Mr. X Stitch Interviews Gay Ann Rogers

Dena from Kreinik occasionally writes a column for Mr. X Stitch. Her latest is an interview with Gay Ann Rogers which I think you'll enjoy.
http://www.mrxstitch.com/needlepoint-extraordinaire/

If you fall in love with her Catherine the Great, act now.  The sale of the kit will end Sunday, May 17th, 2015.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 11, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Catherine the Great Arrives UPDATED

Gay Ann Roger's long-awaited portrait of Catherine the Great is on sale now.  This is a counted design that comes with the instructions, congress cloth and the threads and jewels needed.  This page of the website describes the kit.
http://www.gayannrogers.com/catherine.html

The home page currently has a count of how many kits Gay Ann has unsold.  She will probably do a second round of kits but you can't count on that or her ever selling this again as so much depends on her being able to find the real pearls necessary for the design.  So if you are interested, you probably should buy if at all possible.  Otherwise this will only be available from someone who buys it now and then never gets around to stitching it.

UPDATE:  Gay Ann estimates the sale will end May 17.  Act now.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Quick Notes

Just wanted to remind everyone that Gay Ann Rogers is continuing to post tips for improving needlework for stitchers of all abilities on her website. This is a run-up to her releasing her next big counted project, the portrait of Catherine the Great, in early May.  When that happens, the tips will disappear so read through them now.  The latest lesson is featured on this page, but you can read them all by clicking on the various buttons at the bottom left side of the page.
http://www.gayannrogers.com/lessons.html

If you aren't familiar with Gay Ann Rogers' counted canvaswork portraits, check out this video featuring her Queen Elizabeth I along with two smaller portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick.  She says Catherine will be much more opulent in keeping with her style and her age.
https://vimeo.com/31689238

In other news, I am posting a lot of new stitch guide information on the CH Stitch Guides blog this month.  Guides are available everywhere these days!  Don't forget to check in periodically to keep up with stitch guide news or just find out how to contact the stitch guide writer you want to reach.  To go there, just click on the photo of the magic carpet in the right hand column of this page.  You'll magically be transported to that blog.  Click on the magic carpet there and you will fly back to Blog.

I'm also planning to blog stitch a piece once I finish my current project.  Stay tuned for that announcement shortly....

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

The Gay Ann Rogers' Hearts Sale is TOMORROW

Gay Ann Rogers has retired from teaching but not designing counted canvaswork pieces. This year she is working on a portrait of Catherine the Great of Russia that will be offered later in the year (May?  Her annual October sale?).  Gay Ann also does a mini sale in February of charted heart designs.   This sale starts TOMORROW.  Some items are one-of-a-kind and the charts sold as kits are often limited in number so pay attention to the times the sales will occur.  I never remember because her starting time is most inconvenient for me so I miss out very often.  Don't be like me!
http://www.gayannrogers.com/hearts-2015.html

http://gayannrogers.blogspot.com/2015/02/among-my-hearts-this-february-is.html

This year there will be four new heart designs (including the magnificent Imperial Emeralds Heart which is based on one of Catherine the Great's crowns), special antique awls, special scissors fobs and tool sets, etc.  There will be items for the Sweet Tooth box of stitching goodies, which is actually a repurposed See's Candy Valentine box that is used for stitching tools and supplies.
http://www.gayannrogers.com/catherine.html

If you have not seen her portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and the smaller portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick, you can see them here.  I don't believe these kits will be offered for sale again as GAR can't get the special tiny pearls and other beads used for them any more.  She says the Catherine the Great portrait will be much more opulent.  Hard to believe, right?
http://vimeo.com/31689238

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 10, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Jewels of the Romanovs and the GAR February Sale

Gay Ann Rogers normally does a sale of new small heart designs in early February and in preparation for that sale, she has started to post photos and PDF files with bits of history on her website.  For those who don't know, Mr. GAR is a historian who occasionally writes articles about various historical topics that GAR's latest pieces are based on.  Today (January 8) there is a photo of the materials for the Imperial Emeralds heart on her home page and a link to the first of a series of articles Mr. GAR wrote about Catherine the Great's jewels since for her, this year the is Year of the Romanovs.
http://www.gayannrogers.com/index.html

Mark your calendars to start keeping an eye on Gay Ann Rogers' website and the information posted there in the run-up to her small February sale.  She is designing a portrait of Catherine the Great similar to the Queen Elizabeth I portrait done several years ago.  That won't be available for sale until October.  You should note that these items are for sale once.  Then they may or may not be available again.  Start saving your pennies.  If you miss the sale, you may not have another chance at these except via eBay.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 8, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.