Here’s some more lovely new canvas which premiered at TNNA last month.

A new needlepoint company exhibiting at TNNA for the first time was Patt and Lee Designs. There a wonderful cat designs (some realistic an some whimsical), great geishas, and tons more. I am particularly delighted by her “Less than a Full Skein Inspired Designs” and I’m getting ready to start one next week. I can’t wait to hear more from her.

HP Needlepoint has a wonderful page of their lovely canvases. There are some great birds on black with a wonderful folk art feel, more lovely orientals, African animal silhouettes which would be great for beginners, and lots more.

Betsy B Designs has added a wonderful collection of Christmas song canvases. These canvases have a line from a familiar Christmas song with a illustration underneath which reflects the song. Bothe contemporary and traditional carols and songs are in the group. She has also added some enchanting sorority angels to her collection of sorority and fraternity canvases.

A Dragon’s Tale has some cool new roll up Santas. They are 7″ x 7″ and are very traditional.

Kathy Schenkel has six pages of new designs on her site. Highlights include lots of new mini-socks with stuffed animals (I particularly like the decorator elephant on page 2), some St. Patrick’s Day canvases and some new dogs.

Finally, take a look at the ravishing new canvases from Leigh Designs. Leigh makes the most lovely and intricate stuff, often almost too pretty to stitch. You are going to love the Ray’s Moppets Collection, done on the new tweed canvas so you don’t have to stitch the background. I’m also really fond of the Swedish Dynasty ornaments, which are directly below the moppets. Not only is it lovely needlepoint, it’s great eye candy!

Related posts:

1. New Products from TNNA Market
2. TNNA Round-Up, Part 1
3. More New Needlepoint Products in Canvas, Charts & Kits
4. TNNA Round-Up, Part 4
5. All Those Lovely Canvases!

EGA has some of its permanent collection on exhibit at the Louisville Airport. You can see some of their exhibit in this blog post.

Be sure to visit it you are in Louisville.

Related posts:

1. ANG National Exhibit
2. Winter Wreath — See it All!
3. Dyed and Gone to Heaven – Caron Collection Web Site Review
4. Princely Collection Bookmark – 12 Days of Needlepoint Gifts
5. Destination Dallas

Because of many other obligations, I wasn’t able to spend too much time at the ANG Seminar in Reno. But I did take a morning and spend it in the exhibit and I have some notes to share with you.

A trend I am seeing more in needlepoint are the use of solidly stitched beads on canvas. A few years ago beads were mostly used as accents. At ANG I saw several pieces with slid areas of beads. This adds another dimension to needlepoint which is quite welcome. Beaded areas will be the highest texture in your piece unless you have areas of cut stitches, like Turkeywork.

Seed beads, which are best for embroidery, come in an enormous range of colors and textures, from extremely shiny to very matte and dull. You can buy small quantities at needlework shops from Mill Hill. Sundance also distributes larger quantities for embroidery. But the best use of your money if your are planning to bead whole sections of needlepoint is to buy seed beads at bead stores. I buy the beads for my point protectors at Out on a Whim. The shop is amazing and has an entire wall of seed beads. I have to plan my trips there because I go crazy.

Another thing which makes needlepoint with beads easy is the tapestry-point small beading needle from John James. Traditional beading needles are long and have sharp points, which makes them awkward for needlepointers. These needles work like a champ.

Another trend I saw was the use of mixed media in needlepoint. I just love the way needlepoint is expanding its boundaries in so many exciting ways. We have such a rich palette of threads to use, we are expanding needlepoint by using beads, and I saw some exciting pieces which integrated cloth or ribbon in them. One piece I particularly liked was of Poppies by Lynn Payette. As part of this design organza was cut out and applied to the canvas, layers thick in places. Then it was stitched to cover the edges. This created and exciting effect of great depth and varied color.

I came back from seminar enthused to start some new stitching.

Related posts:

1. Beadpoint – Book Review
2. Making Sense of Beads
3. Bead Embroidery – Book Review
4. ANG National Exhibit
5. Learning Needlepoint at a Seminar or Retreat

Pictures were taken an they are now available on-line for us all to enjoy.

Have a lovely summer Sunday!

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1. Sunday Needlepoint Eye Candy
2. Thanksgiving Eye Candy
3. Take a Look at Some Lovely Needlepoint!
4. Virtual Show – Woodlawn in Pictures
5. Thread News — TNNA Preview

koi needlepoint purse from Clara Wells

Robbyn’s Nest Designs has a neat series of ornament-size Mandalas in lot of colors. These geometric pieces would make great needlepoint. The Artist’s Collection has new witches from Mile High Princess and HeartStrings as well as new trees from SHEAR Creations.

Patti Mann has an adorable baby sampler. It takes the iconic “Hello My Name Is . . .” name tag, put it in pink or blue and adds the baby’s information. Too Cute! The Eilizabeth Turner Collection has banners available for any university.

As always, Melissa Shirley Designs has tons of new stuff. Highlights include simply luscious single flowers done as purses or as pillows. There are also a set of the lovely geishas, in a traditional Japanese woodblock style in several versions. Two new sets of pears, this time in gold or pink, and brightly colored candy canes have been added to those popular series. There are also new stitch guides, more of her realistic birds and bugs, and some wonderful butterfly purses. For Halloween there is a candy corn tree skirt, candy canes, and a great series of ribbon candy. There is just too much here to list.

CBK Needlepoint Collection has a series of kid’s designs that a bright, clean, and are so fun you’ll want to stitch them. What’s the Point? in Ohio has some great needlepoint boxes that come with Fimo flowers to attach to the top.

patchwork needlepoint canvas from JP Needlepoint

Custom House now has a chartpack of Karen Hauck’s King of Beasts available. The Caron Collection has a painted canvas version of their lovely charted Starry, Starry Night available, along with several other quilt-inspired pieces.

Frosty needlepoint canvas from Associated Talents

That’s it for this year’s June TNNA. I hope you found lots of new goodies to stitch, I know I did.

Related posts:

1. TNNA Round-Up, Part 1
2. More New Canvases from TNNA
3. TNNA Round-up Part 3
4. TNNA January 2007 Round-up
5. TNNA Round-Up, Part 2

Finishing Items

I am just crazy about this chic self-finishing clutch from Timeless Totes. This is their first self-finished item. It comes in four colors (red, burgundy, blue and black).

Lee’s Needle Arts has added leather Kindle covers to their self-finishing line. There are also new photo boxes and albums. I’m excited about the albums, because, although sometimes you can find albums that have openings deep enough to hold needlepoint, most of the time the albums you find won’t work

Threads

Crescent Colors has added new shades to both their perle cottons and silks. Valdani has added pure silk perle to their line-up of threads. This is great because silk perle is a wonderful thread to use.

Rainbow Gallery has new colors in Very Velvet, Silk Lamé, Fuzzy Stuff, and Wispers, along with new colors in some other threads. They have the handy blue magnets back and will be carrying Ann Strite-Kurz’ new book on pattern.

The Pure Palette has added a new thread to their popular Soy Luster and Baroque Silk. It’s Empress Elite, a blend of Ultra Fine Merino, silk and Cashmere. It comes in 20 yard skeins. I can’t wait to try it.

New Artists & Distributors

Ruth Schmuff has added a new artist, Paper d’Aq to her line. The popular designs from The Studio in Kansas City are now being distributed by Chapel Hill Needlepoint.

Crooked Tree Needlepoint is now has brought the artwork of Donna Race to needlepoint. One of her specialties is Christmas stockings. All about Stitching is now distributing the Lund Belt Collection.

Stitch-its has also added a new artist, Trail Creek Farms. The popular cross stitch designs of Lizzie Kate are now available in needlepoint, from Patti Mann. Designing Women is now represented by Canvas Connection.

Canvas, Kits & Charts

Sundance Designs has new Gypsy Flowers, pieces with Bazrgello centers, designed to show off their new Boho beads. In new canvases, they have a delightful series of ornaments based on Mexican painted tin ornaments.

Barbara Russell, well known for her dog canvases, has added a line of needlepoint jewelry. Alice Peterson & Co has expanded her Stitch & Zip line with new tallis bags. Tallis Bags are popular needlepoint items, and with these new Stitch & Zips, finishing is easy too.

Sew Much Fun has introduced a line of 3-D animals that includes five baby animals. GailVail has many new designs, including a “Date Night” series of wristlet bags for something quick to stitch and easy to finish.

Gone Stitching has introduced a line of Judaic canvases. All the canvases in this line include detailed, easy to use, stitch guides in full color. DeElda has added lots of new beginners kits to her line.

There is so much stuff, I’m doing one more round-up, this one focused on canvases on Friday.

Related posts:

1. New Needlepoint Products (threads, finishing, canvases & more) – July 2008
2. TNNA Round-Up, Part 2
3. TNNA Round-up January 2005
4. TNNA January 2007 Round-up
5. TNNA Round-up January 2006

Amanda Lawford has a bunch of new canvases based on nursery rhymes. There are square canvases as well as nightlights. More grown-up night lights are available as well. I particularly liked another series of three canvases showing cats enjoying a camping trip. My favorite was probably the marshmallow roast, pictured above.

Dizzy Daisy focuses on ornaments. They have three different monogram ornaments, and two initials. These are as great way to make a delightful gift. Winnetaka Stitchery has a sports Christmas stocking, perfect for the player or fan. You could even personalize it by doing the backgrounds in team colors.

Elizabeth Bradley has come out with three single flowers in a modern, almost hyper-realist style. They are striking and a new direction for her. I just love all four. Jane Nichols has a new line of kits and beginners canvases, lots of new belts, and a fun, different birdhouse of the month series. She also has some witty aprons to needlepoint.

Another new artist, Designs by Heidi, has a line of quirky canvases in a soft color palette that is quite unusual. She has lots of designs for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween. If you buy on eBay, you may have seen many of her designs there.

Julie Mar has lots of new designs featuring the peace symbol, in 60′s colors, but lightened for today. Patty Paints is now doing needlepoint adaptations of Sue Spargo Art Quilts. She also has lots of folk art inspired designs.

Kathy Schenkel has come out with a nativity set of ornaments with each figure in a star. They are lovely. I am also crazy about the nativity version of her popular mini-socks with animals, this one with a little donkey. Kirk & Hamilton, a British company, has new double-sided key fobs in three designs. You stitch each side, and fold them over to finish.

The Point of It All has some great holiday votives, you wrap around a clear glass candle holder. There are designs for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Hanukkah, birthdays, and Halloween. A great series from The Princess & Me has five related small designs hanging from a string all one one ornament. There are 12 in all, so you are sure to find one you’ll like. Silver Needle has cardigan and polo shirt ornaments in a variety of colors.

Check back on Wednesday for the final TNNA round-up (and think of me I’m getting a crown replaced and a veneer put on my front teeth.

Related posts:

1. TNNA Round-Up, Part 1
2. TNNA Round-up Part 3
3. TNNA Round-Up, Part 4
4. TNNA Round-up January 2006
5. TNNA Round-up January 2003

Barbara Bergsten’s delightful designs are a real thrill to stitch. She has a ton of new designs including lots of sayings, two delightful curly-toed Christmas socks, and lots of coordinated inserts for wallets, totes, and bags. You can see them all on her site’s What’s New? page.

Kelly Clark has some great new things, including several new topiaries (my favorite is the wisteria),some wonderful baskets and containers (one of them the pot of gold), and an absolutely delightful sarcophagus opened to reveal the mummy. I know that hardly sounds like something delightful, but it is. Check them out on her site.

My friend Patt, of Patt and Lee Designs has many new cats (some with stitch guides available), a cool dog, and, my favorite, an autumn landscape. Alice Peterson is now carrying hand-painted canvases by Gayla Elliott.

Renaissance Designs is showing Madame Fate, a patchwork witch, and accompanying her are several “posters” for types of fortune-telling. There are also several other Halloween designs, including their Halloweenies (which have stitch guides) and lots of cool Christmas pieces. Another series, aimed at beginners is “Kit & Kaboodle.” These small square designs include a fabric-covered frame and finishing instructions.

Leigh’s new designs include the Floozies, which premiered in Dallas. They are “slightly trashy ladies” enjoying adult beverages. Joining them will be Water Babies, a series of cute designs, that is, if I remember correctly, supposed to coordinate with the Sirens. They will also have two new colors of Ashland Sky bags, turquoise and orange.

Melissa Prince Designs is a new designer with a lovely, soft take on traditional designs. Mindy has some great new designs including four whimsicaL cupcakes, a stunning Asian circles piece (I want this one) and lots more whimsical and ethnic pieces.

Sharon G has a new line of scarecrows and several more Ponza, Italy scenes. She is also exploring her triptych idea with a Tuscan scene and a wonderful, colorful set of oriental fish and black cats. She has also re-released the doors series and has several new eye canvases.

Come back tomorrow for more news from the show.

Related posts:

1. TNNA Round-Up, Part 2
2. More New Canvases from TNNA
3. TNNA Round-up Part 3
4. TNNA Round-Up, Part 4
5. New Products from TNNA Market

running bunny bargello needlepoint from Barrani Design Studios

Brenda Kocher has some lovely new charted needlepoint. She also has a new workshop being offered in May, “Celebration! is a striking combination of shades of aqua, citrus, and apricot which capture the lovely colors of the tropics. If the tropics aren’t “your” colors there are four other colorways available, including Autumn, Meadow, Terra Cotta and Williamsburg.” Needle & Frame has some lovely laying tools.

Cooper Oaks is new to this show and has all of their wonderful Lucite line on display. I’ve used theses in the past for finishing and they are wonderful. Great for contemporary homes and designs. DebBee’s Designs has many of her charted needlepoint pieces as well as her new needlepoint necklaces.

Images Stitchery has their lap frames and stands. They also have great new wooden bellpull sets, and some wonderful tools. Monsterbubbles has one of the most inventive ideas in the show, a design to stitch on a window screen!

If you like stitch patterns and charted needlework, you’ll love Needle Delights many wonderful designs. Northern Pine Designs also has lovely charted needlepoint in a distinctive subtle color palette. Olde Colonial Designs has stunning boxes in unusual woods.

Uncommon Scissors replaces the stork on your scissors with many unusual and fun designs.

If you are stitching on silk gauze of doing small items, consider Blackberry Lane Designs small pendants. You can see how they looked finished in several of the kits, but the pendants are also available separately. For dollhouse rugs and other miniatures, look at Scarlet Sails many charted designs.

Many old favorites are there too, including Sanjou (luxury scissors), Camus Int’l (tartanpoint and other British desingers), Dinky Dyes (threads and charts), From Nancy’s Needle (charted needlepoint), Kelmscott Designs (accessories), Nordic Needle (accessories), Puffin & Co (accessories) Sekas & Co (hand-painted canvas), Sudberry House (finishing).

If you do other forms of needlework, especially cross stitch, be sure to look at the other vendors at the show.

Related posts:

1. On-Line Needlework Show Is Open!
2. On-line Needlework Show Now Open!
3. On-line Needlework Show
4. Last Day for Needlework Show!
5. On-line Needlepoint Shop for Hard-to-find Tools & Books Now Open

Entries are being accepted until March 27, and you can download the entry form and all the particulars from our website, www.needleartistsbythesea.org(including directions for visiting). We would love to have more entries. If you live within 120 miles of the peninsula, hop in the car and come on over for the day!

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1. On-line Needlework Show
2. On-line Needlework Show Is Open
3. On-line Needlework Show Now Open!
4. On-Line Needlework Show Is Open!
5. Opening in Four Hours – Needlework Retail Show!