Any needlepoint lovers out there?
While I was out and about with my husband last week I happened upon a sign for a needlepoint shop and I asked the HH to turn around so I could go inside and have a look around.
Destination Needlepoint in Kennebunk, Maine. You’re going to want to check this place out.
Fact: I know absolutely nothing about needlepoint.
Nothing at all, but I do know a cool specialty arts and craft type shop when I see one. Look at all those skeins!! I don’t even do needlepoint and I wanted to swoop them all up.
Wall after wall was filled with them! It was crazy. And beautiful and fun to see a well curated shop packed full of so many different choices.
There were also a ton of needlepoint canvases on the wall.
I really didn’t have a clue what I was looking at but I did see the prices on the canvases and {politely} asked why the canvases were so expensive.
It turns out, all the canvases in the shop are HAND PAINTED. Oh my word!!! What a job that would be.
Each individual square is hand painted in the shade of the thread you’re supposed to use.
By hand painting the pattern onto the canvas {instead of a machine doing it} you end up with a design that is perfectly lined up on the canvas.
The threads and the canvases seemed to go on forever!!
I suspect if this is your hobby, you could probably spend hours in here just picking out the thread you’d need for your canvas.
I loved the cozy little stitching nook.
There’s even a stitching room upstairs where people come together to work on their projects and take classes.
How cool is that?
Hobbies. Everyone needs one.
I have rug hooking, the HH has his “researching”. How about you? What is YOUR hobby?
If it’s needlepoint and you’ll be anywhere near Southern Maine… Be sure and stop by Destination Needlepoint. The shop is gorgeous and the staff is so kind an sincere and they obviously LOVE what they do.
~Mavis
Mary3 M says
I am an addicted needlepointer. The shop looks fantastic. I must correct you. Hand painted needlepoints are a work of art. And worth every cent. If you value a craft, recognize the talent and expertise. I wouldn’t say your talents are overrated and I wouldn’t quibble about your talents. You can tell I am passionate about talent and value. Enjoying your postings- especially the Lobster Compaoind!!!
Jennifer Black says
I am a needle pointer, and that looks like a lovely store. My local store changed ownership and relocated from Edmonds WA to Sacramento. San Francisco has a good Needlepoint shop as well.
Yes, the canvases are hand painted. The yarn is lovely. This isn’t a cheap hobby. And when you are done with the needlepoint part, having someone else finish your artwork into a pillow, framed into a picture etc. will cost even more..
I have all of the Christmas ornaments that my mother and I have made – mostly needlepoint. But a few are knitted, and a few crocheted. There are over 100 of them!
NanC says
So are you going to take a class and try needlepointing? It was one of the many crafts that I did as a child and I still have some of my finished projects. My Mom did a whole Advent Calendar for me!
Peggy Lannon says
I quilt. I must warn you though, it is addicting!! All of the beautiful fabrics and patterns out there! I have made some wonderful friends through this hobby and they will be lifelong friends.
SueD says
Several, and not enough time for them all. Whoever said you’ll have plenty of time when you’re retired, was telling a porkie.
Marlene Wurtzbacher says
I used to do needlepoint and cross stitch but it has been rug hooking for the past 30 years! Wish there were more hooking stores.
Molly says
Thank you so much for this information! I will be going there as soon as I can. I’ve been looking for a needlepoint store just like this around Portland but didn’t have any luck.
Sue S. says
I have rug hooking and knitting. When I have time, I love to paint reproduction folk art portraits. If I had all the time in the world, that’s what I’d do all day.
Jaime says
I was always good at art, drawing, some painting in high school, early college. I really wanted to go back to that and dabbled in some oil painting during 2020…lockdown. I did some, but then I couldn’t get back to it for a while and was determined to do SOME kind of art. My passion is landscapes and clouds. So…this last year, I got my watercolors out and I have really tried to take a few minutes to watercolor paint. There are TONS of learning for anything today! I am fortunate to have a space to keep it out and just sit down for a few minutes and dabble. I do want to go to oil but watercolor, when it dries out, isn’t ruined. It just reactivates with adding water! No worrying about wasting paint. I have had to get over feeling guilty for stopping to take a little time to paint.
Laura says
Do you have any learning sites for watercolor that you particularly recommend? I am looking to get started with this in 2026 and would love a quality recommendation for where to start. Thank you!
Jill says
I quit needlepoint for the cost. I started in my teens and quit by 20ish. Then I learned from a cross-stitcher that you can use some cross stitch patterns for needlepoint and vice versa. My library has many needlepoint books with great patterns including several of William Morris designs. The unpainted canvas is much cheaper and the patterns are easy to follow. Each color square in the pattern is one stitch. Try it out.