Twill Designs and Day 6

Dionne    Tapestry and Needlepoint, What's New     needlepoint, old masters reproductions, tapestry

Contemporary and stylish portable needlepoint kits, from a new Sydney designer.

Victoria House Needlecraft are pleased to announce we are the first stockists of Twill Designs.  Maria lives in Sydney with her family and is passionate about needlecraft and colour.  She has met a gap in the market with designs that are quick to do for the experienced stitcher and appealing enough for a novice.

I have always loved Audrey

Her use of colour and form is contemporary with a traditional medium.  These are just the thing for a little something to do on a cold evening away to the snow, or a rainy day at the beach.  Transportable and quick to do, they are also a lovely starting point for teaching younger stitchers the fine art of needlepoint and tapestry.  Maria’s lovely Audrey was a big incentive to stock her products.

Looked at the day’s task to read through a list of 27 posts on blogging by other bloggers and thought, I need a drink!  Perhaps that was why I stage dived off the deck at 6.58am morning due to the ice coverage.  Landed with one leg under me and have 2 very nasty bruises with abrasions a step width apart.  I did what every strong woman does in the same situation and burst into tears.  Spent most of the day moving around and avoiding sitting down, in fear of seizing up.  Took delivery this week of some of the new SEG tapestries and will be putting in a new window display of Old Masters reproductions in tapestry tomorrow.  Have really been looking forward to this for a few months.

One Off Needlework

Dionne    Tapestry and Needlepoint, What's New     needlepoint, one off designs, one off needlework, wendy hope-falkner

Love these circular doorstops, no smashing your toes when you are in a hurry!

Cannot believe it has taken me since February to load these lovely One Off Needlework designs from Wendy Hope-Falkner.  Deluxe printed canvas, Appleton wools, everything you need plus easy to follow instructions.  Wendy will even send you some left handed instructions if you need them! 

We have only recently begun to stock the Millefiori Doorstops this year but the other cushion, spectacles cases and brick doorstop covers have been available for some now. 

Gorgeous!

Everyone’s a critic …

Dionne    Exhibiting your work     best in show, Cross Stitch, exhibiting, exhibiting cross stitch, exhibiting in shows, exhibiting long stitch, exhibiting tapestry, judging needlecraft, long stitch, needlepoint, stranded cotton, tapestry

This is the finish to aim for when exhibiting your work.

I was honoured last month to be asked to judge the Cross Stitch, Long Stitch and Tapestry section of the Moss Vale and District Show.  Yesterday I completed my judging duties and had a lovely morning with Jenny the section Steward until I had to make some hard decisions in the winners circle.  Jenny was lamenting that this year had seen a serious drop in the number of exhibitors across all classes.  What was encouraging to me, was to see the quality of work in the 14 years and under and 10 years and under.  It also took me back 26 years to my first exhibiting at the local show at 15. 

I must admit I struggled with the “Best in Show” piece.  I was down to 2 items and from the stitching competance, finish and choice of subject they were obviously by the same individual.  The work was exquisite and eventually the ability to create movement and light across a sea and lighthouse with only cross stitch and stranded cotton were the deciding factors.  Things to keep in mind when you exhibit

1 Suitability of design for finished objective.  Long outline stitch is inappropriate on a cushion, unless you are never going to have a backside land on it.

2 Bad framing, (includes distortion of canvas or fabric in stretching) will diminish the appearance of your work and reduce your score. 

3 Use a contrasting sewing machine thread to create a running stitch grid to aid your accuracy in cross stitch, this can be removed as you progress.  Pencil marks detract from your work.

4 The back should be as neat as the front. 

5 Evenness of stitch and flat surfaces  are important to a  finished look.

6 Complexity of design will improve your score.

7 Work needs to be clean prior to framing.

8 Cigarette smoke will make your work look older than it is.