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VIVA ZIVA ! newsletter: Volume # 2333: FREE THREE ANCIENT CHINESE CUSHION DESIGNS
October 20, 2023

V I V A Z I V A ! n e w s l e t t e r

▪volume number: 2333 ▪

NEWSLETTER #2333

FREE ANCIENT CHINESE CUSHION DESIGNS in TWO different colour schemes! ….And TWO different designs!

Thanks so much for subscribing to the VIVA ZIVA! Newsletter.

We’ll be issuing a newsletter semi-annually, with a new free design each time... exclusively created for the VIVA ZIVA! newsletter.

Included is one of our RECENT PAINTINGS…. a Chinese Double Dragon Rug design ...

Plus a Peacock Feathers clutch bag … COMING SOON ! …

….PLUS…… NOW AVAILABLE! …… TWO NEW PERSIAN SAMARKAND CUSHION DESIGNS adapted from ceramic tiles from a mosque in Ubekistan.

And…… three design concepts for FREE ANCIENT CHINESE STAR Cushion designs.

We have created three free cushion designs (above) called ‘ANCIENT CHINESE STAR’ , based on traditional Chinese designs in two different colour schemes and designs!

Other free designs? …….

Click here to see our NEWSLETTER BACK ISSUES with free designs that may interest you!




WHAT’S IN EACH VIVA ZIVA! NEWSLETTER?

  • Updates

  • Recent Paintings

  • New Designs

  • FREE Design

  • Your Stitch/Technique to Try

  • Ask the ZIVA DIVA!

  • Next Issue

UPDATES

NOW AVAILABLE! ……. TWO PERSIAN DESIGNS for cushions or dining chair seat covers.



We have created two Persian cushion designs adapted from amazing tile decorations on the Medresseh and Mosque in Samarakand, Uzbekistan.

We added more colours to the original tiles, such a reds, and blues, to fit into today’s interiors.

Go to CUSHION PATTERNS for more detail on these lovely designs.

If you are interested in this design for dining chair seat covers, go to TRADITIONAL PERSIAN DESIGNS SEAT COVERS.

Go to our SHOPPING PAGES for details about sizes for the two designs.




RECENT PAINTINGS

CUSTOM ‘DOUBLE DRAGON’ AREA RUG


Our client asked us to paint a traditional Chinese ’Double Dragon’ Rug design on 10 gauge canvas that she saw in a book. She sent us the pages from the book…. and we took it from there!

Based on the outside border module, we established the size of the carpet to be ….. approx. 35” x 52” (approx. 89cm x 1.3 cm)....... WOW!





This photo (above) of putting on the final touches after painting it for over 4 months gives you an idea of its size!




We worked the modules and the sizes of all the different elements of the design on the computer before we painted each section.

We create Custom sizes and Custom designs for our clients. Just go to Contact Us and we’ll show you what your choice can look like!

NEW DESIGNS

COMING SOON! ……. Make a fashion statement with this PEACOCK FEATHERS CLUTCH BAG DESIGN!

We have created two new clutch bag designs:

one (above) which is a flap on the front of the bag,

…. and the second one the design is on two sides of the bag so you can fold it over and have the same design, flipped, on the back of the clutch bag!

STUNNING!



FREE DESIGN

ANCIENT CHINESE CUSHIONS FREE DESIGN

TWO COLOUR SCHEMES AND TWO DIFFERENT CENTRAL DESIGNS!


ANCIENT CHINESE STAR SQUARE WITH SPIRAL FLOWER: DESIGN CONCEPTS # 1 & #2

We created two colour schemes using the 2 reds, blue and golden-yellow in both, but added a peach tone (instead of white) to Design Concept #1 to soften the contrast.

ANCIENT CHINESE STAR SQUARE WITH TRADITIONAL CIRCLE: DESIGN CONCEPT #3

For Design Concept #3, we replaced the spiral flowers in the center with a Traditional Circle for easier stitching, particularly for beginners.

We used the same colours as Design Concept #2, but added a darker blue as an option if that is preferred.


READING THE CHART:

ANCIENT CHINESE STAR WITH SPIRAL FLOWER: #1 & #2

  • This chart shows the free cushion design with 10-gauge evenweave canvas.

  • The chart represents an approx. 16” x 16” (approx. 40 x 40 cm) cushion.


ANCIENT CHINESE STAR WITH TRADITIONAL CIRCLE: #3

  • This chart shows the free central circle motif ONLY, to replace the central spiral flower. again on 10-gauge evenweave canvas.

  • The chart represents an approx. 6.75 ” x 7” (approx. 17 x 17.78 cm) central motif


YARN COLOURS

All the yarns for the ‘Ancient Chinese Star’ designs were chosen from Appleton Tapestry wool yarns range of colours.

They are readily available at your local needlepoint shop or online:



Appleton colours for all three designs:

  • #992 Off-White
  • #884 Heraldic Gold
  • #503 Scarlet Red
  • # 505 Scarlet Red (dividing lines only)
  • #824 Royal Blue

PLUS

  • #202 Flame Red (Design Concept #1 only)
  • #748 Bright China Blue (Option for Design Concept #3)





YARN QUANTITIES

As a guide for the Ancient Chinese Star designs, you will require approximately 2 Hanks of each colour from Appleton Tapestry wool colour range.



OTHER MATERIALS



You will also need :

  • White 10 mesh (hpi) evenweavecanvas

  • Approximate Canvas Size:18” x 18” (approx. 46 cm x 46 cm)

  • # 18 Needlepoint Needle
  • Masking Tape

Go to the ZIVA site for more detail info on the MATERIALS required.



ASK THE ZIVA DIVA!

QUESTION:


Hi Ziva,

I would like to start my own line of needlepoint canvases. Any advice on how to get started? Thanks, Audrey

ANSWER:

Hi Audrey,

I think it depends on the type of business you're interested in starting and your personal situation.

I think there may be three possible ways you could go. There may be more!

  • If it's a shop of your own, you would have to consider the amount of off-street trade and still have a site on-line. You could sell blank canvases and also yarn. Plus, of course, have your own line of designs. You would have to research the local shops to see there would be enough trade for that to work.

  • You could also find a local shop that already sells needlepoint and sell your line to them, making them the middleman. If you were to go along those lines, you would have to have a portfolio of your designs, and some stitched to show them. You would then be selling to them wholesale. Depending on their situation, they may not like you to sell your work on-line and ask for exclusivity.

  • I took a very different route.

    I live in a remote rural village in the South-West of France. I decided to have a studio here and create my own designs to sell on-line only. So, I found a site server to help me go on-line, got a photo programme and a stitch-graph programme, and got a method for easy payment. That was 15 years ago.

    • So it depends on your situation and your location. I wasn't willing to travel to our local town or city every day, when I could be in my studio designing.

    I hope some of my thoughts have given you some help on making a decision on the route you want to take.

    Good luck!

    Sylvia McLeod


    WHAT NEXT?

    The next VIVA ZIVA! Newsletter #2434 will be issued in the spring of 2024 .

    • New Designs & Updates
    • A new Stitch/Technique to Try with a
    • NEW FREE DESIGN to be issued in fall of 2022
    • And lots of other features!

    Please contact me if there is a particular stitch or technique you’d like me to use for a free design in a future newsletter!

    Share this newsletter with friends and relatives.
    They can also go to my subscription page on the site to get on the mailing list for the next VIVA ZIVA! Newsletter

    Looking forward to sending you the next newsletter!

    Sylvia McLeod

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