About John Johannsen

Fans of the artwork of John Johannsen that Melissa Shirley Designs adapts to needlepoint will enjoy reading a bit about his life.  Many thanks to Scrim Needlepoint for the information!
https://www.facebook.com/scrimdiscovery924/photos/a.1053431794673096/2727315380618054/?type=3&theater

If you haven't seen much of his work on needlepoint, take a browse through the Melissa Shirley Designs website.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com//galcol/?col=110

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 5, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Winter 2018 TNNA Favorites UPDATED

Each trade show I try to pick my favorite canvases. It's hard, as that is a very personal choice and there are so many great things!  But here are my favs in no particular order:

Scary Books, By Melissa Shirley Designs

The first piece that caught my eye is Melissa Shirley's "Scary Books," complete with angry rat.  This a a fairly large piece, at 16x9 inches on 18 count canvas.  I love the fancy book bindings!

"Dragon" From Kimberly Design

Kimberly's "Dragon" is perfect for the little boy in your life.  Check out the swords and the dragon peeking down at the top!  It's also on 18 count and is 10 inches by 11 inches.    Kimberly's designs are distributed by Ruth Schmuff, by the way.

Seaside Topiary is from Pepperberry Designs.  I find the pastels soothing and charming and I think the background could be made gorgeous to set off the little topiary tree.  It's also on 18 count and is 7x11 inches.

Zecca's "Smile Mask"

I really like Zecca's "Smile Mask" which at 12 x 9 1/2  on 18 count. It's bigger than it looks but it would be a blast to stitch.

VNG's "Perk Up"

Speaking of a fun stitch, how about Perk Up from Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery?   It cracks me up!  I don't know the size or stitch count on this one yet, but I love the lime green and the graphic nature of this cutie.  Coming up with the right background stitch (tiny coffee cups?) would make this a hilarious gift for those of us who aren't alive until that morning cuppa is drunk.

Three of the Eight Leigh Design "Tissue Toppers"

These Tissue Toppers from Leigh Designs are a sentimental favorite as I watched Carolyn stitch the patriotic model and Pat stitch the animal skins and poppies beauty.    They are gorgeous in person.     I also like that there are 8 versions, each totally different.  Click on the photo of each that has a stitch guide listed on the Leigh website to get a good view of them flat and finished.  They are 9 x 5 1/2 finished on 18 count but there is more stitching involved than that since you have four sides and the top.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp730x.html

Mary Lake-Thompson's Border Collie

I am really fond of the winter dogs and cats from Mary Lake-Thompson/Melissa Shirley.The small Border Collie portrait above is just one example of these really fun designs.  They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are on 18 and 13 count.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?bsn=1

John Johannsen's "Indian Angel"

Speaking of Melissa Shirley Designs, she has reproduced this gorgeous John Johannsen portrait.  It is big at 20x10 on 13 count, but it is beautiful.

And there you have it, my favorites from the Winter 2018 Market.  By the way, Carolyn Hedge Baird tells me the themes she noticed at the show were hedgehogs, llamas and French themes.  So what did you see and what did you fall in love with?

In case you haven't seen it, Stitch by Stitch Larchmont did a short essay on their favorites from Market.
http://www.stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/so/1M55Dn_y?cid=68bf7f60-0c49-4a61-b2cc-4a9944579072#/main

UPDATE:  Sheena has done an article on her favorites, too.  It's fun to see what all the different pairs of eyes found and liked.
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/january-market-finds/


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 26, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: John Johannsen Has Died

Melissa Shirley just announced the death of John Johannsen yesterday morning.  She reposted the photographs she took in his studio last year for folks to enjoy his work again.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150181506724252.341859.370199729251&type=1

His designs will continue to be available on needlepoint canvas via Melissa.  Thank you for the joy you brought to admirers of his art, Melissa.
http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com/galcol/?col=110

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 20, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tiger Tiger's Needle Felting in Public: Other Resources UPDATED

Folks who are interested in needle felting need only look at the late Wendy Harwood's work for inspiration.  Look at her interpretation of the John Johannsen animals in a boat piece.  The chipmunk and squirrel are needle felted.
http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/05/12/melissa-shirley-designs-john-johanssen-canvases-for-needlepoint-part-2/

Here is a closeup of the squirrel.  I believe Wendy's stitch guide is still available from her shop (second link below).
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/img6683needle-felting?context=user

http://www.aristeianeedlepoint.com

I am told Amy Bunger discusses needle felting in her How'd You Do That DVD series. Look for the "Closet Full of Stitches: video.  If you are a visual learner you might find it helpful.
http://www.amybunger.com/catalog/item/6256888/6064867.htm

The new master of needle felting is Sandy Arthur. Her Wizard of Paws (designer Brenda Stofft) is terrific!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/search?q=sandy+arthur

You can pick up the stitch guide from Sandy's Duo Designs website.
http://duodesignsinc.com/wpsite/stitch-guides-only

Sandy has needle felted a dog, too. But not just any dog--a 1960s advertising executive who is a little overly fond of martinis.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/04/our-very-own-mad-man.html

The canvas and guide are available from Bedecked and Beadazzled as a package deal.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/Boston-Terrier-Cocktail/

Both Sandy Arthur and Amy Bunger say to use only a little wool roving at a time.  Remember this when you start your first (or next) needle felting project!

Barbara Elmore has also experimented with wool roving on her mixed media projects she teaches.  Here is "Coyote in the Afternoon" in the EGA Seminar class description.
http://www.egausa.org/index.php/classes/4-day-classes-monday/452-405-coyoteafternoon

UPDATE:  Ruth Schmuff just published her needle felted squirrel (this is her current mystery class) with her four quick and easy rules for needle felting.  You can sign up for the class now or do it later. Ruth's mystery classes are available after the class ends and the mystery is "solved."
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/07/fuzzy-fluffy-and-everything-in-between.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/08/all-those-beautiful-colors.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/09/fall-furries.html


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 18, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Davis Hardware at Work

I'd heard of Davis Hardware in Texas because folks are always talking about taking items there to be framed but I'd never known anything about the shop or seen any of their work until the designer Joan Eidman wrote about them in her blog. 
http://joaneidman.com/framing-needlepoint-at-davis-hardware/

The flowered heart is a John Johannsen/Melissa Shirley piece, by the way.  I think the dog and cat piece is from The Point of It All, but I am not certain.  Does anyone recognize it?

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.

Over the Top Love

Carolyn Hedge Baird lets us peak over her shoulder as she packs up a stitch guide and kit for a student to stitch a John Johannsen piece from Melissa Shirley designs.  But despite her love of over the top embellishment, Carolyn realizes and honors other styles.  Whatever your personal style, needlepoint has a place for you.
http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/05/22/a-lecture-and-stitches-and-lots-of-flowers-for-a-john-johanssen-canvas/

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.

A Riot of Pattern UPDATED

Carolyn Hedge Baird, fresh from a visit to Melissa Shirley's home and design studio, next takes us down the road to visit John Johannsen, whose paintings Melissa Shirley licenses for needlepoint.  Prepare to be amazed....
http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/04/24/john-johanssen-artist-part-1/

http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/04/28/john-johanssen-artist-part-2-a-needlepoint-inspiration/

http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/05/01/john-johanssen-artist-part-3-what-john-likes/

UPDATES:
http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/05/08/melissa-shirley-designs-john-johanssen-canvases-for-needlepoint/

http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/05/12/melissa-shirley-designs-john-johanssen-canvases-for-needlepoint-part-2/

http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/05/15/melissa-shirley-designs-john-johanssen-canvases-for-needlepoint-part-3/

http://www.livingwithneedlepoint.com/2013/05/19/melissa-shirley-designs-john-johanssen-canvases-for-needlepoint-part-4/

I am seeing his needlepoint canvases in a whole new light.  They are like taking a piece of his amazing studio home.  You can visit Melissa's website and see her collection of his work and see what I mean here--
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/?searchstring=&searchlist=35&Search=Search&dosearch=

Another visitor talks about John's studio and work.
http://lazydaisyneedlework.blogspot.com/2013/07/john-johannsen.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.

Bread and Fishes

The power of the Internet brings wonderful examples of stitching right into our homes, where we can analyze, study and enjoy it all.   Aren't we lucky to be living now?  We can learn from wonderful stitchers like Vicky DeAngelis who is stitching one of the Keep Calm canvases from Unique New Zealand.  She decided on an open background with a darning pattern of fish which you can just barely seen in the lower left corner of the last two photos.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/10/12/the-evolution-of-a-stitch/

Then look and see what happened to the background.  Vicky understands no matter how clever the idea, how terrific the stitch, it doesn't pay to fall in love with it if it isn't just right for that particular canvas.  (Besides, now Vicky can go buy a new canvas with her fish background in mind.)
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/10/14/keep-calm-and-love-cats/

On the other hand, the Domestique, if she ever had doubts, is past them as she presents a finished framed John Johannsen design from Melissa Shirley.  This piece is full of ideas, such as the overdyed thread used to great effect in the background, the combination of ribbon and beads on The Bread Girl's flying ribbons and the interesting sleeves and waistband.  These are all from a Carolyn Hedge Baird stitch guide but that doesn't mean we can't reuse Carolyn's great ideas elsewhere.
http://thedomestiquete.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/needlepoint-post-melissa-shirley-bread-girl/

I am often asked where I get ideas for the painted canvases I stitch  Mostly, I cheat.  I carefully study pieces I see and file away great ideas for later.  It might be a great stitch or it might be a color combination I like.  Or maybe it's Vicky's experience discarding a great stitch for one that suits her canvas better.  All of these great stitchers help me become a great stitcher, and they will do the same for you if you study their experiences and emulate them as much as possible.

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

Bead and Ribbon Flowers

Are you interested in ribbon bead flowers? This video from BeStitched shows how Jan Ayeroff combines the two for flowers.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/news-and-updates/ribbon-flowers-techniques-video-demo/

Warning:  The video repeats, which is nice if you want to see it all again.  If not, just stop when the tape repeats.  The canvas being taught in the class is Bedazzled Boat Buddies by John Johanssen.  Here's what the whole thing looks like.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galcol/index.cgi?index=1292443593_32198&col=110

A second video has been posted, showing petals made from two passes of a silk ribbon through needlepoint canvas.  These are neat techniques that show just how versatile silk ribbons can be on your canvas.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/news-and-updates/ribbon-flowers-techniques-video-demo-part-2/

If you are interested in this piece, BeStitched can do a long distance learning kit for you.  Contact them for more information.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/news-and-updates/bedazzled-boat-buddies-was-quite-the-learning-experience/

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

Visiting John Johanssen at Home

Melissa Shirley Designs just posted a series of photographs of John Johannsen's art studio on their Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Shirley-Designs/370199729251

Melissa licenses some of his art to reproduce on needlepoint canvas.  Until I saw his studio, I never really understood the painted canvases. WOW!
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?cat=117

I hope those without a Facebook account can view the pages above, but believe me, it is worth signing up just to tour that studio.

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