Tag Archives: needlepoint

Countdown

April 30, 2008Uncategorizedneedlepoint, ProductMrs. Blandings

Sometimes there is a sort of harmonic convergence to blogging. One thing leads to the next and your realize the time is now. I am going to Las Vegas on Friday and I have been mentally counting the days, if not scratching them into the wall of my cell. Then a reader asked yesterday about the Bunny Williams room and I pulled it out to look at it again and thought, “I must take my stitching on the plane.” It has languished in the bag too long. Then I remembered an email Jennifer had sent me almost a year ago.

Fine Cell Work is a not-for-profit organization in England that provides prisoners with an opportunity to do needlework to pass time and make money. (And they have a boxer on their home page. Rosie sits under one of our leather chairs like this sometimes.)

If you have ever needlepointed you know that it is a time-intensive process. I have stitched monogram pillows for many of my friends’ daughters (and there was a bit of a run on them for a while.) One of my friends, upon receiving her third such pillow remarked, “You should not give these to people who have never stitched; they won’t get it.”

Generally, I don’t buy needlepoint because it is usually so inexpensive. It makes me squirm a bit to know some woman has created a piece for pennies. (Which, by the way, does not occur to me when I am buying t-shirts by the truckload at Target. Apparently, I’m subjectively free trade.)

But these pillows, excuse me, “cushions,” are lovely. If you can’t have a Walton Ford on your wall, you could have one of these on your sofa.

Not all needlepoint, the inmates create pieces with quilting, embroidery and cross-stitch as well. The one above would bring a little Gee’s Bend to the boys’ rooms.

Of course, they’ve done celebrity deals as well. Allegra Hicks designed the pillow above.

Nina Campbell, in three colors, with embroidery.

Kits are also available if you are a DIYer, as I am. Sometimes things that seem like they don’t go together work out just fine. Prisoners and needlepoint. Needlepoint and Las Vegas. Las Vegas and me. Mrs. Blandings in Sin City has a bit of a ring to it, don’t you think?

The Stocking Are Hung

December 6, 2007UncategorizedMrs. B at Home, needlepointMrs. Blandings

I am having a bit of a “do” here Saturday, so things are a little hectic. But the stockings are indeed hung.

The tree is up.

The frames are in place.

A little more scurrying for flowers and tablecloths and ribbon and such. You know what’s annoying? All the stuff I’m getting that says, “It’s not too late!” I mean, it’s only December…6th. Heavens. Sunday. I will start my shopping Sunday. I hope.

Ta-Da!

November 28, 2007UncategorizedMrs. B at Home, needlepointMrs. Blandings

You might remember from a previous post, that I was stitching up some fun for the Blandings boys for Christmas. Each year they pick ornaments, usually something to do with their current obsession, and I work away to have them finished before we put up the tree.

The eldest’s red Jaguar.

This year, with a bit of encouragement, they all chose cars from Joanie Sherman’s new line.

The mal-adjusted middle child’s yellow Mini. I’m kidding. He’s not mal-adjusted. Yet.

Joanie has painted and designed so many of my projects; she’s a local treasure.

And the youngest’s (I am not a baby) orange bug.

There are other models in the line including SUV’s for those of us who want to be environmentally conscience, but just had too many kids who have too much stuff.

The great thing about these projects is they are small, easy to hold and don’t take that much time. Unlike the Chinese chrysanthemum that is currently languishing in a bag.

You can contact the Studio on line to order ornaments for next year. See, you’re not behind, you’re ahead!

A Stitch in Time

August 21, 2007UncategorizedMrs. B at Home, needlepoint, ProductMrs. Blandings

OK, bear with me, I’m almost finished with this. If you live in Kansas City, and if you stitch, then mecca is The Studio. Formerly owned by the charming and talented Joanie Sherman, the ladies there have saved my neck on numerous potential stitching disasters. Mrs. Sherman has painted several of my favorite projects, the most recent is under-construction for the living room.

This design is vintage Mrs. Sherman; it is based on a Chinese screen at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

For many years, Mrs. Sherman has had a wholesale business, Studio Midwest, with a whimsical line of ornaments, scissor cases and purses. I have a bit of a Christmas ornament problem, needlepoint and otherwise. I have stitched an ornament each year for each of the boys. When they were small, I went the typical baby-shoe, train route. As they have gotten older they usually pick their own design. Several times, they have chosen Mrs. Sherman’s “toppers” which come in a variety of designs.

Some of the designs – there are dozens, certainly every hobby I can think of is represented.

Some of our collection.

Oh, yes, anything is possible – especially if you ignore licensing issues. Not one of my favorites, but the boy for whom it was made – swoon.

This year she has added cars to her line-up. Last Christmas I stitched the proto-type for my youngest.

My understanding is they are available in Mini-Cooper, SUV, Jaguar and VW Bug. The cars are not yet on-line, but give Studio Midwest a shout and I’m sure they would help you out. Check your local deadlines for finishing in time for Christmas; the Studio’s deadline is usually around Halloween.

To the Point

August 21, 2007UncategorizedMrs. B at Home, needlepointMrs. Blandings

I needle pointed my first pillow sixteen years ago- a fish, for Mr. Blandings, who is a bit of an outdoors man. Since, I’ve rarely been without a project. Like all hobbies, it can become a bit of an obsession.

I stitched these nautical flags for all the boys; easy because you can draw them on the canvas yourself.

Sister Parish was a fan of needlepoint and was a stitcher herself. An ambitious project for even the most dedicated, this is the runner she stitched for her home in Maine.

Sister Parish’s runner, Dark Harbor house, H&G Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, 1970

A veteran of Parish-Hadley, Bunny Williams, also uses a good bit of needlepoint in her rooms. Two of my favorite rooms are of her hand, both with great needlepoint projects on display.

I do not have credits for these images, however, Williams has written a wonderful book about the property in the top photo, An Affair with a House. The other images are her home in the city.

I’d consider Diamond Baratta current champions of American craft. Whether you like their style or not, I think you have to admire their courage and creativity. As with all of their designs, their needlepoint pieces take on a larger, bolder palette than traditional – to great affect.

House Beautiful, March 2003

House and Garden, April 2000

You do not have to confine your needlepoint to pillows – it’s fabulous on furniture as well.

House and Garden, June 1997

House Beautiful, January 1995. Room by Christian Badin (so sorry for the quality of the image; it never occurred to me anyone else would ever see these pages.)

Horchow catalogue, 2001