Personalized places to rest your head

Custom designed his and hers pillowcases.  Let us know what you would like, info@french-knot.com

Photo by Jade McCully.

Summer Drink Coasters

Just in time for summer cook-outs and picnics.  Raymond Crawford’s adorable drink coasters.

As a special offer, get all four canvases, threads, beads, sequins, and stitch guides in a kit for only $150.  Canvases retail for $140 without the threads and other necessities to stitch them.  As an added bonus, pre-order yours by April 9 and receive an additional 15% off.  Call, 912.349.6450 or email, info@french-knot.com to order yours today.  These coasters would also make an adorable wall hanging.  Kits will be available April 9, and quantities are limited to 4 kits.

Statement Necklaces

Statement necklaces continue to be all the rage in fashion magazines and on the runway.  We often showcase them in the store and would be happy to create a custom piece for any occassion.  All pieces are one of a kind.

This necklace is made from silk, printed cotton and chandelier crystals.

Photo by Jade McCully.

Needlepoint Baby Mobile

Some of the best needlepoint canvases are the small ones.  They work up quickly, aren’t too expensive and have a wonderful sense of accomplishment.  But how many coaster sets do we need?  Here’s another idea to use small adorable canvases… a baby mobile.

For this project, you’ll need 5-7 small needlepoint canvases (3-4″ wide is best).  They can be any theme: farm animals, safari, butterflies, letters, numbers, the child’s name, use your imagination.  In addition to the canvases and thread for them, you’ll also need some illustration board, fabric to back the canvases (unless you’re really ambitious and want to needlepoint both sides), ribbon, trim (I love chi-chi balls), and a 12″ embroidery hoop (you may want to spray paint this before you assemble the mobile).

Step 1: Stitch your needlepoint canvases.

Step 2: Cut out your canvases leaving about 1/2″ to 1″ allowance.  Cut out your fabric with an allowance too.  Cut out the illustration board the finished size of the canvas.  For example, if your stitched area is a 3″ circle, the needlepoint canvas and fabric will be at least a 4″ circle, but the illustration board will be a 3″ circle.  HINT:  get a circle cutter from your local art supply store.  Best investment ever!

Step 3: Fold the edges of your needlepoint canvas over and glue (you may need to notch corners for a clean edge).  Use a double-sided sheet adhesive to attach the illustration board to the fabric, wrap the excess fabric over the edge of the board.  Attach the fabric backing to the needlepoint.  Add trim.

Step 4: Attach hanging ribbons to the embroidery hoop.  Try to space them out as equally as possible so the hoop will hang level. 

You’re done.  What a lucky baby!  When the child has outgrown the mobile, simply remove the needlepoint elements, and turn the ribbons into ornament loops.  Or treasure the heirloom for the next generation to enjoy.

 Photos by Jade McCully.

Wacky Marmalade

Once upon a time, there were four friends.  One of the friends married her prince and will soon be visited by the stork with a baby girl.  The other three sprang into action to make this happy citrus quilt.

We each embroidered a square inspired by the bird in this piece of fabric.

Lyra’s Square

And a close-up

Rubi’s Square

Rubi’s Close-up

My Square

Close-up of a flower

The quilt was backed with a very English Garden-esque fabric.

And finally, the binding.  To save some time, we used this carefree decorative machine stitch.

This is one lucky little girl.  I’m sure this quilt will grow with her for many years to come.  Best wishes to the happy family.

Parakeet Pal

When I was 12, my wonderful Aunt Betty bought me an adorable parakeet for my first pet.  With his bright yellow and green feathers, I named him Sunny.  He was a sweet companion who often flew about the house and twittered to the wooshing of the dishwasher.  Sadly, my sweet friend decided to fly away, and was never seen again.  This little needlepoint reminds me of him, and though will perch on my finger, will never take flight through an open door.

Canvas by Labors of Love.  Photo by Jade McCully.  Stitching and Finishing by French Knot.

Meet Barbara Russell

Attention dog lovers, this is your canvas artist.  Barbara’s ability to capture the sweet expressions of our four-legged friends is fantastic.  Although all of her canvases are a delight, she is probably best know for her canine cuties.  She’ll be our focus in March’s trunk show.

More info on Barbara from her website:

Barbara Russell has been creating and offering for sale needlepoint designs with an American flavor for over 38 years. She is amazed that she is now one of the ancients in the field.

The public generally associates dog portraits with her line, and with over 150 dog designs, it is indisputably a major focus. But the line branches in other directions: exotic birds, a youth collection, the Bowman Hill Wildflowers Preserve collection, a jazz series, and historic and religious designs translated into needlepoint, to mention a few.

This website includes all of the designs in the line (over 400), and lists all of the dogs alphabetically for ease in finding your special dog friend.