Are You Ready for Valentine's Day?

If you haven't stitched anything for Valentine's Day yet, Rittenhouse can fix you right up!
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-day.html

If you need a Valentine magnet, Pocket Full of Stitches is the place to visit.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2012/02/pals-nannies-and-keepers.html

Speaking of holidays, Michele at Bristly Thistle is having great fun doing a 4th of July firecracker.
http://bristlythistle.blogspot.com/2012/02/firecrackers-from-kelly-clark.html

If you are looking for a very special Valentine's Day present, how about these totally different kangaroo scissors?  I think the design is terrific, but take note--these are on an Australian website.  Getting them here on time for Valentine's Day won't be easy!
http://www.scissorman.com.au/products/scissoroo/scissoroos


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

Monthly Clubs for Winter and Spring

In Stitches (Atlanta) is planning a Rebecca Wood club for this year. They've chosen the Goofy Ghouls series, with stitch guides by Cynthia Thomas.  There's nothing on their site yet but keep your eyes open.  You can see and laugh at the canvases in the second link.
http://www.institchesatlanta.com/index.html

http://www.rebeccawooddesigns.com/new-designs/goofy-ghouls-shops

Beth's Needlepoint Nook (Louisville, KY) has announced two new clubs to start in April--Snowmen Hats and Valentine Hearts.  You can also see the Angels Belles and Wild Ride clubs which started this month at this link.  Click on classes for details.
http://www.bethsneedlepoint.com/Dot_Clubs.asp

Needlepoint This (Dallas) is doing what they call the Celebrity Star series.  Each month they have a different star ornament from a different designer.  Check out the slide show on their website home page for a glimpse of the stars that have been stitched so far.
http://needlepointthis.com/

Park Avenue Needlepoint (Dayton, OH) is partnering with Kathy Schenkel for a Favorite Things series, with Mr. and Mrs. Santa.
http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/clubs.html

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

Outlining Your Canvas

I don't do a lot of counted canvaswork since I have a problem with the counting. I can count the same area four times and get four different results. Since I tend to do most of my stitching at night after a long day, the counting never gets any easier for me.  So I was thrilled to read what Kathy of Needle Delights Originals says about outlining your canvas before you begin.  Her instructions (with lots of photos) tell you just how to do this.
http://needledelightsoriginals.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-yearnew-project.html

If you are a fan, you'll love reading this as Kathy is starting a new design.  If you are new to counted work or you have the problem counting that I do, you'll love the help in getting your counted project right.  This might help you with Laura Perin's online Monday Mystery piece, too.  She just posted another step on the 5th Monday Mystery, by the way.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2012/02/mini-mystery-monday-5-part-2.html

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