Introducing Barcelona

Barcelona, from Leigh Designs

Above you see my latest model for Leigh Designs. This lovely little 6x6 design is the small (or "coaster") version of Barcelona from Leigh Design's ESPANA series.   It premiered at the Columbus trade show over the weekend.  Inspired by sunny Spain, these designs are all lace and stylized flowers with a touch of beautiful pottery thrown in.  You can see the larger versions of ESPANA at Leigh's website.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp624x.html

The 10 inch square and the 6 inch square smaller pieces are  both on 18 count yellow canvas.

Barcelona, Coaster Size

As usual, I've also written a Barcelona stitch guide that you can order directly from me, or that your shop can pick up for you from Leigh Designs when they get the canvas.  The guide will also work for the large version of Barcelona if you increase some of the supplies.  I've listed what you need to buy extras of in the stitch guide if you choose the 10x10 Barcelona.

A Closer View of Barcelona

Here's a closer view of the finished piece.   It took me about a month to stitch, working a little each night.  If it were mine instead of living with Leigh Designs and traveling to meet shops, I would appliqué it to a summer straw purse and take it to the beach, then put it on my closet shelf during the winter months to smile at me and bring sunshine into my heart when it is cold outside.

Robin Goes 3D

Robin King updates us on her latest stitch guide project, one of Melissa Shirley's 3D Christmas boots.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2012/06/3-d-holly-boot-msd-1262-d-stitch-guide.html

Robin shows how she starts a stitch guide with a notebook full of ideas, pulls threads and then works her magic.  It's a fun way to peek behind the curtain of stitch guide writing and see how one master of the process works to give you the best custom stitch guide possible.

Amy Plus Tony Equals Stitch Guide

Amy Bunger isn't just an amazing stitch guide writer--she also is a shop owner.  Her Amy's Golden Strand offers wonderful canvases, charts and threads, plus all the wonderful little extras from magnets to classes that we all enjoy.  Recently Amy brought Tony Minieri to her stop for classes, but its what they got up to when they were on break that will interest stitch guide collectors.  The story is in Amy's June 2012 newsletter.
http://www.amybunger.com/f/AMY_June_12.pdf

Tony Minieri and Lizards

Peggi has been working from a Tony Miniri stitch guide for this Tapestry Fair design called Leapin' Lizards.  The painted canvas can be ordered from Tapestry Fair and the stitch guide from Tony himself through Edwardian Needle (second link).
http://phoenixneedlepointnews.blogspot.com/2012/05/lizard-stitching_25.html

http://www.tapestryfair.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=1

I think Leapin' Lizards is an Anne Jerlow design.  Tapestry Fair owns the right to distribute this piece now.

Sandy Grossman-Morris' Latest Design

The latest canvas with stitch guide from Sandy Grossman-Morris is on her site.  It's a happy ghost and his pumpkin with letters that spell out BOO.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/NeeDLePoiNT---SPRiNG-iNTo-FaLL.html?soid=1108537923942&aid=rVPFo5Cn6Jk

I Did Not Know That... UPDATED

I did not know that DMC has free stitch guides for painted canvases on their website.  What a treat!
http://dmc-threads.com/dmc-stitch-guides/

UPDATE:  Robin King talks about the guides she wrote for the DMC site, with plenty of great photographs.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2012/05/free-stitch-guides.html

Here's a direct link to the page with the PDF files for you to download.  The canvases shown are all from Maggie or Associated Talents as of now, but I'm sure more will be added as they are available.
http://www.dmc-usa.com/Products/Free-Stitch-Guides/Needlepoint-Stitch-Guides

Introducing Kristine

I just met Kristine Kingston of Baltimore Needleworks on Facebook.  Kristine is a finisher, a designer of painted canvases, and also writes custom stitch guides for Needles and Threads of Ruxton.  She can do it all!  If you need a custom stitch guide, you can contact Kristine via Baltimore Needleworks.  By the way, don't miss her new blog!
http://www.baltimoreneedleworks.com./custom-painting--stitch-guides.html