A new name in needlepoint is Cindy Lass. A fine artist, she has adapted some of her paintings to needlepoint because she thinks stitching is the “ideal way to focus the mind to bring calm.” She is best known for her paintings of dogs and cats. One of her most famous “The Queen’s Corgis” is one of the designs adapted for needlepoint. Other canvases include some lovely flowers and a golf design.
Tapestry Fair has added a turkey and a new bat to their patchwork animals line. I especially like the turkey who looks as if he has a quilt block for a tail! Susan Roberts has added some new quilt designs. One of them is a nine-house version of the basic house block. This design used to be available only in a smaller size.
The Meredith Collection has a new series of snowmen rounds with scarf-clad snowmen doing a variety of things — including skiing. They are on a lovely and distinctive blue background. The Meredith Collection has several gift tag ornaments, some of which have great retro typography. They also have a multi-canvas cattle drive pull toy series.
Danji has a new series of Santa face ornaments that come in a variety of shapes. If you are a fan of Janet Zickler Casey’s annual Santa ornaments, these designs are for you. Along with all the other great new canvases from Danji, there is an adorable set of rounds with a dressed-up hedgehog. These little beasties are very popular these days, but I haven’t seen them often in needlepoint. There are also a couple of larger squares with animals in Ray-ban style glasses.
Melissa Shirley has lots of great new designs. There are two new series of hearts. One is in pinks with flowers at the center. The other is mostly red with holly leaves at the center. There are new acorns and a wonderful acorn wreath. For St. Valentine’s Day, there is a series of adorable houses and, my favorite of hers, a canvas with “love” on it, adorned my wild roses. For Easter, you’ll find an adorable series of baskets, each with a different baby animal in them as well as some eggs with geometric patterns.
There are lots of great new canvases from Melissa’s licensed artists. Mary Lake Thompson has lots of new designs, including new bikes, a series of vintage fruit labels, and plenty of great botanicals. There are also new nutcrackers. My favorite is the new series of iced cookies, these all Christmas trees where the icing is different colors of green. In addition to her signature flower arrangements, Anne O’Brien Gonsales has three wonderful Southwest landscapes that are just lovely.
Vicki Sawyer has new birds, but canvases of other wonderful animals in hats, including two otters, a manatee and several new bunnies. In the birds I particularly liked the quail with a succulent hat. There are also great new designs from their other licensed artists.
For Autumn and Halloween, you’ll find a series of small creatures with mushroom parasols or holding acorns. There’s also a new series of big-eyed owls and a new parade canvas for the October holiday. Best of all is the new set of kids figures in really inventive costumes. While these are kids, they are not in the Victorian style of the older series, although they would coordinate with them.
For Christmas you’ll find a new treetop angel in a red fur-trimmed gown, as well as lots of new stockings. There is a new series and stocking with simple Christmas items with large areas to stitch. These would be perfect for beginning stitchers.
Alexa has a bunch of charming patterned pumpkin that will work for Halloween and through autumn. Alexa has new stockings, including a great toy store. Birds of a Feather has a charming series of simple folk art samplers, including some for holidays. They also have an intricate sampler in the style of medieval German embroideries. You can get this look without doing the counting and charting yourself!
JP Needlepoint has a couple of great Halloween canvases with lots of patterns.Valerie Needlepoint Gallery has a beautiful selection of bird pairs in round ornaments that is, I think, exclusive right now. They have a mid-Century modern feel. I rarely buy clubs, but I’m getting this one.
Patti Mann has two delightful canvases for pet lovers. One says “Feliz Navi Dog” on a striped background. The other has “Meowy Christmas” in a round ornament. Other dogs canvases have other humorous statements in ornament sized canvases. In addition to all the other great Kathy Schenkel canvases, she has a new popsicle for Shark Week with two sharks. Pajamas & Chocolate has a great new canvas “Stitch” with a striped background full of patterns.
Sew Much Fun has new coffin-shaped canvases as well as new geometrics with large solid areas, perfect for learning stitches. They also have a 3-D Halloween mouse, that’s in three pieces: body and two ears.Barbara Elmore has beautiful new adaptations of fancy animal paintings. Robbyn’s Nest has two new canvases for music lovers that are shaped like gift tags. The canvases have borders that make the finished size rectangular. These would be thoughtful gifts for music lovers and teachers.
Heartstrings (The Artist’s Collection) has several new Santas with patterned coats. Annie Lane’s dog is up to new tricks, drinking a Margaritas in “Cinco de Mayo.” Pepperberry has simple pairs of mittens for first Christmas available in pink or blue. You could easily personalize these with the baby’s name and birthdate for a great gift. Ashley Bradley has new mini-socks including one with game controllers and one that looks like a tiffany box with ribbon. She also has a series of new Christmas figures that are egg-shaped, including Santa and a penguin.
Abigail Cecile has three lovely new florals in her modern crewel style, these with dark backgrounds. Machelle Somerville has a wonderful new flowerpot full of succulents. Painted Pony has a delightful series of patterned animals in a quirky folk art style. Each of them is dressed for winter in a scarf and sweater.
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