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Needlepoint Ebooks Premiere!

Janet Perry — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:32:29 +0000

Originally posted 2009-07-03 06:09:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

That’s on the cover of Celebrate! The ebook version of the Come Stitch with Me needlepoint sampler from 2008. It has been expanded with additional ideas for using the stitches and information on how to develop a color scheme

This cover is from 50 Patchwork Blocks Charted for Needlepoint or Cross Stitch, my other new ebook. You’ll be amazed and delighted by the originality shown by the stitchers in interpreting these classic quilt designs. More books in this series are on the way.

You can purchase these book now using the PayPal shopping cart on this page. I’m so excited about them both because they represent an affordable way to buy needlepoint projects as well as great ways to use material you already have on hand.

A PayPal shopping cart makes it all easy to purchase.

And don’t forget the custom stitch guide service and the new quick stitch help service for when you want help with just an area.

Woodlawn Exhibit Happening in Mid-May

Janet Perry — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:11:17 +0000

The Woodlwan Exhibit of Needlework is very popular for stitchers, who exhibit, and visitors, who love to look.

Because the plantation is undergoing extensive renovation, the exhibit has been postponed. It will start on May 12. YOu can get details about the dates in this blog post.

A check of Woodlawn’s site before I left didn’t reveal the exhibit forms, but they should be available soon. Check out their site to find them.

Given that the weather in DC in March can be unreliable at best (some of their worst blizzards happen in March), having the show in May and early June hits one of the loveliest times of year there.

The past several years I have been in the area at this time, but this year I was planning to go later in the summer.

But now I want to change those plans.

ANG SOTM Update

Janet Perry — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:14:35 +0000

The picture here is of my first patch in the 2012 Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from ANG. I am using all stash threads in my favorite color, Teal. Throughout the year I’ll be sharing my progress with you.

I’m committed to being thrifty in my needlepoint purchases, so I try to use what I have on hand. I love this because it means I need to exercise my creativity and make something my own. I always find inspiration in how using scarce resources can make something beautiful by thinking of my beloved Amish and scrap bag quilts. In these quilts using what is on hand makes quilts of great beauty.

While I don’t aspire to those heights, I do want my needlepoint to be beautiful as well as thrifty.

Starting from the teal threads I pulled from my stash I did some other things to make changes.

Since I didn’t have any opal canvas, I made a unique canvas of my own. Using a natural sponge and Martha Stewart Pearl Craft Paint in Jet Stream, I sponge painted the entire piece of canvas. This will create a textured light teal background that is, easy to do and very interesting.

A teal heart will look odd, so I turned it into a rectangle. But I kept the small heart on the inside and I may even make it the focal point by stitching it in another color. The new shape meant I had to extend lines. It also meant that the shapes near the bottom of the heart were too large, so I added some additional lines. Those spaces will most likely have SOTM‘s from previous years in them.

The first area is stitched. I used Dragonfly Lotus Panda Threads, a hand-dyed and hand-spun silk/wool blend. It isn’t super shiny like Panache, but I love it’s subtle look. The color is Teal Shadow.

Watch for more next month. If you are stitching this project, check out the ANG Yahoo group, they are assembling information about the different thread and color combinations.

Stitch your Stash Winners

Janet Perry — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:22:54 +0000

The winners of the recent Stitch your Stash Challenge are: 1st place — Judy Furie 2nd place — Debbie Thomas 3rd place — Jenni 4th place — K Blodgett 5th place — Lee Seroka Congratulations to the winners and everyone else who participated. Everyone who refgistered for the challenge is getting a prize. Related posts: ANG Seminar Winners & Design Needlepoint Challenge – Use your Stash What Do You Want in Needlepoint? Stash-busting Contest Update Stash Busting Project – Stitch your Stash around the World Related posts:

Sweet from Orna Willis – Product Review

Janet Perry — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:36:51 +0000

The second in Orna’s delightful series of Gatherings (group kits for needlepoint parties) is Sweet, a kit that allows six people to create delightful needlepoint stitch books.

I can’t think of a better way to introduce a small group of girls to needlepoint than with this colorful project. It’s easy, fairly quick to stitch, and easily made into a custom book for each participant.

The kit has two instruction pamphlets, one covering the stitch samples, the other the book assembly, six pieces of canvas, four skeins of multi-colored perle cotton, a needle, stretcher bars, and even scissors to cut the thread. In addition to this stitchy goodness are all the materials you need to create an accordion book of the samples and charts.

Everything comes packed beautifully in one box.

It only took me about an hour to stitch the samples and another hour to make the book.

I only have a couple of complaints. The first is that the regular size stretcher bars seemed cumbersome for such small pieces of canvas, I’d switch to minis myself. The second is that I would spend a little more time on prepping the canvas in the first pamphlet. But if the group leader knows even a little bit about needlepoint; this is easy to add.

The resulting book is a charming little piece. And it can open a wonderful world of needlepoint to ant teen or tween.

2012 SOTM Colors – Reveal your Teal

Janet Perry — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:48:59 +0000

Teal is, in clothing, a universally flattering color. In my family where we got from golden to ashy to ruddy to olive, it’s the only color we can all wear successfully.

It is also just about my favorite color and currently I am on a serious teal buying spree, getting a leather tote, tops, dresses, and just about anything else I can get me hands on.

But all this is besides the point. I’m going to make the ANG 2012 Stitch of the Month (anyone can follow and it’s free, check it out). The piece will be done in shades of one color in a variety of threads.

I want to use different color and I want to use all stash threads. I also didn’t want to use a color that is strongly associated with a cause, since I don’t know what the result will be (it’s a mystery project).

So I picked teal because I love it.

These are just the first threads I’ve pulled for the project. They include some metallic, Grandeur and Pebbly Perle, Waterlilies, a vareigated knitting yarn, Vineyard Merino, Silk & Ivory, Dragonfly Lotus Threads, and Planet Earth wool. I haven’t gone through all the drawers yet, so I know I will be adding more threads.

It’s way overkill but this gives me plenty for picking and choosing. I’m thinking I’m going to buy some teal paint and sponge paint white canvas for the background. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

BTW, teal also happens to be the color of our local hockey team, the Sharks, who used Reveal your Teal as a slogan one season.

Are Bookmarks Irrelevant? Thoughts from Jen at Funk & Weber

Janet Perry — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:40:53 +0000

Design from Funk & Weber

My friend Jen of Funk & weber is simply amazing at making bookmarks. She has a strong passion for the cause of literacy (she developed the Stitching for Literacy program) and has also pioneered education about stitching bookmarks.

While her class is great (I’ve taken it) and she now has an ebook out putting together all her bookmark information, the rise of ebooks has caused her to wonder if bookmarks are irrelevant.

Her ansewer is “NO!” and it’s really worthwhile to read her thoughts.

It’s so good because it addresses not only why we stitch but also ways bookmarks can be used today and on into the digital age.

And while I love both my Kindles and love reading and writing ebooks, the hold list on my account at the library has close to 30 books on it, all needing bookmarks while I read them.

Stitch your Stash Contest

Janet Perry — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:04:29 +0000

Just a reminder the Stitch your Stash Contest end December 21 at midnight, Pacific Time. If you have already registered, remember to send me scans of your finished items so you get credit for them. You can also register additional pieces. If you have not yet registered but would like to participate, you get points for registering, plus points for each project you register and additional points for finishing, if it’s a UFO, or for using all stash threads. BOnus points if it’s a project from one of my Art Needlepoint classes. Everyone who participates gets prize with special prizes for the top three point-getters. There’s still time to finish your projects! Related posts: Thread Stash Credits — A Great Idea Stash-busting Contest Update Come Stitch with Me – The Year of the Stash Stash Busting Project – Stitch your Stash around the World Needlepoint Resolutions as a Way to Conquer your Stash Related posts:

Four Needlepoint Gift Tags – Free Pattern

Janet Perry — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:51:07 +0000

Get these free gift tag patterns at My 365 magazine's site.

These four almost Twinchie (34 stitches square) quilt blocks are really quick to stitch and can be finished quickly to make simple ornaments or gift tags.

They are stitched in colors to compliment the overdyed canvas colors, but any scrap of mono canvas will do.

I just love the bright bold look.

The patterns for the quartet are free and can be found in My 365‘s holiday issue, out today. The beautiful magazine is on-line and free.

As a part of the issue, I’m participating in a giveaway of my books. Visit the site to learn how to enter.

BTW to turn any of these into a true Twinchie, just add a one row “binding” in Continental as a border.

UPDATE: I was told the issue was posting today (it isn’t up as of about 9:30 Pacific), but I would check back daily until it’s up. As of late Friday evening (12/2), the holiday issue is up.

Needlepoint Quilt Block Gift Tags – New Free Pattern