Margaret Bendig's Fourth of July Heart

Brenda's Needlepoint Studio is going to teach Margaret Bendig's "Fourth of July Heart" with her ANG chapter in Delaware.  Here is the pre-work for the heart.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2026/03/heart-fourth-of-july-31326.html

Note that since the original threads are no longer available, Rainbow Gallery's Neon Rays were substituted and found to work beautifully.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-9-2026-i-placed-last-stitch-on-this.html

The design was published in the July 2008 Needle Pointers magazine, so if you are an ANG member, you may have this copy in your magazine pile.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 14, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Brite Eyes (Margaret Bendig)

The Sun city Stitcher had lots of fun with this Halloween piece by Margaret Bendig.  I didn't know DMC had glow-in-the-dark floss!

https://www.suncitystitcher.com/2025/07/brite-eyes.html

https://www.suncitystitcher.com/2025/08/brite-eyes-update.html

Sadly, this is also a design only available through ANG.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 17, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Shop Visit, A Celebrity and More

BLG Mom has been in the San Francisco Bay Area to visit family recently.  She managed a trip to the new shop, Stitched Up Needleworks, met a celebrity, went on a field trip to Needlepoint, Inc., and a visit to the San Francisco School of Needlework and design.  In other words, she generally had a blast.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2022/10/31/my-trip-to-the-bay-area-part-1/

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2022/10/31/my-trip-to-the-bay-area-part-2/

Here's the shop website, still a work in progress.

https://stitchedupneedleworks.com/password

Here is Margaret Bendig's website.

https://www.margaretbendigdesigns.com/home.html

Needlepoint, Inc.'s website.  They have an in-house artist who designs pieces you can't get anywhere else plus they have their own line of silk flosses that are lovely.

https://needlepointinc.com/

Finally, here is the website for the San Francisco School of Needlework and Design.  All of the above is a real treat and we thank BLG Mom for sharing her trip with us.

https://www.sfsnad.org/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 1, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Patterns Galore from Margaret Bendig Underway UPDATED

Jan has decided to work Margaret Bendig's "Patterns Galore."  

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/11/15/patterns-galore/

Jan is particularly good with color so I am anxious to see how this develops once she gets the outlines done and starts raiding her stash for color.  I'll update this as she works.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/11/20/patterns-galore-2/

UPDATE:  Jan has the first four blocks done.  It's interesting she started at the bottom.  I'd have started at the top and worked down.  Of course the instructions probably specified the working order and I don't know if this is just upside down to reach easier....

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/11/30/patterns-galore-3/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/12/03/more-patterns-galore/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/12/28/patterns-galore-4/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2023/01/16/quick-update/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2023/01/31/more-patterns-galore-2/

And it's finished!  Lovely work.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2023/02/18/patterns-galore-finished/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 16, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Quail Run (and Margaret Bendig) Speak

With holiday madness in the air, I am just now getting around to mentioning that Quail Run's December e-newsletter was full of great Christmas finishing, as well as a great tip section from Margaret Bendig who often teaches at the shop.   You'll learn how to make your satin stitches cover better, how to anchor threads securely with a few tiny stitches, and how to get the best light reflection with white threads.  Thanks, Margaret!
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?pbid=69bfa3f1-dd93-4618-b806-6880fc346117

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.

Retreating with Margaret UPDATED

Tisha has been on a needlework retreat with Margaret Bendig. I thought the counted canvaswork folks among us would enjoy seeing the photos she took as there are a lot of wonderful patterns and colors there.  I'm sorry I can't identify most of the designers. Luckily Tisha labeled Margaret Bendig's kimono so you'd know who it is from.   Sorry, Margaret's primarily a teacher so usually the only way to pick up one of her designs is to get a class chart from someone on eBay. Too bad!  Margaret does wonderful designs!
http://stitchplaywithneedlepointtooltime.blogspot.com/2013/07/retreat.html

Having said that, Tisha posted Margaret's email address here so send her a note and ask for a chart from that class you missed.  Something might just come of that.
http://stitchplaywithneedlepointtooltime.blogspot.com/2013/11/retreat-2nd-installment-maybe.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.

Exhibits and Classes and Fun

Since it is spring and the weather is marginally better, there are all sorts of classes and exhibits going on.  Luckily folks are reporting in so that we can share in the experiences no matter how far away they are from our own stitching nest. Nimble Needle in New Jersey went to Needle Fest and had a great time
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/04/nj-needlefest-labor-of-love.html

Sandy Arthur just taught a painted canvas embellishment class at The Village Sampler and had a blast!
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2013/05/village-sampler-st.html

Cynthia Thomas was at Atlanta Needlepoint teaching techniques from her new book and was planning to meet up with Needlepoint Nation members shortly. Hope she had even more fun there!
http://hillcountrystitcher.blogspot.com/2013/04/im-traveling-fool.html

Diane went to Mackinac Island and stitched with June McKnight.
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/05/mackinac-island-grand-hotel-limoge-box.html

Needle Bug went to Monroeville for a play and took Julia Snyder along.  Then Julia taught.  A good time was had by all.
http://www.theneedlebug.com/blog2/2013/05/wow-julia-has-come-and-gone/

http://www.theneedlebug.com/blog2/2013/05/more-photos/

The Guildford Town Tapestry is on display in Guildford.  Unfortunately this is a town in Surrey, England, so I won't get to meet the mayor who coordinated the stitching of this large piece and who worked on it herself but I agree that we need more stitching mayors!
http://needleprint.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-stitching-mayoress-guildford-town.html

Coral Seas has been to the Royal School of Needlework's ecclesiastical embroidery exhibit.  Follow the link to see the Litany of Loreto pieces she raves about.
http://threadsacrosstheweb.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-few-days-ago-one-of-my-japanese.html

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a lot closer to me but I missed their Third Annual Needlecraft Exhibit.  Melita went however, and reports back about the pieces that caught her eye.
http://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/rehoboth-beach-museums-third-annual-needlecraft-exhibit/

If you haven't had any stitching exhibits or classes in your life lately, you might be interested in this Margaret Bendig class in San Diego.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/join-us-for-a-day-of-stitching-or-2/

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.

Tips from the Experts

I've been collecting links that have all sorts of wonderful tips for us stitchers.  The first summarizes information from a Margaret Bendig class at Quail Run, particularly tips on how to anchor a new thread so it is both secure and invisible on the front.  There are some lovely photos of Margaret's charted work, too!
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2013/03/sunday-sampler-of-tips-from-margaret_24.html

The second link shows off progress on the latest Enriched Stitch and talks about how to achieve dimension on this very complex piece that shows both the exterior and interior of a needlework shop.
http://astheneedleturns.com/rebecca-banner-class-1/

The third is to a report on a Meredith Willet class at Bedecked and Beadazzled.  The ideas she came up with for each and every canvas are exactly perfect!  (Meredith is an author, shop owner, distributor of needlepoint canvases, oversees a fabulous finishing business, and also is famous for her goldwork classes.  You name it, she can do it.)
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/03/the-marvelous-miss-m.html

My final link isn't to any tips but shows two wonderful purses made from canvases that normally wouldn't be made up into pocketbooks.  Very clever!
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2b1a4dafdf1ba6e29e773aa79&id=643258383e&e=73961ee0ea

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.

And Now What the Pros Have Been Up To

Yesterday we looked at what regular stitching bloggers have been up to. Today's excitement is provided by the professional designers and teachers among us, long may they thrive!  Laura Perin has started a new free mystery chart that uses "winter colors" whatever you consider those to be.  She will post more of this free design over the next 2-3 Mondays.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2012/12/mini-mystery-monday-january-2013.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2013/01/mini-mystery-monday-january-pt-2.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2013/01/mini-mystery-monday-january-pt-3.html

Sheena shows how clever Ruth Schmuff is in her stitch choices, plus she will be taking Ruth's next mystery class, an Egyptian cat.  (By the way, I own another Egyptian cat canvas from Tapestry Fair. Lucky me!)
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/happy-new-year-with-patterns/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SheenasStitches+%28Sheena%27s+Stitches%29

Ruth Schmuff has more about her newest mystery class here plus a new thread color club for 2013.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/12/color-party.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/12/journey-back-in-time-with-me.html

Needle Delights has finished the last of the Double series.
http://needledelightsoriginals.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-new-year.html

Kelly Clark's just finished her Christmas crazy quilt piece, complete with out of this world seam treatments.  It is amazing!
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-crazy-quilt-is-finished.html

Terry Dryden is almost finished with a quadrant of her newest geometric and has started a realistic poppy series.
http://www.terrydryden.com/-blog/2012/12/30/baroque-diamonds-and-some-new-poppies.html

UPDATE:  Here is the arrow geometric, called "Autumn Arrows."  I think it is beautiful!
http://www.terrydryden.com/-blog/2014/1/8/new-design-autumn-arrows.html

Barbara Elmore has released her teaching schedule.  Wish I could be there!
http://stitchpography.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-new-year-of-stitching.html

Catherine Jordan has done a lovely tree mirror.  I hope this becomes one of her classes because it is beautiful.
http://needleprint.blogspot.com/2012/12/catherines-landscape-mirror.html

Quail Run is going to have a Margaret Bendig class.  Hopefully folks can take this long distance because Margaret's work is lovely and her charts aren't usually available except through her classes.
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/12/come-journey-with-margaret-bendig.html

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

Let's Go Somewhere

Fall is always the retreat season, isn't it?  Lots of folks have been going places with their stitching to do more stitching in a classroom setting when they arrive.  Tisha went on a Margaret Bendig retreat.
http://stitchplaywithneedlepointtooltime.blogspot.com/2012/11/needlepoint-retreat.html

Margaret is famous for her kimono patterns.  
http://www.sang-ega.org/margaret%20bendig%20workshop.html

But that isn't everything Margaret designs.  How about this charming patriotic heart?
http://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/stars-abound/

Or this Southwestern sampler from Needlepoint Now magazine?  It might take some hunting to find Margaret's designs as many as class projects only but you won't be sorry you spent time looking.
http://lets-stitch-away.blogspot.com/2008/01/southwest-sampler-by-margaret-bending.html

Teachers travel to these retreats as well.  Hazel Blomkamp went from her native South Africa to Russia.  You will find her report a fascinating window into a place that is home to a great many stitchers.  (Did you know the second largest number of visitors to the Loretta Spears blog I maintain log in from Russia and the Ukraine?  There are a LOT of counted thread canvasworkers there.)
http://therebelliousneedlewoman.blogspot.com/2012/11/hazel-and-di-inrussia-and-ukraine.html 

Barbara Elmore just got back from the Santa Fe Enchantment EGA Seminar.   She taught two classes.  In one they stitched a white cactus plant, in the other a white moth.  Boring?  Now quite.  Barbara has you paint the canvas after stitching it, stencil it, use markers on it, add beads and sequins and metallics and ribbons and lots more to it.  You'll love the photographs of the white moths' rebirth into something totally unique to each stitcher.  My only quibble is that Barbara forgot to take photographs of the cactus canvases blooming!
http://stitchpography.blogspot.com/2012/11/santa-fe-enchantment.html

If you are like me and go three places:  the post office, bank and grocery store, these reports are priceless.  Many thanks to everyone for sharing the flavor of their retreats with us.

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

Lazy Jane and the Purple Shoes

I didn't stitch a lick yesterday, despite being trapped at home by the snow.  I just was too tired from Christmas preparations, shoveling heavy wet snow, taking the dogs for walks, and running up and down the stairs to tend to the fire in the wood stove (we keep it going when there is danger--like heavy snow on the power lines--of losing the heat in cold weather).

You'll have to forgive me, but sometimes I just am not in the mood, despite being in love with the art of needlepoint and stitching almost every day.

I decided I'd distract you with some rarities.  First, the pair of witch slippers above are a charted design from Margaret Bendig.  You don't see many of her designs for sale.  She mostly teaches although occasionally she'll publish something like the line of small seasonal themed kimonos she did for Needlepoint Now magazine in 2008, or her Southwest Sampler (second link) in the same year.
http://www.needlepointnow.com/back_issues/2008/2008.html

http://www.needlepointnow.com/back_issues/2008/2008_01/2008_01.html

I keep hoping she'll get her website up and running, but it isn't yet.
http://www.margaretbendigdesigns.com/

Her Holiday Fun stocking is in the Project Book for ANG.
http://www.needlepoint.org/CPB/2009.php

Have fun looking at Margaret's work while I try to get my rear in gear....

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

Listen Up, Class!

Last night I continued the Basketweave Marathon background around Holi, my "Tudor" dog pet guardian angel. It always seems to take forever but this is 18 count. If I stitch an inch or an inch and a half of background all around the perimeter of this angel, I am stitching probably 600,000 tent stitches! WHEW.

Of course my math might not be correct.

I might be stitching more....

[Jane feels faint.]

In other pet guardian angels news, Beth reports from IL that her pet guardian angel (she is doing the Medieval Cat for the ANG Auction) is demanding pearls. What's next? A fur coat? A Cadillac?

I also have chosen thread for my final angel, the Georgian Rabbit. But I have to finish Holi first. Speaking of which, remember how I planned to leave some of the areas at Holi's hem blank so I could put gold beads there? It looks to me that the couched green hem is so raised up away from the tent stitches in the background that any gold beads under the couched area among the tent stitches are going to disappear. (I'm using Petites from Mill Hill, not the larger gold beads.) So the plan now is to put gold beads on top of the hem couching. My lesson for you today is to always be flexible. Any plan you make or idea you come up with may not work. You can't always tell, so be ready to come up with an even more fabulous plan if the first one does not work.

Speaking of lessons, I have lots of class news for you today. The Shining Needle Society is offering a class on Japanese temari balls! Read all about it on Barbara Suess' temari website.
http://www.japanesetemari.com/classes/morningglory/MorningGloryClass.html

Needle Works in Austin, TX has announced three new classes--Margaret Bendig is doing a sampler of NP stitches for them, Tony Minieri has a great new teapot based on house in the Glen Elleyn suburbs of Chicago, and Kathy Kulesza is going to teach the Christmas Packages design from Associated Talents. The first two projects are pictured at the link below. To see Kathy's class, click on the In Store Classes link in the header next to the big flower.
https://www.theneedleworks.com/classes_teachers.html

Finally, Amy Bunger lists new classes for her shop, shows off customer projects including a fabulous Melissa Shirley circus horse (the Canvas of the Day is the Circus Tiger from the same series), shows you how to open a skein of Gloriana silk perle without tangles or tears, and gives you a preview of Tony Minieri's "In the Footsteps of the Pharoahs" design which will be taught in her store this fall. Plus more.
http://www.amybunger.com/current_enewsletters.html

Lots to learn, lots to stitch. Guess we'd all better get busy!

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