Stitcher's Showcase

     Here's some new items back from our talented finishers to show you - I'm trying to put only current canvases items on here in case you want to stitch them yourself!

  These five items are from left to right, Graduate Girl, Snowboarder, Two Year Old Mini Sock, Soccer Santa and Football Santa.  These were all stitched by the very prolific Suzanne B. of Brighton - also known as Tuesday Girl to those of you that shop here on Tuesdays!  You might notice that the Graduate Girl is wearing a pearl necklace, isn't that cute?  The snowboarders sunglasses are very reflective, just like a real one's!  That darling mini sock is for one of her many grandchildren.  She does a lot of sporting ornaments for her grandkids and the next two Santas are actually stand-ups but I laid them down for better pictures.  Aren't they adorable?

These are full-sized Christmas stockings done by Sheryl R. of Clio.  I don't know how she whips them out so fast - but she does!  Our Christmas stocking stitch-along group oohed and aahed over these.  I LOVED the striped one.  I saw it here as a canvas of course but it's doubly impressive stitched!  Those are real jingle bells on the edges of the pennant flags.  I don't know who the artist is on the snowmen so I hope none of you want it!

Don't faint!  I finished my ornament!  You might remember me talking about it in a newsletter while on vacation in August.  I sent it to the finisher and LOOK WHAT SHE DID!  It's hard to see but she hand beaded the edging to match the beading on did on the ornament!  I about fainted when I pulled it out of the box.  I don't know how this shows on your computer, but the whole ornament is done in reds and golds.  I did it for a shop model because you can have ANY name in any color painted by one of our designers.  But I'm really thrilled with how well it came out.  I guess I better think about doing another for my dear one...right?

  This stitcher I'm REALLY proud of.  She took to needlepoint like a duck to water.  She used to be a beginner but not any more!  This is by Jeannie M. of Grand Blanc.  She did this chart for a friend having a baby - and she changed the colors to more perfectly reflect the baby coming feeling!  Lots of french knots on that beautiful lamb testifies her patient stitching skills.  You should see the painted canvas pear she's doing too! 

  Some of you have decided to do the chart Oh My Stars!  Here's the one done by Barbi S. of Arizona.  She changed her colors to reflect a palette that she finds more exciting.  What a great job!  This chart is quite a fun challenge as the interior stitches are all over 12 x 12 threads.

 Wowie!  We all agreed that we want to be this skinny and fit into these jeans!  Anne L. did a phenomenal job on this canvas and is working on a second skinny girl who is nearly finished.  Anne stitches at about 200 m.p.h. and puts the rest of us to shame.  This wonderful cowgirl has a bead and turquoise necklace in stunning detail, beautifully realistic hair and silver accents on her boots.  Her sweater fits her skin tight and her bag has 3-D tissue paper made of Flair.  Yes, that's a real feather on her hat.  WONDERFUL!

I started helping myself to pictures of pieces coming back from the finisher.  Remind me to take a picture of your project and feature it here!  Here's a scarily fun purse that Jeannine C. did.  Woo!  Love that witchy hair.  Looks like me in the morning!  The inside has a lavender lining with TWO interior pockets.  Our finishers can do anything you want, right Jeannine? 

  And what about the back side of it?  You might never see this if you weren't carrying it?  How cute is this?  She got some of these stitching ideas in class with Kathy Fenchel!

It counts if I put my finished projects on doesn't it?  :-)  Here's a fast project you can whip up before Christmas.  The stitching is really fast, the finisher has the hard part!  But they don't get any cuter than this peppermint candy box with a gingerbread man who fits inside it.  

Cheryl R finished this well before Christmas and I'm just now getting around to updating the page.  Cute kitty!  Love those button eyes!

  Another customer did this cute mini dog sock but I forgot who!  Uh-oh, I bet I'm in the doghouse when I hear from her! 

The following are pictures from some very happy customers - they finished their needlepoint project!  Would you like to be featured here?  Just send me an email and give me a few details about your project - the designer, your favorite (or not so favorite) part about stitching it and of course, a picture!

Here's a gorgeous piece by Mary R. She did Rhapsody (a charted piece) in her choice of colors and it is JUST beautiful. I did this one in blues and yellows. I think everybody changed it. It takes 10 different Watercolors. You can do it too! Nice job Mary!

What do you mean I never finish anything? Here's a pillow I ACTUALLY STITCHED! It was a kit on 12 ct. and I did it in cross stitch which as you know takes TWICE AS LONG so there! Anyway, I fell in love with these elephants and had to have this for a shop sample. The wool is kettle-dyed (imagine somebody stirring big kettles of dye over a fire) and it's just beautiful. This pillow is HUGE! I used velvet for the backing and two rows for fringe to make it more dramatic. What do you think?

My friend Kathy V. did this beautiful piece. You can tell the yarn is kettle-dyed on her piece and she also finished the NEXT one too. She took a chart and did it four times in four different Watercolors. Yes I have this chart in stock if you're wondering. Oh, why didn't I do that...um - somebody else has to be more creative than me you know! ;-)

Gloriana Heart Challenge Pieces

These are the finished pieces received by those participating in this challenge. They're all wonderful. I'm so pleased to shar them with you. Enjoy!

  Cheryl R. finished this ages ago and I'm finally posting it here for you. She calls this darling kitty Queenie. It's a triangular stand-up which I understand looks a lot like Hallmark's Krinkles ornaments. Lots of Rainbow Gallery fibers in this one makes it a kitty to remember!

Jeannie M. stitched Rhapsody by Amybear Designs.  She says she enjoyed the challenge of this piece, and doing it as a class with friends. The next piece is Indian Summer by Laura J Perin Designs.  Her comments on this are "This piece works up quickly, the colors are beautiful.  Laying the cotton floss was the hardest part." Lastly Jeannie tells me that "Best thing about needlepoint - everyday your piece takes on more life and more shape - it's like watching something grow."

  Here's Two Cats from Lee's Needle Arts stitched by the talented Mary Jane K.  Of course Lee makes this Shopper's Tote that it fits in.  Smashing job MJ!