Anna Pearson's Needlepoint Blog

Well we did have the special celebration needlepoint exhibition here last week and many thanks to those of you who came but a extra special thanks to those who lent me their beautiful pieces. My aim for holding the event – besides of course catching up with students past and present – was to display some of the most exciting uses that my needlepoint designs have been put to.   Many people chose a cushion for their first ‘proper’ project but after a while they become over-cushioned and are keen to stitch something else but for it to still have a practical purpose. To make the show as self-explanatory as possible there were areas linking to various aspects.   One was some of the pieces worked during our annual trips to Italy;   we have often had a ‘theme’,     Themes give people a starting point but not a fixed project that has be followed slavishly.    Thus there were two lovey Elephant pieces, Lilly on midnight blue canvas and another wor...

On 1 st June there will be an exhibition of needlepoint, new designs, old favourites, custom designs and interesting making up.   Do join us; full details anna.pearson365@gmail.com In this year of celebrating 45 years needlepoint it got me to thinking just how much had changed little since the time in the 70s when I started the first classes in a rented location in Victoria! Right from the start there were certain aims to try and adhere to; First people enjoy the class situation, having friendly help with their stitching, meeting like-minded people and seeing and trying out accessories.    Here in Spain (one of our earliest trips) we enjoyed delicious meals too! Students attending class or ordering by post (now from our web sites) appreciate being able to have a design in different colourways or even order it without threads so they can create their very own scheme.     WE have never designed an item without knowing a reliable professional ...

A very happy Easter to everyone;   here is my Cupcake stand,   a design hopefully   will inspire you both to stitch and cook!   It is a design that can be ordered but do look at my new web site www.anna-needlepoint-pearson.com for my cushion designs. Garden of Cazanne's Farther I  had hoped to tell you about the plans I have for the next few months however I have just returned from a few days in Aix en Provence where we visited museums, homes and studios of Van Gogh,   Cezanne and Chagall.   A beautifully organised trip until our planned return on Sunday evening when the French Air Control decided to go on a 48 hour strike!   Thank goodness our tour operator organised trains and other transport from Nice, through Paris back to London BUT 24 hours later than expected – I feel I lost a day and struggling to catch up. However on the 1st of June  I will be holding an open day in London to Celebrate my 45th year of n...

Needlepoint, canvas work is, in my opinion, one if not the best pastime that can be enjoyed alone or in groups however we all need inspiration, information and to be excited by new ideas. On 1 st June we are holding a celebration open day here at the studio in Primrose Hill.   A celebration of 45 years needlepoint teaching, design and writing.   The display we are planning will inspire, inform and excite!   While cushions have always been the most popular for students I have always encouraged custom design for many other objects.   Small items to large rugs, attractive items for presents, especially new-borns will be on display.    Our policy is always to have a professional finisher for items before we even design them! Making up for all needlework is important and there will be many examples of beautiful finishing - I know that profession finishing adds immeasurably to the time and love put into stitching the piece. The exhibition will also ...

45 years, I can hardly believe it myself but it all started with a large stool which I worked in Florentine while my youngest daughter, Tamara was in play group – she is now got 3 children of her own with Victoria the eldest just 21! 1st ever Design.. Right from the start I wanted people to learn different stitches incorporated into a pleasing design   that would fit in their home as well as being fun to work.    Our first design Annette (we hoped to go though the alphabet and have done many times) but had difficulty with some letters, X and Z – Zuleika, not easy even if you adore Max Beerbohn!    Annette is still available and a popular design,    Interestingly the design I am working on at present is also an A, Aleppo. From our design lists you will notice that girl’s names are widely used, frequently stitcher’s names many of whom are still enthusiastic but also names of places and historical techniques. Aleppo Newest Design. ...

Recently I have been lucky enough to attend a short but very interesting course of writing articles and blogs.    We each had to prepare something for the other members of the class to critic, very scary but most useful. This happened the day after I posted my latest on India and the tutor said that my comment ‘’Even the spinning wheel became a weapon in the struggle for women’s freedom’’ was most interesting and should be explored further. The tutor also said that I should write more about the opening up of trade between Europe, England in particular, and India and this I promise to do at a later date, however her comment about weaving, stitching and embroidery helping largely in women’s flight for both financial and social freedom intrigued me and made me want to follow it further. Nothing is new, as early as the 13 th century in England, Opus Anglicanum   as English Medieval embroidery was called, was without doubt some of the finest examples of English needlework...

India mania has hit! We both see and hear a great deal about India; their politics, culture and history.   Their Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just been on a State visit to England resulting in excellent trade agreements – the first visit by an Indian PM for more than a decade.   In addition the Victoria & Albert Museum here in London has also catered to our long term interest in all decorative crafts with the current exhibition Textiles of India and the Bejewelled Treasures, the collection of Al Thani which opened last week. The Textile exhibition is so comprehensive and beautifully displayed, for once I visited it twice – there was so much to enjoy.   Every stage of existence, birth, betrothal, marriage and death is marked in lndia with gifts of cloth. The exhibits show the love of colour and texture all augmenting life’s rich pageant.     Even the spinning wheel became a weapon in the struggle for women’s freedom. I have been lucky enough...