ABOUT BOX TREE
COTTAGE DESIGNS
Box Tree Cottage Designs was founded in 1997 to
provide a friendly, personal service for clients who want their own photographs turned into cross stitch or tapestry (needlepoint) charts
which they can then stitch to create a delightful portrait of their cats,
dogs or other chosen subjects. Charting is inexpensive for such an individual item - a
simple basic cross stitch chart costs about £18 and a very complex one
with several images on it might go up to £25. Each client receives a
colour picture, a symbol chart and details of the threads required to stitch
the picture, plus any back-up help and advice required. A colour chart can be provided on request
Charts are produced to the client's own
requirements - you specify size, whether cross stitch or tapestry
(needlepoint), alterations and the make or type of thread to be used. No
money is ever asked for until the client is happy with the design. So far
I have produced cross stitch charts ranging from cats and dogs to a
war-time wedding, two horses, a vintage RAF lorry and a steam engine! I
have also designed a full set of tapestry (needlepoint) kneelers for an
Abbey, based on stonework and architectural features (heads, gargoyles and
so on).
In addition, I have the collaborative CATSIGHS venture
with Marc Doyle turning his cat pictures into colourful cross stitch
charts which are fully illustrated (click the CATSIGHS button at
the end of this page). This delightful collection of charts has been very
popular both as a set and as individual items.
Box Tree Cottage Designs is situated in a fifteenth-century
thatched cottage in a hamlet in rural Worcestershire. The nearest shop is
a mile away and it is even further to the pub! However, modern technology
can be installed anywhere, and when I decided to set up a small business
making personalised cross stitch charts from clients' photographs as well
as creating my own cross stitch, tapestry and needlepoint designs from
drawings, paintings and prints, there was no problem with converting a
room into an office and cross stitch studio.
The Dogs and Cats
section show examples of the work I have done for clients in interpreting
into cross stitch charts even some difficult photos of pets who won't keep
still.
There is a section on flowers, as well as a whole separate
department for gifts. Just press the appropriate button to see these extra
pages. If you have any ideas for the gifts section, do e-mail me with
them!
.....AND A NEW VENTURE -
WEDDING CROSS
STITCH
Everyone loves a wedding. It's an intensely
personal day and Box Tree Cottage Designs would love to help you add that
special touch with cross stitch designs uniquely tailored to you and your
colour scheme. Have a look at what we can do at our new web site solely
devoted to cross stitch items for your wedding. And if you have any good
ideas to add to the collection they are always welcome! We have designs
from ring cushions to place cards, including a garter for something blue.
To see the Wedding Cross Stitch site click here.
CATSIGHS LATEST - IT'S PURRFECTION
The latest in the terrific Catsighs series based on paintings
by Marc Doyle has just been added to our range. I
think this is the best one yet!
HOT NEWS
How would you like your finished stitched piece to be
featured on the page? To have your special picture put on screen,
just e-mail me at AGriffi381@aol.com and we will wave the magic
wand.
LIKE A CHAT?
This web page business gets boring
if it's all one way. Even if you aren't about to make an order, do e-mail
or telephone and have a chat about what you think of the page - we can
only get it right if we know what you want to see. And it's lovely to know
someone out there is looking in!
Ann.
GEORGE WAS THE FIRST
FINISHED DOG
We promised to add any completed portraits from the photo
service to our Web Site. George pictured here was the first completed dog
to be added to the gallery. George was a collie/labrador cross and was the
much loved pet of Anne and Robert Birch. He was also the friend and
companion of their English springer spaniel, Sam. He had great character
and a lovable personality. Anne asked Box Tree Cottage Designs to create
a chart from a favourite photograph which was then stitched for her by her
sister in law, Susan. The finished work is wonderful and is a lovely
reminder of a much missed friend.
CASEY - from the USA
Also we have a
picture of a needlepoint dog called Casey made into a cushion by Dave
McPherson in USA. - it took Dave a year to stitch it and the cushion has
gone as a present to his granddaughter.
OUR FIRST BULL
This bull lives in the North of
England and is his owner's pride and joy. The owner's mother wanted to
make her son a cross stitch portrait as a present. Result - a delightful
picture!

AND SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT
.... As we move
from bulls to buildings. Pennie from Cornwall loves her West Country life
but she does take a break now and then to visit London and take in a few
shows and sights. She took an excellent photograph of this Canary Wharf
building and we turned it into a cross stitch design for her - she added a
little sparkle in the materials and we think the result was stunning