Country Bumpkin sends this alert:

The Country Bumpkin Forum – New look, new conversations, new friends!

There’s no better place to connect with people who have similar interests to your own.Share your passions and ideas with other needlework enthusiasts from

If you love Nicki Lee‘s hand-dyed laces as much as I do (and you know you do!), this news is going to rock you: Nicki has opened an Etsy shop where you can buy her laces and other lovely … Read More...

Let the queen of fused art quilts, Laura Wasilowski, teach you how to play with blanket stitch. You can see the tute on Laura’s blog, Artfabrik, or you can enjoy the repost on C&T Publishing blog.

Here’s a sweet gift from Di van Niekerk of Crafts Unlimited. Di’s newsletter says:

To brighten up your day, we have a lovely free ribbon embroidery design for you to download for your collection. Painted by Rita Roscher, one

The latest needlework invention by Laura of Bugs and Fishes by Lupin: snowy owl brooches. If this doesn’t make you smile, your lips are probably broken. See more at Laura’s blog and online shop.

(1) Banksy en punto de cruz from El punto que vicia
(2) Petits coeurs amis from les petites croix de Christine
(3) The Best Lover from Stofnest by Time to Stitch
(4) Cloche de Pâques from les loisirs abbygaelle
(5) … Read More...

This adorable chart is available free from les loisirs abbygaelle. The blogger transformed a drawing (left) by Petronille, daughter of her bloggy friend Dominique, into a work of needleart we all can enjoy! Yea, Petronille and Abbygaelle! Get the … Read More...

A great new post on DMC Thread’s Blog tells you everything you need to know about floss for cross-stitch and includes several free charts you can use to try out the various DMC lines. And get this: The blog is … Read More...

The first stitch to be featured in SharonB‘s TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) is diamond stitch. Take a look at SharonB’s tutorial. Then check out what some of the TAST participants are doing with the stitch:

(1) Sonie … Read More...

Several blogs — most recently SharonB‘s Pin Tangle — have noted that needlework trailblazer Jude Hill is posting videos. I’m excited about them, but I haven’t gotten to enjoy them yet. (My sound card is out of order.) Go … Read More...

Di van Niekerk of Crafts Unlimited is sharing her pattern for this beautiful sunflower stitchery. Get the free download. Or you can order a kit that includes step-by-step instructions, detailed colour picture of the embroidered image, the design printed … Read More...

Janet M. Davies of JMD Designs sends us this update:

I have just put a new free tutorial in my website for plastic bag holders. One of those things I have been going to make for years!! Now I have

(1) Petit Elfe from Blog de Sophie
(2) Smiling Stars by Connie G. Barwick of About.com
(3) Très bonne année du tigre from bdcouture
(4) Blue or red bird and rose from Happy Threads
(5) Juicy from Cross me not… Read More...

As part of her “continuing mission to bring plastic canvas to the people,” Diane Gilleland (CraftyPod) has posted a detailed tutorial on Craftzine.com for creating “a custom-sized, custom-crafted” storage box. Diane gives you the technical info; you supply the imagination … Read More...

Janet Perry of Nuts About Needlepoint shows us a perfect stitch for interpreting baskets in needlepoint designs: double woven stitch. She says,

When stitched it looks like a woven basket. I’ts similar to Woven Plait, but it has two parallel

Maureen of Maureen’s Vintage Acquisitions shares the instructions for making this Antique Bonnet Pin Cushion — her original design. What a perfect spot to show off some of your silk-ribbon embroidery or Brazilian or stumpwork techniques. See the tute.… Read More...

Has a rogue pair of scissors sliced a nice gash through a needlepoint canvas tucked into your work bag? Or maybe your scroll frame and stand tipped over, landing smack into the corner of the coffee table creating a 2-inch