yen for adding ca$h to her life.  You can pick up a copy of the guide from me or your local shop can order the canvas and guide directly from Leigh Designs.  But be warned--gold diggers are very demanding!

LOL

Barbara's Bunny (Barbara Elmore and Sundance Designs)

Barbara Elmore has finished stitching her rabbit canvas (distributed by Sundance Designs) and has the stitch guide is done, too.  Your local shop can pick up the canvas and guide from Sundance.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1250674528277403&set=gm.1043374542406370&type=3&theater

Berry Festival (Vicki Sawyer and Carolyn Hedge Baird)

Carolyn Hedge Baird has finished the stitch guide for her model of Vicki Sawyer's "Berry Festival."  
https://www.facebook.com/nestndlpt/photos/a.141837499194211.26316.141607859217175/1154661031245181/?type=3&theater

The canvas is available from Melissa Shirley Designs.  Your local shop can order it and the guide straight from Melissa's studio, or you can get the guide from Carolyn if you have the canvas stashed away already.

Needlepoint Flx Has Stitch Guides

BeStitched has added PDF file downloadable stitch guides to their Needlepoint Flx Marketplace.  Right now guides are available for canvases from dede Odgen, Ewe and Eye, Kelly Clark, Maggie, Melissa Shirley, Tapestry Fair and Zecca.  The guides are from Lisa Kessler, Paulette Paquette, and Peggi Hageman with charting diagram assistance from many skilled people.   Keep an eye out for updates!
http://www.needlepointfix.com/marketplace/

Floral Menorah (Melissa Shirley and Tony Minieri) UPDATED

Marilyn just finished her Melissa Shirley "Floral Menorah" using Tony Minieri's stitch guide.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1154144394605387&set=gm.1042698209140670&type=3&theater

Your favorite shop can order the canvas from Melissa and you can pick up the guide for this elegant piece from Tony.

UPDATE:  More photos of Norma's version, also stitched using Tony's guide.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/1743268655750285/

Blowing in the Wind (Sharon Hendy-Moman and Ruth Schmuff)

Ruth Schmuff is developing a stitch guide for this wonderful Sharon Hendy-Moman canvas of an Asian woman attempting to walk in high winds.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/04/the-wind-whipped-my-canopy.html

"The Wind Whipped My Kimono" canvas and guide will be available via Ruth's shop once the embellishment class is finished.  The canvas comes with the guide and Ruth will happily kit it out for you if you like.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/The-Wind-Whipped-My-Canopy/

I See Sheep (Annie Lane and Janet Perry)

Janet Perry is doing a series of stitch guides for Wellesley Needlepoint, the shop that distributes Annie Lane Designs.  Here is I See Sheep.
http://nuts-about-needlepoint.com/i-see-sheep/

You or your favorite shop can contact Wellesley Needlepoint for the guide.
http://www.wellesleyneedlepoint.com

Autumn Trees (Melissa Shirley and Robin King)

Lizette just posted a photo of her finished "Autumn Trees" on Facebook. This is a Melissa Shirley design, stitched using a stitch guide by Robin King.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204493476851793&set=gm.1037744419636049&type=3&theater

Winter White--With Cardinals (Melissa Shirley, Vicki Sawyer and Patricia Sone)

Patricia Sone has just announced two new stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs canvases--Melissa's "Winter White Santa" and Vicki Sawyer's "Cardinal Dome."
http://patriciasone.blogspot.com/2016/05/thrilled.html

Both can be ordered by your favorite shop from Melissa Shirley Designs along with the guide.

Queen Bee (Ewe and Eye and Terry Christopher Castillo)

Terry Castillo just posted a photograph of a brand new Ewe and Eye and Friends design called "Queen Bee."  Terry has done a stitch guide for it if you are interested.
https://www.facebook.com/2thepointneedlepoint/photos/a.384105908288075.92071.157438187621516/1145660315465960/?type=3&theater

You can message Terry about this at her Facebook page, 2 The Point Needlepoint Studio.  I am not certain if the design is officially available from Ewe and Eye yet but Terry can help you.
https://www.facebook.com/2thepointneedlepoint/timeline

Tibetan Boy (HP Designs, Amanda Lawford and Tony Minieri) UPDATED

Tony Minieri just posted a finished piece of the Tibetan Boy, originally from HP Designs, on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/tonyminieridesigns/photos/a.529503013816524.1073741825.283633695070125/793290894104400/?type=3&theater

UPDATE:  Here's another.
https://www.facebook.com/tonyminieridesigns/photos/a.558479000918925.1073741829.283633695070125/815117891921700/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/3712996685444129/

This design is now owned by Amanda Lawford, so your favorite shop can order the canvas from her and the stitch guide from Tony himself.
http://www.amandalawford.com

UPDATE #2:  With Amanda Lawford's retirement, Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery now owns her line, including this HP Design piece which is now also available in a smaller size.  Aggie Aspinwall did the guide for the smaller version.
http://astheneedleturns.com/new-stitch-guides-2/

The Audrey Dress (Lani and Chris Tirey)

Pamela just posted a photo of her finished Lani dress, stitched using Chris Tirey's guide.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1188925717785663&set=gm.1036420136435144&type=3&theater

You can pick up Chris' guide by contacting Nimblefingers in Houston, TX.
http://www.nimblefingerstx.com/NimblefingersTx.com/Welcome.html

Chris also has a Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/chris.tirey.3

Lani Does French Knots

Lani has just finished stitching one of her new chair designs released in January 2016.  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207425614930826&set=gm.1035834623160362&type=3&theater

She may never do a French knot again but it sure looks great!  You can order the canvas from Lani's shop or your favorite shop can order it for you.  I think the guide will be available shortly from Lani.
http://www.lanisneedlepoint.com

My Castle, My Dragon (Kimberly) UPDATED

Kimberly's dragon and castle piece is finished and now Kimberly herself is writing up the stitch guide.  This apparently is giving her "square eyeballs."  I know the feeling!
http://akimberlydesign.blogspot.com/2016/04/square-eyeballs.html

UPDATE:  This will be a class at The Black Sheep in Orlando the end of June 2016.
http://akimberlydesign.blogspot.com/2016/05/from-small-beginnings.html

http://www.theblacksheepshop.com

The canvas is available from Bedecked and Beadazzled along with the guide and supplies kit.

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/08/a-big-wonderful-dragon-oh-my.html