Latest News:
Cross stitch designs by Barbara Ana Designs
All the latest news for Barbara Ana, as published in Creative Poppy's newsletter.
>> see all cross stitch patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
New Barbara Ana Mystery chart for Halloween:
The Witchy Dreams SAL
Barbara Ana's SAL are always mysterious and keep the suspense going until the very end...
The pattern comes in 3 parts, The first part is already available, the next will be published on Oct 1st and the SAL ends on Oct 15th, in time to complete for Halloween.
>> Barbara Ana Witchy Dreams Mystery chart subscription
Now revealed: Barbara Ana - Up in the Air
Soaring towards the sky like a hot air balloon, alongside birds and clouds, Barbara Ana's mystery lady reaches for the sun.
>> see all patterns by Barbara Ana designs
The Dreaming Girl stitched on the back of a denim Jacket
Thanks to Wioletta, we are able to share a brilliant project idea: cross stitching Barbara Ana's Dreaming Girl on the back of a denim jacket, using DMC's soluble canvas. The stitcher completed her work during her second lockdown in the end of March this year, it's no wonder she wanted to dream about visiting other places!
Wioletta customized the pattern in her very own way:
- lightening up the denim beforehand in the stitched area using bleach (the first try was too white so she added some blue and purple dye)
- substituting the earing and autum leaves in the original pattern with charms hanging like amulets
- and finally personalizing the houses in the bottom right: " I live in Italy but I added elements of architecture of my hometown in Poland". So pretty.
Thanks so much Wioletta and congratulations for this stunning project!
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Dreaming Girl | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana Designs as stitched on the back of a denim jacket by Wioletta, using DMC soluble canvas |
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>> see more examples of customized finishing ideas
The Garden of Dreams now revealed
Ad she day-dreams, each of the young girl's thoughts seems to burst into new blooms and imaginary landscapes, gradually surrounding her, like a lush garden. A cross stitch chart by Barbara Ana
Dreaming Frida
Initially offered as mystery chart, Barbara Ana's new tribute to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is now available as a regular chart and features a message of optimism entangled in the long hair.
Not only a beautiful portrait, the pattern is full of symbolism: life and death, flowers, love, passion as well as many references to the country of Mexico, a land of contrasts with arid but flowery deserts and snow-capped volcanoes under a tropical sun.
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Dreaming Frida | Cross stitch pattern available by subscription Barbara Ana Designs |
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More Frida by Barbara Ana
>> see all patterns by Barbara Ana paying tribute to Frida Kahlo
Dreaming Girl
If you didn't get a chance to join the Barbara Ana's SAL, you can now stitch Barbara Ana's Dreaming Girl as a regular pattern. Doesn't she look gorgeous with thoughts and dreams following the seasons and mingling with her beautiful mane of red hair.
A tribute to Gustav Klimt
In continuity with her latest work, the Dreaming Girl, Barbara Ana has just released a new cross stitch design, paying tribute to the Viennese artist. While using only warm yellow tones and a satin floss highlight, she achieves wonderful effects evocative of the golden palette of the painter.
Under the lemon tree
A new Barbara Ana design, with a mysterious feel. It features a cat, with enigmatic eyes, holding onto a lemon tree. Unexpected, inventive, with creative mixes of color, this is vintage Barbara Ana.
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Lemon Cat | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana Designs |
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More cats by Barbara Ana
>> see all cross stitch patterns with cats by Barbara Ana
Barbara Ana's Christmas SAL's now available as regular charts
We have now closed all sales of the Barbara Ana Christmas SALs, however by popular demand, the designs are now available as regular patterns.
If you have already subscribed to the SAL, please make sure you download all your files by Jan 31st on the subscriptions download page
>> see all Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Hand dyed effects
We love it when stitchers share pictures of their finished works. Maggie D. kindly sent us photos of two Barbara Ana designs where she experimented with hand dyed fabrics and stitching on a large scale with double size cross stitches.
Miss Mandrake was stitched on 14 count tea-dyed Aida with random shades created by the folds in the fabric during the dying process.
The piece was worked using six strands of DMC over two threads. The finished work is smooth with full coverage similar to needlepoint (or tapestry), though Maggie adds "I don't think I'm going to use the six strands again, ever.The only problem was when I had multiple colors close together and the holes in the Aida got a little crowded."
Photo courtesy Maggie D.
For the Frida Kahlo piece Maggie says "I got inspired and dyed my own fabric". We think the finished piece is gorgeous, with the background fabric a wonderful match for the original design.
The piece was also worked in double size cross stitches (one cross over 4 aida squares), however this time using only three strands of DMC embroidery floss. The cross stitches are more prominent and the bright colors gently blend into the background fabric.
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Frida | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana Designs |
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Photo courtesy Maggie D.
Maggie concludes "My next product, Forest Queen is going on golden yellow Aida. I am going to have to stop watching Flosstube before I get into real trouble...."
To view and compare the original stitched designs, click on the pictures.
If you have experimented with variations of any patterns sourced from Creative Poppy's website, you are very welcome to send us pictures. We'd love to share them with other stitchers. Thank you!
A new needlework tribute to Frida Kahlo
Barbara Ana continues to draw inspiration in the work and life of the exceptional woman artist. This new portrait features Frida, eyes closed, with thoughts steaming from her head and taking the form of lush tropical flowers.
Halloween stitching with Barbara Ana
Subscriptions to Barbara Ana's Halloween SAL are now closed but your can now purchase the whole chart. There is plenty of fun to have stitching ahead of Halloween with Barbara Ana and dozens of amazing designs to select from.
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Spellville | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana designs |
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>> see all Halloween patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
A surprise encounter
If you stroll in the forest after dark, keeping very quiet, you might suddenly come across the stunning Queen of the Forest, holding the scepter to her kingdom in her hand. A cross stitch chart full of poetry and charm, vintage Barbara Ana.
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Forest Queen | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana designs |
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In the land of rolling hills and vales
The Black Cat Hollow cross stitch pattern, designed by Barbara Ana, is now available newly formatted as a single chart (formally sold in 3 parts).
Thankful stitches
Say Thank you in a way friends will remember with this pretty Quaker-style heart-shaped ornament. It is cross stitched on fine 40ct linen fabric than has been hand-dyed in coffee to give it a vintage feel. The shaded thread adds to the antique look.
>> see more Quaker style patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Caramel Christmas
We love the honeyed tones of the cross stitch against the aqua background of this latest new design by Barbara Ana, full of poetic fantasy as always. Santa is perched on a giant bird and is about to take off.
Santa's other means of transport
He moves about without making the slightest carbon footprint. Maybe we should all follow his example...
>> see more Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Changing Mounts
Notice Santa has changed mounts again? What happened to the reindeer? Maybe they had an indigestion of birch bark and moss? Or a little nightcap too much?
Anyway Santa cannot be caught late. He's speeding along on a white hare, hopping over sleepy villages in the snowy landscape. A Christmas pattern by Barbara Ana Designs.
>> see more Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana designs
A new tribute to Frida Kahlo
An extraordinary cross stitch pattern inspired by Frida Kahlo's painting entitled "The Wounded Deer" and by a phrase from a poem by Emily Dickinson "A Wounded Deer - Leaps Highest". This tribute to Frida Kahlo, by Barbara Ana is a powerful expression of how the wounded artist mustered strength in the face of life and love's adversities.
Two brown mice
Notice the colors in these two small cross stitch designs, and especially how the toned-down browns of autumn are highlighted by touches of aqua blue and orange. Designs by Barbara Ana.
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Witch Ride? | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana Designs |
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>> see more Autumn patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
A visitor
A most extraordinary character, head crowned with a beautiful array of leaves, branches and fruit. Miss Mandrake is joining the coven.
>> see more Halloween patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
More expressive Eyes by Barbara Ana
Rising from the sea in the mist...
Here comes a mermaid, perched on a pink flamingo ... The big stylized flowers, wallpaper-like background and vintage colors, bring a touch of the 70s. Barbara Ana's signature style blending unbridled fantasy and carefully thought out layout and colors.
>> see all patterns with Mermaids (all designers)
Beguiling Witches by Barbara Ana
Three new irresistible series of witches, just released by Barbara Ana Designs. They come in Barbara Ana's signature style that mixes humour, whimsiness, a reminiscence of Quaker samplers, a huge dose of creativity and a very subtle sense of color.
More Witches by Barbara Ana
>> see all Halloween patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
An explosion of colors
Joyful colors seem to come bursting out of this new cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana, appropriately named color therapy. The piece was stitched directly on a denim shirt using waste canvas.
Love gives you .... fins!
Fancy this little mermaid working hard to swim against the current: She's carrying a huge basket of underwater flowers, a gift for her beloved. A superb allegory of Love brought to you in cross stitch by Barbara Ana.
>> see more Love related patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
>> see all patterns with mermaids (all designers)
Appearing as in a dream
Full of poetry and dreamlike charm, this new design by Barbara Ana celebrates the joys of Spring.
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Spring Deer | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana Designs |
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Devoted Love
Barbara Ana's tribute to Frida Kalho and the love she devoted to Diego Rivera, an allegory of passionate love with its joys, sufferings and pains. The cross stitch pattern with fabulous colors is set in a beautiful background of tropical flowers and imbued with Mexican charm.
Another portrait of Frida by Barbara Ana
Baroque and esoteric, in the manner of Frida Kalho's own autoportraits, and an appropriate title for a woman who lived her life to the full.
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Viva la Vida | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana Designs |
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Springtime, happy time
This spring scene, embedded in a heart, is full of cheerfulness and joy. Everyone is outside enjoying the first beautiful days. A couple is picking flowers. A bird sings on the roof. Even the cat has ventured outdoors enjoying the sun.
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Spring Heart | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Barbara Ana Designs |
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More Spring patterns by Barbara Ana
>> see all Spring patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Burning Love
Feelings of love expressed with force and symbolism, as well as immense tenderness. Barbara Ana takes cross stitch to wonderful unexplored territory, where a heart burns in the shape of a tulip-like flame, where a mane of red hair grows into branches and blooming flowers...
Barbara Ana said she especially enjoyed stitching this piece, in particular the lady's hair. So will we no doubt!
>> see more patterns expressing Love by Barbara Ana
Slowly, oh so slowly, Christmas is coming
Trust Barbara Ana to come up with the most unexpected and whimsical ideas. Who hasn't waited excitedly for Christmas to arrive? Barbara's vision is that of Santa riding ... a snail. A whole town, roofs covered with snow, is enjoying the ride, as well as a couple of Santa's little helpers, sitting under a tree.
More Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana
>> see all Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Late Harvest
It is the time to harvest the very last fruit and nuts. Birds are searching for the remaining berries too, such as this small one, with delicate feathers and stitched in ever so soft and natural colors. A cross stitch chart designed by Barbara Ana.
>> see more Bird patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Sadie Woods - one year later
New from Barbara Ana, a sampler "by" Sadie Woods, and dated 1901, one year later than the original "Sadie Woods" would have been stitched. Compared to Sadie's "first work" (see below), it is more sophisticated and beautifully laid out, showing how the child would gradually be turning into a young girl, yet it retains the same spontaneity and charm.
The sampler is cross stitched on the same rustic fabric, with similar color schemes as the original work. Together they form a beautiful pair.
More Barbara Ana Designs: Young girl samplers
These are not reproduction samplers, but rather the designer expressing herself, in the manner of an author writing a novel in the first person, and incarnating a character of her imagination.
>> see more Sampler patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Barbara Ana Designs: More news
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