Saturday, January 14, 2012

Stars Update

Here's a special treat for fans of Tony Minieri's Stars for the New Millenium--three updates from three stitchers who are working on this piece.  Jan and Liz are both working on Humphrey Bogart in the bottom row.  In other words, they are almost done.
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/stars-of-the-new-millennium-humphrey-bogart/

http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/stars-for-new-millenium-progress-12.html

Donna's not quite as far along, but she will be finishing long before I pick up Stars again (Sorry, Glenis!).  I know I say this every time I post about Stars, but the difference in this design in the various colors never fails to amaze me. Tony Minieri's a genius!
http://majtravaux.blogspot.com/2012/01/monday-morning-progress-report.html


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

A Single Pink Rose for TNNA

In the latest TNNA news, Vicky DeAngelis reveals a Needle Deeva project that will be available at the TNNA Sample It night.  It's a heart ornament with a single perfect pink rose in the middle.  I love roses, I love River Silks silk ribbons, I love Sundance beads and Swarovski crystals,  and I love pink, so this is something I really enjoyed looking at.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/01/08/i-never-promised-you-a-rose-garden/

Vicky then goes on to showcase a few of the other Needle Deeva hearts that will be available for the first time at the Phoenix show next week and explains how the show works.  My piece I've been stitching for Leigh since Thanksgiving will be at the Galleria for the first time, by the way.  Stay tuned.  I'm sure both Vicky and Colleen and Robin (and probably other folks) will talk about what they see at the show so you don't have to wait until your shop owner gets home and unpacks to hear all about it.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/01/13/a-few-of-my-favorite-things/


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Paternayan Coping Strategies

I learned to needlepoint using Paternayan wool and Appleton crewel. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Paternayan wool would become hard to find! But that is the case now. I've seen  several announcements from shops in the last year that they are no longer going to stock Paternayan because it is impossible to get from the supplier.  So they are switching to another brand of Persian wool. It's a sad day. Nothing makes more durable rugs or furniture upholstery than Paternayan. I hate to think that eBay and personal stashes are gong to be the only places to get Paternayan soon.

Several shops are trying to step into the breach and stockpile Paternayan, particularly for churches that started kneeler projects only to find that the background or other colors they need impossible to find.  I know Needlewoman East and Hunt Country Yarns are two of those shops.  If you know of more, or if your local shop seems to have a good stock of Paternayan, please tell us in the Comments.  You can also email me at chilly hollow at hot mail dot com and I'll post a Comment for you.  Here is contact information for Liz at NW East and Bob at Hunt Country.
http://www.theneedlewomaneast.com/Welcome.html

http://www.skeins.com/

This posting was prompted by a message on Janet Perry's website talking about the differences in Paternayan yarn over the years.  Apparently now the three plies of a strand are now all the same size.  Accepted knowledge when I taught myself needlepoint a very long time ago was that the strands were all slightly different in diameter.  I can't say I could ever tell much difference myself, but perhaps I am not a noticing type of stitcher.  Anyway, here is what Janet has to say.  You may find it helpful if you are trying to use Paternayan from two sources and see a difference in the ply sizes.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/paternayan-persian-wool-old-new


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com