Thursday, October 23, 2014

Nostalgia Stocking: A Needle Adventures Chart UPDATED

Nostalgia Chart with Threads, Courtesy of gail1156

An eBay seller has posted the Needle Adventures chart for a stocking called "Nostalgia" with various threads and a 16x24 piece of 18 count canvas.    The auction starting price is $30 with $5 for "standard shipping."  The seller gail1156 says the chart is dated 1992 and kindly allowed me to reuse her auction photos here.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390955587558?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&fromMakeTrack=true

UPDATE:  Sadly, this chart didn't find a home.  Hopefully the seller will relist the auction.


Closeup of the Nostalgia Stocking from the Needle Adventures Chart

"Nostalgia:  A Keepsake Stocking" was published in the November-December 1991 issue of Needlepoint Plus magazine.  It appears to be the same design, published in the magazine and then republished as a stand alone Needle Adventures chart the next year.  Here is the article about the magazine version.
http://lorettaspears.blogspot.com/2012/01/nostalgia-keepsake-stocking.html


Note Artists Collection Sticker


UPDATE:  Another eBay seller has this up for auction.  This chart is in a plastic bag with a "published by Artists Collection" sticker that includes Loretta's shop address.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Loretta-Spears-Needle-Adventures-Nostalgia-Christmas-Stocking-GUIDE-chart/233004154191?hash=item3640213d4f:g:6ToAAOSwfcNb6vUC:rk:5:pf:0

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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Victorian Heart on eBay UPDATED

Victorian Heart

Victorian Heart was published in the January-February 1991 issue of Needlepoint Plus.   A xerox of the magazine instructions is for sale on eBay.  The starting bid is $8.95 plus $2.75 shipping. I will add this to the eBay sales tab but I did want everyone to see the partly finished design as it is in different colors than the original pattern listed.  UPDATE:  This item went unsold.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VICTORIAN-HEART-Partially-Finished-Needlepoint-by-Loretta-Spears-Silk-Mill-Hill-/251683150317?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a997c19ed

Closeup of Partly Stitched Victorian Heart
The piece for sale is partly stitched and on stretcher bars.  Beside the copy of the instructions, you also will get DMC cotton floss, silk floss, Balger silver cord and Mill Hill beads.


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Monday, October 20, 2014

Beginning Needlepoint at Loretta and Max Spears' Shop



I just stumbled across this teaching piece Loretta used in her shop, Fiesta Needleart, to teach beginners needlepoint. It was worked on 14 count mono needlepoint canvas with Elsa Williams tapestry wool.  I'm guessing that it is around nine inches square. This is one of three shop class pieces I've uncovered.  Also see Quilt Pattern 1986 and Quilt Pattern 1990.
https://needleartsandbeyond.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/loretta-spears-beginner-project-hobbit-stitching/

I did not know Loretta's shop offered framing by her husband Max.  Many thanks to the Needlearts and Beyond blog for this image and information!
https://needleartsandbeyond.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/beginning-needlepoint-project-by-loretta-spears/

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Thursday, October 9, 2014

Watch Autumn Reflections (Mystery #5) Grow

Pat of the Needleart Nut blog is about to start blog-stitching Mystery #5, "Autumn Reflections."  Stay tuned as she creates another of Loretta's wonderful mysteries.  This is the next best thing to stitching one of Loretta's mysteries yourself!  Nice job, Pat.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/autumn-reflections.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/making-grid.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/patterns.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/pattern-b.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/c-d.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-rest.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/darning.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/3-squares.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/two-more-designs.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-last-rectangle.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/starting-corners.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/growing.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/lots-more-leaves.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/corners.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2014/10/autumn-reflections-done.html

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If you would like to see the posting about Mystery #5, click on this link.
http://lorettaspears.blogspot.com/2012/01/mystery-5-autumn-reflections.html

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The Tree (Christmas Heirlooms Series)

Christmas Heirlooms The Tree


I've been wondering about The Tree for several years now but an eBay seller has finally posted this design so we can see this small ornament.  The Tree is a Needle Adventures chart distributed by Artists Collection as one of her Christmas Heirlooms ornament series.  The eBay seller says that the instructions are dated 1991 on the back side and graciously allowed me to repost her auction photographs here.

Closeup of The Tree


Here is a link to the auction where I found the information--
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIP-Loretta-Spears-Christmas-Heirloom-XStitch-Kit-The-Tree-/161443659183?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2596cabdaf

Not all the threads are included and I can't tell if the piece of green mono canvas has the LS logo or not.  Many thanks to the eBay seller susie-qpink for helping with information about this new Loretta ornament.


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Materials List:

7x7 inch square Santa Fe Green 18 count mono needlepoint canvas
Watercolours "Jade" #066 - one skein
Balger cord
Kreinik metallic ribbon (1/16 inch?)
Kreinik metallic (unknown braid size)