A Year in Review at The Enriched Stitch

Suzy of Enriched Stitch shows off everything she stitched in 2020.

https://astheneedleturns.com/year-in-review-5/

Suzie is Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery and also owns the Amanda Lawford line, so many of these are models.  Check with her shop (The Enriched Stitch) to order the designs and see if there is a stitch guide written for these items.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 5, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Self-Finishing for Ornaments: Three Inches Versus Four Inches UPDATED

This fall I bet a lot of folks are thinking about self-finishing items for ornaments.  I'm just talking ornaments, now, either round or square, that fit inside three inch versus four inch self finishing items.  There are other self finishing items (purses, tissue boxes, snap trays) for larger pieces but I'm not considering those here.

If you have a three inch round item, your choices are the Lee purse, 

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Crossbody-Bag-Navy-Leather-Self-Finishing-3-opening-x36321354.htm

…the Lee leather needle box…

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Leather-Needle-Box-Red-3-Insert-x35454725.htm

…the Lee leather gift box…

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Self-Finishing-Gift-Box-Black-4-w-3-opening-x36997694.htm

…the Lee cosmetic bag (available in several finishes)…

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Self-Finishing-Cosmetic-Bag55x753-opening-x51899916.htm

…the Lee leather snap tray…

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/small-square-snap-tray-assorted-colors/

…or the Lee luggage tag.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Luggage-Tag-Fucshia-Snakeskin-Self-Finishing-accepts-3-round-x36165587.htm

If your item is three inches square, Planet Earth has square leather coasters.

https://needlepoint-for-fun.com/products/leather-needlepoint-coasters

Some coasters for the three inch square design come in sets of four.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Blue-Coasters-Set-of-4-Self-Finishing-Canvas-area-3x3-x33169093.htm

Planet earth also has boxes that are for a three inch square design.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Leather-Jewelry-Case-Bellflower-Blue3x3-opening-x50489034.htm

If your ornament is a four inch round, this Lee leather box might be just right.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Gray-Leather-Round-Case4-design-area-x41461397.htm

I'm not sure which company offers these for four inch round designs.

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/round-leather-case-assorted-colors/

These silk boxes are also for a four inch round design.

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/round-silk-self-finishing-case/

If your round is a bit larger than four inches in diameter, this Lee leather coaster that has a magnetic back and a loop to hang might be just the thing.  

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/coaster-magnetic-ornament-assorted-colors/

This large snap tray will also handle a four inch round or even one that is four and a half inches round.

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/large-square-snap-tray-assorted-colors/

If your piece is four inches square, Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery has two styles of coasters, both with a glass insert to protect your stitching.

https://vngcanvas.com/self-finishing-coasters-and-designs/

Whether your ornament is three inches or four (or even a bit larger), shop around once you settle on your preferred style.  

UPDATE:  Eye Candy shows off the various Planet Earth self-finishing boxes and their own designs which fit perfectly.

http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2021/04/finishing-freedom.html

UPDATE #2:  Stitch by Stitch Larchmont shows off a range of self-finishing items, including the new luggage tags from Planet Earth that take 2x3 inch designs.

https://www.stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/accessories?utm_campaign=62d391f9-4d5a-43e4-b279-ef40a9c6338e&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail_lp&cid=68c6d8c4-6311-4db7-a6af-6c56ebef78b3

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 9, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Planet Earth Self-Finishing Box Tutorial

Ever worried about how to attach a canvas to the lid of one of those Planet Earth Fiber self-finishing boxes?  Someone asked on Needlepoint Nation and got lots of help.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/3312862558790879/

In case you've never seen these, they look like this and also come in lime green, orange and pink.

https://needlepoint.com/products/planet-earth-leather-jewelry-case-navy

The Pointing It Out podcast (available on YouTube) has a whole series about self-finishing items if you want to see more options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SMSdhD6Fr0

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com 

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com 

© Copyright September 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch Pink in October

Enriched Stitch is organizing a breast cancer fund raiser in October for the shops to host using three new Stitch Pink designs: One from Suzie at Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery, one from Melissa Prince and one from Two Sisters.  They are announcing it now so that stitchers and shops can pre-order.  Each design comes with a full kit and stitch guide by Suzie Vallerie.  It's a fun way to stitch towards a cure for breast cancer.
http://astheneedleturns.com/stitch-pink-fundraiser/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  August 20, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Since It's June Let's Talk Santa Beards

Ok, I know Christmas is six months away BUT finishing deadlines are coming right up, so let's talk about Santa beards.  After all, I know a lot of us are stitching a Santa Claus and trying to come up with great beard ideas.  Let's start with the new Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery Santas.  Suzie has posted about them here with photos of the finished items.  Check out those beards!
http://astheneedleturns.com/the-birth-of-a-santa/

White Santa has a beard done with thin wool in long random stitches.  So does Patriotic Santa and Fifth Avenue Santa.

Courtly Santa has French knots on a Stalk for his beard.  I suspect Wisper has been used here, probably mixed with another thread.

Beach Santa has horizontal satin stitches that are offset in a zigzag effect, probably also in thin wool.

If those aren't enough ideas for you, Diana Bosworth's little booklet "Beards I Have Known" will show you more beard ideas than you could ever stitch!
https://bristlythistle.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/needlepoint-beards/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright april 30, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Self-Finishing Coasters

Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery introduced two styles of self-finishing coasters at Destination Dallas this September.  These are suitable for designs that are 4 inches square.
http://astheneedleturns.com/did-someone-say-self-finishing/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 16, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Lacquered Boxes

Remember the beautiful lacquered boxes that HP Designs used to sell? Amanda Lawford bought rights to some of the styles and now that her designs belong to Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery, the shop affiliated with VNG has managed to get more of them with a 5x5 opening for a design.  (Did you follow all that?  I might need to do a diagram.  LOL)  The boxes are fabulous and are $190 each regardless of color.   There are only a few of them so if you have a great canvas that will work ready and want a spectacular display for a birthday or Christmas gift, don't hesitate to buy.
http://astheneedleturns.com/september-newsletter/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 5, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

All the Fun at the Enriched Stitch Retreat

Ever wanted to go on a needlepoint retreat but didn't know what they were like? Suzie Vallerie spills the beans on Enriched Stitches' Spring 2018 retreat!
http://astheneedleturns.com/oh-what-fun/

http://astheneedleturns.com/day-2/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 2, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

BREAKING NEWS: Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery

Suzie Vallerie of Enriched Stitch has announced a new line of canvases, called Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery (VNG for short), based on the artwork of Kim Leo.  These will be available through the shop shortly and eventually the designs will also be available in other shops.  Have fun checking out Suzie's new treats.
http://astheneedleturns.com/big-news-huge/

http://enrichedstitch.com/vng-wholesale-canvas/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  March 17, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.