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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    US: 360-382-2172
    UK: 0207-100-3509
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Bargain Basement

Bargain Basement - kits at half the previous price ...

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Starry Garland Christmas Card - blackwork kit by Rico Design

Starry Garland Christmas Card

Mr. Bounce - cross-stitch kit by Bothy Threads

Mr. Bounce

Pear Tote Bag - embroidery kit by Rico Design

Pear Tote Bag

Mr. Men Mouse Mat - cross-stitch kit by Bothy Threads

Mr. Men Mouse Mat

Mr. Funny - cross-stitch kit by Bothy Threads

Mr. Funny

Mr Tickle - cross-stitch kit by Bothy Threads

Mr Tickle

Christmas Cards - Items in red, green and gold - cross-stitch kit by Lanarte

Christmas Cards - Items in red, green and gold

Little Miss Sunshine - cross-stitch kit by Bothy Threads

Little Miss Sunshine

More Bargain Basement kits ...

Thread a Little Happiness!

best cross stitch sites on the web

"I have already received a message that my package has been dispatched and also already received adjustment on shipping cost through Paypal ... You offer incredible service and it is a real pleasure to use your website and to do business with you! Thanks a lot!" - AML, Quebec, Canada

"I just wanted to let you know my pattern arrived today in fantastic condition. Your service was better and faster than many companies here in America. I will be sure to purchase from you again. Thank you so much for all of your assistance!" - KL, CA, United States

"Thank you so much for your speedy and efficient service. I received my cross stitch pattern this morning, less than 24 hours after ordering. A true case of internet shopping at its best. The discount price of the kit, combined with the free postage made the transaction most appealing, but I never believed the kit would be here so quickly as an added bonus. Thank you again. I shall be recommending you!" - JG, Scotland, United Kingdom

"It is a rare thing to have such quality of customer service from the beginning of an order placed ..." - RC, NC, United States

"Just to let you know that my Winter Robins kit arrived safely on Saturday, thank you very much for sending me this so promptly. I am delighted with the kit and have already made a start on it!" - SW, United Kingdom

See more testimonials here ...

News

... and gie's a hand o' thine!

A warm welcome to our December newsletter. The title is a line from Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns which you may sometimes hear around this time of year!
Christmas Puppy, Cross Stitch Kit by Thea Gouverneur
If you're still in a Christmassy spirit then Thea Governeur has brought out two lovely designs - a Christmas puppy and a kitten with another six in the set still to come a bit late for this year, but it's never too early to plan for next Christmas.

Riolis have produced a complete new set of Zodiac kits. Worked on black with blue and gold, these make striking pictures.

There have been a few changes in the stitching world over the past year and, unfortunately, several price rises. The family-run company Lanarte has been taken over by the Belgian company Verachtert n.v. (Vervaco) and this has led to supply delays of both Lanarte and Vervaco kits. Hopefully that will settle down in 2012.

One of our suppliers has stopped stocking Leisure Arts pattern booklets and so we will have no more Leisure Arts booklets once our current stock has gone. Coats - who supply Anchor, Maia, Glorifilia and Royal Paris kits as well as stranded cottons, tapestry wools, crochet cottons and pearl cottons - have announced more price rises in January. We will hold our prices while stocks last but these will inevitably lead to higher costs for Coats products.

Bargain Basement
With lots of new and exciting kits just in (and some Christmas cake), we are finding ourselves bulging at the seams and we've decided to create a Bargain Basement featuring kits at half the price they were previously. Why not have a look and get started on a quick project before the influx of new Spring designs. We'll be adding new items to this section from now on so it's worth checking from time to time just in case something you're looking for shows up.

Have a peaceful and prosperous 2012.

Art and Craft Events

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 ...

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.

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.

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