Blossoms in Bloom: Twill Designs

Dionne    Tapestry and Needlepoint     needlepoint, tapestry, twill designs

There are so many reasons to love these new needlepoint kits from Twill Designs.  They have everything you need to complete the design in a nifty little resealable pack.  This makes them a great quick project to take away on holidays, they are perfect for teaching needlepoint to a new stitcher and they have a fresh bright colour range, unlike anything else on the market today.  They are also Australian made and designed.

Blossoms in Bloom has been one of the more popular designs at Victoria House Needlecraft.

Totally loving the new Exotics from Elizabeth Bradley

Dionne    Tapestry and Needlepoint, What's New     cymbidium, elizabeth bradley, needlepoint, phalaenopsis

Check out the new releases from Elizabeth Bradley, Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium are the first in the new Exotics range, they are stunning and are in store right now. 

… Can’t wait to see what is added to this series.

Truly some of the most beautiful needlecraft designs we have seen all year.

Rudolph … the red nosed (needlepoint) Reindeer

Dionne    Christmas, Tapestry and Needlepoint     needlepoint, Rudolph, Santa's red nose helper, twill designs

Our favourite reindeer

School holidays are starting again soon.  Weather in September can be so variable.  Got a little someone with itchy feet and bored fingers?  Needlepoint can be a very soothing activity, why not teach them?  Santa’s Red Nose Helper is a simple design from Twill Designs and can be completed in time to add to Christmas decorations.  With only 7 bright and cheery colours, this engaging pattern is of someone we all know and love.  At $29.95, you have all the materials you need to complete the design and a handy pouch to put all the materials away when you are not stitching so everything stays together.

Reduced prices for Appletons Crewel Wool Skeins

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel, Knitting and Crochet, Tapestry and Needlepoint, What's New     appletons crewel wool, embroidery, needlepoint, tapestry, wool embroidery

Gotta love a free market economy and competition.  Due to recent improvements in the Australian Dollar’s buying power, our Appletons supplier has reduced their prices to us.  And we are reducing our prices to you.  Appletons Crewel Wool Skeins are now available for $2.00, which is a 20% saving over last years prices.  Yay!  This verstile yarn is used for more than just tapestry and needlepoint, many embroiderers use it for wool embroidery and it is brilliant for mending a favourite jumper.

We carry the entire colour range of Appletons Crewel Wool Skeins

Stitching Forums

Dionne    Cross Stitch, Embroidery and Crewel, Knitting and Crochet, Tapestry and Needlepoint     crochet, Cross Stitch, embroidery, hand embroidery, knitter, needlepoint, stitching, tapestry

Stitching has an unfortunate reputation for being a little solitary, this is probably the reason for the global success of the “Stitch and Bitch” gatherings.  If you are looking for online Forums to showcase and share your work while checking out others, and finding new inspiration, here are a few I have found and like.

Cross Stitch This site is MAD! incredibly busy, and has lots of  helpful advice, don’t let the heading fool you.  Members don’t, and there are postings and advice on other stitching habits arts as well as cross stitch.  No advertising or sponsored links.

The Hand Embroidery Network is a relatively new forum, it has a comprehensive directory of stitches and a rapidly growing membership.  Some limited advertising on the site.

Needlepoint.about.com This is not as busy a site as others, but it is very specific to needlepoint and tapestry and focuses on a very good techniques and terminology resource, free patterns and support.  There are quite a number of sponsored links and advertising for needlecraft and other products.

Ravelry is a monster!  This is a one stop shop resource for the knitter and crocheter which would explain the over two hundred thousand members.  There is advertising but you have to go hunting for it!  How novel!

Stitchin Fingers is a textile and fibres forum rather than a particular stitching discipline.  The Take a Stitch Tuesday discussion opens up a world of possibilities for you to try out new stitches then you can check out the photos of other people’s take on it, very cool.  There are a couple of Google ads but they are limited to the side bar.