Dec 30, 2019

Tall Grass Prairie (Charley Harper and Tony Minieri)

Diversions Needlepoint shows off a great Charley Harper meadow piece, stitched by one of their customers using a Tony Minieri stitch guide.  Use the side arrows for a closeup.
https://www.facebook.com/allthingsneedlepoint/photos/pcb.2544849495584404/2544849378917749/?type=3&theater

Here's Susan's version, done with Tony's guide, too.

Dec 28, 2019

Autumn Blues (Melissa Prince and Tony Minieri) UPDATED

The Needle Bug shows off Melissa Prince's "Autumn Blues" pumpkin, beautifully stitched using a Tony Minieri stitch guide.  Use the side arrow to see all the photographs of the lovely stitching and finishing.
https://www.facebook.com/theneedlebug/photos/pcb.2654401564620119/2654392057954403/?type=3&theater

UPDATE:  The companion piece to the blue pumpkin is this lantern.  The stitch guide is by Michele Herron.
https://www.facebook.com/341998565857547/photos/a.483193291738073/2710183802372333/?type=3&theater

Dec 26, 2019

Long and Tall Series (Zecca and Ruth Schmuff) Updated Again

Ruth Schmuff of Bedecked and Beadazzled is writing stitch guides for all of Zecca's Long and Tall series of animals.  Ruth has started with Long Fish.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/long-stuff/

Here's the llama.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/tall-llama/

And here is the dog.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/woof/

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2020/02/woof-2/

And the snake!
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/sparkling-snakes/

And of course here is the fox.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/moon-shining/

Plus the cat.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/meow-2/

And a chicken.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/cickens-in-the-coop/

I didn't know there was a dragonfly.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/dragonfly-flight/

Or a giraffe.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/rainbow-giraffe/

My personal favorite is the heron standing on a turtle.  But they are all fun designs and with Ruth's stitch guides, they will be fabulous.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/11/heron-on-turtle/

UPDATE:  There's a fish!
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2020/05/gone-fishin/

UPDATE 1A: Amy Bunger also has a guide for Long Fish.

Dec 25, 2019

Holly St. Nicholas (Fiori, Joan Eidman and Dreamhouse Ventures)

Lynette has finished her Holly St. Nicholas from Joan Eidman of Fiori.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10218130060274422&set=gm.2567552086655267&type=3&theater&ifg=1

The canvas and guide are both available from Dreamhouse Ventures who distribute Joan's designs and guides.  There are also two other spectacular St. Nicholas designs available and I think all three have guides by the designer.
http://www.dreamhouseventures.com/shop/designers-showcase/fiori.htm

Dec 22, 2019

Why Stitch Guides Take So Much Time

Ruth Schmuff's lovely essay explains why stitch guides take so long.  She's pretty organized, too.  Mine take about 40 hours each, spread over 2-4 weeks since I can't work on them except in my free time.  That's why I no longer do custom guides!
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/10/process/

Dec 20, 2019

Texas Santa (And More with Julia Snyder)

Needlework Retailer magazine shows off And More's "Texas Santa," stitched by Mickey Snyder using a stitch guide from his wife Julia Snyder.  The canvas and guide can be ordered by your favorite shop from And More.
https://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2019/11/texas-santa.html

Dec 18, 2019

Guides for A Stitch in Time Canvases

A Stitch in Time has started distributing their own designs—and I just discovered many have stitch guides available!  Some designs have the guides included; some cost extra.  Have fun browsing their lovely florals and fun animal pieces, not to mention the many Christmas items available.  I assume the guides are written by Alison herself and her amazing staff.
http://www.needlepoint-knitting.com/shop/Canvas/A-Stitch-In-Time-Designs.htm

Dec 16, 2019

Desert Garden (Purple Palm and Fireside Stitchery)

Carol's "Desert Garden" is beautiful. This canvas is from Purple Palm and was stitched using a stitch guide created by Fireside Stitchery.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10106725625838830&set=p.10106725625838830&type=3&theater

Contact the shop for their guide.  If you don't already have a favorite shop, Fireside can order the canvas for you as well.
http://firesidestitchery.com

Dec 14, 2019

Peacock Feather Mask Lady (Lee's Needle Arts and Susan Portra)

Carmen's lady wearing a peacock feather mask was stitched using Susan Portra's stitch guide.  The canvas is from Lee, so your favorite shop can order it from Colonial Needle for you.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2606673749371209&set=gm.2562340613843081&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Dec 12, 2019

Big Halloween Tree (Melissa Shirley and Terry Christopher Castillo)

Terry Christopher Castillo just taught this charming "Big Halloween Tree" to her students.  The guide, canvas and/or thread kit are available from her.  The canvas comes from Melissa Shirley Designs.
https://www.facebook.com/2thepointneedlepoint/photos/a.194019823963352/2783277551704220/?type=3&theater

Dec 10, 2019

Dec 8, 2019

Three Kings (Love You More and Susan Newman) UPDATED

Heidi's "Three Kings" are finished.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10217871362194474&set=gm.2529954967081646&type=3&theater

The canvas is from Love You More.  Heidi used a stitch guide from Susan Newman at Twisted Stitches in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Contact the shop for Susan's guide.  They can order the canvas for you as well if you don't have a favorite shop to handle this for you.
https://www.twistedstitchesnp.com

UPDATE:  Rosanne's version of this lovely canvas was based on Sherry Bray's stitch guide.

Sharon Quick also stitched this using Sherry's guide.

Dec 6, 2019

Stitch Guides from The Needle Works

The Needle Works in Austin has a new website now.  The shop has a dedicated section for all the available stitch guides!  Note that some guides come with the canvas included and some don't.

Dec 4, 2019

Frida Peep (Vicki Sawyer and Cynthia Thomas)

Melissa Shirley Needlepoint is showing off her newly framed Frida on Facebook.  This canvas is from Vicki Sawyer and stitched by Cynthia Thomas who has a guide available for it.  Your favorite shop can order the canvas and guide from Melissa.
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaShirley.Needlepoint/photos/a.10150103192084252/10158227309484252/?type=3&theater

Dec 2, 2019

Snowflake Fairy (Raymond Crawford and Diana Bosworth)

The Snowflake Fairy canvas on eBay was beautifully stitched using Diana Bosworth's guide.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Needlepoint-18ct-RAYMOND-CRAWFORD-Snowflake-Fairy-incl-Stitch-Guide-FW33/233358200961?hash=item36553b9081:g:RugAAOSwEDFdlQEl

Your favorite shop can order the canvas from Raymond for you.  Contact Diana at the French Knot to pick up the guide.