Craft Focus - Feb/Mar (Issue 65)

88 craft focus all stitched up Chart topper Amanda Butler worked as an in-house designer at Coats Crafts for many years before branching out on her own as a freelance cross stitch designer. She supplies a range of beautiful cross stitch charts through Etsy, including Home Sweet Home , which is designed to appeal to skilled stitchers who are ready to tackle a more detailed project, and Marla, a beautiful little character best-suited to advanced crafters. Both projects are available via pdf download or mail order, and are stitched in DMC stranded cotton. Amanda Butler Designs, etsy.com/uk/shop/ AmandaJButlerDesigns Fine Art Riolis has added two new fine art kits to its extensive embroidery range this season. The first is a Dutch still life, designed by Alexandra Gusarova and inspired by historic northern European paintings. It comes with a striking black canvas and a range of brightly coloured threads. The second piece, Windflowers , was designed by Alina Melentieva and is a recreation of a work by the Victorian pre-Raphaelite painter, John William Waterhouse. Exploring themes of nature, the forest and fairies, the kit comes with 33 stranded cotton threads and a canvas. Riolis, riolis.com