Spellbound Stitchery Gets Real About Propelling a Business Forward

Spellbound Stitchery talks about growing pains once a new designer launches their business and then needs funding to make it grow more.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWjguxpEdOV/

Small business owners are real heroes in my book.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

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

Printed versus Hand Painted Needlepoint Canvas

Oz Needle and Thread talks about the costs of printed needlepoint canvases versus hand painted needlepoint canvases.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/DV_xYonD_fM/

If the topic of the business of needlepoint fascinates you, this article by Atlantic Blue Canvas explaining their needlepoint canvas painting business might be of interest.

https://www.atlanticbluecanvas.com/blogs/blogs/needlepoint-painted-canvases-explained-what-they-are-why-they-matter-and-how-designers-can-scale-smarter

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 19, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

About Needlepoint Trade Shows (and Much More)

Clare of Oz Needle and Thread talks about the two main wholesale trade shows for needlepoint in this interesting video.  I thought you might like to know a bit more about these shows since the Orlando show is in a couple of days.   Note that these are not open to the public.  Only shop owners, designers and tool/thread makers are allowed to go.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWEvgnDD0X2/

Here is what it costs a designer to go to the Orlando, Florida show.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPOcEVgVcq/

Here is how you put your canvases and stitched samples on display at the shows.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DW1gSksj5eb/

If you enjoyed the above, you might like to listen to the interview Fiber Talk just did with Claire.

https://wetalkfiber.com/2026/04/19/talking-needlepoint-with-clare-vickery-of-oz-needle-thread/

Here is the Needlepoint Angels website, in case you want to participate.

https://www.needlepointangels.com/

Here are the padded hanger canvases that Oz Needle and Thread sells.

https://www.ozneedleandthread.com/collections/hangers

Here is the finishing video plus links to where to buy the plain padded hangers.

https://www.ozneedleandthread.com/pages/instructional-videos-and-resources

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 20, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: Business Insider Interviews Kevin Lustik

Every morning as I drink my coffee I read emails and browse a huge range of news sites.  This habit served me well this morning as I stumbled across Business Insider's interview of Kevin Lustik!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/marriage/i-m-a-62-year-old-paralegal-who-turned-my-needlepoint-hobby-into-a-side-hustle-gen-z-are-some-of-my-best-customers/ar-AA20DChw?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69da343e606f4e3da95a1bd8b777b2fd&ei=29

You'll remember  Kevin's hilarious and thought-provoking pieces, which you can browse on his Instagram or Facebook accounts.  His original creations are for sale, too.  

https://www.instagram.com/lustikart/?hl=en

Folks like Kevin are spreading the news that needlepoint is an art form, just like painting.  I hope he at least encourages you to try creating something original from the heart.  That's what art is, after all.  And if you don't feel creative today, you can enjoy Kevin's creativity instead.

https://www.facebook.com/kevin.lustik

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 11, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Shop Realities During a Pandemic

Ruth Schmuff has posted a heads up about the realities of buying canvases and taking classes during a pandemic.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2020/08/psa/

This is the second time this week I've seen shop owners say there is now a six month wait for canvases you have to order, so do plan ahead now for what you want to stitch this winter.

By the way, designers are having a time, too.
https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.wood.18847876/posts/1620827254743545?comment_id=1623798477779756

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 11, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Needlework Alternative to Smart Phones

We have yet another news article about millennials finding needlepoint a relief after technology overload.  It has a cute video about taking up needlepoint and a nice slide show of projects, though, and talks about the approaches shops are taking to appeal to younger customers and win over new converts.
https://www.app.com/story/life/2019/11/12/why-millennials-loving-needlepoint-gets-them-off-their-phones/3864861002/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 12, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Lesson for the Perfectionist Inside Us

I've always thought that needlepointers fall into two camps: the perfectionists and the stitchers who needlepoint for fun and relaxation.  I'm a fun and relaxation person myself (if you toss in a bit of "Let's Try Something New").  It took me a long time to realize that I needed to learn to Not Settle in my stitching and that my lackadaisical attitude of Fun First had something to teach the perfectionists among us.  We both need to learn from each other's personality style.

Reading this article from Thistle Threads about perfectionists who are interested in taking Tricia Nguyen's stumpwork casket classes, I wonder if there aren't more perfectionists among us than I realized.  What do you think?
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-difference-between-embroiderers.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 8, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Mystery of Dye Lots and Thread Colors

Tricia Nguyen's latest blog posting is about the mysteries of dye lots and thread colors and thread numbers.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com//2019/09/when-2916-became-235.html

I found this utterly fascinating!

By the way, Stitcher's Paradise has a nice older article (Elaine Warner has died and Jay Paterson retired to his Lego obsession) about thread dye lots and how to plan to avoid disasters when threads bleed and run.
https://www.stitchers-paradise.com/articles/Bleeding_Colors_Article.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 28, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Why You Should Buy NOW UPDATED

Ophelia, from Manuel Salas/Tapestry Fair

Tricia Nguyen has done more than anyone to revive the art of 17th Century stumpwork caskets for 21st Century stitchers.  Read this and you'll understand why the last casket class is coming up.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2019/09/why-is-answer-no.html

(By the way, if you are interested in taking the last casket class, here's the info.)
https://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-harmony-with-nature-casket-course.html

(And here are some of the caskets, just because.)
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2019/10/fabulous-finishes.html

All this doesn't just apply to folks who want to recreate 17th Century boxes and mirrors.  It applies to us all.  Needlework in general is based on small businesses.  Your favorite designer is going to get sick and die eventually, or just plain want to retire.  What will  happen to their business?  Who knows?!  Do you have that one piece you really really want to stitch stashed away?

Artists decide not to renew agreements to have their work reproduced on needlepoint canvas.  See Ophelia above?  That canvas is no longer available because Manuel Salas' licensing agreement with Tapestry Fair has ended.  Unless you can find this canvas tucked away in a shop or someone agrees to let it go from their stash, you are out of luck.

Sometimes the family businesses that are the heart of the world of needlepoint buy the rights to someone's designs.  We all owe a debt to Fleur de Paris and Colonial Needle and many other distributors who are handling the designs we love.  But what happens when the family members start to die out?  Will their kids want to continue?

What will happen when Gloriana's and Kreinik's owners want to retire?  We got lucky when the owner of Needle Necessities died and their dyer opened ThreadWorX.  Will lightning strike twice?

We worry about growing new needlepointers but we need to be equally concerned about growing the little companies that supply us with charts, canvases, threads, scissors and more.

This all hangs by —pardon me— a thread.

So go buy that canvas or chart or thread or pair of fancy scissors that tempts you.  You never know when it will vanish forever.  Buying that thing secures your dream but it also helps secure the dream for the future needlepointer we haven't even met yet.

UPDATE:  Inspirations magazine has a quick profile of Tricia and Richard Oedel, the gentleman who handmade all the caskets for her classes.
https://mailchi.mp/inspirationsmagazine/embroidery-news-issue-461463?e=cb5b277f1f

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 22, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kreink Spools Lose Their Labels UPDATED

Kreinik's latest posting is about their struggles to help their spools keep labels in place longer.  It's interesting to learn that their label machine is broken and they are struggling to get it fixed. Mechanics for this sort of thing are no longer available so it's hard on a small business.
http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2019/09/about-those-kreinik-spool-labels.html

My spools lose labels occasionally but I just pop the spool and label in a Floss-Away bag and don't stress over it.

UPDATE:  Waste Knot says that they occasionally have to replace the labels on Kreinik spools. The staff use a dab of rubber cement, then hold the spool by the ends till it adheres. It seems to work pretty well.  Thanks, SL!  We appreciate knowing what the shops do to handle this issue.

Anyone else have tips?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 3, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: Leigh Designs Becomes Part of Fleur de Paris

Leigh Designs has just announced a change of ownership. The company (along with the Ashland Sky bags) will be part of the Fleur de Paris Corporation starting September 1.  Orders will go through Fleur de Paris but Leigh herself will still be designing.  It's just she's leaving all the paperwork to Fleur de Paris now.

Here's to the new owners and the old ones, too.  Things change but needlepoint still rules!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 28, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Changing Direction To Compete with Amazon

I always look forward to Ruth Kern's monthly e-newsletter. She is always full of book information. Although Ruth specializes in needlework books, she is very knowledgeable about all sorts of wonderful books which she tempts me into reading far more often than I should admit.
http://ruthkernbooks.blogspot.com/2019/08/julyaugust-blog-2019-are-charting-new.html

But the behemoth of book sales, Amazon, is undercutting her business big time, so Ruth is going to change tack and specialize in out of print books.  It's the only way to survive when the competition can discount books by a huge amount.  Think of Ruth the next time you automatically go to Amazon to order something.  Wouldn't it be better to get it elsewhere?

And Ruth is going to have things you cannot find at Amazon.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 21, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How Internet Business Works for Needlework: A Tutorial

Tricia Nguyen of Thistle Threads has written a blog about how Internet Retail works for small needlework companies.  It really is about how PayPal works to allow you to buy from various online businesses without having to share your credit card or bank information with them.  Tricia spells out problems her customers often face with a "subscription" to her classes.  They are expensive so she allows a spread out payment plan.  It also covers how it is easy to steal your password if you aren't careful and why Tricia deletes emails she's sent with private information.
https://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2019/02/how-internet-retail-works.html

The bottom line is that the consumer needs to be aware how this all works so that you don't expect instant service from a 24/7 representative when you are buying from a one person business, that you are careful about using the services involved and that you understand that you have to log into a variety of databases to use her classroom.  You don't take Tricia's classes?

You still need to have a general grasp of the Internet in the 21st Century to be able to function there, to take classes, handle problems and keep your personal information secure.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 20, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Make and Use Silk Wrapped Purls

Thistle Threads' blog has a short article on how silk wrapped purls are made.  
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2018/11/how-are-silk-wrapped-purls-made.html

It is a fascinating process, but labor intensive.  Here is what you end up with—threads that are perfect for creating stumpwork in the 17th Century style.  And much more!  Only your imagination's the limit when it comes to using this stuff.
https://thistle-threads.myshopify.com/collections/silk-purls

Here is now silk purls were used in the 17th Century.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2018/11/how-are-silk-purls-used.html

By the way, this Thistle Threads article shows the sizes of silk wrapped purls available, plus is shows the new silk check that Tricia had made from leftovers.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2018/11/new-sizes-of-silk-wrapped-purls-and.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 14, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Speciality Items for Shops

The latest newsletter from Homestead Needle Arts has photos of  two speciality items that needlepoint shops often use:  a custom storage cabinet and a canvas taping machine.   The cabinet needs a new home, if you are interested and can pick it up, but the canvas taping machine is new to the shop.
https://mailchi.mp/16048c84a06a/november-fun?e=810b807e3a

I find the business of needlepoint fascinating and thought you'd like to see the special items that shops often invest in to make things easier for us and the shop owners.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 9, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Another Peek Behind the Scenes at Suppliers UPDATED

Tricia Nguyen is well-known among the needle set for her 17th Century reproduction casket and mirror classes.  She's also an engineer and familiar with the challenges of making threads and fabrics for the use of needle artists.  The latest challenge has been to get the nice linen needed for her classes.  You will be amazed to read about the long shelf life of linens and how that dye lot change you are annoyed with might have occurred because environmental laws changed ten years back.
https://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2018/05/old-white-linen.html

UPDATE:  Here's a bit on how silk wrapped purl is made.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2018/11/how-are-silk-wrapped-purls-made.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 22, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Our Heros!

Orna Willis ran into the bane of teachers this week—supplies for her kits were lost in the mail! But the folks at Access Commodities, Caron, Edmar, Rainbow Gallery, ThreadworX and Wilchelt all came through by rushing replacements to her so her class would have what they needed.  You guys are The Best!  💙💚💛💜🖤
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-post-of-praise.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 14, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Profile of Nan and Some Shop Thoughts

Lynette Designs likes to profile her stitching friends, and this time she talks to Nan Philip about her needlepoint and her personal style.
https://lycettedesigns.com/women-on-point-nan-philip/

I just noticed I missed a blog posting about the new Lynette Designs shop.  It's a peek behind the doors at how a shop owner thinks and what they go through to bring us such wonderful things.  Most days I'm glad I'm not a shop owner but this made me glad I'm not in my twenties, either!  The pressure is immense!
https://lycettedesigns.com/insta-perfection-authenticity/#more-1849

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 23, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Brief History of Canvas Copy Painting Companies UPDATED

Mary Agnes of Needle Nicely produced a brief history of the companies that painted needlepoint canvases for designers on her blog.  I'm going to expand on what she said, for those who are interested in the business side of needlepoint.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2017/05/canvases-from-copy-painting-services.html

Many needlepoint design companies (and some shops) paint their own canvases.  Leigh Designs has in-house painters for theirs, for example.  Leigh says this has given them a lot of control of their product.  Theresa Lee of Lee's Needle Arts also had in-house artists.  More on this in a minute.*

There are several large painting companies now. I think the first was Americanvas, which contracts with nuns in the Philippines to reproduce needlepoint painted canvases for the designers who wish to use the service.

*The Collingsworth family which owns Colonial Needle also got into the canvas painting business when they purchased Lee's Needle Arts several years ago as Lee's painters came with the business.  Now Colonial Needle distributes Lee's canvases, the line of Lee leather goods and runs a painting business as well as the needles they are well known for.  They also now own the Kelly Clark line of canvases, distribute the fabulous Finca perle cotton and floss line, etc.  I understand the painting service that Colonial runs has grown enough that they also contract with overseas painters.

I've also heard that DC Designs (that's Amanda Lawford's son, Derek Clark, for those who are keeping score) has opened a canvas painting service.  See a theme here?  Needlepoint companies for the most part are family businesses.

All this explains why it can take a while for canvases to arrive after you order from your favorite shop.  The overseas shipping can take a while as things have to clear customs.  And of course the various painting companies can get backed up with all the needlepoint designers wanting everything at the same time for the January show, for example.   So the next time you order a canvas and have to wait three months for it, think of the magic fingers of elves painting your canvas and many others in various far-flung places!

UPDATE:  I'm told there is a painting service in China, two in the Philippines and one in Hungary.  I don't have specifics of any of these, though.

UPDATE #2:  It looks like the owner of Chaparral is involved in Ndlpt Paint, a new wholesale painting service in the Philippines.

https://www.instagram.com/ndlptco/

https://ndlptdesigns.com/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 10, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Motto to Live By

I just spotted Tess and Thorn's business card on Facebook. Words to live by! 
https://www.facebook.com/tessandthorn/photos/a.987358254671599.1073741829.987255491348542/1090236024383821/?type=3&theater

If you want to see what these two get up to, here is the Tess and Thorn's website link.
http://www.tessandthorn.com/our-story/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 27, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.