Do you find stitching the background areas of a needlepoint pattern tedious? Zweigart has a line of colored mono canvas that you should try.

This canvas is overdyed in 35 colors in sizes #10, #12, #13, #14, #16 and #18. The colors are bright and vibrant, ranging from deep blues to delicious tangerine.

The colored canvas is perfect for using with textured stitches where some of the canvas tends to peek through. It's also ideal for projects where you don't want to stitch the background area, or wish to feature the textured, open canvas as part of the overall design.

The January 2010 issue of Needlepointers Magazine (NP), published by the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG), features a very nice article on the colored canvas, including the quality of the overdying, and the matching hand-dyed thread collection. This product has been receiving a hearty thumbs-up, and is definitely something exciting to stitch!

We can all use a little last-minute inspiration for handmade gifts. The inspiration for this project came from a grove of trees outside of Spokane, Washington.

It's quick-to-stitch as well - I whipped up this Ponderosa Pines canvas in less than a day. I'm either going to turn it into a tote bag pocket, or use it as a pillow applique and gift it to mom.

There are less than 10 days remaining to finish projects to be given as gifts - time to git 'er done!

Stanley the Soldier and his Ballerina friend, Bouffant Betty, have two new companions to stitch - Belinda Baker and Corey the Candlestick Maker have been posted, so you can add to your collection of needlepoint figurines.

Enjoy!

I love making quickie projects! Janet Perry has shared her Flying Geese Mini-Stocking Pattern for those of us wanting to stitch something quickly, just in time for the Holidays.

Janet has stitched the models in two color schemes to show how easy it is to change the colors to suit your needs.

This is the perfect project for curling up in front of the fire with a nice, hot mug of cocoa..