Judyann Needlepoint is on Etsy Now!

I've been a big fan of Judyann for a long time, especially her Asian pieces.  I have her Graceful Bird kimono in my stash, waiting for some spare time.  So I was excited to see that she has an Etsy store now! In it she has some darling strawberry shapes that are new.  Love the Toucan Strawberry and the Madonna Egg.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JudyannNeedlepoint?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=667449234

Of course you can shop on her website as well.  It tends to have a wider range of items but not the newest things.  Judyann does something unique—she prints each canvas and then hand paints the printed version, making it a little cheaper but still easy to stitch.
https://www.judyanndesigns.com

A little bird told me someone is doing a stitch guide for the Judyann "Midnight Nativity."  Stay tuned!

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

Mindy's Color Game

I recently paid a visit to the website for Mindy's Needlepoint and noticed something pretty durn interesting. Mindy is playing with color.
http://www.mindysneedlepoint.com/shop/Mindys-Needlepoint-Designs/Asian.htm

Check these out:




Clockwise from the upper left they are Asians in Golds and Olives, Asians in Blues, Asians in Greens, and Asians in Mauves and Purples.

I am a fan of Asian-themed designs in general, but what intrigued me here is that the change of color really changes what I see in the piece.  Mauves and Purples shows up the three rectangles with buttons better, while Greens seems to have the backgrounds more visible.  I think Golds and Olives is the most balanced of the designs although I don't usually like those colors.  Funny what color does to a design?

Which do you like best?  Is that your favorite color normally?  I am of course waiting for an Asians Pink—my favorite color!

Very clever, Mindy.  Now I want them all.  Sigh.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 12, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mandala Magnets

Fans of Eastern-themed designs will want to check out the Mandala magnets from Nancy Baha's Etsy shop.  The retro floral tile styles are lovely, but I can't take my eyes off the Mandalas!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/nancybaha?ref=l2-shop-info-name&section_id=21509286

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 23, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sheena Mixes It Up UPDATED

If you don't follow Sheena's blog, you will want to sign up to get notices when the newest thing goes live.   She always has a wonderful stitch, great photos and a fun attitude so this is a Must Read.  This week's posting is especially great for me since I adore Asian-themed canvases as she features not one but TWO great background stitches for these types of canvases.
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/stitch-inspiration-asian-canvases/

I never would have thought to use them both in the background.  They look fabulous!  Thanks, Sheena.

UPDATE:  Sheena adds another Asian-themed design, this time from one of Betty Chen Louis' designs.
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/stitch-optical-illusions/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 10, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Introducing Debbie Reed's Rugs

Recently Debbie Reed's rugs have been a gigantic hit on Facebook's Needlepoint Group. Everyone is in awe! With Debbie's permission, I am reproducing her photos of her rugs here, all based on her own designs charted on graph paper from inspiration found all over, and quoting what she said about each.  First is her large Navajo rug.

This one I designed and stitched. It's 68 by 96 inches. Always wanted a Navajo rug but didn't think I'd ever be able to afford one. Most of the yarn I found in large cones at Goodwill. Cost me next to nothing to make. I was going through some medical problems at the time and couldn't do much. So I call this my "pain rug". It's very therapeutic to stitch when you can't do much of anything else. This rug has about 2000 hours in it. It is just ordinary 10 to the inch needlepoint canvas and I spliced 2 pieces together to get the width.

I saw a Navajo rug in the background of a Ralph Lauren ad and graphed out and stitched my own version. This one is 36 by 40. There really isn't any finishing and some of the rugs aren't quite square but I got better as I went along with keeping them square. To finish the edges I just started with folding about an inch over and stitching through so the edges would be finished. Just stitching shows on the back, all of canvas is completely stitched.

I thought I would share the others I made. Turns out I actually made 5. This one I designed and is Navajo inspired. It's 38 by 50.

I'm not much of a needlepointer. I only know one stitch and I've only ever made 5 rugs. Here is one I designed and stitched in 1993. For anyone who thinks needlepoint is expensive I probably only have $50 in it as I scrounged yarn from Goodwill or wherever I could find it. It's 38 by 68 inches. A little Chinese influence to it with the bats meaning good luck.

When it comes to designing rugs, Debbie says it's just like piecing quilts--more math than anything. She graphs them out on graph paper.  She downplays the rugs by saying it's just one simple stitch, basketweave,  something she could do while watching TV without really having to concentrate too hard.  She says the backsides are fairly thick.  

"I found almost all the yarn at Goodwill and the main expense was in the canvas."

This is a rug I started but didn't get very far on. I will likely start over in 10ct. This is 18 count and I no longer have any of the yarns I started with. I saw a Chinese Taoist embroidered Priest's robe in a book and coveted it so graphed it out and started working on this rug.

Also wanted to show how I simply turn back the corner about an inch and stitch it in so there is no finishing involved in making the rug.

I asked Debbie how she stitched her rugs. Were they on a frame?

" I would basically just prop myself up at the end of the sofa and the canvas laying out on the rest of the sofa or halfway rolled up. Kind of used my knees as the frame. I didn't use a frame and used the basketweave stitch because it was supposed to be a good stitch for a rug and it warped the canvas less. By the time I had a done a couple of rugs I got better about not getting the canvas out of shape by not pulling the stitching too hard. I know the smaller ones should be blocked but the largest one is pretty square. Since the designs I did were mainly large areas of the same color and simple counting the stitches I could do it pretty mindlessly while watching tv. And to me it was more about enjoying doing it than getting the rugs finished. If the goal is only to finish a rug it's going to seem really daunting.

Thanks for sharing your amazing work, Debbie. Can't wait to see the Taoist Priest rug when it is finished! It is my favorite for sure.   Keep up the amazing work and don't put those rugs rolled back in a closet.  They deserve to be seen!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 19, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

More 2015 NAN Award Winners

The National Academy of Needlearts has posted more award winners on Facebook in the "Professional Non-Original Without Instruction" category.  The names of the winners are in the comments section for each photograph.  DO NOT MISS Shay Pendray's "Oriental Rug."
https://www.facebook.com/118153386709/photos/pcb.10152681700131710/10152681697261710/?type=1&theater

By the way, the NAN website has the 2016 class descriptions up on their website. Have fun here--Ann Strite-Kurz's "Elfie Selfie" is my favorite but you'll want to see them all.
http://www.needleart.org/Assembly/Assembly-2016-Class-Descriptions-and-Teacher-Biographies.pdf  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Picking Just the Right Mat Color

Vicky shows off the piece she stitched for the newest issue of Needlepoint Now magazine and takes us behind the scenes as she searches for just the right mat color to frame this little beauty.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/its-in-the-mail/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 9, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Chinese New Year Revisited

Anna Pearson posted lots of designs inspired by China on her blog in honor of Chinese New Year. The designs are classics, as are all Anna's creations.  I missed Chinese New Year this year--too much else going on in terms of shoveling snow and ice!--but these designs are lovely and I thought you'd enjoy seeing them, even though it is no longer Feb. 19.
http://anna-pearson-needlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/02/kung-hei-fat-choi-may-prosperity-be.html

Happy New Year, everybody!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 20, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Clever Touches to a Tent Stitched Piece UPDATED

If you only stitch with tent stitches but want to add a few special touches to that project you love and want to take to the next level, then you will be interested in Linda's Melissa Shirley piece, embellished with a few special touches with the aid of Amy Bunger.  http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2014/07/next-up.html

http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2014/07/flower-power.html

UPDATE:
http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2014/07/chinese-kite-flyers.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 17, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Pagoda Love UPDATED

Are you crazy for Asian themed canvases like me? Then you will love Jenny Henry's Pagoda Love series. Classic!  I am not sure which Fantasy Pagoda I like best, being torn between NPI5 and NPI8, but they are all wonderful.
http://jennyhenrydesigns.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/pagoda-love/

http://www.needlepointinc.com/d_pillow_pagoda.html

UPDATE:  Another lovely pagoda.  I'm sorry I don't know who the designer is.
http://needlepointland.com/2012/07/29/pagoda-under-a-serious-moon/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Attention Collage Fans

Anyone out there a fan of collage designs?  You know, the ones with multiple blocks of pattern? If you are and your preferred projects are counted canvaswork, then I have a treat for you--I just found that Debbie Stiehler has a website!
http://debbiestiehler.com/home

Debbie is doing a series of Asian-themed collages for her classes.  Click on Current Classes to admire her "Imari" and "Asian" collages.  I think "In the Pumpkin Patch" has been very popular with ANG Seminar attendees also and her various fans were much appreciated when she taught them.

I don't know if Debbie sells charts or kits of discontinued designs but it doesn't hurt to ask.  Your local guild might want to invite Debbie to teach. by the way.  I am hoping she'll come to a shop near me one day....

UPDATE:  Marilyn just let me know Potomac ANG is planning to have Debbie for a workshop  next May. I think Shenandoah Valley ANG may also be having Debbie in to teach during the same trip to Virginia.  If you are a member of either chapter, keep your eyes open!  Thanks, Marilyn.
http://www.needlepoint.org/chapters/Virginia.php

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Why I Am Jealous of Dale UPDATED

Dale of Canvases Be Gone knows the BEST people!  Wait'll you see who she had Christmas lunch with!
http://www.canvasesbegone.com/blog/christmas-lunch/

If you aren't familiar with Juell Designs, check these out.  Some of the pieces are designed by Terry Enfield, who also was part of Juell Designs.
http://theneedlepointer.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=34

If you read Blog regularly and aren't familiar with my hero, Brenda Hart, you aren't paying attention!  LOL

UPDATE: Sorry about the first link. It is fixed now.  That's what happens when you rush to post at Christmas!

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

Knock, Knock! Trick or Treat?

Lord of Fire, Courtesy of Ann Madson

How about a treat? I have something extra special for you to see today, courtesy of Ann Madson who spent the last few months stitching three of the Drama Dragon masks from Leigh Designs using stitch guides from Brenda Hart. They are MAGNIFICENT.

Earth Warrior, Stitch Guide by Brenda Hart

First, you need to see the entire unstitched series so you can truly appreciate Ann's work and Brenda's clever guides.  Here they are on the LD website.  Can you see the lovely bead accents on Lord of Fire and how each circle has a different pattern in red and gold?
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp464x.html

Earth Warrior has a wonderful padded nose as well as fantastic gold scrollwork.  I particularly like the way Ann used yellows, golds and oranges in each round circle's pattern.  His tassels are particularly beautiful.

Golden Emperor, Design By Leigh Richardson of Leigh Designs

Golden Emperor has stunning gold patterns on the golden bodies of the dragons that twist and coil next to more lovely gold scrollwork.  There are a lot of shades of gold on this piece but somehow Brenda and Ann figured out how to make each gold area distinct from the others.

Ann says she just stitched the way Brenda told her to but I think this has been the perfect collaboration of designer, stitch guide writer and stitcher, don't you?

Happy Halloween!

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

Tiny Chinese Paper Lanterns

Pocket Full of Stitches is showing off one of Raymond Crawford's latest series, a little set of Chinese paper lantern canvases. There's a link to his website to see them all.  Just move your mouse pointer over the What's New box on the right until you find the first lantern, a pink one with a lotus blossom. Isn't it pretty?  Six others are right after the pink lotus one.  The little cherry blossom design makes eight altogether, not too much for a real Asian themed canvas lover to do all of them as a lovely set to display.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/12/lantern-stitched.html

By the way, I think that the little image PFOS has on their website has a Vicky DeAngelis stitch guide.  There's a nice photo of the same piece on Vicky's blog.  I hope she stitches more of this lovely set and posts lots and lots of photos.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/11/28/spending-my-thanksgiving-with-raymond/

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

Thanksgiving Treat

Custom Canvas from Leigh Designs

Today's Thanksgiving treat is calorie-free and fabulous. As you all know, I stitch models for Leigh Designs. For the last two months when she and I talked, Leigh mentioned working on a huge custom design for a long-time customer. The canvas is finished and on its way to Pat Delp at Designer's Desk, the shop that placed the order for the customer and that will pull threads for it before sending it to its new home.  Luckily for us, Leigh and the customer allowed me to post a photo for your viewing pleasure.  The design is called "Life's Thoughts."

This is a huge canvas at 24 by 36 inches on 18 count canvas and there is a lot going on .  Leigh told me she enjoyed playing with various focal points to move the eye around the canvas to discover the special items she hid in the piece.  She included a lot of things the customer requested--the two geishas, the musical instrument, the moon bridge, the Japanese castle, and two types of flowers (mums and orchids).  There are wonderful little touches, too, like the purple tassel that hangs off the golden obi in the front geisha's hands and the two types of blossoms in the pink trees.  Leigh says the metallic paint doesn't show up except in person, so there is much we can't see.  But if you study the piece carefully, there is a great deal to discover and enjoy even in a photograph.

I am very sorry that there is just one of these as it is a work of art, but at least we can all see and enjoy the custom work Leigh Designs turns out as our special dessert this Thanksgiving.  Please join me in thanking Leigh Richardson and her customer for allowing me to show off their joint creation!

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

Painted Canvas and Other Treats from All Over

I've been collecting fun little painted canvases and some other things from here and there, ably abetted by my spies. How about a mermaid pirate?
http://www.cbkneedlepointcollections.com/ProdDetails.php?pId=1740

Or Chinese lantern canvases?
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/11/chinese-lanterns.html

Are you a romantic?  Here's a sweater fit for the Duke of Windsor (who needlepointed, by the way).
http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2011/11/exploring-another-pattern.html

This double scissor case is a favorite of Pat Correz's.  If you don't know Pat, you are missing a real treat!  She's a force of nature who also happens to work behind the scenes for both ANG and EGA to bring us stitchers Seminars, classes and other wonderful things.  Since Pat travels so much, I can see why she loves this little protective case for her embroidery scissors.
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/a%20must%20for%20every%20project


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

And the Winner of the Asian Inspiration Sampler Is...

Asian Inspiration Sampler from Patt & Lee

...Meg van den Berg!

[Loud cheers!]

Email your snail mail address to me as quickly as you can, Meg, and I'll pop the canvas in the mail to you tomorrow morning before I leave town for a big family party.  I'm at chillyhollow at hot maildotcom.

Many thanks to the seventeen folks who entered the drawing, but special thanks go to Patt of Patt and Lee Designs who graciously donated the canvas.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Asian Purses

I stumbled across a series of lovely purses with oriental themes this morning. What you see above is one of them, a Mindy design. I love Mindy's pieces, especially the Japanese quilt patterns, one of which this is adapted from.

Start your journey here. Click on Go Shopping on the left , then click on Painted Canvas in the middle of the page. Now click on Mindy and prepare to enjoy! There are seven purse canvases on the first page, including a Christmas one and one from her sheet music pattern.
http://www.homesteadneedlearts.com/

I also found clutch purses from Shorebird Studio/Katie Molineaux at The Needlepointer. Start here by clicking on Canvas Gallery on the left side of the page. Then scroll down to the Ks to find Katie's pieces. There are two sections. I found the clutch purses with a carved closure bead and obi fabric for finishing on pages 4 and 5 of Section I.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com/

Have fun dreaming of where you might carry such a purse!

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow