Strawberry Thief Steals Tennis Balls

Jolly Red, a UK tapestry kit company, shows how they translated William Morris' Strawberry Thief design into the Tennis Ball Thief pillow kit.

https://www.facebook.com/mrsjollyred/posts/pfbid0Laidz73ibu51mRBzDhPxUrRFJxJVbJhacwQAsRXc8nHmSqPXkSbcwnKD6vBawdCTl

Here is William Morris' original.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Thief_(William_Morris)#/media/File:Strawberrythief.jpg

Here is Jolly Red's printed needlepoint version on 10 count canvas with the tennis ball and the Jack Russell terrier.  Very clever!

https://www.jollyred.co.uk/product/thetennisballthief/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 16, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Antique Needlepoint at the Musuem

Susan (you know her as Plays with Needles) have been to the "Diligant Needle" exhibit at Winterthur and came home with some great photographs of pieces that caught her fancy.  I am most interested at the second piece she admired, which is what with think of as Victorian needlepoint but with a difference.  The flowers and at least one butterfly are over stitched with filament silk in what we now call needle painting, giving emphasis and life to select areas of the design.  
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2014/10/three-faves-from-diligent-needle-exhibit.html

Actually, based on this overstitching I'd guess this is the work of a British stitcher as it appears to be heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement to my eyes.  Of course well traveled Americans would have see William Morris' work but somehow I think this is a domestic piece done by one of Morris' admirers in England.

There are several great ideas, like the chain and stem stitches that create the "eye" on the butterfly's wing and the stem and straight stitches that give detail to a leaf.  This indeed is one of the stitching ancestors of today's embellished needlepoint style!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 28, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

History Through Needlepoint (with Skulls)

Needlepoint is one of many historical embroidery styles. It happens to be **my** favorite but there are many more. Those who would like a history vacation centered on embroidery will want to "express interest" in the tour of English embroidered jackets and costumes that the Plimoth Plantation reproduction jacket folks are setting up.

http://thistle-threads.com.mytempweb.com/blog/index.php/2009/08/announcing-a-jacket-study-tour-of-england/ 

 History buffs may enjoy browsing this site that specializes in Arts & Crafts style embroidery. (Please click on Framed Needleart to see some wonderful finished examples for sale.) If William Morris' embroidery is a favorite of yours and you've never looked at Beth Russell's needlepoint kits, click on the second link and enjoy. These kits are first rate, although the designs are either stamped or silk screened on canvas. 

http://paint-by-threads.com/shop/ http://www.bethrussellneedlepoint.com/

If you are more into the curvy Art Nouveau style (related to the styles above) how about this? I choose Water Lilies from here to illustrate this blog entry. 

http://www.art-stitch.com/bourgaize/cat-ff808081172580e501172f3401f42990.html

If you enjoy exploring your favorite historical period through needlepoint painted canvases, check out some of these designs-- Elizabeth I (I think the designer is Designing Women) http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/1998/Bodien.php 

If you want to stitch like Mary, Queen of Scots, this company reproduces some of her known pieces for needlepoint. 

http://www.sewexciting.com/?page=shop/view&category_id=47d7abf64882d498ca0aa53c50b664ab

Melissa Shirley has all sorts of fun canvases of women from history, ranging from Marie Antionette to Betsy Ross and even Calamity Jane. http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?cat=64 

here are more realistic portraits available. Here is Tapestry Tent's Henry VIII- http://elainemagninneedlepoint.stores.yahoo.net/kinghenryviii.html

How about a stylized King Arthur? 

http://elainemagninneedlepoint.stores.yahoo.net/nust.html 

Is Egyptian history fun for you? 

http://elainemagninneedlepoint.stores.yahoo.net/phardynkin.html http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp822x.html http://www.theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_100&products_id=231 http://www.amybunger.com/catalog/item/6278007/6754081.htm

I promised skulls, so here they are--A Dragon's Tale has their new Halloween designs on their blog and there is a skull and crossbones canvas for those into pirates (that's historical, right?) Plus they are having a sale! You can't order directly but you can ask your local shop to get the catalogue so you can browse and place an order through them. http://adragonstaleneedlepoint.blogspot.com/search/label/Whats%20New%3A%20Halloween

And by coincidence Judy Harper has posted some new Halloween outlines to copy and use and there is a skull and crossbones pattern there. If your kids are driving you nuts in these last weeks before school starts, maybe one of them would like to stitch this.... 

http://needle-crafts.blogspot.com/2009/08/halloween-time-motifs-for-projects-in.html

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! (or at least a martini) http://www.amybunger.com/catalog/item/6297823/6259691.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow