All Things Needlepoint - The Art Needlepoint Blog

Spread the Joy of Needlepoint Wherever You Go!

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:18:00 GMT

It's not often we toot our own horn. Providing a lot of fantastic art to replicate with threads is our fondest pleasure. In fact, doing our fair share to advance the world of needlepoint and an individual's skill at needlepoint is the reason we exist.

From time to time we receive notes, emails or calls letting us know how our efforts are appreciated.

Here' one from a recent customer:

I hadn't done needlepoint in years but wanted something to do on recent trip to Florida. I knew we were going to relax but always need to have something to do, so I purchased an inexpensive kit. While there I decided to look up needlepoint online and found Art Needlepoint. I loved so many canvases, but finally decided on two to order. I just started the first one and it is a dream to work on. There can be no comparison between this one and the inexpensive kit. I'm sure I will become addicted.

Thanks Nikki -

and

Happy Stitching!

Needlepoint Clubs

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:29:00 GMT

Many needlepoint shops have clubs that you join and after you join you are sent certain canvases every month (or all at once) from a predetermined group of canvases. We thought about this and decided to let you decide what canvases you would want to stitch.

The Art Needlepoint Company invites you to take part in any of our clubs, which you can participate in at any time and there are no fees to join.

The first of the clubs:

1. The Flower Collector

2. It's All About Animals

3. Landscapes Near and Far

How it works: Purchase any six canvases in one year's time from one of the categories - (ie. six flowers, six landscapes) and threads for five of your six canvases and we will send you your choice of pearl cotton, silk or wool threads free for your sixth canvas.

Every time you purchase six canvases from the same category or club within a one year period (which starts at the time of your first purchase in that category) you will receive free threads for your sixth canvas. You can have all six sent at one time or across the year...your choice.

How do I join? There is no fee. There are no deadlines. Start when you wish. Decide which of the categories interest you - then email us and let us know you wish to join.

We will add new clubs and inform you via newsletter, Facebook, Twitter and All Things Needlepoint.

As we add new clubs, simply email us if you wish to join any new clubs.

Why do we call this a club? As a club member you will be able to receive not only free threads, but also give-aways that have to do with your choices, as well as special pricing on custom stitch guides for your canvases.

Everyone is Invited!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:54:00 GMT

We are having a thread party and everyone is invited.

In May we are going to have a thread giveaway again.

Step One: Post your three favorite brands of threads - for example : Vineyard Silk, Anchor Pearle Cotton.

Step Two: If you have an account with us then we know who you are... If you do not have an account with us, please create an account with your name, address and email address.

Step Three: As soon as you do this you will be on the invitation list and we will you send you an invitation at the end of April.

Happy Stitching!

Gratitude

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:18:00 GMT

A HUGE HEARTFELT THANK YOU

to each and every one of you who have responded to our Why You Love Needlepoint on our blog, on our Facebook/Art Needlepoint page, on Twitter, and by email.

We are overwhelmed and overjoyed!!!!

Thank you for taking the time to share.

Since there were well over 500 responses it is going to take us a little bit of time to process all the envelopes and stamping of envelopes and mailing BUT we will get three skeins of silk to each of you.

If you forwarded a comment either on Twitter, Facebook, email or blog but did not send your address to us or create an account with us, we will not be able to send the skeins...so please take a minute and make an account.

The deadline was midnight EST February 17, 2012

If you sent a comment and you cannot view it on our blog, the number of responses far exceeded the page size...so we are making a pdf of all the comments which you can get on All Things Needlepoint or email us - it will be fun to read what others have to say!

Share the love of needlepoint with EVERYONE you meet

and always be happy when stitching!

PS. Picture above is Gratitude by Shannon Grissom

Three Reasons.. Three Free Skeins of Silk!

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:51:00 GMT

Tell us Three reasons why you Needlepoint

and we'll send you three skeins of silk

... post your responses here ....

and then let us know where you wish to have them sent*

*if you have an account with us we have your address, if not, send an email to us!

Deciding on Needlepoint Stitches to Use

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:32:00 GMT

On The Art Needlepoint Facebook page, Lani asked :

"How do you decide what stitched to use in any given area?"

This is a great question... and we invite your comments.

TBC

Mary Delany Flowers

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:17:00 GMT

"Imagine starting your life's work at seventy-two".

This is the first sentence in the Paper Garden by Molly Peacock - a marvelously written book about the artist Mary Delaney. When you finish the book you may feel that a best friend has recently left.

Mary Delaney composed "an astonishing 985 botanically correct, breathtaking cut-paper flowers, now housed in the British Museum and referred to as the Flora Delanica". She began what was then a new art form - the art of paper collage - at the age of seventy-two.

A number of her paper-cut flower mosaics (remember these were all handmade tissue thin papers in the 1700's) mix painting and cutting of dried plant parts with papers to create completely satisfying works of art.

"Thin as a billowing white cotton nightgown, Mrs. Delany's Grand Magnolia lies back in the balmy darkness of the summer night of its background. Perhaps her most blowsy bloom, plumped with the musk of maturity, it evokes the 18th century's gardener's word for a fully opened Magnolia grandiflora "blown" (magnolia's were imported to England in the 1700's and commanded a price per plant equivalent to many person's year salary).

Like Redoute's Roses, Mary Delany's flowers are a treat for needlepoint. Careful study, concentration, availability of different hues and tones, shall I use a thread that I separate in some areas or all, how to shade (layer) the colors?

New Year's Resolutions and Needlepoint

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:24:00 GMT

What you ask do New Year's resolutions have to do with Needlepoint...

Resolution Solution

1. Stop smoking Pick up a needle and thread. Stitch until the urge to smoke goes away ... or for the rest of the day!

2. Lose weight Stop snacking and start stitching!

3. Reduce stress Enjoy the zen of needlepoint at the end of every day.

4. Stop procrastinating Every time you think "I really should be __________"

remember the concentration you give to needlepoint

and empower yourself!

5. Be with my friends more often. Start a needlepoint group - like a book club;

meet regularly and laugh and stitch.

Through the tactile understanding of stitching

one long stitch, then a short stitch

or a french knot here and a cushion stitch there,

we learn about the depth of our commitment to ourselves and to our creativity!

Happy New Year Resolutions and Happy Stitching!

Happy New Year

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:28:00 GMT

Here's to a very happy and healthy New Year!

What is beauty?

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:40:00 GMT

There are so many artists throughout the centuries who have created beauty in their life.

Some begin painting, sculpting, collage making, etc. at a young age, others not until their seventh decade.

What is artistic and beautiful in your life?

Submit a response and also let us know at least one of your favorite artists,

and you are entered into a drawing for a $100 worth of needlepoint!

Happy Holidays

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:32:00 GMT

Happy Holidays

Your Most Satisfying Needlepoint Project

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:00:00 GMT

We'd Love to hear from you!

We're having a Drawing!

Send us an email and share your most satisfying needlepoint project.

There will be three winners - three prizes.

Win silk threads, a lovely needlepoint scissor, or a free canvas.

Here's a response from last March when we did the same drawing in March:

In response to your newsletter, I wanted to respond to the question of my "most satisfying needlepoint project". This is easy, as I was just thinking about it last night! I recently discovered your website and the wonderful variety of canvases you offer. I have been doing needlepoint for about 6 years, and I prefer painted canvas. Prior to finding your site, I always worked on hand-painted (stitch painted) canvases. I was a bit leary of trying a screen printed canvas but after purchasing some, I really like the quality feel of the canvases. I am now working on my 1st canvas that I purchased from you, "Angel" by Edward Burne-Jones. This is probably the most difficult canvas I have ever done. The shading and the detail were much different than what I was used to with a stitch painted canvas. After some ado in getting started, I am now well into it and I am having more fun with it than with any project I have ever done before! So, last night, I was thinking about why that was and I realized it is because it is not stitch painted! As I stitch the canvas, I have to step back and take a look at the overall design and make decisions about where to begin a stitch, or where to emphasize the shading for instance. This makes the entire project more challenging, but also involves me more in the creation of the project. I feel more connected to the piece as art, rather than just filling in the blanks. It feels more personal and there is more freedom in the creation process. This is more than what I did before with choosing threads or stitches for each area. I do not consider myself very creative, I usually feel resistance and a "block" when I try and venture out of my comfort zone. But in stitching your art in needlepoint canvases, and pushing myself just a bit, I feel a whole new level of enjoyment in the stitching process. Now, I don't want to stitch hand painted canvases any more

Solomae Stoycoff

contact@artneedlepoint.com

Needlepoint and Knitting - Heifer International

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:48:00 GMT

There is a relationship between knitting and needlepoint and many of us do both. We believe giving back is important. To that end, Wiltshire Willy, by artist Leslie Trewyn, kicks off our Needlepoint and Knitting drive.

By the end of this year The Art Needlepoint Company would like to provide 10 knitting baskets

to Heifer International. Help us reach our goal!

A % of every order from today through 12/31/11 will go to Heifer - Let's make a difference.

Fireworks!

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:53:00 GMT

Thank you Katherine for sharing Fireworks with us!

Lovely!

A Radical In Name Only - the art of Louis Schanker

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:58:00 GMT

Musical Instruments above is by painter Louis Schanker, who according to Wikipedia and a book about contemporary American artists, was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home and lived a life far removed from his parents ideals.

He studied art at Cooper Union and the Arts Students League where he came into contact with some very talented rising artists such as Mark Rothko, with whom he developed a lifelong relationship. However, before taking up painting on a permanent basis, he worked with the Barnum and Bailey circuses, threshed wheat in the Great Plains, and worked various odd jobs across the county.

Coney Island

When the Depression hit he was invited to work with the WPA. This experience proved significant both to his art and to the art of his time. It was a rather controversial period in contemporary art history.

In addition to painting for the balance of his life, he taught art at the New School and later at Bard College.

His art work can be found in many museums around the country including: the Art Institute of Chicago, the Boston Public Library in MA, the Brooklyn Museum of Art (who have a great exhibition on now about art from the 1920's - if you live close), the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art MOMA , the Detroit Institute of Art

(who seem to have a Groupon coupon on now so take a friend!), the MET, the Smithsonian, University of Boulder Colorado, the Phillips Collection in Washington DC, the Philadelphia Museum of Art..... If we missed any let us know!

Hopefully you can see one in person at a museum near you and have fun browsing the collections online at each of these institutions.