The Art Needlepoint Co.
Needlepoint Canvases, Needlepoint Kits, Needlepoint Rugs, Artists on Needlepoint, Flowers, Paul Brent Collection, Old Masters, and much more!
My Impressionist Needlepoint Cork Memo Board
Friday, May 29, 2009
I am writing to share with you all that i just started a great new canvas to add some Impressionist needlepoint art to my kitchen and I got the idea from the Art Needlepoint website. To get some of the clutter off of my kitchen counters, I wanted to put a cork board where the whole household would see it everyday, right on the kitchen wall. Even though I desperately need a place to put all the papers that wind up on my kitchen counters I had avoided putting up a memo board because most of them look like they belong in an office lunch room or a dorm room. Not exactly what I had in mind for my favorite room of the house.
The picture below is the one I am going to do next for my daughter's room which could always use some organization!
Will send a pic when I am done...bye for now, Jessica
Needlepoint Accessories - Let There be Light (Task lighting that is!)
Friday, May 29, 2009
I saw the blog from the woman working on the Gauguin seat cover and felt your pain. Not only do I need the direct lighting to figure out the colors but my eyes aren’t what they use to be and I need magnification too.
There are tons of lights and magnifiers out there and all the craft stores like Michaels, A.C. Moore and Joanne Fabrics carry them.
I found the light I use at home at A.C. Moore (don’t forget to use one of their 40% off coupons when you buy it!).
I like it because it has the focused task lighting with daylight bulbs and a flexible arm magnifier and chart holder.
http://www.acmoore.com/p-59878-armchair-magnifying-lamp-antique-brass.aspx
When I take my needlepoint with me to do away from home. I take a mini light I found online that has a magnifier that will CLIP ON to the frame of my needlepoint. See link and picture below.
http://www.csnlighting.com/Lite-Source-LSM-195SILV-IT3092.html
Sttiching with Silk
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
To maintain the beautiful sheen of silk threads we recommend the following while you are stitching:
- work with a 12", 15" or 18" length to keep the thread from tangling
- take time to wash your hands before stitching and if you like use a non greasy hand cream
- stitching with silk is easy and can be quick but use a poke and stab rather than a traditional sewing pass to help keep the thread from fraying or tangling
- on a 14 mesh use a #20 needle and use 4 or 6 of the 8 plys of Needlepoint Silk threads ( You may choose to use all 8 of the plys depending on your taste preference). on an 18 count use 4 of the 8 plys of Needlepoint Silk
- allow your needle to drop and hang or dangle every once in awhile to let the thread relax, which will prevent too much twisting and will also help avoid knotting
- you may wish to use a laying tool, but you can also use the end of your needle to lay strands neatly and evenly
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA
Friday, May 22, 2009
I just came back from a visit to Boston, and had a chance to revisit one of my favorite museums in the world, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The link to their website is http://www.gardnermuseum.org/index.asp. Spring is a great time to visit this museum because of its beautiful garden courtyard that is always brimming with flowers.
Isabella Stewart Gardner first welcomed visitors to her museum on New Year's Day, 1903. On that evening guests listened to the music of Bach, Mozart, and Schumann, gazed in wonder at the courtyard full of flowers, and viewed one of the nation's finest collections of art. Today, visitors experience much the same thing. The Gardner Museum has remained essentially unchanged since its founder's death in 1924. Unchanged but certainly not stagnant. Three floors of galleries surround a garden courtyard blooming with life in all seasons.
Needlepoint Is My Creative Way to Reduce Stress
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
I read the blog this morning “Response to Mindful Needlepoint” and thought about how soothing needlepoint is to me. The repetition of the stitching calms my thoughts and the creative concerns are interesting enough to require my full attention. Soon, anxious thoughts melt away. Taking a mental “time out” allows me to regroup and lets me focus on what is truly important. I was doing needlepoint on a plane and the person sitting next to me asked about my project. After discussing the canvas, the artist, and Post-Impressionism in general, I told him it was my form of meditation. His comment, “Well, it’s a lot cheaper than therapy!” Pretty perceptive of him. Of course, it has the added advantage of resulting in something beautiful for your home.
THANKS, Sherry
Needlepoint Seat Covers
Friday, May 15, 2009
Masterworks through Time
Starting the Canvas #1
Wheee, silk threads with 14 count mono canvas feels like the super fast zip line compared to the kiddie bumper car ride of the 22 count Penelope canvas in wool for the Cluny tapestry I just finished. I started the Gauguin “The Day of the God” dining room seat cover last night, very exciting, as it is my first experience with silk. It feels so nice, perhaps I can say goodbye to these calluses on my fingertips. My fingertips frequently peel from doing so much stitchery with wool. Does anyone have any advice on how to avoid/treat this problem??? (Other than switching to silk!)
Needlepoint Accessories – Laying Tools, WHAT? WHEN?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I’ve been doing needlepoint for years and I am embarrassed to say that I just the other day heard of a needlepoint accessory called a “laying tool” for the first time. What in the world? Have I been doing my needlepoint wrong all this time? I looked it up on line but I still don’t really understand when you are supposed to use one or how exactly you use it. Is it mostly used when you are doing stitches that involve more than one cell???? The references I found to it also talk about using it with ribbon or metallics. I’m planning to start a project with silks and metallics soon, do I need to buy a laying tool? Figure out which one to buy and how to use it before I can start??? HELP! Anyone with experience using a laying tool please respond.
Cézanne-Needlepoint for the Spring season
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
HURRY, if you want some wonderful inspiration for a needlepoint project for the Spring and you live in the mid Atlantic area, take a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and see the special exhibit: “Cézanne and Beyond.”
The exhibit ends on May 31, 2009 and is fabulous.
It also showcases some of the artists that were greatly influenced by 
Cézanne such as Marsden Hartley, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Piet Mondrian.
I really like the mystique of Lake Annecy by Cézanne as well
The link for the exhibit in Philadelphia is: http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/312.html.
The following is an excerpt from the museum’s website describing Cézanne.
“The French artist Paul Cézanne (say-ZAHN), who lived from 1839 to 1906, is widely considered to be the
father of modern art. His life and work have inspired artists for over a century. Some were impressed
by his single-minded pursuit of an artistic vision. Others were inspired by his close observation of nature.
His distinctive approach to painting opened many possibilities for other artists to explore. In the painting of
Mont Sainte-Victoire (for example, he used separate touches of paint to create
a color harmony throughout his composition.After 1878, he spent much of the rest of his life painting in Provence.
Relatively isolated from the Paris art scene, Cézanne pursued his own artistic path. While the Impressionists depicted
changing light and atmospheric effects, he was more interested in studying the underlying structure of the landscapes he painted.
He said, “I wanted to make of Impressionism something solid and enduring like the art in museums.”
COLLAGE AS NEEDLEPOINT
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Artist, Anne Ryan [1889 – 1954] was part of the
New York School of Abstract Expressionist artists.
Her career began after leaving a marriage in 1923, for life as a poet and journalist in Europe. Upon her return in 1938, Anne settled in New York and began painting and printmaking.
When she was 57, she was introduced to the collages of Kurt Schwitters, and from that point on, collage became her passion. As a poet, Anne discovered that through collage, she could create visual interpretations of her sonnets. She went on to develop over 400 collages in her Greenwich Village studio before her death in 1954. Though scarce, the collages Anne produced in the last six years of her life are rich examples of postwar New York modernism, and their textural quality translates beautifully onto needlepoint canvases.
A Terrific Online Stitch Diagram Index
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Barbara Bergsten has given all us stitchers a great gift. It's an online index of stitches that is very readable, very easy to navigate and will undoubtedly be very valuable to many of us! Check it out: http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/new_page_1.htm
My Impressionist Needlepoint Cork Memo Board
Friday, May 29, 2009
I am writing to share with you all that i just started a great new canvas to add some Impressionist needlepoint art to my kitchen and I got the idea from the Art Needlepoint website. To get some of the clutter off of my kitchen counters, I wanted to put a cork board where the whole household would see it everyday, right on the kitchen wall. Even though I desperately need a place to put all the papers that wind up on my kitchen counters I had avoided putting up a memo board because most of them look like they belong in an office lunch room or a dorm room. Not exactly what I had in mind for my favorite room of the house.
The picture below is the one I am going to do next for my daughter's room which could always use some organization!
Will send a pic when I am done...bye for now, Jessica
Needlepoint Accessories - Let There be Light (Task lighting that is!)
Friday, May 29, 2009
I saw the blog from the woman working on the Gauguin seat cover and felt your pain. Not only do I need the direct lighting to figure out the colors but my eyes aren’t what they use to be and I need magnification too.
There are tons of lights and magnifiers out there and all the craft stores like Michaels, A.C. Moore and Joanne Fabrics carry them.
I found the light I use at home at A.C. Moore (don’t forget to use one of their 40% off coupons when you buy it!).
I like it because it has the focused task lighting with daylight bulbs and a flexible arm magnifier and chart holder.
http://www.acmoore.com/p-59878-armchair-magnifying-lamp-antique-brass.aspx
When I take my needlepoint with me to do away from home. I take a mini light I found online that has a magnifier that will CLIP ON to the frame of my needlepoint. See link and picture below.
http://www.csnlighting.com/Lite-Source-LSM-195SILV-IT3092.html
Sttiching with Silk
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
To maintain the beautiful sheen of silk threads we recommend the following while you are stitching:
- work with a 12", 15" or 18" length to keep the thread from tangling
- take time to wash your hands before stitching and if you like use a non greasy hand cream
- stitching with silk is easy and can be quick but use a poke and stab rather than a traditional sewing pass to help keep the thread from fraying or tangling
- on a 14 mesh use a #20 needle and use 4 or 6 of the 8 plys of Needlepoint Silk threads ( You may choose to use all 8 of the plys depending on your taste preference). on an 18 count use 4 of the 8 plys of Needlepoint Silk
- allow your needle to drop and hang or dangle every once in awhile to let the thread relax, which will prevent too much twisting and will also help avoid knotting
- you may wish to use a laying tool, but you can also use the end of your needle to lay strands neatly and evenly
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA
Friday, May 22, 2009
I just came back from a visit to Boston, and had a chance to revisit one of my favorite museums in the world, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The link to their website is http://www.gardnermuseum.org/index.asp. Spring is a great time to visit this museum because of its beautiful garden courtyard that is always brimming with flowers.
Isabella Stewart Gardner first welcomed visitors to her museum on New Year's Day, 1903. On that evening guests listened to the music of Bach, Mozart, and Schumann, gazed in wonder at the courtyard full of flowers, and viewed one of the nation's finest collections of art. Today, visitors experience much the same thing. The Gardner Museum has remained essentially unchanged since its founder's death in 1924. Unchanged but certainly not stagnant. Three floors of galleries surround a garden courtyard blooming with life in all seasons.
Needlepoint Is My Creative Way to Reduce Stress
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
I read the blog this morning “Response to Mindful Needlepoint” and thought about how soothing needlepoint is to me. The repetition of the stitching calms my thoughts and the creative concerns are interesting enough to require my full attention. Soon, anxious thoughts melt away. Taking a mental “time out” allows me to regroup and lets me focus on what is truly important. I was doing needlepoint on a plane and the person sitting next to me asked about my project. After discussing the canvas, the artist, and Post-Impressionism in general, I told him it was my form of meditation. His comment, “Well, it’s a lot cheaper than therapy!” Pretty perceptive of him. Of course, it has the added advantage of resulting in something beautiful for your home.
THANKS, Sherry
THANKS, Sherry
Needlepoint Seat Covers
Friday, May 15, 2009
Masterworks through Time
Starting the Canvas #1
Wheee, silk threads with 14 count mono canvas feels like the super fast zip line compared to the kiddie bumper car ride of the 22 count Penelope canvas in wool for the Cluny tapestry I just finished. I started the Gauguin “The Day of the God” dining room seat cover last night, very exciting, as it is my first experience with silk. It feels so nice, perhaps I can say goodbye to these calluses on my fingertips. My fingertips frequently peel from doing so much stitchery with wool. Does anyone have any advice on how to avoid/treat this problem??? (Other than switching to silk!)
Starting the Canvas #1
Wheee, silk threads with 14 count mono canvas feels like the super fast zip line compared to the kiddie bumper car ride of the 22 count Penelope canvas in wool for the Cluny tapestry I just finished. I started the Gauguin “The Day of the God” dining room seat cover last night, very exciting, as it is my first experience with silk. It feels so nice, perhaps I can say goodbye to these calluses on my fingertips. My fingertips frequently peel from doing so much stitchery with wool. Does anyone have any advice on how to avoid/treat this problem??? (Other than switching to silk!)
Needlepoint Accessories – Laying Tools, WHAT? WHEN?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I’ve been doing needlepoint for years and I am embarrassed to say that I just the other day heard of a needlepoint accessory called a “laying tool” for the first time. What in the world? Have I been doing my needlepoint wrong all this time? I looked it up on line but I still don’t really understand when you are supposed to use one or how exactly you use it. Is it mostly used when you are doing stitches that involve more than one cell???? The references I found to it also talk about using it with ribbon or metallics. I’m planning to start a project with silks and metallics soon, do I need to buy a laying tool? Figure out which one to buy and how to use it before I can start??? HELP! Anyone with experience using a laying tool please respond.
Cézanne-Needlepoint for the Spring season
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
HURRY, if you want some wonderful inspiration for a needlepoint project for the Spring and you live in the mid Atlantic area, take a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and see the special exhibit: “Cézanne and Beyond.” The exhibit ends on May 31, 2009 and is fabulous.
It also showcases some of the artists that were greatly influenced by
Cézanne such as Marsden Hartley, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Piet Mondrian.
I really like the mystique of Lake Annecy by Cézanne as well
The link for the exhibit in Philadelphia is: http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/312.html.
The following is an excerpt from the museum’s website describing Cézanne.
“The French artist Paul Cézanne (say-ZAHN), who lived from 1839 to 1906, is widely considered to be the
father of modern art. His life and work have inspired artists for over a century. Some were impressed
by his single-minded pursuit of an artistic vision. Others were inspired by his close observation of nature.
His distinctive approach to painting opened many possibilities for other artists to explore. In the painting of Mont Sainte-Victoire (for example, he used separate touches of paint to create
a color harmony throughout his composition.After 1878, he spent much of the rest of his life painting in Provence.
Relatively isolated from the Paris art scene, Cézanne pursued his own artistic path. While the Impressionists depicted
changing light and atmospheric effects, he was more interested in studying the underlying structure of the landscapes he painted.
He said, “I wanted to make of Impressionism something solid and enduring like the art in museums.”
COLLAGE AS NEEDLEPOINT
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Artist, Anne Ryan [1889 – 1954] was part of the
New York School of Abstract Expressionist artists.
Her career began after leaving a marriage in 1923, for life as a poet and journalist in Europe. Upon her return in 1938, Anne settled in New York and began painting and printmaking.
When she was 57, she was introduced to the collages of Kurt Schwitters, and from that point on, collage became her passion. As a poet, Anne discovered that through collage, she could create visual interpretations of her sonnets. She went on to develop over 400 collages in her Greenwich Village studio before her death in 1954. Though scarce, the collages Anne produced in the last six years of her life are rich examples of postwar New York modernism, and their textural quality translates beautifully onto needlepoint canvases.
A Terrific Online Stitch Diagram Index
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Barbara Bergsten has given all us stitchers a great gift. It's an online index of stitches that is very readable, very easy to navigate and will undoubtedly be very valuable to many of us! Check it out: http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/new_page_1.htm
Comments