Lacquered Boxes

Remember the beautiful lacquered boxes that HP Designs used to sell? Amanda Lawford bought rights to some of the styles and now that her designs belong to Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery, the shop affiliated with VNG has managed to get more of them with a 5x5 opening for a design.  (Did you follow all that?  I might need to do a diagram.  LOL)  The boxes are fabulous and are $190 each regardless of color.   There are only a few of them so if you have a great canvas that will work ready and want a spectacular display for a birthday or Christmas gift, don't hesitate to buy.
http://astheneedleturns.com/september-newsletter/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 5, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Picking Just the Right Mat Color

Vicky shows off the piece she stitched for the newest issue of Needlepoint Now magazine and takes us behind the scenes as she searches for just the right mat color to frame this little beauty.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/its-in-the-mail/

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

Where to Find HP Designs

The interview with Frank Hyatt has prompted lots of questions about where to find HP Designs canvases. Of course you should start with Frank's HP Design website which has the leftover stock of designs that weren't picked up elsewhere.
http://www.hpneedlepoint.com/index.html

Frank also has an eBay store which has some real bargains.  Search eBay for the seller hpdesigns to see what temptations Frank has ready for purchase.

Julia's Needleworks has quite a few of Frank's beauties for sale, especially among the classic African and floral areas Frank did so well.
http://needleworks.ehclients.com/index.php/gallery-HPDesigns/category-2014/C290/

Amanda Lawford went for the classics, particularly the Asian and flower patterns and the animals with oriental rug borders.  She also picked up some of the lacquer boxes (second link).
http://www.amandalawford.com/artists/HP.html

http://www.amandalawford.com/products/boxes.html

Barbara Russell also chose animals and Asian designs but her website doesn't have the HP Designs pieces in one section.  You'll have to browse to find them, which is no problem.  Barbara's site is a delight to explore.
http://barbararusselldesigns.com/browse.html

I hope you find one of Frank's beauties to stitch and treasure.  Thanks again, HP Designs!  It was great while it lasted.

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

A Visit with Frank Hyatt

Recently I fell into correspondence with Frank Hyatt of HP Designs.   Those of you who are in the business know that Frank retired recently, selling the rights to some of his designs and lacquered boxes to other designers.  He also maintains a website to sell off the remainder of his inventory of painted canvases and boxes if you want one last chance to grab a memento of HP Designs.
http://www.hpneedlepoint.com

Frank is a wonderful correspondent.  He also was kind enough to tell me a bit about his career and allow me to share it with you here.  Thanks, Frank!  You have worn many hats in the needlepoint business, and what you have to share is fascinating to those of us who are just regular stitchers.

So let me introduce Frank Hyatt, who will make you laugh and make you think.

************************************************

 I will try to be short and to the point.

Many people know me in association with Gene Plummer who was both my business and life partner for 25 years.  Although many think that HP stands for hand-painted it actually is the first letters of our last names Hyatt and Plummer.  The fact that he is no longer with us is one of the reasons I’m quitting the business—it’s just not as much fun.  

We fell into retail needlepoint as a means to move back to San Francisco from Portland where we had moved in 1991.  I never really acclimated to the Northwest so when Gene’s brother called and jokingly offered us a needlepoint store I jumped at the chance; Gene, however, was less certain.  He claimed that in consideration of our ignorance about all things needlepoint it would not be a smart move.  I, on the other hand, countered that we were both English Lit majors and didn’t know a lot about anything but it hadn’t stopped us from doing dumb things before and it shouldn’t now.  My logic won the day and we moved back to San Francisco to become operating partners of “Elaine Magnin Needlepoint” in 1994.

As I mentioned, both of us were completely ignorant about needlepoint--our only previous experience was purchasing a printed kit from Michael’s as a gift for Gene’s sister-in-law.  Ironically, I remember being underwhelmed at the images and shocked at the prices—seemed like a whole lot of nothing for a whole lot of money.  I was equally confounded as to how a woman who lived in Pacific Heights and was on the board of the San Francisco Opera could derive any pleasure from such a pedestrian and old-fashioned hobby.  Only later did we understand our gaffe--Gene’s sister-in-law was an avid stitcher of hand-painted needlepoint and a good customer of Elaine Magnin Needlepoint.  After 30 odd years, Elaine retired and sold the store to Gene’s brother Gayle who, over the years,  had watched his wife spend large amounts on needlepoint and (against her advice) decided that owning a needlepoint store would be a sound investment.  Only later did he learn how much time and money would be required to make his investment profitable at which point he decided to close the doors.   Thus, he called one day and in the ensuing conversation offered the store to us.  

Whatever I thought needlepoint was quickly vanished my first day in the shop.  The shop was tiny--only 220 square feet--and traditional.  Thread-wise, it only stocked Paternayan wool, DMC cottons, and Balger in silver and gold--but design-wise, the shop had hundreds of unbelievably beautiful hand-painted canvases by the likes of Jane Aurich, Joy Juarez, Melissa Shirley, Kate Molineaux, Gay Giannini,  Dede Ogden, Amanda Lawford, Julie Poitras, and so many more.  I had never seen hand-painted needlepoint designs before and I was definitely impressed by both the artistry and the prices.  I momentarily regretted my fool-hardy rush to become a purveyor of needlepoint--I was prepared to peddle $30 kits as sold at Michael’s but $900 canvases--what on earth was I thinking!  I dismissed my doubts, bought some new clothes and decided I would cross the sales bridge if I ever came to it--I was yet to be convinced that anyone spent that kind of money on a product that, no matter how beautiful, required the additional expenses of threads, time, and fabrication. Besides, the designs that I saw were the ones that hadn’t sold not the ones that had. 

Very quickly I learned how to basket weave.  I read the “bible” by Jo Christiansen and taught myself many of the stitches plus learned as much trade jargon as I could absorb.  Fortunately, when it comes to selling it is far more important to sound knowledgeable than actually be knowledgeable--knowing the difference can buy one the time to become both.  Under the guidance of Mark Parsons we modernized EMN into a boutique needlepoint store--with thousands of designs and over fifty different fiber lines.  In addition, we started to sell antiques and accessories suitable for needlepoint finishing--I have never seen a surface that I didn’t think about slapping some needlepoint on.   Eventually we found the lacquered boxes and began to retail them as well.  When we sold the shop and went into wholesale the boxes were already a proven product so we quite naturally took them with us--although, the price point did change significantly. 

A word about business plans--although boxes and canvases don’t appear to go together, the underlying logic is, as in all things, form and function.   People will always do needlework of some sort (think of poor old Penelope stitching by day and unraveling by night) providing a utilitarian use for the stitched piece is always helpful.  It is currently the fashion to treat needlepoint as art but, needle-pointers should never forget that, in addition to repelling unwanted suitors, it is also useful as rugs, upholstery, clothing and shoes, etc— all one needs do is tour castles in Europe to see the practical uses for needlepoint. 

After acquiring the store I became “addicted” and stitched dozens of needlepoints most of which I gave away or used as shop samples.  I learned the hard way that needlepoint is best done for oneself and not as gifts to be given to others--eyes light up at  $50 coffee makers but $500 pillows cause wtf looks of bewilderment--for needlepoint there is Visa but for expressions of  surprise and confusion priceless.   Because of the constraints of our small shop, we didn’t hold classes so I memorized stitches from Jo Christiansen’s “bible” and gave individual lessons at point of sale.  I would quickly write stitch charts and then show the customer how to do the stitch in the margin of the canvas.  Of course we stocked various stitching books especially the ones which organized stitches according to use.  Provided one is patient and willing it is not that difficult to turn ordinary basket-weave stitchers into competent and sophisticated needle-workers.     

I am not sure if you were a customer of mine at EMN but if you shopped the online store in the late 1990’s you were.  We started the online store and sold it along with the brick and mortar to Alan Ferrara 2001.  Sadly, Alan went out of business a few years ago and a 50 year tradition in San Francisco disappeared.   

Initially, when we started HP Designs we purchased designs from other artists--Wendy Rayment, Molly Fehrenbach, and a few others—but, eventually, I became the primary designer for our wholesale line.  Our design aesthetic was a continuation of what we had stocked in the shop--florals, animals, geometrics, oriental, Christmas, etc.  I always designed by category and what was most likely to sell, not what pleased me--good thing too, my tastes run toward dark and morbid.   In retail Gene did most of the buying and later he was the primary arbitrator of what designs we wholesaled. He always chose designs that he thought would have sold in the store and he was usually correct.  

All of the designs, whether mine or from others, are all painted by various painting services operating in the industry.   The boxes are hand-poured and produced in China.  The painting services are either the best or worst kept secrets in the industry but everyone uses them.  If you have ever painted a canvas, even a small one, you know how time consuming it is, and when you think of how much needlepoint is sold every year at the shows you soon realize that the designer and artist is not necessarily the painter.  Artist, designer, and painter are three separate and distinct categories--to find a canvas design which is the product of all three in one person is a rare and expensive item.

Hand-painted needlepoint is primarily an American phenomena and has never really caught on elsewhere in the world.  Elaine Magnin who began the store was one of the architects of American style needlepoint.  Elaine, along with many other retailer/designers trained and hired artists to paint for them.  That is not to say that there were no designer/artists wholesaling in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s (there were a few) but in those decades the European print and pre-work companies still dominated.   Only with the establishment of off-shore painting services in the 80’s did the American needlepoint industry blossom into what it is today.  The historical perspective is important, not only because it is so recent, but because it shows a prevailing trend in the evolution of the needlepoint industry—specialization.

Like everything else in modern life needlepoint too has undergone specialization --fifty years ago the shop-owner wore almost all of the hats--retailer, designer, painter, teacher, finisher etc.  Today these are all separate and distinct jobs within the industry--today one does not need to design, paint, or stitch in order to sell needlepoint.  In fact, many needlepoint designs start as “art,” get adapted to needlepoint  by a “designer,”  painted onto canvas by someone overseas,  sold here in a combo needlepoint/knitting store, interpreted by a stitch designer then stitched with specialty threads by the buyer who then takes it to another expert to finish.  I am not complaining merely stating the obvious--when the pie is split between so many no one ever gets full.  For a fact it is getting harder to make a living at needlepoint.   If you have attended the trade shows for a number of years then you too have seen many people come and go-- talented people who brought an original and classic design sense to market but were unable to stay due to the strong competition for so few dollars.   It would be interesting to know how much in total sales a market actually does and how it has changed over the years; based on the turnover of designers, I would guess it is relatively stable (or stagnant-depending on if you are a glass half full or a glass half empty person).

To me it is clear, specialization within the needlepoint industry has brought about a flowering of the needlepoint craft into an art form.   One only needs to see the work of stitch designers and their pupils to understand that American style needlepoint is more than hand-painted canvases.  I hate to be the one to state the obvious but in a world in which everyone is an artist art tends to lose its meaning or least its mystery and as a result its value.  End users (retail customers) of hand-painted needlepoint designs now want and expect a quality and complexity of goods and services that is increasingly difficult for many in the supply chain to keep up with and make a profit.  Unfortunately (for sellers), there is a limit to what end-users will ultimately pay for their hobby.  My guess is that in the future the various specialties in needlepoint will need to be concentrated into fewer hands.  Ironically, we will go full circle to how it used to be—the shop-owner wearing all the hats.   This will happen one of two ways designers will become retailers or retailers will become designers.  

For all my pessimism, I want to end by saying that I have no regrets being involved in an industry in which all involved, whether sellers or buyers, are less interested in money and more intent on expressing themselves artistically, whether with paint and brushes or threads and needles.     

Frank Hyatt

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 15, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

HP Design Inventory Sale UPDATED

The owner of HP Designs retired last year and sold some of their copyrights to other designers. However, they still have leftover inventory in designs that no one else picked up and have some of their lacquer boxes left as well. They've set up a website to reduce the inventory. If you loved their work, check out the leftovers here.  Please note that there are quite a few boxes left.  The ones with prices only have one size left.  The others are in various sizes, so click on the color you like and browse.
http://www.hpneedlepoint.com/index.html

UPDATE:  Wanna see what a good box will do to a design?  Orna knows!
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2014/01/more-on-those-boxes.html

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

Amanda Lawford Presents....

Amanda Lawford is updating her website to showcase the other designers that are distributed by the company. The current ones are listed at the bottom of the page:  ARB, DC Designs, Needlepoint Broad, Mariko King, and Elizabeth Mumford.  Since the HP lacquered boxes are going to be distributed by Amanda Lawford, expect to see those on her site shortly.  Other designers may show up, too.  Stay tuned!
http://amandalawford.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.

Horse Racing in Needlepoint

The Preakness was this weekend, and although I don't follow horse racing, there are plenty around me who do since there are so many large horse farms within 100 miles of Chilly Hollow.  There's even a small race track about twenty miles from us.  So it was no surprise that Ruth Schmuff over in Baltimore posted about horse racing and Maryland on her blog.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/05/preakness-maryland-tradition.html

If Maryland isn't a state you want a souvenir of, how about a horse racing stand up set?  Beth's Needlepoint Nook has a really fun club to celebrate the Sport of Kings.  This is perfect for those who love jockeys and their rides and going to the races in their dreams.
http://bethsneedlepoint.com/Dot_ClubsExec.asp?idClubCategory=21

Kathy Schenkel has some darling mini socks that come with their own tiny stuffed horse.   If you have an aspiring rider in your family, these make wonderful presents.  Stitch the stocking, pop a little twenty dollar bill inside and secure by adding the little horse.  Surprise!
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/needlepoint/--b-2309.asp

http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/needlepoint/--b-2310.asp

But if you just want a classic horse pillow, you can't go wrong with this beauty from HP Designs.
http://store.needlenook.com/HP-Designs-Four-Horses-w-Floral-Border-p33697.html

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.

Nimble Needle Goes to the Birds

Nimble Needle has nighlighted several birds canvases that are new to the shop (and one classic that probably is going to be harder to find).  Whether you are a bird lover or not, you'll enjoy seeing the variety of styles that birds have inspired in needlepoint designers.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/05/new-books-new-birds.html

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.

HP Boxes

I am impressed by the beauty of the boxes by HP Designs, so I thought you'd like to see a batch that just arrived at Nimble Needle.  These are made for stitched inserts in the lids and come in a huge range of styles and finishes.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/01/especially-nice.html

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

Outside the Box

Yesterday we talked about the individuality and creativity of Marnie Ritter. Today we are going to look at the same traits in Cara Sue Richard.  She loves to cut threads, add threads, add colors, textures, add everything to painted canvases.  Often she totally transforms the subject matter.  Wait'll you see what she did with the HP Designs Deco Cat canvas that Ruth taught as a mystery class a few years back.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/11/think-outside-box.html

Here are more of Cara Sue's works of art.  I'm sorry I don't have a finished portrait of the tulips to show you.
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/pink-tulip-2liz-darkness-added/prev?context=user

This is another Lani canvas of a tulip.
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/tulip-pink/prev?context=user

I think this horse is from Leigh Designs.  Cara Sue's an original, isn't she?
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/more-022/prev?context=user

Check out the flowers carefully to see where she has cut away the NP canvas threads.  This is a Shorebird Studio piece.
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/yin-and-yang-cut-canvas?context=user

Finally, here is her Tree of Life.  Amazing!
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/tree-of-life-1/prev?context=user

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

Horus, Egypt and Pulled Thread Patterns

Bedecked and Beaddazzled is offering a June class with Gail Washington on intermediate pulled thread design. Gail has created a portrait of the Egyptian god Horus in pulled thread patterns for your stitching pleasure.  Isn't it lovely?  All the class details are here.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/04/egyptian-falcon-god-comes-to-bedecked.html

I'm a sucker for Egyptian design in needlepoint.  Of course we know that somewhere on Vicky DeAngelis' To Do list is Bastet from Tapestry Fair.  Don't miss the King Tut brick cover on the same page.  A little bird told me this canvas will be available with the corners squared off for those who want a framed mummy in their lives.
http://www.tapestryfair.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=1

Silver Needle has a lovely little travel ornament celebrating the monuments of Egypt.
http://www.needlepoint.com/designers/silver-needle/egypt.html

Denise DeRusha has an Egyptian "postcard."  Needle Works describes this as a fun exotic design and I think they are right.
http://theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=231

If you are more interested in abstract patterns, how about this Amanda Lawford floral based on the lotus blossom?
http://theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4596

Or Zecca's Lotus Squared?  You can get a Robin King stitch guide for this one.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2012/01/lotus-squared-by-zecca-ze-134.html

HP Designs has a wonderful portrait of a Pharaoh.
http://theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1541


Leigh Designs has a set of ornaments based on Egyptian themes.  Here's Seti.
http://store.needlenook.com/Leigh-Designs-Ornament-Seti-p34042.html

The rest of the designs (all based on Egyptian Pharaohs or gods) are on Leigh's website.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp822x.html

Of course Cleopatra is the theme of many painted canvases.  Remember Melissa Shirley's Wild Women series?
http://www.amybunger.com/catalog/item/6289632/8701671.htm

Labors of Love has a Cleo with a matching frame.  Hubba-hubba!
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/gallery.php?category=59

There are probably more Egyptian-themed painted canvases but I've run out of time to hunt.  I hope you enjoy what I uncovered.


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

TNNA News: On the Website

Now that the biggest trade show of the year is over and designers are home, unpacked and have the first rush of orders out the door, they are updating their websites.  Jelly Bean Stock has added a lot of lovely floral designs as well as some really funny pieces.  They usually do movie references, too.  This time they mention "When Harry Met Sally."
http://www.jellybeanstock.com/whatsnew.html


HP Designs has also updated their websites.  The new barn animal canvases are totally unique but of course they have new wonderful Asian-themed designs and fabulous wild animals.
http://hpneedlepoint.com/NEW2011-2012.html

Patt and Lee have updated their PJs and Chocolate (these are their painted canvases) pages with new animal canvas, many of which are HILARIOUS.
http://www.pattandleedesigns.com/2012_new_designs_--_animals

Maggie's also updated her website with new fun, colorful pieces.
http://www.maggieco.com/html/drill.php?category=7

Barbara Russell hasn't updated her website yet but Nimble Needle has photos and information about some of her newest designs.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2012/02/tnna-phoenix-2012-introductions-from.html

Needle Nicely is getting in new Eye Candy and Trubey pieces.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2012/02/special-visit-and-some-canvases.html

PFOS has a few new Zecca and Kathy Schenkel canvases now to view before their websites are updated.  They also have new Alice Peterson, Little Shoppe, Susan Roberts and Barbara Bergsten designs to see.  Hurrah!  Don't you just love seeing the newest canvases?
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-zecca-and-ks-designs.html

http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2012/02/more-new-canvases.html


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

Fireside Announces Monthly Clubs and a Sale

Fireside Stitchery in Pennsylvania has announced their 2012 lineup of monthly clubs.  This year you can sign up for a series of Faberge eggs (Lee Designs),
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/Clubs/index.cfm?fuseaction=getClubItems&CategoryId=3&clubNumberId=188

add to your collection of small mittens, small socks and hats (Associated Talents according to Vicky), or
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/Clubs/index.cfm?fuseaction=getClubItems&CategoryId=3&clubNumberId=190

stitch a collection of Halloween and fall-themed candy corn shaped ornaments (Associated Talents).  All these designs come with threads, stitch guide and canvas. By the way, Fireside is also having a sale on their in-stock HP Designs canvases.  There is only one of each canvas, so move fast if you fall in love.
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/handPaintedCanvas/index.cfm?fuseaction=getHPCanvasList&CategoryId=58&saleId=124&saleTypeId=2&showStart=1&groupNo=1


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

Vicky Goes Asian

I can always count on Vicky DeAngelis to pick out elegant Asian-themed needlepoint canvases.  Wait'll you see what she photographed at Market!
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/06/14/we-came-we-saw-and-we-shopped/

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

TNNA 2011: Sunday Reporting

Patt has a few favorites at TNNA.
http://pattandleedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/tnna-market.html

Colleen has a few new things to talk about, and promises more later.
http://theneedleworks.typepad.com/the_needle_works/2011/01/more-news-from-market.html

Janet Perry is reporting on new threads.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/thread-news-from-tnna

Tisha has a book wish list as well as some new tools.
http://stitchplaywithneedlepointtooltime.blogspot.com/2011/01/whats-new.html

She also has some great new tools and a thread described as "braided crystal bead thread" that I'm going to have to see!
http://stitchplaywithneedlepointtooltime.blogspot.com/2011/01/all-good-things-come-to-end.html

Ridgewood reports that HP Designs is releasing many of their canvases on 13 count.  That's good news for those of us who prefer the larger size to HP Designs' usual 18 count.  Click on the photo of their display for a better look.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/01/tnna-hp-ddesigns.html

Ridgewood has posted a two-part Day Two at TNNA report for us.  Part One has photos of a new designer--BB Needlepoint Designs.  Love the kiwis pillow!
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/01/tnna-day-two.html

Part Two talks about another new designer, Melissa Price, shows off Missy at Ruth Schmuff's booth, and has photos of DJ Design's magnificent Arts and Crafts style rug.  I want that!
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/01/tnna-day-two-continued.html

All that hard work blogging is greatly appreciated.  You shop owners are THE BEST!

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

Newsletters and the Giant Cat

I almost forgot to remind you that it is early May, which means Amy Bunger has a new newsletter up on her website.  If you like Halloween designs, you'll want to see the newest home study piece for the Haunted House.  There are links to earlier newsletters here as well, just in case you missed reading some of them.
http://www.amybunger.com/current_enewsletters.html

If you've missed earlier photos of the monsters that live in the Kelly Clark House as stitched by Amy, then you can browse the photo gallery here to see before and after photos of the painted canvases.  Click Next to navigate.
http://www.amybunger.com/albums/album_image/7271829/5639584.htm

Speaking of classes, Ruth Schmuff has almost finished her Giant Cat canvas from HP Designs.  This is a Craftsman-style canvas and she's done great things with it.  My favorite parts are the lovely background stitch and the beads that define the ground the cat walks on.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2010/05/me-ooooow.html

Busy Needle has posted a newsletter with tidbits about the wonderful things they saw at the January TNNA show.  Read all about it here--
http://www.busyneedle.com/Newsletter/index.htm

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

Two Enabling Points for Denise

Thanks to Denise at the Stitching Sisters blog, I know that Fireside Stitchery's new website is up and running. Not everything is in place, but there are 55 pages of a virtual trunk show for HP Designs. I am in 7th Heaven!
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/index.cfm

Of course there are many other things to see, including a sale of Rebecca Wood stockings, but I'll let you explore for yourself.

The image above is HP Designs' Art Deco cat on page 7 of the trunk show. I used it because the black and white color scheme are enlivened by two shades of sage green and the cat's yellow eyes, an interesting touch for a monochromatic color scheme. That's one reason I love looking at all the eye candy--when I am searching for color ideas, seeing pieces like this spark ideas. Thanks, Denise!

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