Barbara Elmore has been designing and painting needlepoint canvases since 1985. Her fun, whimsical designs can be purchased in fine needlepoint stores around the country.
While Barbara sells directly to the trade, you can view many of her designs in the albums page on her site, or on the Sundance Designs web site. Be sure to check out the adorable photos of her Princess and Miniature Shoes and her Windows and Doors canvases!
The canvases that Barbara has stitched as models also have a stitch guide available - a real plus, especially since the guides are created by the designer herself, with the original vision in mind.
Barbara has shared her original Painted Hummer needlepoint pattern with us. Additional designs can be found on Barbara's website.
Barbara's Interview, continued...
When did you first start stitching needlepoint, and what inspired you to start?
I learned about needlepoint as a young woman back in the early 1970’s, but I didn’t
consider it to be very compelling. To me, it was basically just a stitch done in
wool on some kind of brown canvas. I was a fine art major, and considered
embroidery to be a much more creative outlet, which I had done since childhood. In
late 1985, I learned about needlepoint again, but this time, it was a whole new
world opened up to me! Hand painted canvases were something I had not seen
before, and I was thrilled beyond belief that here was art that I could do to earn
money and still be home with my children! I was asked by one of my friends from
my teenage years, Joy Juarez, to help her produce some orders. I credit Joy for
introducing me to this world, although at the time, it was only about the painting
aspect of it. I joined TNNA in 1990 and have been selling my own line of designs
ever since.
What is your main source of inspiration?
Today, my main source of inspiration, as weird as it may sound, are catalogs and
magazines. I love to browse all kinds of magazines, and my poor husband says he is
going to build me a bunker to house them all! I love to see the trends in interior
design, color, texture and embellishment. If I see a beautiful fabric, it will spark all
kinds of ideas. Then, too, I love nature... especially birds, flowers, and my current
favorite, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). Happily, all these natural elements are
in vogue right now! I can also get ideas from just seeing a thread or a beautiful
yarn, and I know just how I’m going to use it.
How many hours per day do you stitch?
I stitch several hours a day, usually in the evening after I have spent the day painting
canvases. I stitch all my own models, because I approach each one as a creative
venture, developing ideas for it as I go along. I did not start seriously
needlepointing until around 1995 or so, and am basically self taught, although I
have taken a number of classes from inspiring teachers. I like to break rules and do
unconventional things with my stitching... such as painting the threads AFTER they
are stitched.
How many hours per day are spent designing?
I spend probably 8 hours a day working on my designs, either painting orders,
designing or stitching.
What are some of your favorite subjects?
I like to create whimsical and fantastastical designs... like my fantasy chandeliers, which are made up of all kinds of things for fantasy characters - a good example is my
Mermaid’s Chandelier. It's a chandelier for a mermaid IF she were to have one.
Other chandelier designs in that line are a Witch’s Chandelier, a Faerie’s Chandelier,
a Princess’s Chandelier and The Mad Hatter’s Chandelier. The Princess’s Chandelier
sparked a line of miniature needlepointed collectible shoes for a princess, which are
very whimsical indeed.
Guide Note: You can see these in the Just for Fun album on her site.
Is there someone whose work influenced or encouraged you to start designing?
Joy Juarez, as I mentioned, introduced me to the field of hand painted needlepoint,
and she was very encouraging and influential. Her sister Jane Aurich was also very
inspiring to me. Both of these women are amazingly talented and awe-inspiring!
Do you belong to a needlework club or guild?
Yes, I belong to EGA, and ANG. I also belong to a mixed media/paper art group
called Paper Works.
Do you teach as well?
I do teach, and enjoy it very much. I have taught for needlework shops around the
country and have taught for EGA, ANG, and TNNA.