Introducing Joan Thomasson's Surfin Santa

I am a big fan of Joan Thomasson's small angel and Santa designs.  I must own 6-8 of her angels, particularly the slightly naughty ones, and I have 2-3 of her Santas in my stash, too.  If you were visiting Blog last year, you saw me stitch Joan's large stand up Wizard Santa for my niece for Christmas.   To see the range of designs Joan offers as kits and stand-alone small painted canvases, browse the Catalogue category of her website.  Very talented lady!
http://www.stitchinstuff.com/

The kits are great fun to stitch.  They come with a page of instructions, two pages of diagramed stitches, and all the threads you need as well as a photograph of the finished model.  Most kits have the backing felt and instructions to make up the ornament, and some kits also include a charm like the brass lock that Wizard Santa had for his trunk of magic.  So when I wanted something quick and easy and as different as possible from O'jishi, I pulled out my stash of Joan Thomasson angels and Santas and choose a particularly fun one, Surfin Santa!

I'm going to stitch Surfin Santa as an ornament for a brother for next year's Christmas using some of the DMC cotton floss and metallic threads included in the kit supplemented by threads from my stash.  You see, my brother wouldn't be caught dead wearing a red floral shirt so I'm going to have to change that right away to something more neutral and muted--the sort of shirt his wife and daughters might buy for him on a Hawaiian vacation and force him to wear.  LOL

The changed shirt version is underway above, and Santa's already wearing heavy black sunglasses (a style my brother favors).  Tomorrow I'll talk about how I stitched those sunglasses for Joe Cool Santa.  LOL

This is really going to be fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

O'jishi, The Noh Theatre Lion

Here is O'jishi, the stylized lion mask used in traditional Japanese theatre.  Although I do a lot of Asian themed canvases, he is totally different than anything I've ever stitched.  Very few canvases convey fierceness and drama the way O'jishi does!

Here is a close-up.  I'm sorry I can't get all of him on the scanner bed for a good image of all of him but you can always search Blog using "O'jishi" to find all my blog entries about and photos of this design.

You might enjoy looking at all the Noh Theatre masks in this series. O'jishi is my favorite but there are seven others.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp467x.html

Many thanks to Leigh Richardson for allowing me to stitch O'jishi for you.  In a few weeks the stitch guide will be ready for purchase and I'll tell you more about that when it is.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Frown Lines and Wrinkles

The very last thing I did to O'jishi was finish up the whipped backstitched frown lines on his forehead and the wrinkle outline of his cheeks and at the top of his nose.  This was slow-going since the backstitches and whipped thread go on top of other stitching.  It is very easy to catch a nearby stitch or bead with the tip of the needle and at one point, I snagged the very delicate Empress Silk of his eye and had to put it back into position with a short length of metallic thread.  I learned this trick (which I've mentioned here before) from my buddy Mimi who got it from someone on the ANG email list.  If you displace a stitch, take a piece of Kreinik metallic (I almost always use #4 braid since it is not very fat) and thread up with it, making sure you DO NOT knot the end.  Put the thread down in the same hole as the snagged thread and pull it through to the back.  Nine times out of ten it will pull the snagged thread back into place.

The final touch was to add a little dark reddish/brown whipped backstitch line above the heavy dark brown line of his top eyelid.  I could see just a touch of red there under the stitching and wanted to emphasize that.  It looks good in person although I doubt you can see it in the photograph.

All these thin emphasis lines in whipped backstitch make O'jishi a fiercer and more detailed lion.  It's a great stitch for adding detail and color on painted canvases, especially if you need a little something extra.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Robin's Faux Bamboo Border Erases Leigh

Whenever you add a border to a needlepoint design that didn't originally have one, you can run into problems.  Sometimes there isn't enough blank canvas around the margins; sometimes the signature on the canvas covers part of the border area.  O'jishi has the latter problem.  If you squinted at yesterday's final photo, you saw that the Leigh Designs signature was going to be partly under the faux bamboo border that Robin and I came up with.

If your border is going to be fully covered by threads and stitches (if it is all in tent stitches in a dark thread, for example), this isn't a problem.  You thread up and stitch right over it!  But if you plan to use light coverage stitches or a light colored thread, you can have a problem.  So now we have to erase Leigh.  (Sorry, Leigh, but I said "erase," not "rub out," so you are safe.  No hitman squad of stitchers is headed to your design studio.  LOL)

I generally do this by covering the signature area in tent stitches using the same colored thread that will go on top. In this case I used my tan Felicity's Garden.  Make the tent stitches tight so they don't stick up much.  If the tent stitches are too high, they'll make the top layer of faux bamboo stitches that go over the dark signature lines higher than its neighbors.  We don't want that.  You'll see my tent stitches in the photo above.

Here is the same area after I stitched on top of the "erased" signature.  If you know where to look, you can see a dark shadow, but if you don't know the signature is there, you'll never see it now.

If the thread you plan to use in the border is too bulky to erase the signature or title area, try DMC cotton floss in the correct color.  If you just use 4-5 plies, you'll get good coverage in most cases and it won't stick up very far.

By the way, in the second photo you'll see that I attached a crystal cube bead in the corner, using my coral red thread from the backstitched area in the faux bamboo border.  I wanted to add a subtle decorative touch and a bit of red there and that's the best way I could think of to do it.  The bead is a crystal 4mm cube from Miyuki (color SB3-131 and 138).

Here is a photo of the faux bamboo border with more of O'jishi showing so you can see how it looks from a distance.  I'm very happy with it.  It finishes the edge and adds a bit of coral to the border but does so in a subtle way.  It's just what I wanted for this piece.  Thanks again to everyone who commented on the border, especially Robin who led me to the right stitches.  You all helped a lot.  Knowing what you like and what you don't and why is a great help to a stitcher.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Robin's Faux Bamboo Border

The somewhat messy looking charted stitch set above is what I worked out with major input from Robin King (of Amy Bunger fame) for O'jishi's border.

The first step is to backstitch over two threads all around the outside edge of the background.  I used my Soie d'Alger silk (one ply) for this.  This is the line of red stitches on the left.

In the center you see step two, two pairs of long stitches over eight threads.  The first lines up with the red back stitches; the second pair is offset two threads higher.  I used a strand of Felicity's Garden from my stash that is a shade between the dark milk chocolate and the tan of the background colors.  It is Fawn #010, by the way.  Lovely color!

Step three completes the Double Brick with Bar Stitch that Robin recommended from page 73 of Linda Corirossi's Canvas Embellishment:  Exquisite Needlepoint Stitches Made Simple book. It is just a horizontal stitch across the middle of each pair of long stitches.  Actually, this was the hardest part as it is easy to snug down the tied down stitch (done on my border with my milk chocolate/silver metallic from the background -- Kreinik size 16 braid in color 4002) too far and pull the long vertical stitches so that they curve.

But it makes a lovely border.  Here it is from the canvas.  You can see how I am working the corners, compensating as necessary.

There is one problem with adding a border to this canvas.  It wasn't designed to have a border, so Robin's faux bamboo border is covering up the designer signature and the black lines from that show through.  Tomorrow I'll show you how to handle this and show off the completed border. (There's a hint in the photo above....)

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

More Border Ideas

Stimulated by all the great ideas and comments you guys have posted, I kept trying border ideas out.  Above you see my attempt to mix colors in the Staggered Slanting Stitches at the bottom of the canvas and add a red corner treatment.  That is pretty but just not right for this design.  Robin King came to the rescue with an idea.  Below you see the Photoshopped image she sent me.

Robin (who you know because of her teaching at Amy Bunger's shop in Memphis and her stitch guides, Amy newsletters and the behind the scenes work on Amy's CD series) told me to consider using Van Dyke Stitch (the coral red stitches in the image) and Double Brick With Bar Stitch (the black ones) as a complex border.  Robin thought that two rows of Van Dyke Stitches sandwiching the Double Brick With Bar Stitch between them would make a great border.  So I tried it!

In the first photograph you can see the Double Brick With Bar Stitch in two threads:  I used my lovely overdyed Watercolours in shades of coral first, but it seemed too strong a border that detracted from O'jishi himself.  I switched threads to a Kreinik metallic (#5550) in size 16 braid that is a chocolate milk color, tied down with the same silver/brown metallic I used in the background.  That seemed too bland.

What you don't see in the photo because I accidentally cut it off is the Van Dyke stitch, done in my coral red silk.  It was too heavy and dominated the canvas.  I couldn't use one row of it, much less two!

For your information, here is Van Dyke stitch (except called Braided Knitting, many stitches have multiple names) diagrammed so you can imagine it in red.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2002/Apr.php

To see where I went from here, you'll have to wait until tomorrow as I'm running out of time.  Let me just say that Robin King is the Queen of the Needlepoint Universe in CH this week....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Merry Christmas!

To celebrate Christmas in a proper way, we need gorgeous needlepoint, right?

Kandace Merric sent me photos of her most recent work last week and graciously agreed to share them with you when I begged.  Kandy doesn't design needlepoint charts for us anymore but she still needlepoints as time permits and this year has done three gorgeous pieces.  The first (above) is her own version of a Kathy Schenkel mini stocking.  Kandy added the bone treats hanging from the mantelpiece, the wreath, and the packages and candles on the mantel.  It's a charming piece, isn't it?

If you enjoy the little dog bone ornaments in the mini sock above, you'll adore the bones candy cane that is an original design by Kandy.  Isn't this the cutest ornament ever for a dog lover?  I think the gold bead at the base of the hanging loop a wonderful finishing touch.  Bet my dogs would love this on their tree!

The final piece is a magnificent original patchwork mini sock that Kandy designed for a friend using the friend's favorite colors.  It shows off Kandy's touch for creating lively and beautiful stitches beautifully.

Thanks for sharing your newest needlepoint designs, Kandace.  May you and yours enjoy a very Merry Christmas and may all of us needlepointers have a great New Year.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Choosing a Border Part Two

I'm still dithering over a border for O'jishi.  I like the faux bamboo border but it isn't an overwhelming favorite for me or for Blog readers (see yesterday's comments) so I'm still testing ideas.  Above you see yesterday's which uses a variation of Staggered Diagonal Slanted Stitch (from page 21 of A Background Stitch Reference Book from the Golden Gate Canvas Workers Chapter of ANG).  This stitch is just three slanted long stitches over 5 threads.  The first set nestles against the background, then the second set drops down a thread.  Alternate the sets of three stitches (up and down) along the border, then fill in the empty area with tent stitches.  I thought I'd use four plies of my tan Mandarin floss from the background for the staggered slanted diagonals, then fill in the groups of tent stitches with the darker brown from the background, alternating with the milk chocolate/silver Kreinik metallic and some of the medium coral color.  I'll do a bit more today and we'll see what it looks like.

I'm afraid this isn't a home run either but we'll see.  I may have another idea today while shoveling snow or recovering from shoveling snow by browsing my stitch dictionaries....

By the way, thanks for all the input yesterday.  It helped clarify my ideas about the problems with the faux bamboo border and that I do need a touch of coral in the border.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Choosing a Border

I think O'jishi needs a border.  I wanted to add more of the hot coral reds to the canvas and thought a border would be a great way to do so.  Above you see my text stitches.  I thought I'd use a padded section of rectangles to echo the background stitch.  But it's too red and detracts from the main design.

Next I tried laying long lines of Kreinik metallic to be couched down with a darker metallic to look like faux bamboo.  I like it better.  The sample stitches are on the left side.  Below are two sides done.  What do you think?

I haven't quite made up my mind....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

A Bit More About Whipped Backstitch Outlines

I've continued working whipped backstitches all around the perimeter of O'jishi's face.  Since I'm using one ply of my golden Gloriana silk for the backstitches and the whipped stitch, the result is a thin raised line.  I've included a huge image of as much of the design as I can get on my scanner bed without taking the canvas off the stretcher bars and have my fingers crossed you can see the effect around the outside of his face.

While I worked, I thought about whipped backstitch and have come up with some conclusions about how to work this stitch successfully on NP canvas.  First, so you don't have to go back through Blog to find it, here is a link explaining how backstitch (which is the foundation of whipped backstitch) is done.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/10/embroidery-stitch-video-tutorial_24.html

Now, also from Mary Corbet's site, is whipped backstitch.  Her stitch tutorials have both a short video demonstration and a written explanation, by the way.  I think they are terrific!
http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/11/whipped-backstitch-video-tutorial.html

These are embroidery stitches, normally done on something like linen or Aida fabric.  When you stitch on NP canvas, especially on top of other stitches, you have to adjust the stitch technique slightly.  It is important to make the backstitches the same length, which is difficult on NP canvas, especially following curves like the outline of the mask face.  I tried to always make each backstitch four holes long, coming up in one hole, skipping the next hole, and going down in the third one.  Sometimes I had to cover four holes, however.  Or two.  You will have to compensate backstitches and whipped backstitches.  I just did the best I could.

I did think about using a sharp needle to make my backstitches more even when the available length was longer/shorter than the norm, but finally decided there wasn't enough compensation to make this necessary.  If you try this on your canvas, you may decide differently.

When you are ready to whip the backstitches foundation, it helps NOT to have a sharp needle.  It is going to be difficult to avoid catching some of the background threads as you work, and a sharp needle makes it easier to split stitches which you do not want to do.  Occasionally, I whipped with the needle eye instead of the tip but generally I found it easier to slide my needle's tip under the backstitch I was going to whip over.

Whip always in the same direction (I worked from right toward the left when inserting the needle) and when you get to a longer than usual backstitch, you might need to make two whips instead of one.

I hope these tips help anyone who tries whipped backstitch on a needlepoint canvas.

I plan to shovel more snow (I need to clear the porch if at all possible today) and also finish the whipped backstitches around O'jishi's eyes, nose and forehead.  After that, I need to see what finishing touches the canvas calls for.  Border stitch, anyone?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Beaded Warts

I've actually gotten some stitching done between snow shoveling sessions and trips to the basement to feed the wood stove.  (Not to mention trips to the kitchen to feed the family!)  I've gotten all the beads attached to the O'jishi mask.  I wish you could see them in person.  They look terrific!

I used gold/copper hex beads from Mill Hill's Magnifica line (#10012) in the bulk of the warts, but I did mix in a few Toho 11/0 silver lined gold hex beads (#1955-008) for warts that were painted white instead of old and for dots here and there on his nose that were tiny warts without a metallic bead cup to sit in.  The Toho beads look yellow, especially on top of the gold silk.  Mixing the two colors of beads on the canvas adds a bit of extra interest and allows me to follow the shading of the painted bumps.

In a few places I put two beads inside a bead cup stitch for the larger warts.  I hope you can see in the photograph how I mixed the two colors, used beads without a bead cup, and added two beads in some places to vary the warts.

I need to work on backstitching a lot today between shoveling sessions.  And I am seriously tempted to make a pan of fudge and eat the whole thing after all that physical activity shoveling snow!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

What's A Threadaholic To Do?

I am pretty much stuck at home under 18-24 inches of snow, depending on where I measure.  Some of us love snow!  We eat it, we lay in it, we run around like a maniac in it.

But some of us don't!  (Especially when it is still falling.  The white streaks above are snowflakes coming down hard.)  I'm one of the latter group.  So what's a threadaholic to do when they are stuck at home four days before Christmas?  Why, do Internet shopping, of course!

Fireside Stitchery sent an email this morning reminding me of their yearly clubs which are about to start up again.  My favorite is their unique Thread Collectors Club.  Have a thread you adore that you can't get locally?  For a monthly fee, have a selection of colors sent to your door. You collect your favorite brand at a discount a month at a time.  Here are all the thread brands they offer this way.
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/clubs/index.cfm?fuseaction=getClubList&CategoryId=2&showStart=1&groupNo=1

Nordic Needle also emailed me this morning.  Their weekly newsletter has specials, including a pages and pages of threads on sale.  There is a lot of Kreinik metallics available, mostly in Cord and the larger 12, 16 and 24 sizes, and they have selected colors of Silk Mori and Silk Serica also on sale.  Check out the selection here.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=NN&Offset=0&Category_Code=L06-00-00&ph=&pl=&CpField=&CpValue=&show=&SortBy=&Search=

If you are more interested in monthly canvas clubs, how about the feathers and fur group, the nature set, or the Getting Ready for Christmas club What's the Point offers?  Click on the photo of the stitched example to see the entire set.  By the way, if you are a Buckeye fan, click on the Buckeye Corner link on the left side of the page to see Ohio-specific canvases.
http://www.whatsthepoint.biz/clubs.php

That ought to keep us busy until all the snow melts!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

December Canvas of the Month (Jane)

The December Canvas of the Month is a 4 inch ornament (on 18 count canvas) from Rebecca Wood Designs called "Down the Chimney".  Chosen by Bonnie because of its simple and traditional design, you can see the canvas and others in the series on the Rebecca Wood website.
http://www.rebeccawooddesigns.com/ornaments.asp?pageno=24

Jane writes:

This traditional design would make a lovely ornament no matter how you stitch it, but since the holiday season is always so rushed, I thought I would try to stitch it a bit differently in a very simple style.  You will need just one thread, either Kreinik's 032 frosty white in blending filament size or Accentuate #300 Opal White.  You could also go gold instead of sparkling white and use Kreinik's 002 gold in blending filament or Accentuate #023 Gold.

Now stitch snowflakes all over the canvas.  Use stitches like the Square Eyelet

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/98-08.php

and the Smyrna Cross

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/1999/99-02.php

as well as the Double Straight Cross

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2001/01-03.php

and perhaps a few Upright Crosses to scatter big and small snowflakes across the design.

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/1999/99-04.php

If you want a large star in the night sky, use the Medallion Stitch (although I'd stick to just snowflakes myself).

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2002/Nov.php

If you are feeling particularly fancy, put a few crystal clear beads (preferably the hex shaped ones to add sparkle like Mill Hill's Magnifica beads #G11009) in the center of some of the largest snowflakes.  It will also add to the festive snow and ice feeling if you use the same beads to bead the rounded edge of the ornament in finishing.  If you choose gold instead of white for your snowflakes, use a few gold beads, preferably Mill Hill's Magnifica beads in #G11036 Victorian Gold as they sparkle more than round beads.

Finish this with either white or gold braid trim into a round ornament.  Put a piece of gold lame underneath the canvas so that more sparkle shows through.  Hang this on your tree, turn on the Christmas lights, and enjoy!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

December Canvas of the Month (Bonnie)

The December Canvas of the Month is a 4 inch ornament (on 18 count canvas) from Rebecca Wood Designs called "Down the Chimney".  Chosen by Bonnie because of its simple and traditional design, you can see the canvas and others in the series on the Rebecca Wood website.
http://www.rebeccawooddesigns.com/ornaments.asp?pageno=24

Bonnie writes:

First of all warm holiday wishes to everyone who reads this!

This looks like a fun little canvas!  I may have to add it as an ornament to stitch for my girl’s ornament boxes.  I have these boxes with a few ornaments of various techniques that I have made over the years for them with the idea that when they leave home they will have a start for a tree of their own.  I started this the plan of adding one ornament a year, but that didn’t really work.  Some years I add two, some one, some none, but the collection is growing.

This Santa needs some rich textures for his robe and bag, but since the ornament is small there isn’t a lot of room for decorative stitches.

I would start with the Santa suit in a small diagonal brick or a tent stitch (maybe over 2) trying to match the shading with 2 colors of Silk ‘N Ivory. Since the area is so small may find it easier to just tent.    Fur trim in encroaching gobelin – Silk n’ Ivory to match the rest of the coat or a furry fiber, either one slightly brushed when done stitching.  Maybe do turkey tufting for the pom-pom on his hat.  Gloves, a simple tent stitch in Silk ‘N Ivory.  The belt would be a vertical satin stitch in Patent Leather or Ultra Suede.  And finally the boots would be a diagonal satin stitch in patent leather.

Santa’s face and his features are done in a strandable silk in tent stitch since it is such a small area.  His beard and mustache are tent stitched in a fuzzy very white fiber like Designers Dream and then random french knots over the top. May need to add a second color to get shading between beard and mustache or decide to let it all grow together with one color.  Make sure you don’t use the same fiber for his beard/mustache as you did for the coat!

For the chimney, I would use framed brick Cashmere (Amy’s Cookbook chapter 14) in an overdyed cotton for the bricks and a solid color cotton floss for the frame (mortar).  Not sure I would worry about the different shades of the sides of the chimney when picking my colors or do something simple like just change the direction of the stitches on each side instead.  Snow would be Kreinik 032 braid or Caron Snow in random upright crosses (some long upright crosses, some ‘normal’) to try to get some depth or maybe just staggered cross stitches.

I would stitch Santa’s Bag with a T – stitch (also called woven stitch) in two shades of petite very velvet.  Add gold beads on top for the dots on the bag. For the tie on the top of the bag, use a length of Kreinik braid and tie a small bow on the top of the canvas or a knot with end dangling.

And last, the sky in a  4 way continental or Alicia’s lace with a 12 perle cotton or a single strand of cotton floss, just go right over the snowflakes and then add them on top.  Snowflakes, a Smyrna cross in 032 Kreinik braid – may want to vary the size of the braid to get different size snowflakes.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Choosing Beads in a Blizzard

I didn't do a lick of stitching yesterday.  Not one stitch!  My excuse was the blizzard bearing down on us.  I had squeeze in all the weekend chores like grocery shopping, the special chores like filling the wood closet and finishing Christmas shopping, and the occasional chores like seeing that the bird feeder was full and the propane lantern and kerosene lamps ready yesterday.  When a snowstorm is about to hit, stitching is left behind in the rush to get ready, particularly here in CH where I have to be certain that we have enough food, wood, and water to get through a storm that is predicted to dump 16-24 inches of snow on top of us.  If the power goes out, it'll be out for a while.  No electricity means no running water, no heat, no Internet and no television.  Sometimes it means no phones, too.  I don't anticipate that we will lose power (the 6 inches we have right now is the dry, light snow that will blow around like crazy in the high winds that are predicted but it doesn't take down the power lines) but I have to be ready in case I'm wrong.   The photo above, by the way, is out the basement French doors two hours ago.  At that point we had 4-6 inches.  I took the photo when checking on the fire in the woodstove.

But the blizzard planning is over and although I am a bit sore (and likely to be more so after shoveling a foot or two of snow!), I am about ready to sit down and stitch most of the day.  I want to attach most of the beads to O'jishi in the little bead cups I stitched for them before I continue adding backstitches and whipped backstitches to the design.  I know that beads are normally the last thing to be added since your threads in your needle catches on them but I want to know exactly where the beads are as I add backstitches very close to them.

The first step is deciding what color of beads to use.  I attached several different colors and types earlier this week.  The photo is above.  The three clusters of beads on the left are all yellow Toho beads (size 11/0), then there is a Sundance round gold bead cluster, with a MillHill Magnifica hex faceted gold bead cluster, and finally  a clear Sundance bead attached with gold silk.

As you can see, the gold beads show up better.  I'm probably going with the Magnifica beads as they have a bit more sparkle, but I may toss in a few yellow beads in places where there are just a dot to indicate a bump, especially on his nose.  Those areas I didn't cover with baby bead cups.  A single bead will do well there, especially one that is yellow and will blend in with the gold silk background.

I may add some large crystal beads (not shown in the photo) but I doubt it.  We'll see how this plays out.  There is no reason I can't put more than one bead in a baby bead cup or mix colors or have one color here and another there, after all!

Everyone stay safe in the blizzard!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

O'jishi Has Warts

Even though I have been busily adding a bit more coral to O'jishi's jaws and mixing backstitch and whipped backstitch around his jaw, I am going to have to stop this part and concentrate on the bumps on his face since they are very close to many of the areas I plan to backstitch.  I've always planned to put beads on his face.  Just how to do that was the next question.  After all, beads can be attached many ways, and if I'd had access to lovely and small pallettes, I might have used them instead of beads.

Inspired by what NC Pat has been doing on her current Loretta Spears mystery piece, I am making baby bead cups to surround each bead.  Pat's bead cup stitch is shown here-see how the third white border from the left has the pearls nesting among a sort of tiny Jessica stitch?
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfC5wnDhfUwpp92O0K3Wmd-dFdDWKLelXVD5odLgTtgrqpeF0S1LKuPQZIM3wtb0fl_aTKuJfupBgO8zs7QTRJzC1xh2jrqT3Eq-tJHV0PefXIvJbHUzbit3tL-TgBqiUiB6Kuoa4-Lk/s1600-h/100_1253.JPG

By the way, here is the finished (but not framed yet) Mystery #10.  Isn't it lovely?
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2009/12/end-of-mystery.html

Back to O'jishi's warts.  The canvas bumps are almost all painted box shape containing 4 threads.  This is perfect for putting a bead in the hole in the center of the threads inside a metallic framework.  However, the bead cups Pat stitched seem to be over 6 threads.  I have to work with a smaller space.  So I came up with a baby bead cup stitch, not really much like what Pat was doing, but enough to make a little framework for my beads.

In the example above, the two red stitches below are the first step in the framework.  You can see they are over two threads and make a sort of triangle shape.  The shorter yellow stitches above cover the red stitches but they are not as long.  Remember, my bumps are painted over four threads.  So I had to make the second set of "legs" shorter.  In the last stitched example, I've put a blue French knot in the center hole that the all yellow stitches frame.  This is what I plan to do with O'jishi's warts.  I used a French knot because I don't have any beads large enough to not fall right through a 10 count plastic canvas hole!

By the way, I used Kreinik #4 very fine braid in Kreinik's gold 002 for the warts.  My next step will be to choose bead colors.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

O'jishi's Jaws

As I talked about yesterday, I finished the backstitched black lines around O'jishi's mouth and jaw and stitched more embellishing stitches between the round balloon shapes on his jaw in coral and cream.  I thought about adding brown horizontal stitches at the top of each jaw but decided that would make that area too dark.  The dark brown paint already shows well under the gold balloon stitches.  I decided this morning I need to add a bit more of the coral color to the right side of his jaw tonight.  The color needs to come down a bit more.

I also did vertical jaw stitches in dark brown inside and parallel to the dark black back stitches.  These were also done in two plies of my brown Gloriana silk.  To finish the jaw, I did backstitch with one ply of the same brown silk along the bottom of his chin.  To add definition without making the line heavier, I then whipped the back stitches. If you haven't seen whipped backstitch, here is how it is done.  Refer to yesterday's information on how to do backstitches if you need to.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/11/whipped-backstitch-video-tutorial.html

Whipping one ply of brown silk with another ply of brown silk raises the thin line a bit.  I like how it looks enough to use the same technique on the coral red curves to the outside left or right of each of his eyes.  I used one ply to backstitch and to whip the backstitches there, too.

Questions?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Adding Color: Backstitch and Enhanced Balloon Stitch

Covering the O'jishi mask in golden, light coverage stitches has hidden some of the painting underneath.  I know a lot of you miss the hot coral colors along his jawline but I wanted to point out that the plain canvas wasn't that loud.  Stitching on top of paint with the same color thread will intensify the color, just like stitching on top of paint with another color of thread will mute it.  Didn't want you to think O'jishi was that red!  You can always check the how the original unpainted canvas looks over on the left side of the page where I post the image of my current project.

However, I do want to add more coral back to his jawline and in the above photo, you can see more red on the left side of his jaw.  I am enhancing the balloon stitches there with a straight stitch using my coral/rust silk thread from Soie d'Alger (#2635).  I am using one ply to put a straight horizontal stitch beneath the central long pairs of each balloon stitch.  (But I might try using two plies instead of one, just to see if a bit more coral enhances the coloring or not.  )  Regardless of the number of plies I use, here is how embellishing the balloon stitch is done.

The green stitch comes up in the hole shared by a short vertical stitch and goes down in the hole covered by the next short vertical stitch.  (You have to be careful not to catch the already laid balloon stitches with your needle.  Just slide the needle tip under the already stitched thread.)  In this way you can add touches of color.  I debated using a coral red metallic thread but I don't have the right shade in a thin metallic so I turned to the silk I originally used in the first stitch I put in this area.

Following the color on the canvas, I added touches of red below the gold balloons.  I have added some cream touches to the cream painted area also, using my Empress Silk # C240.  I need to add the brown touches next at the top of the left jaw area with my Gloriana "Coffee Bean" #166.  I probably will not add gold thread in the gold painted areas.  That part is already gold enough.

On the left side of the page you can see I've started adding black backstitches for the mouth lines painted on the canvas under my balloon stitches.  I used two plies of black Splendor # S801 for the lines as just one ply didn't seem enough. For the tent stitched black mouth areas stitched earlier I used Thread Gather's Sheep's Silk #Ink Black, but that is a heavier thread than I wanted my black lines to be.

Here is how you stitch back stitches, in case you aren't familiar with the stitch.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/10/embroidery-stitch-video-tutorial_24.html

In needlepoint canvas, the important thing is to make each stitch as close in size to the others as you can, something that isn't always easy, so I used a beading needle (size #10) which is sharp.  I can stitch right through a canvas thread if I need the back stitch to end there if my needle is sharp.  And beading needles are!  (You have been warned!  Guess how I discovered that I touch my needle tip to my finger tip under my canvas to find the right hole. Yes, by jabbing myself with beading needles....)

Stay tuned.  I have to play around with the number of plies for the enhancement to the balloon stitch and of course finish the black lines around the mouth.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

NEWS FLASH: Pocket Full of Stitches Closing

I heard a rumor yesterday morning that Pocket Full of Stitches in Texas is closing in a few months so the owners can enjoy retirement.  I waited until confirmation was received via an email inquiry from a long-time customer to the shop to post the news here.  Pat posted this message on the ANG email list last night and I repeat it here this morning in case you don't belong to that email group.

"Good Morning, Pat,  News spreads fast!! Yes, Nancy and I are going to retire this spring. We are posting the news on the front page of our website in the next couple of days. We will continue with business as usual until the middle of January when we will announce details about upcoming sales, deadlines for ordering and finishing. We should be closed by the end of April. We are
entertaining a couple of inquiries into the purchase of the store at this point, so you never know what might happen. I would appreciate you posting this message on the ANG yahoo group for
us and ask them to check the website for more explanation, http://www.pfos.com/

We have had many inquiries today and do want everyone to know what is happening.  Thanks and Merry Christmas!!!
Rhea"

Keep your fingers crossed that the shop does acquire a new owner.  Many of us have enjoyed PFOS' monthly clubs, their superb customer service, their fun newsletter, and of course the owners themselves. If you are a long time customer, please email them your gratitude for the shop, ok?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

December 2009 Chilly Hollow Newsletter Article

It is almost Christmas as I write this, so I am sending holiday greetings and hopes for a good New Year for all stitchers to everybody.

It seems a good time to go look at beautiful goldwork, right? Here's Sandy Vass's blog. Ever wondered how stumpwork flower petals were made? Or how to do invisible couching? Or how circular or nue patterns are done? The answers are here. Just browse a bit and admire her lovely stitching.
http://goldnstitches.typepad.com/gold-n-stitches/

Want to see some fabulous Japanese embroidery? Visit with Jane in England at her blog to see her latest project, her own design of a little Japanese box called an inro.
http://nuido.blogspot.com/2009/12/je-challenge-finished.html

How about various colorways of Laura Perin's charted designs? She has showcased several wonderful pieces on her blog. Visit her website (second link) to see her original colors and then dream up your own favorites to try.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2009/12/show-tell-time.html

http://laurajperindesigns.tripod.com/index.htm

Finally, a blogger in Maryland visited the designer Ruth Schmuff's store and takes us along in photographs and words. What a wonderful visit!
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2009/12/bedecked-and-beadazzled.html

Have fun browsing and relaxing over the holidays.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Light Coverage Stitching Imperatives

Yesterday's posting showing off two alternate "looks" for O'jishi's jawline brought many interesting comments.  If you haven't read them yet, go back to the previous posting and click on Comments.  You'll find it at the very end of the article after my signature line in tiny tan printing.  Click on "5 Comments" --or however many there happen to be when you arrive--and you'll see what folks said.

After reading them, I decided to use all gold threads in the balloon stitch on O'jishi's jaw.  Last night I ripped out the right side of his face and started re-stitching it in balloon stitches.  When I finish that, I'll post another photograph and talk a bit about adding more of the hot coral, cream and deep chocolate brown colors back into my stitched version of the Noh lion mask.

For today, I wanted to mention something technical about light coverage stitching that a photo from yesterday showed particularly well.  As you know, my stitching style tends toward fancy stitches on painted canvas done in such a way that you can see some of the painted canvas through the threads.  Anyone who stitches a needlepoint canvas this way needs to keep in mind three things:  the correct way to start and stop a thread for this style of stitching, that it is important to not twist threads during stitching, and the importance of using a laying tool.  The photo above illustrates this beautifully.

As you know, when I use a stitch that I can't find charted online, I stitch an example of it on 10 count black plastic canvas in thin, brightly colored threads so you can see how the stitch is done.  Doing this means I constantly have twisted threads since I am using too little thread for the canvas count.  Folks doing light coverage stitches face the same problem.  If you look at the photo, you can see the twisted reddish orange thread at the bottom where my anchored beginning thread started the stitch.  See how it is twisted back toward where the starting thread is anchored?  To prevent this, use a Locking L stitch or pin stitch located in an area you plan to cover with stitches.  Also use the same technique to end off a thread or you will also see it pulled off to the side where it was anchored in the traditional way by running the tail end of the thread under stitches on the back side.

You probably should also always stitch so that you have the maximum amount of coverage of thread on the back side.  You may have heard about Yankee stitching where you do a long stitch from top to bottom, then start the next stitch at the bottom and go to the top.  Alternating the beginning stitch this way saves thread (Yankeees are rumored to be thrifty!) as there isn't much on the back side.  However, it adds maximum twist to the threads as they are pulled to the side.  When you are doing light coverage stitching, you need to avoid this as much as possible.

You also need to use a laying tool of some sort to keep the threads as straight as possible in the needle.  I'm using two plies of silk in my current piece and also used two plies of red cotton thread above.  You can see how the plies get turned and overlap instead of laying parallel on the plastic canvas.  The same thing happens on NP canvas.  It's just that you don't notice this much when you are fully covering the canvas with threads.  When you aren't covering the canvas fully, this is very obvious.

Light coverage stitching means you have to take special care with the technical aspects of your stitching.  Even if you never stitch this way, seeing clearly what happens is important.  It is happening to you regular stitching folks, too--it is just harder to see when there is a lot more thread on top of your canvases.

Ok, end of lecture.  I'll be back tomorrow with progress on O'jishi--promise!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Jaws

Last night I ripped out the left side of O'jishi's jaw and restitched it in my Gloriana silk (Lacquered Gold) so I could see if stitching the entire Noh mask in light coverage gold silk would tie the whole piece together.  The photo above shows the difference in using the gold silk and in matching the jaw colors to various silks.  I got as much of the face in the photo as I could.  In person, the painted canvas under the light coverage stitches shows better than it does in the photograph but covering paint with another color of thread does mute the effect.

I used Brenda Hart's balloon stitch on the left side of the jaw. Balloon stitch isn't in any of Brenda's books (although she has larger versions).  I saw the stitch diagrammed in an interview Janet Perry did with Brenda years ago for the About.com needlepoint site and it's become a favorite of mine because it is so pretty, can be enhanced with metallic stitches between the round shapes, and because it is so small in scale.  It comes in handy in tiny spaces and is easily compensated.

Here's how it is done.

Just work a straight stitch over two threads, then two straight stitches over four threads, then do a straight stitch over two threads again.  Note how the shorter stitches bookend the larger ones.  I worked my first row in red, then worked the second row in white.  On the right side of the red row you see the next white row all stitched.  On the left side of the red row you just see how you put the small stitch of the new row between the small stitches of the previous row.  Ordinarily I like to work this stitch diagonally, working a "red" stitch, then moving to the right and doing a "white" stitch on the SE diagonal.  But O'jishi's jaw is quite narrow so I just did vertical rows of stitches as diagrammed above.

I think balloon stitch works well with the large unnamed round stitch on O'jishi's center forehead and nose and also with the smaller old gold coins stitches elsewhere on his face.  What do you think?  Should I change colors to all gold?  Should I stick with the original stitch and colors?  My instinct is to stitch the right side of O'jishi's jaw in gold balloon stitches but I am interested in your opinion.

Almost forgot: In the above photograph O'jishi's other eye is stitched.  I'm debating whether to add some thin gold metallic on top of the stem stitches.  I am a bit afraid that will detract from the glitter of his beaded black pupil, however.  Any thoughts on that?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

One Eyed Jack

I ran out of time yesterday before getting a photo of my progress on my Noh mask up on Blog, so here is all my progress.

Lots has been done.  I've completed the old gold coin stitches across his forehead around the center where the larger circle stitches are.  These also cover the crescent-shaped painted areas to the side of his eyes but they aren't shown in full in this first photo.

I've also done horizontal straight stitches (2 plies of my Lacquered Gold Gloriana silk, remember?) across the bridge of his nose and in the areas to the left and right side of his eyes.  I've started doing straight stitches in the nostril area, but only the right side is done.

I've also started on his eyes, covering them (same number of plies but in the various thread colors I've used before) in stem stitch, working from the outside edge in.  Where the stem stitch doesn't cover well, I've inserted split stitches to cover.

I need to stitch the other eye and the other nostril.  After that, I need to think about this for a bit.  I am starting to think that I need to pull out the jaw stitches I've done and use my Lacquered Gold Gloriana silk there, too.  Look at the first photo.  Do you think the jaw needs to be mostly gold, too?  If I don't do this, will the jaw look like a separate thing and not part of the mask?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Beth Wishes Us Merry Christmas

Yesterday's mail brought me a great surprise--a handmade Christmas card from one of Blog's readers.  Here it is in all its glory.  I'll use it as my "portrait" until New Year's to celebrate the holidays and thank its creator, Beth in Illinois.

Beth's blog is here.  You'll find some wonderful holiday ornaments and a sampler underway, plus Beth's warm personality shows through in her writing.  It's a lovely place to hang out during the holidays.  Head over and thank Beth for the scrapbooky card which she sprung on me out of the blue and which is totally in the spirit of giving during this season.
http://bethsneedleworkstash.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Beth, for the wonderful card and the lovely sentiment that sparked its creation.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

It's Starting to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I don't have time to get a photo of my progress on O'jishi for you this morning so how about we enjoy the lighthouse ornament tree that the designer Anne Stradal (ABS Designs) has put up?
http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html

Over here look at the great ornaments that Margaret just got back from the finisher!
http://cranecottage.com/stitchingblog/?p=1333

Barbara Bernsten's penguin series' latest bird is totally cute.  I love those boucle Xmas trees.
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2009/12/needlepoint-penguin-with-trees.html

If you need a last minute present (that doesn't even need wrapping), how about treating yourself to Orna Willis' first cyberclass?
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2009/12/cyberworkshop-is-here.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Old Gold Coins Stitch

I've chosen a smaller scale, round stitch for the area above O'jishi's forehead and to the sides of his face.  It is called "Horizontal and Vertical Lanterns" and is found diagrammed on page 107 of Brenda Hart's Stitches for the Millennium.

I think of it as Old Gold Coins stitch.  If you look at the photo above and the diagram below, you'll see why.

Although this seems to be pairs of horizontal and vertical oriented stitches, it actually isn't.  What you have are four separate stitches.  Each row uses two of the stitches, then the next row uses the other two.  These rows alternate.

We'll call the dark green stitch group in the top row Stitch A.   It is oriented vertically and is made up of 5 straight lines.  The first is over 3 threads, then the next three each are over 5 threads, and the last stitch is over 3 threads again.
3V 5V 5V 5V 3V

Stitch B is the pink group in the top row.  It is orientally horizontally.  It has one line over 4 threads, then two lines over 6 threads, then reverts to the over 4 threads line.
4H 6H 6H 4H

The third stitch (Stitch C) is the pale green one in the second row.  It is made up of five horizontal lines, the first over 4 threads, the next three over 6 threads, and the last over 4 threads again.
4H 6H 6H 6H 4V

The final stitch (Stitch D) uses overdyed peach thread.  It is in the second row from the top alternating with the Stitch C page green stitches in the example above.  It is identical to Stitch C except it is oriented vertically.  Over 4 threads, over 6 threads three times, then over four threads, in other words.
4V 6V 6V 6V 4V

The rows alternate:  Stitches A and B make up a row, then stitches C and D alternate in a row.  Repeat endlessly.  Note that you don't have to start with the Stitches A and B row.  I think I started with C and D, actually.  You can work the rows vertically, also.  If you do that, then Stitches B and D alternate in a row.  The next row worked vertically alternates Stitches A and C.

Once you realize each stitch group is different but that the rows alternate, it is easy to keep up with where you are in the stitch sequence.  But you do have to pay attention.

Before I forget, the Canvas of the Day today is actually a free chart from the new British needlepoint designer Felicity Hall.  It's a lovely Christmas bird and snowflake.  Clicking on the picture takes you to the free design but since the Canvas of the Day will disappear tomorrow, here it is for folks who missed the link.
http://www.felicityhall.co.uk/prod1.asp?ID=282&title=free%20needlepoint%20charts,%20free%20needlepoint%20projects,%20small%20free%20needlepoint%20ideas,%20needlepoint%20kit%20projects

or Tiny URL
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yalsh6f

You'll enjoy a browse through the graphic designs Felicity Hall prefers.  Don't miss the Felicity Hall Likes page, which directs us to all sorts of needlepoint from around the World Wide Web.
http://www.felicityhall.co.uk/company.asp?ID=72

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

O'jishi's Forehead

Moving to the next round area on the mask, I used the same unnamed round stitch used on his nose to decorate the center of his forehead above the eyes.  The first photo shows how I centered the stitch.  I worked the four central straight stitches in rows right above where they are on the nose so that the nose stitches and the forehead ones line up.  Working from the center out is the easiest way to do this.  (You can see I've started working the right side now from the center to that side.)  Working all the rows I know that the stitch fits.  Notice I'm working over the curved lines.  Remember, this is a layered canvas since I'm using light coverage stitches.  The painted design is the first layer, barely covered with a layer of stitches.  There will be more layers, probably couching and stem stitch and beads, on top of these.

This next photo shows the area stitched.  I will work the top of the head next, using another round stitch that is smaller in scale than the one used on the nose and forehead.  Just to remind you, all these stitches are in two plies of Gloriana silk (Lacquered Gold.)

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

O'jishi's Nose

O'jishi has a nose now.  The stitch (still done in two plies of Gloriana's Lacquered Gold), is from Brenda Hart's Favorite Stitches, page 34's bottom stitch.  It doesn't have a name.  The dimples you see on the nose are from the underlying painted canvas and are bumps that are scattered all over his face.  Those will be covered later.

I plan to use the same stitch in the circle area in the center of his forehead.  I'm working the circle areas on his face first.  Then I will have to go back and decide what stitch to use in the oval areas (below his nose) or the crescent areas (to the left and right of each eye).  It's progress, even if it is slow.  And remember, this is the lower layer of his face.  Bumps and other things will go on top of these stitches.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

REVIEW: Stitches CDs

I've become a fan of the Ruth Schmuff/Kathy Holicky series of stitch dictionaries on CDs.  There are three CDs to date.  I bought Volume One at Needlepoint Tool Time on sale a few months back, and Volume Two was a gift last month from a friend.

I have not seen the third CD which is called "Backgrounds."  It probably is much like the first two, except they each have 300 stitches diagrammed and Backgrounds has 481 "repeat" patterns.
http://www.tistheseason.org/ptdproducts.php?catid=56

The two CDs I have are set up the same.  Stitches are arranged into folders.  You have Straight, Diagonal, Crossed and Tied, Eye, Decorative and Darning Pattern folders.  There is also an alphabetical listing of the stitches.  The stitches are in two formats: PDF files (which can be enlarged) and jpeg images.  You can print out either and you an embed the photos (jpegs) in stitch guides.  Ruth encourages stitch guide writers to use her diagrams but just asks for proper credit.

Many of the stitches are new to me although there are some old favorites in the two CDs I own.  I love browsing the stitches, although you do need to have a CD player (my computer does) to read them.  It doesn't matter whether you have a PC or a Mac computer, however.  Either can read the CD for you.

You can print out everything to have in a paper format if you like, but I just browse a CD when looking for a stitch, starting with the folder that sounds more like what I'm looking for.

I think this is a wonderful addition to any stitchers' set of stitch dictionaries.  The only caveat I can think of is that some folks may be uncomfortable working with PDF files or jpeg images but it really isn't hard to learn.

By the way, here is Needlepoint Tool Time's website.  They have great customer service and some very good sales.
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Cheekbones for O'jishi

After finishing O'jishi's brass teeth and outlining all of them (except the upper right incisor so you can see the difference between the black outlines and dark brown outlines) I moved on to his cheekbones.  The interesting thing about this piece is that the two halves of the mask are not symmetrical.  You see this particularly in the cheekbones and eyes which are slightly higher on one side than the other.  Visually this works because most people don't have symmetrical faces either.  My face has one eye slightly higher and larger than the other and my nose isn't perfectly straight.  It's just how we are.

I choose to do roughly oval shapes that are divided evenly in the middle since the two areas are both 16 threads high.  Therefore, it was easy to start roughly in the middle and make sure the top half stitch was over eight threads and that the bottom half was over the same number of threads.  Then I worked from the middle to one side, then the other, making the thread height follow the painted shape.  Then I did small straight stitches under O'jishi's nose over to the other cheekbone. ( I have not touched the ovals under the cheekbones yet.  I thought oval Jessicas would work here but that did not look right so out they came.  I have another idea I'll try tonight on this area.)

I used two plies of Gloriana's overdyed floss Lacquered Gold #045, which is a lovely gold shading to brass silk.  The plies have to be laid to keep from twisting just like the background stitch had to be, but the lovely rust and brown and cream shading on the cheekbones shows through.

 I was a bit worried that the dividing line would be too prominent but it looks good to me.  I can see a twisted stitch on the left cheekbone that I didn't notice when stitching last night but I was very tired after shoveling the ice off half the driveway.   Thank goodness the sun melted it off most of the rest!

Later on the left cheekbone has bumps that will have to be added on top of this stitching but that will wait until the end.  Thankfully I have a color copy of the canvas so I'll know where they belong if the painted areas don't show up under the light coverage stitches.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Lazy Jane and the Purple Shoes

I didn't stitch a lick yesterday, despite being trapped at home by the snow.  I just was too tired from Christmas preparations, shoveling heavy wet snow, taking the dogs for walks, and running up and down the stairs to tend to the fire in the wood stove (we keep it going when there is danger--like heavy snow on the power lines--of losing the heat in cold weather).

You'll have to forgive me, but sometimes I just am not in the mood, despite being in love with the art of needlepoint and stitching almost every day.

I decided I'd distract you with some rarities.  First, the pair of witch slippers above are a charted design from Margaret Bendig.  You don't see many of her designs for sale.  She mostly teaches although occasionally she'll publish something like the line of small seasonal themed kimonos she did for Needlepoint Now magazine in 2008, or her Southwest Sampler (second link) in the same year.
http://www.needlepointnow.com/back_issues/2008/2008.html

http://www.needlepointnow.com/back_issues/2008/2008_01/2008_01.html

I keep hoping she'll get her website up and running, but it isn't yet.
http://www.margaretbendigdesigns.com/

Her Holiday Fun stocking is in the Project Book for ANG.
http://www.needlepoint.org/CPB/2009.php

Have fun looking at Margaret's work while I try to get my rear in gear....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Yikes! It is Snowing!

I am late posting this morning because it has been a hectic week, topped off this morning by a sudden snowfall here in Chilly Hollow. We have almost an inch on the ground already, and up to four inches are predicted before it stops snowing tonight.  So instead of crafting a blog entry first thing this morning, I was moving firewood into the wood closet, starting a fire in the wood stove, putting out sunflower seed for the birds, making sure the snow shovels are at hand in the garage, putting down the rugs at the entrance doors for wet boots, etc.  Before I filled the bird feeder I took a photograph for you.  You can't see the thick snowflakes that were falling but believe me, they are there!  All that snow fell in the last 90 minutes.  It was raining when I got up this morning, so everything is very slushy.  It'll be ice tomorrow morning if I don't constantly shovel the walk and porches and decks.  Although I try to make time for my stitching each day, some chores like winter storm prep, take priority.

Despite all the bustle of getting ready for Christmas here in CH and the first snow of the winter season, I have stitched a little on O'jishi's bottom row of teeth. A photo is worth displaying here so you can see that the almost finished bottom row of teeth will need some cosmetic tweeking to the black and dark brown lines that outline them.  Compare the middle two teeth in the top row with the bottom row and you'll see that the tent stitching between the two bottom middle teeth has been covered in part by my #12 Kreinik metallics.  I'll have to top stitch black in when I finish the teeth.  I did that for the top row, actually.  It isn't obvious, but if you don't do it, it shows.  I'm also thinking that the dark brown outlines of the upper right incisor and the two bottom incisors needs something.  I might need to make that black, or at least outline the area with more dark brown thread.  I'll think about how best to handle that while I finish the teeth.  Since I can't do any of the chores I planned for today, perhaps I'll show more progress on O'jishi tomorrow.  I do want to finish the teeth and jaw this weekend and perhaps start another area.

Everyone be careful out driving around in the snow or dodging holiday shoppers.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow