The shop at 1630 Central St., in Evanston Illinois looks like a fine art gallery. Downstairs, behind a wide bright picture window, the walls are covered with subdued sandy textured fabric. A warm, brown carpet covers the floor.

Against this soothing background the eye is immediately drawn to the bright, vivid needlepoint designs mounted on the wall and illuminated like fine art objects by overhead spotlights.

The shop is The Needle’s Excellency and the designs in a wide range of styles and colors from bright vivid abstract forms to soft landscapes and still lifes, bear out the name.