the coolness of cross-stitch

Is needlepoint cool again? Look at these pillows by Karen Barbe (okay, they’re woven but they resemble cross-stitch) and Anna Maria Horner’s gorgeous new fabric line.

Karen Barbe Woven Pillows (first seen at Simply Grove)

Loulouthi fabric by Anna Maria Horner

This is a great development for me because it’s giving me the kick in the pants that I need to pick up an abandoned craft project. A couple years back I bought a belt buckle needlework project. As a newbie to the art of needlepoint, the eensy canvas didn’t intimidate me.

Or so I thought.

In reality, I stitched a couple sections but wasn’t too sure I was doing it correctly, so that poor belt buckle has languished deep in my abandoned project pile.

Now I’m seeing these bright, beautiful cross-stitch references and I’m inspired to dust off that canvas and give it another go so I can add this belt to my fall wardrobe.