News and Newsletters UPDATED

It's April 1st as I type this, so there is all sorts of needlepoint news. First, the April newsletter for Amy's Golden Strand is up on Amy's website.  Check out the book reviews in particular!  You'll love the Sparkles tutorial even if you never plan to use the stuff.
http://www.amybunger.com/f/0413.pdf

The April newsletter for Bedecked and Beadazzled is up as well. Check out the new designs in the shop, not to mention all the wonderful classes.  She even features one of my favorite stitches, Double Stitch.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/needlepoint/downloads/bedeckednewsapril2013.pdf

Thistle Needleworks is having a Mindy trunk show, so they have posted a lot of photos of Mindy canvases at Alex Paras Needle Arts, their online shop.  It's a good place to see a lot of Mindy's beautiful pieces, including the new Turkish designs.
http://store.apneedlearts.com/mindysasian.html

I have of course posted about the Mindy canvases in the page about monthly trunk shows and sales, but I didn't want folks who aren't looking for sale news to miss out the art show.  Speaking of which, I am starting to post new items on the Dallas Trade show page.  I'll put the latest items on top, so just remember to check in periodically to see the latest news.  You can reach either section by clicking on a tab at the top of the page under the title header.  Clicking on the Home tab brings you back to the main page, which is where you are now as you read this.

By the way, Alex Paras has added a new section to their website called "What Can I Make?"  It's a gallery of finished pieces, made up in a large number of ways.  If you are looking for interesting ways to finish that canvas you stitched and put away, this is the place to browse.  There are plenty of links to follow to see all sorts of things, so pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage and roam the site, enjoying the show!
http://store.apneedlearts.com/fisa.html

UPDATE:  Nimble Needle has their newsletter available now, and the section explaining Tony Minieri's Basic to Basics class alone makes it worth reading, not to mention all the wonderful painted canvas photos of their spring designs!
http://nimbleneedle.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/y/A4C84A5BA875E3C5/C3D335A9BE27A7BCF1E87EB810D8F10A

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.

Let's Hear it for Judie! (and Kathy Schenkel)

When I was wrestling with changing Blog's header photo, I decided that once I was able to change the photo, I'd switch to a seasonal design that didn't have to be changed often. I choose a photo of the darling little Kathy Schenkel mini sock that Judie Solomon stitched for me. Judie is the owner of Thistle Needleworks in Connecticut as well as the proprietress of Alex Paras Needle Arts, the online shop arm of Thistle.  I discovered Judie stitches little Kathy Schenkel Designs Christmas stockings for her family and asked if I could be adopted as a joke.  Judie obliged in the most wonderful way possible!

I found photos of some finished KSD stockings for your perusal.  Aren't they great?!
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/kathy-schenkels-mini-stocking-with.html

http://homesteadneedlearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/kathy-schenkel-mini-stocking-trunk-show.html

Because she's such a fan, Judie has a great many KSD stockings with matching stuffed items available via her online store.  Of course you can visit the Kathy Schenkel website and browse everything there, then have your local shop order the perfect mini stocking for you. After all, Judie can't adopt us all!
http://store.apneedlearts.com/miwdo.html

http://www.kathyschenkel.com/Gallery/Mini-Socks-with-Critters/10

Thanks again, Judie.  I can't tell you how much pleasure your beautifully stitched little stocking has brought me.


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

Shorebird Trunk Show

i'm a big fan of Katie Molineaux's Shorebird Studio designs so I was thrilled to hear Thistle Needleworks/AP Needle Arts is having a trunk show of her work from October 8-22nd with 20 percent off the canvases. You can either go to Thistle in person or shop at the Alex Paras Needle Arts website
http://store.apneedlearts.com/shsttrshoc8o.html


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

Jane Luvs Judie

Why I love Judie

As you know, last week I ran out of a thread I'm using on Red Geisha's hair, which has delayed my showing off how I stitched her wig.  But Judie of Thistle Needlework came to the rescue via her online shop, Alex Paras NeedleArts.  Judie didn't have the thread I wanted in stock, but she got it for me right away and shipped it out immediately.  So I've been stitching my brains out, thanks to her.

The photo above shows what came with my order. Yes, that's a skein of ThreadworX's overdyed Kreinik.   I decided since I needed only one skein of thread, I would pick up a few small things I've been wanting at the same time.  The online shop had both dede Odgen's Pace needle (which I've been dying to try) and some of the small strong magnets for holding my needles I favor.   The tube is how the needle is stored until you need it.  The gold magnet is just visible at the base of Judie's Thistle logo in the tiny packet.  It is only a quarter inch across but very strong.  The second link below shows a bit more about Pace needles.  The first link is to Alex Paras where I bought my treats.
http://store.apneedlearts.com/

https://needleartworks.com/dsgnr/deo/deo12.htm

By the way, Judie's having a thread sale this month.  Each week different threads are on sale at 20% off.  In stock threads only but this is a good time to kit out a project.  The details are on the Thistle website.  If you want to do online ordering, use the Alex Paras website (above).
http://www.thistleneedleworks.com/

I'll report back on the Pace needle later (they are intended to be used with multiple strands of thin metallics like Accentuate or Bijoux or blending filament) but I'll be using the new little magnets when I start a new project shortly.

I love you, Judie!  Many thanks!!

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

News and Monthly Clubs

I have a random assortment of news to mention so I'll just toss everything in this blog entry.  First, the large Thanksgiving designs from Melissa Shirley that someone saw at the trade show and greatly admired in gold frames are available to see well on this site.  Three are at the bottom of this page and the last is the top item on the next page.
http://www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/newreleases.php?page=4&

Thistle Needleworks is doing a monthly club of small seasonal canvases that you are supposed to stitch from your stash.  Here are the canvases.  The ones that are stitched look like a lot of fun and Thistle says they'll work up in just a weekend.
http://thistleneedleworks.com/products/ads/OrnamentOfTheMonth.html

I've mentioned Barbara Elmore's Cinderella's Closet club that Needlenook of La Jolla is running but you must see the photos of the first six finished shoes.  (Another six will be released this year.)  Barbara, you are endlessly inventive!
http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/events/cinderella/index.html

What's the Point? has added new models to their Santa clubs and their fur and feathers club.
http://www.whatsthepoint.biz/clubs.php

Creative Stitches and Gifts has a Raymond Crawford hat of the monthly club. You'll also want to see the lovely Betsy B ornaments that are being taught in house.  I don't know if you can take this class by mail but I think it would be a lovely option.
http://www.creativestitchesandgifts.com/

A Stitch in Time Needlework has released their newest "pail" club. This year they are doing a child's bucket full of eggs.  They still offer last year's bucket of hearts and also have a nice Christmas ornament club from Kelly Clark.
http://www.needlepoint-knitting.com/los_angeles/index.php

My last monthly club is from The Needlepointer, who offer miniature houses to build your own stitched village.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com/monthly_clubs.php

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

Not My Fault

I got a hilarious email from Judie of Thistle Needleworks/Alex Paras Needlework yesterday.  She just finished designing this painted canvas kit which is called Chilly Santa and posted a photo on her Alex Paras website.  Almost immediately she was asked if it was based on Chilly Hollow!  LOL

No, this is not my fault.  I don't resemble Chilly Santa in any way, shape, or form (although I do have gold wire rimmed glasses, come to think about it).
http://store.apneedlearts.com/chsaex.html

When I quit laughing, I asked Judie about her use of DMC memory thread for the gold glasses and the white beard, specifically if she had any tips for using it.

She replied, "I found it very easy to work with -- this is the second piece I have used it on. The gold held up very well, but I have found that the threads that are wound around the copper core wire sometime fray a bit. Others have recommended dipping the ends in FrayCheck but I found that all I had to do was snip off the unraveled ends."

Thanks for the memory thread advice, Judie, and for the laugh.  Now I guess I'd better be cautious about eating everything in sight over Thanksgiving and Christmas or I might actually be mistaken for Chilly Santa later on!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Lee Wisteria Kimono UPDATED

The gorgeous finished piece you see above is a Lee canvas, Wisteria Kimono. Lee has several kimono designs featuring wisteria in bloom but this has always been my favorite. The photo came from Judie at Thistle Needleworks in Connecticut. Judie took the wisteria kimono class Ruth Dilts and Joan Lohr teach and she and Linda P. at Thistle stitched the design. Isn't it lovely?! I don't know when Ruth and Joan will teach this again but you can contact Ruth via her website and ask if she'll be in your area. UPDATE: Ruth tells me she sells the stitch guide to shops, so you can ask your shop to order it from her for you. She does not sell directly, so get your shop to email her.
http://www.ruthdiltsdesign.com/index.html

The kimono design itself used to come in different sizes but Ruth told me the large one has been discontinued. The piece you see above is the 8x10 design. I saw Ruth's and Joan's two models in person at Waste Knot in Arlington, VA and it is a spectacular display of color and silk ribbon embroidery on NP canvas. Great job, ladies!

UPDATE: I found a site with the 15x18 version of this design. Just because it is discontinued doesn't mean there aren't any big wisteria kimonos in the shops still.
http://www.oldworlddesigns.com/themes/asiancanvases.html

I begged Judie for the picture for a reason besides its intrinsic beauty. My next canvas is a small teapot with a wisteria design on it. I plan to attempt SRE (silk ribbon embroidery) on it and only hope that my final piece is half as lovely as Judie's version!

Wish me luck....

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

Interview with Judie of Thistle Needleworks

I love talking to other stitchers, to designers, and of course to shop owners. I managed to talk Judie of Thistle Needleworks in Glastonbury, Connecticut into an interview. Judie graciously sent me photos to make into a slide show for blog readers. Here is Judie speaking below, answering my questions and talking about her shop and the pieces she and her staff have stitched.

"A few shots of the shop are attached (that's Julia at the register, not me) as well as pix of three commercially available painted canvases for which I have written stitch guides -- 2 from Anne Brinkley and 1 from Cooper Oaks. (The Hummingbird piece has two areas - one wing and the bud - worked on 18-mesh canvas and then appliqued to the 13-mesh painted canvas. I don't think that shows very well in the photo. All three pieces have a variety of threads and stitches, but I would like to think that they do not show because they just enhance the designs but do not change them.)"

Judie, the photos are wonderful! I had a lot of fun looking at them last night. Now I have questions about the stitched pieces and then about the shop itself. I think you are right that the individual stitches don't show up much because they are not intended to call attention to themselves, but it is hard to take good photos of stitching that shows much detail. What threads did you use?

"The two flower pieces are all done with Gumnut Yarns -- Blossoms, Daisies, Stars, Buds, Poppies, and Tulips. Mr. Wonderful uses Watercolours from The Caron Collection and Gold Rush 14 and Cordonnet from Rainbow Gallery in addition to Gumnut Yarns."

What did you use for the ermine on Mr. Wonderful's robe?

"Gumnut Yarns' Daisies 990 and 999."

Why did you choose these pieces for a stitch guide?

"All three were designed to be used at trade shows at classes co-sponsored by Anne Brinkley or Cooper Oaks and Custom House of NeedleArts, the importer of Gumnut Yarns."

Are these things that just spoke to you or are your customers big fans of Anne Brinkley, for example?

"In the case of the flowers, I chose the designs, but Mr. Wonderful was chosen by the designer for the class and stitch guide."

Is your original website (link below) more geared toward counted thread stitchers?
http://www.thistleneedleworks.com/

"Yes, indeed it is........... We acquired the Alex-Paras web site a little over a year ago when Alex-Paras NeedleArts, the brick and mortar shop in FL, closed. The former owner was a longtime friend and customer of Thistle Needleworks before she moved to FL and later opened her shop there. She has now moved back to CT and is on the staff of Thistle Needleworks."

(If you haven't browsed the AP website to see their painted canvases, here is the link for a good long browse.)
http://store.apneedlearts.com/

You were the first shop I know of to offer counted thread monthly clubs and there still aren't many folks who cater to this breed of stitcher. Do you have anything special planned for them for 2009-10?

"Not on the calendar at this time, but things may change...................."

How did you happen to open a needlework store anyway?

"Before I opened Thistle Needleworks in 1983, I was a partner with two other ladies in The Needlework Studio. We were primarily a teaching studio -- I was the counted thread person, Anne was the canvas person, and Rosemary was the surface embroidery teacher -- and we sold merchandise only to support our classes. It was a concept whose time had not yet come and we closed after only one year. But that whet my appetite and so I opened Thistle Needleworks later that year."

Do you do a lot of mail order?

"Yes, we do. We ship multiple packages daily to stitchers all over the US and the rest of the world."

What are folks looking for when they either email you or find their way to your shop?

"Just about everything for the threaded needle -- fabrics and/or canvases, threads, tools, accessories, etc., etc., etc."

Is there a thread you carry no one else does, or a designer that everyone wants?

"We have no exclusives on threads -- I do not know if any shop does. We have a few exclusive cross-stitch kits and are now working with a designer to create an exclusive charted canvas work pattern or kit."

Thanks for the photographs. If you have another one of perhaps several completed pieces from your customers I'd love to add them to the slide show.

http://store.apneedlearts.com/christmas.html -- " there are two stockings there -- Harrison [top of the page] was partially stitched by a customer and completed by staff after she took ill and could not do so. The bear [Blue Snow Bear for Hannah at link below] was stitched by another customer."
http://store.apneedlearts.com/snowbear.html

I'd love to have more eye candy.

"Funny that you should use that term -- Eye Candy is the name of a needlepoint company and we have a number of her pieces on our web site."

Judie went on to describe some of the other photos she sent me:

"The fish is a Leigh design and was stitched by staffer Linda Prout after a class we piloted with Deborah Forney on Or Nue. It was stitched with Balger braids and Caron Impressions.

"Scottish Santa is a Petei canvas which I stitched using a variety of threads and stitches.

"Snowman Ornament is a charted canvas design from Kick Back & Stitch which I stitched and donated to the region's ANG auction tree a number of years ago.

I stitched both the Egmont Key Light ornament and the Vermillion Light, which was later made into a standing weighted figure. Both are from ABS Designs. Don't remember what threads were used on the Egmont Key but I do know that the Vermillion Light was stitched entirely with Sampler Threads since it was a gift for my old friends that own The Gentle Art.

"How could I forget him????????? The first Thistle Needleworks exclusive................

http://store.apneedlearts.com/bewithtave.html

"And this toy poodle -- a Leigh canvas -- stitched by Martha Piontkowski, the same gal who stitched the blue snow bear stocking from Tapestry Tent, and stitched as a gift to Julia because they share a love of poodles. Lilly belongs to Julia, who is one of our framers and is shown at the register in one of the shop photos, and comes to work with Julia twice a week -- have attached another picture of the two of them hard at work in the classroom. [Lilly the poodle is on the right side of the third shop photo in her dog bed.]

"I forgot to mention that in the photo of the outside, that window on the right is in the classroom (which is used as the framing workroom when classes are not being held).

"Every year I give each of our four children and each of our three DIL's a stitched ornament. These are the seven Kathy Schenkel ones I did a few years back -- had lots of fun with stitches and textures and threads."

And I've had a lot of fun talking to you, Judie, seeing photos of Thistle Needleworks and enjoying the stitching you and your staff have done there. Thank you very much for allowing Blog and its readers to visit with you today!

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