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Posts tagged ‘sailing needlepoint’

Quick Open-Stitched Custom Needlepoint Belt Kits

Plate 119, The Needlepoint Book

Plate 119, The Needlepoint Book

If Jo Ippolito Christensen can leave backgrounds unstitched as shown in this piece from the 3rd Edition of  The Needlepoint Book, why shouldn’t I? (Click on the image to view the detail of the background. It is only partially stitched and the printed canvas is exposed.)

I was almost there with my Four Hour Needlepoint Ornament but this is one step further. A belt would be my test piece. Many of our Needlepoint belt designs are ideal for this technique. The backgrounds are solid and the images, like the surfboards and sailboats, are colorful and sharp.

Stitching Detail

Stitching Detail

Stitching these two belts went as fast as riding the waves. The only thing one needs to pay attention to is keeping on the thread ends within the stitched areas because the background will be unstitched canvas through which the thread ends will be visible.

Looking closely at the stitched surfboard, you can see that I also look the liberty of slanting the continental in two different direction. The top slants to the left and the bottom to the right, while in the center I used a straight stitch over one canvas thread. (Note: a straight stitch over one thread needs to be worked very loosely, and only works here because it was worked after the top and bottom of the surfboard was completed.) Working the top and bottom of the surfboard with two different slants has the advantage of giving smooth edges to the circle and rounded edges of the design. I used this technique on some of the surfboards and on part of of the sailboats. I was please with my finished canvases!

Quick Stitch Needlepoint Belts

Quick Stitch Needlepoint Belts

Custom Kids Name Needlepoint Sailboat

We’re back from the holiday and have a lot of fun needlepoint projects to share this week!

Today I’m posting a picture of the Boys Personalized Sailboat Needlepoint Kit stitched by Stemi finished in the winter of 2014.

Look how strait her stitching is.  Landon is sure to cherish this for a long time… Nice stitching Stemi!

Kids Sailboat Custom Needlepoint Project

Kids Sailboat Custom Needlepoint Project

 

Friday Favorites – Peacock – Boats Cars and Motorcycle Belts – Reviews and More

Happy Weekend!

We’ve gotten some great feedback again this week, and even better projects to show you!  If you just want to see the fun needlepoint canvases, please skip over the rest of the text below and go strait to the pictures.  I got a little long winded today…

First are 3 positive reviews and one ANGRY customer.

“It came in the mail today.  I love it!” – Marsha – 2104-09-15

“Got it yesterday! It looks great – going to start on it tonight! Thanks again! I’ll definitely spread the word about Needle Paint!” Mary – 2014-09-16

“Received,the painted canvas today. It looks great.  Thank you very much.  I’m sure I will have something else to be painted in the near future.  Thank you again” – Susan – 2014-09-15

And on to the ANGRY customer (this was for the cat canvas that was featured in last week’s Friday Favorites).  Have you ever felt like somebody can YELL at you through email?  Well this customer loved to use the caps lock.  The gist of the problem, was that when we made the canvas, it did not show the pink in the cat’s ears or the green in the cat’s eyes.  The customer had said the wool colors were not correct.  After a few emails with a lot of UPPER CASE ANGER, I finally figured out that the customer actually did not order any wool from us.  Thus I can understand some frustration.

Now, we think that sugar is the answer to solving problems, so, every email I requested to know what we could do to fix it.  We want to be sure our customers are happy with their projects.  We even guarantee the quality of all of our canvases, including custom designs.  So, I was a little confused as to why I kept getting ANGRY EMAILS back.  I offered to remake the canvas with the adjustments, but this seemed to induce MORE ANGER.  The end result is that they seem to be keeping it as is.

The reason I’m writing about this email, is I believe it may be helpful to others.

#1.  What you see on the computer screen is what your canvas will look like.  If you want us to adjust the canvas, all you have to do is email us, and we will email you a new preview with the adjustments.

#2.  We do not hand match fiber colors on orders that are for the canvas only.  It takes us a long time to kit a custom project.  The computer offers a good starting point, but, when stitching animals, we often find that those colors need to be tweaked to match the animal better.  We always do this when we ship a kit that includes fiber, and will request a photo if we have any questions about the design.  But, for stitchers who are purchasing their own fiber, they should be able to do this on their own when they are rummaging through their stash or at the needlepoint store.

#3.  If you are not happy with the way your canvas came out, please don’t get angry with us.  Just let us know what you’d like us to do to fix the problem and we will take care of it!  Our motto is happy customers = repeat customers and we want you to enjoy your projects.  We work with a lot of needlepointers who have ordered 5+ canvases from us and keep coming back.  Every customer is important to us and we will do all that we can to make sure you love your project.  Worst case that happens, is that you can send back your project and we will refund it.

OK, so onto the fun stuff!  Our first order for the classic car needlepoint belt canvas was timed well with two other custom projects that have boats, cars, scooters, and motorcycles.  Also, a lot more fun needlepoint projects below, including a giant peacock that came out really well!

Boats, Cars, and Motorcycle Needlepoint Belt Canvases

Boats, Cars, and Motorcycle Needlepoint Belt Canvases

Opti Ornament, Nautical Key FOB, and Telluride Needlepoint Canvases

Opti Ornament, Nautical Key FOB, and Telluride Needlepoint Canvases

Giant Peacock Needlepoint Kit

Giant Peacock Needlepoint Kit (The design is 28 inches high on a 32 inch high canvas!)

Jack Russel and Custom Brick Cover Needlepoint Canvases

Jack Russel and Custom Brick Cover Needlepoint Canvases

 

 

 

Sailing and Skiing Needlepoint Christmas Stockings

Those of you who are waiting untill the last minute to pick out a canvas to stitch for Christmas this year should check out our two new needlepoint Christmas stocking designs!

The first design in this post hits close to home (Colorado). It is the Winter Ski Christmas Stocking Needlepoint Kit.  The needlepoint canvas features snow capped mountains, skiers, and more snow flakes in a fun modern design that opens a lot of fancy stitch possibilities.  The name will be personalized to order when your canvas is made.

Winter Ski Christmas Stocking Needlepoint Kit

Winter Ski Christmas Stocking Needlepoint Kit

I’m a sailor, so I really wanted to design something for our little boy.  We came up with the Anchors Aweigh Sailing Christmas Stocking Needlepoint Kit.  I’m sure you will be seeing a post about this in the future.  If you’re into a specific type of boat, let us know and we will integrate it into the design!

Anchors Aweigh Sailing Christmas Needlepoint Kit

Anchors Aweigh Sailing Christmas Needlepoint Kit

Sailing Regatta and Tall Ship Needlepoint Belts

Being a sailor myself, I’m really enjoying two new needlepoint belt designs we put on NeedlePaint last week.

The preppy sailing regatta needlepoint belt features beautiful spinnakers going downwind.   The fun colors will draw in the eye, but the tasteful and “fast moving” design will be a hit at the local yacht club.  We can even adjust the lead boat to have your spinnaker!

Now, on to another type of sailing, we also created a tall ship needlepoint belt.  Classic sailing vessel designs include schooners, cutters, gaff rigs, and even an official full rigged ship.  This features a green stripped background over navy.  Again, if you know somebody who sailed on a different type of boat not shown, just let us know and we will customize a new boat and put it into the design!

As with all of our designs, both are available as finished belts or needlepoint canvases that you stitch yourself.

Have a great week!

Preppy Sailing Regatta Needlepoint Belt

Preppy Sailing Regatta Needlepoint Belt

Tall Ship Needlepoint Belt

Tall Ship Needlepoint Belt

 

Friday Favorites – Nantucket and Sailing Needlepoint Canvases – Nautical Belts – Kids Name Stitched

Happy Friday!  I’ve got a lot of pictures for you today!

First some nice feedback we got this week…

“Just a quick note of thanks for the needlepoint canvas, which my mother is busily working on! Really appreciate your help and patience in making this happen.  Thank you!  Betsy”  4-16-14

But even better we were emailed photos of a finished project that was custom painted for one of our customers!   I love all the different stitches she used!  Great work Judy!

Personalized Kids Needlepoint Art

Personalized Kids Needlepoint Art

Next up are are close to my heart, since I love to sail.  The Nantucket Wedding Pillow Canvas and a custom sailing needlepoint canvas featuring a boat with a bright beautiful spinnaker.

Nantucket and Sailboat Needlepoint Canvases

Nantucket Wedding Pillow and Sailboat with Spinnaker Needlepoint Canvases

On to my other favorite hobby (or job :-), custom needlepoint belts!  If you look closely at the second canvas from the left, you will see a fencing foil setup, and next to that is what I’m calling a liberty belt!  Fun colors and it has a liberty bell and the Grand Union flag from 1776.

Nautical Belt and ofther fun Custom Needlepoint Belt Canvases

Nautical Belt and ofther fun Custom Needlepoint Belt Canvases

There were so many great projects, but this week one took up almost half the workshop table!  This large custom needlepoint kit was made from a photo.  It is going to look amazing when finished.  I liked that they used a lot of colors so details came through.  But there was enough contrast that the colors are still pretty easy to follow on the canvas. (sorry the photo is a bit dark, but you’ll get the idea!)

Large Needlepoint Canvas from Photo

Large Needlepoint Canvas from Photo

If you are a fan of John James Audubon, then you may recognize these two designs!  Most of his art is in the common domain, so let us know if you have a project you’d like to stitch! (again sorry for the darker image)

Audubon Swan and White Pelican Needlepoint Kits

Audubon Swan and White Pelican Needlepoint Kits

Last but not least, we have a custom dog collar from our pink mountain design, and a church logo which will be stitched for the pastors office!

Dog Collar and Logo Canvas for Church

Dog Collar and Logo Canvas for Church