News in CH and Elsewhere

When either Needle Pointers or Needlepoint Now arrive in my mailbox, I study the issue cover to cover. I love all the articles (Hey! The Spinister Stitcher is writing for NP Now! I hoped they bribed her with champagne--Coni's definitely a champagne kind of gal.) and I read each ad, too. Gives me plenty to talk to you about.

First up, new monthly clubs! Choice is good, right? Chandail has a new Kelly Clark club--Christmas alphabet blocks. I wish the finished photo was better but the idea is fabulous.
http://www.chandailneedlework.com/series/MerryChristmasBlocks.php

Needle and Thread of Tomball has a darling little scissor fob of the month club. If you want to do something small, this is the monthly club for you.
http://www.needleandthreadoftomball.com/jm/

Pocket Full of Stitches has gone Kelly Clark with a lovely Thanksgiving set called The First Harvest. Details and the canvases are here.
http://www.pfos.com/KellyClark_TheFirstHarvest1.HTM

Stitch and Frame has a Cross a Month series to stitch and display. They also have a Fleur de Lis series for those who love French pattern. The Cajun Twelve Months of Christmas series is also on this page. Fun! I think all the designs are from Jude Designs (second link), but I can't be sure. Nice job, whoever the designer is.
http://www.stitchandframelafayette.com/Needlepoint_by_Category/Category/Monthly_Series_Sets.htm

http://www.spicyneedlepoint.com/index.htm

What's the Point has the last new club, a series of Kathy Schenkel Santas. Sadly, their monthly club page hasn't been updated with photos yet, but it shouldn't be long as this club starts in July.
http://www.whatsthepoint.biz/clubs.php

I discovered that Sign of the Arrow has yearly limited edition ornaments. 2009 isn't up yet but if you are a fan of this famous shop that donates a huge portion of their profits to charity, you'll enjoy seeing the little designs that come with a stitch guide and threads. These appear to be on plain canvas so you either will follow a chart or transfer an outline to the canvas.
http://www.signofthearrow.com/shopping/category.php?category=4

Ok, everyone go get a beverage, then settle down with your monthly club design and we'll watch Debbie get her cat design worked up. Coni, pass the champagne bottle, please.

Oh, the news from CH is that the white irises are blooming.

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

Wings for Liz

The endless basketweave marathon continued last night but I did make a start on the Golden Rabbit's wings. Here you go, Liz! You've been asking what I planned to do. This time I didn't really plan, I just browsed through "Sundance Beads for Needlepoint: How To & Why Knot." The booklet has 25 unnamed stitches in the back that the Sundance folks like using when beading. The diagonal flow appealed to me and I thought the stitch would look nice with the ones I used on the pet guardian angel's robe. I didn't plan to alternate my ivory Silk Lame Braid with my overdyed golden Gloriana silk floss. It just happened as I was studying the stitch diagram and deciding which areas were more prominant and where the beads would go. Angel wings are usually white and the ivory mixed with gold was the closest I have to white in my color scheme. The pale copper beads will sit in the unstitched holes once the rows of stitches are laid out.

I still have a lot of background to do. I'll work on that tonight for a while and then switch to filling in more wing area.

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