Help Needed in Identifying Needlpoint Canvas

[busyasabee123]

I'm wondering if any can help with identifying this needlepoint canvas. It is handpainted, and is from Needlepoint of Back Bay. I believe this hand-painted canvas contains the pieces that (once the needlepoint is complete), are cut apart and sewn to finish a 3-D animal. I have seen similar canvases which made a bear, an elephant, a rabbit, etc. but none of them match these particular pieces. All of the pieces shown in this canvas are "Boston-themed"... any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance! 🙂

[llllady]

@busyasabee123

A little speculation here, and don't know if any of it will help.

I'm thinking this surrounds the Boston, MA / New England area. 

• Boston has an area called the Back Bay
• The 'B" on the hat for the Boston Red Sox
• The basket perhaps would be a "Nantucket" basket
• Northeast well known for lobster
• The buildings look like buildings that might be found on Beacon Hill
• The old sailing ship might be something seen in Boston Harbor
• etc.

Don't know if any of that helps with identification. Don't know about it being finished, cut and put together to create a 3D animal, but probably some kind of scene or collage?

[nc-daydreamer]

I agree with you. Looks to  me like the creator may have done this piece with the intention of cutting out the individual pics to use as an applique to enhance a sweater, shirt, apron or something like that.  I know I'v created hodgepodge pieces like this for that use.   And I agree, it looks like it was made by someone intending to feature a Boston theme.

[the-stylish-moose]

Thanks for your input, llllady! 🙂 Yes, I am aware that all of these are Boston-themed icons. And "Needlepoint of Back Bay" was, in fact, a needlepoint business in Boston, MA (I'm think it is closed now). My question is what the pieces would create when put together. The closest I could find were pieces similar to Patti Mann's 3-D Needlepoint Animals, but this canvas does not include the exact pieces for the Bear model (which was the closet match to these pieces, but still not correct). I'm hoping there are some experienced needlepoint arts & crafters out there who may have complete similar patterns. Thanks again!

[the-stylish-moose]

And just to further clarify- I am pretty sure this is for a 3-D animal, I just don't know what animal, and the canvas came as it, so there were no instructions included (and obviously no photos/illustrations of what the finished product should look like, so if anyone could point me in the right direction with that as well, it would be so appreciated.

[llllady]

If you think it's an animal, try making a rough drawing of the lines on paper, cutting them out and trying to put them together.   Maybe if you see the shapes separately, a little bell will go off.  Who knows?!?!

[goddess-bastet-1910]

Perhaps it's a mobile to hang in a window or over a baby's crib? The long ducks are the middle and
the smaller pieces hang around it? It is quite mysterious!

[castlemagicmemories]

Some to the pieces, the lobster, the sea gulls, make me think of bibs due to their shape.  There is such a thing for people to wear when eating lobster.

Other than that, I don't know.

[lookng2015]

Well I see 2 body parts, 4 parts that would be ears and 4 parts which would be arms & legs (if backed with plain fabric). But it could be a bear, cat or dog (the last 2 not likely as there's no tail), so I'm going with bear.

[lacemaker3]

@busyasabee123

This is intriguing! I did some searching around, and the pieces look like they are part of a bear, but there don't appear to be all of the necessary pieces in needlepoint canvas. Some of the animals like this that I saw, were partly made of needlepoint and partly of cloth (looked like velveteen). 

Perhaps the missing pattern pieces could be drafted to match the existing pieces, and cut out of cotton velveteen in a color to match the background color chosen for the needlepoint.

This listing shows the pieces to make a bear:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Patti-Mann-Handpainted-Needlepoint-Canvas-Tommy-Teddy-3D-Teddy-Bear-With-Fib...

[the-stylish-moose]

Thank you for all of your responses. I do think it is a 3-D animal, and a bear makes the most sense. What was throwing me off is that with the other 3-D patterns (especially Patti Mann's) there should be a large backing piece that gives the bear more a rounded look. But in my research I did find a (vintage) bear that has more of a flattened look that could possibly be a  match. And you are right, it is likely needed velvet/velveteen to create the finished product and to "back" the other pieces present. Another thing that threw me off is that a lot of these animal 3-D "puffer" needlepoint pieces will have a nose painted on, which gives it a more cohesive look, and also makes it more obvious that it is supposed to be an animal's face... but maybe with this particular pattern the person would attach a plastic nose or just stitch it "freehand"... I'm not sure. I wish the Needlepoint of Back Bay Shop was still open so I could ask the owner, but all of the links I've found to their business were dead ends so I'm wondering if their store (which was on 125 Newbury Street in Boston) is now closed. I guess I will just go ahead and make a listing with the helpful suggestions you have given me and from what I have researched on this item thus far. Thank you again for all of your thoughtful and creative responses! 🙂

[lacemaker3]

I looked at Google street view ... it says:

At this location

Autre Fois

Antique Store · 125 Newbury St

So it looks like the business is closed.

[lacemaker3]

I also found a picture online of the store sign on the building ... it looks like it was on an upper floor in the building ... but the google street view picture now shows a different sign in that place on the building.

[zzydny]

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@lookng2015 wrote:
Well I see 2 body parts, 4 parts that would be ears and 4 parts which would be arms & legs (if backed with plain fabric). But it could be a bear, cat or dog (the last 2 not likely as there's no tail), so I'm going with bear.

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Bear.  Definitely.  My mother made hundreds and hundreds of homemade bears (from a pattern she designed herself), so I know bear parts when I see them.  Ears, legs, arms, body.....but not sure about the face on this one.  There must be something else added on--I think someone else mentioned velveteen, and that seems likely.

[zzydny]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

I looked at Google street view ... it says:

At this location

Autre Fois

Antique Store · 125 Newbury St

So it looks like the business is closed.

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How about checking the Chamber of Commerce to see if anyone there remembers the business and could put you in touch.