Iris enters our Hall of Fame

Dionne    Cross Stitch, Feel good stuff     heirloom, inspiration

I have been corresponding across the Tasman with Iris, an ex-pat Aussie and a Victoria House Needlecraft customer when she comes “home” for a visit.  In the course of helping her find all the requirements for her latest project, a truly original and personally meaningful piece came to light.

“I inherited that Dutch porcelain bowl from my father. I loved the pattern along the inside rim. The orange and blue is such a beautiful contrast. So I worked out a simple pattern and did this cross stitch runner.”

I really love this sort of thing.  You cannot put a price on it and one day it will be handed on and the two pieces will have more meaning and resonance for the recipient.

Cards for mini stitching inserts

Dionne    Exhibiting your work, What's New    

We regularly get asked for cards and notecards for inserting mini-stitching projects.  For a long time we have had to disappoint you as we could not compete with the craft chain-stores pricing.  We still can’t.

What we can do is recommend a great Australian company who will provide these products to you at a very reasonable price.  Thanks to Ruth, one of our gorgeous customers over many years, we have found out about Regal Craft Cards in Launceston, Tasmania.  They have a fantastic online catalogue and will also send one out to you.  Ruth informs us that the pricing is very competitive and the quality is fantastic.

Mixed Media Stitching

Dionne    Feel good stuff    

We have pretty much seen it all here.  Baxtergrafik vintage car series completed in beading, some spectacular stumpwork incorporating wire, leather and I don’t know what else.  You don’t have to go all out, subtle thread choice can really make your work stand out.

Check out the bold poppies in Clara’s work, their colour is all the more vibrant due to background of soft cotton.

Lost your trusted needlework framer?

Dionne    Cross Stitch, Exhibiting your work    

So did we.  While waiting for her return we have had to go elsewhere.  We tried out Ann Pham at Liverpool Picture Framing, after recommendation from a customer and are thrilled with the work she has done for our cross-stitch shop models.  We will definitely be returning, despite the 1 hour, 10 min travel time.

If you are curious, just ask one of our staff next time you are in-store, you can check out her work for yourself.

31 days to Build a Better Blog, Day 5, Discovery of the Manbroiderer

Dionne    Feel good stuff, Manbroiderers     aubrey longley - cook, contemporary design, gentlemen stitchers, manbroiderer, mr x stitch

Yes, I know.  Those of you who registered back in February would remember my falling off the wagon on day 3!  Oh dear.  Well I have a 66% improvement rating so far.  I have joined a female blogging group, and having to report in appears to have made me somewhat more accountable. 

I have avoided other needlecraft blogs other than the designers we stock in an attempt to develop my own voice rather than become a me too.  However, yesterdays task of analysing another blog in my niche led to the discovery of 3 things, Mr X Stitch, we have an organic search ranking of 4th (OMG I am so excited! especially after only 5 months) and Manbroiderers, who knew that was even a word.  I knew they existed.  It is just that we refer to them as gentlemen stitchers.

Mr X Stitch features some very cool, out there stuff in mixed media, and contemporary design with traditional needlecraft techniques.  They feature amazing work by talented individuals who are “pushing the boundries of the threadiverse; people who make amazing art using the power of stitch”.  Completely outside the boundries of my imagination but I love what they are doing.  I really like the way they are giving contemporary relevance to traditional needlecraft, broadening the appeal to a new generation of stitchers.

Now for my favourite Manbroiderer!  I have not examined the total universe, but my research for yesterday unearthed (thanks to Mr X Stitch) Aubrey Longley – Cook.  Loving Runaway and Running Backwards, not sure which way round I like it best.  Our male partners of stitchers are always a little dubious when asked if they stitch.  They usually straighten up, and are a little pleased with themselves when we inform them that we really don’t ever see bad stitching from men.  It is always very precise, maybe it is due to the mathematical approach men appear to take with stitching.  There does not appear to be one particular type of needlecraft that draws men as a whole, however they usually pick one and excel at their chosen form.  Of course, like every generalisation there are exceptions and some have taken to needlecraft like a duck to water and excel at everything!