Lorraine's Wildest Dreams

Lorraine of Colour Complements sells hand dyed threads in a large variety of colors and thread types.  (If you happen to need something really pretty and different, here is Lorraine's store.)
http://colourcomplements.com/shop

But she also stitches, and choose Carolyn Mitchell's "In My Wildest Dreams" when she was a beginner.  This isn't exactly an easy piece for a beginner because the stitches in the original version are on the diagonal, which is not easy for a less-than-experienced stitcher.  So Lorraine turned the stitches to make them easier to create her own version of Wildest Dreams using odds and ends from her thread lines.
http://colourcomplements.com/2017/12/wildest-dreams.html

This is Carolyn's original version (bottom of list).
http://www.carolynmitchelldesigns.com/dreams.php

If you are new to counted canvaswork, take Lorraine's advice and look for a design where most stitches aren't on the diagonal.  But if you fall in love with something that is really more advanced than you are, do what Lorraine did and make it work for you!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 4, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Treats for the Counted Canvasworker UPDATED

I am not a counted canvaswork person, not being able to count to three reliably, but I still admire what you can achieve. Here is Gay Ann Rogers' various Downton Abby designs, framed together. Clever idea, although this may just be Brenda putting the photos together for display.  Click on Brenda's photo to see things better.
https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2016/11/downton-abbey-framed-11816.html

Carolyn Mitchell just wrote about new newest teaching piece, Echoes of Glass, for the Embroiderer's Association of Canada.  I find this a particularly lovely design.  The second link below shows all three parts together.
http://blog.eac.ca/2016/11/echoes-of-glass-inspiration.html

http://eac.ca/eng/education/online-courses/echoes-of-glass

UPDATE:  Linda says that the American Needlepoint Guild is also offering Carolyn Mitchell's Echoes of Glass as a workshop by mail. Registration ends January 31st.   Another good reason to join ANG!  They have great classes available to members.
http://www.needlepoint.org/byMail/EchoesofGlass/index.php

Folks who love counted canvaswork should remember I maintain a list of counted designers in a tab on Blog plus a listing of shops that are said to have a good selection of counted charts for your stitching pleasure.  Have fun browsing!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.comand
at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 9, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

EAC Registration Opens September 1

The Embroidery Asssociation of Cananda's 2016 Seminar website is up and running. It's a fun browse of all the classes!  Several are "canvas work", i.e., needlepoint, and many have techniques that you can use on a needlepoint canvas ground.  Class registration for EAC members start September 1.
http://eac.ca/seminar/

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

A Special Treat from Colour Complements and Carolyn Mitchell

Lorraine at Colour Complements is going to stitch one of Carolyn Mitchell's counted canvaswork designs using her own Colour Complements thread and color choices.   The design is called "My Way."  If you like playing with colors or just want to see something fun stitched, stay tuned!  I'll post all Lorraine's progress reports below.
http://colourcomplements.com/2016/05/my-way.html

http://colourcomplements.com/2016/05/my-way-2.html

http://colourcomplements.com/2016/06/my-way-3.html

http://colourcomplements.com/2016/06/my-way-4.html

http://colourcomplements.com/2016/06/my-way-finale.html

By the way, if you fall in love with this design or just want to see more counted canvaswork patterns, here is Carolyn Mitchell's website where you can pick up some of her designs.
http://www.carolynmitchelldesigns.com/canvaswork.php

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 30, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Bargello Garden and Other Treats

Scarlet Thread has posted a photo of the newest Jeff Kulick design, his 2011 Woodlawn blue ribbon piece called "There's a Garden in My Bargello."  Jeff has come up with two other color variations if you aren't into his green version, the threads for which Scarlet Thread has photographed to tempt you.
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2012/06/bounty-of-beautiful-bargello.html

The shop also has new Bargello pieces from Carolyn Mitchell to tempt you.  It's an explosion of color and pattern, whichever design you like best.


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

Counted Canvaswork Alert

The April 13 and April 28 entries on Scarlet Thread's blog show off the newest counted canvaswork projects from LizArt and from  Carolyn Mitchell Designs.  Counted work is alive and well!
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/

By the way, the shop has the award-winning Cat's Eyes chart in stock.
http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/ScarletThread/-strse-2977/2-Cat%27s-Eyes/Detail.bok

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

New Charts, New Ideas for Handling Tedium

Let's face it, there are always tedious parts to each needlepoint project.  It may be the endless background, a ton of basketweave, an area's stitch that just seems hard--but Christa has a great strategy for coping with the boring bits.
http://lilystitch.blogspot.com/2011/04/round-robin-stitching.html

Of course finding a project you absolutely adore works, too.  How about Vicky's Rainbow Birds?  She's following a Brenda Hart stitch guide for this Laurel Burch design.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/04/13/a-birds-eye-view-3/

How about this wonderful background for Ruth Schmuff's latest mystery class?  Stitching a beautiful stitch in the background always makes it go faster!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2011/04/its-clear-and-sunny-day.html

Of course if nothing else works, you can always buy yourself a new design and use it as a carrot to get you to finish the old one so you can start the new.  Scarlet Thread just posted new Carolyn Mitchel charts and they are getting the amazing Kurdy Briggs/Threadles Cleopatra's Eye kits ready.
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-arrivals-from-carolyn-mitchell.html

However you cope, hope today's stitching is fun.

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