My Favorites from Spring 2020

With the disruption the Coronavirus has brought us during the spring of 2020, we didn't have a spring trade show in Orlando but that doesn't mean our designers haven't been busy creating temptations for us!  Here are my favorites from the late winter-early spring.

Gayla Elliott's Cleopatra

I always like Gayla Elliott's little portraits of woman.  This is Cleopatra.  She would be a delight to stitch!
https://needlepoint.com/products/aasgep255

Maggie's Cleo Cat, Complete with Attitude

Continuing the theme of Egypt (A personal favorite but hey!  This is MY favorites list!) is this fun Egyptian cat from Maggie.  Abstract designs don't usually grab me but I really like this one.  Snooty cats are always fun, right?

Heidi Stanley's Lucky Cat

Heidi Stanley has a great Lucky Cat design that would be really fun to do as well.

Green Tiger from Hello Tess

I also like Hello Tess' Green Tiger.  Are you seeing a feline theme here?  LOL
https://hellotessdesigns.com/collections/new

Labors of Love's Wicked Queen

Want more of a challenge?  Look at this Labors of Love canvas of the evil stepmother queen from Snow White that Amy Bunger will use as a Home Study starting probably next fall.  It'll be a real challenge but Amy Bunger is up to it.

Tapestry Fair's Spirit Animal Coyote

Tapestry Fair has a series of Spirit Animals from Timothy Chapman's artwork that are spectacular.  I like the Coyote.
https://bestitchedneedlepointshop.com/collections/spring-2020-digital-market/products/spirit-animal-coyote

Blue Heron from Julie Mar is lovely.
http://www.juliemardesigns.com/pc/CN-1524/market-preview/Blue+Heron

Abigail Cecile's Brown Bear from the Folk Art Animals Series

If you want less of a challenge, how about the really darling series of folk art wild animals from Abigail Cecile?  Brown Bear is my favorite but they are all very cute and would be fun to work up for winter display.
https://kirkandbradley.com/collections/new-designs-abigail-cecile

Ugly Christmas Sweater from Ryan Conners of Purple Palm

Want something with personality?  How about Ryan's animal glasses series?  These are distributed by Purple Palm.  I love the cat in green glasses myself but there are dogs that are just as cute.
https://purplepalmdesigns.com/?product_cat=ryans-designs

Melissa Prince's Winter Hummingbird

If you like birds (and who doesn't?) you might like Melissa Prince's new birds, too.  My favorite is the Winter Hummingbird.  I like the realism here.  The humming bird has personality.
https://stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/feature.php?id=64696&title=Winter%20Hummingbird&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases

Lady in Hat from Leigh Designs

My final pick is a classic.  Leigh Designs has a series of ladies in hats.  This is the newest and a favorite of mine due to the soft pastel colors and her sawn neck and lovely hair.
https://www.facebook.com/FleurDeParis/photos/a.364859333567690/2895536467166618/?type=3&theater

So there you have it!  I like people and animal canvases, mostly realistic designs.  So what's your favorite theme and which new designs do you like?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 4, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ornament Exchanges are Fun

I love the idea of ornament exchanges during the holidays so I enjoyed seeing the ornaments the staff of Enriched Stitch exchanged.    Some of the ornaments are credited to their designers and some aren't but if you fall in love, the shop can help you identify the design you adore.
http://astheneedleturns.com/ornament-exchange/

Pocket Full of Stitches did an exchange, too.  Look at all those smiling faces!
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2018/12/pfos-annual-ornament-exchange.html

I think both shops had a blast.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 19, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Custom Pet Portraits UPDATED

Those of us with companion animals in our families sometimes need a custom portrait of our cat and dog (or parrot or whatever) friends.  I thought I'd compile a listing of folks who will paint a portrait of your pet from a photograph.  Here they are, in alphabetical order.  (By the way, most of the examples are of dogs.  Apparently most customers want dog portraits.)

Alice Twiggs Van Trease, Needles and Threads of Ruxton, is said to do lovely dog portraits. I haven't found any examples to show you.  Sorry.

http://needlesandthreadsofruxton.com

Barbara's Needlepoint has a painter (Cindy) who does lovely dogs.  Contact Barbara's Needlepoint via their Facebook page to arrange this at the second link below.
https://www.facebook.com/107558659287177/photos/a.471227749586931.100490.107558659287177/1082334315142935/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/Barbaras-Needlepoint-107558659287177/

https://www.facebook.com/107558659287177/photos/pcb.1369658023077228/1369657099743987/?type=3&theater

Heidi does very nice dog portraits.  You can view Heidi's designs on Flickr by searching Heidi Stanley or heididesigns. She can be reached by email at jonrheidir@gmail.com.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1622699111329011&set=pcb.933002363443589&type=3&theater

She also has an Instagram page.
https://www.instagram.com/heidistanleydesigns/

Labors of Love does a series of very nice cat and dog canvases but they will also do a custom portrait for you.
https://www.facebook.com/laborsofloveneedlepoint/photos/a.163225933826831.39001.163219983827426/692426104240142/?type=3&theater

Some of their customs are at the bottom of this page.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/cats-and-dogs.html

Lisa Ferguson does nice dog portraits that are like the animals but not too complicated to stitch.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206643238509378&set=pcb.1094417757302048&type=3&theater

Contact her via her FB page (second link below).
https://www.facebook.com/lisa.ferguson.710

Sandra Gilmore/Blue Moon Studio will do custom dog portraits.  Contact her via her distributor, Fleur de Paris.
https://www.facebook.com/needlehearts18900/photos/pcb.512520835601438/512519772268211/?type=3&theater

Jackie at Smiling Cat Studios does a lovely dog that doesn't appear too complex to stitch.  The only contact information I have for her is via Needlepoint Breeze (second link below).
https://www.facebook.com/Needlepointbreeze6/photos/a.487770404613196.113970.487766711280232/1195481983842031/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/Needlepointbreeze6/

Gail Hendrix at Squiggee does nice dog portraits.
http://squiggeedesigns.com

My Pink Sugar Life does pop art style portraits.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/253390010/hand-painted-pop-art-pet-portrait-of?ref=shop_home_active_4

Tammy Syrigos Irrera does fabulous dog and cat portraits.  Contact her via her Facebook page.  You can see a lot of examples of her work there, too.  UPDATE:  Tammy is temporarily closing her custom painting business as she needs to concentrate on her ill parents right now.  (January 2019)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207366421909027&set=pb.1540727335.-2207520000.1474036636.&type=3&theater

UPDATE:  As Mary Agnes reminds us, many local shops have painters who will do custom pet portraits.  Just ask if you are lucky enough to have a shop nearby.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 16, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Heidi for Halloween UPDATED With Other Holidays

Pocket Full of Stitches has a bunch of Halloween canvases by Heidi on their blog this morning since they are having a trunk show.  Heidi's great designs are hard to find online so I thought I'd add the link for those not familiar with her fun pieces.  If you want to stitch a Halloween piece in September-October, this is a good time to pick up one of these cuties.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2016/08/heidi-trunk-show-halloween.html

UPDATE:  Here are Heidi's Christmas mini socks. I've never seen these before.  Thanks, PFOS!
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2016/08/heidi-trunk-show-mini-socks.html

UPDATE #2:  Word designs from Heidi, mostly for Valentine's Day and Christmas.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2016/08/heidi-trunk-show-words.html

UPDATE #3:  More Christmas fun.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2016/08/heidi-trunk-show-more-christmas.html

UPDATE #4:  Easter, Fourth of July, Valentine's and a tad Thanksgiving.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2016/08/heidi-trunk-show-misc-designs.html

UPDATE:  More Heidi canvases, posted in a photo album on Facebook by The Needle Bug.
https://www.facebook.com/artistscollection.needlepoint/photos/a.174416246093000.1073741829.174411102760181/593522747515679/?type=3&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 3, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Designs By Heidi's Trunk Show UPDATED

I don't usually post links to trunk shows as I don't like to encourage folks to only shop sales instead of finding and then supporting a great local shop. But because Ridgewood is showcasing Heidi's designs, I am making an exception. Designs By Heidi does wonderful painted canvases, full of detail and originality but she doesn't have a website so you won't see many of her things online.   Take this opportunity to enjoy her work and perhaps place an order for something special.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/11/new-trunk-show.html

http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/12/heidi-designs-trunk-show.html

http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/12/trunk-show.html

Heidi does have photos of her designs on Flickr.  You may not be able to see this if you don't log into Flickr with your Yahoo email account but it shows things you don't see on Ridgewood's blog entries, so try it.  If you find something you want, you can email Heidi at jonrheidir@gmail.com to order.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/134616350@N05

UPDATE:  Needle Bug posted a photo album of Heidi designs on their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/artistscollection.needlepoint/photos/a.174416246093000.1073741829.174411102760181/593522747515679/?type=3&theater

UPDATE #2:  Bloomin' Stitches now stocks Heidi canvases.
http://www.bloominstitches.com/copy-of-dede-ogden

UPDATE #3:  Heidi Stanley Designs has an Instagram page where you can see a lot of her current work.
https://www.instagram.com/heidistanleydesigns/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 29, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.