Where to Dispose of Excess Stash

Several folks have asked for information on places to either donate or sell items from your stash you no longer want.

Donations:
ANG's Yahoo Group has contact information for the Ohio Women's Prison and the Pine Ridge Reservation, both of which accept stitching items, in a file labeled "Donation Places" on their Yahoo Group site.  If you don't belong, email me and I'll copy the information for you.

ANG's Auction Chairman will be thrilled to have donations of items that can be auctioned off to support ANG's educational programs.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Auction/2011/index.php

I know some guilds have White Elephant sales, with donations of unwanted stash being sold to raise funds for local programs.  See if your local chapter has such a program or would be interested in your organizing one.  Some chapters do a yearly sale or exchange instead of a fund raiser.

Sales:
Canvases Be Gone sells unwanted items for stitchers.
http://www.canvasesbegone.com/

The Stitching Destashing Blog helps stitchers dispose of excess stash.
http://stitchingdestashing.blogspot.com/

Stitch in Peace is a company that sells excess stash for stitchers on eBay.  Of course you can always set up an eBay account and sell items for yourself.  UPDATE:  Two Blog readers have commented that they have not been paid for items they sent to Stitch in Peace that were sold.  Buyer beware!
http://stores.ebay.com/Stitch-In-Peace?_rdc=1

I have no business relationship with any of the above (although the owners of Canvases Be Gone and Stitching Destashing are friends of mine) and I have stitched many items for the ANG Auction.

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

Wonderful Things

I've been collecting wonderful things to share with you again.  The first is the photo above--a new canvas by Barbara Bergsten.  Saving the planet suddenly got very very important to me!
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2010/11/needlepoint-sayings.html

The Stitching Destashing Blog has a great Maggie canvas for sale (including a stitch guide) for a fabulous price.  She Was So Bad, They Sent Her to Catholic School has always cracked me up!
http://stitchingdestashing.blogspot.com/2010/11/she-was-so-bad-they-sent-her-to.html

If that's not your cup of tea, click on the header at the top of the page to go to the full blog and browse for wonderful things.

Are you a fan of the discontinued Medici wool?  Janet Perry knows where you can buy more.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/medici-hanks-for-sale

Bristly Thistle is having a Rebecca Wood trunk show.  The little slide show shows off some of the fabulous Christmas canvases that Rebecca creates.  It's too late for this year but at 20% off, you can get started in January on next year's decorations.
http://bristlythistle.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/rebecca-wood-needlepoint-trunk-show/

Finally, I stumbled across a mention of Stitcher's Workshop, which seems to be a cross stitch group with links to shops that cater to all the counted thread person's needs.  I have no idea how well this works or how nice it is but here's the link for you to explore.
http://www.stitchersworkshop.com/blog/?p=422

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

New Stitch Guide Source and Sales

Julie Pischke's Sassy Sea Horse

Last night I--you guessed it--did more tent stitches in Cha's background.  Today I'll be able to continue stitching the left wing.  It just took a very long time to surround the area with tent stitches so that I wouldn't disturb the wing stitches by doing background next to them.  On the positive side, there is only about a quarter of the background left to stitch after this week's background stitch marathon. Look on the bright side, I always say!

I posted a new entry on the CH Stitch Guides blog this morning.  It's all about French Knot in Texas, their revamped website, and the huge number of stitch guides available from them.  You'll want to check it out to see if your favorite designer canvas has a guide from French Knot.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2010/07/stitch-guide-heaven-french-knot.html

I stumbled across a mention of Peacock Alley Needlepoint in Michigan's having a 20-40% off sale of everything in their store (except for their Shorebirds trunk show and the Michigan kits plus their threads are 10% off).  They specifically mention all the Lee leather goods being on sale as well as the HP lacquered boxes they have in stock. All in all, a good time to go shopping but remember that the sale ends July 31st.
http://www.peacockalleyneedlepoint.com/Peacock_Alley_Needlepoint/Home.html

Finally, Old World Designs in California is having a Julie Pischke trunk show this month as well as a special show of circus-themed canvases from many designers.  If you love summery beach canvases inspired by Key West or are a Big Tent fan (who isn't?) you will want to check these out in person the next time you can get to Menlo Park and the shop.  Sadly, there aren't many photos online, but if you want to explore Julie's website and then call the shop, check the second link.  Got a favorite circus canvas?  Email them to see if it is available and get the cost.
http://www.oldworlddesigns.com/

http://www.juliepischkedesigns.com/index.shtml

The Stitching Destashing Blog has just listed new items.  There are a lot of small Christmas-themed painted canvases and quite a few very nice counted thread projects.  Have a browse.
http://www.stitchingdestashing.blogspot.com/

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

Weird and Wonderful Stitching

I've been collecting links for odd and wonderful things for a while now and thought you might enjoy browsing through them instead of looking at even more photos of my basketweave progress up the side of the Tardis.  So, without further adieu, here's the stitched Stylophone.  Note that the title says this is NP but it looks like a cross-stitched keyboard on aida cloth to me.  You might want to play the video to listen to the sound.  Whether it is NP or not, it does work.
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/03/needlepoint_stylophone.html

I've had Mr. XStitch on my Google Reader for a while now.  This site features handwork of all types, half of which is NSFW (which means Not Safe For Work and seems to be replacing "X-rated" as a term among the 20-30 age group).  There are more stitchers than I ever imagined who like to stitch semi-pornographic scenes and Mr. XStitch showcases a lot of them. Or maybe I am just prudish?  Regardless, everyone will enjoy seeing the stitched line drawings on paper in this article which is totally safe for any setting.
http://www.mrxstitch.com/2010/03/18/the-cutting-stitching-edge-peter-crawley/

The remaining links are of wonderful stitching.  The Needleartnut has her Boots Bailey purse flap back from the finishers.  Please join me in swooning over how it turned out!
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/03/surprise.html

Are you a fan of Noah's Ark pieces?  This little box is special.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2010/03/gails-noahs-ark.html

Are you a Halloween fan instead?  Or have you always been curious about how Amy Bunger's mail order classes are done?  Then you'll want to keep an eye on the NP Study Hall and watch as folks from Amy's shop stitch their Kelly Clark Halloween House and the attendant monsters.  The latest lesson includes tips on stitching the witch's belt buckle, but Peggy has given tips on the witch's cloak, hat, dress and face in earlier postings.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/

Finally, DMC's blog talks about needlepoint briefly this week.  They do a lot of thread giveaways and some of their articles about DMC itself are terrific.  The blog doesn't say where the above photo came from but it is a really wonderful and simple thing to stitch in case you need a Keep Out sign on your stitching door.
http://dmc-threads.com/?p=1095

Don't mess with Momma when she has sharp pointy things in her hands!  LOL

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

More Callaway (with Pictures!)

There's a little bit more about the Callaway Needle Arts experience available online from the Needleart Nut who has added more about what she did there to her blog.  Here's the first new section.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/01/more-about-callaway.html

and here is the end.  Doesn't it sound like fun!?!  If you missed Pat's earlier postings, you can find them by looking in the right hand column and clicking on Callaway Gardens, then going to the bottom of the page and reading toward the top.  Blogs always have the latest entry at the top and the first at the bottom.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/01/last-part.html

If you are tempted and curious about the classes for next January, Gay Ann Rogers has posted both photographs she took of this year's activities and photographs of the class models for 2011 on her website.  Click on a thumbnail and explore.  Note that there is a link to the registration form and also a listing of classes, too.  The Callaway website will have everything in detail later, but Gay Ann is treating us to a glimpse to tide us over until the official site is ready.  Right now the folks who run Callaway are lying on the floor moaning....
http://www.gayannrogers.com/site_2/Callaway_2010.html

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

Callaway Report from Pat UPDATED

While my focus has been on the TNNA trade show, lots of other needlepoint fun has been happening.  This is the first week of two sessions of needle classes at Callaway Gardens.  Luckily, we have a reporter right there.  Pat is taking a class on canvas embellishment with Carole Lake and is reporting on the class, showing the two canvases she took along, and has just posted photos of her room at Callaway.  Start exploring here and read backwards to see what she's saying about her experience.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/

If you want to die of envy, here is the class listing for the 2010 Callaway School of Needle Arts.  I think the second class listed is the one Pat is taking.
http://www.callawaygardens.com/callaway/info/things.needlearts.coursedescriptions.aspx

Have fun, Pat!

UPDATE:  She did.  Here are the goodies Pat brought home from Callaway.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/01/class-purchases-etc.html

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

Yummy!

The Needleartnut Blog is stitching a cupcake for a bride. It's an original line drawn piece on sparkly gold and ecru canvas and I can't wait for this to develop. Pat's rotating her stitching pieces so you have to scroll down to May 30 to see the outline and the threads she is using. Today's posting shows the metal cupcake tin all done and the start of the icing. Looks like she is using a bargello stitch for the icing itself but I'm not 100% sure. It's a mystery what the top will look like right now.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/

(Speaking of bargello, you might be interested in six clever (and free!) bargello ornament designs from Althea DeBrul which will be briefly available on the Bargello Needlepoint website.)
http://bargelloneedlepoint.com/bargello-needlepoint-christmas-series/

If you are wild about stitching cupcakes, you need to take a peek at Raymond Crawford's over-the-top little cupcakes. Go to Designs, then choose Cakes.
http://www.raymondcrawford.com/

Pocket Full of Stitches is doing a monthly club of his stuff. Here's their page. It's a lot easier to see the stitches used here.
http://www.pfos.com/OtherClubs/Cupcakery/Cupcakery1.HTM

Danae Designs has a few cupcakes patterns also.
http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/storedir/products.php?cat=139

If you just like the real thing, a friend who is a librarian told me about this blog, which has the most beautiful cupcakes you'll ever see. Let's here it for the little cakes!
http://cupcakeartists.blogspot.com/

Why am I hungry now...?

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Now the Finished Finishing

I've also been collecting examples of lovely finished pieces for you to admire. Let's start with Laura Perin who isn't just posting good photos of her finished designs, she's telling you how she used thread size and color in these pieces. It's fascinating reading!

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/07/old-switcheroo.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-kimono-trios.html
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/08/twilight-on-trail.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/08/for-amber-waves-of-grain.html

Speaking of changing a design through color, you might enjoy seeing examples on Orna Willis' blog. These aren't finished pieces but since they fit the color play theme so well, I wanted to include them here.

http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2008/06/sometimes-i-use-needlepoint-as-color.html

Now more finished pieces. Don't you love Pat's birds!?!

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2008/08/betsy-and-boys.html

And how about Jane's Santas?

http://janew1102.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/boxes-on-my-doo.html

And Ruth's strawberries? And roses?

http://www.tistheseason.org/blog/2008/08/chocolate-covered-strawberries.html

http://www.tistheseason.org/blog/2008/06/its-all-about-roses.html

What fun it is to examine great stitching carefully!

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow