In Need of Inspiration?

Are you in need of Inspiration? Then run--don't walk!--to the Stitchamaze website and sign up for the e-newsletter. Perhaps inspired by the writing she is doing for Needlepoint Now magazine, Rosalyn Cherry-Soliel is sending out a newsletter packed with links, information and photos of her current projects, and planning to release a DVD about her work next summer. Whether you plan to tackle canvas collage or not, you will love reading about her art needlepoint.
http://www.stitchamaze.com/joinmailing.aspx

If your inspiration needs different food, how about reading Mary Corbet's review of Embroidered Flora and Fauna?
http://www.needlenthread.com/2009/03/embroidered-flora-fauna-book-review.html

Are you a threadaholic or bitten by the History Bug? Then you will want to seek out the Spring 2009 issue of Sampler and Antique Quarterly.
http://thistle-threads.com.mytempweb.com/blog/index.php/2009/03/article-on-gilt-silk-twist/

Finally, if you just need eye candy in your life, try searching Flickr. Type in flowers or Siamese cats or landscapes or toys or anything else that catches your fancy and explore the photographs folks have published publicly on that topic. I am using Flickr for inspiration for the flowers that will cover Holi's halo eventually.
http://www.flickr.com/

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Nifty Tools

Yesterday was pretty blah in CH. The weather was lousy (cool, overcast, damp, dark, etc.) and I worked on the tent stitch background behind the pet guardian angel dog Holi. Nothing worth mentioning.

But there was a surprise in my mailbox! A friend sent me one of the above. It's called a Snag Nab-It and it is intended to grab snagged yarn ends and return them to the back side of that pretty sweater you just knit/bought/wore. I could have used it Monday instead of my crochet hook on my chenille cowl neck sweater with two slight snags on the sleeve.

If you can't tell from the picture, the Snag Nab-It is a long needle (it's about the diameter of a size 18 tapestry needle, but much longer) without an eye on the rear end. Instead, it has grooves to catch a snag and pull it back into place. The person who sent it to me hoped I could use it on the misbehaving tied off ends of my rayon threads on Holi. I certainly will get good use of it there!

Here's an online photo. These things run between $2-$2.50 USD so shop around.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?PRODID=prd10300&AID=1489912&PID=2187177&SID=Aa5zAASjFrg24SrxKPRxG2SGu6ywPQOd

Speaking of unusual tools, how about the bead spinner that Sue Dulle mentioned on her blog? Here it is in action. I want to buy one just to watch it!
http://www.beadspinner.net/page/page/3437207.htm

Do you use any unusual tools in your needlepoint? Comment below or email me at chilly hollowat hotmail dotcom and I'll report about it for you.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow