Napa Needlepoint classes Archive

Let me tell you a secret. I simply love needlepoint. It takes all my will power not to buy every canvas I see even though I can’t finish what’s already in my stash. The reason is simple, I can’t help but start to plan a canvas whenever I see one, writing stitch guides in my mind. I’m lucky because I write stitch guides but for too many of use stitchers we’re tied to guides that are either expensive, inadequate, or not to our tastes. You probably think the alternative is to commission a stitch guide, possibly with a cost running into hundreds of dollars. And if you already own the canvas and maybe even the threads even your options for this are limited. You could summon your bravery and plunge into creating your own guide. But there doesn’t seem to be anywhere to find out how the professionals do it,

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Bold or subtle, colorful or neutral, with this notebook class you’ll be seeing stripes. The upcoming 25 stitches class begins June 1, 2013 and focuses on these surprising useful stitches. In the class you’ll have a chance to try out stripes large and small. Some of these stitches are small enough to add distinction to even the smallest area, while others make great backgrounds for larger pieces. Plus you’ll learn about creating your own striped patterns, how stripes can solve dyelot problems, and tons of tips for using these stitches in your needlepoint. All for only $25 (sign up with button near the end of this post). Because this is a notebook class you can stitch it your way, using your scraps of canvas and leftover threads.ecause this is an email class you can take it on your time, when it works for you and your schedule. You can sign

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Wouldn’t you love to have a couple of easy, unique needlepoint projects in your back pocket that you could make as special gifts? Wouldn’t it make you happy if you could finish them yourself and make each one perfect for the receiver? You can with these two delightful Initial Needlepoint Gifts. In this two-lesson mini-class you’ll learn everything you need to create both the Initial Ornament and the Big Initial Boxtop, including how to finish them. This email class will teach you: how to enlarge a letter for needlepoint how to transfer it to canvas how to create a great design and background how to pick an alphabet suitable for needlepoint how to finish an ornament and boxtop This class is an email class beginning May 5, 2013. Because it arrives in your mail, you can take it at your own pace. Because you pick the threads and colors, it’s

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Do you live in San Francisco’s East or North Bay, Solano County, or Sacramento? Have you been wanting to learn needlepoint but couldn’t find a warm, inviting place to learn without all the stuffiness of the “needlepoint police?” Sandy Grossman-Morris and I have teamed up to create this exclusive needlepoint class for beginners, starting March 2, 2013. The design is the adorable ice cream cone seen here, created exclusively for the class. The class kit is included in the fee and has everything you need to stitch the canvas: computer-printed canvas all threads stretcher bars tacks needle Even if you have never tried needlepoint before you’ll learn everything you need to know, including 2 kinds of Tent Stitches and five decorative stitches. You’ll have a chance to use four kinds of threads and you’ll get samples of many more. The class is three lessons, one month apart. They will be

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Have you been frustrated because you don’t feel confident in picking stitches to go with a thread? Do you wish you had a notebook that you could use that showed you stitch variations, stitches in different threads and stitching effects? Are you always wanting to try new stitches? In this series of four Stitches for Needlepoint classes, you’ll learn all this and more. Each class is three months long and is designed for you to create notebooks of the stitches, threads and techniques you’re learning. That’s it, no projects to finish, no information you don’t need and, best of all, because they are on-line classes you can learn when you have the time at your own pace. Instead of giving you a bunch of stitches designed for specific kinds of items that may not be what you stitch, these classes will teach you stitches. Once you’ve looked at them, it

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If you missed the chance to take my popular Planning the Perfect Needlepoint Canvas class in November when it was offered, you can now take the class as a Needlepoint Independent Study. This class gives you the insights and tools you need to: recognize your stitching level (it’s more than the stitches you know) recognize the complexity of a canvas pick the perfect canvas for you plan threads and stitches to get the results you want Whether this is your first canvas or your 500th, whether it’s a kit from the craft store or a hand-painted canvas, you’ll learn so much in this class that your needlepoint will be energized and improved — all without needing to commit to stitching a class project. Sign up for this Needlepoint Independent Study Course on this page today and improve your stitching

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Today is the last day to order the Stitches Galore bundle. It consists of six ebooks that separately cost about $40. This special package is only $25. The books are: Heart Sampler I The Sapphires (Heart Sampler II) Stitch Annual Celebrate! Sampler Arts & Crafts Trees Sampler Stitch Sampler Mantle Stockings Order today using the button below because the price goes up tomorrow. My exciting needlepoint mini-class on analyzing a canvas will now begin December 1. It’s a step-by-step method for analyzing a canvas, including finding and enhancing a focal point, picking threads and stitches, and finding backgrounds to set off the design. This class is a real bargain at $15. Use the button or link below to sign up. Click on the button below to sign up. You can also use this link

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When stitchers tell you about their difficulties one topic keeps coming up — how can I “see” the end result in the unstitched canvas so that I get what I want. My November 15 mini-class is designed to teach you how to do just this. You’ll learn how to: analyze a canvas find a focal point and pick ways to enhance it pick threads to give life to your canvas pick stitches to give dimension choose a background create a stitching plan This email class is perfect for stitchers at any level. By looking at an actual example you’ll learn the methods you need to plan your future stitching. The class requires no stitching and no additional purchases.It’s done entirely by email, so you can take the class any time. It’s only $15 for the class and accompanying chat room. Click on the button below to sign up. You can

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I am a frustrated artist. Ever since I was little I found it maddening that I couldn’t make the picture in my head appear on the paper. In stitching I also found it frustrating that I couldn’t always replicate the canvas in my head with the canvas in my hand. What I couldn’t do was attain predicatable results with my needlepoint. You probably have had the exact same feeling. To overcome this in the past you woulds have to study many different non-needlepoint books, buy lots of expensive stitch guides, and go to many classes just to start to figure this out. Then, once you learned something, you would then need to figure out how to apply what you’ve learned to needlepoint. Maybe it would work, maybe not. In our new joint effort, Attaining Predictable Results, Doreen from Art Needlepoint and I are creating a series of lessons designed to

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That’s the name of a new series of needlepoint classes I’m doing with Art Needlepoint. These projects are small, so they can be finished quickly. They will feature great stitches and plenty of ideas and techniques you can use in your other needlepoint projects. This first class features this delightful cat by Sophie Harding. In the two-lesson email class you’ll learn stitches to make realistic fur, ideas for selecting and stitching a complex multi-color background, and hw to add delicate but realistic detail. You’ll love the result. As always the class is free with the purchase of the kit. Don’t delay because the class starts September 15. Hop on over to Art Needlepoint to order

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This delightful cats canvas is by Patt Large (of Patt & Lee Designs). It’s from her hand-painted line, Pajamas & Chocolate. It’s the basis for an exciting new stitch sampler class that begins September 26, 2012. In this class you’ll get a chance to sample stitches in six different stitch families. You’ll also have a chance to work with an exciting thread you may not have thought of for needlepoint, Koigu double knitting yarn. This lovely, hand-dyed yarn from Canada comes in both solid and variegated colors and is 100% wool. It’s simply glorious for stitching on13 or 14 mesh canvas. You’ll find it completely addicting. The class is $60 and includes the four lesson class (delivered by email) and the kit, which contains all the Koigu you need for stitching the canvas as well as the canvas. Pus two bonus patterns for using up your leftover thread. All you

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This delightful cats canvas is by Patt Large (of Patt & Lee Designs). It’s from her hand-painted line, Pajamas & Chocolate. It’s the basis for an exciting new stitch sampler class that begins September 26, 2012. In this class you’ll get a chance to sample stitches in six different stitch families. You’ll also have a chance to work with an exciting thread you may not have thought of for needlepoint, Koigu double knitting yarn. This lovely, hand-dyed yarn from Canada comes in both solid and variegated colors and is 100% wool. It’s simply glorious for stitching on13 or 14 mesh canvas. You’ll find it completely addicting. The class is $60 and includes the four lesson class (delivered by email) and the kit, which contains all the Koigu you need for stitching the canvas as well as the canvas. Pus two bonus patterns for using up your leftover thread. All you

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This delightful ornament is based on a vintage wooden ornament. It is one of three in my Vintage Kids Ornament class that is free with the purchase of the kit from Art Needlepoint. The three-lesson class is sent via email and focuses on stitches and techniques for clothing and hair. It begins July 15. On August 1, delight in this luggage tag class featuring different stitches in easy-to-useperle cotton. If you’ve been wanting to expand your knowledge of stitches, this is the class for you. As always the email class is free with the purchase of the kit from Art Needlepoint. Are you a beginning needlepointer? This whimsical cat canvas in a special size marks the Beginning Needlepoint class starting Aug 15. You’ll learn easy stitches and techniques for focal points, accents, and backgrounds, along with special touches to make your stitching sing. As always the email class is free

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Planning stitches, threads and colors for a hand-painted needlepoint canvas can be so rewarding. Then again it can be so frustrating. While already-created stitch guides exist for many canvases, they may not be around for the one you want to stitch. You probably think the alternative is to commission a stitch guide, possibly with a cost running into hundreds of dollars. And if you already own the canvas and maybe even the threads even your options for this are limited. You could summon your bravery and plunge into creating your own guide. But there doesn’t seem to be anyplace to find out how the professionals do it, so you end up frustrated or find yourself putting that canvas back into your stash. But help is on the way! It’s time for my very popular Create your own Stitch Guide cyberclass. While each person stitches a canvas differently, there are guidelines,

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In this painting, the first thing you notice is how beautifully the pots are shaded. Translating it to needlepoint, you scratch your head and wonder if you are constrained only to stitching Tent Stitch. In my upcoming class for Art Needlepoint, the answer is a resounding NO! Using this canvas, Vessels, as the basis you’ll have a chance to learn the basics of shading with needleblending and so much more. You’ll have an opportunity to learn three different ways to shade using textured stitches, shading in techniques like pattern darning and blackwork, as well as a chance to try out different threads in cotton, wool, and silk. The class begins in just one week on April 9, 2012 and is complimentary with the purchase of the class kit. You can buy it here. I’m very excited about this class and how these simple techniques will create big bang effects on

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