Tea Time

A friend and I were talking about tea cozies which are used a lot in the United Kingdom but are much rarer here in the USA. But there are some wonderful needlepoint designs meant for tea cozies. Here are the ones we found—

Janet Granger has some really darling miniature tea cozies meant to be stitched on silk gauze.
https://www.janetgranger.co.uk/product-category/teacosy-kits/

She's in the UK but you can buy from her Etsy store.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/179388816/miniatures-kit-dollhouse-miniatures?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=needlepoint+tea+cozy&ref=sr_gallery-1-27

If you are more into stitching painted canvases, how about these two from Ziva?
http://www.ziva-needlepoint-designs.com/shopping-for-tea-cosies.html

Or these from Needlepoint Inc.?  They are more expensive because they are double-sided with gussets.
https://needlepointinc.com/collections/tea-pot-cozies

Kirk and Bradley has several abstract designs that might appeal.
https://needlepoint.com/pages/search-results-page?q=tea+cozy

Ehrman has a classic rose tea cozy that is beautiful.  Since it is printed on 12 count canvas, it'll stitch up fast.
http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/Products/Rose-Teacosy__ROSETC.aspx#.XNGd7S-ZN3l

Let's drink (tea or coffee, your choice) to these!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 7, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Do You Like Doll Houses?

Do you like doll houses? I do, partly because the rugs and wall hangings and cushions and footstools are usually done on needlepoint canvas or silk gauze.   And partly because my cousin and her husband built them from scratch as a hobby.  Janet Granger likes them, too, and designs the needlework that furnishes many a doll house.  She just posted a customer's house, one that is Tudor.  It's a fun browse.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/tudor-dollhouse-stitching/

If you are curious about Janet's designs, check out her website.  She ships her charts and kits and things like silk gauze pieces from the UK but there's not a delay getting them.
https://www.janetgranger.co.uk

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

For the Tea Lovers Among Us

Janet Granger is having a sale of her miniature tea cozy kits (intended to be stitched on silk gauze for a dollhouse), sparked by a customer of hers who has a collection of miniature teapots and wanted to stitch cozies to match.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2018/10/10/special-offer-on-cute-dollhouse-needlepoint-teacozies/

The tiny teapots and the cozies are charming, aren't they?  Like Janet, I really like the Ginger Cat tea cozy.  It would still be charming on Congress cloth or 18 count or even 13 count canvas if you wanted to experiment.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 11, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

From Tiger to Polar Bear

Janet Granger just posted a photograph of some of her dollhouse rugs, all stitched on 18 count needlepoint canvas using one strand of Appleton's crewel wool.  Appleton's crewel is one of my favorites because I love the colors available and it works so well on 18 count.  You can see how lovely Janet's rugs are stitched with this.  As for the title, look at the tiger rug in the photo.  That was stitched from one of Janet's charts, then the stitcher turned it into a polar bear rug!  So clever….
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/dollhouse-rugs/

If you want to do a little browsing, here's Janet's website with the tiger rug kit.  Click on Products and let your imagination fly!
https://www.janetgranger.co.uk/product/tiger-skin-dollhouse-needlepoint-carpet-kit/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 19, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Christmas in 1:12 Scale

If you are a long-time visitor here at Blog, you know I adore silk gauze. So it should be no surprise to you that I wanted to send everyone to Janet Granger's slide show of her dollhouse Christmas decorations.  Janet describes her kits here so you can get a sense of just how small they really are.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/its-christmas-in-the-dollhouse/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 29, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Janet's Makeover

Everyone with a messy craft storage system will love seeing what Janet Granger and her husband have done to her craft room. Janet is a little different from the bulk of us as she's a professional designer of miniature needlework kits, but the principle is the same.   Enjoy the makeover!
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2016/08/11/workroom-makeover/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 11, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Janet Granger Designs is Twenty Years Old! UPDATED

Janet Granger's business creating dollhouse miniature needlepoint kits is twenty years old!  Seems like yesterday I was thrilled to find I could buy silk gauze from her.  To celebrate, Janet's business is being profiled in Artisans in Miniature magazine.  Head to page five to read all about Janet and see photographs of her work.
https://www.scribd.com/embeds/303215376/content?start_page=1&view_mode=book

UPDATE:  Silly me!  I forgot to add Janet's website so you could browse her kits and see even more. Sorry.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 16, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Portable Swivel Light with Magnifier

Janet Granger got an interesting new portable light/magnifier for Christmas. I thought you'd like to see what she says about it.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/what-i-got-for-christmas-this-year/

Of course Janet's in the UK so this isn't something easily available in the United States but there's always mail order.
http://www.siestaframes.com/index.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 7, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Shall We Play Spot the Needlepoint?

Janet Granger found a video of the Thorne Miniature Rooms which are displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago online, then wrote about it and explained its influence on her miniature needlepoint design business.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/miniature-thorne-rooms/

She also thoughtfully included the link to the museum website where you can get a good look at all the rooms if the video wasn't enough.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/category/15

Most of the rooms have needlepoint rugs (probably on 48 to 60 count silk gauze or higher!) and many have a pillow or framed stitching and occasionally a stitched chair seat, and I think I even spotted a miniature needlepoint frame set up in a corner.  It's a wonderful way to spend a leisurely weekend browse.

Thank you, Janet!

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

FInishing Friday: Dollhouses and More

I haven't done a Finishing Friday posting in a while since several shops do a Friday posting of their customers' work now, but I thought you might like to see what Ridgewood's folks have been up to as there is quite a variety now that Christmas finishing is done for a bit...
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/01/finishing-friday_30.html

...and I thought you'd love to see the dollhouses decorated with Janet Granger's kits.  That's finishing, too, right?
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/gallery.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needlepoint Now Goes Small

The January 2015 issue of Needlepoint Now magazine is out and it includes the design for a miniature sampler from Janet Granger, who is an English needlepoint designer specializing in miniature rugs, chair seats, purses, table items and more for the doll house collector.  Janet's getting in the spirit of things by offering folks who want to stitch this the materials kit, including frame, so you can create your own tiny sampler in a few evenings from the comfort of your favorite stitching nest.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/needlepoint-now-sampler/

All you have to do is find the code in the magazine article, head to Janet's website (where lots of things are on sale in January--enter at risk to your pocketbook!), and enter the code when you cheek out.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/acatalog/Needlepoint_Kits_Samplers_for_your_dollhouse.html

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

Hanging the Stocking on the Tree--Next to a Magnifier

Natalia of Natalia's Fine Needlework showed off a pair of her Christmas stockings on her blog this morning...,
http://scarletsailsminiatures.blogspot.com/2014/11/christmas-is-coming-to-town.html

...which reminded me that Melissa Boling of Miniature Home posed a great little lion and lamb stocking at the Needlepoint Nation group on Facebook. 
https://www.facebook.com/MiniatureHomeDollhousePetitpoint/photos/a.149582905110957.35149.149573375111910/729962340406341/?type=1&theater

These are all original designs, by the way, and done on silk gauze.  I don't know what count Natalia used but Melissa's little angel and animals stocking is on 48 count.

Melissa's website has this design and other wonderful tiny stocking charts for sale.  I particularly like her Scotties in the snow.  Click on the little miniature photo to see these stitched.  
http://www.miniaturehome.com/Holidays.html

Natalia's stockings are available as kits or can be custom stitched for you.  I particularly like her snowflakes on red stocking but there are a lot of lovely designs available.
http://scarletsailsminiatures.blogspot.com/p/dollhouse-miniature-christmas-stockings.html

Janet Granger sells Christmas stocking kits that include 40 count silk gauze as well.  On this count, one ply of almost any brand of cotton or silk floss works well.   These pieces are done in tent stitches and are a lot quicker to stitch than a regular 18 or 13-14 count stocking.  Her Ho Ho Ho Santa stocking is great but I also love her Wise Men stocking as I adore Nativity sets.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/acatalog/Christmas_Stocking_kits.html

Have a teeny tiny Happy Christmas!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 26, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Back to the 1930s

Janet Granger's latest dollhouse miniature kit features what she calls the Crinoline Lady.  Dollhouses are made in miniature and they often mimic certain eras or interior decorator styles, so it makes sense for Janet to create tiny pieces that will fit into this or that era.
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/new-1930s-style-dollhouse-needlepoint-table-runner-and-placemat-sets-to-make/

In the South we called this the sunbonnet girl. Apparently the official name she goes by is Sunbonnet Sue and this design motif originated as a quilting pattern in the 1880s.  I've seen a lot of cross stitch kits and quilting patterns featuring Sunbonnet Sue-type patterns and there are some charming rework designs that are more elaborate.
http://hartcottagequilts.com/his8.htm

I did find one painted needlepoint canvas featuring a sun bonnet from Jane Nichols but otherwise I think the world of needlepoint design has walked right past the 1930s.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/sun-bonnet-1815.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 6, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Inside a Russian Dollhouse

Janet Granger is showing off photos a customer sent her of a friend's dollhouse. The customer stitched several needlepoint pieces for a friend's dollhouse and took photos once everything was in place. It's a wonderful house, full of people and a dog and gorgeous furniture.  The rug, bell pull and bolster pillow are all from Janet's "Tabriz" series of charts.
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/needlepoint-russian-dollhouse/

You can see the Tabriz large carpet on Janet's website if you want to see more detail.  It's the second item down from the top.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/acatalog/Needlepoint_Kits_Large_carpets_for_your_dollhouse.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 31, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Ginger Cat Tea Cozy

Normally I post new canvases and charts in the Tabs on Blog so that all the new things are in one place for the stitcher who is looking to add to their stash, but today's item is just too cute and unusual to put it there. After all, I know plenty of fans of ginger cat designs. (Hi, Robin!) 
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/ginger-cat-dollhouse-teacosy/

If you want a simple but very fun project, then Janet Granger's new dozing cat tea cozy kit is for you.  Janet specializes in miniature designs, often on silk gauze, for dollhouse fans.  But it occurred to me that anyone who loves teapots and cats might love picking up this kit (and a tiny china teapot!) to stitch this summer.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/acatalog/Miniature_Needlepoint_Teacosy_kits.html

Janet's tea cozy designs are worked in tent stitches using Anchor cotton floss on 32 count silk gauze.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/teacosy.htm

Janet even has a tutorial on how to make up your tea cozy yourself.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/tut_teacosy.htm

This is a short project that won't take long, is unique and fun.  I don't remember seeing a cat tea cozy before but what could be more natural?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 17, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tiny Cushions, Tiny Bottles

I love miniature needlework, don't you? Somehow designs when they are created in miniature become even more wonderful!   Take these teensy pillows, for example!
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/tiny-dollhouse-cushions/

I also love murder mysteries.  Agatha Christie herself, who was a drugs dispenser in a pharmacy during World War I as part of her contribution toward the war effort, would have adored the poison bottles from Kirk and Hamilton (now Kirk and Bradley).
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2014/06/dont-forget-finishing-date-for_26.html

So much needlepoint, so little time!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 26, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Dollhouse Needlepoint

Janet Granger has had a customer of her miniature needlepoint designs share photos of several of her dollhouses with Janet's needlepoint in place.   Isn't this fun?
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/dollhouse-inspiration-from-denmark/

Folks who feel they don't have the time to do a needlepoint rug should consider doing a miniature.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 9, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needlepoint Purses In Miniature

In case you've always wanted to stitch a needlepoint purse without the expense of finishing it, why not work one of Janet's on silk gauze? She even has a finishing tutorial.... 
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2014/02/06/new-little-clutch-bag-kits-for-dollhouse-dolls/

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.

Art Deco Rugs UPDATED

Rugs aren't just coming back in style for your house--they are popular for doll houses, too. Janet Granger is moving with the times by designing rugs in the Art Deco style for those who want something period for their doll house. These are on 18 count mono canvas, but since they are worked from a chart, you could create a silk gauze version to frame for your powder room.... 
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/just-launched-today-art-deco-carpet-kits-for-dolls-houses/

Just a thought, but personally I love miniature rugs on silk gauze!

UPDATE:  Janet has just released more traditional rug designs, too.
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/more-new-dolls-house-needlepoint-carpet-kits-to-make/

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.

Finishing Friday

I've enjoyed collecting finishing links to publish on Fridays. I am not fond of doing my own finishing but I do it especially for small stockings, ornaments and some pillows because it is much cheaper.  Therefore I love finishing tutorials.  They help me improve while saving money and also show just how skilled the professionals are.  Who knew a little scissors fob needed so many steps!
http://focusonfinishing.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/scissor-fob-tutorial-1/

If you love dollhouses, then you'll love the rug and chair set that two of Janet Granger's customers have done.  Janet specializes in designing miniature kits.
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/beautiful-miniature-stitching-for-dolls-houses-by-my-customers/

Needle Delights Originals showcases more of their counted designs in finished form.
http://needledelightsoriginals.blogspot.com/2013/09/pictures-of-former-mystery-pieces-and.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.