Lots of Fun with New Needlepoint

I always find myself after needlepoint markets with too many canvases I want to stitch right now! It doesn’t matter how big my piles of current projects are or how full my bin of UFO’s might be. I want more. And there is plenty to love in the new canvases that came out at last weekend’s Winter Market.

Sandra Gilmore has a lovely new canvas, Christmas Glow. It’s a table with lots of packages, a wreath, lanterns, and more. If you are a fan of her room canvases, this is a subtle, seasonal addition. At the show they had it rigged up with lights so the candle and lanterns turned on!

Danji has a canvas of Santa’s workshop where you see the toys through the window. It looks great finished as a stand-up. They have also introduced six ocean-themed candy canes, including one with flamingoes. There is a new series of ornaments in several shapes for dogs and cats. Finally there are new larger rounds, featuring snowmen, and stars, featuring houses.

Those fantastic Snowcones I mentioned on Monday are from Kathy Schenkel. She also has new travel rounds, many for cities overseas. And if you have ever wanted to buy (or sell0 the Brooklyn Bridge, here’s your chance becuse Kathy has a round depicting it. She also has a wonderful winter sampler with a snowman, mittens, and a cardinal along with other seasonal stuff.

Patti Mann has a great undersea canvas where seaweeds, coral, and plants are the focus instead of fish, although there are a few fish too. Melissa Shirley has whales with patterns on them. She also has a wonderful new basket that focuses on lovely large seashells instead of flowers. Pepperberry has a new series of oval ornaments that feature dog silhouettes against a plaid background.They also have a charming 3-D gingerbread house that has gingerbread trees and people to accompany it.

Valerie Needlepoint Gallery has a cool series of striped canvas, they almost look like abstract books. These will be great for trying out new stitches. The design is available in three colors and there is a stitch guide. Maggie has two new series of canvases from Stephanie Stauffer. The Christmas trees series has five canvases and the teddy bear series has four canvases, all on her signature black backgrounds with narrow gold borders.

Renaissance has a wonderful canvas of 20 dogs and 3 cats. The whimsical dogs cover all breeds in the bright and cheerful canvas. They also have dogs in the same style available singly. In addition they have lots of ugly sweater canvases. These come singly to make great ornaments or in groups. The company also has new floral bouquets and new street scene canvases. Finally, they have two charming new canvases I think, one of strawberries and one of pears where the painted canvas has a detailed stitch guide.

Colors of Praise has single word affirmations set against colorful backgrounds. Voila has several striking fashionable lady canvases in black, white, and red. Several of these are sized to fit their Market totes. Sundance has a very unusual tulip design that is a modern update of mid-century modern folk art. It has lots of places for different threads and stitches in a great design.

Kate Dickerson has star tree toppers where each ray of the star is a different color and pattern, giving the design an elegant patchwork look. She also has new woven ribbon designs as well as new pillows based on ikat or patchwork. She is also making croakies to hold sunglasses. In her larger designs there are lovely floral canvases as well as series of shells in blue and white or realistic colors.

Kirk & Bradley has a new floral that features lots of ribbonwork in its stitch guide. Jean Smith also has new flower arrangements in decorative blue and white ceramic vases. She also has close-ups, not of real flowers, but of fantasy flowers. Penny Macleod has expanded her collection of round geometric ornaments. She also has a lovely large heart with a geometric black & white background.

Funda Scully has added bunches of square and rectangular canvases for Hanukkah. The model I saw, of a dreidel, was finished as a small stand-up. Several of the designs are geometric so they can be displayed all year. A new designer to me, Tina Griffin, has inventive 3-D angels where you stitch the dress and finish with a giant bead for the head. She also has a series of boxes that can be finished closed, like presents, or open, like pencil cups. These come in a variety of patterns.

B&B has new rounds featuring National Parks. You can find iconic scenes such as The Redwoods or the Grand Canyon, all done in a realistic style. She also has a series of adorable, whimsical animals, heads only, in scarves. These would make darling ornaments. Painted Pony has lots of new designs from their licensed artists including signs with old-timey graphics for different holidays.

Strictly Christmas has three adorable canvases of kids in a Christmas pageant. Labors of Love has added new 3-D bell canvases to their line-up. Kelly Clark has expanded her selection of blue and white shells. She also has a new series of elaborate bird houses in bright Easter pastels. Colonial has also expanded their selection of simple geometric designs.

The Collection has inserts for the new Planet Earth luggage tags, available in several styles. They also have new hearts with geometric patterns. CBK has tons of new sayings canvases. Two Sisters has pillow-size squares that have sea-themed items in silhouette against bold striped backgrounds.

Meredith has new street scenes from several cities. These include the New Orleans one that graced the material for ANG’s recent Seminar there. I just adore Zecca’s new ornaments in interesting shapes. They feature the company’s palette of rich jewel tones. If you can’t pick a favorite, there is also a larger canvas with many ornaments on black.

Remember, this was a Cash & Carry Market, so your shop may have many of these goodies in right now.