This past August, there was a “major change” here on Needle ‘n Thread, and if you’re relatively new to the site, I’d like to take a little time to tell you about it. For those who have been following along for a while, you know that in August I introduced for the first time four commercial advertisements, to help cover the increasing costs of Needle ‘n Thread.
My plan was (and will continue to be) that the advertisers on Needle ‘n Thread are a good fit for the website and of particular interest to my readers. That is, they are directly related to the needlework industry, and are businesses I would recommend to anyone, because of their excellent quality and service.
I’d like to point out the specific sponsors and tell you a bit about them – and encourage you to patronize them if you are looking for something that they offer.
The first ad is on the left, in space #1: Renaissance Dyeing. Renaissance Dyeing produces beautiful hand-dyed wool with all natural plant dyes. I’ve used Renaissance Dyeing crewel wool quite a bit in the last year, and I really like it a lot. The Elizabethan range is especially beautiful, and great for historical needleworkers. I used Renaissance Dyeing wool on several parts of my Crewel Rooster project, especially the flowers, and may parts of the tail. It’s really a nice wool to stitch with.
In the top right column of the website, you’ll find an ad for Vetty Creations. This is the website belonging to Yvette Stanton, who has recently produced two very beautiful stitch dictionaries. One is a first-ever-really-extensive stitch dictionary for left-handed embroiderers, which she soon followed with a right-handed version. You’re welcome to read my review on her left-handed stitch dictionary (which I use daily for left-handed embroidery students), so that you can see what a quality book it is. The right-handed one is just like it (only reversed!). Yvette also sells whitework supplies for techniques such as Mountmellick Embroidery, and she has produced three other books on whitework techniques that are well worth adding to your needlework library.
Just below Vetty Creations in the second space on the right column is an ad for The French Needle. This boutique-type needlework shop carries beautiful needlework patterns, books, kits, and supplies from Europe. They have a section on surface embroidery that has some beautiful kit offerings that you don’t see elsewhere, here in the States, anyway. For those who are interested in the Bayeux Tapestry, you’ll find three reproduction kits available, for little scenes out of the tapestry. These are fine kits, with imprinted fabric, instructions, and thread to complete your own little Bayeux tapestry. The French Needle also offers some new kits with a really neat concept. An example is the Couronne de Roses et Myosotis, which is a floral wreath design printed in full color on fine even-weave linen. You can over-stitch any parts of the design, to give it depth, and then you can personalize it by stitching a monogram or what-have-you in the center. With only a little bit of effort (because you don’t have to stitch the whole thing!), you can create very pretty personalized gifts – think framed, pillow, inset on photo album cover or scrapbook, mounted in a box lid, etc. Fun idea! You’ll also find lots of European-styled counted cross stitch books, charts, and kits available at The French Needle.
Finally, in the last space on each article page – at the bottom of each article – is space #4, where you’ll find an ad for Maureen’s Vintage Acquisitions. Now, here is a thorough shop for the crazy quilter, the embellisher, the bead artist, and the all-around textile enthusiast. Maureen carries a great selection of vintage lace, in bits and bigger pieces. She carries beautiful ribbon – silk and otherwise – suitable for silk ribbon embroidery and other embellishing endeavors, she’s got beads, she’s got tools, she’s got a huge selection of little brass charms to decorate your needlework projects – really, she’s got everything for the serious (and not so serious!) embellisher in you! Maureen’s website is fun to browse, so do take a look!
So those are my current “site sponsors” (aka paid advertisers). I don’t hesitate to recommend all of them to you for quality supplies and good service!
