Updated January 14, 2022.
If you like the picture above, then you like Charley Harper. He’s the iconic artist who drew the picture and his work is wonderfully adaptable to needlepoint. This is a section of the cover he draw for The Golden Book of Biology, a book I got when it first came out and still own. It is full of the most marvelous illustrations and made me a fan for life.
His designs adapted to needlepoint by The Meredith Collection continue to be very popular. The company also makes magnetic needle minders of several of the designs. This company makes available as needlepoint a broad selection of his work, all on 13 mesh canvas. This classic illustration, below, called Lucky Ladybug, is one of the adaptations and is currently in my stash to stitch for my equally obsessed daughter (we buy each other Charley Harper presents).
Now that I’ve whetted your appetite, where can you find his canvases? Many shops carry them and you will recognize them by his clean graphic style. And often there are trunk shows highlighting this designer. You can also find them on sites such as eBay. keep your eyes open for these great designs.
And if this wasn’t enough, there is a Facebook group for Charley Harper needlepoint..
If you want to explore his work beyond the confines of needlepoint, check out charleyharper.com, where you can order notecards, prints, lithographs, and lots more. This site also has some work by his son, Brett, and wife, Edie. You can also buy his charming book, Beguiled by the Wild, from Amazon.If you want big coffe table books of his art, look for Todd Oldham’s two books on Harper.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Janet,
If you are looking for more Charley Harper, we have about 100 left in our trunk show.
Cheers, Michele
Michele —
Thanks heaps, my stash is so huge I’m spending all my time reducing it, but I looked at the show and you have some wonderful things there.
Keep Stitching,
Janet