Lorene Salt's Africana

Jan of the Stitch Lady blog has finished the modified Kathy Rees design she turned into a baby birth sampler and is now looking forward to working Lorene Salt's "Africana" with her local ANG chapter.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/01/30/first-finish-of-2024/

The Chilly Hollow stitch isn't my creation.  Jean Hilton made it up.  

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/02/24/africana-the-beginning/

Jan's working on a stash sale Santa (from Melissa Shirley?) while she waits for the class to begin. 

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/02/03/in-the-meantime/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/02/10/santa-by-melissa-shirley/

Oops!  Counting errors are the bane of my existence.  I feel for you, Jan!

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/03/03/africananow-a-bigger-challenge/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/03/10/more-africana/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/03/23/more-africana-2/

It's done--and it is beautiful!

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2024/04/23/africana-finished-%e2%80%bc%ef%b8%8f%e2%80%bc%ef%b8%8f/

I'll update this as Jan posts about her progress.  If you aren't familiar with Lorene Salt's designs, here is her website to explore--

https://lorenesaltneedlearts.com/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright  January 31, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Another Chilly Hollow Stitch Variation

Melita has come up with another variation on Jean Hilton's Chilly Hollow stitch.  Melita's variation uses two colors and alternates them as the stitch is created.  ANG's version has two colors but done in each quadrant. 

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2023/12/12/post-dec-12-a-chilly-hollow-ornament/

I've seen the CH Stitch done as a triangle, as an oval, and with either bullions or a shisha mirror in the center.  (Kreinik or ThreadworX's overdyed Kreinik makes fabulous bullions, by the way.)

If you are an ANG member, there's a diagram on their website.  If you aren't, Carole Lake's free design Berryville has a diagram for this stitch.

http://stitchplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Berryville.pdf

Carole also includes it in her fabulous Twisty Stitches Volume One.  This two volume set is a must have for anyone who stitches the "string art" type stitches that Jean Hilton made famous as Carole has great diagrams (and variations on the main stitch) for all of them I know about.

https://stitchplay.com/twisty-stitches-vol-1/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 13, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Four Jean Hilton Books Reviewed

Melita talks briefly about four Jean Hilton books she owns in her latest blog posting.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/04/27/books-in-my-library-light-n-lacy-stimulating-stitches-needlepoint-stitches-and-borderlines-by-jean-hilton/

I don't think stitchers today realize the impact Jean Hilton had when she first started designing with "string art" type stitches.  None of us had ever seen anything like this!

I will warn you these are all older books (the latest was published in 1995) and the diagramming isn't as good as books today because when they were published,  the software wasn't available.  But these are amazing books, all the same.  Jean Hilton had an astoundingly creative mind.

If you are interested, I found several places online that carry Jean's books.  They are listed in the order I found them.  The last link is to the shop that owns Jean's copyright where you can also pick up her charts.

https://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Canvas_Embroidery/JHI/JeanHiltonBooks.html

https://nashvilleneedleworks.com/shop/books/jean-hilton-borderlines/

https://www.needlenook.com/product-category/designer/jean-hilton/

https://stitches-heart.com/jean-hilton-designs/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

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

How To Read Stitch Diagrams

If you are new to needlepoint, stitch diagrams may be a puzzle.  How exactly do you put something like mosaic stitch (first diagram in the link below) on needlepoint canvas?
https://napaneedlepoint.com/about-needlepoint/2016/08/13/mosaic-stitch/

An experienced needlepointer knows exactly how to proceed but if you have no experience, you are a bit at sea.  But not to worry!  Us old-timers have several tips for you.  The first tip is to look for a diagram that is numbered, like this one for mosaic stitch.
https://needlepoint-for-fun.com/pages/the-mosaic-stitch-in-needleoint-and-different-ways-to-use-it

The second tip is to tell you the standard numbering system needlepointers use in diagrams:  Take the needle up from the back at odd numbers (1, 3, 5, etc.) and put the needle down from the front into the canvas at even numbers (2, 4, 6…)

Up at odd numbers, down at even.  Easy to remember.  And it makes a numbered stitch diagram for things like mosaic stitch a lot easier to master.

The American Needlepoint Guild has some really good diagrams of basic stitches on their website that are available for anyone to refer to.
https://www.needlepoint.org/page/SOTM

StitchGuild has animated stitch diagrams which folks find very useful.  You have to set up an account and give them an email address but you won't get emails from them.
http://stitchguild.com

Needlepoint for Fun has some good diagrams in their stitch library, too.
https://needlepoint-for-fun.com/pages/needlepoint-stitch-library

Occasionally you'll find stitch diagrams marked with directional arrows, like this—just bring your needle up at the base of the arrow and go down at the tip.
https://www.sheenasstitches.com/paw-prints-heart/

Jean Hilton's ScottLee

If you fall in love with geometric designs from people like Jean Hilton (see above), Kurdy Biggs, Jim Wurth, or Kathy Rees, then invest in the two volume Twisty Stitches by Carole Lake.  These two books explain the stitches based on string art extremely well, show how each is done with tips like which stitches go on top and which go under previous stitches and include bonus diagrams for the variations on them, too.
https://stitchplay.com/books-for-needlepoint/

As you gain experience, you can explore other online resources for stitches.  I have a list of them called "Stitch Diagrams and Resources" down at the very bottom of the home page here at Blog.

Basically, experiment in the margins of your canvas.  The more you do this, the easier it gets.

As always, email me at chilly hollow at hot mail dot com for help if you get really stuck.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 5, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Books on Parade

Ruth Kerns is a needlework book dealer whose monthly newsletter is always fun (and tempting).  But October's is special because she profiles books from Jean Hilton whose charts and "string art" stitches are classics.
https://ruthkernbooks.blogspot.com/2018/10/but.html

Speaking of books, the fifth volume of iStitches from Ruth Schmuff at Bedecked and Beadazzled is coming out in late December!  You can pre-order now for delivery in December.  Note that the digital version isn't out yet.  iStitches5 is a print volume only right now.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2018/11/stitches-volume-five/?mc_cid=b6e4e2f857&mc_eid=60242fbe68

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.

Breaking News: Jean Hilton's Little Guys Now Available

The publisher of Jean Hilton's designs, Stitches from the Heart, just announced that Jean's "Little Guys" series is now available in a single book, along with a similar Tony Minieri design called Rockaway.
http://stitches-heart.com/jean-hilton-release-rockaway-and-18-little-guys-in-a-single-book/

Counted canvas workers are rejoicing!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 19, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Twisty Stitches: A Review

Twisty Stitches, Volume One

I mostly stitch painted canvases, so why on earth did I add Twisty Stitches: String Art for Needlepoint Volume One to my stitching library?   Because it's the best book on Jean Hilton-type stitches there is!  Heads up:  you need this book.
http://www.stitchplay.com/index.html

Why? Because the stitches Jean Hilton created and made famous are involved and intricate and there is no better source available for understanding how they are done correctly.  I own one of Jean's book that diagrams the stitches she came up with but it is thirty years old.  The newest variations aren't covered and it is hard for me to understand in places. Computerized graphs have come a long way in 30 years.   I am not good at counting so these intricate layered stitches are confusing for me.    I need a lot of help.  Twisty Stitches provides it.

A Peek Inside....

Carole and Michael's Twisty Stitches Volume One covers how to work the Amadeus, Chilly Hollow, Crescent, Double Fan, Double Fan Doubled, Eight Point Star and Jessica Stitch plus a great many variations of each.  For example, the Amadeus is diagrammed in 21 steps (with a numbered black and white diagram and 21 little color photos of stitched example of all 21 steps).  There is also a color photo of the finished stitch and a color photo of the back side of the canvas when this is worked correctly.  The only way you are going to understand this stitch better is if Michael and Carole are sitting on either side of you, cracking jokes and explaining what you are to do with each and every step that creates the arrow shape of an Amadeus Stitch.  Then the book diagrams (also with a numbered chart and a color photo) seven variations of the Amadeus!  The authors show you how to create an Amadeus heart, two triangles, a shorter and fatter arrow shape, a bat wing shape, and both a tongued Amadeus and a rounded Amadeus arrow.  Plus there is a photo of the classic Amadeus so you can compare it to its seven cousins.

It's brilliant!

If you do a lot of counted work, you will need this book.  It's going to make that stunning Threadles chart a lot easier to work and help you when you create a Walneto that just looks "wrong" to understand where you made a mistake.  Well, Volume One doesn't cover Walento Stitch but Volume Two (which will come out in September 2016) will cover it.

If you only want to add an occasional Rhodes heart or Jessica Stitch circle to your painted canvas, you need this even more.  These stitches are not often used on painted canvases so you won't be familiar with them.  Twisty Stitches covers them all (or it will when Volume Two comes out) so you can just grab the correct volume and go to town without hitting a barrier that is hard to overcome unless you have an experienced stitcher in your vicinity to help.

Now for the details:  The 8 1/2 x 11 inch book is spiral bound with a plastic covered cardboard cover and back for durability. There is an introduction and two pages of Frequently Asked Questions about string art stitches with answers culled from Carole's and Michael's years as teachers of counted designs and painted canvas embellishment.  The next 42 pages are diagrams and photographs, all large enough to see without squinting.  There is a bibliography for those who like delving into more detail that includes a lot of reference material beyond Jean Hilton's three books.  There is no index but the final page is a photo collage of these stitches done in wildly colorful threads, which gives a taste of what you can do with color and string art combined.

Any needlepointer who ventures beyond basic stitches--if only occasionally--needs this book.  I am already saving up for Volume Two when it comes out in the fall.  This isn't a series I will use often but when I need it, it's going to be a life-saver!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 26, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

On The Road Again (Village Stitchery)

Melita's on the road again, this time visiting Newport News, Virginia and Village Stitchery which happens to live there.  Counted canvaswork fans will be thrilled at the information about the Jean Hilton patterns and models that are in the shop.  The rest of us will be charmed by Melita's purchases.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/village-stitchery-in-newport-news-va/

Ok, where shall we ask Melita to go next?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 26, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Odds and Ends

Randi celebrated Mother's Day this year with a wonderful pillow she designed for her mom. 
http://twisinc.blogspot.com/2015/05/happy-mothers-day.html

Jenny Henry celebrated with a DIY project to create a lavender sachet for Mom.
https://jennyhenrydesigns.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/needlepoint-lavender-sachet-for-mom/

Melita has created bookends by combining two charts from Jean Hilton and Pat Mazu. Very clever!
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/bookends/

Ridgewood shows off two collages--one for police and one for fire fighters.  Here in a very rural area we celebrate the volunteer rescue squad but these are perfect for more urban areas.  Sorry, I don't know the designer.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/05/calling-all-first-responders.html

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

A Tribute to Jean Hilton

Mary Agnes showed off some Jean Hilton designs she worked for shop classes on her blog.  MA owns Needle Nicely in Vero Beach, FL where the sun is currently shining and the ocean breezes are mild--think I am sick of Winter?  LOL
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2015/02/more-stitched-jean-hilton-designs.html

This got me thinking about the late Jean Hilton, who was one of the major influences of needlepoint in the 20th Century and beyond.  Here are two of her pieces she stitched herself.  I first saw one of Jean's designs exhibited in the early 1990s in a needlework show and was astounded.  I'd never seen anything like it.  She was a true original.
http://www.stitchamaze.com/gallery-guest/jeanhilton.aspx

Luckily even though Jean is gone now, Stitches From the Heart owns the rights to her charts and books.  You can browse the incredible variety here.  If you've got the time, I suggest you watch the slideshow.
http://stitches-heart.com/jean-hilton-designs/

Stitchers Paradise in Miami also has a large selection of Jean's work.
http://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Canvas_Embroidery/JHI/JeanHiltonMain.html

If you are in a thrifty mood, Rainbow Gallery has some small free Hilton designs.  Shop your stash and see what lovely patterns you can create with your own colors!
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/freechartdownloads.cfm?ID=12

CyberPointers has posted a great page on "Hilton" stitches.  Many of the links are dead now that Ro Pace no longer has a website but the remaining ones have plenty of tips for stitching the complex string art type stitches Jean loved and created.
http://www.cyberpointers.org/?p=2436

Pat Miller has started to work my favorite design from Jean--the Visions of Sugerplums stocking.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/search/label/Visions%20of%20Sugarplums%20by%20Jean%20Hilton

Here is how it looks finished.
http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/1998/Correz.php

http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/1999/sugarplums.php

My personal favorite stitch Jean created is the Chilly Hollow Stitch (bet you can guess why!).  This stitch has endless variations--you can use it to hold shisha mirrors, fill the center with beads or make bullions out of overdyed Kreinik which is a FABULOUS look, you can make a starburst or triangle from it, etc.  Have fun experimenting.  The first link is Jean's base stitch diagrammed by Carole Lake.  The second is Ro Pace's diamond shaped variation.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2002/Mar.php

http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2011/may.php

Of course every geometric pattern designer today (Michael Boren, Ro Pace, Orna Willis and Jim Wurth are great examples) owes Jean a great debt.  She knew and encouraged many of them.  They are Jean's design kids just like we are her stitching buddies.  She wouldn't have it any other way.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 19, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needlepoint Now Newsletter

The latest newsletter for Needlepoint Now magazine is up on their website. Besides a sneak peak at their September issue, there is an interesting short essay on Sprat's Head stitch, and information about several contests the magazine runs.
http://www.needlepointnow.com/wp-content/uploads/NN_NWSLTR3_Aug14.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 23, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A New Jean Hilton!

Oh boy oh boy! A new Jean Hilton chart is about to be released in August by Stitches from the Heart!
http://stitches-heart.com/jean-hiltons-a-la-mode/

Stitches in the Heart has the right to publish and distribute Jean's designs.  Most of Jean's work is available from any good needlepoint shop (see the tab labeled "Counted Canvaswork Shops" for sources of shops that stock lots of charts if you don't have a local source for them) but this particular design will be available for the next year from Stitches in the Heart only.

If you aren't familiar with the late Jean Hilton's designs or books, or you just want to add one of them to your collection, here is the place to browse.
http://stitches-heart.com/jean-hilton-designs/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 24, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Carol's a Winner!

Of course we all knew Carol was a winner, but now she has the ribbons to prove it. 
http://carolscountedcanvasworkneedleworks.blogspot.com/2013/09/royal-show-needlepoint.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.

Puzzle

As a treat for my stitching friends who love Jean Hilton's designs, here is a photo of Puzzle done in cheerful purples and greens.
http://stitches-heart.com/jean-hiltons-puzzle/

This is much different than Jean's original reddish hues and very different from the ecrus in Puzzle Purse but it is all very lovely.  By the way, I've seen Puzzle Purse stitched in the original colors and found it magnificent in person.
http://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Canvas_Embroidery/JHI/JeanHiltonBooks.html

http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Puzzle-Purse-by-Jean-Hilton-Needlepoint-Pattern-book/25510337

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.

More Counted Fun

Today's a very good day for the counted needlepointers among us as Laura Perin has also released a brand new design.  She calls this Spring Bouquet Sampler. It's a mix of blackwork, embroidery and composite needlepoint stitches and is very pretty.    I bet it would be a smash hit in reds, oranges and corals....
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-new-spring-bouquet.html

Stitches From the Heart has a new Pat Mazu ornament series called "Chequered Chic" for her fans to enjoy.
http://stitches-heart.com/pat-mazu-has-new-design/

AND they have re-released Jean Hilton's Light n Lacy design booklet, which is a series of small, intricate patterns which are showcased on the new cover.
http://stitches-heart.com/light-n-lacy-new-look/

It's a good day to be able to count!

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.

ScottLee Colors

Arlene's Award Winning ScottLee

By now most of us have the January NeedlePointers magazine that showcases all the award winners from the 2012 Seminar.  I got a question about two weeks ago about the colors Arlene Cohen used in the blue and ecru version of Jean Hilton's "ScottLee" that won an award at the Philly Seminar exhibit.  Arlene was kind enough to have sent me photographs of her piece that I used on Blog last spring so I emailed her and asked if she had a thread list.  This is what she said in reply:

"I originally saw Scott Lee on a blog and was intrigued by the complexity of stitches and such, although I admit quite turned off by the colors.  When I heard that the pattern was available for purchase, I did buy it, thinking that I could do something about the colors.  I read Jean's introduction that she was inspired by a rug in her home and that just clicked with me.  The rug under my dining room table is a just a basic floral with a blue background and that became my inspiration.  

I just now pulled out my pattern book to confirm what I suspected, which is I only have partial notes.  As I went along, I know I changed decisions about threads and colors and never wrote it down.  I also found the overall piece a little too "busy" and tried to tone that down both with colors choices and by changing some stitches in the inner parts. 

The biggest thing to know is that I originally stitched all the Jessicas (I believe that is 166 of them) in the border in DMC Pearl #8 in 794.  As I progressed with the piece and began bringing in more blue in the center, I decided that I was really really unhappy with that blue in the border.  Out came all those Jessicas and back in they went with Splendor 1029.  I think with four strands? I knew that if I didn't change that blue, I was never going to be happy - a great lesson.

Here's what I can put together:  for blues, I used a lot of Splendor 1029, with some 1030, and some DMC 793 for the Perle Cottons as needed.  For the tans, it was a lot of Splendor 926, 927, and 928, with DMCs 841, 842, and ecru as needed for some stranded parts and for Perle Cottons.  I used some green and rose (I think both DMC, 316 and 367) as highlight colors, as my rug has, but truly kept them to highlights, again finding the original pattern had too much variety of color for me.

I hope this is helpful!"

It is very helpful, Arlene.  The folks who are interested in trying your version are going to be happy to know all this.  Thank you and Happy New Year!

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

The Helen Ashland House Challenge

ANG's cyber chapter is mostly focused on charted or counted work, which is natural given that their members meet online only. It's a bit hard to do painted canvases together, and of course painted canvases are more expensive than chart packages.  It's still fun to hear about what they get up to.  I think you'll enjoy seeing the house challenge that Melita finished and describes on her blog.
http://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/the-helen-ashland-house-an-ang-cyberpointers-project/

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

A Third Place Ribbon

Remember Arlene's beautiful blue version of ScottLee that she exhibited at Woodlawn?  She won a third place at ANG's Seminar for it!  Congratulations!
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2012/06/glimpses-of-woodlawn.html

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

A New Jean Hilton Chart

Jean Hilton's "Teals of Laughter" has now been released in chart form. This was a class Jean taught a few years before she died and to my knowledge, the chart hasn't been available since.  Stitches From the Heart has released it as a shop exclusive.  They've promised to take copies to the ANG Seminar in Philadelphia this fall but if you aren't going or can't wait, here is their website with a photo of Jean's finished design.
http://stitches-heart.com/jean-hiltons-teals-of-laughter/

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

Glimpses of Woodlawn UPDATED

Third Place, Tara Roberts

Since so many of us live too far to make the trip to see the Woodlawn needlework show, and with 600 items on display, the likelihood of Woodlawn doing another online photo album is right up there with the likelihood of me being elected Miss Universe tomorrow,  I've been begging folks I know exhibited to send me photographs to put on Blog. You've already seen the Fishing Lady (who is awesome!) but I have more eye candy for you today.   Let's start with the unframed Granda (a design by Jane Zimmerman) by Tara Roberts, which is the photo you see above. This won a third place ribbon.  Zimmerman's silk and metal embroidery pieces rely heavily on the play of light across perfectly laid silk so I can't wait to see this one in person.  No photograph can capture that reflective light well.

First Place (2011), Tara Roberts

If you recognize Tara's name, it is probably because she won a blue ribbon at Woodlawn for this beauty (Diamond Delight IV by DeeBee's Designs) last year.

Arlene Cohen

Arlene Cohen (whom you will remember from the Woodlawn 2011 article I wrote about her designs based on a lace pattern she made)...
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/04/arlene-at-woodlawn-2011.html

... only sent one piece to Woodlawn this year.  What you see above is Jean Hilton's ScottLee.  Arlene sent me close ups of her color version of this classic design because the photo of the framed version makes the blues too turquoise.

ScottLee Up Close

Arlene wrote this about her ScottLee:  "The interesting tidbit that I have to share about this piece is that I did work on the border first, as in the instructions, but then went a bit out of order. In making color decisions as I went from the most inside out, I realized that the blue that all those Jessicas were stitched with simply wasn't the right shade any more. Debated and debated, but realized that I would never be happy with the finished piece if left as is. So, out came the entire blue border (at some point I counted how many Jessicas that was, but don't remember at the moment) which had been in a DMC pearle and back in with a much softer color and slightly darker Splendor silk. It's the only piece at Woodlawn for me this year."

Arlene's ScottLee Unframed

Here is Arlene's ScottLee unframed.  This is much closer to the actual color.  It's beautiful in those soft blues, tans and creams with a green accent.

If you have a Facebook account, see if you can see this posting which shows the piece Ruth Dilts won a 2nd place for.  I believe it was finished to resemble a snow globe.  Ruth is going to teach this with Joan Lohr at the Columbus trade show in June.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2817488376712&set=o.108537025890131&type=1&theater

If you can't view the Facebook photo, here's one from the TNNA website of classes.  This is a design from Kirk and Hamilton.
http://www.tnna.org/resource/resmgr/Summer2012ClassPhotos/NT112-lg.jpg

Carol Sylvester

My final photograph is one of the three pieces that Carol Sylvester exhibited.  Carol took the photograph before framing.  This is a now discontinued ANG correspondence course design called Oriental Poppies by Pat Van Cleve.  There is still information about the class on the ANG website, although you can no longer sign up for the course.
http://www.needlepoint.org/CorrClasses/classes/oriental.php

Carol sent me links to two other pieces she stitched.  The first link is to a Brazilian embroidery design that won a blue ribbon for Carol.  This is a photo of the designer's model, not a photograph of Carol's design.  I believe the designer is Anna G.
http://users.vcnet.com/annag/AG_4163.gif

Carol writes about the second link which is below--"The page it's on is the gallery for people in the EGA Master Craftsman program in surface embroidery. This was step six, the ethnic embroidery step. It's a shisa cushion. This piece got an honorable mention.  I wanted to complete the program last year, and was awarded my Master Craftsman certification last fall. It will become official at this year's EGA seminar."
http://heritageshoppe.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_Carol_Sylvester_9-10-10-Step5.jpg

Congratulations on becoming a Master Craftsman, Carol, and many congratulations on the ribbons to everyone.  I am thrilled you were willing to share you work with Blog's readers!

Beth Robertson (you know Beth, she's part of the team behind the Stitches for Effect books) won a blue ribbon for an original design at Woodlawn.  She posted a photograph on Facebook.  I hope you can see it by clicking on the link, but if not it is a crazy quilt type design in roses, red-violets and golds.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3517860744094&set=a.2285787823041.2114467.1199272810&type=1&theater

UPDATE:  MaggieB, whom I think belongs to Nelly's Needlers which is the group that runs the Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit, posted links to articles about the show which ends next Sunday.
http://maggiebsmocks.typepad.com/smocking/2012/06/49th-woodlawn-needlework-exhibition-2012-drawing-to-a-close.html

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