Originally posted 2003-09-05 17:52:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
This special issue of Nuts about Needlepoint is devoted entirely to a report on the Phoenix Needlework Market which happened Sunday and Monday. Many of the products described here were available to be purchased at the Market, so many will be in your shops shortly.
There were some exciting new thread vendors, lots of interesting painted canvas, and a ton of intriguing finishing ideas.
PAINTED & CHARTED CANVAS
One of the most unusual lines I saw were the Japanese Jewels line from Gale Martin Carson. These teaching pieces incorporate pieces of vintage Japanese kimonos or obis into the design. They come out of Gale’s love of Japanese textiles and are really lovely.
Elements (distributed by LC Kramer) has stunning designs of flowers and butterflies as well as Art Nouveau patterns. The canvases are stitch painted perfectly. When I saw them, I just wanted to sit there and stitch them right then.
Jean Smith had some wonderful canvases with citrus fruits, kiwis and dahlias. The colors burt out of the canvas. She has also taken several of her popular designs and rendered them in a smaller coaster size. These would make perfect “on the go” projects.
There were some rugs which were really special at the show. Sharon G has one with many of her popular perfume bottle designs scattered all over it. JP Needlepoint had a design which has large Chinese vases going around the sides. My favorite was a sandals rug from jean Nichols where many different sandals were lined up around the rug. What a cool idea for a beach house!
HP Designs had even more of their lovely detailed designs. My favorite was their coleus which had wonderful detail and color. It is designed to go in the stationery box.
Simply Jo has a line of contemporary canvases which are just delightful. I can easily see using her sunflower canvas as the basis of a stitch sampler.
Creative Reflections specializes in charts for Bargello and Hardanger. The Bargello pieces show a fresh approach to four-way and free form Bargello. There is a “no cut” Hardanger piece, (Hearts Delight) which is absolutely delightful.
Dreams of Stitches has a delightful series of five different kits using 24 mesh silk gauze, The kits come with the gauze mounted and matted. If silk gauze is something you’ve wanted to try, but have problems seeing — these kits are perfect.
Textured Treasures has a line of beautiful and innovative geometric designs. Although written for fabric, they can be easily converted to needlepoint. The quality of their charts is outstanding, some of the best I’ve seen, every stitch is diagrammed and the material list includes the number of 18″ lengths required.
THREAD NEWS
Some new threads from old friends as well as some entirely new companies were at the Market. JL Walsh Silks has come out with some wonderful Mohair yarns in a straight and a curly style. It comes in a handful of colors and is great for hair.
The Thread Gatherer has a new line of silk ribbon, Savoir Faire. It is a sturdier ribbon than used for embroidery and is great for tassels and closures. It is 4mm wide and comes in 18 colors, with more to be added.
Silk and Ivory is expanding the color selection of their new thread Trio. There are three new colors now and four to be added in October. This thread expands the possibilities for these lovely threads.
House of Embroidery has a line of #8 pearl cottons and embroidery floss packaged in groups of three related colors. Sometimes all three are variations of the same color, (such as pinks, greens or blues), sometimes they are three different colors which work together. The skeins are 9 meters and the thread is hand-dyed in South Africa, African Folklore Embroidery distributes it.
River Silks was a new exhibitor at the Market and makes lovely silk ribbons. 4mm and 7 mm ribbons come packaged on cards in 154 colors, both solid and overdyed. The overdyed threads had a speckled look (almost like a bird’s egg). Stitches samples of this thread were really interesting. The ribbons are stronger than other silks and don’t ravel or show needle marks.
Pattern Maniac is a new maker of threads, distributed by LC Kramer. I was very impressed with their wide selection of unusual threads and will be devoting a long article to them soon. But some of the highlights of their line include: Feather Soft Plus (which feels like a feather and can go through the canvas), Early Days (an acrylic which can be washed), Petites (a long-wearing wool blend), and lots more.
FINISHING
Stitch n’ Tuck pillows have long been popular with cross stitchers, but they have been a problem for needlepointers because there is not enough of a margin to hold needlepoint securely. Rosalie Peters has Stitch n’ Tuck pillow made for needlepoint. They come in standard sizes and colors, but they will also create custom work.
&more has a great line of boxes with openings 1.3″ square, 4″x6″ to 5″ square. There are also two sizes of round boxes, 2″ and 4″ as well as a triplet box which has three of the smallest size squares. They boxes come in a great range of colors including orange, red, graphite, black, blueberry, purple and blue.
Kathy Schenkel introduced a tree made from dowels in three color schemes, Easter, Christmas and Halloween. These trees would make a wonderful place to show off a collection if small needlepoint ornaments.
Romancing the Past has a second size of their wonderful Treasure Boxes. It is larger and has a 3 1/2″ opening. They have just come out with a whitewash color and have more in the works.
They also have just introduced a hard cell phone case which had an opening for needlework. The opening is 1″ x 3″ and has an acrylic cover over it. This is a totally amazing way to finish needlework. In just an hour or two a com,plete gift can be made.
GREAT NEW STUFF
K’s Creations has come out with a new head for their popular metal stand. it provides greater flexibility in positioning your needlework than any other stand out there. Why? Because the new head has a ball joint (like your hip). This allows the stitcher to position and hold the needlework at angle within a sphere. I can’t wait to get mine and try it out.
Although it isn’t needlepoint. African Folklore Embroidery has finished embroideries and kits of charming chain stitch designs on black cloth. The finished embroideries are made in South Africa by the women of the Ndebele tribe.
Connie Welch, who does lovely painted needlepoint canvas, has come out with a delightful line of stuffed cat figures for beaded embroidery fans. The cats are painted with fabric paint in lovely colors and then can be beaded as completely as desired with the many delightful beads which come in the kit. Copper wire for whiskers and a glass fish are also included.
Finally TPC Designs has an outstanding new clear bag for your projects. Called a Belt Bag, they have edges finished with fabric and instead of a zipper a flap, so nothing can catch on your thread.
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