Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Pillows and More, Set to Music

Needlepoint Tool Time has created a new video of the newest tools in the shop. "Tools" is defined loosely. In the video you will see June McKnight's latest book, some spectacular self-finishing pillow kits from Marlene, Swarovski crystals, serrated blade scissors and much more.   The video's on the home page, so after you watch it you can use the navigation bar on the left to explore for items you found interesting.
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 6, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Silk Ribbon Embroidery Help


Bird Wing from Brazil Cha-Cha
The owner of Exclamation Point! has just taken a class on silk ribbon embroidery and posted some information on her blog.   If you happen to live near the shop, do drop in and see the books and talk with the staff about this wonderful technique.
http://exclamationpoint.org/wordpress/?p=71

A friend loaned me several of Ann Cox's books and I can recommend them, too.  I adore River Silks silk ribbon as it is very sturdy, has a lovely sheen and comes in a very wide range of colors and several widths.  My only caution in silk ribbon embroidery is that the cards of ribbon don't have a lot of yardage and silk ribbon embroidery uses a LOT of ribbon.  You'll need more than you think.  The photo above is a bird wing from my Brazil Cha Cha canvas.  I used one card of each color on the wing which was about 5 inches long and perhaps three at the widest point.  The red stitches are satin stitches without a laying tool so I'd have a more feathery appearance and the overdyed yellow and orange ribbon is done in Japanese Ribbon Stitch.  You can see the entire finished canvas with the bird wings and tail all in ribbons here.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2010/10/brazil-cha-cha-stitch-guide-is-now.html


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.