Southwest theme Stitch Guides by Robin King

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Whew!! That was a fast week. How was it for you?

I'm into the one-week countdown for boarding the next plane 🛩.

Where you going, Robin? I will be traveling to Scottsdale, AZ to teach at Quail Run Needlework; owner is Susan Barlow. Lucky me, I get to go there twice a year: September and January.

Here's a fun tidbit to know about Susan. Not only is she the shop owner and an excellent needlepointer, she is also an artist whose Southwestern designs are offered thru her wholesale line, Quail Run Designs.

I have had the lucky opportunity to write several Southwestern themed stitch guides for classes at Quail Run Needlework. Here are some stitch guides from previous years...

"Adobe" by Peter Ashe
stitch guide by Robin King

"Adobe" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"All in the Family" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Approaching the Skies" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Desert Council" by Quail Run  Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Desert Sun" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Enchanted Pueblo" by Sundance Designs
artist, Tish
stitch guide by Robin King

"Five Women" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Magic Sun" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Prickly Pear and Quails" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Purple Adobe" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

There were also many designs in the Quail Run Designs catalog "not" of the Southwestern theme.

"Pumpkin" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Man About Town" by Quail Run Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

"Because You're Mine I Walk the Line" by Quail Run Designs
artist, Nancy Coffelt
stitch guide by Robin King

"Nothing but Blue Skies" by Quail Run Designs
artist, Nancy Coffelt
stitch guide by Robin King

"Oriental Woman 2" by Quail Run Designs
artist, Charlotte McDonnell
stitch guide by Robin King

"Oriental Woman 1" by Quail Run Designs
artist, Charlotte McDonnell
stitch guide by Robin King

I wrote a stitch guide for Purple Palm Designs. Look at that assortment of cacti. 🌵

"Desert Light" by Purple Palm Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

And, I also wrote a guide for Little Bird Designs; the artist's mom, Rosanne, was attending the class.

"Inspired by Fawkes" by Little Bird Designs
stitch guide by Robin King

Oh, and not to state the obvious, all of my stitch guides are available. Email me creativecats@comcast.net for any inquiries. 😊

Next week there will be 12 more 😳 new stitch guides at the Quail Run class. 🙃 Quite an eclectic grouping from designers including Quail Run Designs; Birds of a Feather; Susan Roberts/Ashley Dillon; Maggie Co.; Nenah Stone Designs; Needle Deeva; Tapestry Fair; Trubey Designs; Julia's Needleworks/Peter Ashe; Winnetka Designs; and Shorebirds Designs/Kathryn Molineux.

new Stitch Guides from Robin King

I will be away next Sunday (class runs Saturday thru Tuesday) so I will resume blogging about my Quail Run/Arizona experience after I get home. Look for me on the following Sunday, 10/01/17.

You can follow Quail Run Needlework on Facebook; I know they will be posting progress reports.

Here's a fun stitch I've charted for next week's upcoming class at Quail Run. Wonder which canvas it goes to?

a stitch for you

Well, the countdown clock ⏰ is ticking. Time to get ready for my travels. Lots to do: laundry, packing, preparing stitch guides for travel, etc... Plus, hug a cat or two.   >^..^<

Until the next time... HUGS, Robin

Bricked Beading (aka Beaded Brick Stitch) with Robin

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Hello fellow Bead-niks. 😊

How was your week? I've been writing stitch guides for my upcoming Canvas Enhancement class next month at Quail Run Needlework in Scottsdale, AZ; September 23-26, 2017.

Look at these fun canvases!

upcoming new Stitch Guides by Robin King

The artists are Quail Run Designs, Susan Roberts Needlepoint (artist, Ashley Dillon), Maggie Co. (artist, Karla Gerard), Tapestry Fair (artist, Pat Scheurich), Nenah Stone, NeedleDeeva, Julia's Needleworks (artist, Peter Ashe), Winnetka Designs, and Shorebird Designs (artist, Kathryn Molineux).

I still have these 3 canvases to work on this week; artists include Trubey Designs, Quail Run Designs, and Birds of a Feather.

"Iris" by Trubey Designs
Stitch Guide by Robin King

"Bright Cactus" by Quail Run Designs
Stitch Guide by Robin King

"Bon Voyage" by Birds of a Feather
Stitch Guide by Robin King

As always, these stitch guides will be available from me after the class (September 23-26, 2017). You can email me for any information including wholesale inquiries at creativecats@comcast.net.

Last week's topic, Stitch Beading with Robin, was a success. The Needlepoint Study Hall blog had 2300 viewers. Wow and thank you! 😊

Today, let's continue with another type of Beading called Bricked Beading or Brick Beading. You might even call it Beaded Brick. Either way is good with me.

Long time followers of this blog might remember an earlier episode (April 8, 2010) about Beaded Brick Stitch. You can step into the Way-Back Machine to read about the link I've provided.  But, we will discuss it again because it is such an interesting technique.

First, let's understand the concept: you are doing the Brick Stitch using Beads instead of Thread.

You will follow the Brick Stitch pathway adding a Bead one stitch at a time. Generally speaking, you will want to use slightly larger beads compared to the canvas mesh you are using (for example, a size 11 Seed Beads on an 18 mesh canvas) so the Bead sits over the hole. You will still use one long strand Beading Thread doubled in the needle.

Then, all you need to do is to Bead. Become one with your zen spirit and watch the pattern develop. Here are some examples of Bricked Beading from my stitch guides.

Beaded Brick stitch Red, Pink Hearts
Stitch Guide by Robin King
Jolly Nutcrackers • dede Ogden

Beaded Brick stitch Pumpkin Face
Stitch Guide by Robin King
Floating Cat Pumpkin Balloon
 Kirk & Bradley • KB115 

Beaded Brick stitch Apple
Stitch Guide by Robin King
Gone Fishin' • Annie Lane • 0151
model stitched by Dwana McKee, Dallas, TX

Wanna know something cool? You can also use Triangle Japanese Seed Beads for your Beaded Brick stitch. I used them for some of the Skull Heads on the "Head Games" stitch guide; artist Sandra Gilmore/Once in a Blue Moon/ Fleur, SG-13-032. Very effective!

Beaded Brick technique Skull
Stitch Guide by Robin King
Head Games • Sandra Gilmore • SG-13-032
model stitched by Sheilah King, Atlanta, GA

Triangle Beads very effective!
Stitch Guide by Robin King
Head Games • Sandra Gilmore • SG-13-032
model stitched by Sheilah King, Atlanta, GA

Hmmm...looking at my remaining Quail Run stitch guides... I'm thinking some of the blooms on the "Bright Cactus" might be fun in the Beaded Brick technique.

Well, that's all for now. Onward for the rest of our Sunday. Have a good week. Tell your friends about Needlepoint Study Hall. I'm back! 😊  See you next Sunday.

Until then... Hugs!  Robin

The Nimble Needle-Atlanta - part 3

Hi Everybody... Robin here...

I'd like you to meet Penny Boswinkle. She's one of the talented stitchers from The Nimble Needle - Atlanta.

Penny attended the April 2013 canvas enhancement class and selected the Blue Bird (canvas by Maggie Co. M-1488).

Blue Bird • Maggie Co. • M-1488

I was smitten with this canvas when I saw it at the TNNA Market, and was pleased to give some stitch suggestions for it.

I've asked Penny to tell us about her class experience:

Little did I know when I signed up for Robin King’s April 7^th Canvas Enhancement Class at The Nimble Needle in Atlanta what a fun journey with an exciting end I was about to start.  I picked Maggie Co’s Blue Bird for my first Robin stitch guide.

Before the class we had to get two color copies of our piece – one for Stacy Brown (the shop owner) to send to Robin and the second one for us to use for notes during class.  Stacy had set the class up so that each of us had our own time with Robin.  Class started at 9am and my time was 11am.  Not wanting to miss a thing I was there at 9 to find my stitch guide waiting so that I could pick threads before I talked with Robin.  When it was time, we discussed each section and the suggested threads – most of the areas stayed the same as her original idea, but we did change a few.  

Stacy provided a wonderful lunch and then back to work we went.  As soon as Robin had given everyone their assigned time, she was around the room answering questions and giving advice.  We even had a cupcake break!  All in all it was a wonderful class and day!

I was really thrilled with my stitch guide and couldn’t seem to put the piece down at home.  As the piece progressed there were a few places I made some changes, but not many.  Packed outline for the tree; lazy daisy stitch with a center straight stitch for the flowers; padded satin for the bird’s wing with clear star beads scattered on it;  bullions for the bird’s feet;  stump work for the center of the largest flower – no wonder I couldn’t quit stitching.

When I finished, my framer suggested a plain copper tone frame that blended with the trees.  I was thrill with the way it turned out; so decided to enter it in the ANG National Seminar Exhibit in Anaheim.  Imagine how thrilled I was when the Exhibit opened and I found my piece had won an honorable mention ribbon!  I’ve won ribbons before, but don’t think any piece had been stitched with such a fun journey!

If any of you get the chance to take a class with Robin, DO IT!  In fact, I will be in Robin’s next class at The Nimble Needle and can’t wait to see what happens with that piece!

What nice words. Thanks, Penny.

Here is the Blue Bird all finished and framed. Such a sweet piece. Great job, Penny.

Blue Bird • Maggie Co. • M-1488
Stitched by Penny Boswinkle
Stitch Guide by Robin King

In October 2013, I returned to The Nimble Needle - Atlanta for another group of canvas enhancement classes. Penny returned, too... this time with Approaching the Skies by Quail Run Designs (QR-020A).

Approaching the Skies • Quail Run Designs  • QR-020A
Stitch Guide by Robin King

When I was coming up with stitches, I was feeling a decorative, light approach to the different color blocks. I shared my thoughts with Penny and she was on board with the plan.

Here is one of the stitches we used. Isn't it pretty?

As you might have guessed, Penny has already finished stitching this piece! I know what you are thinking... she is a stitching machine. Penny sent me a photo, and said it will be framed by the next time I'm in ATL... which is next weekend. I can't wait to see it, and Penny, too.

Approaching the Skies • Quail Run Designs  • QR-020A
Stitched by Penny Boswinkle
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Like clockwork, I am returning to The Nimble Needle - Atlanta for another session of canvas enhancement classes. Penny will be there, too.

Here's what she has selected: Because You're Mine I Walk the Line. Canvas by Quail Run Designs, artist Nancy Coffelt (NC112).  Two cats and one dog amongst a scene of laundry. How cute is this canvas!!!

Because You're Mine I Walk the Line
Quail Run Designs, artist Nancy Coffelt • NC112
Stitch Guide by Robin King

Next blog... I will showcase the canvases selected for the upcoming Enhancement classes at The Nimble Needle - Atlanta... a delightful assortment of designs.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin