Updated July 1, 2022. Guest post by Sandy Grossman-Morris.
In the second part of the series on creating a custom canvas, find some more great ideas for your custom canvas.
Little Me Dolls
A favorite little ballerina: Get down on your knees, take a full front shot with her legs slightly apart, arms out slightly, also. Then, have her carefully turn around and take a back shot, with her in the same stance, or have her stand still and you go around to her back. Get as close as you can, without cropping her head or feet. Take one more photo, a closeup of the face, including the hair. A photo without the tutu, is best, as a tutu can easily be added to the finished needlepointed doll.
This can be done with any child, not just a ballerina, how about a T-ball or soccer player? Think about the choice of clothing and how you would want to stitch it, choose good lighting, and don’t worry about any background as that can be removed. I have 2 suggestions for these dolls:
- Shelf Sitters: I “remove” the legs and arms. The body/head is one piece and a flat gusset is added by the finisher so that the doll “sits”. The arms are sewn into the side seams and the legs are stitched into the front seam so they dangle from the shelf.
- Rag Doll Style. Again, I “remove” the arms and legs, and they are inserted into the side and lower seams of the body. (Think Raggedy Ann)
With each of these styles of doll, I place the components on the canvas, allowing plenty of seam allowance for the finisher. Wearing pants or shorts is better than a dress, although, I can work around that also. . . but we need to communicate!
Family Portrait
Children create the most wonderful family portraits. Put onto canvas, stitched and prominently displayed in a beautiful frame, it will become a family heirloom that will be cherished by many generations. Are there “extras” in the drawing that you want to be removed? No problem!
Silhouette
Send me a side shot(s) and I’ll create a silhouette for you. May I suggest adding a silk flower or piece of jewelry to your finished piece? You can showcase one or more people on your canvas, horizontally or vertically.
Frame it!
How about taking a child’s drawing and making it into a photo frame? I can take various parts of the artwork, move them around and create a frame, unlike no other.
A LiTTLe MoRe FuN! – an ornament
An endless number of items can be placed on canvas to make an ornament: front or side view of a beloved car or truck, an ice or roller skate, or a favorite shoe or boot, a favorite toy (from today or yesteryear), a flower (from a treasured person’s garden?) a pet’s face, a ballet slipper, a section from a child’s drawing, or someone’s signature.
These are just a few more of my ideas that can be put on canvas. I would like to create that special custom Canvas for you. too! Please contact your favorite Needlepoint Shop, ask them to contact me, and between the 3 of us, you’ll be stitching on your canvas in no time at all. I can discuss your project with you, but please understand, that I can only work with you through a shop. If you do not have a favorite shop, check out the “SHOPS” section on my website. Any one of them will be able to assist you in contacting me with your project. Still having difficulties? email me at sandy @ sandygrossman-morris . com (leave out spaces) and I’ll help you to locate a shop willing to assist you as I cannot take orders directly from non-shop owners.
Something Worth Repeating: Artwork that is copied at 100% or Digital Photos in JPEG, TIFF, or PDF Formats, saved on a CD, DVD, Flash Drive, or sent via e-mail work well. Many copy shops (FedEx Kinkos, for instance) will copy your artwork and save it to your own flash drive at no cost. I return all media with the order. You can submit original artwork, also. PLEASE NOTE: I can only take orders from Needle Art Shops, however, I am happy to work with you during the process of creating your Custom Needlepoint Canvas. Be sure to give your contact information to the shop when you discuss the ideas for your order.
While you are on my website, please sign up for my online newsletter! It’s free and you’ll get lots of new and exciting ideas, plus see my newest designs & much more.
From my little corner of the World,
Sandy
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
Leave a Reply