The "Needlepoint Extraordinaire" Story

Neat beach needlepoint I just finished framing for Sue.

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished framing one of Sue's needle- points with a light tan suede and red accent mats.  It was one of many that I have framed for her over the past ten years in my basement shop.  I have just a few close friends as customers since I work for a matting and frame shop and will only do a few, since I don't care to take work away from the shop.  Sue supplies me with the framing material and I do the rest.  Sue and her husband Jere are travel companions of my wife and myself and many of the needlepoints I do for her are patterns she had purchased while on travel vacations with us.  

Another beach related needlepoint by Sue.

Both Sue and Jere were high school classmates of mine so we have been friends for most of our lifetime.  Sue's work is fantastic and I love to add my touch to what she has done.  Easy to make a piece of artwork look good if the original artwork is good by itself.  For those of you who haven't a clue what needlepoint may be, it is a form of counted thread embroidery in which yarn of varying colors is stitched through a stiff open weave canvas.  Most needlepoint designs completely cover the canvas although that isn't necessary.  

A more traditional needlepoint she has done.
Remember to click on photos to enlarge them.

Needlepoint may be worked in a variety of stitches, but many designs use only a simple tent stitch and rely upon color changes in the yarn to construct the pattern.  The degree of detail depends on the thread count of the original fabric.  The majority of needlepoint work that Sue does is used for wall hangings, but she has made a pillow and Christmas tree ornaments for Carol and I.  Needlepoint goes back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptians who used small slanted stitches to sew up their canvas tents.  Needlepoint has been found in caves dating back to 1500 BC.  Needlepoint is also known to some as tapestry or canvaswork.  

My favorite which depicts the Christmas calandar.

The thread is usually wool, silk, cotton or a combination of these such as a wool-silk blend.  Some fibers may be metallic cord, metallic braid, ribbon or raffia.  Sue's needlepoint is done as a hobby as well as gifts for friends and relatives.  I enjoy framing her work since much of it has a seaside theme to it which reminds me of our travels with her and Jere.  

Another beach theme on this needlepoint.

But, my favorite needlepoint that I recently did for her was a rather large piece that had to be close to 24" by 24" in size and had to be made multi-dimensional since small pieces were used in the design.  The design was meant to illustrate the 24 days til Christmas.  Can't imaging the amount of time Sue spent on this piece of artwork.  For many, needlepoint is a form of relaxation and I suspect that is one of the reasons Sue enjoys her hobby so much.  And, as you can see by her work, good eyesight seems to be a must to be successful at needlepoint.  Check out her work and you'll see why I enjoy framing them for her. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This small piece shows you don't have to totally cover the piece with stitches.

Minimal colors are used in this beach theme needlepoint.

A pair that hang in her livingroom. 

Much of this piece is not covered with thread.  This is a more traditional needlepoint displaying the letters of the alphabet.