Good morning, my friends, and a Happy Saturday all around!

Today, a few little news snips for your weekend reading, inspiration, and contemplation. I’m still trying to get my head around a couple of them – they befuddle me, by their sheer artistic genius!

I’ve also got a sweet little deal for Needle ‘n Thread readers, if you’re looking for a good task lamp!

So, a little Saturday morning browse for you – grab your cup of whatever (tea for me!) – and let’s jaunt, shall we?

First, we’ll get the meat of the matter out of the way, and then we’ll move on to dessert!

Needle ‘n Thread Discount for Stella Lighting

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Stella Two task lamp – it’s been a great little task lamp these last few weeks, moving easily with me from the living room to the work room and even to my bedroom, where I undertook some fiddly hand-sewing last week.

It’s bright, light, and ever-so-portable!

The folks at Stella Lighting contacted me after I reviewed the lamp, offering a discount to my readers. I always like to take companies up on a discount for you all, because, if you are in the market for a good product, then it’s a good thing to be able to pass on some savings to you. Every penny helps, after all! Think of it as more thread!

So, if you’re in the market for a Stella task lamp or floor lamp (any of their products), Stella Lighting is offering a 15% discount to Needle ‘n Thread readers, plus free shipping in the continental US.

If you want to take advantage of the offer, you can shop here through Stella Lighting’s website. Add the products you want to your cart, and when you go to your cart, enter this code in the “Apply Coupon” box: mcbrite (all lower case, just like that). You have to enter the code to get the discount and free domestic shipping, so don’t forget!

For those looking for a lamp, I hope this helps you out!

Embroidery for the Foodie in You

Whether you’re a foodie or not – perhaps you’re more like me, and just a stitcher who appreciates amazing embroidery – you might want to check out the embroidery of Japanese needle artist Ipnot. Her website has an amazing gallery of minuscule embroideries that look like The Real Thing when it comes to food.

But she also embroiders other things as well – they’re all Small, Small, Small, in utterly amazing detail. Her Instagram feed is a site to behold and worth a good wander. Her little animal faces are adorable (look for the rabbit face with the carrot). And it’s all done with a single strand of DMC!

Needle Painting of a Different Sort

Have you seen the felt work of Dani Ives? Felting is done with needles, so I think it’s fair to include this on an embroidery blog!

Dani Ives paints with felt, like an embroiderer might paint with thread. Her work mostly features incredibly realistic felted animal portraits, among other bits of nature.

I’ve always had a yearning to get into needle felting, but I’ve never taken a serious plunge because: 1. I don’t need more stash! and 2. I’m already too preoccupied with needles.

So instead, I sit back and admire the work of others. Dani’s is stunning!

Crazy Quilters and Aspiring CQ-ers!

If you’re up for what looks like a super fun stitching challenge over the next few years, check out Sharon Boggon’s 2020 Challenge for crazy quilters. It’s not complicated and it’s not pressured. It looks like a very doable, adventurous stitching challenge.

Mellerstain Parrots in Crewel

One of my projects I started for this year (only I started it last year) is this Mellerstain Firescreen kit I reviewed a while ago, from Crewel Work Company.

Well, I’m not the only one working on the parrots. Wendy at The Crafter’s Apprentice has a stitch-along going for the Mellerstain Parrots, and she’s progressed a Whole Lot Farther than I have!

I did, at least, get the piece out again and stitch a berry last week. I felt so accomplished.

But Wendy’s is really coming along, and you can see her progress (and join in on her stitch-along, if you’re working on the Mellerstain parrots, too), here.

Antique Pattern Library Finds

While browsing through Antique Pattern Library the other day, I came across a few goodies I hadn’t seen before.

I thought I’d pass them along to you, for your perusal. You can download the PDFs at APL for free. They’re a not-for-profit organization, though, so if you want, you can also make a donation to help keep the work going.

You might enjoy these alphabets for cross stitch & whitework from Alexandre.

There’s also this rather colorful and strangely appealing pattern for carnations in cross stitch. For some reason, it really beckons me!

And finally, for all you railroad buffs out there, how about making yourself a railway traveling bag (PDF)? It’s a cross stitch pattern for a clutch with a rather colorful and bold knot work pattern on it, and in the center…why, a locomotive, of course!

The End!

I hope you have a splendid weekend!

I’ll be stitching on two separate projects this weekend. I’m planning to put in a good amount of time on both.

I’m oscillating, though, between stitching or visiting a lavender farm this afternoon. The former is what I should do, the latter is what I want to do. But hovering over both options is the fact that it’s supposed to be 95 degrees today and very windy. Kansas!

Lavender farm and 95 degrees, hot and dusty-windy?

Or stitching, air-conditioned, quiet and clean?

It’s a tough choice!