A Quick Look at Needle Pointers

Melita gives us a quick look at what's inside the May/June 2026 issue of ANG's Needle Pointers magazine.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/05/27/timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-and-morning-glories-in-the-may-june-2026-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Sue Parsons of West Coast Finishing does a fabulous finishing job.  I didn't know she did classes on finishing as well.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/05/29/morning-glories-by-lani-and-finishing-class-with-sue-parsons-of-west-coast-finishing/

If you join the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG), you'll get the magazine as part of your dues.  Members can also browse the issues online now.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 29, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Note About the July/August 2026 Needle Pointers Magazine

Melita writes a column for ANG's Needle Pointers magazine, which you get as part of your subscription to the American Needlepoint Guild.  Unfortunately, her latest article had to be moved so it won't be near another article on the same topic.  Just keep an eye out for September/October's issue so you get the full story.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/07/27/timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-july-august-2026-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 28, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Melita Talks Needle Pointers Magazine

Melita's latest blog posting is all about the front and back cover designs for the March/April 2026 issue of Needle Pointers magazine.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/23/stitching-projects-in-the-march-april-2026-needle-pointers-spinning-threads-and-lakeshore/

She also posted about background stitches from Ruth Ann Helpern and Susan Portra in the Timeless Treasures article from the January/February 2026 issue.  

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/24/backgrounds-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-january-february-2026-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Melita's next topic is the classic Bargello, which is also covered in the March/April 2026 issue of Needle Pointers.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/23/bargello-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-march-april-2026-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

If you belong to ANG, you'll get their bi-monthly magazine to read, either in the mail or online.  

https://www.needlepoint.org/page/NeedlePointers

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 24, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

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.

The Gail Stafford Bargello Tissue Box

Melita stitched two versions of a Gail Stafford Bargello sampler (the design came from the September-October 2022 issue of ANG's Needle Pointers), one in stranded threads and one in sparkly threads, and turned the two pieces into a tissue box.  She describes how she finished it at the bottom of this summary of her stitching in 2025.  It looks great!

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/01/01/2025-year-in-review-a-look-forward-bargello-sampler-tissue-box/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 2, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Sunflower Heart in the Depths of Winter (JudyAnn)

Melita is treating herself to a JudyAnn heart as a break from a more complicated project.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/12/03/sunflower-heart-by-judyann-needle-art-canvas-design-background/

The heart features a sunflower.  Melita is using the Ginny Stapleton stitch guide published in ANG's Needle Pointers (the July-August 2025 issue) for this and five other JudyAnn hearts.  It turned out great!

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/12/14/sunflower-heart-flower/

The finishing is lovely, too.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/01/28/sunflower-heart-finished/

If you are charmed, you can order JudyAnn's designs from her website or her Etsy shop.

https://judyannneedlepoint.com/product-category/hearts/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/judyannneedlepoint/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 4, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Michele Robert's Ribbon Heart

Melita shows off Michele Robert's ribbon heart design and tells you all about joining ANG.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/09/16/hearts-from-the-2000s-in-timeless-treasures-from-the-archives-in-the-september-october-2025-issue-of-needle-pointers-magazine/

Hint:  If you are under 35, you can get a half off membership.  The magazine will be digital only but it's a great deal.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

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

Swirled Heart in Gold and White (Rozelle Hirschfelt)

ANG's Cyberpointers Chapter is working on Rozelle Hirschfeld's "Swirled Heart in Gold and White."  Brenda stuck with the original gold and white colors.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/04/heart-swirled-in-gold-and-white-42525.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/05/heart-swirled-in-gold-and-white-updated.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/05/heart-swirled-in-gold-and-white-updated_0679855437.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/05/heart-swirled-in-gold-and-white-updated_15.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/05/heart-swirled-in-gold-and-white-updated_056096561.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/05/heart-swirled-in-gold-and-white-updated_01483844425.html

If you aren't familiar with Cyberpointers, you can read about them here--

https://www.cyberpointers.org/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 25, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Rainbow Ribbons Pillow (Kam Wenzloff)

Melita and her Main Line Chapter of ANG stitched Kam Wenzloff's "Rainbow Ribbons" design as a chapter project.  Melita had hers finished into a pillow, which you can see here along with the other color ways ANG members came up with. Everyone used overdyes from Colour Complements (second link below).

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/02/11/rainbow-ribbons-pillow/

https://colourcomplements.com/

If you are tempted to try this, it was in the November/December 2019 issue of ANG's Needle Pointers magazine.  This is available to members only but you can often find copies for sale on eBay.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 12, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Art Deco Tree

Brenda's Needlepoint Studio is stitching the "Art Deco Tree" by Deborah Reichart from ANG's Needle Pointers magazine, the November 2024 issue.  She's going to lead this as a class for an ANG chapter so she's taking notes to make the stitching easier for everyone.  So far, it is a beauty!

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/01/art-deco-tree-1725.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/02/art-deco-tree-updated-21825.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2025/03/art-deco-tree-updated-31325.html

Lovely work, Brenda.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 7, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Five Vases Three Ways

Years ago Melita took a class from the designer SharonG herself around Sharon Garmize's "Five Vases with Curly Bamboo" which you can see unstitched here.

https://www.amysgoldenstrand.com/store/p922/5_Vases_with_Curly_Bamboo.html

Melita used SharonG's guide for this beauty.  Sharon's a master of light coverage stitches as you can see with Vase One, the green one on the left with a feather design.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2017/03/15/vase-1-of-5-vases-by-sharon-g/

Some of Melita's chapter buddies are also stitching this.  Some are using Sharon's guide, some guides by Amy Bunger or Tony Minieri.  In this blog article Melita worked the ruby glass vase which has lots of beads.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2017/03/15/vase-1-of-5-vases-by-sharon-g/

For the teal blue vase with the dragonfly, Melita stuck to Sharon's light coverage although the guides by Amy and Tony have more solid stitching (and Tony has full coverage on all the vases apparently).

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2020/06/08/vase-3-of-5-vases-by-sharon-g/

The yellow floral vase was stitched next, including the bamboo stalks in the vase.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2020/07/12/vase-4-of-5-vases-by-sharon-g/

Melita can't find the blog posting on the final vase, the cinnamon one, but this article talks about it briefly and also talks about the different ways the stitch guide writers approached this design.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/04/22/sharon-g-canvas-vases/

Three versions of this design were  submitted to ANG's Needle Pointers magazine so if you subscribe you may see more of this lovely design in the January-February 2021 issue.

https://fliphtml5.com/bookcase/fmohu

By the way, this article also appeared in the CH Stitch Guides blog since it is about stitch guides and different approaches to stitching the same design.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 23, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NJNA Shares the Fun for May

The latest chapter of the newsletter for the New Jersey Needle Artists chapter of ANG is out and it is full of ANG news, from a review of the new issue of ANG's magazine to Seminar news.  If you are looking for a light with magnifier that travels well and doesn't have a cord, the newsletter has three recommendations for you to check out.   They also have information about beautiful wooden trays that attach to any brand of floor stand from Rock A Way Custom Wood Products.  Rock A Way doesn't seem to have a website but they do have a Facebook page (second link below).  

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2024/05/18/whats-happening-at-njna-5-18-24/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Rock-A-Way-Custom-Wood-Products/100063791274769/

The newsletter has news about a stitching getaway, a new stitching club featuring one of Kelly Clark's mermaids, and what Morgan Julia is doing with a company called Packaged Party.  There's also a link to a new shop selling needle minders (and magnetic chalk boards to store them on) called Flamingo Toes Shop.  We all need more needle minders, right?  

https://flamingotoesshop.com/collections/needle-minders

NJNA has a great tip for inexpensive covers for your magnifier so you don't burn the house down if it's left in a sunny spot--get together with your stitching buddies and buy bulk velvet drawstring jewelry bags online! Safe, soft and any extras can go to storing that fabulous string of pearls you wear to go out on New Year's Eve.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 19, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Travels for Needle Pointers

Melita's latest blog entry details the travels of a model for an article in Needle Pointers.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/03/09/ang-needle-pointers-magazine-cover-model/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 10, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Is 2023 the Year of the Gnome?

After I heard that ANG's going to publish six Marilyn Owen gnome designs in Needle Pointers in 2023, I started to wonder if this is going to be The Year of the Gnome.  Colour Complements is going to do thread kits for these designs, by the way.  You can see the first here.

https://colourcomplements.com/product-category/welcome-gnome-colour-complements

https://colourcomplements.com/2023/01/colourful-bargello-pattern-welcome-gnome-series.html

https://colourcomplements.com/2023/03/welcome-gnome-florentina.html

https://colourcomplements.com/2023/04/using-blue-and-orange-palette-for-dotti.html

https://colourcomplements.com/2023/06/bright-tropical-colour-palette-for-swirly-welcome-gnome.html

There are lots of gnome canvases available now.

https://familyartsneedlework.com/search?page=1&q=gnome

I know because I started looking when I also heard Needlepoint by Laura has new gnome designs.

https://www.stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/search-results?q=needlepoint+by+laura&type=products&collections=What%27s+New+2022&utm_campaign=fc06db20-426e-4a21-96d7-c0d4e92c5f56&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail_lp&cid=68c6d8c4-6311-4db7-a6af-6c56ebef78b3

Looks like it's going to be a good year for little guys with big noses and beards.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 1, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

News from the World of Needlepoint (and NJNA)

The December newsletter from NJ Needle Artists' chapter of ANG is a fun one.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2022/12/03/whats-happening-at-njna-12-3-22/

You can learn about ANG's fund raiser, their putting all the issues of Needle Pointers magazine starting in the 1980s online (members only, sorry), and there's even a link to an article by Ellen Johnson of Serendipity Needleworks about the various types of scissors for needlepoint.

https://www.serendipityneedleworks.com/scissors-for-needlepoint/

Fun one!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 4, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needle Pointers Profiles Jill A. Vendituoli

ANG's magazine, Needle Pointers, highlights the stitching art of Jill A. Vendituoli.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=231259629003695&set=pcb.231264125669912

You can use the right side arrow to see the rest of the article.  If you want to see more, visit Jill's website.  It's a wonderful browse!  Pour your favorite beverage and wander around her Portfolio, enjoying Jill's work.

https://www.jillavendituoli.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 12, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kimberly Design: Profile of an Artist UPDATED

If you belong to the American Needlepoint Guild, then you've already seen their article in the latest Needle Pointers magazine about Kimberly Design and her design process.

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanNeedlepointGuild/photos/a.136461719731191/4327060694004585/

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=280792300185299&set=pcb.280792386851957

If you aren't a member, and you want to see an artist at work, you can read her recent profile on the Folt Bolt art site.

https://www.foltbolt.com/post/a-kimberly-design

The above article has links to her Insta and Facebook sites, as well as a link to her blog plus the Bedecked and Beadazzled shop where you can buy her painted canvases or sign up for a class with Kimberly.  She also sells her original artworks.  I'm hoping she'll post images of those on Facebook for our shopping pleasure.  Pretty please!

UPDATE:  By chance, Ruth Schmuff showed off one of Kimberly's latest designs this morning.  You can buy the guide, canvas and threads from Ruth's shop, Bedecked and Beadazzled.

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2021/05/first-flying-lesson/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 20, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Hearts for Hospice UPDATED

The Kansas City ANG chapter has a philanthropic project called Hearts for Hospice and are looking for stitchers to help.   This is how it works—

"The members of Greater Kansas City Needlepoint Guild initiated a project in 2015 to fulfill a need at a local hospice center. When a resident passes away, a heart is placed on the door which notifies those passing by to be respectful of others who are mourning the death of a loved one. The heart is then taken home by a family member as a remembrance of the care their loved one received while at the center."

Finishing is provided by the local chapter.   If you are interested, here's how you can contribute. If you have further questions, email Sue at heartsforhospicegkcng@gmail.com

Update:  Anne of ABS Designs has stitched for the group.  Here is Anne's first heart and it's a beauty.
https://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2018/09/feel-good-stitching.html

Here is her second, equally lovely.
https://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2018/09/one-more-time.html

And the third is another pretty little thing!
https://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2018/09/threes-charm.html

UPDATE #2:
Melita's local ANG chapter has also stitched for the group.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/10/07/hearts-for-hospice/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/red-heart-red-eyelet-heart-for-hospice/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/11/09/planet-earth-bargello-heart/

UPDATE #3:
Melita shares places to find more Hearts for Hospice designs.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/03/14/hearts-for-hospice-in-needle-pointers/

UPDATE #4:
Here is more about the Hearts for Hospice program, plus an offer of a free design for your own heart.
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2019/10/04/hearts/?fbclid=IwAR3bl8xaMeMqB9S5KKnW7NU47Ry21QLnvB5U-jcYL0KYhCd1psIbnQ6wXKc

UPDATE #5:  Lorraine of Colour Complements has a lovely summary of how the program works, the heart outline to download, plus links to two free designs from Sue Dulle.
https://colourcomplements.com/2019/11/hearts-for-hospice-needlepoint-colour-complements-embroidery-threads.html

UPDATE #6:  Melita has tons of links to patterns for this wonderful project.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/hearts-galore/

UPDATE #7:  Brenda's ANG chapter is stitching hearts for the program.  She also choose a Brenda Richardson heart design.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2024/03/heart-of-hearts-33124.html

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

Jan's Metalforms Journey

Jan at the Stitchlady's Adventures blog has been working the Jeff Kulick project from Needle Pointers magazine called "Metalforms" with a group from her local ANG chapter.  Jan is using her own colors, which makes this project especially interesting.
https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/02/20/metalforms/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/going-on-the-road/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/03/18/metalforms-update/

The instructions have been a challenge.
https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/metalforms-project/

She's adjusting colors as she goes.
https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/more-metalforms/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/metalforms-2/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/metalforms-testing-my-brain/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/05/29/metalforms-update-2/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/metalforms-done-almost/

It's finished and the Southwestern colors are magnificent!
https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/metalforms-complete‼%EF%B8%8F‼%EF%B8%8F👏👏/


****************************

Melita is stitching Metalfroms, too!
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/metalforms-part-1-border/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/metalforms-part-1/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/01/22/metalforms-part-2/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/metalforms-part-3/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/03/29/metalforms-part-4/

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2018/06/10/metalforms-part-5/

I hope you enjoyed watching Metalforms grow as much as I have.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 17, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Melita Made the Cover!

One of Melita's award winning original designs has made the cover of the July 2017 Needle Pointers!  Congratulations!
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/festive-fireworks-published-and-on-the-cover-of-needle-pointers-july-2017/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 11, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.