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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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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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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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

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)

Christmas Heirlooms: Herringbone Stitch Ball NEW

Herringbone Stitch Ball, Courtesy of lrstitch-2008

A brand new Loretta design turned up on eBay this week.   The eBay seller kindly answered my questions about the name of the piece, the materials used and the copyright date on the chart.  She also allowed me to reuse the photographs from the auction here.  Thank you!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LORETTA-SPEARS-Herringbone-Stitch-Ball-Needlepoint-Chart-18-Mesh-Canvas-/321325600456?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad07f8ec8

UPDATE:  This previously unknown ornament sold for the beginning price of $3.99 plus $3.37 in shipping.  Someone got a nice bargain!  If it was you, please email me the list of materials and any other information you think I should add to this article at LorettaSpearsDesigns at gmail dot com.  Thanks!

Loretta named this ornament Herringbone Stitch Ball and it appears to be a herringbone pattern in white DMC floss on white 18 count canvas with size 16 Kreinik braid in pale pink or peach or possibly gold.  It is from the Christmas Heirlooms series and is a chart published under the Needle Adventures name in 1991.   The chart has a price sticker of $7 (first time I've seen pricing labels on these charts) and also has a sticker reading:

"Distributed By
The Artists Collection
5963 W. Indore Place
Littleton Colorado 80123
(303) 979-6936"

I presume this was the address and phone number of Loretta's shop.  This sticker is the first of this type I have seen also.  This may have been purchased at her shop.  The auction has a starting price of $3.99 plus $3.37 for "standard shipping."  The auction ends soon so if you want this beauty, act now.

Closeup of Herringbone Stitch Ball from Chart Cover

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Materials List:
18 count white Zweigart mono canvas
DMC white cotton floss
Kreinik size 16 braid (color unknown, may be gold although it looks peach or pink in the photograph)

Christmas Heirlooms from Dec. 1992 Needlepoint Plus on eBay UPDATED

The two Christmas roll up ornaments called Christmas Heirlooms that appeared in the December 1992 issue of Needlepoint Plus are for sale on eBay as part of a lot of all five of the magazines from that year.   The starting bid is $9.99 plus free expedited shipping.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Needlepoint-Plus-Magazine-Lot-5-1992-107-108-110-111-112-Back-Issues-/291068673881?pt=Magazines&hash=item43c50b7f59

UPDATE:  The auction ended without a bid.  It has been relisted at a starting price of $9.99 plus fee shipping again.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Needlepoint-Plus-Magazine-Lot-5-1992-107-108-110-111-112-Back-Issues-/291084097030?pt=Magazines&hash=item43c5f6d606

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Springtime 1992, a New Christmas Heirloom (Needle Adventures)

Springtime 1992, Courtesy of Pjeclipse

Springtime 1992 has turned up on eBay.  This is a Needle Adventures publication I have not seen before. The month this was published is not listed anywhere in the chart, by the way.  The seller describes Springtime this way--"This 1992 Needle Adventures by Loretta Spears SPRINGTIME ornament uses the pinwheel stitch, continental stitch, bead cup stitch, large dimpled scotch, and dimpled alternating scotch stitch."  Here is the eBay auction link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=191036805531

Another View with Overdye and Canvas, Courtesy of Pjeclipse

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Lavendula Canvas, NN Overdye 178, and Balger

As you can see from the photo of several of the threads and the canvas recommended for this piece, the photos of Springtime from the cover of the chart are not true to the actual colors.

Materials List:
18 count Lavendula mono canvas 7" x 7" (in photo above)
Needle Necessities overdye floss - "Coventry Garden" #178 (in photo above)
Balger blending filament #013 - beige
Mill Hill beads #02209

Needle Necessities is no long in business.  Substitute ThreadworX cotton floss #11311 "Summer Flowers"
Balger threads are now sold under the name Krenik - substitute Kreinik blending filament #013 "Beige"

Many thanks to pjeclipse for permission to reuse photos and auction information!

1974 Photograph of Loretta Spears in Fiesta Needleart

Loretta in Her Shop, Courtesy of Lexibell-racing

Two new eBay sales of photographs of Loretta Spears have come to light, thanks to the sharp eyes of LH.  This photograph is dated October 16, 1974 and is 10x8 inches.   Loretta herself is in a ruffled blouse and standing bending over the table, looking at the latch hook rug.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-Carpets-And-Rugs-Mrs-Audrey-Lyons-Press-Photo-/390461336901?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item5ae94f2d45

Information on Back of Denver Post Photograph

The back of the photograph reads "OCT 16 1974 Yarn Shop Owner Consults With Instructor Mrs. Loretta Spears, standing, owner of the Fiesta Yarn Shop, discusses hooked rug with Mrs. Audrey Lyons, new instructor-sales man for shop at 5752 Wadsworth Blvd." Credit: Denver Post.

The photos above are courtesy of the eBay seller Lexibell-racing.  As always I have no financial interest in the outcome of any eBay sale of Loretta's work.

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1979 Photograph of Loretta Spears

Loretta Spears Holding Finished Needlework

Two new eBay sales of photographs of Loretta Spears have come to light, thanks to the sharp eyes of LH.  This photograph is dated July, 1979 and shows Loretta holding a piece of what looks like crewel with other finished framed pieces on the table in front of her.  I think this is probably an interior photograph taken in her shop, Fiesta Needleart, which was located in Arvada, Colorado.  This is an 8x10 inch photograph taken for the Denver Post.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-Embroidery-Fiesta-Yarn-Press-Photo-/390473993539?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item5aea104d43

Information on Back of Denver Post Photograph

The back of the photograph reads "JUL 13 1979, JUL 25 1979 Loretta Spears of Fiesta Yarn Shop Examines Exhibit Work. She holds "Irises" worked on hardanger fabric by Dee Hill of Arvada." Credit: Denver Post.

The photographs are courtesy of the eBay seller Lexibell-racing.

As always, I have no financial interest in the outcome of any eBay auction.

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The Cross

The Cross, Photo Courtesy of CCC-Consign

Thanks to an eBay auction, we have a photograph of The Cross, published in 1996 by Loretta Spears Designs, probably in December, as the instructions say this "completes the 1996 series of Heirloom Designs."  The design is numbered 1296 at the top, which also makes me think it was published in December 1996.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390742765349?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1426.l2648

By the way, the auction starts at $5.95 plus $3.25 for "standard shipping." It also includes the charted version of Antique Heart (which I thought only existed as a publication in the Feb. 1993 issue of Needlepoint Plus; the seller says the publication date for the chart of Antique Heart, published as a Needle Adventures publication, is 1989) and the August 1992 Christmas Heirlooms ornament, published under the Loretta Spears Designs name.

It looks as if there is a diagram of the stitch for The Cross stapled to the instruction sheet but this chart has lost its cover page.  Many thanks to CCC-Consign for details and the reuse of the photo above.

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Materials List:
6x6 eggshell Congress cloth
Marlitt #1212
Marlitt #872
Kreinik cord #102C

Three Charts (One UNKNOWN!) on eBay UPDATED

A consignment seller on eBay has three of Loretta's ornament charts together for sale.  The auction has a beginning bid of $5.95 plus $3.25 "standard shipping."
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Loretta-Spears-Antique-Heart-Heirlooms-Cross-charted-needlepoint-patterns-/390742765349?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5afa156f25

The charts include a unknown photograph for "The Cross" which was published in (December?) 1996.  Apparently this was the last of the Christmas Heirloom series for that year.  I will be contacting the seller for more information and permission to reuse their photograph here.

The second chart in Antique Heart, published as a Needle Adventures chart in 1989.  This was also published in Needlepoint Plus magazine, the Feb. 1993 issue.  I did not know this was also published in chart form.
http://lorettaspears.blogspot.com/2012/01/antique-heart.html

The third chart is the August 1992 Christmas Heirlooms piece, published under the Loretta Spears Designs name.
http://lorettaspears.blogspot.com/2012/11/christmas-heirlooms-august-1992-needle.html

UPDATE:  The auction is over with a winning bid of $6.45 plus shipping.  Someone got a nice deal!

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