Are you reading the blog Matters of Style?! If not, you should be! Click here to see it. One of the bloggers, Allison, came to The Point of It All on Saturday to design a custom belt and below is her lovely post.

Happy stitching…happy home decorating!
Susan

Needlepoint Belt Project Posted: 30 Jan 2012 03:30 AM PST At a friend’s Christmas soiree, I had the good fortune of being introduced to Susan Battle, the owner of DC’s fabulous needlepoint shop, The Point of it All. I admitted to my new acquaintance [whilst hanging my head in shame] that I love needlepoint but I have never actually finished any of the projects I’ve started. So my friend and I decided that once the holidays died down we were going to take a trip to the Point of it All and have Susan get us started on a new project…one that I’d actually finish and could have proper instruction for. So on Saturday we ventured up to Susan’s jewel box of a store in Friendship Heights. If you love needlepointing (or just want to learn) this is the place to be- I felt like I’d walked into a neighborhood hangout where everyone knows each other’s name. The store is so fun and fresh, full of bright colors and alluring canvases- definitely not your grandmother’s needlepoint store! I decided on something I’d wanted to do for years and years- a belt. Susan measured the belt I brought so she’d know the canvas size, finished size, etc. And then the fun began- we chatted about what would be going on the belt so that she can send instructions to her canvas painter. It’s a bit daunting to sum up your life in 8 symbols or less. I started off with a few easy ones- my monogram and my cats. I’ve got to represent my Florida heritage, so I’m also thinking either a flamingo or the outline of the state. A mix tape because I go to shows. A lot. Wahoowa. A chippendale chair to represent blogging and design. And since I always seem to have one of these in my hand… If you had to sum up your background/interests in 8 [easily recognizable] symbols or less, what would they be?

Hello from the Phoenix convention center! Another successful day of shopping! Things I love: new birds from Labors of Love (trunk show at POIA later this year), purses from Elizabeth Turner Collection, samplers from Birds of a Feather, and on and on and on.

Be sure to check out Barbara Bergsten’s Lily Pulitzer inspired line. It’s an explosion of pink and green!

I collect rubber duckies so obviously I was enchanted by this canvas from DJ Designs.

Colors of Praise makes me so happy! I’ve included two photos from her booth. Trunk show at POIA later this year.

Home tomorrow…can’t wait for the canvases to arrive!

Happy stitching,
Susan

Live from Phoenix…it’s Saturday night!!! I had an excellent day at the needlepoint market and bought loads of canvases! Or as my friend Jill calls the plural of canvas: canvii. I will attempt to post photos…work with me, iPhone!!

1st photo is from JP: super cool yellow flower with graphic border.

2nd photo is from Trubey (distributed by Fleur de Paris). It’s another tuffet by her with gorgeous shells. Chris, honey, I NEED a beach house STAT.

This photo is decidedly NOT awesome. I will try to describe the piece better later.

3rd photo is from the British duo Kirk & Hamilton. These flowers are to die for! I bought all of them!

4th photo is from Melissa Prince. Elegant orchids. I am imagining all four in one long pillow or frame. Stunning!

5th photo is a super fun brick from Needle Crossings. Remember that beach house, Chris?!

Sorry the pictures aren’t cropped. There is a limit to my skills with picture editing on the fly!

Can’t wait to shop more tomorrow!

Happy stitching, Susan

Welcome 2012! Welcome two more purses to Susan’s needlepoint purse wardrobe!

Two new purses from the Elizabeth Turner Collection: one in my tried-and-true satchel style and one in the new opera bag style. You can see the finished version here It’s soft-sided with a shoulder strap..a petite thing for an evening on the town. I think I will change the dark red to black and possibly some of the metallic silver to metallic gold so the purse goes with more outfits. You can change the colors, you know! Don’t be limited to what’s painted on the canvas…be imaginative and creative!

As for the fun summer colors on the satchel bag, what color shall I do the background? On Point readers and Facebook followers, please vote! Things to keep in mind: this will be my everyday bag in the summer so I don’t want it to get dirty (so probably not white). I don’t mind stitching it black because black over white canvas will not be the nightmare that black on black is. I tried a bit of yellow and I think it looks snappy. I am using Silk & Ivory for the bright colors and Appleton for the background. Please also give ideas for a background stitch. I AM OPEN TO YOUR IDEAS!

Happy stitching!
Susan

A new canvas from the *inspired* Susan Battle Needlepoint line! I think these two dogs are absolutely charming…I love the folk art feel to the canvas. I actually finished stitching it recently and it should be back from the finisher soon. (No pressure, Debby!)

I used Appleton Tapestry wool for the background and Silk & Ivory for the dogs and the border. Once it’s back from the finisher, I’ll post a picture and let you know what stitches I used. (How bad is it that I can’t remember???)

The SIT canvas is available through The Point of It All (202 966 9898)…the cost is $104…it is on 13 mesh…and measures 12″x12.”

Happy new year; happy stitching!
Susan

I am working with an artist to develop my own line of canvases, Susan Battle Needlepoint. Terribly clever name, don’t you think?! I’ll highlight these canvases in future posts. First up is a stunning peacock. This regal bird is stitch-painted on 18 mesh. The price is $250 and the painted size is 16″ x 16″. Right now these designs are available exclusively through The Point of It All. Email me if you would like to order one. I am stitching this canvas in Splendor silk…I will take a picture once he’s stitched and “pillowed”!

Happy stitching,
Susan

Holy smokes! We are having an enormous trunk show from Associated Talents! And by enormous, I mean they sent 675 canvases. That was NOT a typo. They sent us almost 700 canvases! Mind boggling. Cruise the AT website and shop like you mean it. All canvases in the trunk show are 20% off. The show will be here until December 24th.

Happy stitching, Susan

Back by popular demand: a Jenny Henry Trunk Show at The Point of It All! All canvases 20% off !

Jenny’s creates hip, geometric canvases that are a blast to stitch. I’ve done several (quel suprise).

* Passport covers (look stylish for that TSA agent)
* Coin purses (jingle your change in a hot carrying case)
* Picture frames (show off your gorgeous family in an equally fab frame)
*Lots more!

Through November 12th.

Check out her canvases online at Jenny Henry Designs.

Happy stitching,
Susan

I command you to Bee Happy! And I can do that, you know…I have a MAGIC WAND! Isn’t it adorable? The design is by Kathy Schenkel and she has other magic wand canvases.

I mostly used basketweave but I did do the Hesitation stitch for the yellow (stitched in Neon Rays) and the Nobuko stitch for the orange (also stitched in Neon Rays). See diagrams below.

Happy stitching…grant lots of wishes today!
Susan

Chris and I hit the open road this weekend for a wedding in Kennett Square, PA (right near Winterthur and Longwood Gardens, which are lovely)…I know my road trip is not of vital importance to you but I mention it in regard to stitching. It is really important to have a “road-worthy” canvas…13 mesh, big blocks of color, little shading, and only a few (if any) decorative stitches. When you’re travelling, you really don’t want to deal with intricate shading on 18 mesh!

I chose to work on two canvases from my stash:

These canvases, from Unique NZ Designs, were perfect for the car ride. And a big thanks to Chris for doing all of the driving so I could stitch!

Happy stitching,
Susan