Barbara Ana Designs news (continued)
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Barbara Ana's Christmas SAL's now available as regular charts
We have now closed all sales of the Barbara Ana Christmas SALs, however by popular demand, the designs are now available as regular patterns.
If you have already subscribed to the SAL, please make sure you download all your files by Jan 31st on the subscriptions download page
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>> see all Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Hand dyed effects
We love it when stitchers share pictures of their finished works. Maggie D. kindly sent us photos of two Barbara Ana designs where she experimented with hand dyed fabrics and stitching on a large scale with double size cross stitches.
Miss Mandrake was stitched on 14 count tea-dyed Aida with random shades created by the folds in the fabric during the dying process.
The piece was worked using six strands of DMC over two threads. The finished work is smooth with full coverage similar to needlepoint (or tapestry), though Maggie adds "I don't think I'm going to use the six strands again, ever.The only problem was when I had multiple colors close together and the holes in the Aida got a little crowded."
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Photo courtesy Maggie D.
For the Frida Kahlo piece Maggie says "I got inspired and dyed my own fabric". We think the finished piece is gorgeous, with the background fabric a wonderful match for the original design.
The piece was also worked in double size cross stitches (one cross over 4 aida squares), however this time using only three strands of DMC embroidery floss. The cross stitches are more prominent and the bright colors gently blend into the background fabric.
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Photo courtesy Maggie D.
Maggie concludes "My next product, Forest Queen is going on golden yellow Aida. I am going to have to stop watching Flosstube before I get into real trouble...."
To view and compare the original stitched designs, click on the pictures.
If you have experimented with variations of any patterns sourced from Creative Poppy's website, you are very welcome to send us pictures. We'd love to share them with other stitchers. Thank you!
A new needlework tribute to Frida Kahlo
Barbara Ana continues to draw inspiration in the work and life of the exceptional woman artist. This new portrait features Frida, eyes closed, with thoughts steaming from her head and taking the form of lush tropical flowers.
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Halloween stitching with Barbara Ana
Subscriptions to Barbara Ana's Halloween SAL are now closed but your can now purchase the whole chart. There is plenty of fun to have stitching ahead of Halloween with Barbara Ana and dozens of amazing designs to select from.
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>> see all Halloween patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
A surprise encounter
If you stroll in the forest after dark, keeping very quiet, you might suddenly come across the stunning Queen of the Forest, holding the scepter to her kingdom in her hand. A cross stitch chart full of poetry and charm, vintage Barbara Ana.
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In the land of rolling hills and vales
The Black Cat Hollow cross stitch pattern, designed by Barbara Ana, is now available newly formatted as a single chart (formally sold in 3 parts).
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Thankful stitches
Say Thank you in a way friends will remember with this pretty Quaker-style heart-shaped ornament. It is cross stitched on fine 40ct linen fabric than has been hand-dyed in coffee to give it a vintage feel. The shaded thread adds to the antique look.
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>> see more Quaker style patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Caramel Christmas
We love the honeyed tones of the cross stitch against the aqua background of this latest new design by Barbara Ana, full of poetic fantasy as always. Santa is perched on a giant bird and is about to take off.
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Santa's other means of transport
He moves about without making the slightest carbon footprint. Maybe we should all follow his example...
 Christmas is coming |  Through the Woods |  Christmas Hare |  Santa, Dove, and Key |
>> see more Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Changing Mounts
Notice Santa has changed mounts again? What happened to the reindeer? Maybe they had an indigestion of birch bark and moss? Or a little nightcap too much?
Anyway Santa cannot be caught late. He's speeding along on a white hare, hopping over sleepy villages in the snowy landscape. A Christmas pattern by Barbara Ana Designs.
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>> see more Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana designs
A new tribute to Frida Kahlo
An extraordinary cross stitch pattern inspired by Frida Kahlo's painting entitled "The Wounded Deer" and by a phrase from a poem by Emily Dickinson "A Wounded Deer - Leaps Highest". This tribute to Frida Kahlo, by Barbara Ana is a powerful expression of how the wounded artist mustered strength in the face of life and love's adversities.
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Two brown mice
Notice the colors in these two small cross stitch designs, and especially how the toned-down browns of autumn are highlighted by touches of aqua blue and orange. Designs by Barbara Ana.
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>> see more Autumn patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
A visitor
A most extraordinary character, head crowned with a beautiful array of leaves, branches and fruit. Miss Mandrake is joining the coven.
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>> see more Halloween patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
More expressive Eyes by Barbara Ana
 Viva la Vida |  My favorite Apron |  Cattitude |
Rising from the sea in the mist...
Here comes a mermaid, perched on a pink flamingo ... The big stylized flowers, wallpaper-like background and vintage colors, bring a touch of the 70s. Barbara Ana's signature style blending unbridled fantasy and carefully thought out layout and colors.
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>> see all patterns with Mermaids (all designers)
Beguiling Witches by Barbara Ana
Three new irresistible series of witches, just released by Barbara Ana Designs. They come in Barbara Ana's signature style that mixes humour, whimsiness, a reminiscence of Quaker samplers, a huge dose of creativity and a very subtle sense of color.
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More Witches by Barbara Ana
 O Halloween Tree |  Witch Cat? |
>> see all Halloween patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
An explosion of colors
Joyful colors seem to come bursting out of this new cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana, appropriately named color therapy. The piece was stitched directly on a denim shirt using waste canvas.
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Love gives you .... fins!
Fancy this little mermaid working hard to swim against the current: She's carrying a huge basket of underwater flowers, a gift for her beloved. A superb allegory of Love brought to you in cross stitch by Barbara Ana.
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>> see more Love related patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
>> see all patterns with mermaids (all designers)
Appearing as in a dream
Full of poetry and dreamlike charm, this new design by Barbara Ana celebrates the joys of Spring.
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Devoted Love
Barbara Ana's tribute to Frida Kalho and the love she devoted to Diego Rivera, an allegory of passionate love with its joys, sufferings and pains. The cross stitch pattern with fabulous colors is set in a beautiful background of tropical flowers and imbued with Mexican charm.
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Another portrait of Frida by Barbara Ana
Baroque and esoteric, in the manner of Frida Kalho's own autoportraits, and an appropriate title for a woman who lived her life to the full.
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Springtime, happy time
This spring scene, embedded in a heart, is full of cheerfulness and joy. Everyone is outside enjoying the first beautiful days. A couple is picking flowers. A bird sings on the roof. Even the cat has ventured outdoors enjoying the sun.
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More Spring patterns by Barbara Ana
 Mom & Me |  Spring Biscornu |  I like this place |
>> see all Spring patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Burning Love
Feelings of love expressed with force and symbolism, as well as immense tenderness. Barbara Ana takes cross stitch to wonderful unexplored territory, where a heart burns in the shape of a tulip-like flame, where a mane of red hair grows into branches and blooming flowers...
Barbara Ana said she especially enjoyed stitching this piece, in particular the lady's hair. So will we no doubt!
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>> see more patterns expressing Love by Barbara Ana
Slowly, oh so slowly, Christmas is coming
Trust Barbara Ana to come up with the most unexpected and whimsical ideas. Who hasn't waited excitedly for Christmas to arrive? Barbara's vision is that of Santa riding ... a snail. A whole town, roofs covered with snow, is enjoying the ride, as well as a couple of Santa's little helpers, sitting under a tree.
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More Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana
Through the Woods |  Deer Joy |
>> see all Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Late Harvest
It is the time to harvest the very last fruit and nuts. Birds are searching for the remaining berries too, such as this small one, with delicate feathers and stitched in ever so soft and natural colors. A cross stitch chart designed by Barbara Ana.
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>> see more Bird patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Sadie Woods - one year later
New from Barbara Ana, a sampler "by" Sadie Woods, and dated 1901, one year later than the original "Sadie Woods" would have been stitched. Compared to Sadie's "first work" (see below), it is more sophisticated and beautifully laid out, showing how the child would gradually be turning into a young girl, yet it retains the same spontaneity and charm.
The sampler is cross stitched on the same rustic fabric, with similar color schemes as the original work. Together they form a beautiful pair.
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More Barbara Ana Designs: Young girl samplers
These are not reproduction samplers, but rather the designer expressing herself, in the manner of an author writing a novel in the first person, and incarnating a character of her imagination.
 Elizabeth Wise Sampler |  Henrietta Goodrich Sampler |  Polly Kirby Sampler |  Sisters |
>> see more Sampler patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Barbara Ana Designs: More news
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