The Shorebird Studio Show

Normally I put trunk shows in the Trunk Shows and Sales tab, but The Needlepointer's online show of Katie Molineux's canvases is too good to miss if you don't visit that section of Blog regularly.  The trunk show ends Feb. 1 so visit soon.  I don't know when the next trunk show will replace these photos of some of Katie's new pieces which aren't on her website.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com/trunk-shows/

The carp and waterfall scroll is magnificent!  Don't miss it, even though you will have to click on the small thumbnail to see what I'm raving about.

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

The Blue Russian and More

Northern Light Santa, Ready for Stretcher Bars!

By now many of you will have seen last night's accidental posting of the announcement that I am about to start blog-stitching Leigh Designs' Northern Light Santa.  The article was set to publish this morning but...!  Hey, I don't explain this stuff--I just blog here!

This morning was full of housekeeping chores related to the design I call Blue Russian.  I started a folder for the stitch guide, I made a color copy and then a black and white copy of the design, I scanned the design so I had a nice closeup of his face for Blog's header.  I posted the photo in the header and accidentally erased the Welcome to the Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure title!  For some reason Blogger is refusing to publish the title on top of the photo.  Rats.  

Hey, I don't explain this stuff--I just blog here!

Guess we will do without a title for a while.  We all know where we are, right?  LOL

By the way, the poll results from yesterday show that three-quarters of you want Northern Light Santa to be finished as a standup.    The voting will continue until Friday, so make sure you cast a vote.  (If the poll doesn't work for you, email me at chilly hollow at hotmaildotcom and I'll keep track of those votes and add them at the end.)  I'm going to shoot off an email to Sue Parsons of West Coast Finishing and ask her what shape she recommends I sketch out for a background to make the best looking stand up possible.  Stay tuned for that.  This is a finisher's busiest time of the year so I may not hear from Sue quickly.   The vote may change later on but we'll have Sue's thoughts about stand ups anyway, just in case.

I'll get him on stretcher bars today and start pulling threads.  FYI, I have attached the full body scan here so you can really see the details of this beauty.  Blue Russian is elegant from the tip of his cap to the bottom of his robe!  Note especially the blues in his silver coronet and staff, and the three silver dot triangular pattern on his robe among the snowflakes.  The color won't be quite accurate--I adjusted the contrast and boosted the colors so you could see the details--but it'll give you an idea of what he looks like in person.  Once again, Blue Russian is 6 inches high and painted on 18 count ecru canvas like all the Russian Santa series.  Here are the others, just for reference purposes.  They are all the same size.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp833x.html

I know some of you are stitching along with me, some of you chose other Russian Santas, and some of you are sitting on the couch with your drinks and popcorn, hoping my ideas will work for your Santa canvas from another designer.  I promise we'll all have a good time!

Before we get settled and start, I did want to mention an e-newletter I got this morning from The Needlepointer.  They are going to have a visit on December 17th from Katie Molineaux, the designer behind the lovely realism of Shorebird Studio.  I'm not sure of the hours yet, but The Needlepointer can tell you if you happen to be in the area.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com

Don't miss this.  Katie is one of my favorite designers because she does Asian and animals so well.  Seeing her designs in person is not to be missed!
http://shorebirdstudio.com

Now, what size stretcher bars do I need?  Where is that box of beads and sequins and crystals?  Ok, is everyone settled in the sleigh?  Got the lap robe pulled up to your waist?  Hold on tight to your drinks.

We're OFF!

Questions?  Email me at chillyhollow@hotmail.com and I'll get back to you within a day or so.

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.

Outside the Box

Yesterday we talked about the individuality and creativity of Marnie Ritter. Today we are going to look at the same traits in Cara Sue Richard.  She loves to cut threads, add threads, add colors, textures, add everything to painted canvases.  Often she totally transforms the subject matter.  Wait'll you see what she did with the HP Designs Deco Cat canvas that Ruth taught as a mystery class a few years back.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/11/think-outside-box.html

Here are more of Cara Sue's works of art.  I'm sorry I don't have a finished portrait of the tulips to show you.
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/pink-tulip-2liz-darkness-added/prev?context=user

This is another Lani canvas of a tulip.
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/tulip-pink/prev?context=user

I think this horse is from Leigh Designs.  Cara Sue's an original, isn't she?
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/more-022/prev?context=user

Check out the flowers carefully to see where she has cut away the NP canvas threads.  This is a Shorebird Studio piece.
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/yin-and-yang-cut-canvas?context=user

Finally, here is her Tree of Life.  Amazing!
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/tree-of-life-1/prev?context=user

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

Who Was Looking for This?

Katie Molineaux's Limited Edition Foo Dog Canvas

The photo above is a limited edition design from Shorebirds Studio.  I believe there were only ten of these painted since the obi fabric that comes with the canvas for finishing was in short supply.  They are sold out and no longer listed on her website.
http://shorebirdstudio.com/

A lot of folks were looking for this design and I helped track down at least six of the ten.  I've found another ($339) on a website.  I haven't inquired if this canvas is still available, but if you are one of the folks still looking for this piece, email me at chilly hollow at hot maildotcom and I'll give you the URL.  They have the rhododendron obi piece at the same price.

Rhododendron Obi Canvas

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