INDEPENDENT NEEDLEWORK NEWS

The Thread Basket is a delightful online and mail order shop I’ve recently discovered which I’ll be finding all kinds of reasons to mention to you — the first of which is the fact that store owner Valerie speaks fluent English and French, lives in the US, carries many of those hard to obtain French designs we US stitchers are finding so attractive lately (such as Bleu de Soie, Calendula Creations, Les Creations de Chrystelle, and — my favorite so far — Tournicoton), travels to France, plans to stock more French designs, wants to know what her customers would like to see her carry, and accepts US checks and PayPal as payment.

However, today I want to let you know Valerie has recently gotten in stock a number of chillingly spooky fabrics available in fat quarters. They’re just perfect for finishing off those Halloween ornaments you’re working on for the Halloween tree competition sponsored by Wonderful XS World! Or how about a quick tree skirt for your Halloween tree?

Or if you’re not participating in that Halloween SAL, just think how charming these would be in a Halloween themed quilt or crazy quilt!

Shoot, you might need to put these fabrics on your wish list because I don’t know how much Valerie has of each in stock — and I want at least a yard of each for myself now that I’ve come up with all these ideas … Oh, but then I won’t have time for Independent Needlework News, so I guess you win after all.

Pictured here are Haunted Mansions and Dancing Skeletons, which are just two of the great Halloween-y fabrics Valerie has in her shop right now for your benefit!

Technorati Tags: Thread Basket, French, Bleu de Soie, Calendula, Les Creations de Chrystelle, Tournicoton, crazy quilt, quilt, needlework, cross stitch, fat quarter, Halloween, autumn, fall, wXSw, Wonderful XS World, ornament, fabric, finishing

It’s hard for me to believe anyone — stitcher or not — has yet to subscribe to the wonderful online magazine, The Gift of Stitching (fondly abbreviated as TGOSM, with the M standing for magazine … or maybe marvelous!). But apparently it is actually the case that there are still a few stragglers, so I’m taking them on as a personal challenge.

Therefore, here are the Top Ten Reasons to Subscribe to The Gift of Stitching magazine during August 2007:

10. You might have been using the wrong needle all this time!

9. You can never have enough Altoid tin covers.

8. You don’t want to leave a basket half finished.

7. You want to know how and why Gloria Moore chose the name of her design company.

6. You don’t want to be one of the last to hear about the special new pattern being released by Needleprint.

5. Who wouldn’t want to try to win one of the sets of thread Stitches and Spice is so graciously giving away?

4. You Followed the Leader and now you’re addicted to White Musings!

3. There’s still time to stitch Helga Mandl’s cute back to school designs before school is REALLY back in session.

2. Debbie Draper’s design My Little Book of Stitches is just GORGEOUS!

1. You need to be a current subscriber in order to win the designing competition sponsored by Dinky Dyes in honor of their 5th year of business.

Technorati Tags: Gift of Stitching, magazine, Dinky Dyes, design competition, designing competition, My Little Book of Stitches, Debbie Draper, Helga Mandl, back to school, Follow the Leader, White Musings, Stitches and Spice, Needleprint, Gloria Moore, finishing for baskets

The Louisville, Kentucky dates for Celebration of Needlework are September 12th - 16th, 2007, and many of the same needlework designers will be participating as instructors and/or vendors as were involved at the Nashua, New Hampshire Celebration of Needlework this past May.

Unfortunately, it is my understanding from exchanging emails with Pam Reed, of Olde Colonial Designs and one of the show’s organizers, that this may well be the only time Celebration of Needlework is ever offered in this location, or even in the Midwest … Propitiously I hope, it is also my duty as a reporter to inform all of us Midwestern stitchers that we must show our appreciation for this opportunity by signing up for some classes, going to the show, purchasing from the vendors, and helping to make Celebration of Needlework’s first ever Midwestern appearance a huge success.

This year’s teachers are well worth your time doing just that, even though a few designers have had to cancel classes for a variety of personal reasons. Actually, those cancellations might make your choices easier; there are so many wonderful classes on the menu from designers including:

Susan Greening Davis of Still Stitching with Susan,

Charlotte Dudney of Designs from the Pep’r Pot (punchneedle),

Jackie du Plessis of It’s Fineally Finished,

Robin Laukhuf of Olde Willow Stitchery,

Barbara Jackson of Tristan Brooks Designs,

Sherri Jones of Patrick’s Woods,

Julie Norton of J. Designs (hardanger),

Lauren Sauer of Forget-Me-Nots-in-Stitches,

Marcia Brown Smith of The Binding Stitch,

Betsy Stinner of Earth Threads,

Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose,

Elizabeth Talledo of Fingerwork, and

Wendy White of Wee Works.

Fans of designer Betsy Stinner and/or mermaids will be delighted to learn a class featuring mermaids and taught by Betsy was JUST added to the schedule!

The amazing selection of vendors you’ll be able to meet and purchase from in the Celebration market include:

Britstitch,

Chris’s Collection,

Counted Stitches,

Cross Stitch Corner,

Cross Stitch Treasures,

Crossed Wing Collection,

Dutch Treat Designs,

The Finishing Touch,

The Heart’s Content,

Images Stitchery Designs,

J. Designs,

Just Stitching,

Mimi’s Attic,

The Needle’s Work Antiques,

Olde Colonial Designs,

Olde Willow Stitchery Threads,

Scandinavian Stitches,

Simply Old Fashioned,

Sunflower Samplings,

Tokens & Trifles,

Tristan Brooks Designs, and

Yankee Cross Stitch.

Come on, stitchers! I think you owe it to yourselves to spend a weekend away from home/work/family and all the chores that go with those things (which I know you do with and because of love) so you can dedicate yourselves to your favorite hobby, meeting other stitchers, retail therapy, and attending classes with world-famous needlework designers …

If you think you’ve already been doing way too much of that kind of thing lately, well then, you’ve just got to come along and show the rest of us how it’s done … So just consider it that we collectively owe it to ourselves to do this!

Technorati Tags: Susan Greening Davis, Charlotte Dudney, Jackie du Plessis, Robin Laukhuf, Barbara Jackson, Sherri Jones, Julie Norton, Pam Reed, Lauren Sauer, Marcia Brown Smith, Betsy Stinner, Catherine Strickler, Elizabeth Talledo, Wendy White, cross stitch, Celebration of Needlework, Still Stitching with Susan, Designs from the Pep’r Pot, punchneedle, It’s Fineally Finished, Olde Willow, Tristan Brooks, Patrick’s Woods, J Designs, Olde Colonial, Forget-Me-Nots-in-Stitches, Binding Stitch, Earth Threads, Indigo Rose, Fingerwork, Wee Works, needlework, hardanger, Britstitch, Tokens & Trifles, Sunflower Samplings, Simply Old Fashioned, Scandinavian Stitches, Images Stitchery, Heart’s Content, Maureen Appleton, Dutch Treat Designs, Just Stitching, Cross Stitch Treasures, Crossed Wing

I loved this post from graphic designer Jessica Jones in her blog How about orange on making fabric-covered thumb tacks … which started out as buttons.

Of course, I immediately thought this would be a wonderful item to share with all of you on how to make your own matching buttons to use on your needlework pieces (biscornus, needlebooks, scissor fobs, and anywhere else you want a matching button).

Or what about when you can’t find the right button to use on any piece of needlework, but you do have some fabric with the image you want? For instance, you need a daisy of a particular size, and you have a piece of fabric with a daisy just the right size … Now, you can just create your own button!

Technorati Tags: buttons, button, fabric, needlework, cross stitch, biscornu, Jessica Jones, How about orange, covered thumb tacks

I am so impressed with KarenV’s creative finishing technique for a project she had grown unhappy stitching. She disliked it so much, in fact, that she didn’t even finish stitching the project. Instead, she came up with this novel way to finish the piece so it would look as if it had been designed this way.

I can’t decide which inspires me more — the finishing technique itself, or the fact that KarenV did such an expert job of turning her mistake into a complete success!

Technorati Tags: KarenV, finishing technique, cross stitch, My Favourite Things

Elegant Stitch is now taking sign-ups for the second session of Brightneedle’s The Lady’s Collection. Don’t wait, because although this is an online class, class space is still limited by the number of kits available!

Elegant Stitch is one of my favorite ways to take needlework classes because everything can be done from the comfort and privacy of your own home. You don’t have to worry about getting vacation time, traveling, paying for hotel and food costs away from home, bad weather, or even being late … The class kit shows up in your mailbox and your lessons are available online, so you dictate when you “go to class.”

Here is a scan of my stitching from the first part of The Lady’s Collection, which I took the first time Elegant Stitch offered it. I have finished all the stitching, but still have to put it together! If you’d like to see more pictures of my stitching, including on this particular project, please visit my personal blog.

Technorati Tags: Brightneedle, Lady’s Collection, Elegant Stitch, cross stitch, online class, Heather Orn

I just read in Lake Michigan Sampler Guild’s monthly email newsletter that Jeannine’s Sampler Seminar (just held February 9th - 11th in Williamsburg, Virginia) was NOT the final one, as previously believed. Jeannine reportedly announced at the Seminar that it will continue in the future under a new name — and under the leadership of Merry Cox!

Technorati Tags: Jeannine’s Sampler Seminar, Lake Michigan Sampler Guild, LMSG, Merry Cox, From Merry’s Heart

Registration for the Nashua, New Hampshire Celebration of Needlework 2007 is now open. This year’s Celebrations will be held first in Nashua, NH from May 2nd to May 6th, and then in Louisville, KY from September 12th to September 16th. Registration for the Louisville, Kentucky Celebration will open in May — and I’ll post here as soon as I hear about it, so watch this space!

New Hampshire has no sales tax, so shopping at the needlework market at the Nashua Celebration will cost you less money — in theory, anyway!

This is a great way to spend a weekend taking time for yourself and your favorite hobby, meeting other stitchers, shopping, and attending classes with world-famous needlework designers.

This year’s teachers are an exceptional list:

Susan Greening Davis of Still Stitching with Susan,

Charlotte Dudney of Designs from the Pep’r Pot (punchneedle),

Jackie du Plessis of It’s Fineally Finished,

Teresa Layman of Teresa Layman Designs,

Robin Laukhuf of Olde Willow Stitchery,

Barbara Jackson of Tristan Brooks Designs,

Sherri Jones of Patrick’s Woods,

Tricia Wilson Nguyen of Thistle Threads,

Julie Norton of J. Designs (hardanger),

Pam Reed of Olde Colonial Designs,

Lauren Sauer of Forget-Me-Nots-in-Stitches,

Marcia Brown Smith of The Binding Stitch,

Betsy Stinner of Earth Threads,

Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose,

Elizabeth Talledo of Fingerwork,

Cindy Valentine of Cindy Valentine Designs, and

Wendy White of Wee Works.

The amazing selection of vendors you’ll be able to meet and purchase from in the Celebration market include:

Britstitch,

Cedar Hill Designs,

Chris’s Collection,

Cindy Valentine Designs,

Counted Stitches,

Cross Stitch Corner,

Cross Stitch Wonders,

Crossed Wing Collection,

Dimple Designs,

The Finishing Touch,

The Heart’s Content,

Images Stitchery Designs,

J. Designs,

Mimi’s Attic,

The Needle’s Work Antiques,

Olde Colonial Designs,

Olde Willow Stitchery Threads,

Scandinavian Stitches,

Simply Old Fashioned,

Stencil N Stitch,

Sunflower Samplings,

Tokens & Trifles,

Tristan Brooks Designs, and

Yankee Cross Stitch.

Technorati Tags: Susan Greening Davis, Charlotte Dudney, Jackie du Plessis, Teresa Layman, Robin Laukhuf, Barbara Jackson, Sherri Jones, Tricia Wilson Nguyen, Julie Norton, Pam Reed, Lauren Sauer, Marcia Brown Smith, Betsy Stinner, Catherine Strickler, Elizabeth Talledo, Cindy Valentine, Wendy White, cross stitch, Celebration of Needlework, Still Stitching with Susan, Designs from the Pep’r Pot, punchneedle, It’s Fineally Finished, Olde Willow, Tristan Brooks, Patrick’s Woods, Thistle Threads, J Designs, Olde Colonial, Forget-Me-Nots-in-Stitches, Binding Stitch, Earth Threads, Indigo Rose, Fingerwork, Wee Works, needlework, hardanger, Cedar Hill, Britstitch, Tokens & Trifles, Sunflower Samplings, Simply Old Fashioned, Scandinavian Stitches, Images Stitchery, Heart’s Content, Maureen Appleton, Dimple Designs, Cross Stitch Wonders, Crossed Wing

Another design which would already be in my WIP pile if it hadn’t just been released at Nashville Market is this one from Giulia Punti Antichi Designs (GPA):

It’s called Queen Sofia’s Sewing Bag and Chatelaine. Isn’t it beautiful? I adore the ornate pattern on the bottom of the bag!

You can order everything you need for this design, including a finishing kit for both the chatelaine and the bag, from Needlecraft Corner*. According to the information I have, Needlecraft Corner will be the only US shop offering the finishing kits, and the material in the finishing kits is quite limited — so if you like it, it would be best to order it soon to be sure you don’t miss out. You can get specifics regarding what is available and the prices about halfway down this page on Needlecraft Corner’s website. Of course, there’s nothing that says you can’t finish this project using a material of your own selection or thread colors of your choice; I was tempted to do that myself, but I have almost nothing stitched in pinks — and I think I need to change that! (*I have no affiliation with Needlecraft Corner, other than being a very satisfied repeat customer.)

GPA captured a lot of buzz with two design releases last year also: Old Italian Sewing Set and While I Darn Sewing Set. Another of my personal favorites is GPA’s My Four Seasons Sampler.

I was fascinated to learn that Giulia Manfredini is a medical doctor (of nuclear medicine and endocrinology); this certainly fits with the complex and vibrant composition of her designs. And don’t miss the Teen Stitch by Sofia grouping of GPA designs, which are created by Giulia’s teenaged daughter! I wonder whether Sofia will someday follow further in her mother’s footsteps by picking up another kind of needle?

Technorati Tags: Queen Sofia, Giulia Manfredini, Punti Antichi, Nashville market, Needlecraft Corner, Teen Stitch, cross stitch