New Painted Canvases from Needlepoint Dads

Are you a fan of the counted canvaswork of Needlepoint Dads?

https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeedlepointDads?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1888061344&from_page=listing

Do working from charts cause your eyes to cross and your brain to freeze up?  Or is it just me?  Regardless, some of Dan's designs are now available as painted canvases from Needlepoint Inc. in San Francisco.  I found four of them currently available:

"Dad's Old Ties"

https://needlepointinc.com/collections/abstract/products/dads-old-tires

"Once Round the Sun"

https://needlepointinc.com/collections/abstract/products/once-round-the-sun

"Sahara"

https://needlepointinc.com/collections/abstract/products/sahara

and "Seregeti."

https://needlepointinc.com/collections/abstract/products/serengeti

It's cause for celebration to have some of these lovely things more widely available.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 24, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Printed versus Painted

Hedgehog Needlepoint tackles the question of printed versus painted canvases.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXZaW7vDrj/

Hedgehog's airport travel tags are all printed but I think some of their other canvases are painted.  I'm not sure about that, though.

Many canvases are printed these days.  Here's a JudyAnn design. Her work is printed and then touched up with a brush.

https://judyannneedlepoint.com/product/swiftie-needlepoint-canvas/

Here is the famous "Elizabeth's Closet" from Moore Stitching.  It's also printed.  (I've stitched several canvases from Moore Stitching and found them very well done.)

https://moorestitching.com/products/elizabeth-s-closet

Needlepoint.com pioneered printed designs in the USA with their Needlepoint to Go series.

https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/all-about-needlepoint-to-go

There are many more examples.  Just like painted canvases, some printed canvases are very well done and some aren't.  Take a careful look before you buy.  Your favorite shop can guide you to hand painted canvases if not knowing exactly what color goes where is a problem for you.  But many printed canvases are well worth adding to your stash these days.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 15, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How Needlepoint Designs are Painted

NDPLT Company, Kirkland Design Studio, and Gingham Stitchery show you how needlepoint is painted in the Philippines, from the creation of a master that has to be approved, to the sketch and finally the various painters who fill in this color or that.  The design examples are from Kirkland's new "store front" series and the "Betty" designs that will be available in the fall.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/C85ui8bh4Ju/

You can see some of the storefront series (I think there are six total:  Macy's, Tiffany's, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf's, Dior, and Saks) here--

https://theginghamstitchery.com/collections/kirkland-design-studios?sort_by=best-selling&filter.v.availability=1&filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=

To continue the series, NDPLT shows how a master is created.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C87_-jJhPf7/

Here is Spellbound Stitchery's new Fisherman canvas.

https://spellboundstitchery.com/collections/maritime-magic

If you are fascinated by all this like I am, visit the Pointing It Out podcast where Megan interviews Heidi of NDPLT who owns a painting company in the Philippines.  You'll learn much more and get into all the steps that are involved from the creation of a design to having it painted and then shipping it to your favorite shop.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9FCxByNZJM/?g=5&img_index=1

You can also see what Paige of Blue Ridge Stitchery shows about how she creates her designs on her Instagram in an abbreviated form.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-Ie3AQRpjd/?g=5&img_index=1

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 2, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Paint a Canvas From a Chart: The Movie

LoveMBHStudio starts out the New Year with a short video explaining how to turn a charted design into a painted canvas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C01dJj9LhGD/

The example is LoveMBHStudio's 2023 Charts for Charity design.

https://lovemhbstudio.com/collections/all

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 16, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needlepoint Now's 2024 Projects

If you enjoyed the Layers of Leaves wreath project in Needlepoint Now magazine this year, you'll want to check out the two projects the magazine plans for 2024.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0SKcrOvqCl/?g=5&img_index=1

Use the right side arrow to see the second.  One is a counted project and the other is a painted canvas with the guide to stitching it in the magazine.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 30, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Guide to Stitches and Threads

Mary copied an idea she saw on NP Nation to help organize what threads go where on her complex painted canvas of Christmas ornaments.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/6108264239250683/

Basically, she sketched each ornament roughly, wrote beside each drawing the color number for the thread she wanted to use there, and included a length of the right thread.  That makes it easy to grab the right thread as she stitches.  Less hunting, less frustration, more stitching fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 27, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

What Kimberly's Up To

If you are a fan of Kimberly Design, you'll love seeing what she's creating and teaching.  If you aren't a fan you will be when you see how inventive she is in creating dimension and interest in her designs.

http://akimberlydesign.blogspot.com/2022/02/hmmm.html

If you want to see more of Kimberly's painted canvases and guides, here's a good starting point.

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/needlepoint/a-kimberly-design/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 10, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Advice on Choosing a Canvas

Horse Country Chic has good advice on choosing a painted canvas in their latest blog posting. She lists her favorite designers, too, which is always fun as there's bound to be someone we don't know about.
http://horsecountrychic.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-favorite-needlepoint-designers-and.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 21, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Paint Your Own Canvas

Cynthia in Houston has a nice tutorial about painting your own canvases on her lifestyle blog.  If you ever wanted to try this, check it out.  There are other paint-you-own tutorials in one of the tabs above, too.  So read all about it, and then try it!
https://likelybysea.com/paint-needlepoint-canvas/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 7, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Taking a Mistake and Running With It

Michelle of Bristly Thistle goofed on a stitch diagram for a class-and her students made something beautiful!  It's proof that mistakes are sometimes better than the "right" way.
https://www.bristlythistle.com/blog/2017/5/16/do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do

That's my Thought for the Day.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 16, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Paint a Needlepoint Canvas UPDATED

Folks ask over and over what paints or markers to use to paint a needlepoint canvas.   So I thought I'd provide a link to ANG's website where several professional designers explain how they do it, and…
http://www.needlepoint.org/FAQ/designing.php

…then provide a link to the late Lula Chang's website (the designer behind Wooly Dreams) for more information.
http://www.woolydream.com/WDtextpaintcanv.html

Now!  That doesn't sound too hard, does it?

UPDATE:  I just found a video by Susan Roberts on how to transfer a line drawing to needlepoint canvas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjA9giTC2t0

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 19, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

2017 Limited Edition Ornament from Sign of the Arrow Revealed

Sign of the Arrow just announced their 2017 Limited Edition ornament—a penguin! This is available as either a chart or a painted canvas and includes directions and all the threads needed.
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1102635760603&ca=b7f8f8b7-50d6-4141-b918-5f35ed6fc9b5 

Sign of the Arrow's profits are donated to various charities in the St. Louis area so this is a nice way to help out those in need while stitching.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 3, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Picking a Beginner Canvas

Jinny explains her rules for picking a beginner canvas.  If you plan to teach someone to stitch this summer, you might be interested in her ideas.
http://stitchstyleblog.com/2016/05/5-tips-picking-first-needlepoint-canvas/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 24,  2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Charting and Then Painting a Canvas

Carmen is interested in charting software she can use to paint designs on canvas for basketweave pillows, and tried out two programs. Her thoughts on the demos and the software she ended up buying are here.
https://knitweave.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/needlepoint-software-some-early-thoughts/

If you are a Mac user your choices are a little more limited, particularly if you don't want to run a dual Mac/PC system.

Carmen has started painting her design on canvas, which I found very interesting. She talks in detail about her supplies and how she goes about it.   I'm looking forward to an update on this.
https://knitweave.wordpress.com/2015/09/12/im-hand-painting-a-canvas/

UPDATES:  I checked Carmen's blog (RSS feeders don't work with it for some reason) and found two more progress reports.
https://knitweave.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/im-continuing-with-painting-the-canvas/

https://knitweave.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/the-canvas-is-now-finished/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 13, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Recycling That Painted Canvas

Suzanne has a great tip on recycling a painted canvas whose colors you don't love.   Very clever, Suzanne!  She also kindly included a diagram for everyone to play with.
http://suzannehicks.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-love-houndstooth.html

Here Suzanne uses her houndstooth pattern inside a heart she traced onto plain canvas.
http://suzannehicks.blogspot.com/2015/04/love-all-around.html

Suzanne shows off the finished houndstooth mitten, along with a lesson on turkeywork.
http://suzannehicks.blogspot.com/2015/04/houndstooth-mitten-with-turkey-work-fur.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 22, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

True Confessions UPDATED

It is True Confessions time! And Sara Leigh is laying out all her works in progress (WIP), sorting the ones she has lost interest in from the ones she wants to work on. The I Am Tired of You pile will go to her guild swap this winter so they can find good homes where they will be stitched.
http://remedialstitcher.blogspot.com/2014/10/ufos-and-few-finishes.html

UPDATE:  More!   I am becoming envious of SL's stash!
http://remedialstitcher.blogspot.com/2014/11/lucky-thirteen.html

All is not WIPs though.  Sara Leigh has finished quite a few pieces, both counted and painted.  She is becoming a very versatile stitcher.  I think learning to sort through the designs we accumulate to decide what is worth spending your precious free time on is a very worthwhile exercise.  We all have eyes bigger than our stomaches!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 25, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

In Stitches Does Halloween

In Stitches is the counted thread shop (with knitting and needlepoint) close to the entrance to Woodlawn Plantation. They offer a lot of counted and cross stitch patterns but they also have needlepoint, so I wasn't totally surprised when their Halloween blog posting featured two wonderful needlepoint patterns.  First there's Shelly Tribbey's skeleton in a top hat, perfect for the Halloween dandy!  I think finishing this in a little coffin would be perfect!
http://institchesshopblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-victoria-sampler-trunk-show-and-more.html

The photo of the Quilted Jack o' Lantern (fourth from the bottom) is a counted canvaswork classic from Pat Timpanaro of Neon Flamingo.  I hope this chart is still available.  It's a fun sampler of stitches for the fan of counted work.
http://www.neonflamingo.com/Designs/Jack.htm

Sometimes you can find great designs in the most unlikely places....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 26, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Details on a Labor of Love Exclusive

Nimble Needle in New Jersey just snagged the last of ten exclusive Labor of Love canvases featuring the Young Queen Victoria with her dog.  I really enjoyed reading about these canvases which all are limited to an edition of ten and come with china heads and other attachments (a purse in this case).   If you are a counted canvaswork fan, you will enjoy seeing the new Imperial Fan from Finger Step Designs and the gorgeous shades of silk perles from Gumnuts pulled to go with the canvas.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2014/04/labors-of-love-young-victoria-and-how.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Bit More about Painted Canvas Embellishment: An Idea Book

I happened to be talking to Sally London of Rainbow Gallery this morning and discovered she's actually read Carole Lake's and Michael Boren's new book (photo on left).

Naturally I asked Sally what she thought.   "I have the #1 book right from the printer out of the box yesterday, and read it last night. It is an excellent book giving ideas and encouraging new stitchers to make that first painted canvas purchase. Tons of info on threads of all types plus stitches categorized by which area they would best be suited for your canvas. Just a personal note about this book, I love the way Carole and Michael have written this, not too wordy--not too technical, you can see that they have a passion about this, and for the average garden variety stitcher it will be a fantastic tool."

She might be a little prejudiced as Rainbow Gallery distributes the book but knowing Carole and Michael, I doubt that plays much into Sally's mini review.  They are pretty smart about needlepoint. threads and painted canvases.  Plus, Sally read it in one night!  That alone tells me I need this book.

By the way, I was curious about the cover.  I think the photo is from StitchPlay's Flyaways design.  What do you think?
http://www.stitchplay.com/classes.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ruth Talks Carole and Michael UPDATED

Ruth Kern talks books at "Needle News and Book Reviews," but she also introduces Carole Lake and Michael Boren and their brand new book.    !!!!!
http://ruthkernbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/january-2014-happy-new-year-welcome-to.html

Carole is the funniest stitcher I know and Michael is the nicest (plus he is a threadaholic so you know he's ok).  To hear they collaborated on a book is music to my ears!  It is called "Painted Canvas Embellishment:  An Idea Book."

You can get it from Ruth.  Oh, she reviews a lot of other books in the latest posting, but Carole's and Michael's is the only one for me!!

Here is their joint website.  Watch this area for more book news.
http://www.stitchplay.com/aboutus.html

UPDATE:  The StitchPlay website now has information on how to order directly from the authors.  I understand that Rainbow Gallery is already sold out and has ordered more copies.  I have been told Ruth Kern expects her shipment of Painted Canvas Embellishment on Friday (Jan. 10) and will ship out to those who have purchased a copy immediately.
http://www.stitchplay.com/book.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.