Delicate feather

I love feathers, and this little downy one was a challenge to paint, but I am in love with the results! 

If you are receiving many posts twice because you subscribe to both of my blogs, please unsubscribe from one to simplify things for your inbox.  I am unable to drop one blog due to high subscriber numbers on both, so I am double posting most days. 

Thank you for following!

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


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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


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Searching for kits

If you choose to go to the Keepsake Needle arts website, you should search for Kimberly Becker to find my kits!
www.keepsakeneedlearts.com


Kimberly

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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

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Back in the studio!

Hello everyone!

I am back in the studio after a break for politics (I am never very creative when I am stressed!) and also some focused attention on my cross stitch business- Nine Stones Needlework.

To warm up, I am painting Orchids!  Most new work i am posting will be for sale with a PayPal button to simplify things.  Remember, the watercolors come unframed, so if you are thinking holiday gift, leave time for framing!

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
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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


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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

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


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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
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"Snow Drops" French knots

This is the watercolor......





And this is the french knot painting!


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French Knot Paintings!

 Soooo exciting!  This is the first of my french knot painting series!

 The richness of the surface is so beautiful!

 The amount of control I have with the image through the DMC floss is the most surprising discovery.  This technique feels a lot like painting with oil paint and a brush.

On to the next one!


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

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Commission!

 I was hired by a friend to paint some watercolors of the product he imports-Bela Sardines- www.belasardines.com!  I have to tell you, I had never tried sardines but am now a regular consumer of the small tasty fish!  It was fun to paint the charming cans and the wonderful vegetables and foods you combine with sardines in preparation.  I highly recommend seeking out this brand because people have told me they are better than what they remember- not fishy, and high quality olive oil too!

 Another fun thing I discovered is that I like this kind of commission!  I am supplying my friend with three watercolors, framed and I am working with a printer to have note cards printed up with the images on them.

You can friend Bela on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/BELA/27926172544?ref=ts
Enjoy!

Kimberly

Bulbs!

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




Kimberly

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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

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Sketchbook page

Hey everyone!

We are just returning from yet another wonderful week in Maine! Great friends, great food, warm lake and sun- amazing!

This is a page of studies from some wonderful flowers that friends brought over one day.



-Kimberly


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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!



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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


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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



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Cupcakes!

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


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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

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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!

Again- to try and cut back on the redundancy, please come over to ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com and subscribe.  I have only convinced a few of you to do this- but i feel badly sending double posts to those of you that have switched.  Come on over! Send friends the link!


Cheers!

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

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Peach!

Sweet, juicy gorgeous peach- need I say more?



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Gerbera Daisy watercolor

Today was a glorious day in Boston- dry, warm, breezy- perfect! Here is the first of a series of watercolors I am working on.




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I've been told its hard to figure out how to subscribe to the new blog- go to the link and scroll down to the latest post. You should see a box in the right hand column that says subscribe. Enter your email address and follow the instructions to activate- that's it! Ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com
Kimberly
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Today was a studio day- finally!  I painted the floor (it was really satisfying!) and am getting geared up to start a new series of paintings!  If you havent already done so, please come to my new blog and subscribe.  I am hoping to phase out this one and phase in the new one soon and don't want to lose any of you!
ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com

Wool and Hoop Crewel project

OK- I promise I am not starting a new business again!  I am, however, quite excited about my crewel project!  I met the woman who started Wool and Hoop (www.woolandhoop.com) at the TNNA show last month and am now hooked on this technique- quick, easy, and lovely results- don't you think?
If you have not gone to my new blog for Nine Stones Needlework- please go and sign up to receive the updates as you already do with this blog.  I am hoping to cancel this blog soon and only post from ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com soon!

I am starting to paint for the next series of needlework pieces!  Such fun!
Snowdrops are some of my favorite flowers.  They appear when you need them most- popping up through the snow- marvelous.

Kimberly

OK everyone- Wordpress has defeated me and I am going back to my comfort zone and using my good old familiar blogspot site again.  I am slowly going to transition this group to ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com but if you already tried to go to the new blog on Wordpress, no worries- it simply doesn't exist anymore!  If you are still reading and following me, you could go to ninestonesneedlework.blogspot.com and subscribe there though!  Thank you for your patience- it will smooth out soon- I hope!

New blog and Etsy site!

Please come over to my new website and click on the blog button. You can submit your email address there and begin to get posts from the Nine Stones Needlework side of the world! I will be phasing this blog out soon, but don't want to lose any of you!
I have just launched my Etsy site to get things going as well. The idea is to start selling charts only and then sell kits, hopefully, by August!


Come visit- www.ninestonesneedlework.com or www.etsy.com/listing/103332473/Paris-window box-cross-stitch-chart



Kimberly
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The National Needlework Association Show!

I am finally here! Columbus Ohio- the new center of my universe! I must say the people at this show are really nice, and the feedback on my new collection is good. Slow start to the show because of an airport control tower burning down???- so many people had trouble getting here. But the crowds are picking up! More later.....but for now..... here's a shot of the booth.



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Finished Geranium with beads!

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New blog address for the future

Hey everyone,

I have created a new blog for the Nine Stones product and will post to that site for future artwork and stitching. Soon the painting part of the blog will reappear as I have to get back to the studio and start working on the next collection for the stitching!

Please go to ninestonesneedlework.wordpress.com and scroll down to the subscribe box to sign up for the new blog! And leave comments at the new blog- the comment feature works on Wordpress!

For now though, I have a shot of the finished "Red Umbrella" piece and it is fabulous!




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Not sure why the last post came up again

Hey all,

I am not sure how that old post reappeared! Sorry! Disregard!

Ok- now another update- the Geranium is done except for the beadwork- loving this!



- more to come!


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Parisian Flower box

The beautiful finished piece is here and I am so excited! My fabulous stitcher Molly had the idea to use a special floss for the black ironwork that has a slightly shiny, almost metallic feel and it is a huge success!
I am getting really excited about releasing the line this June!



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Birds and birdcages

In typical Kim fashion, I have an idea stuck in my head that I simply cannot let go of! I want to incorporate birdcages into the decor of the booth at the trade show for Nine Stones Needlework. Hmmm...... how could I make birdcages and cross stitch relate?
And then it came tome- I will try and create a small chart to give away at the show with a charming little bird on a birdcage!
So here is a view of my "studio" and paintings.















We shall see how these translate into stitched images...... More on that soon.

Kimberly