Cross Stitch kits, charts, designs and leaflets; original paintings for sale.

Cross Stitch Kits, Cross Stitch Patterns and lots more ...

We supply cross stitch kits, cross stitch patterns, embroidery charts, books, and needlecraft supplies and accessories at discount prices to stitchers all over the world.

Why choose Arts and Designs?

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    UK: 0207-100-3509
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Lanarte 2010 - The Spring Collection

Silhouettes to samplers - there's something for everyone in this Spring's collection by Lanarte. Style and simplicity are the key.

(click image for details)
Quartet of Penguins - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Quartet of Penguins

Silhouette of Dancing Couple 3 - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Silhouette of Dancing Couple 3

Lady in a Pink Hat - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Lady in a Pink Hat

Birth Celebrations - cross-stitch kit by Maria van Scharrenburg

Birth Celebrations

Silhouette of Dancing Couple 1 - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Silhouette of Dancing Couple 1

Magnolia Flower - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Magnolia Flower

Raccoon - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Raccoon

Thai Hilltribe Girl - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Thai Hilltribe Girl

Funny Rabbit - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Funny Rabbit

Clown Birth Sampler - cross-stitch kit by Maria van Scharrenburg

Clown Birth Sampler

Two Penguins - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Two Penguins

Classical Vase with Roses - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Classical Vase with Roses

more Lanarte 2010 - The Spring Collection ...

Thread a Little Happiness!

best cross stitch sites on the web

"Dear Arts and Designs, I just wanted to tell you that the things I ordered from you arrived today and I am VERY happy with them and your service. I will be ordering things from you again in the future! All the best," - HJ, Italy

"We received our kits. They are beautiful. ... Thank you for great service!" - LC, United States

"j ai bien recu ma commande et transmis votre site a des amies les modeles sont tres beaux merci encore." - NB, France

"... Many thanks for your help and efficent service. I shall certainly use your company again in the future." - GT, United Kingdom

"Hi - Just wanted to let you know that I received my new order yesterday. I had forgotten to thank you for the lovely free patterns you've sent for cross stitch and/or needlepoint - they are so lovely. I can't tell you how much your special touches mean to me as a customer. It has been a pleasure buying from you." - EJ, Vermont, United States

See more testimonials here ...

News

Lanarte - Spring 2010 Collection

Lanarte, the leading Netherlands cross stitch studio, have produced lots of lovely new kits this year including three new colourful birth samplers by Maria van Scharrenburg and African Man by Joadoor. African Man is a fine complement to the very popular African Woman introduced last year.
Thai Hilltribe Girl, cross stitch kit by Lanarte

The 'leading lady' this season is the Indian Model a striking picture of a beautiful girl. If you prefer something a little smaller, then The Lady in the Pink Hat with a subtly printed background is a lovely image of an elegant lady in said hat and an off-the-shoulder pink dress.

Our favourite is the Thai Hilltribe Girl - utterly irresistible when you see the finished embroidery!

For those who enjoy silhouettes, choose from The Dancers a set of four Latin American dancers or, keeping with the African theme, Animal Parade.
Silhouette of Dancing Couple 1, cross stitch kit by Lanarte
More cute animals are available with three Penguin pictures, piglets at a trough, a cartoon rabbit and a Raccoon.

For the more traditional, there's a Classical Vase with Roses worked on a black background and a more modern floral set of three Magnolia Flowers.

Click here to see the Lanarte 2010 collection.

Art and Craft Events

Wrest Park Craft & Design Show (Craft Exhibitions) - Silsoe, United Kingdom

For twenty years, Romor Exhibitions Ltd has presented the 'Wrest Park Craft & Design Festival' over the August Bank Holiday weekend. This show has become synonymous with high quality designer-made craftwork, presented in a beautiful outdoor setting.
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Through the Eye of a Needle (Craft Exhibitions) - Derby, United Kingdom

This collection of handmade treats is produced by individual members of Derbyshire Embroiderers' Guild and the Derbyshire Young Embroiderers. On display will be an inspiring and varied selection of work, which includes hand and machine embroideries, beadwork, felt work and much more.
more ...

So much choice ... You have hundreds of cross stitch designers and suppliers to choose from, so here is a little more detailed information on some of them, their products and our opinions ...

Lanarte

Lanarte
The Dutch company Lanarte have produced many and varied designs. They produce quality large scale charts in black and white with detailed instructions in several languages.

In 1934, Augustinus (Guus) Vergnes opened a shop in Leeuwarden selling yarn and knitting wool. The range was gradually extended to include other needlecrafts, such as simple cross-stitch kits. Over the years, Guus managed to open numerous shops throughout the country under the name Naaldkunst (Needlecraft). As the range of needlecraft kits was not very broad at that time, Guus felt the need to design his own.

Lanarte, now grown into a family business was set up in 1973 and new business premises were built on the newly developed Schenkenschans industrial area in Leeuwarden, Holland.

Lanarte's collections consist of :-

  • Art Nouveau - Stylish images from the golden age of art
  • Home and Garden - beautiful flower pictures, individually, in bouquets and vases or in garden setting;
  • Romance - delicate colours and subtle shades in pictures of beautiful women, children and flowers;
  • Marjolein Bastin - designs of flowers, birds and samplers from the well known Dutch illustrator;
  • Classic - from paintings, posters and Dutch tiles;
  • Animals - styled, realistic and cartoons;
  • Culture - Egyptian collages, oriental ladies, dark African beauties are all in this group;
  • Holiday - lighthouses and seaside views and the country with fields of flowers;
  • Just for Kids - cute teddies, toys and contemporary birth samplers;
  • Maria van Scharrenburg - beautiful fantasy figures, romantic baby pictures and a cute nursery range.

Rose Swalwell

Rose Swalwell is the founder of Derwentwater Designs, named after the lake in the beautiful English Lake District where she lives and where her business is situated.

The company has been designing and manufacturing embroidery kits since the mid 1980s and Rose still designs most of the kits although there is also a team of designers each specialising in a different range.

Green Apple

Green Apple Inc. has been a leader in the cross stitch industry for many years and has become known for having designs of sophistication and artistic quality - designs truly worthy of becoming heirlooms.

Among their most popular are the adorable Beatrix Potter and Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies, as well as Southern Roots and French Country Designs. These come mainly in booklet form with a large number of pictures in each, clearly illustrated on black and white charts. Some booklets have colour illustrations of the finished works.

Many of the individual designs are small and would therefore be suitable for all abilities. Larger pieces would be for those with more experience.

Ever popular is their Beatrix Potter collection with converted illustrations of birds and animals from her books which are suitable for children and the nursery. With many different formats and uses these are excellent value.

Beatrix Potter was born in 1866 into an upper class Victorian family in London. While her brother was sent away to school she was educated at home in art and music. She became interested in nature and the environment in family holidays spent in Scotland and the Lake District and became a skilled artist at an early age. As well as the famous illustrations for her books, she painted landscapes, flowers and fossils.

Her first book The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published in 1902 and a large number of small books followed up until around 1920, featuring her much loved characters Jemima Puddle-duck, Mrs Tiggy Winkle, Tom Kitten and many more.

She retired to the Lake District where she bought a sheep farm and with the steady stream of income from her books she bought more land in the area which on her death was left to the National Trust to ensure that the beauty of the area would remain unspoiled. Her legacy is now part of the Lake District National Park.

Her most famous books have been published by Frederick Warne & Company since 1902.

maia

maia is an exclusive range of beautiful and artistic embroidery kits designed to inspire you down to the very last stitch.

Maia is the goddess of spring, growth, life, rebirth and love – all fitting qualities for you and your stitching.

Produced by Coats Crafts, maia kits include carefully sorted Anchor thread, quality fabric and easy to follow charts and instructions. The designs are all inspired by the artwork of various artists - Karl Bang, Thomas Kinkade, Keith Mallett, Erte, Nel and Kawase Hasui.

Quality cross stitch kits, inspirational design.


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