The Spinster Stitcher Is Hearing Voices

Conni, the Spinster Stitcher, is hearing voices.

https://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2020/12/no-shame-in-my-needlepoint-game.html

And you know what?  They are making perfect sense.

Stitch what makes you happy, people!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 9, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Spinster Sister Recommends The Bitzy Bob Cutie

The Spinster Stitcher lugs her stitching supplies each week to dialysis and has trouble keeping everything easily reachable in the chair there.  But she might have found The Answer in this gadget from Etsy—it's called a Bitzy Bob Cutie.
https://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2019/02/saturday-spinster-bliss.html

You can visit the That's So Kelly Co shop on Etsy here to see this and the larger Bitzy Bob here.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThatsSoKellyCo?ref=ss_profile

There's even a video explaining how it works.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThatsSoKellyCo?ref=l2-shop-info-avatar#about

Thanks for the recommendation, Spinster!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 16, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mystery Solved!

The Spinster Sister found her magnets (used to hold her chart in position as she stitched) making marks on her linen as she stitched!  She calls this "magnet poop."
https://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2018/03/a-little-bit-of-stitching-and-some.html

Turns out it wasn't the magnets making the marks at all.   (WHEW!)  It was the ink on the xerox of the chart rubbing off.  The Spinster Stitcher makes a copy of the pertinent part of a chart she's doing and clips the copy to her work with magnets.
https://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2018/03/mystery-solved.html

You can use plastic sheet protectors from office supply stores to keep this from happening to you.
https://www.officedepot.com/a/browse/sheet-protectors/N=5+2310/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 30, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Barbara Bush's Needlepoint on Display UPDATED

We've all just learned that Mrs. Barbara Bush has died.  I think the Spinster Stitcher says it best--
https://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2018/04/rest-in-peace-mrs-bush.html

Marlys just visited the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas and took photographs of Barbara Bush's needlepoint on display. She posted the photographs on Needlepoint Nation. Use the side arrows to browse.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1306612082784451&set=pcb.1491050567638763&type=3&theater

The former First Lady's famous needlepoint rug was featured in both a special edition of Needlepoint Plus (1990) and...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/175486264/needlepoint-plus-1990-barbara-bushs-rug?show_sold_out_detail=1

…the September-October 1986 issue of Needlepoint News.
https://www.amazon.com/needlepoint-news-christmas-two-needle-september-october/dp/b002tn7t7i

The famous needlepoint ornaments were featured on one of the White House Christmas trees in 1991's Needlepoint Christmas theme and I think some of the Nutcracker theme tree ornaments for 1990 were also needlepointed.
http://rockycoastnews.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-white-house-christmas-gallery-george.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Christmas_tree

UPDATE:  EGW Publishing has kindly posted the Needlepoint Plus article about Mrs. Bush's famous floral rug on their website for everyone to enjoy.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page.  Many thanks to Wendy for finding this and telling us about it.
https://www.egwpublishing.com/about1-c1td8

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 21, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Clever Tip for the Counted Crowd

If you have a charted piece in your near future, you might be able to use this tip from the Spinster Stitcher—she simply copies her chart and cuts out the relevant section and clips that to her canvas.  This makes it easier to work that section.
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2017/09/poppers-fee-nee.html

Many thanks to Miss Joyce for this clever idea and to Miss Coni for passing it along.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 3, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

She Made Us Laugh and Cry, Now She Needs Our Support

Coni Rich, known to many of us as the Spinster Stitcher, is in Stage Five Renal Failure, which means her kidneys are giving out.  She's facing dialysis eventually although she is on the list for a kidney transplant.  All this costs money, and she needs our help to pay the bills.  You can donate here.
https://www.youcaring.com/conirich-813248

Coni has a humor column in Needlepoint Now magazine and writes the humor blog, The Spinster Stitcher.   Any little bit helps keep the Spinster healthy and stitching.  Thank you.
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 3, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Celebrity Stitching, "Southern Charm" Edition

The Spinster Sister was watching the premier of Bravo's "Southern Charm" last night and spotted one of the cast members needlepointing!
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2017/04/holey-schmoleyshe-stitcher.html

Here's the clip which Lynne found and posted on Needlepoint Nation (that's a Facebook Group about needlepoint).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/1358650054212149/

You can tour Patricia Altschul's house with glimpses of her needlepoint pillows and a framed Victorian needlepoint dog portrait that used to belong to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis by clicking here.
http://www.etonline.com/tv/214357_exclusive_southern_charm_star_patricia_altschul_house_tour/

If you get Bravo Channel on your television, you can probably watch it online.
http://www.bravotv.com/southern-charm/videos

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 6, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Speaking of Tips...

Speaking of tips, the Spinster Stitcher shows how you lock silk ribbon in the needle so it doesn't slip out of the eye.  
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2016/05/inquiring-minds-want-to-know.html

Thanks, Coni!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 17, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Woman of Mystery Lifts the Veil a Little

Fans of Coni the Spinster Stitcher (and her little dog Stewey) will be thrilled to hear the latest, even though for once she lifts the veil a bit and allows us a peak into her personal life. 
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/09/ugh-ust-into-septemb-aaahhh.html

http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/09/a-little-note-from-master-stewey-angus.html

Many hugs from Chilly Holler!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Food for Thought

Occasionally bloggers write articles that aren't really about their stitching so much as they are food for thought.   Jane talks about the high prices Petei Santas are brining on eBay, and...
http://janew1102.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/01/petei-santas.html

...the Spinster Stitcher is content, while...
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2013/01/baby-its-cold-outside.html

...Jean thinks about needlepoint, living alone, and possibilities.  Pour a cup of coffee and spend a little time thinking about these things with me, won't you?
http://lovingstitches.typepad.com/a-needlepoint-journal-abo/2013/01/sliding-doors.html

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

Introducing Coni's Patriotic Stars

The Spinster Stitcher has finished Stars!  It's gorgeous. I never would have thought to use a red, white and blue (with gold) color scheme but she pulled it off with her usual panache.  Applause!
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/08/stars-for-new-millennium.html

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

Stars Update UPDATED

The Spinster Stitcher has posted a progress photo of her red, white and blue version of Stars.  Lovely!
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/08/they-really-need-to-start-making-pills.html

She's really making great progress on it, too.  Here's a second photo.
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/08/viewer-mail.html

The version Liz is stitching is much more earthy but just a beautiful.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/stars-for-new-millenium-progress-5.html

Jan is also at the same stitching point, but with red that makes her greens brighter than Liz's.  Fascinating!
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/stars-of-the-new-millennium-marlon-brando/

UPDATE:  Liz finally figured out what was wrong with her version of Vivian Leigh.  Success!
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/stars-of-the-new-millennium-vivien-leigh-again/

This is a wonderful project.  I hope I can get back to it this winter.

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

News for the Counted Crowd UPDATED AGAIN

Due to the simple fact that counting from 1 to 10 is pretty much impossible for me when I'm tired, I'm not much of a counted canvaswork person.   I have a lot of friends who do nothing else, though, and occasionally I throw them a bone in the shape of counted thread and canvas news.  Today's one of those days. For those working Stars, Coni has progress photos and some great advice.  Advice first, eye candy next.  Pay close attention to the advice, even though it is coming from a little dog in a smoking jacket pretending he's Hugh Hefner.
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-im-in-need-of-vacation-by-master.html

http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/06/futzus-continuous.html

NEW UPDATE BY THE SPINSTER WHO IS STITCHING LIKE THE WIND!
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/07/and-then-dog-woke-up-and-snotted-all.html

By the way, Donna's making great progress on her version of Stars.
http://majtravaux.blogspot.com/2011/07/photos-as-promised.html

UPDATE:  Donna's finished Ava Gardner!
http://majtravaux.blogspot.com/2011/07/stars-updated-again-this-week.html

No matter what you stitch, you need good ground fabric to work on.  Needle in a Haystack has some important news for those who like working on linen and those who need waste canvas.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2011/06/change-in-fabric-availability.html

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

Stars Update

Sadly, it isn't my Stars update, it is Coni's and Jan's and Liz's.  They have all been busy working their squares.  Coni is rocking a red, white and blue version from the bottom up, which means we get to see blocks that are new to me.
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/06/still-reachingand-flat-flossie-is-ready.html

She's making great progress, too, with the determination and focus only the Spinster Stitcher can bring to projects.
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/06/madame-ambassador-i-presume.html

Jan is doing a rust and olive color scheme.  She and Liz have finished the same block so you can see what different colors do with the patterns.
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/stars-of-the-new-millennium-by-tony-minieri-clark-gable-done/

Liz is using turquoise and brown.  Well, of course there are other colors involved but those are the ones most prominent this month.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/stars-for-new-millenium-progress-2.html

I will get back to Stars one day, but not for a while.  I have too many deadlines on painted canvases.  Sorry.  We'll all have to enjoy everyone else's versions until I have more time.

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

Art Interpretation (Revolution Included)

Paris Bottman Cat Stocking from Maggie Designs

The Dangerous Mezzo mentioned in a Comment that she adored the Maggie cat stocking in the header photo.  (Thanks, DM.)  This photo shows a Paris Bottman design that was adapted by Maggie to needlepoint that I stitched several years back as a Christmas present for my mother.  When DM mentioned it, I started thinking idly about artwork that various needlepoint designers have licensed.    Melissa Shirley regularly published various designers' work besides her own and of course Maggie Designs is all licensed art.  I don't believe Maggie does any designing herself.  While I was thinking about this and wondering if there was a Blog entry to be written on the topic, I discovered this on the Sundance Needlework website.
http://sundanceinstitches.blogspot.com/2010/12/lattes-at-starbucks-and-jane-lafazio.html

The article she mentions by the artist Jane LaFazio is here.  It's quite interesting to see needlepoint through the eyes of an artist whose work is being reproduced this way.  If you go back to the Sundance blog link above and scroll back some, you'll see close ups of various parts of the Tree of Life design as they were worked.
http://janeville.blogspot.com/2010/12/tree-of-life-reincarnated.html

If all this art talk is duller than dishwater for you, then you might want to go over to the Spinster Stitcher's blog where she is fomenting revolution.   I plan to sign right up.  After all, who doesn't want to be involved when SS is leading the charge?  A good time is guaranteed to be had by all.
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2010/12/show-us-your-backside.html

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

Catching Up

This is a hectic week for me, with various meetings each day and not a lot of time in the mornings for Blog. So I've neglected writing you as much as I should.  To make amends let me introduce The Spinster Stitcher and her Floating Hearts design (taken right from her blog).  A lot of folks love this pattern--including me--but the designer's name wasn't on the canvas and Coni didn't know who designed it.

Enter the winner of today's Needlepoint Detective Award, Marilyn. She sent me a note with the following information:
"After seeing this delightful piece, and in view of the apparent mystery surrounding its origin,  I undertook some research and managed to locate the designer (Alice Peterson, design #1469) and her representative.   Since there appears to be a continuing interest in Floating Hearts I thought I would share the information I obtained from Christine Tate (ChrisT@onlinestitchkits.com), in case someone would like to place an order.

Although it is a discontinued canvas, Christine can obtain it.  The price for the canvas only would be $72.00 plus appropriate sales tax and postage.  It will take 3-4 weeks to have it painted.  The design size is 10 x 10 on 13 Mono Cotton Canvas."

Thank you very much for the research, Marilyn.  I know there are quite a few folks who will be interested.  Here's a link to the Spinster Stitcher's blog, by the way.  Today's entry is hilarious!  The photo above comes from her blog entry dated September 26, 2009.

http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/ 

Ten enabling points for Marilyn, by the way.

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

What Happened to the Weekend? With Shells

I'm not sure how it came to be Monday morning as a few hours ago it was Friday night. Where does the weekend go? Well, I have a few corner shells and a clean garage area to show for whatever happened between Friday and Monday.

The top photograph shows the bottom half of the canvas and how the shells look with the overall design. I think it very important that the shells not be too dimensional. I feel that takes away from the canvas as a whole. The corner shells are just a decorative element that carries out the "bar at the beach" theme. Therefore, I just used my Vineyards silk to suggest shells instead of doing bullions or a modified spider rose stitch on top of a padded scallop shape. This is a busy canvas and I didn't want too much in the corners.

I have three of the four shells finished. Each is painted a bit differently with different shapes of coral that have more or less brown on them with the main yellow color. I like the fact that each corner is slightly different. Things can be too even.

I have to finish the tops of two bar stools, add a bow around the small mermaid's tail, and finish the wall between the window and the shelves of liquor bottles. I may have other things to finish, too. I haven't stitched an eye for the largest dog yet. On a piece this large (it is 12 inches square on 18 count canvas) with this much detail, it is easy to forget something, so I'll take it outside in the sunshine and check each area carefully for missed stitches before I put it away.

I'm still looking for a red tote bag with a zip top (I don't like open totes as I lose things that way) or a blue jeans jacket to applique this canvas on. It'll have to live in a drawer until I find the perfect item. I don't want to settle for second best!

If your weekend zoomed by also and you are sorry to be facing another Monday morning (I hate those!) then you need to go visit the Spinster Stitcher. I thought I had a bad weekend until I read this....

http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2009/08/they-should-make-pills-for-this.html

Don't fall out of your chair laughing, ok?

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

A Break In the Regularly Scheduled Programming

Here's a short break in our regularly scheduled programming (a demo of how to finish Gay Ann Rogers' Challenge Ornament) so that Coni, The Spinister Stitcher, can demonstrate again how stitchers are the nicest folks in the world....

http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-i-was-sitting-on-floor-in-target.html

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

Why are my finishing disasters not this funny?

If you've hung around here a while, you know I am not wild about finishing. I've done about everything wrong, from gluing my long hair to ornaments all the way to hemming my new pants to the skirt I was currently wearing. Why does Coni make her finishing disasters sound so much better than mine?

http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/09/there-goes-my-career-working-for-ralph.html

Her dog is cuter than me as well.
sigh

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