Hebrew Aleph Bet With Pictures Needlepoint

Hebrew Aleph Bet With Pictures
Hebrew Aleph Bet With Pictures

This is my new Hebrew Aleph Bet with Pictures needlepoint design. It is also available in Yiddish for customers that prefer the Jewish language (the letters are the same, but the pictures are different). There is also a design for the English alphabet.

I loved stitching this project since it never got boring. There are many colorful areas that are small, so I stitched each area in one sitting. I would not recommend stitching all the letters in French knots like I did. That was tedious work. I don’t frame my work with glass, so it is touchable and the texture of the French knots adds a 3-D dimensions to it.

I stitched this design using an assortment of threads, fibers, and embellishments. I incorporated 18 shades of Twinkle Gem threads from www.gonestitching.net.  This is a new line of rayon metallic thread that Renee and Michelle at Gone Stitching have developed.  I used a double strand on the needle since my canvas is 13 mesh.  My favorite color is the Comet 020.  It is a black thread with colorful metallic threads running through it.  I stitched the letter “Samach” with it. (That’s the letter in front of the book in the center of the design.)

Is it a Girl or Boy?

Uni Baby Onesie

I stitched this unisex baby onesie to be used as wall art décor for a baby nursery room.  It would make a perfect baby shower gift especially if the expectant couple does not know what they’re having.  Others have a designated nursery in their home and want it to remain neutral.  Either way, it was my first unisex piece to stitch, and I like it!  I am so used to stitching blue for boy, pink for girl, that I forgot about the happy medium of other pastel colors.  I stitched with Caron Watercolours wisteria, silk lame braid, Kreinik metallic brown, and DMC perle cotton #3 209.  I embellished it with a coordinating crocheted flower I found at a local trimming shop.

Subway Stitchers

Check out 2012 Ridership Data!

I take the subway around once a week.  I marvel how individuals waste/spend their time waiting and riding.  Some daydream, others sleep.  Students cram and study.  I’ve seen a woman file her nails, and at least one lady in each compartment is reapplying her lipstick. Men read various newspapers and magazines; women are buried in novels.  But 95% of the riders look bored and uncomfortable.  Reading while in motion isn’t for everyone; some feel nauseous while others can’t concentrate.

I love doing needlepoint on trips via the subway.  I pack a small preschool style scissors (nothing too sharp), a small sized canvas, and 5-6 skeins of thread.  I place them all into a large Ziploc bag and am on my way.  At the station, I grab a seat and needlepoint.  I continue on the train and needlepoint till my destination.  In fact, I’ve noticed that I prefer the train rather than driving myself since I get to complete various projects this way. Hey, this is even a good way to promote using mass transit and public transportation!

People constantly comment on my needlepoint canvas.  They ask where I purchased the canvas, exclaim what a great idea it is to stitch on the train, is it easy, hard, etc.  I recommend commuters to take along needlepoint supplies; the whole experience will change for the better.

Tip:  Write your name and telephone number on the edge of the canvas with permanent marker.  This way if your project gets lost somehow, it has a better chance of finding its way home.  Also, have a special subway canvas that is inexpensive and easy to replace in case it does get misplaced.  The smaller the canvas, the better.  Don’t bring along your whole stash of thread; choose only a few strands of colors you definitely need.

Happy Stitching!

New Header Images

I added a whole boat load of new header images to my blog. They are selected at random and displayed on top of the page. Refresh the page to see different photos of Pepita finished works of art! There are eleven images in all.

I retired the old images, which were just lifted from Flickr and were not Pepita projects. I think it should be obvious that a Pepita Needlepoint blog should be graced by its own designs. Can’t imagine why it took me so long. Well that’s another to-do item I can cross off my endless list. Have a nice weekend!

Hamsa Rainbow

Hi everyone, take a look at our latest finished needlepoint design, Hamsa Rainbow. A “Hamsa” is a good-luck amulet shaped as a hand which is popular in Middle Eastern countries. It is said to ward off the Evil Eye and can be fashioned into jewelry, keychains, door knockers, wall hangings and lots of other cool stuff.

This design is part of the Hamsa Category of designs at Judaica Needlepoint. I framed it in bright red, inspired by another popular good-luck charm, namely the “Red Bendel,” a red string tied around one’s wrist.

Fruits of Her Labors

Framed in Fruit

Received in today’s email, a photo of an amazing piece stitched with a Pepita canvas, Frame Fruit. Our customer writes:

I wanted to share with you the results of my latest needlepoint adventure with Pepita!  Here is the completed customized canvas I ordered last winter.  It was a delight to stitch! You had suggested embellishments for the fruit, Renee, but I thought that would take all the fun out of the stitching challenge. So…I stitched the fruit first, and some of them required two or three tries to get it just right. Then I decided to do the whole background in scotch stitch.  Best of all – and I know you will appreciate this – I finished  the whole project using thread I already had in the house!!
I have attached two pictures, one showing my project where it hangs, right next to my fruit-decorated kitchen curtains.  How perfect is that?  All I need now is a visit from the grandchildren to complete the scene!

The text she stitched in the center reads “Welcome to Bubby’s Heimishe Kitchen.” The word “Heimishe” is a hard-to-translate Yiddish word, it’s roughly equivalent to “cozy” and “familiar”.

Happy Doll

I recently stitched and finished one of our new needlepoint designs, “Happy Doll“. I still smile every time I look at it.

I bought her an actual barrette from the hair accessory store and pinned it into her hair. Also, I sewed buttons on for her jumper. The white hem is done in Turkey Stitch and came out adorable.

I got the idea for this design from my first grader’s homework assignment (she was learning the letter D). There was a similar drawing in her workbook. My daughter is now convinced that this piece is for her room. I had to gently break the news that I’m shipping it to one of our retailers to hang in the shop. Are you a needlepoint store? Carry our stuff and make some little girls happy.