Monday, September 30, 2024

A Reason to Hang Out in School Cafeterias, Bars and Coffee Shops

Why should you hang out in a school cafeteria, bars or coffee shops?  To pick up coffee stir straws, of course!  Why do I need straws, you ask?  Chaparral shows how to use them to fill Flair with beads to make clusters of berries.

You definitely need small beads and small straws, which is why stir straws are a good thing.  Try this with size 14 or 15 beads first.  Size 11 beads often won't work with one of these smaller-than-usual straws.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 5, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Beans for Your Coffee

Here's something I didn't know existed--beads that mimic coffee beans!

Potomac Beads carries five "roasts" or colors so you can pick the bead that best matches your preferred type of coffee.  They are roughly 3/8 of an inch so they would work for many of the coffee canvases available, like these--

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 12, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Bullion Needles Versus Milliner Needles

Mary Corbet answers a question I didn't know I needed answering--are Tulip's bullion needles and Tulip's milliner needles the same thing?  The short answer is no, they have different diameters of their shaft, are longer/shorter, and their eyes are differently shaped, but you'll enjoy reading Mary's explanation about these needles and what they are best suited for.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 11, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, September 27, 2024

Needlepoint.com's Self Finishing Video Tutorials

Needlepoint.com has posted videos showing you how to make up self-finishing items for acrylic clutches, luggage tags, and clutch bags.  They even demonstrate how to make the inserts removable so you can change them with the seasons or your mood.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 9, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 26, 2024

September's Stitcher of the Month at Stitch By Stitch

Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont, NY has posted their September 2024 Stitcher of the Month interview--Sue McCandless!  Her mostly basketweave pieces show she is a master of what looks like a simple stitch but that is difficult to do perfectly.  All of those Christmas ornaments, Santas and Easter eggs are gorgeous!  Don't miss her stitched frame with an insert of stitching instead of a photo--genius.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 3, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

How to Read Stitch Diagrams: The Movies

Fire and Iris has posted tutorials on their Instagram account demonstrating how to read stitch diagrams.


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 8, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Let's Hear It For the Greens

Colour Complements' latest blog post about their overdyed threads highlights their most popular color combo--greens!

Greens are considered a neutral color, able like tans and black/white/grey, to blend into any project.

Besides, greens are just plain lovely!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 15, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Turning Crochet Designs into Needlepoint

Marion of the WoolThreadPaint channel on YouTube designs crochet patterns, but like most of us, she does other needlework.  The video talks about the inspiration she took from the east coast of Scotland's beach during Covid and how she created the design, then how she decided that the grids of needlepoint and Granny squares were similar and made needlepoint versions of some of her crochet blankets.

Here's her Etsy shop.  All the patterns are for crochet but if enough are interested, Marion might do a needlepoint chart.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 4, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Breaking News: Cathy at Alice Peterson Retires

Alice Peterson just announced on Facebook that their founder, Cathy Rapoza, is retiring!  Her daughter Stephanie Ruetz is taking over.  Congratulations, ladies!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 22, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitcher of the Month at Stitch by Stitch Larchmont

The July 2024 Stitcher of the Month at Stitch by Stitch Larchmont is...Maureen Berger!  She found needlepoint in retirement and hasn't slowed down since.



Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 4, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Leather Needle Books

I just discovered the leather needle books that Stitch by Stitch offers. They come in brown or black leather with wool felt "pages" inside to insert your needles.
https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/collections/dog-grin-designs-geniune-leather-needle-cases

They aren't cheap but they are perfect for storing special needles, like those expensive handmade Japanese embroidery needles. If you travel a lot with your stitching, these also might be something you would want.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 4, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, September 20, 2024

Exhibiting at the Spring 2024 Needlepoint Show

Stephanie of Spellbound Stitchery went to the Spring 2024 needlepoint show and tells us all about it on her blog.

Here's her website so you can explore the wide range of items she's created for our stitching pleasure.  Is that Saint Dolly Parton I see?  Love the tarot ornaments, the cowgirls, Biltmore, the spooky star-covered Halloween ornaments and more and more!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 3, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 19, 2024

How Needlepoint Designs are Painted

NDPLT Company, Kirkland Design Studio, and Gingham Stitchery show you how needlepoint is painted in the Philippines, from the creation of a master that has to be approved, to the sketch and finally the various painters who fill in this color or that.  The design examples are from Kirkland's new "store front" series and the "Betty" designs that will be available in the fall.  

You can see some of the storefront series (I think there are six total:  Macy's, Tiffany's, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf's, Dior, and Saks) here--

To continue the series, NDPLT shows how a master is created.

Here is Spellbound Stitchery's new Fisherman canvas.

If you are fascinated by all this like I am, visit the Pointing It Out podcast where Megan interviews Heidi of NDPLT who owns a painting company in the Philippines.  You'll learn much more and get into all the steps that are involved from the creation of a design to having it painted and then shipping it to your favorite shop.

You can also see what Paige of Blue Ridge Stitchery shows about how she creates her designs on her Instagram in an abbreviated form.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 2, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

New Acrylic Picture Frames from The Wool and The Floss

The Wool and the Floss has three sizes of acrylic picture frames to display your stitching.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
 
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 8, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Thread Organizers from Wheelhaus Needlepoint

Wheelhaus Needlepoint has created large acrylic thread organizers with room enough to hang full skeins of your threads of choice.

Thread drops which are used by cross stitchers are usually smaller and not used much by us needlepointers but if you want to have everything at hand, this is a tool you might want to try.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 19, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 16, 2024

How To Make a Big Bow: The Movie

Ruth Schmuff of Bedecked and Beadazzled demonstrates how to make a big bow for your canvas using 13 mm wide silk ribbon.

River Silks comes in 4mm, 7mm and 13mm widths. It's the most study silk ribbon available for needlepoint in my opinion.  Here is their website.  Your favorite shop can order for you.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 29, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

A Three Generation Tree Skirt

Needlepoint in Paradise shows off a customer's huge nutcracker tree skirt, which the customer stitched along with her daughter and granddaughters.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 29, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Penny Linn Hit by Copyright Theft

Penny Linn has just announced via Instagram that she's been hit for a while by a copycat of her acrylic pieces.  The video explains in detail the timeline of her creation of her acrylic line and how it has been copied and sold to her customers.  Since her copyright has just been granted by the U.S. Patents Office, I imagine a lawsuit is in the works.

In support of Penny Linn, I have removed all mentions of "Company M" from Blog.  If you notice non-Penny Linn magnetic acrylics for sale, please take screen shots and send them to Penny Linn so she can contact the store involved since they are also liable in a court of law.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 5, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, September 13, 2024

Breaking News: Kreinik Cards Versus Kreinik Spools

Kreinik says that Kreinik metallic wound on Rainbow Gallery cards is quicker to get, so ask your shop to order Kreinik Cards from Rainbow Gallery or Wichert Imports.  If you prefer spools, ask your local shop to order Kreinik Spools from Fleur de Paris.  

More information on Kreinik's Facebook page.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 13, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Single Strand versus Pliable Threads

Needlepoint.com's latest video talks about the differences between single strand and pliable threads.

It's useful information for the newer stitcher who is just starting to explore all the available threads, but Needlepoint.com's Cheat Sheet that lists how many strands/plies should typically be used is something everyone will refer to now and again.

Note that the number of strands/plies is just a suggestion.  If you have exceptionally tight or loose stitching tension you will need more or less thread.  The stitch and effect you are going for matters, too.  Still, the cheat sheet is a good starting point.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 27, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Here's Something You Don't See Every Day

Here's something you don't see every day--needlepoint cuffs for blue jeans!

Colors of Praise hit a home run with this one.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 11, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Meeting Laura Love Designs

Melissa of the Wool and the Floss shop and the Pointing It Out Podcast interviews Laura of Laura Love Designs.  Learn a bit about Laura, her language skills and her background and jobs, plus why her mom gets a gold star.

Laura is based in London now.  You can visit her designs at her website.  

Here's the Love You to the Moon and Back garland she mentions.

Here is the Safari garland.  The ornament versions are on the ornament page.

Here are some of her botanicals.  More are in the stockings area.

Here are the seed packets.

Here are the cookies.

Here is the white Joy ornament.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 25, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

What to Do with a Round Canvas

Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont has the perfect idea for a round canvas if you aren't a pillow person--make it into a clutch!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 24, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 9, 2024

New Stand Up Acrylic for Ornament Display

Stitch Stash has a new acrylic standup to showcase your round 4 - 4 1/2 inch ornament.  They weigh around 3 pounds and have a slit at the top where you drop in your finished canvas.


You can also get a square version for a 4 - 4 1/4 inch square ornament.

These are only available at Stitch-Stash (above) or Emily's Stitchery.  Note that the shops are taking pre-orders--these should be in the shops by late September-early October.


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 1 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Melita Tackles Fibonacci Swirls, Designed by Olivia Hartshorn

The next ANG chapter project Melita's going to participate in is Olivia Hartshorn's Fibonacci Swirls.  You can see the finished model on the Cyberpointers website.  It was their March 2024 counted canvaswork project.

Melita is planning to stitch this twice in two color ways, one on Congress cloth, one on 18 count needlepoint canvas.  You can see her thread choices here.  The black and white photo is to check that there's enough contrast in the threads she choose for 18 count.

She's changed her mind about the shades in the purples version but both it and the autumn shades version are started.

The centers are done.  Melita's trying to control the color changes so that they will accompany the swirls that will be done last.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 24, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Abigail Cecile Talks Copyright

The designer Abigail Cecile talks about copyright, how it differs from inspiration, what she avoids basing designs on and more in this thought-provoking article.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 4, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, September 6, 2024

Embellish Your Driving Shoes with Needlepoint

Stitches.and.Style on Instagram has a cute idea for repurposing old needlepoint as embellishment for her driving mocs.  (Use the side arrows to see more.)

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 22, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Brown Bunny: Fall and Winter 2024 Mystery Class

Ruth Schmuff just announced her fall and winter 2024 mystery class--"Brown Bunny" by Strictly Christmas.

I can't wait to see the magic Ruth comes up with!

The bunny has the cutest tail and belly! (You'll learn Colonial Knots and laid stitches from Ruth on her blog here.)



Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 1, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

A Finishing Tip for Clutches

Needlepoint Clubhouse in St. Louis has a tip for finishing clutch purse inserts--add a ribbon loop tab to make removing your needlepoint insert easier when you switch out the look.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 22, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

New Designer: A Pinch of Grace

We have another new designer--Amy of A Pinch of Grace.

She's on Etsy right now, with a nice selection of cute Halloween ornaments.  Nothing scary, all kid friendly, so if you need a quick stitch for the little ones in your life, Amy's got you covered.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 17, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 2, 2024

Two Rums and Croaks, Please

Waste Knot* shows off two versions of the Will Bullas "Rum and Croak" design from CBK.

It's so much fun to see the same design stitched and finished two different ways!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 3, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Needlepoint Obsession


This year the shop is hosting the first of what they hope will be an annual retreat.  It will be October 18-20, 2024.  Gayla Elliott will be the featured artist (she's designed an exclusive five inch ornament for attendees who wish to purchase a memento) but Sherry Bray, Laura Glazier and Christine Kristen (who owns CBK) will also be attending.  There will be classes, demonstrations, trunk shows, lunch each day and of course, too much fun.  (If that is possible, which I doubt.). Just bring your own canvas....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 8, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.