Hi there! It’s a gloriously beautiful spring day here in Alabama…there’s a cool breeze blowing, the sun is shining, the birdies are chirping, and big puffy white clouds are drifting across the bluest sky you ever saw. It makes my heart sing just to look out the window. In fact, I think I’ll take my project out on the porch in a little while and stitch. 🙂

But before I do…

Remember last week, when we chatted about the design elements on my Tuscaloosa canvas and identified the focal point (and subordinate focal points)? Then, we brainstormed about some descriptive words that could be used to help in exploring different thread options. If you missed that blog post, you can click here to read it.

Well, this week’s post is all about…

Ellen Johnson

Just the other day, someone asked me about which stitches might be good to use for the sky on a needlepoint canvas. And that’s a really great question, but you know what? It doesn’t have a “one-size-fits-all” answer.

Ellen Johnson

If you’ve ever worked a needlepoint canvas using a professional stitch guide, you know the difference that decorative stitches and fancy threads can make in your finished project. The added texture and sparkle bring a flat 2-dimensional design to life and transform a plain needlepoint canvas into a hand-stitched work of art.

Maybe you’ve even taken a class from a guest instructor at a needlepoint shop or guild meeting. You got all inspired to branch out and try new stitches and embellishments. You bought new canvases and threads – the works!

So why does the idea of actually picking your own stitches and threads have you quaking in your boots?

Ellen Johnson