The Floozy's Necklace and Betsy's Stars

If you have been curious about Wonder Ribbon in action, Needleart Nut has used some for the necklace on her Leigh canvas from Leigh Design's Floozie series.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2012/10/lets-do-jewelry.html

Stephanie's stars on her Betsy Ross canvas (one of the Wild Women series by Melissa Shirley) have been diagrammed by Needle Works in Austin who graciously allowed Stephanie to post the diagram for us all to use.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-halloween-treats-included.html

Whoops!  Almost forgot.  Here's more about Wonder Ribbon courtesy of Quail Run's blog...
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/07/wonder-ribbon-by-collection.html

,,,and Annie and Company in NYC.
http://www.annieandco.com/products/the-collection-503-wonder-ribbon-gold

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

Most Wanted

This week I mentioned the Nordic Santa piece by As You Like It that set off a stampede of stitchers who wanted that design for their very own.
http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/1998/Legler.php

There are other designs that were equally popular which also set off a shopping frenzy.  I thought it would be fun to list the ones I remember and ask readers to post the ones they remember being wildly popular.  I'm curious just what these pieces have in common, if anything.

The first "Best Seller" I remember learning about was Marnie Ritter's plate series.  These designs were featured in the new defunct Needlepoint News/Needlepoint Plus magazine.  You can find these on eBay still and Marnie continues to publish new charted designs in Needlepoint Now magazine.  I love these designs and have the original Aurora Borealis kit in my stash.  You can see it as well as one of the other plate designs here.
http://www.needleart.org/LAA/Ritter.php

Here's Marnie's website, by the way.  Although the older plate designs aren't listed, I think you can probably still charm her into kitting some of them up for you.
http://www.mritter.com/

The other counted canvaswork designs that set up a buying frenzy every time a pattern shows up on eBay are the mystery designs by Loretta Spears.  Here is a prize winner from the 2001 ANG Seminar Exhibit.  I'm sorry, but I don't remember which mystery this was.
http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2001/fascination.php

Libby Sturdy's Wine Country Santa was also a big hit.  Libby's pieces are line drawn canvases that come with instructions.  You have to supply the threads.  To see Wine Country Santa (Libby says it put both her kids through college), click on Products on the left, and then browse the list of titles. Click and there you go!
http://www.justlibbydesigns.com/

SharonG set off a storm when she introduced her Tuscan landscape series several years back.  You can see them all by working your way through four pages of her Landscape and Abstract designs on her website.
http://www.sharong.com/catalog/landscape/index.html

The same thing happened when Melissa Shirley introduced her Wild Women designs.  She continues to add to the series. There are even some Wild Men included now!
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?cat=64

Recently, Leigh Designs' Floozies (aided by stitch guides and thread packets from ThreadworX) have been wildly popular.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp489x.html

Ok, now your turn.  What designs do you remember taking the Needlepoint World by storm?

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

Need a Kit? Or a Magazine?

There are some fabulous kits (canvas, threads and stitch guide) available these days.  Remember the Floozies from Leigh Designs?  ThreadworX has done stitch guides that come with a thread pack for the first of the series and plans to stitch them all. Here's Alehouse Annie.  I want to go out partying with her!
http://threadworx.com/floozies

Terry Dryden has many of her teaching kits for sale. I've seen Whirlygig in person and it is fabulous!  Please note that Terry adds new kits to this page periodically so bookmark it to revisit occasionally.
http://www.terrydryden.com/gallery-of-designs-for-sale/

Stitchery Square has several Barbara Elmore kits for sale at 10 percent off.  I don't know if the prices on this page include the 10 percent or not.  You'll have to ask.
http://www.stitching.com/stitcherysquare/newfeatures.html

Jody Adams has quite a few copies of old Needlepoint Now magazines for sale at her Etsy store.  Most are $7 each (plus shipping and NYS tax if you live there), which is more than they usually go for on eBay but you may want an issue you haven't been able to find there.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JODYdirect?section_id=6574942

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

Preparing for More

Today I checked over the Stuart Plaid Lion piece, looking for missed stitches, loose beads, or any furry spot that needs a few more stem stitches.  He will head off to Leigh Designs the end of the week to be made up into an ornament that will be one of the Dynasty ornament models eventually.  If you go to the trade shows, say hello to Leigh and the royal lion for me!

I'm going to start on the next Stars block tonight.  It's called Marlon Brando and is the first block in the second row.  I've also put my next two painted canvas projects on stretcher bars.  I'll start the smaller one of these once Brando is finished.    While I am getting organized, there is plenty of stuff for you to see elsewhere.

Pocket Full of Stitches' blog is full of new products and a new summer project canvas.  Read the May 4 and May 5 entries to catch up what the new owners have been up to and check out Lena the Ballerina.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/

Needle Works has posted their May newsletter and it is full of new and wonderful canvases.  Don't miss the Floozies.  Sloe Gin Sadie is my favorite but your tastes may run more to champagne or bourbon or ale.
http://www.theneedleworks.com/newsletter/201005newsletter.pdf

Finally, Amy Bunger is encouraging her students to run wild with glitter glue.   I advise staying inside and hiding under your beds until Peggy puts her pen away!
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/

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