Dear Deer needlepoint

We live in a land of many deer—if you can ignore the way they eat your garden plants, they are cute. So is this canvas by Whimsy & Grace “Dear Deer”. It would be wonderful in Velvet, Silk & Ivory and ribbon thread. The little guy at the end is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Amy Bunger’s Needlepoint Cookbook

Once you become a “serious” stitcher, you start collecting books for reference. When I am too tired to stitch, or stumped by an area on a canvas, I take down a couple of books and dream up new stitch/thread combinations.

Amy Bunger’s “Cookbook for Stitchers”, a 3 volume set, was on my bookshelf before I became a shop owner. Each Volume ends with a comprehensive stitch index. These books are packed with stitches and ideas.

Volume 1 has 8 chapters that cover knots, Scotch stitch, Cross stitch, Straight stitches, Gobelin stitches, tent, woven and chain stitches and their many variations. The variations are numerous—for instance, there are 24 variations on the Scotch stitch. Each stitch is clearly diagrammed and clearly described, including any tricky bits. Amy also suggests uses for many of the stitches.

Volume 2 covers stitches for hair, Halloween and Christmas, as well as darning, eyelet, Byzantine, leaf and composite stitches. As in Volume 1, each stitch is diagrammed and clearly described.

Volume 3 has 2 chapters devoted to the Amy’s favorite stitch guide stitches. She also covers Bargello, blackwork, laid fillings and borders, Stitches to use for a garden scene and a chapter called “Dog’s Breakfast”. Included in that chapter are such stitches as Bishop’s Cross, Lemon Tart, Beads on a String, Nobuko and Hungarian variations.

We have this great reference in stock on our website.

Small needlepoint projects

Our oldest daughter is moving to Philadelphia, so I stitched this little ornament for her. My favorite things—using Waterlilies and a darning stitch for the sky and the water stitch from ANG. I think I finished this in two nights—a nice break from the bigger seemingly endless Christmas stockings.

Penguin Joy from Collection of Designs

Here’s another cute canvas from Collection of Designs. I call it Penguin Joy and would love to see it as a pillow or a sign for the front door. I would stitch it in lots of wonderful glistening threads.

Christmas needlepoint stockings by Collection of Designs

This stocking reminds me of when I was little—turning my Christmas stocking upside down and letting everything fall out. There was always a collection of candy and the ribbon candy was one of my favorites.

We have many more stockings from a Collection of Designs and other artists on our website
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