RISD Holiday Sale

Hey Everyone,

The Holiday sale, as usual, was really good fun!  I had a successful day full of lots of sales and great feedback.  I am thrilled with the results.

I also reconnected with RISD friends from years past and met some wonderful new folks as well.

Thank you to everyone who attended and welcome to the new followers.

Cheers!

Kimberly

Delicate little feather

I have a small obsession with all things related to birds, and feathers are no exception!  This was a quick little study of a downy little feather, and I surprised myself with the accuracy of the painting.  Charming.


Cheers!


Kimberly

More Pictures!

This is a shot of the stitched piece.  I have to say that it is really pretty all stitched up and not too difficult to stitch either.  It will take time, but it is satisfying to work on!


Oh, and there is a buy now button on the website now too if you want to order a chart!  www.ninestonesneedlework.com, or www.etsy.com/shop/ninestonesneedlework

Cheers!

Kimberly

Hooray! I am ready to release the next pattern in the Nine Stones Needlework collection!
New England Chapel is a wonderful cross stitch pattern taken from a series of paintings I have done of charming churches and barns up in Maine and Massachusetts.
I have charts ready to ship for the holidays!







More will be coming in January! If you would like to purchase any cross stitch patterns from me, please visit www.ninestonesneedlework.com or my etsy site- etsy.com/shop/ninestonesneedlework


Kimberly


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thankful

To all of my friends, family, followers, fellow bloggers,

I wanted to take a minute to say how thankful I am for each of you and all of your support through all of my art posts and this new adventure in cross stitch world! I am truly grateful and could not have gotten where I am without each of you.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family.

I will leave you with a pic of me and a very special bunny- no real reason, except that Binx is so darn cute!




Cheers,


Kimberly


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Holiday gifts! Kits!

I just had to show you guys both sides!  They are so full of beautiful materials- linen, cotton floss, seed beads and even needles!  If you would like to purchase, you can email me- kimberly@kimberlybecker.com, you can go to www.keepsakeneedlearts.com and look at the 6 patterns they have for sale, or you can go to my Etsy site- www.etsy.com/shop/ninestonesneedlework.
I have "Geranium" (shown above), "Paris Window", "Cherries" and "Twin Pears" for sale through me.  Keepsake Needlearts has a few more as well.
One more thing- I will have a booth again this year at the RISD alumni sale-Providence, RI. on December 8.
More on that to come in a future post!

Happy Shopping everyone!

Making something with your hands is healthy....

I have been saying this for a long time now. When I need to decompress, I stitch. Stitching, for me, is a form of meditation. I am not good at rhythmic breathing, "om"ing, or clearing my mind on queue, but I can lose myself in my stitching. Martha Stewart Living has an article in this month's issue (November 2012) about just this.

In the article, they interview a psychologist- Robert Reiner, and I quote him here- "Crafting can decrease your heart rate and blood pressure and even improve sleep. Your breathing takes on a regular pattern, which shuts down the body's anxiety producing fight-or-flight response."

I totally agree! The article goes on to talk about how crafting keeps you present, and in the moment so you can't worry about the future.

I highly recommend picking up this issue and reading the article!

Happy stitching!


Kimberly

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Studio Time!

I am in the studio again after a bit of a break for the election insanity as well as giving my full attention to the needs of Nine Stones.  I will be posting new patterns- three of them- over the next month or two, and cannot wait to show them off to all of you!

In the meantime, I have been painting orchids!

I am also happy to announce that most of the new work I am posting is available for sale- paypal buttons will be attached!  Remember, the purchase is for a small unframed watercolor painting.

Cheers!

Kimberly

Online Needle arts Show!

I am participating in an online Needle Arts show starting today and going through the weekend.
This is a clever concept- a trade show without travel!

The way it works is that the general public can go to the website and browse. If you see something you like, you can go to your local Cross Stitch or Needle Arts shop and ask them to order it for you! This really helps me get known by new shops and you get exactly what you want.

Please take a look!

http://www.needleworkshow.com/

Kimberly

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Orders are ready to ship!

Thank you to everyone who watched the Chronicle episode (link below) and thank you for the orders!




This is the link- sorry- i cannot figure out how to make it a hyperlink!

http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle/Kickstarter-stories/-/12523032/16880238/-/13jg17qz/-/index.html


Kimberly


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Warwick Rd,Belmont,United States

Exciting news!

First of all, for all of my New England followers- the episode of Chronicle will be airing this Friday at 7:30 on WCVB- channel 5!
http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle

The other exciting bit of news is that a wonderful blogger has featured my French Knot paintings on her blog- http://www.welovefrenchknots.com  I wrote about her blog the other day, but if you go now, you will see the pieces she is showing of mine! 

That's all for now!  Happy Stitching!

Kimberly

Studio time!

With politics out of the way, I am starting to work in my studio again. The cross stitch business is steady- orders rolling in slowly but surely. I will be introducing the first of three new patterns soon......

In the meantime, I couldn't resist these orchids, and the excuse I always use when I buy flowers is that I am making the purchase to paint them! So here are some paintings.






Kimberly

Progress on the latest Cross Stitch pattern!

It occurs to me that some explanation is necessary when I show cross stitch patterns, French knot paintings, etc.

I choose certain paintings to recreate as cross stitch charts. To make a cross stitch chart I must first have the pattern, which I create with a computer program (and lots of tweaking). I hire a "stitcher" to stitch the pattern for me because you need to check for mistakes in the chart. I also need the piece stitched so I have a photograph of the pattern stitched to put on the front of the chart. (Have I completely confused you yet??). Once all of these steps are done, I can go to the printer and have the final chart printed, which I sell to people to stitch themselves! I also sell kits which are the charts and all of the supplies necessary to finish the pattern- chart, needles, beads, linen, and floss.

So, with all of that information- here is a picture of a piece being stitched by a wonder woman of a stitcher (thank you Marilyn!)



This piece is a New England clapboard church which i first photographed, then painted, and now am making into a cross stitch pattern!

My other love is the French knot work I have been posting about. The French knots I do without a chart- I simply look at the painting as I stitch. However, I am working on adding instructions to the cross stitch charts on how you can use the cross stitch chart to make a French knotted painting as well!

More to come......


Kimberly


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A fun website!

I was recently turned on to a website that has a perfect title-
WeLoveFrenchKnots.com




Visit the site to see lots of fun French knotting, along with contemporary needlework of all kinds!


Kimberly
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

"Snow Drops" French knots

This is the watercolor......





And this is the french knot painting!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

French Knots Painting Complete!

 OK- it's official- I am addicted to this technique!  The richness of the surface and the subtle control you can achieve is remarkable.  It is so much like oil painting! 

 The edge of the piece is worth showing for the wonderful fullness that is achieved!

On to the next one!  And hopefully I soon I will be giving instructions on the Cross Stitch charts for how to use the charts as a guide to french knotting the patterns as well!

Cheers!


Kimberly

New pattern!

I have just released a new pattern- Pomegranates! This pattern is taken from a commission painting I did for a friend. She had the painting done for her parents for the Christmas Holiday last year.
I will be loading it on the website this weekend so you can order a chart soon! Www.ninestonesneedlework.com



Cheers!


Kimberly

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bulbs!

I thought maybe bulbs would add to the flower theme with a twist!




Kimberly

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

French knots- progress!

I have been making tiny little knots for weeks! I am recreating one of my watercolors of a flower into a stitched painting- here is the progress!






-I LOVE making these! I am even considering classes to teach cross stitch and French knotting- what does everyone think?


Kimberly

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

On my way to Maine!

We will be heading off to our wonderful annual summer spot in Maine on Monday! It is the definition of pure relaxation- great friends, great lake, big long screen porch looking out over the lake, and lots and lots of coffee, wine, chocolate, books and of course my art supplies!

If I can post from Maine I will, but if not, there will be much to show next week!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Keepsake Needle Arts has featured me in their catalog!

This is very exciting! Not only have the Keepsake Needle Arts folks featured me in their amazing catalog, but they are selling my kits! Now everyone can go online- www.keepsakeneedlearts.com- and order the kits or call them- 1-800-852-7338 and get one! The kits have the fabric, floss, needles, beads and charts necessary to finish a whole project.



-


Yeah!


Kimberly


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Red Barn in Wiscasset

My obsession with architecture continues. I have photographed many barns and churches and houses in Maine. This lovely structure is in Wiscasset, Maine- the self declared "Prettiest village in Maine". It actually is quite pretty!




This is a page from my sketchbook.

Enjoy!
Kimberly



Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Cupcakes!

Fun day of painting! Soon- a fun stitching project!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Two more watercolors...

Two more in the watercolor series ramping up for new cross stitch patterns and more paintings to sell this winter at the RISD Alumni Holiday sale! I got a booth again- woo hoo! And plan to be selling paintings and cross stitch kits!
More on the sale in the fall!







- Enjoy!

Kimberly

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I only have a dozen followers on this blog-if you know any stitchers, crafters, or generally cool, hip people, Please forward the link to them and ask if they would join up!

Here is my latest obsession- french knots!  I am painting with french knots.  I have done this before- and really love it, but it got lost in the shuffle when I started painting more- here's a peak at the look I am achieving!

Kimberly

Daisy love!

Another thunderstorm just rolled into town- so wonderful! I love the sound of the rain, the thunder, and the way the air cools- perfectly relaxing.

Here is another watercolor for consideration- maybe a cross stitch chart?




Also- welcome to all of the new folks who liked my Facebook page. Come on over and subscribe to ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com- just scroll down to the first post and enter your email address in the subscribe box!

Kimberly

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Peach!

Sweet, juicy gorgeous peach- need I say more?



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Gerbera Daisy Watercolor

I am starting do develop a line of paintings for the continuation of the flower series for Nine Stones.

Here is one of the first-



-Please pass the blog address on to your friends!


Kimberly


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Studio Day!

I am getting into the studio with lots of ideas and energy finally!  Today was a day to freshen up the space- creativity will start tomorrow!

Architectural elements?

I have always loved architecture.  I have a series of drawings done with powdered graphite and lindseed oil done on mylar that translate beautifully into a needlework piece- but I need feedback- what do you think?
Please post a link to your Facebook page or recommend to friends so I can grow my reach with this blog and with the website!  Thanks!

I am thinking of creating a series of small pieces- each one full color and with flowers- that could be stitched quickly.  This is a painting that may make the cut- what do you all think?

Please pass on this blog address to friends who may be interested in cross stitch- I need to build a following!

Kimberly

First big order shipped!

I shipped the first big order for Nine Stones and boy did that feel great!

I have also been slaving over the computer (determined to get this right!) and finally have
1.  A Facebook Page!
2.  A website!  www.ninestonesneedlework.com
3.  A Blog!  ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com

the best way to stay in touch, and I promise I wont be blogging constantly, is to go to the blog and enter your email address in the "subscribe" box.
Thanks for all of the support and patience!

Kimberly

New approach to blogging- again!

It's funny how everything happens for a reason, mostly.  I have run in many small circles (and some big) trying to set up a perfect means of communication with the crafting world, and have finally decided that blogspot is the best method for me.

So, here we go!  Sorry for all of the confusion, but I promise, if you subscribe to this blog, you will not be disappointed, redirected, misguided, or overwhelmed with posts!  Just the occasional image, thought or update from little me!