BACK AT YA

December 28th, 2011

Dear Fellow Stitchers,

I am so sorry! Two months of silence from me, but we’ve been having a heck of a time!  My husband Jim has had multiple health issues for more than two months, and while I don’t want to bore you with it all, we still don’t know what the main problem is.  He’s had a bone marrow biopsy performed, blood transfusions, and tests, tests and more tests.  Hopefully we’ll know more in a couple of weeks.

I hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season.

In between hospital visits and stays, trying to run the business, and filling orders, we have received lots of new designs in needlepoint, particularly from LUC Creations.  If you go to:

http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/LUC-CREATIONS-2011/

you’ll be able to see all the new designs.

We also have received the new designs from Margot de Paris.  Go to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/MARGOT-DE-PARIS-2011/

to view them.

We also have added Gift Certificates to our website in denominations of $25.00 to $100.00.  If you require a larger gift certificate, please call or email us. Go to http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/-25.00-GIFT-CERTIFICATE/

Do you “do” Facebook?  If you do, go to our Facebook page by clicking the “F” in the upper right hand corner of the home page of our website.  Once on our Facebook page Jackie’s NeedleART Mania, click “Like”, and you will be eligible to win a $50.00 coupon towards a purchase on our website (In stock items only).  The contest ends January 31,2012, so let the clicking begin.  Some one will be the winner, why not you? And please remember, we carry more than just needlepoint…..

We are knee deep into inventory, and when finished, we’ll be adding a lot of items to our clearence category to make room for new stock, so check back often as we add more items every day.

http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/CLEARANCE-SALE-ITEMS/

Gotta get back to counting, but not before Jim and I wish you all a Healthy, Happy 2012.

Yours in stitching,

Jackie

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TRENDS IN THE ART OF NEEDLECRAFT

October 27th, 2011

Hello Fellow Stitchers,

I’m sure most of you know that there are “trends” in the art of needlework.  Do you know what “trend” we currently are in? For a long time, needlepoint was “in”.  Then Knitting became the “in” thing to be doing and for a long while now it’s Counted Cross Stitch.  Counted Cross Stitch or counted embroidery dates back to between 200-500 AD.  Originally decorative stitches were done on church vestment, and over time embroidery was stitched on clothing, panels, on many types of fabric. If you’d like to read a comprehensive article filled with wonderful, useful information, please go to: http://www.classiccrossstitch.com/history.html. I found it very informative.

While I’ve done some counted cross stitch work, my love is NEEDLEPOINT, plain and simple.  When I did my very first piece, back in the middle ages, there  simply was not a lot of Screen printed needlepoint canvases around, or maybe my young brain didn’t know how to find them! So just like working on a counted cross stitch piece, I found a picture in a magazine, took a ruler, drew grid lines, and proceeded to work my 10/20 count antique Penelope canvas.  Of course I had to figure out what size I wanted my finished piece to be. After I had figured that all out, I cut my canvas to the size I wanted, taped the edges,counted all the “holes” vertically and horizontally, counted all my stitches vertically and horizontally, found the middle of the design, and worked from the middle out and up.  This was not easy for a 10 year old, but I did three pieces that way.  They came out kind of nice and my mother framed them and had them until she passed away a few years ago.  Now my daughter has them. Why I’ve gone on an on is that I wanted to express the thought that charted needlepoint is very much like counted cross stitch.  The difference being that Counted cross stitch is worked on fabric, whereas needlepoint makes a piece of canvas become a fabric by stitching with fiber.

Hope I’ve given you something to think about!

If you like us and you use Face book, why not go to our website: www.needleartmania.com and click on the Face book symbol in the upper right hand corner to “like” us.  Thank you!

Until next time,

Jackie

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FALL IS HERE & LOTS OF NEW ITEMS

October 6th, 2011

Hello All,

After a long, long silence, I’m back, and I hope to be back to blogging on a much more regular basis.  Between family problems with my husband’s health, my mother in laws health (she’s 96) and my son in law’s health…..and trying to run this business…well, time doth fly!

Most important to me right now is to let you know that Margot Creations De Paris has finally released their new designs, and they are beautiful! If you go to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/MARGOT-DE-PARIS-2011/ you’ll be able to view what we’ve listed so far.  Here’s one of my favorites. I hope to stitch it, but then, I wish I had time to stitch most of them: This design depicts poppies of various colors, and should be fun to stitch.  I think I’ll use Perle Cotton #3 to give it the look of silk.  What do you think?

The other GREAT news is that SEG De Paris has also released their new designs and they are beautiful!  What is great news is that they’ve printed five Judaic designs on Penelope canvas, so hard to find.  We have listed several on the website, and while they aren’t in stock yet, we are taking orders.  You can view them at: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/Religious-Judaic-Designs/. Here’s a picture of one of the designs:

Isn’t it lovely?

We also have new Christmas Stocking felt applique kits. You can view them at: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/FELT-APPLIQUE-HOLIDAY/.  Here’s an adorable kit: FOOTBALL SANTA:

Enjoy our no coupon discount automatically given at checkout on your purchase of $20.00 or more.

Enjoy lowest prices guaranteed and fast shipping.  All at NeedleART Mania.

Do you use FACEBOOK?  If so, please, go to our Page: Jackie’s NeedleART Mania and “Like” us. Thank you.

Hope the weather is better in your neck of the woods! We’ve had four days of rain, and cool, cool temps.  Time to get busy and stitch away!

Till next time, take care!

Jackie

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Dog Days of Summer

August 17th, 2011

Hello Fellow Stitchers,

Can you believe we’re inching towards the end of August? I can’t! Time to start thinking of holiday projects/gifts.

We’re just received several new Needlepoint Christmas Stocking Kits. You can view them at: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/Needlepoint-Holiday-Kits/.   Several Counted Cross Stitch kits, which you can view at: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/CHRISTMAS/, and lots of Christmas Felt applique kits which you can view at: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/FELT-APPLIQUE-HOLIDAY/. Shop early and receive an additional 20% discount automatically given at checkout for your purchase of $20.00 or more.

Thanks to so many of you for your comments on my blog about Crewel Embroidery and it’s history. In future blogs I’ll be writing about Counted Cross Stitch and it’s origins, needlepoint, traditional rug hooking and much more.

We also want to call your attention to the Traditional Rug Hooking Wool Flannel that we are selling on our website. Come back often as we continue to add more.  You can see what’s available by going to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/WOOL-FLANNEL-FOR-RUG-HOOKING/.

I love rug hooking. I’ve done a lot of latch hooking over the years, and traditional rug hooking, and they really are two separate art forms.  Have an opinion on this? Write and let me know.

If you go to: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jackies-NeedleART-Mania/107797799300657 you can visit our page on Facebookband click on “like” if you like us. Thanks so much.

Do you have a picture of a finished piece that we can add to our Customer Gallery that we plan on starting? Want to send it to us? We’d love to have it!

Short but sweet? Short, but I don’t know how sweet, but I did want to get something off to you all.

So, enjoy the dog days of summer….how many of you know where that expression comes from? Write and let me know what YOU think the correct answer is.

In the meantime, enjoy your needlework!

Till next time,

Jackie

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FOR THE LOVE OF CREWEL

August 11th, 2011

Hello Fellow Stitchers,

For many of us, we don’t limit our love of needlework to one form, meaning only counted cross stitch, only needlepoint, only knitting and so on. Over the years maybe we’ve crocheted, knitted, done stamped embroidery, and maybe we’ve even tried Crewel Embroidery.  When I was growing up (all those years ago) if my memory serves me, (and who knows about that?), anyway, it seems to me that Crewel Embroidery was very popular, and crewel embroidery kits readily available. No so these days!

Do you know how far back Crewel Embroidery “goes”?  Probably earlier than 400AD.  “Crewel”, as in Crewel Embroidery is “Welsh” and means wool.  The term Crewel Embroidery is synonymous with the term “wool embroidery”, which is what Crewel is, although today other fibers are used as well as  backgrounds other than linen, as long as the background material is strong enough and doesn’t pucker under the weight of the fiber used to stitch.

For those of you who are not familiar with the term “Crewel Embroidery”, let me try and explain:  Crewel Embroidery uses a two ply worsted type wool traditionally, and is stitched on a linen type or broadcloth type fabric.  The stitches used to do Crewel Embroidery are the same traditional stitches used in “regular” embroidery.  One of the beauties of Crewel work is that because wools are used, your stitches take on a three dimensional appearance, which adds so much to your colors used and the finished piece.

I’ve always felt that whether it be needlepoint, counted cross stitch, stamped embroidery or Crewel, you are creating your masterpiece, you are painting with fiber.

We have a limited supply of Crewel Embroidery Kits on the website. We are constantly looking for new kits, as they become available, as many people love this art form.

If you visit our website at: www.needleartmania.com, and scroll down until you see Crewel Embroidery, click on the different categories to see what we have in stock.  Here’s a picture of one design. This kit comes to us from France.

I think it’s lovely.  What do you think?

Well, for many of us our children and grandchildren will be returning to school very soon.  Where has the summer gone? TIME TO START A NEW NEEDLEWORK PROJECT!!!

Till next time,

Yours in stitching,

Jackie

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NEEDLEWORK, A YEAR ROUND JOY!

July 13th, 2011

Hello Fellow Stitchers,

First…..bad Jackie, bad Jackie…..I haven’t blogged in a couple of weeks…so, I am BAD!

Sorry about that!

Why this particular title? I started thinking about the phrase, “Summertime, and the living is easy”. From a famous play that was on Broadway in New York City and also made into a movie.  Do any of you know the name?  Anyway, what makes summertime easy? Most of us still have to go to work everyday, the children and grandchildren are home from school and by week two are bored, so keeping them busy without pulling your hair out of your head is NOT always easy,  it’s hot outside, it’s hot inside, if you have pets, they need more frequent baths, family may come to visit, which means more work,  so would someone tell me, what makes summertime easier than autumn, winter (Oh all right, the holiday season is a very busy time),  and then there’s spring.  It seems to me that every season has it challenging times.

Now, how do I jump from the four seasons and their challenges to our beloved needlework?

For me, there’s always a few moments time to sit and stitch, and I can honestly say I’m kinda busy.  I run this business, along with the invaluable help of my disabled husband. That means he has needs that I have to take care of.  When I go home, I have to cook, feed the dogs and clean up after dinner, and check to see if the tomato seeds, cucumber seeds, squash and whatever else I just had to plant this year are sprouting.  Customers tell me that they do little needlework during the summer months because they garden, swim, golf, and many other outdoor activities.  However, at the end of my day when the TV is turned on and loud enough for all the neighbors on the entire street to hear, and that movie is being shown for the third time in two weeks, well, that’s when my stitching comes out of my sewing bab, even if it’s only for ten minutes because that’s my  relaxer, my constant friend…my needlework! Are you like that?  How do YOU feel about your needlework?  Write and let me know.

We’ve just started listing wool for traditional rug hooking. Most from Weeks Dye Works.  This is wool flannel, traditionally used for rug hooking and also felting.  The colors are beautiful.  If you go to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/WOOL-FLANNEL-FOR-RUG-HOOKING/ you can see what we’re offering. We’ll continue to add more.  Each item is a full fat quarter, hand dyed by the famous Weeks Dye Works.  Here’s a sample of one of the colors:

Isn’t it beautiful?

Well, gotta head home and cook……

I appreciate all the wonderful comments….keep them coming!

Till next time,

Yours in stitching

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WHAT IS NEEDLEPOINT? WHAT IS COUNTED CROSS STITCH? WHAT IS???

June 23rd, 2011

Hello Fellow Stitchers,

Why did I use the above title?  Well……….I need to share, and I’m feeling frustrated!

I had to ship a package yesterday via one of the shipping services other than USPS.  Three youngish women were behind the counter.  One lady in her twenties I suppose (I’m not a good judge of age), well anyway, she asked me what was in the package. I replied “needlepoint canvases”.  Her facial expression was completely blank.  I repeated what was in the package “needlepoint canvases”.  Still, no reaction from her.  I then proceeded to spell out    N E E D L E P O I N T  C A N V AS E S.  She replied, “What’s that?”  I was dumb struck!  I could hardly believe my ears! “What’s that?” I replied?  “You don’t know what Needlepoint is”? “No” she replied.  “Do you know what counted cross stitch is”?  “No” she replied. I then asked her if she knew what knitting, rug hooking, embroidery, on and on and each question Iasked was answered by her with a resounding “NO”.  The other two aged twentish ladies where equally unable to reply “yes” to the same questions.  HOWEVER, nearby they all had their IPODS!

What is this world coming to?  And as I’ve previously written, what has become of our world? Our needlework world?

When I went to school sewing/needlework was a required course, of course that was way back in the middle ages!

I was a Girl Scout, we all sewed and received merit badges.  Do the Girl Scouts teach needlecraft skills any more?

I am so saddened by this I can hardly write about it!  What needs to be done?

And what about an industry that must be hurting because less and less people are interested in needlecrafts?

Maybe this is a bad analogy, but it’s like people don’t take the time to cook from scratch anymore.  Too much going on, working long hours, eating later, eating processed foods, and people becoming ill from all the additives.  My daugher has Celiac Disease, Way back when she was diagnosed with this life long condition, I could hardly find foods that she could eat….now many people are being diagnosed with it, including my 69 year old sister in law. Okay, poor analogy, but the world has become so fast paced that we no longer take or have the time to partake of the simple pleasures like a home prepared meal, or the time to sit and stitch.

In this very fast paced electronic world we blog, text, email and so there’s no time to sit and stitch.  But what do we have to show for any of that at the end of the day?  A piece of needlework is a treasure, a feeling of accomplishment and something that is passed down from one generation to the next.  Something stitched by our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or yes, even our brother.

It’s up to us, we who are in love with needlework to teach and encourage and support the next generation of needle workers. Will there be a next generation of needle workers?

In that regard, check us out at: www.needleartmania.com for a vast selection of different forms of needleart. Guaranteed lowest prices, fastest shipping and our continuing additional 20% discount on purchases of $20.00 and more.

I’m sorry I’ve fussed so much in this writing, but I just had to get this off my chest! Thanks for your eyes and ears!

NEEDLE WORKERS EVERY WHERE, UNITE!

Till next time,

Yours in stitching,

Jackie

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NEW DESIGNS, NEW COMPANIES!

June 17th, 2011

Hi All,

We have hooked up with three new companies in Europe.  They all have great designs of counted cross stitch and needlepoint not seen much in the USA it at all!

We’ll start listing the designs once we receive them here.

We started listing more Hand Painted Needlepoint Canvas designs, especially from Sandra Gilmore. Check out the site as we move along to add them. You can see the Sandra Gilmore designs if you go to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/SANDRA-GILMORE/. They are beautiful!

We’ve also started listing some of the dozens of books we have including books on Crewel Embroidery, knitting, counted cross stitch, quilting and many more.

Do you enjoy Swedish Weaving also known as Huck Embroidery?  We listed the first of many designs. You can view it at:  http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/SWEDISH-WEAVING-KITS/. Also, here’s a photo of the Swedish Weaving Kit:

I don’t know if this kit is still available from the manufacturer, but we have it!  We also have books on Swedish Weaving and accessories to work this beautiful craft.  It’s really easy.  I’ll be happy to list instructions in the future if  anyone is interested. Please let me know.

Do you like Hardanger? We  hope to start listing our Hardanger kits, books and accessories in the near future.

The best way to see what’s new is to check out the website at: www.needleartmania.com

As always, I appreciate your comments…..keep them coming!

Till next time, yours in stitching,

Jackie

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BIG DISCOUNTS ON DISCONTINUED ROYAL PARIS & SEG

June 10th, 2011

Hello follow stitchers,

Well, it’s finally warm enough outside to cause some perspiration!  Gosh what crazy weather! Tuesday was hot, yesterday we reached a high of 59 degrees. It rained, the wind blew and I thought I was in a season time warp!

We are excited to let you know that Royal Paris and SEG have released their lists of the needlepoint canvases they are discontinuing, so, we have worked all day on the site lowering all the prices on these items.  A good example is a  needlepoint canvas that was $96.00, has been reduced to $82.00.  You’ll also receive an additional 20% discount off of these already low, low prices.  What a good time to buy!

You can see the Royal Paris and SEG discontinued canvases by going to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/ROYAL-PARIS-DISCONTINUED-NEEDLEPOINT-CANVASES/ and the SEG discontinued canvases by going to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/SEG-DISCONTINUED-NEEDLEPOINT-CANVASES/.

Want to see a beautiful design from JaLew “Girl in the Straw Hat” adapted from the painting by Renoir? You can view it at: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/GIRL-IN-THE-STRAW-HAT-BY-RENOIR-NEEDLEPOINT-CANVAS.html

Do you like Traditional Rug Hooking?  We have beautiful fat quarter flannel for rug hooking and felting from Weeks Dye Works. We hope to list them in the next couple of days, so check out the website: www.needleartmania.com and take a looka see at some of the items we have.  We carry more than 6,000 items and hopefully someday, they’ll all be on the website.

Well, till next time, have a lovely, safe weekend and stitch when you can!

Yours in stitching,

Jackie

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IT’S JUNE, TIME TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS PROJECTS!

June 3rd, 2011

Hello All,

In this part of the Pacific Northwest the weather makes me think about Christmas.  Yes Christmas!  What you might think? Is the woman daft?  Probably, but with the temperature hovering around 58 degrees, pouring rain, winds of 50 miles an hour, and the pellet stove blasting away, I can’t believe it’s June 2nd.  I’ve checked the calendar three times today and yup, it’s June 2nd.

The one thing about weather like this is that it makes me think ahead to the Christmas season.  Just like fashions are seasons ahead in their showings, we in needlework are seasons ahead in our showings.  After all, we need time to plan, work on and finish our Christmas items.  With that in mind, why not have a look at some of our new offerings? Dimensions has released new stocking kits in needlepoint, counted cross stitch and felt applique. If you go to: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/ENCHANTED-ORNAMENTS-STOCKING-COUNTED-CROSS-STITCH-KIT.html you can get all the particulars.  Also, check this picture out!

Also new is Santa & Toys Needlepoint stocking kit.  See it at: http://www.needleartmania.com/xcart/Needlepoint-Holiday-Kits/.  Here’s a picture of this new design:

I think the new designs are beautiful, don’t you?  All purchases of $20.00 and more receive a 20% discount off of our already lowest prices guaranteed. The discount is automatically given at check out, no coupons to enter, no codes.

Why not have a lot around the site?

I look forward to hearing from more people regarding their opinions about the proper way to start a counted cross stitch project, and I wish you warm days and health!

Yours in stitching,

Jackie

See

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