Finishing Friday: The Fuzzies

Linda B. just got two wonderful ornaments back from her finisher. They are spectacular! Beautifully stitched, Linda.
http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2014/10/just-in-time_30.html

I'm pretty sure the polar bear ornament is from Melissa Shirley but I am not sure about the snowman. He might be from Ruth Schmuff....

The finishing is out of this world.  The little fuzzy bumps, the colorful braid, the "just enough and not too much" ribbons--I love them!

For those who are into a different style, check out the two finished pieces customers of Eye Candy sent to Ada Hayden to enjoy!  The finishing from West Coast Finishing and Mountain Shadow Studio show you why they both have a reputation for excellence!
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2014/11/cats-and-birds-make-for-some-great.html

And finally, here are your Christmas sweaters and Christmas flamingos.  LOL
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-few-finished-ornaments.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 4, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tiny Little Stitched Houses

Stephanie has just posted lots and lots of photos of some of Squiggee's tiny 3-d houses. Her SWAN stitching group has been working a lot of these lately.  They are charmers! 
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2014/09/squiggee-consolidated.html

Squiggee isn't the only needlepoint company to do these 3-D houses.  Susan Roberts has some wonderful buildings.
http://www.susanrobertsneedlepoint.com/designs-by-category/category/mini-house.html

So does dede Odgen, although I think hers are larger.  They certainly are very detailed!
http://www.dedesneedleworks.com/special.html

Know of another designer who does 3-D buildings?  Add their name in Comments below or send me a quick email at chillyhollowathotmaildotcom and I'll update this list for you.  After all, the architect in us needs to build a house with needle and thread!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 3, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Painting Peeps

One of Squiggee's most popular canvases these days is this little box of Peeps, the traditional Easter chewy marshmallow style of candy available here in the United States in the spring.   I thought it quite interesting that folks like the yellow version best.  If I remember correctly, only yellow and pink peeps were available when I was small and eagerly eating candy from my Easter basket.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2014/05/who-knew.html

It looks like these are painted in roughly four steps.  If you study the photo carefully you will see the sort of pea pod shape, that then has a rectangle and logo added to surround it, then the details such as the polk dots on the box label and the faces of each Peep are added.  Simple to do and simple to stitch but full of spring happiness!

Here is how the real Peeps are made.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/video/peeps-factory-chicks-born-16090710

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 29, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tidbits

Gail Hendrix has added a new black poodle to her Squiggee series of roll up designs.  It's named after her own dog, Omar.  I love the tiny blue nails!
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/06/omar-poodle-boy.html

Colleen is back with a better look at the Halloween hats from Kelly Clark, along with some wonderful Sandra Gilmore rooms and dede animals.
http://theneedleworks.typepad.com/the_needle_works/2011/06/more-fun-stuff.html

Leigh Designs' latest newsletter shows five of the newest Fash Insert canvases for the Lee bags.  The kicker is that we don't know which of the ones shown will be ordered from Lee and which will be ordered from Leigh.  And there are ten more just released that join the original five.   (Got all that? LOL) The suspense is killing me.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/News.html

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

Free, Amazing

Orna Willis has added the second free "family" design to her website.  I love the mix of red and purple in her version.
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2011/06/second-free-design-and-giveaway.html

In the amazing category, Carole emailed me the link to this set of painted canvases intended to be made into a poof.  Of Geishas, of course!  Does Carole know me or what?!
http://artneedlepoint.com/bench-and-seat-cushions/geisha-pouf-set-of-five

Also amazing is the little owl with the floral eyes, one of the new designs featured on the Squiggee website.  I think the last 2-3 pages of the catalogue have new designs also, at least I don't recognize all of these.
http://www.squiggeedesigns.com/

The last amazing thing I have to show you is a box made by Marlene's, who specializes in magical finishing.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2011/06/needlework-box.html

Many thanks to Carole, Gail and to Orna, too.  And of course to the amazingly talented finishers at Marlene's.

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

Insights and the New

If you are a new needlepointer or returning to needlepoint after a few years, you will have faced the fact that there are charted, painted, hand painted and stitch painted designs.  What the heck is all that?!??!  Rittenhouse Explains All in this cogent article.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/05/stitch-painted-canvases.html

If you are looking for a totally new and different painted canvas, check out what the new design team at Needlepoint Etc. Hawaii has done!
http://needlepointetc.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/friday-may-20/

http://needlepointetc.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/tuesday-may-24/

Did you know that painted canvas designers send catalogue notebooks to the shops full of their latest designs?  The next time you visit a trunk show and don't see what you are looking for or you just can't find the perfect canvas in stock, ask your shop owner for a peek at them.  Squiggee tells us all about hers here-
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/05/squiggee-gchendrix-catalogs.html

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

Dallas Show

The Dallas "cash and carry" show is going on this weekend in case you wonder where your favorite shop owner has disappeared to.  Squiggee posted her flyer for shop owners who wanted a preview last week.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/dallas-flyer.html

Vicky DeAngelis is reporting on the show from Dallas.  Looks like this is going to be fun!
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/04/02/destination-dallas/

Colleen at Needle Works has promised to post the goodies she buys on her blog Monday.  Stay tuned!

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

The Connoisseur's Needlepoint

I have wonderful things for needlepoint fanatics this morning.  First of all, check out the amazing Japanese Embroidery pieces Jane photographed at the class she just took in the UK.
http://japanese-embroidery.blogspot.com/2011/03/advanced-embroidery.html

Do you like a more primitive and colorful style for your stitching?  Zecca has some wonderful canvases for you.  (Hint:  look for these on eBay.)
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2011/03/big-buddah-feet.html

If you are a fan of SharonG's Italian landscapes, you'll want to see how Denise has her latest piece framed.  Lovely!
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-love-my-framer.html

I always found armadillos interesting creatures but I never realized they make great frame weights until I saw what Gail Hendrix did with one in this new design for her Squiggee line of painted canvases.  Even if you are not really into these ancient creatures, you'll enjoy reading what Gail says about the creative process and her funny story of her brother-in-law versus the armadillo.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/process.html

Finally, Callaway Gardens' School of Needle Arts has released their classes for 2012.  Read this and dream!
http://www.callawaygardens.com/info/gardens/events/needlearts-course-descriptions.aspx

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

A Glimpse of the New

Patt and Lee Belt

Janet Perry has written a posting about new threads, charts and painted canvases which are being released.  Sadly, there are no photos for us visual people.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepoint-new-products-march-2010

Luckily Scarlet Thread believes in eye candy!  Want to see some new counted canvaswork pieces?  This is the place.
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2011/03/eye-candy.html

More Christmas Belt

Plus several designers have posted photos of their new painted canvases.  Want to see the new belts from Patt and Lee?  Scroll through the last few blog entries on their blog.  Check out the Christmas belt.  It has a LOT of possibilities!  I  like it so much I've posted a series of photos of different parts of the belt throughout this article.
http://pattandleedesigns.blogspot.com/

Squiggee is going to put their new things on their website as they are created.  This is very good news for shops who can't make the trade shows.  Easy ordering from the Temptress of Painted Canvases....
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/something-new.html

Here is the newest thread from the Society of Soie Surfine.
http://societyofsoiesurfine.blogspot.com/2011/02/series-2-is-about-to-begin.html

Even more festive belt

Here are the new colors from Cottage Garden Threads.  All those photos are going to be very helpful for those trying to pick new colors for a project.
http://cottagegardenthreads.typepad.com/cottage-garden-threads/2011/02/up-close-and-personal.html

Finally, I have a review of Julia Snyder's latest book of blackwork patterns.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/03/julia-snyders-blackwork-book.html

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

The New Year Approaches

January 2011 is almost here.  For us stitchers, that means the TNNA trade show in less than two weeks is going to tempt our favorite shop owners with the latest things available.  A great many painted canvas designers are starting to post hints about their new designs.  Were you a fan of the Kelly Clark pear series last year?  It looks like this year she is doing a set of candy canes.
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2010/12/national-candy-cane-day-december-26th.html

Teachers are showing off new things, too.  Terry Dryden is showing off her latest design which is called Sahara.  She does lovely abstracts full of color and pattern which are a delight when they are finished. She's going to post progress reports as she stitches the original, too.
http://www.terrydryden.com/-blog/2010/12/26/finally-moved-and-sahara.html

Anne Stradal is continuing to design and then stitch her Nutcracker ornament series.  The next one has three little ballerinas in the Dance of the Flowers.  Even if you aren't interested in the ballet, you'll want to get this for the tiny dancer in your life, or just watch to see how Anne fixes the problem of making a pink background and pink skin look different.
http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2010/12/waltzing-flowers.html

Squiggee is bringing flamingos to Market!  If you are curious, there's a link to a slideshow of all the new items here.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/squiggee-is-busting-out-all-over.html

Patt and Lee Designs are new to Market and are explaining all the things they have to do to get ready to go and sell themselves to the shops.  It's fascinating reading for anyone interested in the business of needlepoint.
http://pattandleedesigns.blogspot.com/

There are other new products available.  Kreinik now has gold and silver paillettes.  Sequin lovers unite!
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2010/12/kreinik-gold-and-silver-paillettes.html

LilyStitch has new miniature travel scissors of a kind I've never seen before.  Your mom rocks.
http://lilystitch.blogspot.com/2010/12/giving-thanks-to-my-mom.html

Finally, Janet Perry has a review of the newest Carolyn Hedge Baird book.  If you are on the fence about this one, read the review and decide whether to ask your shop owner to pick up a copy for you.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepointing-in-your-nest-book-review

On another topic entirely, I think you'll enjoy Plays With Needle's photo essay.  Good job capturing the moment, Susan.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2010/12/littlest-angel.html

Now Watson and I are going out to play in the snow....

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

The Morning After

It's the day after Christmas and I'm sure we all ate too much.  So before we all take yet another nap, here are some fun holiday things to dance through your needlepoint dreams.  Robin has been decorating with stockings and with nutcrackers. How festive!
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/12/stockings-galore.html

http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/12/nutcrackers-and-smokers.html

Lilystitch has wonderful Santas for us to delight in.
http://lilystitch.blogspot.com/2010/12/santa-claus-is-comn-to-town.html

Nimble Needle's finished Kelly Clark pears are gorgeous.  Thank you for the beautiful items, ladies.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2010/12/trio-of-pears.html

Peggi has a great idea for finishing next year's Christmas ornaments!  I bet you can pick up some holiday wine bags right now at a good price, too.
http://phoenixneedlepointnews.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-christmas-needlepoint-idea.html

If you can't face another Christmas ornament right now but you do want something small to stitch, Squiggee has hats, sweaters and mittens that would make delightful ornaments.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/very-seasonal.html

And Barbara Bergsten has an idea how to avoid all the Christmas madness next year.  LOL
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2010/12/needlepoint-holiday-saying.html

Laura Perin is creating new designs that are just perfect for the new colored canvases from Nature's Palette.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2010/12/silver-stars.html

Finally, I have a wonderful story of a pair of rescued Christmas ornaments and a miracle for Christmas.
http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/rescued/

http://www.gayannrogers.com/site_2/Christmas_Story.html

Watson says Merry Christmas to all.

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

More News from St. Charles

The news keeps showing up on the Internet:  Scarlet Thread has an interview with Debbie Rowley of DebBee's Designs on their shop blog that has photos of her newest designs to be released at the St. Charles market this weekend.  Counted canvas fans, this is for you!
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2010/09/talking-with-debbie-rowley-of-debbees.html

Squiggee is tempting me with her Eyebrow Halloween Pumpkin.  The spider in her web ornament is traditional, but that pumpkin!  I bet he has a French accent!
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/st-charles-ready-set-go.html

There are no photos but Shakespeare's Peddler writes about her experience at St. Charles.  I can just feel her excitement!
http://shakespearespeddler.blogspot.com/2010/09/st-charles-market-post.html

There's more to come.

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

The St. Charles Report

Things are starting to trickle out of St. Charles, MO (where all the shops and designers and thread makers and so forth are having a party about us--excuse me while I weep).  First up, Gail has taken pity on me and posted another photo of a new ornament, a gingerbread cookie version of the Statue of Liberty.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-st-charles-goodies.html

If you have your September/October 2010 Needlepoint Now, you probably have seen some of the newest things in the ads.  I highly recommend you read the ads.  They are wonderful fun!  By the way, that Pat Mazu mini sock looks like another type of fun and I can't wait to study the next stitch diagrams for the Marnie Ritter sampler.  Excuse me while I go weep over my copy's not having arrived yet.  Looking at it on their website is not the same!
http://www.needlepointnow.com/current_issue.html

Since I am already unhappy about the fun I missed, this is the perfect time to show the class Susan just attended.  Color me VERY jealous!  And a bit intimidated by the stitching.  It is amazing.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2010/09/stumpwork-by-jane-nicholas.html

Oh, well, I just updated the Chilly Hollow Stitch Guide site with a photo of O'jishi, an article on Tapestry Fair's new quilt series with stitch guides that includes photos, and a note about June McKnight's creative consultations.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/

Anyone got a hanky?  I need to blow my nose after all that weeping.

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

The St. Charles Gossip

Barbara Bergsten Won't Tell!

The St. Charles Gossip would be me--I have tidbits to share about what designers are going to bring to the St. Charles wholesale market. This is what is known as a Cash and Carry show.  Shops can buy what the designers bring and cart it home with them.  No waiting for things to ship later.  When your shop owner gets back from St. Charles and recovers enough from all the excitement to show up at your LNS, they will have the latest items for you to enjoy.

Barbara Bergsten will be at St. Charles.  She's not telling what she is bringing except for the No Peaking canvas above.  LOL
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2010/09/tnnas-fall-needlecraft-market-.html

I've heard that Melissa Shirley is introducing a new artist but there hasn't been even a whisper what the designs will be like.  We'll have to wait and see what she posts on her website this weekend.
http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?bsn=1

Leigh Designs' new series is called Ladies of the Night.  Photos will be revealed on their site Sunday.  I guessed what Leigh was doing so I've seen photos of the series.  It truly isn't like any other painted canvas I've ever seen.  All I'll say is it's on custom canvas....
http://www.leighdesigns.com/

I know that Needle Works isn't going to the St. Charles show but they ordered new designs sight unseen from their favorite designers and promise to post photos on their blog next week as the shipments arrive. So this is going to be a good site to watch.  The Sept. 1 blog entry already shows off Brenda Stofft's newest Halloween designs.
http://theneedleworks.typepad.com/

Speaking of Halloween, Squiggee (Gail Hendrix) has some wonderful new pieces for St. Charles.  There's a witch with a green complexion, and a scardy cat!  And there is a wonderful witch's house, too.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/st-charles-sneak-peak.html

http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/peaking.html

http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/still-peaking-at-st-charles.html

Finally, for the counted canvas folks, here are new items from Shakespeare's Peddler.
http://shakespearespeddler.blogspot.com/2010/09/just-facts.html

As things are revealed, I'll post links here as I find out about them.  Until then, how about reading Janet Perry's review of the self-finishing Timeless Tote clutch purses?
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/timeless-totes-self-finishing-clutch-product-review

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

The Pirate Cat's Sign

Deciding what part of your canvas to do next depends on a lot of things:  if one area has to be finished before you can do the next part, your own personal preferences, if you have a lot of white you need to do before stitching a darker area next door so you don't get fuzz from the dark area stitched into the white one, etc.  Sometimes folks like to start in the center of a design, sometimes if a piece is all in basketweave, it makes sense to start in a corner.  This is why folks find painted or printed canvases confusing--there is not a rule that works for each design in every situation.  You just have to think about what makes sense for the current piece you are stitching.  I personally like to stitch my background first, then I like to do faces, but for this canvas, I wanted to do something easy before I started on the cat's face so I decided to stitch the sign next.

It is done in tent stitches using Gold Rush 14, which is really too fat for an 18 count canvas, but I used short lengths to make it work without unraveling too much because this sparkly pumpkin color is just perfect for the background of the sign.  Gold Rush 14 was the only size I had since I don't think Orange comes in Gold Rush 18.  I like Gold Rush a lot.  It comes in lovely colors and the chainette type thread is easy to stitch with.  The cut ends ravel in the needle's eye eventually, but you just cut that off if you don't want to dab the cut end in your needle with Fray Check.  Gold Rush comes in a huge range of sizes for various canvas mesh holes, even Gold Rush XS for congress cloth. Here are some of the lush colors.
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=64

The edge of the sign is a darker red-orange and the lettering is navy but I am going to change those areas a bit. You'll have to stay tuned to see what I come up with there.  I ran out of time!

By the way, I'm starting to see pirate themes show up everywhere online as Halloween approaches.  Gail Hendrix has a great pirate hat and sweater ornament set just added to her Squiggee line for the St. Charles show.  By coincidence she has a great feather for her pirate hat but I'm not using one for my Patt and Lee canvas (which has been christened Cat Tin Hook, by the way).
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/st-charles.html

WaterWeave has a great pirate cat canvas of their own (top row middle and right end for a finished version).
http://www.waterweave.com/WaterWeave/canvasHats.html

Whether you "get" Halloween or cats, or would ever stitch such whimsical canvases, they are fun to look at.

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

Sunday Morning News

Lots of things have been happening here and there.  This week I updated the Chilly Hollow Stitch Guides blog with articles about Rosalie Peters and Lucinda Gregory Rice, both of whom have some stitch guides available for their pieces. I am not certain, but I think in both cases the guides come with the canvases instead of costing extra.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/

The photo above is from the Santas o'Round the World club that Squiggee (Gail Hendrix) is doing for What's the Point?  It happens to be one of my favorites, China!  You can see the rest of the series (some are stitched and some aren't) up at the What's the Point? website.
http://www.whatsthepoint.biz/worldsantapics.php

More information about this and other clubs here.
http://www.whatsthepoint.biz/clubs.php

Summer Truswell is having an auction of finished pieces to raise money for the swimmer in her life. If you need a stitched present but don't have time to do the work yourself, this is the place!
http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2010/08/truswell-needlework-garage-sale-2010.html

Speaking of Summer, Elaine asked in the Comments if Summer's finishing book had instructions on making a tote bag similar to the Rabbit Geisha one she made for my mother.  I've shot off an email to Summer asking and will post her reply here when I hear back.  It's the weekend, after all, and Summer is a mom with a few other things to deal with besides my message!

If you just want a nice site to browse over your morning cuppa, you need to spend a little time browsing the National Academy of Needlearts' exhibit winners.  The Exemplary has stunning stitching to enjoy and best of all, some of the pieces will probably turn up as teaching pieces in future years.
http://www.needleart.org/Exemplary10/

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

Finishing Deadlines UPDATED

I'm starting to see web stores publishing Christmas finishing deadlines in September now.  If you are going to send items away for finishing, better hurry up!

To inspire you, I've collected some great examples of finished pieces.  First is Pat's counted canvas work piece that reminds me of a wedding dress.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/08/another-finish.html

Jane's almost finished with her Thanksgiving turkey piece, which I believe she is going to have made into a serving tray.
http://janew1102.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/08/the-turkey-is-done-almost.html

http://janew1102.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/08/one-last-look.html

Ridgewood has posted some lovely finishing that their customers have had done.  This stocking is fabulous.  I particularly like the stitched name tag, which is a great touch.  I can see new name tags being added as the stocking is handed down in the family.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lucys-stocking.html

Lots of their staff and customers are doing belts as flip flop straps.  Neat!
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2010/08/our-eliza-bs-are-back.html

The Point of It All makes belt canvases into hat bands.
http://blog.thepointofitallonline.com/2010/08/summertime-and-livin-is-easy.html

They also have some pre-made frame weights that are lovely.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2010/08/using-frame-weight.html

By the way, your belt can make great shoulder straps for your purses, too.
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2010/07/handbag-strap-finishing.html

Speaking of frame weights, Squiggee has a great crab series that are normally made into frame weights but this little one has turned up on a great summer straw purse.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/08/crabs.html

Gail (Squiggee) has also put a sneak peak of some of her St. Charles trade show items (this show is in September and it is "cash and carry" so send your shop there with plenty of money to pick up things for you) on her blog.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/08/santas-oround-world-starting-out-from.html

Hope this inspires everyone to finish up their holiday items soon so we can all enjoy them soon!

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

Kimonos and Cottages (and More)

I know I'm posting on an irregular basis these days with my computer in the shop--I have to take advantage of any computer access I get. I should be back on schedule next week. Until then, how about we look at the Glittering Kimonos progress as two folks work on Tony Minieri's Stitch of the Month project he did for ANG? Liz has finished stitch two, in a lovely shade of sage green.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/sotm-section-2.html

Jan has picked her colors and has her line drawing on canvas.
http://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/ang-stitch-of-the-month-project/

Rittenhouse has posted photos of a stitch guide they are doing in the shop. It is always fun to see what various guides look like.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2009/03/art-fun-of-stitch-guide.html

I love seeing finished projects myself. Can anyone identify the designer of the two little heart projects Cyn just posted photos of?
http://cyns-stitches.blogspot.com/

Gail Hendrix has a great slide show of some of her painted canvas designs on the bottom of her blog home page. I love the animals (the fox chasing the hound is really funny) and the creative and different interpretation of the Twelve Days of Christmas designs she did, but the illuminated manuscript page with the dragonfly and narcissus plants is outstandingly beautiful.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/teaser.html

The final eye candy for today is Barbara Bergsten's Staffordshire cottage canvases, all stitched up for Chaparral Needlework which will offer them as a canvas club this spring.
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2009/03/staffordshire-cottages-series.html

I'm stitching away on my Renaissance Rat's tent stitch background, which takes forever but at least you won't miss not seeing pictures of that! And the computer should be back from the repair shop early next week.

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

Jane Learns Pink Isn't Always Pretty

I've actually made great progress on Squiggee's Japanese portraits. The ladies have all their white skin stitched in the photo above with basketweave stitch executed in DMC cotton perle #8. I had a ball of it I picked up somewhere on sale (along with a ball of ecru and one of black) and decided it would render the white skin of the women in smoother stitches than a white floss. I am happy with how it turned out.

If you look carefully at the faces, you see that the features are outlined in dark gray (4 plies of DMC cotton floss in 318) using mostly half cross stitch. I stitched the gray outlines first, then the skin, and finally the gray features like the noses, making sure not to drag a line of dark gray from one stop to another which might show behind the white.

My first thought was to change the skin color of the women to a pale pink and use a slightly darker pink for these outlines. I often use silk in these situations as the sheen makes the faces more real. I consulted the designer Gail Hendrix, who told me switching colors would throw off the muted color scheme, although she thought I could get away with darker/lighter shades of the colors. So I left the faces and arms dead white and now that the faces and arms are stitched, the white is growing on me once I put aside my pre-conceptions that I needed to make this piece realistic, which it is not. This piece was designed with Japanese artistic sensibilities in mind.

Before I end this, I should mention a few things about stitching with white cotton perle. I stuck to short lengths and tried to remember to keep my needle perpendicular to the NP canvas when I stitched so as not to abrade the cotton perle much. In my experience it looses its shine if you run a length through the canvas too many times. I also discovered it was really important to wash my hands each time I stitched with white thread. The cotton perle easily absorbed the tiniest amount of dirt on my fingers which of course shows as a smudged spot on the canvas.

Before I forget, I have not stitched the red mouths yet. Right now I'm debating whether to leave the area unstitched or not.

Next time I'll talk about choosing a background stitch and thread. Until then, remember that Pink isn't always Pretty! LOL

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

Jane Learns She is Chinese

Once my Squiggee canvas of the Three Women and the Peach arrived, I spent a lot of time looking at it and thinking about how to stitch it. Gail Hendrix, the designer, told me this piece was based on Japanese art, hence the white makeup, the brown background to mimic the rice paper such pieces are often painted on, etc.

At first I thought these ladies might be Chinese so I consulted with a friend who is an Asian scholar to make sure I had their nationality right (Japanese) and to ask about the symbolism and clothing of the ladies. She answered:

"The lady with a peach is highest ranking. A peach symbolizes longevity in both Chinese and Japanese cultures. This kimono would be of silk. Her hair ornaments are gold and silver. She is wearing the traditional geisha wig. The woman with the head wrap is a servant. Her yukata would be of cotton. The other woman is probably the lady's maid. Her yukata looks like it is also cotton but most likely a better quality. Her hair ornaments are most likely lacquer and there appears to be a bow of some type that is probably cotton."

This tells me this piece is all about texture. I'll need to choose the right type of thread to make the clothing of each woman appropriate to her rank. And I decided I wanted an open background stitch in the same brown color (it is exactly DMC #612 for those who are interested) as the canvas itself so that I'd get the correct rice paper effect. When I started testing background stitches, I discovered that the open space above the heads of the middle and right woman bothered me a lot. I wanted to put something there to fill the space, perhaps a window, or maybe a tree branch with pretty Japanese maple leaves, something.

My urge to fill in the negative space amused my friend the Asian scholar greatly. I got a short lesson on Japanese art, their use of emptiness to emphasize what is there and how my urge to cover everything was most like Chinese art.

She wrote, "Westerners are uncomfortable with negative space, whereas Japanese are not only comfortable with negative space, they exult in it. All that negative space is what makes Japanese art so soothing, unlike the wild, tumultuous crowded Chinese art that makes you jumpy. If you are concerned about space, just use the character for woman. Make it blend into the background, which I would do in a linen thread. I love it and it will look a lot like the matsor screens in Japan. You could embroider the character(s) OVER the finished background - just make sure character(s) and background are the same color."

She found the Chinese characters for "three" and "women" (which the Japanese use) and I will embroider those on top of the background on the left side near the arm of the woman with the head wrap. So I'll have a bit of extra in the background without ruining the Japanese feel of the piece that Gail Hendrix so faithfully copied!

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