Chaparral Needlepoint is For Sale!

Ever want to buy a needlepoint shop? Now's your chance.

Dear Chaparral Friends, I purchased Chaparral Needlework in the spring of 2008 after working at the shop for 4 1/2 years. When my children left the nest, I had too much time on my hands. I wanted a project, which became Chaparral. And what a truly wonderful, fulfilling project it has been. Twelve years later, I now have 7 grandchildren and would like to spend more time with them. It has been a rewarding 12 years, but I want to move on to the next phase in my life. Therefore, I would like to sell the shop to a new generation of owners. Chaparral Needlework celebrated 58 years in business in 2019 - quite an accomplishment given the success rate of small businesses. There is significant, visible market brand awareness and market share with Chaparral. The shop has a lease for another 2 years, and the new landlords have made improvements to the property in the past year. The location is ideal for the shop's many loyal customers with clients coming from around the United States as well. I currently work 4 days a week as a hands-on manager. Chaparral has a social media presence with Facebook. Additional revenue generating opportunities exist with Instagram, online sales and other marketing technologies that I have not yet pursued. In 2017, e-commerce sales accounted for 9 percent of all retail sales in the United States; this figure is expected to reach 12.4 percent in 2020. Currently, needlepoint is attracting younger patrons than ever before. This fact is especially encouraging.  I would welcome whomever is interested in fulfilling their dream of owning a needlepoint shop to contact me.

Sincerely, Sally Anne Skarke Owner email: saw@ndlpt.com shop phone: 713-621-7562 home phone: 713-952-1531

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 18, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch Palettes: An Easy Color Scheme Tool

Mary Corbet has learned of a color scheme tool based on photographs that even provides DMC cotton floss, DMC tapestry wool and Anchor cotton floss thread numbers that match.
https://www.needlenthread.com/2020/02/color-schemes-galore-resources-for-stitching-color.html

It's called Stitch Palettes, and is the brainchild of Krisztina.  She will even do a custom color scheme for you based on your own photograph.  This isn't free of course, but it's a lovely service for those unsure about colors or who can't match colors easily.  You can sign up for a daily email with her latest photo/color schemes/thread numbers and you can buy PDF collections of color schemes to help support her website.
https://stitchpalettes.com

Those with blogs might note that Krisztina also provides the HEX, RGB, and CMYK numbers of her colors.  That's useful if you need the code to change the background colors of your blog, for example.

Kudos to Krisztina!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 19, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tips for Stitching with Angora

Recently someone in Needlepoint Nation asked for tips when you are stitching with Angora.  Folks recommended using a large needle eye and shorter lengths—and to put the thread in the freezer before using to reduce shedding while you work with it and to keep the thread tight.

The freezer trick came from Kelly (who knits) and Juliet (who crochets).  Thanks!

By the way, Angora comes from Rainbow Gallery.  It is a little heavy for 18 count in my opinion but using a size 18 needle really helps there.
https://www.rainbowgallery.com/product/rainbow-angora/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 18, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Learn to Couch: The Movie

Ever had a curved black outline or thin lettering on a canvas and despaired of how to do that with tent stitches? The answer is couching!  Needlepoint.com did a short video to explain how simple couching is done.  (There are variations on couching such as underside couching but the plain variety works beautifully in needlepoint.)
https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/how-to-couch-threads

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 18, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Sale at Ruth Kern Books

Ruth Kern has some great books on sale at her blog.  Not all are needlepoint, but many are.
http://ruthkernbooks.blogspot.com/2020/02/januaryfebruary-2020-creation-is-drug-i.html

If something interests you, just contact Ruth.  Here's how:

Give us a call Monday through Saturday at: 602-943-0738. If you get the dreaded message please don't be shy about leaving a message for me. I'll get back to you ASAP.  Or you can e-mail me at: rkern3@mindspring.com.  Or mail your order to: Ruth Kern Books  7235 N. 9th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 24, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Creating a Case for Your Smart Phone UPDATED

Morgan Julia Designs has a fun tutorial on turning a needlepoint design into a cell phone cover.
https://morganjuliadesigns.com/blogs/news/diy-needlepoint-phone-case

It didn't go to plan but she has ideas on how to fix that.

Zazzle lets you turn photos into stickers to cover those clear cases.  That means you can take a photo of your favorite piece of needlepoint and make it into a case.  I think it's probably smart to get permission of the designer before you use a photo of their work, though.  It's polite to do so and probably might head off questions from the folks that make these items about copyright.
https://www.zazzle.com/custom/cases

The Case Studio takes it even further with their designs and the ability to use your own photographs if you prefer.  They offer cases for phones, laptops and tablets.
https://thecasestudio.com

UPDATE:  Colour Complements has another version of a stitched phone case.  This one is on fabric and done in pattern darning but the idea is the same.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/03/smart-phone-case-embroidered-colour-complements-floche.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Do You Like Real Stitch Samples?

Quite a few folks want their stitch dictionaries to have photos of the stitches stitched, preferably in color, along with diagrams. As this adds substantially to the cost of publishing, not a lot of books have this.  But there are books that do have photos of the stitches.  The last time this question was asked on NP Nation, I started a list.  Note that many of these are out of print and that I haven't seen many of them, so I don't know if they actually have photos of the stitches.  The folks recommending them say that do, but on social media, folks don't often read carefully and therefore they answer incorrectly.

Jo I. Christensen's Needlepoint Book, all editions (photos are black and white)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-needlepoint-book-jo-ippolito-christensen/1118892276

SuZy Murphy's books all have photos of the stitches in the back, some black and white, a few in color.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Needlepoint-Book-SuZys-Darn-Stitches-OOP-Suzy-Murphy-reference-stitching-patter-/283637737379

The Got Stitches? series, available from Gone Stitching.
http://www.gonestitching.net

The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden - Half of the stitches are on fabric, half on needlepoint canvas
https://www.needlenthread.com/2007/12/book-review-embroidery-stitch-bible.html

Needlepoint Dictionary of Stitches by Susan Sturgeon Roberts.  Available on Kindle.  Susan has a website with stitch diagrams where you can buy her books.
https://www.needlepointteacher.com

Stitch Sampler by Lucinda Ganderton, with all photos in color.  British author so may be easier to find in the UK.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/stitch-sampler-the-ultimate-visual-dictionary-to-over-200-classic-stitches_lucinda-ganderton/300719#isbn=0135011574&idiq=33976833

Mary's Whimsical Stitches by Mary Legellet doesn't have photos in the book but does include URLs to type into your computer to see stitched examples.
http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/marys-whimsical-stitches

I'd like to warn folks shopping for needlepoint books to be careful about buying on Amazon.  Often the prices are very inflated.  If a book is out of print, you might find a bargain, but you might not.  It's best to look for books at your favorite needlepoint store, on eBay, at the Book Depository, or through the folks who specialize in needlepoint books.  Links below.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com

https://www.needleworkbooks.com

https://ruthkernbooks.blogspot.com

https://www.bookdepository.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Painted Pony Angel Trivia

This post about Painted Pony angel trivia had me smiling.
https://www.facebook.com/PaintedPonyDesigns/photos/a.650201021703545/2857938980929727/?type=3&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 14, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

And Once Again We Are Fashionable

Apparently the style now called "Grandmillennial" incorporates needlepoint and other forms of embroidery into a home design philosophy that is both personal, traditional and modern.
https://www.tmj4.com/grandmillennial-is-the-newest-home-decor-style/

By the way, I took the quiz linked to above.  Apparently I am a grandmillennial despite my advanced age.

Frankly, folks, people with a style of their own are always fashion-forward!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 14, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Review of Chameleon Silk

Mary Corbet has another fabulous review on her website, this time of Chameleon Threads, a South African brand of subtly overdyed silk flosses which use Au Ver A Soie's Soie d'Alger and Soie d'Paris as their base thread.
https://www.needlenthread.com/2020/02/thread-talk-chameleon-threads.html

Follow Mary's links to look at the Chameleon Threads website or to buy from various vendors.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 14, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Visit the Needlepointer in 3-D UPDATED

Here's something you don't see every day—a 3-D tour of a needlepoint shop!  You can "walk" into their thread room, explore the current Alice Peterson trunk show, and click on blue dots to read more about certain items.
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=EaQVhuiHdRv&fbclid=IwAR2_TF41v3t3z2DCTLz_0OiBjmNCAF-wodw-VEOLcYcj5yPbkrnjnTn2ydo

The Needlepointer in Edmond, Washington posted this.  Have fun exploring!

UPDATE:  I think I should attach a warning here.  I've heard from other Facebook group admins that some folks have problems with 3-D images. I have heard of someone with traumatic brain injury who gets bad migraines from them.   If you have vision issues or migraines, avoid this like the plague!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 13, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Fans of Erica Wilson Rejoice!

Fans of Erica Wilson's needlepoint can also rejoice as her company has a website now!
https://www.ericawilson.com

Based on Nantucket Island, the company sells Cape Cod-themed clothing as well as needlepoint, so you'll have to choose Needlework from the menu running across the top of the page to see what's available.  Some of the designs are from the 1970s, some appear to be newer.  They are available as just the canvas or kitted with threads, probably wools.  The company also does finishing.  They showcase needlepoint-covered bricks and belts on their site.

You can also buy the famous bamboo zipper pull to use on your purse, clutch, or tool tote.
https://www.ericawilson.com/collections/needlework/products/bamboo-zipper-pull

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

European Needlepointers Rejoice! UPDATED

I've just learned about Unwind Studio, a needlepoint kit company based in Portugal. Run by Cristina Cerqueira, the company licenses designs from local artists and kits them up for your stitching pleasure.  The designs are all perfect for fancy stitches, by the way.  There's lots of room for them in those blocks of color.  The designs are also not just your average design, either.  They are much different than what we have available in the USA.
https://www.unwind.studio

The website is just being built so their Etsy store has more stock available just now.  The canvases appear to be printed, usually on 14 count canvas, but are available on other sizes by special request.  You can also buy just the canvas or have it kitted with wool or cotton floss for you.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/unwindstudioetsyshop?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=756906160

Congratulations, Cristina!

UPDATE:  Cristina says she is working with various shops in the more touristy towns of Portugal to provide kits for needlepointers looking for something to remember their vacation by.  Hurrah!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 12, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sandy Arthur Teaching Models for Sale

Sandy Arthur has decided that she will sell some of her class models rather than letting them live in a drawer. They are available in her Duo Designs By Sandy Etsy store.  Note that there is only one of each so if you fall in love, move fast.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DuoDesignsBySANDRA?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=757095535&section_id=27955542

Note that some models are finished and some are not.  There's more about these items under "Etsy Shop" on Sandy's latest blog.
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2020/02/february-1-really-already-we-go-2020.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 1, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Hummingbird Needle Threader

Mary Corbet has a review of the Hummingbird Needle Threader.  It combines a needle threader capable of threading a size 28 needle with a tiny thread cutter in the body of a blue plastic bird that you can wear on a chain or dangle from a scissors fob.
https://www.needlenthread.com/2020/02/hummingbird-needle-threader.html

It's made by Dritz and is available in a lot of fabrics and crafts stores.  It appears to also come in green.  Note that 123Stitch says it is too large for threading beading needles.
https://www.123stitch.com/item/Dritz-Hummingbird-Needle-Threader/DRITZ-270

If you aren't in the USA, this video shows a different packaging that might help you track it down as it is distributed by N. Jefferson, Ltd. in Canada.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SlDyAN4VGY

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 12, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Clementine Hunter, Artist

Thanks to the Quarter Stitch in New Orleans, I learned about an online biography of Clementine Hunter, famous for her folk art depictions of Creole blacks in the Cane River area of Louisiana near the border with Texas.
https://64parishes.org/entry/clementine-hunter?fbclid=IwAR1Yb2CsNSEx2GIg3ByVWKDmru12lviHlIcN0eiVp16kQ3RQc2i8cKR9P84

The shop sells a lot of her licensed artwork on needlepoint canvas if you are a fan.  Some of her designs are on their website but they have many more which are not.  Please inquire at the shop for details.

https://www.quarterstitch.com/clementine-hunter

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 4, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Lectures at 2020 Woodlawn Exhibit

Thanks to the Loudoun Sampler Guild, we have a listing of all the lectures that will be held at Woodlawn Plantation's 2020 exhibit, which opens March 1st and ends March 31st.
https://loudounsamplerguild.wordpress.com/2020/02/03/needlework-events-at-woodlawn/

Exhibit information can be found here.  The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day of the week except for Tuesdays, when they are closed.
http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/annualneedleworkshow

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 3, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Thistle Hill Exhibit is Set for February

The third annual exhibit of needlework at Thistle Hill in Fort Worth, Texas is set for February 25-28.
https://www.facebook.com/121991261161397/photos/a.138462276180962/1342532145773963/?type=3&theater

https://www.fortworth.com/listings/thistle-hill/5367/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 1, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Country Living Appraises Antique Needlepoint

Country Living has a column that does antique appraisals. This one focuses on five needlepoint pieces.
https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/g721/antique-needlework-appraisals-0209/?fbclid=IwAR3pzNTDbWg3_641fqEFiESYAA4ypNeQeaLZE-tlSWaLCy1-7TFLBO_5GKw

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 1, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Why I Needlepoint

Horse Country Chic just posted about why she needlepoints, with the advantages this creative endeavor gives her.
http://horsecountrychic.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-we-needlepoint.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 16, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Great Collection of Christmas Ornaments

Stephanie is gradually taking her Christmas decorations down, including this fabulous collection of Nativity ornaments. I love Nativity sets myself so I really enjoyed drooling over hers.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2020/01/i-am-not-embarrassed.html

Steph also collects Santas, particularly Petei Santas.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2020/01/more-christmas-tree-love.html

And she has a lot of other pieces, many of them trip mementos.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2020/02/finally-got-tree-down.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Head Mount Lighted Magnifier

Marinel bought this from Amazon and likes it a lot.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H8808H6/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_tai_XtTmEbZ70QEPW?fbclid=IwAR3LEKXXdCnmBrI5kQqWrfhdEie43R_Wzz9H6nFGW6jSWLHV0D1jw96xoPc

It uses three AA batteries but there is also a rechargable version.
https://www.amazon.com/YOCTOSUN-Rechargeable-Magnifying-Professional-Interchangeable/dp/B07T4KPYN2/ref=dp_ob_title_toy

Thanks for the tip, Marinel!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Happy Birthday to Needlepoint Nation: (Part Two of Two)

Happy Birthday to Facebook's Needlepoint Nation group!  It turns nine years old today, February 7, 2020. To celebrate and to help support the Hearts for Hospice program, Needlepoint Nation has released two free heart designs by Teri Ambritz. If you are a member of Needlepoint Nation, you've seen Teri's amazing and inventive stitching. She creates especially lovely backgrounds. To help support Hearts for Hospice, she allowed me to diagram two of them to use as decorations for heart patterns. Here is the second heart diagram plus information about what you will need to stitch these yourself for a Hospice Heart.

You aren't familiar with the Hearts for Hospice program? You can read about it here.
https://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2018/08/hearts-for-hospice.html

The second heart pattern is called Teri's Hearts. Here is the diagram.

This design is best done by stitching the framework (the gray rows in the diagram) first, then adding the hearts and background.  Each gray block in the framework equals one tent stitch.  Here is the framework stitched.   I used DMC's size 8 perle cotton in medium pink 3326.

Framework Stitched First

The next step is to stitch the tiny hearts.  These are also tent stitched using one ply of a cotton floss similar to whatever color you want the hearts to be in the final result.  I used one ply of ThreadworX dark plum 11583 but it doesn't really matter what you use as it will be hidden by step three. I would suggest you use something slightly different in color from what the final hearts will be to make it easy to see since you will stitch over this layer with the final heart color.  Of course you can stop here if you wish.  This stitch, like Teri's first one, is very versatile.

Hearts Lightly Stitched

To finish the hearts, you will need 2-4 plies of a cotton or silk floss.  I used Caron's Soie Cristale dark pink 2044.  Using the lightly stitched heart shapes as a pattern, cover the heart shape from one side to the other with vertical satin stitches. I used two plies but you may need more plies depending on your stitch tension.  It's a good idea to use a laying tool to help the threads lay flat.  This is what the plum tent stitched hearts look like with the pink satin stitches under way.

Adding Satin Stitches On Hearts

You can stop now if you like, but I wanted a background so I added a tiny tent stitch in my background thread (two plies of Gloriana's Rosa Linda #038 which is a pink/yellow overdyed silk) at the base of each tiny heart.  In the diagram you'll see a blue dot where this tent stitch goes.  Next, using the same thread, add vertical rows of satin stitch between each row of the framework.  I used two plies and my laying tool to keep things smooth.  Again, you may need more plies than I used before you get the look you want.

Teri's Hearts Finished

This is the end result.  I think it looks like candy!

To stitch Teri's Heart exactly as I did, you will need:

DMC's size 8 perle cotton in medium pink 3326 (I had a ball but one skein should be plenty)
One skein Caron's Soie Cristale dark pink 2044 silk floss
Floss in a similar color to the Soie Cristale for the tent stitched hearts
One skein of Gloriana's Rosa Linda #038 pink/yellow overdyed silk
9x9 piece of 18 count needlepoint canvas (any color)

Draw a heart pattern on paper that is about five inches tall and four wide, cut it out, then put the pattern under your canvas (you can hold it in place with magnets) and either draw or baste a line around the outer edge.

I encourage you to use colors you like from your leftover fibers.

Many thanks to Teri Ambritz for her brilliant designs, and to the Kansa City Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild for their amazing Hearts for Hospice program.

And of course, Happy Birthday to Needlepoint Nation!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Happy Birthday to Needlepoint Nation (Part One of Two)

Happy Birthday to Facebook's Needlepoint Nation group!  It turns nine years old today, February 7, 2020.  To celebrate and to help support the Hearts for Hospice program, Needlepoint Nation has released two free heart designs by Teri Ambritz.  If you are a member of Needlepoint Nation, you've seen Teri's amazing and inventive stitching.  She creates especially lovely backgrounds.  To help support Hearts for Hospice, she allowed me to diagram two of them to use as decorations for heart patterns.  Here is the first heart.  A second message today has the second heart diagram plus information about what you will need to stitch these yourself for a Hospice Heart.

You aren't familiar with the Hearts for Hospice program?  You can read about it here.
https://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2018/08/hearts-for-hospice.html

The first heart pattern is called Missy's Lace.  Here is the diagram.

The little orange dot in the middle of the diagram is the center.  Each colored block equals one tent stitch.  That section also has a section of dark gray blocks if you want to create "leaves" around the tiny flowers which have red centers and blue petals.

I suggest you do the framework first (the light gray rows in the diagram) and then add the flower motifs.

Framework First

This design can be done several ways.  In the photo below I am working the framework and floral motifs in red but I made one row of flowers blue.   You can leave the background canvas showing if you like.  In this photo the framework and the floral motifs are all in red tent stitches except for one row of flowers which I made blue for added interest.  None of the background is stitched.

Light Coverage with No Background

If you aren't a fan of light coverage, you can completely fill in the background with tent stitches as you can see below.

Full Coverage Background

To stitch Missy's Lace exactly as I did, you will need:

Two skeins of DMC's Etoile in red C816
One skein of DMC's Etoile in dark blue C823
One skein of DMC's size 5 perle cotton white B5200
9x9 piece of 18 count needlepoint canvas (any color)

Draw a heart pattern on paper that is about five inches tall and four wide, cut it out, then put the pattern under your canvas (you can hold it in place with magnets) and either draw or baste a line around the outer edge.

I encourage you to use colors you like from your leftover fibers.  And of course you can change the design around.  Here is Teri's version which adds stripes to the Missy Lace pattern.  Gorgeous!

Teri's Own Variation on Missy's Lace

Many thanks to Teri Ambritz for her brilliant designs, and to the Kansa City Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild for their amazing Hearts for Hospice program.

And of course, Happy Birthday to Needlepoint Nation!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

You Thought Your Needlepoint Pillows Were Expensive?!

Horse Country Chic explains that an eleven piece lot of dog and rabbit needlepoint pillows sold for $17,500 USD at the Mario Buatta auction.
http://horsecountrychic.blogspot.com/2020/01/mario-like-needlepoint-animal-pillows.html

This lot went for $10,000.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/thirteen-pillows-with-sayings

Other needlepoint pillows sold well also.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/five-decorative-pillows

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/eleven-dog-pillows

I am not sure all of these are needlepoint.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/seven-floral-pillows

He had needlepoint rugs, too.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/an-english-needlepoint-story-rug

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/an-english-needlework-carpet-second-half-19th

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/a-floral-needlepoint-carpet-early-19th-century

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/a-dark-ground-floral-carpet

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/a-continental-needlepoint-carpet-first-quarter

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/mario-buatta-prince-of-interiors/a-19th-century-carpet

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 28, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How I Organize My Craft Room

Colour Complements has started a series about organization of crafts supplies that I think is going to be very interesting. Keep in mind that organization is extra important for Lorraine as she runs a thread manufacturer.  So she has to know where everything is so she can lay her hands on it when an order comes in.  I'll update this as Lorraine posts.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/01/how-do-i-organize-my-craft-space-with-colour-complements.html

First up, button storage.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/01/buttons-storage-solutions-colour-complements.html

Next, beads.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/01/bead-organization-storage-solutions-colour-complements.html

Now, storing ribbons and lace and trim.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/01/laces-trims-ribbons-organization-colour-complements.html

Thread storage is especially interesting.  Here's Part One.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/01/embroidery-thread-organization-colour-complements.html

Part Two of storing threads.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/01/embroidery-thread-storage-colour-complements.html


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright Juanyary 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A New Hearts Ornament from SJ Designs

Susan Johnson of SJ Designs has a new free chart with a hearts motif.  It will make a lovely background, too.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/35aa40000a83a7d7f36608669/files/8fa5b755-1c7c-4f27-bba9-ff48d88aa9b9/Lucky_at_Love.01.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3DxwXKngpgdfDBqdDtOt7Bu751cNFZhPsE4xssmJHRxEN0zsx9ZE5AUho

Susan is promising to post work-in-progess photos on her Facebook page for those who are stitching along.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 28, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Profile of Maggie Lane

The New York Times did a profile of the influential needlepoint designer Maggie Lane in 1972.
https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/08/archives/china-childhood-was-inspiration-for-needlework.html

Her books are still available on eBay and through book dealers who specialize in needlepoint.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/search/results?keyword=maggie+lane

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 27, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Nicholas Moufarrege Exhibit in Queens Museum

Thanks to Tara, I just learned that the Queens Museum in New York has an exhibit on the mixed media needlepoint artwork by Nicholas Moufarrege on display until February 16, 2020.
https://hyperallergic.com/538328/the-unbridled-exceptional-techniques-of-nicolas-moufarrege/?fbclid=IwAR1B1OFPMT-6Oeh4I0df6fd2uZD6Lv2wKmDpexBTrEHjpqJci5RcHl3qlOQ

https://queensmuseum.org/2019/06/nicolas-moufarrege

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 24, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.