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Tag Archives: Elizabeth Bradley

Beautiful Atomic Habits and Needlepoint Projects…

16 Thursday Feb 2023

Posted by Satin & Sand in Crafts, Design, Needlepoint, Sewing

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Atomic Habits, beautiful, Elizabeth Bradley, James Clear, Needlepoint

Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound and turn into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years. – James Clear

I began the needlepoint project, pictured above, in October. It is entitled Hedgerow, from Elizabeth Bradley’s Natural History Collection. After I started working on it, I realized that it would take me about a year to complete due to the size of the canvas, the number of color changes (24 different colors of tapestry wool!), and the amount of time I had to devote to it – typically on a catch-as-catch-can approach. It usually takes me about three months to finish a needlepoint, so this one was a bit daunting by comparison. I knew I had to just get on with it. The needlepoint wasn’t going to get done by itself, but I wasn’t sure how to speed up the process.

However, last month I read James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, after which I decided to make some changes to my morning routine. I now get up an hour earlier every morning to work on my needlepoint. The needlepoint canvas and wool are laid out on the sofa ready for me to pick up in the morning so I am able to start working right away – no set-up time is required. This activity may or may not be accompanied by a podcast or new music stream or just thinking about how I am going to structure my day to get the tasks done on my to do list.

Although it is still early with my new habit formation, I have to report that I am thrilled with my progress! I only complete a tiny square of stitches each day but I can see that over the last few weeks these tiny squares are accumulating nicely and the textile will, indeed, be completed by the summer – probably four months earlier than my projected finish date! Yay! (I will still have to sew it into a pillow, but that is another story.)

I have so many textile, studio art, and home improvement projects in the works that I have been somewhat frustrated (more like overwhelmed) wondering how I am going to get them all done. This needlepoint project is only one positive data point, but I plan to apply this process to the other projects and I am looking forward to the results!

Beautiful Winter Robin…

07 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by Satin & Sand in Birds, Christmas, Crafts, Poetry, Red, Winter

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beautiful, Birds, Christmas, Elizabeth Bradley, Needlepoint, Robin, Walter de la Mare, Winter

© Joan Currie. Christmas Robin needlepoint I stitched.


Winter by Walter de la Mare

Clouded with snow
The cold winds blow,
And shrill on leafless bough
The robin with its burning breast
Alone sings now.

The rayless sun,
Day’s journey done,
Sheds its last ebbing light
On fields in leagues of beauty spread
Unearthly white.


Thick draws the dark,
And spark by spark,
The frost-fires kindle, and soon
Over that sea of frozen foam
Floats the white moon.


I have been noticing robins on the branches of fruit trees on my walks through the neighborhood. Although the robin is usually thought of as a harbinger of spring, the December robin makes a delightful Christmas herald!

Needlepoint Books…

22 Sunday May 2011

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Crafts, Photography, Reflections

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beautiful, Claire Murray, Craft, Elizabeth Bradley, Kaffe Fassett, Needlepoint, Needlepoint books, Photography, postaweek 2011

© Joan Currie

Fassett has successfully challenged the idea that knitting and needlepointing are dull, restrained, and limited to certain subjects or patterns. – Catherine Reurs

I have a penchant for Elizabeth Bradley’s exquisite needlepoint designs and two of her books top my list of favorite pattern books:

1.  Needlework Antique Flowers by Elizabeth Bradley
2.  Decorative Victorian Needlework by Elizabeth Bradley
3.  Kaffe Fassett’s Glorious Needlepoint
4.  Flowers, Birds, and Unicorns: Medieval Needlepoint by Candace Bahouth
5.  In Splendid Detail – Needlepoint Art by Catherine Reurs
6.  Donna Kooler’s Glorious Needlepoint
7.  Glorafilia The Ultimate Needlepoint Collection by Carole Lazarus and Jennifer Berman
8.  Erica Wilson’s Needlepoint (The Metropolitan Museum of Art adaptations)
9.  Jill Gordon’s Needlepoint – Glorious Tapestry Designs
10. American Country Needlepoint by Jim Williams
11. Designer Needlepoint edited by Hugh Ehrman
12. Floral Needlepoint by Melinda Coss
13. Nantucket Inspirations by Claire Murray
14. Victorian Needlepoint by Beth Russell

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