Special Occasions : The Silver Needle, Fine Needlecraft Materials

Scroll down through this page to see designs especially for Anniversaries and Weddings Baby Projects Graduations
Wedding and Anniversary Projects
You Hold The Key To My Heart from The Sweetheart Tree A sweet sentiment in a petite 3 x 3 stitched area... the key embellishment is especially fillagreed and delicate. Accented with a few crystal Paillette glass sequins, you can finish this one suing the curved finishing boards as in the pic, or make a small wedding announcement pillow -- just whatever! Offered as a small card with key and sequins.
The Wedding Quadrielle from The Sweetheart Tree Sweetheart Tree has a wedding announcement piece that is finished quite differently than your average sampler! Her Quadrielle is a 4-sided cube that features stitching on the top and bottom of the shape as well... to make a pretty hanging ornament. Presented in complete kit format, the Bride, Groom, important date and sentiment, each grace one side of the 3 x 3 x 3-ish cube. Worked on 28ct Lambswool linen in blue, green and white shades of DMC floss, there are lots of bead embellishments and silver metallic braid throughout. Very different as far as wedding announcements go... something they can cherish from year to year, without you spending hundreds of dollars on fancy framing! BUT... if that's where you shine... stitch the four sides all in a row... and frame away!!! Lovely anyway you choose! Offered as a complete kit of fabric, chart and finishing instructions, flosses, metallic cable, beads and crystal paillettes, and needles.
Love is Patient from The Victoria Sampler You might not have enough patience to stitch this entire sampler... but then again... you might!!! Absolutely lovely, this entire piece measures approx 4-1/2 x 20-1/2 inches on 28ct Natural Cashel Linen. It is FULL of specialty stitches worked in silks and perle cottons... and features so many different 'areas'... that you could stitch just parts and sections, or the entire piece. Stitched in lots of white, with taupe accents and bits of rose hand-dyed, the embellishments include white and silver beads, some tear-drop and tiny round pearls, along with a silver metallic cord. Make it as involved or simple as you want... every part of this is pretty! Make a Ring-Bearer pillow out of the initial block in the center... make a photo album cover out of the verse area... lots of possibilities. Offered as the leaflet with accs pack separate.
A Good Marriage from Lizzie*Kate Lizzie Kate has a new inspirational design centered around being married to someone you love! Lots of advice and good rules to follow, this would make AN AWESOME Wedding or Shower gift for a new couple, or a Anniversary gift for others. Stitched on your choice of fabric (110 x 195 so it finishes approx 8 x 14 on 28ct), the chart comes with Crescent Colour's Cauldron, Cocoa Bean and Hickory Sticks, and Gentle Art's Endive hand-dyed flosses -- 7 complete skeins -- and a smattering of pink, blues and gold DMCs. Very pretty, rich, trendy colors to fit into almost any home decor color scheme, the verse is amazingly wonderful, and you might find yourself stitching this for several people you know! Offered as the chart with flosses.
Wedding Line Up from The Trilogy Trilogy has another new design -- something cute to stitch in plenty for the Big Day. Might be cute as a photo album or guest book cover, an anniversary piece, or even a bit of stitching to frame along with a special photo. Offered as a chart, it finishes approx 5-1/2 inches square on 32ct, but you could stitch this on just about anything you want. Optional charm shown is Trilogy's Starry Heart Sterling Silver charm.
French Country Wedding Bells from JBW Designs! Here is a neat gift option! JBW offers a small Country French inspired pair of wedding bells -- stitched in one overdyed color of your choosing -- aka: The Wedding Colors! The little bells are full of tiny hearts, love birds and bows, you barely notice them. Frame them beside a wedding photo, your invitation copy, OR... go on-line and make one up -- if the original is no longer around! You could commemorate an anniversary, too! Very simple, yet elegant, choose white or ivory to match the dress... lots of possibilities!
Wedding and Anniversary Sampler from The Sweetheart Tree The Sweetheart Tree has a new design that can celebrate any number of special days! Lovely and lacy, full of specialty stitches, beads, crystal paillette embellishments and a set of sterling silver wedding bells, this can be stitched two different ways, depending on your whim! The main sampler measures 72 x 197 on 28ct Lambswool (included), but notice the smaller 'take out' piece... it is the middle section, with a couple of the other borders tucked around it! Stitch this on white, cream too... everything will look stunning on just about anything you choose. Traditional verses... lots of versatility with this design... stitch as little or as much as you choose! Awesome stitches, elegant greens and soft taupes. Offered as the complete kit of charts, linen, threads, beads and silver bells!
A Moment to Cherish from Heaven and Earth By Jane Wooster Scott... a Springtime American Folk Art landscape scene... look closely, this is actually a wedding scene! Check out the hot air balloon, and the wedding party below! Charted by Heaven and Earth, this measures a whopping 450 x 561 in stitch count -- not for the weak-of-stitcher - or a busy mother-of-the-bride!!!! A classic piece of American Folk Art!
Love is Patient from La-D-Da La D Da 's take on this scripture sentiment... a neat, relaxed, overdyed piece... there is room for bits of personalization in those two lower corners. Finishing approx 7 x 9 on 32ct, this is offered as a chart. It'd make a lovely wedding sampler.
Wedding Ewe from Bent Creek Well here are Bonnie & Clyde, George & Martha, Fred & Wilma... or Mark & Michelle! Bent Creek has released another cute sheep design... only this one celebrates a favorite couple! Check out her garter! Offered as a complete kit, it includes the chart, 25ct natural linen, flosses (some overdyed) and a little white Heart of Love clay button! Basic and trendy colors... simple... they finish approx 5 x 6.
Wedding Globe from Bent Creek Bent Creek is continuing their set of 'Globe' designs that have previously been offered only in Zipper Kit format, with this new design. Joining all the rest of the Christmas designs (that are all on 18ct linen, stitched with perle cottons) is this wedding announcement. It's stitched on 32ct Summer Khaki Belfast using overdyeds from your stash. It finishes approx 3-1/2 x 4... just darling! The package contains the chart, linen and smattering of teeny-weeny buttons, along with the alphabet and numbers to personalize each blessed event!
Le Marquoir de Leontine from Reflets de Soie This is a lovely reproduction sampler by Reflets de Soie of France. To be brutally honest with you... we had to Google to see what the sampler says... "A loving tribute offered to my darling parents." I think it is absolutely gorgeous! Clearly charted, is it a wonderful tribute originally designed by Isabelle Mazabraud around 1900. (Somebody from France e-mail us, and tell us more!) The DMC colors are raspberrys, moss greens, creams and pinks... and some soft lavenders. I love the motifs... they are so graceful... and the borders are all different. Don't miss the corner motifs -- but it all goes together in a relaxed, elegant piece! Wonderful as a birth sampler, an anniversary tribute, or just to tell your parents or grandparents you love them! Offered as the chart, it has a stitch count of 317 x 305 -- an impressive 20 x 20 on 32ct(!) and is charted in the Universal Stitching Language of DMC! Lovely!
A Date in June from Cross Eyed Cricket Something old, new, borrowed and blue... this is a simple wedding pillow and flower-girl cone set. Complete finishing and assembly instructions for the angel ornament and cone to hold the flower petals are included. Although blue is symbolic, you could change colors in this to match your wedding colors! Offered as a chart-pack.
Wedding Row from Bent Creek 'Of my love be sure' is the perfect verse for this wedding remembrance! Offered as a leaflet, in the same 'row' format as Bent Creek's other designs, this is stitched on 32ct Summer Khaki Belfast linen in soft, dusty shades of overdyeds. It calls for Whitewash, Cocoa, Old Red and Blue Paint, and Harvest Basket... but you could always alter some of that to match the home's decor. Finishing approx 3 x 18, there is an alphabet included to personalize... and as of posting time... we have no extra button embellishment set. I know there will be one... probably full of lots of hearts! Something young and fresh... not too much stitching... this is really nice!
Heirloom Wedding Treasures from The Victoria Sampler This is a set of pieces to coordinate with the previously published Heirloom Wedding Sampler. A trio of ringbearer's pillow, bridal purse and bridesmaid keepsakes... this is just a breathtaking set of pieces! Stitched on 28ct Platinum Linen, (the linen in the pic looks so much darker than that, but it really isn't), it's basically a study in white, opalescent and pearl. Lots of pretty Hardanger Embroidery, with great stitching instructions, the pillow finishes approx 15 inches square; the purse, approx 5 x 6; and the bookmark approx 2 x 7. Offered as the leaflet with an accessory pack of metallic opalescent braid, silk ribbon, silk threads, mother-of-pearl heart beads, and tiny pearls... you will still need size 8 and 12 perle cotton, 10 spools of white Trebizond Silk and white Silk Perlee. Quite an undertaking... get the book and accessory pack first, then study which pieces you'll do, and then gather your needed additional threads!
The Ring Bearer's Pillow from The Sweetheart Tree Wow... this is such a piece of needleart elegance!!! Breathtakingly delicate, it's full of texture, special stitches, and beaded highlights. The complete kit for this Bridal Pillow includes 32ct White Sienna Linen, needles, soft blues, greens and pink DMC flosses, #12 perle cotton, silver and light blue Kreinik metallics, ice and white Mill Hill beads, and tiny white pearls, crystal paillettes, and white frosted glass flower beads!!! Finishing approx 7 x 7, you can assemble this into whatever size pillow you'd like. The instructions tell you to start in the center, and stitch your way to the edges. So... if you can't get the entire thing done in time for the wedding... you can stop at any point and you'll still have something pretty!
The Marriage of Minds from The Drawn Thread Simply stunning, this sampler will quickly become a family heirloom to be treasured! Based on a Shakespeare Sonnet, the verse speaks of love and the commitments of marriage over time. Perfect for a wedding or anniversary sampler, and finishing approx 8 x 26 on 32ct Natural Linen, the design is stuffed full of special stitches, and is worked in lots of green, raspberry, cranberry and burgundy, warm browns, soft golds and creme. Choose between flosses, silks, or a mixture of both threads! Along with all the beautifully presented stitch diagrams comes the entire chart... on one continues piece of paper that measures 11 x 34 inches! (No guessing where the pattern repeats from one page to the next! It's all here in one chart for you!) Beautifully presented, full of details and wonderful sentiment!
From This Day Forward from The Sweetheart Tree A beautifully done marriage sampler, this is stitched on 32ct white Belfast linen in soft greens, rose and white floss with touches of petite glass seed beads of white, crystal and icy-mauve. Full of well-diagramed special stitches, there is room for personalization of names, dates, etc. Besides all the neat stitches and pretty flower motifs, I especially like the miniature sterling silver wedding ring embellishment included in the kit! The piece finishes a bit over 3 x 6 inches... and will make a truly elegant wedding memento! The complete kit contains the chart and stitch diagrams, linen, threads, beads and wedding ring charm!
Wedding Spots A clean, sleek, no-nonsense Wedding announcement, this is stitched in 9 different colors of overdyeds... although it appears to be just about two or three! Stitched on 32ct Dirty Belfast Linen, it finishes just 5 x 5, and features a sterling heart embellishment. In reading the dedication, I find that this is for Bent Creek's Mother... and her new life!!! How neat, it's not everyday that you get to stitch a wedding announcement for your Mom!!! Anyway, it's a crisp, contemporary design that will definitely appeal to young-at-heart newlyweds. Available as the leaflet, with separate embellishment.
Heirloom Wedding Sampler from The Victoria Sampler This is absolutely gorgeous!!! If you don't know anyone who's getting married, stitch it anyway, and leave off the names and dates! Stitched in beautiful white silks, it also uses Trebizond -- a heavier weight silk thread -- opalescent metallic, white silk ribbon, perle cotton, a touch of taupe silk, and 2 sizes of pearls for embellishments. Stitched on 28ct Platinum Cashel linen... the larger finishes 5 x 21", the smaller, 3 x 16". It's loaded with special stitches, and features some really pretty hardanger embroidery in the design. The book includes excellent instructions and diagrams, to stitch both a larger and smaller version of the design. You will need to purchase your fabric separately.
Baby Projects
Spring Baby Boy and Baby Girl Sunshine Lines from Brooke's Books It's been quite a while since we've had some new Sunshine Lines by Brooke's Books! The most unusual birth announcements... each new little person is announced on the square panel of the clothesline... and then all sorts of other cute stitched motifs are hung along side! Offered as the set of charts with 14ct perforated paper, you stitch everything, cut it out, and use the included miniature wooden clothes pins to clip onto a string. Some hang these just as is... we've also seen them mounted onto a pretty board that is framed. Approx 6 x 18... you'll need the flosses from your stash, and a bit of Memory Thread -- if you have it. The Boy sampler features an airplane, kite and little caterpillar inching his way across the top of the announcement. The girl piece has a ruffly bonnet, ruffly panties, a stuffed lamb and a few dresses -- really cute and very unique.
Baby Celebration from Just Nan There is a new granddaughter in Nan's life! Baby Hope arrived this past Fall, just as sweet as she can be! So... Nan's best-selling Baby Garden has a sequel!!!! Baby Celebration is a garden full of baby critters, delicate florals and greenery. Stitched on 32ct Raw Belfast linen, there is a baby in the crib, the garden clock recording time of birth, and rows and rows of bunnies, bees, and ladybugs. Featured is a hand-painted swan charm gliding in the garden pond. Like Baby Garden, just a lovely birth memento -- timeless. Finishing approx 4-1/2 x 10, there are six special stitches featured, and those bees and bugs worked over one. Offered as the leaflet with embellishments.
Baby, Baby... A Blessing from Above from Cherrywood Design Studios Cherrywood Design Studio brings us an unusual birth announcement... a Tooth Fairy Pillow design... and a Baby's First Christmas Ornament! Everything is stitched on the fun 28ct colored gingham linens we sell... they come in like 8 different colors (pink, green, blue, yellow,even several mangy hand-dyeds!) Anyway... for the announcement, choose your little person and their fabric color. Add date and weight, and you're finished. The Tooth Fairy Pillow is cute... it simply states FACT that there is a lost tooth to address. Make sure the pocket on the back is large enough for a bill -- not just a quarter! (This is 2012!) AND... on that First Christmas Ornament... you need to attach a baby picture to the back of it! Something to treasure for years to come!!! Everything is offered in chart format in this one chart pack! We have lots of fabric options for this... just tell us what you want!
Oh Baby! from Lizzie*Kate Well, this is a neat baby sampler option! Blocks and blocks of baby motifs -- 16 in all -- and two alphabets. You choose the motifs the new parents like (as baby doesn't really care yet!). You choose good nursery colors. You choose who you want to announce -- this depends how many babies you have to celebrate! Lizzie Kate gives you all the charts, and tells you how many spaces to leave between each element... and the rest is up to you. THIS IS COOL! Very versatile, make it as small or involved as you want! Choose any fabric you want! Just get it finished in time for the Featured Guest! Offered as a chart.
We've Been Waiting for You! from AB Designs A cute birth announcement, you could change color and count of fabric to match the nursery, get it stitched and add that name and any other details as soon as you are done waiting!!! What a darling adoption celebration!!! Offered as a single chart, this is coded for hand-dyed cottons as well as DMC. Amy warns that 4-legged babies would like this, too!!!
Bless You! from AB Designs 'Pillow this, or frame this... Add a name... whatever you choose... this is one lucky baby!!!' AB Designs has released a really cute bedroom piece stuffed FULL of bright and happy COLOR! Stitched on Week's 20ct Guacamole linen in shades of overdyeds or DMCs... this finishes approx 6 x 13. Those fluffy, colorful sheep... besides offering the nighttime blessing... they can be counted if need be!!! Offered as a single sheet chart... VERY, VERY cute!
Sweet Nothings for Baby from Leisure Arts and JBW Designs JBW Designs has liscensed seven of her out-of-print baby-themed designs to Leisure Arts for publication. A good Baby Book, we now have tiny birth announcements, a Christening announcement, a few small bib decorations, and several designs suitable for small nursery pillows or birth announcement samplers. All can be stitched on most any fabric you like, all are coded for DMC floss. If you've missed some of Judy's previous designs -- this is a good place to collect them to use as tiny gifts for someone tiny!!!
Robots, Owls and Butterflies! from Freddie's Friends I couldn't pass up these little guys at a recent Market I attended -- and I imagine that some of you won't be able to either!!! By Freddie's Friends, we have the sewing patterns for these darling creatures. I don't sew... (especially with a machine!)... but I can do these! Look at the edges -- there is not a turned seam on any of these anywhere. Flat pieces all sewn right sides out -- no turning -- just lots of CUTE! Ronny the Robot stands 22 inches tall, and his arms reach almost 16 inches across, and he's 3 inches fat! He could be a She if you made her in pinks! Olive the Owl's pattern is offered in three different sizes (all are included in the package) -- our Olive is the medium size. She stands 16 inches high, has a wing span of 11 inches across, and she's 5 inches thick. She looks great made with autumn-owl-y colors, too, and features cute scalloped tummy and tail 'feathers!' Little Olive measures only 7 x 3 x 11 and Big Olive measures 13 x 7 x 22! Bonnie the Butterfly is quite the eye catcher! She's about 18 x 4 x 15... and just the sweetest thing. All the patterns come with full-sized tracing templates and order-of-assembly instructions. OK you creative people... these are totally fun... and after you make one for your favorite little people, you might have to make another for YOU!
All Creatures Birth Sampler from Bothy Threads What a fun birth announcement for twins! Noah is ready for the flood in his yellow raincoat, and busy being The Greeter to all his cheery passengers. Offered as the chart, you have plenty of room to personalize with names and dates... weights and measures... even the time of the blessed event(s!) There are 4 different alphabets included, and a separate chart with line placement for your information. Measuring approx 220 x 120, this will finish about 9 x 16 if you choose a 14/28ct. (Can be stitched on just about anything you want!) The chart does come with some overdyed blue-ish-green-ish floss -- you can see it in the water area. The rest of the DMC flosses come from your stash. Cute!
Proverbs Child from Erica Michaels This gorgeous birth sampler is packaged with an oversized chart, alphabets for personalization, and charted verse for he vs she. Presented as the chart with cut of 40ct silk gauze... THIS model is stitched on the 40ct and measures approx 3 x 5. Of course, it can be stitched on any fabric, so if you like the sentiment, but not the small size, choose another linen -- 28ct ct will make it approx 8-1/2 x 14! Very pretty, tailored, classic, and not baby fussy! Offered as the chart with cut of gauze.
Sweet Baby Sampler from Praiseworthy Stitches 'Our dear sweet child, welcome to our hearts.' This is a lovely, classic birth sampler charted for Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silk. Luscious, soft shades of lavender, rose and soft greens, this finishes approx 6-1/2 x 10 on 32ct. (Sweet Lavender, Elegant Eggplant, Carnation, Cabbage Patch, Fern Frond, Creme de Menthe, Mudpie (doesn't match the rest of the colors -- does it!?) and Babbling Brook. Special stitches are included... Rhodes, Herringbone, Rice, Smryna and Diamond Variation... nothing is too difficult, and it all adds texture and bit of class! Just sweet and simple! Offered as a chart.
Passion Bebe from Madame la Fee Choose either the girl or boy version -- both are alike, except for the color combinations. 181 x 180 Stitch count, check out the mess by the cereal bowl!!!
Watch Over Me from Rosewood Manor A cool birth sampler -- you get to personalize the WHOLE THING!!! Alphabets are supplied, along with a huge planning sheet of graph paper (if you need it!) to design and re-arrange to fit the family. Basically, this piece celebrates the new baby, and lets you surround her/his information with the initials of as many ancestors as you can!!! Stitch it as is... or got to town!! Offered as the leaflet with lots of extra motifs and helpful suggestions. Main sampler -- just as it is -- finishes approx 11 x 13 on a 14/28 fabric.
Tea With The Moon from Heaven and Earth Designs A classic by Nancy Faulkner, this piece is NOT for a weak-of-stitcher!!! SOLID cross stitches make this 400 x 561 stitch count piece a whopping 16 x 24 over ONE THREAD on 25ct! Who isn't charmed by something like this??? Offered as the chart, we have lots of other classic artwork like this one gracing our Heaven & Earth Designs pages!!!
Snow White from Heaven and Earth Designs The most charming little scene from artist Scott Gustafson, straight from children's story books, this is classic Snow White! It is solid cross stitch, stitch count of 525 x 301. Awesome detail, just lovely! Offered as the chart.
Baby Row from Bent Creek 'The patter of little feet, a voice so soft and sweet, Sweet Child of Mine' is the verse on this cute birth record! Bent Creek has a new row pattern that can actually be worked in any colors you wish, and personalized with that Sweet Child's name and birth date. Offered as a leaflet, the finished piece measures approx 3-1/6 x 16 on 32ct. Normally, the Row Series is garnished with lots of fun clay buttons from Just Another Button Company... but this one doesn't have any...yet! If we're talking about a girl... we have precious hearts, flowers and 'girly stuff' that would be cute... and if you want something with dogs and worms on it... we have that too! I think this is a PERFECT row to get creative with your featured baby's future traits! Remember that fabrics can change too, so think about room colors. Real Cute!
Baby Ewe from Bent CreekThe next sheep/ewe kit by Bent Creek, this one celebrates the arrival of that darling baby sheep on top of Mama! The complete kit offers charts to personalize, and BOTH Old Blue and Antique Rose overdyed flosses to stitch whichever suits your new arrival. Stitching approx 4 x 6 on the included 25ct linen, it's a cute quickie!
Tiny Tikes Teddy from The Sweetheart TreeA 'Teenie Tweenie' design, offered in small card format... this one offers a classic teddy bear! Finishing approx 3 x 3, the pattern can be stitched on almost any fabric, and includes a full alphabet and set of numerals for personalization. (BTW, Steven is now 30 years old... hope it doesn't take you that long to get yours stitched!)
Pampered Baby from Stoney Creek Stoney Creek has 6 charming designs that will fit our bibs and little towels! Of course, you might have something darling that is already waiting in your stitchery stash of patterns... but if not, here is a set of six different charts. Most will look great stitched on any of the terry cloth colors, so keep that in mind as you choose. All patterns are offered as a single chart of matching bib and towel. So Cute!
Tiny Baby Bibs Matched pieces to our cute little hooded baby towels... these small 'dribble bibs' are charming counterparts to stitch and cherish for years and years to come! The same rich Terry in the same colors, each bib measures approx 9 x 10, and features the same woven aida panel (actually a front pocket of the bib) as the blankets -- only it measures approx 2-1/4 x 8. A snap closure makes them easy to dress baby. They are NOT lined with plastic, and they are NOT huge... so definitely for a newborn, or 'delicate' bib for a little baby, these are not a 'turbo-everyday-super-duper-red-spagetti-sauce' variety of bib... these are baby shower and 'stitched with Granny's Love' bibs! Very soft and really cute!
Hooded Terry Cloth Baby Towels Such lovely towels to dry off the tiniest member of the family... this is the kind of thing that you'll never part with! I still have my daughter's baby towel that I stitched 20 years ago... and SHE still loves to see it! (and it's in some of my favorite old pictures, too!) This is a beautiful collection of 100% Cotton terry cloth hooded towels made by the Dohler Co in Brazil. Available in 5 colors, each towel measures approx 30 x 30 inches, and features a corner pocket with an aida-weave right IN the fabric. You have an area of approx 2 x 10 inches to personalize your towel with baby's name or some cute motifs from something you've treasured in your pattern stash! Each towel is piped with woven cotton edging, and is so wisper-soft! The colors are just as dreamy! White, Pink and Blue towels feature white piping. The yellow towel features lime green piping, and the lime green towel has light blue trim. Precious!
Sweet Baby Boy and Sweet Baby Girl from Pine Mountain Designs Pine Mountain has quite a few darling baby pillow kits... Sweet Baby is only one of the designs offered! Always offered as complete kits of the PRE-SEWN pillows, along with the chart, occasional embellishment and all the flosses... these make darling QUICK gifts that present well! Trendy fabrics, cute colors, lots of variety, these are just what the Baby Doctor Ordered -- visit the Pine Mountain Page for more!!!
Baby Globe from Bent Creek Bent Creek is continuing their set of 'Globe' designs that have previously been offered only in Zipper Kit format, with this new design. Joining all the rest of the Christmas designs (that are all on 18ct linen, stitched with perle cottons) is this baby announcement. It's stitched on 32ct Summer Khaki Belfast using overdyeds from your stash. It finishes approx 3-1/2 x 4... just darling! The package contains the chart, linen and smattering of teeny-weeny buttons, along with the alphabet and numbers to personalize each blessed event!
First Steps from Sue Hillis Aren't these the cutest little shoes??? Can't you picture the little people who wear them??? One of Sue Hillis's newest releases, this leaflet features three different shoe designs stitched 5 different ways. Included is a full alphabet and number set, so you can personalize the shoes of your choice. Each finishes approx 3 x 4 or 5-ish on 28ct, and is stitched with DMC flosses. Change shoe colors if need be... what a darling baby announcement?! You could even get the original shoes bronzed, frame them in a shadow box, and feature this stitching in the box! Moms and Grandmas... get busy!
Out of the Everywhere from Teresa Layman 'Where did you come from, baby dear? Out of the everywhere, into the here.' Teresa Layman has brought us the most exquisite birth sampler announcement! It is cross-stitched on 36ct Cream Edinburgh linen in shades of DMC, Weeks and Gentle Art overdyed flosses. There is a special opening in the chart which is reserved for a miniature knotwork piece by Teresa called 'Fairy Godmother.' (Available with this chart, or separately) If you choose 'not to knot!' you can cut out the opening in the linen, hem the edges, and insert a photo of your special baby instead. The main sampler is worked in blues and aquas, because of the colors of the Fairy Godmother showpiece in the center. If you really, really want more pinks... change the checkerboard blanket and baby's dress in the miniature knotwork portion, and adjust border colors in the sampler. Measuring approx 12 x 17, this piece is elegant and stunning -- we haven't begin to do it justice in our image, in fact. (Our fabric cut is a 'fat quarter yard' chunk -- more economical for you than the 18 x 23 cut!) Definitely at home in a 'decorator' nursery... and treasured forever... wherever its final hanging place will be! Don't miss Teresa's other new designs, too, shown on her page.
It's a Baby! from Shepherd's Bush Here's a fun little birth announcement... complete with bottles and rattles! Stitched on 10ct Cream Tula in Crescent, Weeks and Gentle Art overdyed flosses, this is the same size as the rest of SB's Musing designs. It measures approx 4 x 7, and features a cute baby bottle button, as well as the rattle, hearts and stars, and a little blue flower. Personalize the heart in the letter A, and add name at the bottom, using the alphabet and numbers provided on the chart. Offered as the single sheet chart, with buttons separately.
Treasure Me! from Sam Sarah Design Studio Oh my gosh... is this the cutest birth announcement??? Something so 'little boy' that can hang in his room for years and years!!! Your little pirate is stitched in overdyeds on 28ct linen, and finishes approx 6 x 6. There are alphabet letters and numbers included for your personalization... and we have the darling set of button embellishments as well. You get a sailboat, dragonfly, buzzard, and some gold coins -- the pirates bounty! Offered as a leaflet with claypack.
Sweet, Sweet Babe from Sam Sarah Design Studio I LOVE this soft, cheerful, colorful, delicate little piece!!! Stitched on 28ct in soft pastel shades of lavender, moss, buttermilk and rose overdyeds, it welcomes the newest lady to your family! Finishing approx 6-1/2 x 6-1/2, it features a set of clay buttons... a bumble bee, lavender rose, and three tiny posy flowers. Very sweet and fresh!
Here I Am! from Sam Sarah Design Studio Simple and sweet... the verse says it all! Offered as a leaflet with all the necessary buttons -- in both color options, -- this is stitched in your choice of boy or girl colors, and finishes approx 5 x 5. Cute and contemporary, this is quite finishable, so will present nicely as a special baby gift. We have extra clay packs available for this leaflet, in case you are experiencing a 'baby boom!'
Autumn Sunshine Lines from Brooke's Books Two of Brooke's Books newest baby announcement designs, these are always unique, and because of all the individual stitched pieces that are involved... you can stitch some or all, depending on your time! Offered as charts, the packages include 14ct brown perforated paper, charts for each piece, along with the alphabet for personalization, glass seed beads, DARLING miniature wooden clothes pins that are only an inch in size and Velcro dots to help attach your pieces to any background fabric you choose. Using DMC flosses from your stash, each tiny piece is stitched on the paper, cut out, hung on your floss-line -- with the tiny clothespins, and then attached to the background. Your overall finished size can vary a bit, depending on how you arrange your clothesline -- especially if you have a specific frame you already have, and want to use. So cute, these two have an Autumn flavor to them... which is good... because this year's Autumn Babies won't be here for 5 or 6 months... and you'll have time to stitch! (Winter Sunshine Lines Babies will be here sometime in June, with Spring and Summer following this Fall.) Check out the tiny squirrel and the puppy in the boot for the boy... and the paper doll on the girl's... it features detached legs that swing!
Gabrielle Rose from La-D-Da Such a simple, yet classic birth announcement... perfect for an elegant nursery, you could even change this and make it a wedding announcement as well! Stitched on your choice of linens, this measures approx 5 x 12 on 28ct, and features just six soft DMC shades. Try out your silk stash, add a few overdyeds... the sky's the limit! The leaflet offers lots of extra graph room and the alphabet for personalization. Just really nice, something that can hang in the room for years and years, and become a treasured memento. And... it's La-D-Da's 100th design!!!
Welcome Tooth Fairy from Lizzie*Kate A tiny Snippet design, this is finished as a banner with a pouch at the bottom for that precious tooth. Cute as a pillow with a little pocket added... there are lots of options for your finishing. Measuring approx 4 x 4... just make sure that pouch or pocket is big enough for a large 'haul' from that generous fairy!!! Adam Original has made this aqua polka-dot banner for that special little tooth... it comes totally assembled, complete with a bit of fabric to wrap the tooth, or loot!!! Finished banner measures approx 5-1/2 x 11 inches, plus the yellow ribbon hanger.
Baby Sampler from Lizzie*Kate Lots of tiny baby motifs all tucked into a birth announcement sampler... this is darling!!! Offered as the chartpack with teeny-weeny baby-sized charm and button embellishments, you can personalize this for a boy or girl. Finishing approx 4 x 7, the box shown is a smaller version of the same design... to show you different options. (This is the same format as LK's fun seasonal samplers that come with charms -- Love, Joy, Thanksgiving, Halloween... there's a garden one... and a few others.) Full of charm and color!
New Love, New Joy from Pine Mountain Designs The newest Tie-One-On Pillow designs from PM... we have two kits available that are color-coded for the new object of your affection! Offered in a pink or blue pillow sham... it's a quick stitch... and a quicker finish... because you wrap the pre-sewn sham around the pre-made quilted pillow inset! Your finished creation measures approx 9 x 12, with pretty, flourishes of ribbon ties at each pillow end.These complete kits contain the pre-sewn sham with ribbon ties, needle, chart and threads. All you add is the 1 or 2 hours of stitching time, the pillow form to stuff it with... and that object of your affection to give it to!!!
Bundle of Joy from The Trilogy Here's a darling way to stitch a quick little birth announcement, personalized with a sterling silver diaper pin -- a quickly disappearing fixture in the baby nurseries of 2005! (No sticky diaper tabs on this needlework!!!) Offered as a small Trilogy card design, the diaper is worked in Whitewash overdyeds, and options are given for either pink for blue diaper lines. The alphabet and numerals are included for baby's name and birth date. The sterling pin charm measures approx 7/8 of an inch... and is just precious!
Baby Garden from Just Nan Nan and John became grandparents on August 6th of last year, and this darling sampler commemorates little Victor! Oh gosh, his baby garden features his cradle, room for his name, a clock for his time of birth, and tons of little critters! Stitched on 28ct Natural linen, using 8 different stitches, you'll find all sorts of treasures tucked into this! Victor has a fish pond, lots of flowers and trees, bunnies (the featured embellishment is a hand-painted bunny Charmbead), assorted bugs, frogs, birds and a nest, squirrels, kitties (Grandma's favorite animals), a turtle, spider and even a little lizard!!! What a lucky kid!!! Baby Garden finishes approx 10 x 5, and is full of Just Nan detail and elegance! Offered as a leaflet with coordinating embellishment pack, it's stitched with your stash of DMC flosses!
Cute as a Button from JBW Designs Cute as a Button is a small 3-1/2 x 5 birth announcement suitable for girls or boys, depending on the colorway you select. Available as small card designs, Judy has a green checkered pillow to finish the girl's, and a blue checkered pillow for the boy. A 7 x 9-ish pillow, manufactured by Trail Creek Farm for JBW, each pillow has a small flanged edge treatment, and includes 4 fabric covered buttons for attaching your needlework. Very nicely done, the stitching will finish in a jiffy, and present so well on the pillows! Each card includes a set of pink or blue buttons for the announcement, as well! Make sure to see the rest of JBW's new things!!!
Baby Spots A small spot motif-type design from The Trilogy, this is darling! Just all sorts of small baby things, the embellishment featured is a sterling silver diaper pin charm! Approx an inch in size... I have to laugh... because I don't think it'll be too many more years before diaper pins are totally extinct!!! Anyway, your finished design measures approx 5 x 5 ,and the chart offers a complete alphabet and number set for personalization.
Graduation Projects
Piracy from Sue Hillis Designs A viable career option! Looking for 'just the perfect' graduation gift? This might be it! Something for the rebel graduate, this is offered as a small chart, coded for DMC floss. It finishes approx 4 x 6, and will fit in a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 frame beautifully. Make them smile, and glad they're out of school!!!
Reach for the Stars from Barbara-Ana Designs This darling scholar offers widsom for a lifetime! Offered as a chart, it finishes approx3 x 5 on 28ct and is worked in DMC flosses, with a bit of overdyed in the lettering.
Oh Happy Day! from Just Another Button Company Here's something perfect for a graduating genius!!! Offered as a little freebie chart from Just Another Button Company, with the purchase of a neat batch of clay buttons to dress it up, it's stitched on any 28ct blue linen (simulates the sky), and finishes approx 4 x 4. You are able to change the floss colors to match your school colors, and then embellish with the clay buttons -- face in the sunshine, lots of little hearts, and two black mortar boards! Perfect for High School or College... it's cute without being juvenile... and there's plenty of room at the bottom for personalization if you'd like!!!
Bless the Graduate from Lizzie Kate A quick sentiment for this year's graduate... there are lots of possibilities for extra personalization, if you have something special to add, stitched on 28ct, it finishes approx 3 x 7.
The Graduate By Sue Hillis Designs Full of rich navy, cinnamon, and golds, this is a stunning graduation remembrance -- very classy! Stitched on 28ct, it finishes approx 7 x 8," with an alphabet, with spaces provided for personalization. Included are two antiqued brass charms: a key that sits on top of the books, and a lamp-of-learning to place beside the graduate's name. Available as a leaflet with the charms.