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Hand Painted Needlepoint Canvases

March 19, 2012

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All needlepoint canvases are not created equal.  I’ve seen quite a few ways to put a design on canvas and hand painting stitch by stitch is still the best.

Why would a company that prints needlepoint canvases admit this?

We want to be upfront with our customers, and of course, we want to let you know that we also now hand paint custom needlepoint canvases!

Here are the major things to consider if you want purchase a hand painted canvas from Needlepaint.

Timeframe – We need 2-3 weeks to hand paint your design

Stitch Guides – Our hand painted needlepoint canvases will not include a stitch guide for reference. Instead, we will paint each color on the side of the canvas so you know how many colors there are and you will have to match using these.

Cost – Generally hand painted canvases cost about 20% more.  In some cases with simple larger designs (stockings), it may be the same as printing.

Designs – We can paint most designs and photos.  Needlepoint Dogs are ever popular, but we can also paint people, cats, and homes.  Or, if you want us to coordinate with an old needlepoint christms stocking, we can do that.

Kits – We will be happy to add floss or yarn to your order.

Refunds – We are confident you’ll be happy with your canvas!  We offer 100% refunds within 60 days of ordering.

Ordering – You will need to call us, or email us to order a hand painted canvas, our needlepoint contact information is on our website, Click Here!

Please be aware, that we are offering this as an additional service, we still believe that our printed canvases, with our color groupings (we call it “needlepainting”) is the best option for turning photos into needlepoint kits.  All of our printed canvases are stitch counted and come with a stitch guide, color aid, and are matched to DMC floss.  We’ve gotten great feedback, which you can read in our latest blog – needlepoint reviews.

Let us know if you have any comments or ideas in the hand painted vs printed canvas area.  This topic can bring up some heated arguments, but I’d be happy to have an open and honest discussion!

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Needlepoint

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Great New Reviews on Needlepoint Kits

March 6, 2012

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Since the holiday rush ended in January, we’ve had some extra time to work on fun needlepoint kits.

We know that stitchers always need new projects to work on, and are happy to help. Two of the needlepoint kits I’ve worked on started with phone calls.

The first was a picture of boy in a pumpkin patch. The details and colors were amazing, and the customer had some special requests. First, they prefer to use interlock canvas. Second, they really prefer perle cotton over embroidery floss. The interlock canvas was easy, as we have some in stock, but for the perle cotton, it was a bit trickier since the customer did not have close access to any needlepoint shops.

Being in Denver, we do have a great needlepoint shop, Diversions. For a small fee, we can pick out alternate fibers that they keep in stock.

Anyway, the customer loved the kit! Here is their feedback:

“The canvas came today. I thought it gorgeous, but then what do I know. My aunt, who is doing the work  and who knows what she’s doing, was overwhelmed by it.  “Very professional… Almost like a kit, it’ll be too easy” were some of her comments. I believe she is looking around for three more pictures to take advantage of your buy 3 (get a 4th free) deal.” Peter Shugart – El Paso, TX

Another fun project came from Australia last month. Although we don’t list it on our website, we do ship there. Their idea was to needlepoint a beach scene from an old movie.

“I received the canvas of today. It is just beautiful. The colours are gorgeous and thank you so much for the colour guide. I will find this very useful. I’ve been waiting so long to have this done professionally. I had one done here in Australia and the colours were very faint so it was difficult to distinguish between colours. Lucky it was only a small one. I may wish to have others done and will keep in mind your offer “Buy Three Canvas and get a Fourth free”. I will also look up the blog site. I will be in touch again.” Teresa Portelli – St. Ives Chase, Australia

This week, we also received a lot of positive feedback, and we love to hear it! Our goal is to make sure every project is great, and our customers love them. If you order from us, please send us feedback, we are always looking for ideas and suggestions.

Ok, here is the last customer post I’ll put in this blog, I got yesterday…

“The canvas looks great! I’m so excited…as is my daughter! Her teacher is going to love it. As a stitcher, I love the stitch guide…so wonderful to have on those close calls (do I stitch here or not?). Thank you for including it. And, the canvas is quite crisp. Thank you for taking the time and effort to make it so clear. My daughter is a new stitcher, and it will make quite a difference in her experience!” Marlena – Mass.

 

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NeedlePaint Inspiration, Needlepoint

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The No Tears Needlepoint Pillow

February 29, 2012

Written by Peggy Bond

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As I mentioned in my earlier post An Elegant Finished Edge, I had come up with a use for the odd-shapped design that we had designed for our first test custom needlepoint canvas. This 6″ x 7″ canvas is now the center piece of a 12′ x 12′  pillow  for my granddaughter’s nursery.

As you can see, this pillow does not have piping — the most difficult and frustrating part of needlepoing pillow finishing. Also, there is no zipper, no turning inside out, and IT IS EASY!  It is a modified pillow sham which fits over a 12″ x 12″ pillow form.

Materials for the pillow are:

  • 12″ x 12″ polyester-filled pillow
  • 1/2 yard 42″-45″ fabric
  • 1/4 yard Velcro (optional)
  • finished needlepoint canvas that is smaller than 12″ x 12″ and whose edges have been bound

Directions:

  1. Cut one 18″ x 18″ front.
  2. Cut two 11″ x 18″ piece for left and right sides of back.
  3. Position finished needlepoint canvas in the center of the front. Stitch in place by machine using zig-zag stitch or by hand using an overcast slip stitch.
  4. Sew 2″ hem on left back side and narrow hem on right back side as shown below. (Optionally sew Velcro as shown.)
  5. Place left back over right back to create a 18″ x 18″ square.
  6. Fold under 1 3/4″ on all four sides of front and back and press with steam iron, mitering each corner.
  7. With wrong sides together, stitch around  1 1/4″ from the edge.
  8. Stuff pillow form into completed pillow sham.

This method works well for a casual cushion and especially well for a child’s pillow because the finished needlepoint can be easily removed and the pillow sham washed.

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How to NeedlePoint, Needlepoint, Pillows

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Bling for Needlepoint

February 22, 2012

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I had a chance to work next to June McKnight a few weeks ago and listen in on some interesting needlepoint discussions.  One of the fun things that needlepointers have been doing more of lately is embellishing their needlepoint designs with “Bling”.

June is once again trying to help needlepointers by showing them how easy it is to spice up new projects in her new book titled (what else but…)  Bling – Glitz & Glamor for Needlepoint.  You can buy this book from your local needlepoint shop, or online at: BeStitched Needlepoint

This not only shows you how to use beads and drops with stitches, it also tells you where to get them.  Blinging works well on all types of needlepoint kits, including christmas!

You can see Peggy’s bling on her last needlepoint christmas stocking.

Peggy added some Needlepoint Bling to Christmas!

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How to NeedlePoint, NeedlePaint Inspiration, Needlepoint

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An Elegant Finished Edge

February 15, 2012

Written by Peggy Bond

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I was cleaning out the attic the other day (I  know, it isn’t the time for Spring cleaning, but with3 feet of snow on the ground cleaning the attic sounded like more fun than shoveling the driveway) and I found the original test needlepoint kit which we did for Needlepaint.  It was languishing away because we hadn’t really thought the end product through. The needlepoint canvas was a strange size, 6″ x 7″, so it didn’t fit in a standard frame.

By coincidence that colors matched the decor of my granddaughter’s bedroom. It would work on a pillow. My original idea was to use it an an insert, but after looking through my favorite needlepoint book The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen, I decided that if I used Jo’s binding technique I would get a finish edge in a contrasting color. The stitch is a variation of the fern stitch that is worked over two threads of the canvas instead of three.

The Needlepaint piece could then be sewn onto the pillow and could then be removed easily if the pillow needed washing.

TIPS:

  • Do not trim the canvas before doing the binding.
  • Block the canvas if necessary before binding.
  • Fold back and steam waste canvas in place before binding.
  • Trim waste canvas to 1/2″ after binding.
  • It may be desirable to reblock after binding

Coming soon, the finished pillow!

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How to NeedlePoint, Needlepoint

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Needlepoint Finishing and Wedding Pillow Design

February 1, 2012

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My friends Bob and Irene got married this summer, and I decided that since we love our ring bearer pillow so much, I’d have to make them one!   (You click the following link see our wedding ring bearer pillow.)

Their Custom NeedlePoint Wedding Pillow

Not only was this a fun project to design, but it also was a great opportunity for us to test out our new needlepoint finisher and our pillow finisher.  I’ve used them 5 times so far, as can be seen on the cat needlepoint post and in our newsletter, but this time the stitcher got away from the tent stitches and she decided what stitches she thought would look best.

Designing the pillow was relatively simple, I used Bob and Irene’s wedding invitation for my design inspiration, and made some alterations in photoshop.  You can see I even used their invitation for matching the colors.

We used a burgundy velveteen backing for the pillow, and the contrast looks great.  My only regret on this project, is that I think I should have made the pillow 12 x 12 rather than 8 x 8.  It does not cost much extra to put a ‘frame’ around the needlepoint, and I think fills out better on a sofa.

If you have a project that you don’t have time for, we can make it for you.  Our prices start at $2 per inch for stitching, $50 for custom needlepoint kits, $60 for pillow finishing, or $160 for a complete custom ring bearer pillow.

You can visit our personalized needlepoint shop online at www.needlepaint.com

Needlepoint Finishing Close Up Picture - Click to Enlarge

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NeedlePaint Inspiration, Needlepoint, Pillows

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Silk Sails – Sailboat Needlepoint

January 25, 2012

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Over the weekend NeedlePaint attended the TNNA Winter Show in Phoenix.  This tradeshow is one of the largest events for needlepoint stores each year.

I was lucky enough to be across from River Silks, silk ribbon for needlepoint and embroidery.  The ladies there were quite busy, but as the afternoon hours extended and the traffic drew down, we got to chatting.  They gave me a piece of canvas and some silk.  Once I started playing with the silk ribbon, I loved it!  It really is easy to use, and the coverage looks great.

Quickly I came up with a fun idea to work on during the slower times.  There was a sailboat custom needlepoint canvas on display, which I took down, and decided to make silk sails.

The silk ribbon is flowing with the wind

Just to do the creative stitchers that have used River Silk some justice, I’m going to include some amazing pictures of needlepoint that has been done using silk.

Roadside designed by Anne Cram, stitched by Lynn K. Bayer

Electric Zebra from Julia’s Needleworks

These and many more River Silks needlepoint kits can be ordered through your local needlepoint retailer or through NeedlePaint.com!  Also, if you want to have your own custom needlepoint kits matched with silk from River Silks, we can do that, too!

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NeedlePaint Creates a Custom Shop for Personalized Needlepoint Ring Bearer Pillow Kits

January 10, 2012

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We just created a personalized needlepoint shop for wedding ring bearer pillows needlepoint kits.  These ring bearer pillow designs allow crafters to adjust names and colors and even add their own designs to make that special day just a little more special.

If you are new to needlepoint, or very experienced, you will find making a ring bearer pillow to be a treat.  The small size and easy to follow designs mean that you can finish your project in less than a month!  If you are not crafty, don’t worry, we also have stitchers here who can have your pillow ready in as little as six weeks.  Personalized needlepoint ring bearer canvases start at only $49 and finished needlepoint pillows start at $160.

Don’t miss your chance to make an unforgettable wedding gift, that not only will be used during the wedding, but also will be cherished in the newlyweds home for a lifetime.

The Ring Bearer Pillow Shop Has Launched with over 20 Personalizable Designs

 

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A War and Peace Needlepoint Christmas Stocking

January 6, 2012

Written by Peggy Bond

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Three weeks before Christmas, my daughter-in-law finally finished the needlepoint design for her daughter’s (my grand-daughter’s) needlepoint Christmas stocking.  So, I put the canvas on my Victorian stretcher frame, began leafing through my favorite needlepoint books ( The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen and A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint Canvas by Sherlee Lantz), and began stitching like mad.

Zoe's Personalized Needlepoint Stocking - BEAUTIFUL!!! (Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Well, not that fast! I took some time to picking out the stitches while I downloaded from my local public library the audio recording of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy by Blackstone Audio, Inc. Downloadable audio books which can be listened to on your computer, MP3 player, or iPod has allowed me to combine creative stitchery and literature and learning.

War and Peace was 60 hours and 42 minutes long and I finished listening to Tolstoy a couple hours before I finished the stocking. Thus, I have termed the project the Ware and Peace Stocking. Similarly, an afghan which I knitted for a wedding present became The Children’s Book Afghan and I sent a copy the book by A.S. Byatt as an additional gift. Both books are long and dense. I found them much more enjoyable as audio presentations as I stitched away than they would have been had I read the written words. I remember that the first time I read War and Peace in 1968, it took me the entire summer!

Coming soon details of some of the unusual stitches I used on my Ware and Peace Stocking.

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Baseball Player Needlepoint Kits

December 27, 2011

Written by needlepaint

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Zainab Al-Chalabi recently created this beautiful needlepoint kit of a Evan Longoria.  Her exquisite stitching and framing capture a great memory in Florida baseball.

Evan Longoria in Needlepoint

A few things I want to mention.  #1.  The picture is cropped very close so the details of the face and body show up really well.  #2.  The colors on the face had very good lighting.  This can be adjusted, if you are uploading a portrait to make a needlepoint canvas and having trouble, feel free to email us and we will adjust the colors on your image in Photoshop.

Currently, we are working on a portrait of a customers grandchild that is a portrait from their sports team.  It looks like another fantastic project!

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