Every Mystery Class has a moment when the canvas starts to come alive. For Pumpkin Harlequin, that moment begins with the background. And then he gets a nose! Since the canvas is called Pumpkin Harlequin, there was never much debate about the background. It had to be a harlequin pattern. The repeating diamonds-within-diamonds blackwork design […]
Archives for 2026
Pretty Isn’t Enough
I’ve always said that we buy a needlepoint canvas for one of two reasons. “Oh my God, this looks like so much fun to stitch.” Or: “Oh my God, I know exactly where I’m going to put this.” Maybe you know who you’re going to give it to. Maybe you know exactly where it’s going […]
For the Dog Lovers
Today we’re celebrating two very good dogs. Well…one of them may be getting a little impatient. 😂 First up is Can We Go Out Now? by Connie Haley. Seriously, could that face say anything else? This is such a fun stitch, filled with pattern, texture, flowers, and plenty of little details to keep things interesting. […]
Let’s go back to 2018
Today we’re climbing into the wayback machine for a visit with Elsie the Elephant by A Kimberly Design. Elsie was one of our Mystery Classes way back in 2018. I stitched her, loved her, and then—as sometimes happens—she waited patiently to be finished. Well… She’s finished! YAY! She’s back from the framer! Double YAY! And […]
Meet the Merry Makers!
Meet the Merry Makers — five festive friends, each one filled with personality, fabulous stitches, fun threads, and just the right amount of holiday whimsy. You know I like whimsy! The Merry Makers Club begins in October 2026, with a new project shipping every other month. Each canvas is 18 count, approximately 4½” x 6½”, […]
Bringing the Garden to Life
One of my favorite parts of teaching a mystery class is watching the canvas begin to surprise me. Lesson One gave us the structure. We built the house and established the gate. This month, we started adding the details that make the whole scene feel alive. The garden gate is now beaded, which immediately pulls […]
Cynthia Rutledge on zoom!
Once or twice a year — and sometimes more if we’re lucky — we offer beadwork classes with Cynthia Rutledge. Cynthia is a dear friend and a true legend in the beading world, and we’re always thrilled when she joins us on Zoom. I’m delighted to announce our Fall 2026 classes, held September 18-20 on […]
A Stitcher’s Playground
Some canvases are all about realism. Some are all about color. And then there are canvases like African Woman I by Hue & Mi & Sangita, where every inch is an opportunity to play. Just look at her. The headdress alone is a sampler of stitches. The flowers are packed with personality. The patterned fabrics […]
Meet One of My Secret Weapons: Multi-Metallic Ribbon
“I used this thread in the pink flowers of Friends, and every time I teach with it someone asks, ‘What is that?’ It isn’t one metallic color. It’s lots of them. Pinks melt into blues, then greens, then yellows, all in one ribbon. As the light catches it, the colors seem to dance across the […]
Friends… and a Whole Garden of Tulips
Somehow, our Friends Mystery Class has come to an end… and somehow, we finished it in three lessons instead of four! I’m not entirely sure how we did it. The stitch guide is complete, the class is finished, and my sample? Well… it’s mostly finished. Our little kitty still needs her whiskers, and I have […]
Nice To Meet You
We’ve made it to the fifth and final brand-new stitch guide debuting in this weekend’s Zoom-bellishment class! Today’s reveal is Nice to Meet You by #barbarabasso. Barbara has a gift for creating characters that make you wonder what happened just before you arrived. Has the Great Dane politely introduced himself? Is he admiring her fabulous […]
Always Late. Never Boring.
Our fourth of five brand-new stitch guides debuting in this weekend’s Zoom-bellishment class is Rabbit in Wonderland by #loveyoumore. Some canvases invite you to stitch them. This one invites you to explore it. The White Rabbit may be the star of the show, but look a little closer. A pocket watch reminds us time is […]
Bold. Graphic. Unmistakably Eleanor.
The third of five brand-new stitch guides debuting in this weekend’s Zoom-bellishment class is Wild Tiger by #eleanorgrosch. One of the things I love most about Eleanor’s work is how she can create so much movement with such clean, geometric shapes. Every angle, every stripe, every color block works together to create a tiger that’s […]
Three Friends One Snowy Day
Today’s reveal for this weekend’s Zoom-bellishment class is 3 Snowmen by #margaretking. If Snow Folks is the lively winter party, this is its quieter companion. Three cheerful snowmen and women, bundled up for the season, sharing a peaceful winter day with their birdie friends. Sometimes a canvas doesn’t need a lot of action. Sometimes it’s […]
Meet the Queen of Tarts!
It’s time for the first of five brand-new stitch guides debuting in this weekend’s Zoom-bellishment class! Queen of Tarts by #zeccadesigns If you’ve stitched Zecca before, you already know why I love her work. Bold color. Whimsical characters. Just enough mystery to make you wonder what story she’s telling. At 6″ x 24″ on 18ct, […]
Returning Favorites for July Zoom-bellishment 2026
We’re starting our countdown to next weekend’s Zoom-bellishment, and today it’s all about the returning favorites—the canvases that were simply too much fun to not feature again! These are tried-and-true designs with beautiful stitch guides, lots of personality, and plenty of opportunities to play with stitches, texture, and sparkle. ✨ Judging Your Outfit by Heather […]
Not Everything Has to End Up on a Wall
Sometimes it’s fun to stitch something you’ll actually carry. This gorgeous floral clutch flap, designed and stitched by Arlene Steinberg, is one of those projects that makes you smile every time you pick it up. The bold colors absolutely dance against the dramatic black background, and every flower, leaf, and flourish is an opportunity to […]
Trick or Treat
Our 2026 Halloween Mystery Begins! There are certain canvases that make me smile the instant I see them. Trick or Treat by Margaret King was one of those. If you joined us for last year’s Santa’s Pup Mystery Class, you already know why I adore Margaret’s artwork. Her designs have such wonderful personality, and this […]
Tall, Thin & Polka Dotted
Lesson Two of our Friends Mystery Class is complete, and our quirky little kitty is really beginning to show off her personality! This lesson was all about the cat—and yes, I did everything I could to make her look tall and thin. We all want that, right? To create that illusion, we used two different […]
Frankie Has Arrived!
Meet Frankie by Barbara Basso. Actually…meet Sue’s Frankie. Every once in a while, a stitched piece lands on my desk that makes me stop what I’m doing and just stare for a while. This is one of those pieces. From the riot of color to the layers of texture, Frankie is joyful from his crazy […]
October Zoom-bellishment 2026 is Open!
I’ve been making you wait while I got all my little ducklings in a row, but it’s finally time… October Zoom-bellishment is officially open! October 17 & 18 • 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Eastern • On Zoom, naturally. The funny part? Before I could even announce the lineup, 34 of you had already signed up. ❤️ […]
Hanging Out
When I asked Kimberly to design for 13-count, she completely ignored the assignment and created art. What can I say? Hanging Out is one of four spectacular 13-count canvases all complete with stitch guides. This wonderful creature is an 8″ x 10″ dragonfly bursting with color, texture, and dimensional details. The optional thread kit contains […]
Robotic Uprising Takes Flight
Some canvases are beautiful. Some canvases are clever. And then there are canvases like Robotic Uprising by David Galchutt that are completely, unapologetically, gloriously over-the-top. Now that the stitching is complete and a few pieces have made their way to the framer, I can finally show you just how much fun this project really is. […]
The Stitches You Love, Rebuilt for Today
Some projects take longer than expected. A lot longer. The original iStitches apps have been helping needlepointers find stitches for years, but as Apple changed operating systems and requirements, it eventually became clear that the apps needed more than a simple update. They needed a complete rebuild. After months of work, all five volumes of […]
