Newsletters, A Magazine and a Book

Before I forget, three new February shop newsletters are available for your browsing pleasure.  In alphabetical order they are:
http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/

http://theneedleworks.com/

http://www.stitchesintimeneedlepoint.com/

Click on the links to enjoy.

I've also discovered that Ann Strite-Kurz has a new book of her charted designs coming out in the early summer.  As usual, she offers a pre-order discount and group orders also receive free shipping.  If you enjoyed Ann's article in the January-February 2010 Needlepoint Now, you will want to grab a copy while it is discounted.
http://www.needleartworks.com/dsgnr/ask/bask/BASK12.htm

Speaking of NP Now, some back issues of this great magazine are on sale.  Details are on their home page.
http://www.needlepointnow.com/

If you are interested a bit about the upcoming March-April issue of the magazine is on the editor's blog.
http://nneditor.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/marchapril-issue-is-at-the-printer/

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

Stars: Starting Marilyn Monroe

I'm making good progress on Stars these days, probably because I'm trapped inside by snow and ice still.  Since the outer border has to wait until I go thread shopping and I'm waiting to give everyone a change to vote on what I do with the sashing, I started the first star block yesterday.  This block is called Marilyn Monroe.  It is stitched in seven stitches of varying complexity.  The first is shown above.  I used the lavender J. L. Walsh silk-wool #1074 as my A2 thread and my Silk N Colors overdyed silk 062 for the Overdye.  Tony says you can manipulate the Overdye to make all the Rhodes Lozenges the same but I wanted each one to be different in honor of Miss Monroe, who showed a different side of herself to each of us.  Sometimes she was a sex kitten, sometimes she was a comedienne, sometimes she was the little lost girl from next door.

Stitch Two fits a waffle stitch between the eight points of the star.  I used the peachy DMC cotton floss #758 for C2.  Step Three is very tricky.  The mosaic stitches that fill the corners vary their direction and threads.  I didn't get this quite right but I will adjust it as best I can.  I used the medium dark violet Splendor S1086 as A3 and DMC cotton floss 758 again as C2.

I'm laboring on Step Four but haven't done enough to make photos worthwhile yet.

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