Perfect Painted Canvases for the Beginner

I'm sure you are familiar with Barbara Bergsten's cheerful designs. After all, I've posted about her work often, reently showcasing the charming roly poly Santa Stitches set...
set.http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2012/11/santa-stitches-needlepoint-off-to-the-finishers.html

...each of which was designed to teach a different decorative stitch.  Here's Santa Stitches Four, which uses Stairstep stitches.
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2012/11/santa-stitches-needlepoint-off-to-the-finishers.html

Barbara just added a little bit about her design philosophy and beginning stitchers on her blog.
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2012/11/painted-stitches-needlepoint.html

If you are a shop looking for a beginner's project to teach, this is the place.  You can even find stitch guides and lovely stitch diagrams for many of Barbara's designs on her website, free to download.
http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/stitch_guides.htm

Barbara has certainly done her part to encourage beginners.  What have you done today?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Wedding Fever

Mer made great wedding needlepoint gifts that can be made up into pillows later.  She lays out what she did step-by-step here.
http://www.mersworld.com/2012/10/24/homemade-wedding-gifts/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com