Bread and Fishes

The power of the Internet brings wonderful examples of stitching right into our homes, where we can analyze, study and enjoy it all.   Aren't we lucky to be living now?  We can learn from wonderful stitchers like Vicky DeAngelis who is stitching one of the Keep Calm canvases from Unique New Zealand.  She decided on an open background with a darning pattern of fish which you can just barely seen in the lower left corner of the last two photos.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/10/12/the-evolution-of-a-stitch/

Then look and see what happened to the background.  Vicky understands no matter how clever the idea, how terrific the stitch, it doesn't pay to fall in love with it if it isn't just right for that particular canvas.  (Besides, now Vicky can go buy a new canvas with her fish background in mind.)
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/10/14/keep-calm-and-love-cats/

On the other hand, the Domestique, if she ever had doubts, is past them as she presents a finished framed John Johannsen design from Melissa Shirley.  This piece is full of ideas, such as the overdyed thread used to great effect in the background, the combination of ribbon and beads on The Bread Girl's flying ribbons and the interesting sleeves and waistband.  These are all from a Carolyn Hedge Baird stitch guide but that doesn't mean we can't reuse Carolyn's great ideas elsewhere.
http://thedomestiquete.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/needlepoint-post-melissa-shirley-bread-girl/

I am often asked where I get ideas for the painted canvases I stitch  Mostly, I cheat.  I carefully study pieces I see and file away great ideas for later.  It might be a great stitch or it might be a color combination I like.  Or maybe it's Vicky's experience discarding a great stitch for one that suits her canvas better.  All of these great stitchers help me become a great stitcher, and they will do the same for you if you study their experiences and emulate them as much as possible.

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

Wonderful Finished Things

I love it when shops post photographs of finished pieces their customers have stitched!  Quail Run has an original design drawing from Southwestern pottery to share.
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/10/orignal-design-by-enthusiastic-stitcher.html

Nimble Needle isn't happy with their own ribbonwork (which I think is spectacular!) on a J. Child canvas, but they are very impressed with how a customer's Glorafilia design looks.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post.html

Here are the sites for J. Child and Glorafilia if you want to browse more of their work.
http://www.jchilddesigns.com

http://www.glorafilia.com

Diane's gotten a boatload of finishing back.  Feel better soon!
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/10/nothing-can-make-me-feel-better-than.html

You can see the woodwork and counted thread pieces of Old Colonial here.
http://www.oldecolonialdesigns.com

Ada is showing off some great seasonal pieces.
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2012/10/summer-into-fall.html

Melinda just got a box of spectacular finishing back from Marlene's.
http://melindaslivingthegoodlife.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-big-reveal.html

This stitched menorah is charming.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/10/bonnie-made-this-wonderful-menorah-from.html

How about this fabulous hobo bag?  Or the pillows?  Love the Princess Initial one!
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/10/hobo-bag.html

http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/10/pillows-galore.html

Wait'll you see Suzanne's collection of finished ornaments!  They are wonderful.
http://www.suzannehicks.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post.html

Before I stop, you'll enjoy seeing the Keep Calm and college logos that Diane's finished.
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-few-pieces-of-finishing.html

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

The Newest

There are lots of new things popping up all over. First of all, Bristly Thistle's found a neat new tool to help with stretcher bars.
http://bristlythistle.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-cool-stretcher-bar-tool.html

Unique New Zealand has created a smaller ornament version of their Keep Calm series.  Thanks for the heads-up, Vicky!
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/10/15/are-you-ready-for-this/

Finally, Barbara Bergsten has come up with new rolly polly Santas that she calls Santa Stitches.  She needs help coming up with the right threads for 13 count, however.  Can you give her some recommendations?
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2012/10/i-need-needlepoint-help.html

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

Robin's Last of TNNA Baltimore

Robin has been so busy since she returned from the TNNA show in Baltimore that she is just now reporting on what she saw and did and ate there.   First, she saw lots of wonderful things, from her newest Needle Deeva piece to new magnets from Accoutrement Designs, new canvases from Barbara Bergsten, new Viola bags with NP straps, and of course more of the wonderful variety of Keep Calm canvases from Unique New Zealand.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2012/09/baltimoretnna-day-3.html

Then if that wasn't enough, Robin went to Bedecked and Beadazzled and taught.  (And bought--what can I say?  I would have, too!)
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2012/09/teaching-at-bedecked-and-beadazzled-2012.html

She's not the only great teacher they've just had visiting.  The weekend after the trade show Brenda Hart was there.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/09/stitching-with-brenda-hart.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/09/brenda-embellishment-weekend-september.html

deep sigh
Wish we all were there....

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

Christmas (and Halloween) in July

It's Christmas in July over at Stephanie's blog, where she showed off some dynamite finishing by Kim Hollifield.  I loved beaded edges on ornaments but I never would have thought of something so clever as this.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2012/07/fantastic-finishing.html

Unique New Zealand Goes Halloween

Peacock Alley is partnering with Unique New Zealand for a whole series of Keep Calm canvases.  My favorite this week is shown above but they come with many sayings. If you have a Facebook account, look for "Peacock Alley Needlepoint" and then search their Wall Photos picture album.  Your own shop might order a custom for you from Unique New Zealand or you might want to see what Peacock Alley has in stock.
http://www.peacockalleyneedlepoint.com/peacockalleyneedlepoint/Home.html

P.S.  Keep Calm fans may enjoy playing with this.
http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/#create


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

Designer Updates

Jude's Skateboard Witch

Now that the TNNA show in Columbus is over, I've started browsing designer websites, looking for updates of the newest painted canvases.  So far, here's what I've found:

Renaissance Designs has some wonderful little kimono doll kits that might be perfect for teaching that child in your life to stitch.  As usual, their Halloween pieces are wonderful and that standup Patchwork Santa is pretty amazing, too.
http://www.renaissanceneedlepoint.com/new/new.html

Colors of Praise does wonderful birds and flower designs, but look! There's a geisha, too!
http://www.colorsofpraiseart.com/new_designs.html

Amanda Lawford has added some wonderful animal designs, particularly the funny dog pieces starting on page 7.  No geishas were spotted.  :(
http://www.amandalawford.com/products/new1.html

Canvas Candy has new juvenile and Christmas ornament/canvas sets.  (The geisha is under Asian.  LOL)
http://www.jlcanvascompany.com/Juvenile.html

A Dragon's Tale is featuring new fairy tale canvases based on her sister's paintings.  Since I love fairy tale canvases almost as ones with Asian themes, we'll let the lack of a geisha slide here.
http://adragonstaleneedlepoint.blogspot.com/search/label/Fairy%20Tales%20by%20Christine%20Mix

I believe the garden pieces are new also.
http://adragonstaleneedlepoint.blogspot.com/search/label/Gardens

Jude Designs has added some wonderful things to her line.  There's a magnificent Madonna and Child and the totally hilarious Skateboard Witch you see at the top of the page.  No geishas but her 12 Cajun Days of Christmas totally makes up for the lack.
http://www.spicyneedlepoint.com/Christmas_Halloween/default.htm

Finally, Julia's Needleworks has six pages of new designs.  Howl at the Moon Diva will capture some folks' eye while others will be totally charmed by the 3-D prairie dog needlepoint.  There is a Nativity set, a series of fashion plate ladies, Toby jug canvases, and an elephant on a flying carpet.  Fans of Peter Ashe will enjoy looking at his small round Nutcracker ornaments.
http://needleworks.ehclients.com/index.php/private-tradeshow/

Unique New Zealand has some wonderful geometrics and a line of hilarious Keep Calm signs.
http://www.uniquenzdesigns.com/newneedlepoint.html

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