Something Very Special

I was thrilled to see this lovely piece of silk ribbon embroidery, done by Cynthia Thomas for the 2025 Needlepoint Reunion. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=25510768528514767&set=a.509405429077756

It showcases Treenway silk threads and silk ribbons and was on display to let shops know just how magnificant their threads and ribbons are.  The design is from Anne Brinkley.

Here is the Treenway website if you'd like to browse and plan a purchase.

https://www.treenwaysilks.com/index.php

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 21, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ripping Beads Help

Betsy at Fireside Stitchery has fully beaded an area on her canvas and decided the bead color was wrong, so she's ripping out the beads.  Betsy got some interesting tips for ripping beads in the comments:  Cynthia Thomas puts cling wrap on the front area where the beads are, turns the canvas over, and cuts the beading thread from the back side.  Leslie puts masking tape on the front area where the beads will come out, then cuts from the back.  The tape captures the beads.  

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10232557257145389&set=gm.9343400975736977&idorvanity=108537025890131

Clever ideas, folks!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 17, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Turkeywork Tip

Cynthia Thomas just posted this tip for doing turkeywork on her Facebook account.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=6153750611309848&set=a.509405429077756&type=3

For those who don't have a Facebook account, I'll quote Cindy.  

"Hint when doing turkey work: I run a loop of thread through the turkey work loops and tie or tack to the frame to keep the already worked loops from getting caught in the new loops."

Her photo shows a roundish shape being filled with turkeywork, with light blue loops in the middle and a darker ring of blue being added to the outside.  Cindy's run a thread through the light blue loops to keep them out of the way as she adds the darker color to the outside edge.

Clever tip!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 30, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Let's Stitch Cacti

Palma Seljan has been busy stitching quite a few of the Ashley Dillon "march" canvases that Susan Roberts sells.  Her latest is the Cinco de Mayo March.  The cacti on this one are magnificent!  I noticed because I have a seven foot version of these growing in my breezeway and what Palma did very much resembles what I water once a week.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/4953320568078395/?comment_id=4954482897962162&reply_comment_id=4957123087698143

Palma says she took inspiration for her amazing cactus plants from this video on YouTube. There are three ways of stitching cacti demonstrated, each wonderful, and each useful for those who have Southwestern designs in their stash.  Thanks for sharing, Palma!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrL8oiYo_Ss

By the way, here's how the canvas looks now that Palma's finished.  Cynthia Thomas is writing a guide for it.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10228198993179509&set=gm.5000464383364013

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 27, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Cynthia's Bead Removal Tip UPDATED

Cynthia Thomas posted a very clever tip on Facebook for easily removing a bunch of beads you need to rip out.
https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.thomas.7355/posts/2808501155834827

UPDATE:  I didn't realize Cindy's tip was posted to her personal page, not Needlepoint Nation which is public.  For those who don't have a Facebook account, Cindy said:

"Neat trick to remove beads. Put Press and Seal over front of canvas on top of beads over lapping stitching, press against beads, turn canvas over and cut beading threads and remove, turn canvas back over and press Press and Seal against beads again, gently roll back Press and Seal and beads will stick to it."

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 28, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

At the ANG Seminar in Houston 2019

ANG's annual seminar is in Houston, Texas this year. Lots of folks are going.  I have a ton of links to information and reports from Seminar-goers, so pour your favorite beverage and browse!

ANG has posted a list of exhibit winners here.
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.needlepoint.org/resource/resmgr/seminar/ang_awards_for_website.pdf?fbclid=IwAR22OOnzaO2IeT1PA7e5NjRn1MIh4P9XqRzF40c07HbztEV9nMqZts0hHk4

Melita is there with friends, so they make a shop run, then she registered for Seminar.  She's taking a Kay Stanis silk and metal embroidery class.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/08/14/texas-needlepoint-run-and-registration-day/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/08/16/a-toast-to-tiffany-2019-seminar-class-with-kay-stanis-day-2-of-3/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/08/17/a-toast-to-tiffany-2019-seminar-class-with-kay-stanis-day-3-of-3/

She also did a one day class with Cynthia Thomas on manipulating threads and stitches and had a lot of fun designing stitches.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/thread-and-stitch-manipulation-with-cynthia-thomas/

Plus Melita won a ribbon exhibiting this lovely piece which is her original design. Congratulations!
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/08/22/tahitian-treat-2019-seminar-exhibit/

DMBstitch also took Cynthia's class.
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/21/last-day-at-seminar-stitch-manipulation/

Melita had fun buying books at Expo Night.  You might be interested in the two she found.  The Lone Star Chapter's book of stitches is available from several of the Texas shops.  See the second link below for a list.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/08/18/expo-night-at-seminar-2019/

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b37ed75cef372bdd50ce75a/t/5d5fd5b6d7c1240001f8db49/1566561719109/Order+Information.pdf

Jan is having a very nice time.  Besides indulging in lots of relaxation, she is taking Nancy Cucci's "December Dazzle."
https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2019/08/17/seminar-2019-houston-tx/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2019/08/18/seminar-quick-post/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2019/08/23/home-from-seminar-2/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2019/08/25/big-goof/

Rosie is taking Jennifer Riefenberg's "Winter Lights" (and showing off her new Woodlawn souvenir earrings).
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/15/houston-seminar/

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/16/winter-lights-second-and-last-day/

Rosie also is taking Cynthia Thomas' painted canvas class, "Lady with Mandala II."
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/17/lady-with-mandala-ii/

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/18/lady-with-mandala-ii-day-2/

DMBstitch is taking Toni Gerdes' class "Abyss."
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/15/ang-seminar-2019-day-1/

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/17/abyss-day-2-ang-seminar-2019/

She's also taking Jennifer Reifenberg's "More Color Play."
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/18/more-color-play-day-1/

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/19/more-color-play-day-2/

JA Williams is taking Lois Kershner's "Mt. Whitney Waterfall," which is a photo transfer design.
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/17/mt-whitney-waterfall/

Sue is taking "Beaded Bermuda Reef," a class (with beaded fringe) by Kathy Rees.
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/17/beaded-bermuda-reef/

Sue is also taking a class with Wendy Moore.  It looks wonderful!
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/08/20/a-livelier-iris/


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 14, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Grab and Go Stitches: A Review

I just received a copy of the Lone Star Chapter of ANG's first book, Grab and Go Stitches, courtesy of Cynthia Thomas who is a member.  Thanks, Cindy!  You can pick up a copy at many of the big Texas shops and other stores are starting to stock it as well.  I understand that the first edition is sold out so you might have to wait for a second printing to be printed and distributed before you can get your hands on a copy.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b37ed75cef372bdd50ce75a/t/5d5fd5b6d7c1240001f8db49/1566561719109/Order+Information.pdf

The stitches were compiled by Lone Star's membership over a year, with everyone submitting hand drawn diagrams of their favorite stitches.  The only caveat (beside the fact that the diagrams had to be hand drawn) is that any stitch submitted should not be in Stitches to Go since this book was designed along the lines of Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson's classic.  Like it, the book is small enough to put in a tote bag or large purse and is spiral bound with a cardboard front and back.
https://needlepoint.com/products/stitchestogo

The book is divided into eight sections, according to the direction of the stitch.  The sections are:

Stitches That Read Straight

Stitches That Read Diagonal

Stitches That Read Oblique

Leaf Stitches

Laid Fillings

Blackwork

Darning Patterns

Lagniappe (basically anything that doesn't fit in the other categories)

The section on Straight Stitches is the largest.  There are not many pages of blackwork or darning stitches.  The other sections are medium-sized.  There's a three page section in the back called "Tips and Tricks" with some general information on things like how to create mirror images of a stitch.  All the pages are printed front and back, so "Tips and Tricks" is essentially six pages long, for example.  There is no index and the stitches are not named.  To find something you need to figure out if you want a straight or diagonal stitch (for example), then hunt through that section.  The editors suggest you refer to stitches by page number and position on the page:  "10 UR means page 10 upper right."  

It's 92 pages long plus an introduction.  Most pages (but not all) have six stitches on them, front and back, so there are a LOT of stitches. The diagrams are usually two inches square and in black and white (with gray stitches sometimes) without the stitch path numbered.  There are no photographs of the stitches stitched on needlepoint canvas.  There are no thread suggestions or ideas where to use any of the stitches—this book is just diagrams.  The online price seems to be in the $25 range, so this is a good deal.  (Stitches to Go is 64 pages with fewer diagrams per page and costs $20-25.)

Page Chosen At Random

Beginners won't have the skills to figure out how to stitch many of the more complex stitches without a numbered path, and folks who have vision problems may have trouble seeing the diagrams without magnification.  I leafed through my copy today and I don't see many stitches that I haven't seen often in other books.  Probably only a dozen at most are truly new to me.  If you have a large stitch library, you may not want this book unless you need a good reference book that is small enough to take everywhere with you.  

Don't get me wrong, this is a great little book!  Pair it with Stitches to Go and you have a fabulous collection of stitch diagrams in just two little books that are easy to carry anywhere.  It's just not suitable for every needlepointer because of the issues listed above.  

Cindy says they have enough stitches to do a second book if the first does well.  Keep your fingers crossed!  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 5, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Survey of Cynthia's Lights

Needlepoint for Fun has talked Cynthia Thomas into writing an article about the various lights she uses for her stitching.
http://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/best-needlepoint-lights-to-use.htm

As a teacher and stitch guide writer, Cindy stitches all the time, so her experience with lights for travel and her home is wide.  Hopefully this will give you ideas in case you need a new light yourself.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 25, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sandy Arthur's Bullion Tutorial

Sandy Arthur has added a bullion knot tutorial to her latest blog posting about upcoming classes.  There are diagrams and photos and a nice explanation, plus information about the needles Sandy recommends to make things easier.
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2017/08/time-for-new-lesson-postings-oh-my-am.html

If your favorite shop doesn't stock these needles, Colonial Needle sells them on their website.  In my experience, Colonial ships very quickly, too.  Plus they have Cynthia Thomas' video on making bullions right there on their page.
http://colonialneedle.com/Bullion-Tapestry-Points.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 19, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Review: The DuoLamp from Daylight

Cynthia Thomas raves about Daylight's DuoLamp. 
https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.thomas.7355/posts/1440297595988530

If you would like to learn more, Dick Blick's art supply website has them on sale.  Note the tabs that have detail specs of each type of DuoLamp, a review and photographs to help you see exactly what you are getting if you order.
http://www.dickblick.com/products/daylight-duolamp/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 19, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Right Tool for Bullions

Sandy Arthur finds Colonial Needle's new tapestry point bullion needles very helpful.  She recommends them to students in her classes.
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2015/06/tools-of-trade.html

They come in three lengths and have a large eye and a blunt tip like regular tapestry needles, making them a good choice for bullion beginners or stitchers who don't like sharp objects sticking up at them from their canvas.  (Colonial also makes them with regular sharp tips.)
http://www.colonialneedle.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?category=NEW_PRODUCTS

I'd like to add that as well as the right tool, the right thread makes all the difference in making nice bullions.  Try crewel wool if bullions are giving you fits and see if that improves the look of your bullions.

These videos on the Colonial website may also help.  They are done by our own Cynthia Thomas, by the way.
http://www.colonialneedle.com/html/bullion_video.html

The best price I found for the tapestry point bullion needles is at this site, but I don't know anything about this company.  If your local shop has them in stock, pick them up there.
https://www.stuff4crafts.com/yarn-and-needle/knit-accessories/embellishments.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 1, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Blunt Point Bullion Needles from Colonial Needle

Cynthia Thomas (who worked with Colonial Needle to develop them) has posted a photo of the new style bullion needles on Facebook.  The needles are all about the diameter of a size 20 tapestry needle, have blunt tips and come in lengths of 3 1/2, 5 and 7 inches.  Cynthia says she can get size three perle cotton through the eye (although she can't double it to force it through) so this should work with many threads if you are making bullions.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/663493220394506/

Cynthia made a video of these needles in use but it isn't up on the Colonial Needle website yet, nor are these needles but I imagine your shop can order them from Colonial now.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 18, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Magic That is Tony

The genius behind Eye Candy met the genius that is Tony Minieri and Cinderella's carriage started to roll.... 
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2014/03/in-classroom-with-tony-minieri.html

I'm going to postpone publishing this in the hope that Cindy's smaller carriage is done quickly and you can see that, too.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 14, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Club Needlepoint

Ada Hayden of Eye Candy takes us on a trip down memory lane as she reviews her club canvases and explains how they evolved.  
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2013/08/join-club.html


This reminds me--I've been working on reorganizing the Monthly Clubs page here at Blog since June.  I decided that there were so many clubs available that I needed to arrange them by topic--Christmas Clubs, Halloween, etc.  Once I finish that task, I plan to work through all the links and make sure every link still works and all the clubs listed are actually still available.

As before, I will put the newest club on top under its section.

This is going to take some time, however.  After all, I've been doing a little bit almost every day for the last six weeks and I am still not finished!  If you run across a club I've not mentioned or that is no longer available, please let me know.  The number of available clubs is astounding and it is getting hard for me to keep them all straight on my own.

Thanks for the help.

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.

In Class with Cynthia

Recently Enriched Stitch was lucky enough to have Cynthia Thomas in the shop teaching.
http://astheneedleturns.com/cynthia-thomas-classes/

New needlepointers probably know Cynthia from her new book, Noses, Roses and Other Fun Stuff, but folks who have enjoyed needlepoint for a while know Cynthia from her zillions of stitch guides.  She and Brenda Hart and Amy Bunger were the first stitch guide writers I ever heard of.  Like Brenda and Amy, Cynthia also teaches occasionally.  Her work is gorgeous!

If you want to see more of Cynthia's stitching, you can look at all the Melissa Shirley stitch guides she has written and...
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galcol/index.cgi?index=1311779095_10303&col=158

...you can read Cynthia's blog.
http://hillcountrystitcher.blogspot.com

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.

Blog News and Updates

I've been working on updating Blog and the CH Stitch Guides blog quite a bit lately, so I thought I'd summarize what I've done.  First of all, the TNNA trade show in Columbus, Ohio starts June 21st so there are quite a few new items listed under the "TNNA COLUMBUS June 2013" tab.  Some of them are from folks who won't be at the Columbus show but new things just seem to collect at this area of Blog.  Click on the tab under the title header to see what's there, then click on the Home tab to come back here when you are ready.

I've also updated the tab that is called "Tutorials and Hints" with a few more tips on how to start/end threads invisibly.  This is very important when you are using light coverage stitches.

The Loretta Spears Archive has been updated with several eBay sales of Loretta's charts.  If you are a counted canvasworker, you'll want to look at this blog periodically, particularly if you are unfamiliar with Loretta's work or have a big stash of her charts that could help me with more information.

I update the "June Trunk Shows and Sales" section daily.  It's amazing how many sales there are at the various online shops.

I am considering reorganizing the "Monthly Clubs" section.  It is getting bigger and bigger all the time, so finding things is hard.  Do you have any ideas of how you'd like it organized?  I was thinking I'd group club types with the newest on top so that you could find Christmas-themed clubs, ones with Halloween items, etc.  Any other ideas about how best to handle this?  By the way, if a club I've listed there is no longer available, please let me know.  I don't have the time to check them as there are just too many, which is odd since I remember when clubs were only available from Pocket Full of Stitches and French Knot.  How times have changed!

In stitch guides news, Robin King has published a summary of all the Halloween canvases she currently has stitch guides for, and Cynthia Thomas is busy posting photos of the canvases she's done guides for on her "Cynthia Thomas" Facebook page.  I have also completed two more Leigh Designs guides for her Water Babies series (Fantine and Alta).  To visit the CH Stitch Guides blog, just click on the photo of the magic carpet on the right hand side of Blog.  To return here, click on the magic carpet again, and you will be transported back again.

Looking back on everything I've done this week, I wonder that I have any time to stitch at all!

Have fun browsing.

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.

Exhibits and Classes and Fun

Since it is spring and the weather is marginally better, there are all sorts of classes and exhibits going on.  Luckily folks are reporting in so that we can share in the experiences no matter how far away they are from our own stitching nest. Nimble Needle in New Jersey went to Needle Fest and had a great time
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/04/nj-needlefest-labor-of-love.html

Sandy Arthur just taught a painted canvas embellishment class at The Village Sampler and had a blast!
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2013/05/village-sampler-st.html

Cynthia Thomas was at Atlanta Needlepoint teaching techniques from her new book and was planning to meet up with Needlepoint Nation members shortly. Hope she had even more fun there!
http://hillcountrystitcher.blogspot.com/2013/04/im-traveling-fool.html

Diane went to Mackinac Island and stitched with June McKnight.
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/05/mackinac-island-grand-hotel-limoge-box.html

Needle Bug went to Monroeville for a play and took Julia Snyder along.  Then Julia taught.  A good time was had by all.
http://www.theneedlebug.com/blog2/2013/05/wow-julia-has-come-and-gone/

http://www.theneedlebug.com/blog2/2013/05/more-photos/

The Guildford Town Tapestry is on display in Guildford.  Unfortunately this is a town in Surrey, England, so I won't get to meet the mayor who coordinated the stitching of this large piece and who worked on it herself but I agree that we need more stitching mayors!
http://needleprint.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-stitching-mayoress-guildford-town.html

Coral Seas has been to the Royal School of Needlework's ecclesiastical embroidery exhibit.  Follow the link to see the Litany of Loreto pieces she raves about.
http://threadsacrosstheweb.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-few-days-ago-one-of-my-japanese.html

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a lot closer to me but I missed their Third Annual Needlecraft Exhibit.  Melita went however, and reports back about the pieces that caught her eye.
http://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/rehoboth-beach-museums-third-annual-needlecraft-exhibit/

If you haven't had any stitching exhibits or classes in your life lately, you might be interested in this Margaret Bendig class in San Diego.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/join-us-for-a-day-of-stitching-or-2/

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.

New Wools and Bead Buddies

Paternayan is in production again.  According to Cynthia Thomas who posted about this on the ANG email list, two companies are making Paternayan. Saco River Dye House owns the Paternayan name and are making a three ply wool, with each ply the same.   Colonial Needle is using the same spinner as JCA did (the last owner of Paternayan) to make three ply wool, each ply slightly different in size.  Cynthia thinks Colonial's version is called Colonial Persian Wool.   The basic colors are available now and more colors are planned.  Cynthis says, "I handled and stitched with both and think they are both fine" but she warns stitchers to make sure they get enough wool in the same dye lot to finish their project.

I've also heard on the ANG email list that Fleur de Paris has a new wool from New Zealand called Anahera.  This is a single ply tapestry wool that is said to be very soft and durable.  You can read more about it on the Fleur de Paris website.
http://www.fleurdeparis.com/products/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=NW-8

Vicky DeAngelis has posted photos of Meredith Willett's latest brainstorm--Bead Buddies,  As I understand it from Vicky's explanation, these are little plastic boxes with lids that have a magnet pair on the bottom and sticky stuff inside.  You attach them to your canvas to keep your beads close by.  These are available from Elizabeth Turner Collection.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/blue-bonnet-needle-arts-retreat/

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.

Cynthia Thomas' Book Information UPDATED

Cynthia Thomas' new book is now available.  She's already been selling it at the Blue Bonnet Studio retreat in Texas but if you didn't make it there, not to worry.  She is having more printed now and you can get your own copy by emailing Cynthia.  Here are the details on Noses, Roses and Other Fun Stuff.  Expect to learn a lot from Cynthia, whose guides--especially for Melissa Shirley--have entertained and enthralled stitchers for years.
http://hillcountrystitcher.blogspot.com/2013/02/blue-bonnet-studio-and-book.html

IMPORTANT:  Cynthia's zip code is 78025.  Make sure you use the right one when you send her a check.

Not sure if your guide was written by Cynthia?  Here's what she has done for Melissa Shirley.  Busy lady.  And talented!
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galcol/index.cgi?index=1311779095_10303&col=158

I'm starting to save up for a copy.  There are lots of noses and roses in my stitching future, after all.

UPDATE:  Cynthia will be teaching at Enriched Stitch soon and the shop has posted photos from her book on their blog to showcase all the interesting techniques the book covers.
http://astheneedleturns.com/cynthia-thomas-is-coming-to-town/

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.

Easter Crackers

Easter Crackers, Courtesy of Marilyn Owen

I've noticed that the rage for Christmas cracker shaped ornaments has taken hold here in the World of Needlepoint. It used to be just a counted thread thing, with dozens of designs available from most cross stitch and counted thread designers. But it was not a NP interest until recently when Melissa Shirley started designing small rectangular shapes to be made up into crackers.  Melissa has designed crackers for Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day and Easter.  (And Palma reminded me that there are a few for the 4th of July as well!)
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/?searchstring=crackers&searchlist=&Search=Search&dosearch=

Then Melissa tempted great stitchers to do stitch guides for them.  Laurie Walden and Cynthia Thomas have done guides for the Christmas crackers.  Palma Seijan's finishing up guides for the new Easter and Valentine's sets that are premiering this month at TNNA.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/index.cgi?index=1161107729_31742&col=

http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/index.cgi?index=1330034925_31843&col=

Now Marilyn Owen of Moore Than Needlepoint in North Carolina has joined in with a wonderful set of Easter crackers that are counted canvas work, not painted canvas.  Hurrah!  You can see them in detail in the link below  There is also an ad in the January 2013 issue of Needlepoint Now if you are a subscriber.  Several of the crackers will work for other times of the year if you aren't an Easter decorator.  For example, change the kite cracker's colors to a red, white and blue color scheme and you have a July cracker!  By the way, the instructions for each cracker (sold separately) include finishing instructions in case you want to try your hand at your own finishing for one of these, or use the instructions on other crackers in your collection.
http://www.moorethanneedlepoint.com/Crackers.html

If Marilyn's name seems familiar, she is the designer of the Folding Ort Box, Halloween Treat, and Ornament Quartet in the ANG Chapter Project Book, and created the design Sudoku Serendipity for Needle Pointers.  She also is part owner of Moore Than Needlepoint.  Upon exploring the shops website, I also discovered a wonderful limited edition Christmas ornament that would be quick to stitch up as a present for a golfing buddy or a friend who lives in the Pinehurst area.  Nobody in Pinehurst?  Substitute your own location or just your house number or even leave the lettering off.  

I think this is a shop and designer to keep an eye on....

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