Playing Cards and Business Cards

Melita has created several self-finishing items for cards in 2024.  First, she stitched this Stitch and Zip case from Alice Peterson to hold a friend's business cards.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/12/20/stitch-zip-sewing-card-case/

Then she stitched this charming Lee/Colonial Needle case to hold playing cards for her husband's magic tricks using a chart that looks like playing card suits. 

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/12/21/ang-2024-seminar-in-kansas-city-mo-and-grab-n-go-lee-credit-card-case/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/12/27/lee-credit-card-case-a-magical-finish/

Very clever use of self-finishing items!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 22, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Paternayan Colors Available from Colonial Needle

While looking up this link for a friend who wanted to know where to order Paternayan 3 ply wool, I discovered that Colonial Needle has the rights to reproduce Paternayan colors in their line of 3 ply wool that they call Colonial Persian.

https://florilegium.com/shop/product-category/paternayan-colonial-persian-yarn/

Here is a bit from Colonial's website about their Colonial Persian thread with information about how to match their color numbers with the old Paternayan color numbers.

https://colonialneedle.com/pages/persian-yarn

You can browse the colors available on Colonial's website.  It doesn't look like they have a color card with real thread samples available yet.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0007/4229/3562/files/CPY_COLORS_SHEET_APR_2021_EMAIL.pdf?v=1631037694

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 3, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: Terry Collingham Has Died

There was a notice on Facebook today that Terry Collingham of Colonial Needle has lost her battle with breast cancer.  If you are a regular stitcher, you won't know Terry but she was the president of Colonial Needle which is the owner of Kelly Clark, Lee's Needle Arts, Silver Needle, De Elda and SOS Designs, and the distributor of Prescencia cotton perle and floss, a huge range of needles and much more.

We are really sorry to hear this and send our sympathy to her family.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright Sept. 3, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Kelly Clark Interview

The Pointing It Out podcast interviews Kelly Clark in their latest outing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_G78fcZxew

If you aren't familiar with Kelly Clark, browse her work at the Colonial Needle website.
https://colonialneedle.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 17, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Jewelry Boxes in Many Colors and Shapes

Lee has added two new colors to their line of self-finishing jewelry cases.
https://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2019/02/new-jewelry-case-colors.html,

Planet Earth Fiber has another style of jewelry case available.  Their colors are more limited but this is very new for them.
https://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2019/02/planet-earth-jewelry-cases.html

You can browse the Colonial Needle website (they own the Lee line) for canvases sized to fit their jewelry boxes.  Look for the BB canvases.
https://colonialneedle.com/pages/lees-needle-arts

Planet Earth Fiber has canvases sized to fit their cases, too.
http://blog.planetearthfiber.com/leather-self-finishing-jewelry-cases/

And of course other designers are creating pieces that fit.  Mindy's new designs for the Planet Earth Fiber jewelry cases are a good example.  These are so new they are not on the Mindy website yet, just her Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212492530620626&set=pcb.2123679094375904&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/mindysneedlepointfactory/photos/a.407751296547/10155680155751548/?type=3&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 272019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sandy Arthur's Bullion Tutorial

Sandy Arthur has added a bullion knot tutorial to her latest blog posting about upcoming classes.  There are diagrams and photos and a nice explanation, plus information about the needles Sandy recommends to make things easier.
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2017/08/time-for-new-lesson-postings-oh-my-am.html

If your favorite shop doesn't stock these needles, Colonial Needle sells them on their website.  In my experience, Colonial ships very quickly, too.  Plus they have Cynthia Thomas' video on making bullions right there on their page.
http://colonialneedle.com/Bullion-Tapestry-Points.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 19, 2017 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.

Fiber Talk Interviews Sandy Arthur UPDATED

Have you seen Sandy Arthur's Shapes books, or lusted after one of her cyber classes? Then you will enjoy her interview on Fiber Talk.
http://wetalkfiber.com/2017/05/21/fiber-talk-with-sandra-arthur/

If you aren't familiar with Sandy's classes, stitch guides, apps or books, here is where you can get acquainted.
http://duodesignsinc.com/wpsite/

UPDATE:  The thimble dots that Sandy mentioned from Colonial Needle can be seen here…
https://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Colonial-Needle-ThimblePad-Pack-of-12/6203865/product.html

and here.
https://www.createforless.com/Colonial-Needle-Thimble-Crown/pid230119.aspx?utm_source=bingProdAds&utm_medium=cse&CAWELAID=530001980000096533&catargetid=530001980000165791&cadevice=c

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

New from SOS Designs

Colonial Needle has a new designer--SOS Designs (it stands for Son of a Stitch because the designs are the brainchild of the son of the owner of Colonial Needle).
http://astheneedleturns.com/fresh-from-the-showroom-floor/

The little geometric rounds are perfectly sized for the Lee leather goods (boxes, pouches, snap trays, cosmetic bags, etc.) which makes sense as Colonial owns the Lee design line.    If you need something fabulous but without the high costs and long wait times of professional finishing, you will want to check out what's available from Lee, Colonial and SOS Designs.
http://www.colonialneedle.com/files-customer/catalog/LeesNeedlearts_Leather_Catalog.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Kelly Clark Makeover

Kelly Clark has a new website!  It's set up totally differently than the old one, without a listing of available stitch guides, but with a link to her new blog.  You can see lots of Kelly's fabulous stitching on her designs here.  It's great fun to see all the eye candy and invention.
http://www.kellyclarkstudio.com/?reqp=1&reqr

Fortunately, her old blog is still available.  Personally I hate blogs that are part of websites because I never know when they are updated.  For example, Kelly's new blog will not be posted in my Blog List because it doesn't notify the listing when it is updated.  You will have to bookmark it to visit whenever you remember (which I never do).  Here's Kelly's old blog, by the way.
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com

Fortunately for folks who want to order some of Kelly's designs, her distributor Colonial Needle has her designs listed in their Kelly Clark catalogue.  There is no longer a separate page for stitch guides but any canvas that has a guide available is marked SG.
http://www.colonialneedle.com/files-customer/catalog/KellyClark_catalog.pdf

Things change, so shops who want to order Kelly's designs will need to visit Colonial Needle and folks who just want to drool over Kelly's stitched designs will visit her new site.  And for now fans have two blogs to enjoy!

Have fun exploring the new.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 27, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Finca Perle Cotton Sources UPDATED

Perle Cottons and Cotton Flosses for Bitch

I've gotten my threads together to stitch Bitch.  As you can see I have perle cotton from Finca and cotton floss skeins from DMC.  The colors are not all good matches to the lettering, but I am hoping to mix and match shades of lavender and lilac on the design.  The Finca perle cotton colors and sizes are (top to bottom):  2720 (size 16), 2711 (size 16), 2699 (size 8), and 2687 (size 12).  The DMC cotton flosses are (left to right):  240, 210 and 211.  In person the best match to the lilac paint on the painted canvas is the Finca 2699.

For those who aren't familiar with Finca perle cotton, it is Egyptian cotton from Prescencia SA in Spain that is available in five sizes-- 3, 5, 8, 12 and 16.  (The larger the number, the smaller the diameter of the thread).  Currently there are 122 solid colors and 33 variegated color sets for the perle.  Finca's Mouline Embroidery Floss is available in the same colors if you need a combination of perle and floss style threads.  Note that Mouline Embroidery Floss has over 300 colors, though.  So not every floss is available as perle cotton.   This thread is distributed in the USA by Colonial Needle.
http://colonialneedle.com/Perle-Cotton/

Although you can order straight from the Colonial Needle website, quite a few shops carry Finca perles.  Among the shops stocking Finca needlepointers are familiar with are Amy's Golden Strand, Come to the Point, KC Needlepoint, Needle in a Haystack (the one in Alameda, California) and Needlepoint Land.  Here are their websites (in alpha order).  If you know of other shops that carry Finca perle cottons, please let me know so I can add the shop to this listing.
http://www.amybunger.com/home.html

http://www.cometothepoint.com

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com

http://www.needlestack.com

https://needlepoint.land

Many thanks to the King of Threadaholics--Michael Boren--for help assembling the shop list above.  And now, I need to start thinking background and embellishments....

UPDATE:  Blog's readers have come up with additional good sources for Finca's perle cottons and flosses (and their metallics and more).  If you are Canadian, Erica says you can stock up using Sew Fancy.
http://www.sewfancy.com/threads-finca.htm

If you live close to Northern Virginia, Sara Leigh recommends a visit to Web Fabrics.  They carry all the colors of size 8 and 12 Finca perle cottons and she says their Cosmo embroidery floss is really silky and comes in 422 colors.
http://www.webfabrics.net/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?.s0&lastmenu=&menu=submenu-1100.html

Kathleen says Silk Road Needle Arts carries Finca. too.
http://www.silkroadneedle.com

Thanks folks!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 31, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Cat in Wool

Lotus Pillar CloseUp

Last time I talked about my Egyptian Cat canvas, I promised a good look at the finished lotus pillars with their silk ribbon tops. Here you go!

Now it's time to turn my attention to the cat.  I have Colonial Needle's Persian wool in black to use for the cat, but what stitch?   The cat itself is a stylized one, not realistic, so I decided I would skip the traditional stitches for fur in favor of something with pattern or texture.  But what?

I found the answer on Facebook with an optical illusion stitch Tony Minieri used in the background of a Debbie Mumm canvas he wrote a stitch guide for.  I thought it would give the perfect illusion of texture on my cat.  Here is what I came up with.  The photo is black and white so you can see black stitches on black canvas.  It's a light coverage stitch with the unstitched voids between stitches creating the illusion of a curve.

By the way, I separated the Persian wool into three plies and stitched with only one.  Tapestry Fair's Egyptian Cat is on 18 count and that works best for that size canvas.  The thread itself has a very tight twist, making it quite durable in basketweave, but if you do another stitch using just one ply, use a larger needle than usual as the needle will abrade the thread in the eye and cause it to separate if you use the size needle you are used to on 18 count.

Tony's Optical Illusion Stitch

I worked this stitch on the bottom of the cat up to the collar.  I switched to tent stitches in the spaces between the collar rows and also used tent stitches on the cat's neck.  You will never guess what stitch I used for the cat's face and ears--skip tent!   This isn't a traditional stitch to use with wool, but this isn't a traditional cat.  Skip tent in my Colonial wool looks great.

Skip Tent Chin

In this photograph the cat's chin only is worked in skip tent.  However, I have finished the face except for one ear by now.  Next time I post I hope to have finished the ears and nose and perhaps the eyes so I'll be ready to start on the cat's elaborate collar and headpiece.  Stay tuned!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2May 18 016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Right Tool for Bullions

Sandy Arthur finds Colonial Needle's new tapestry point bullion needles very helpful.  She recommends them to students in her classes.
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2015/06/tools-of-trade.html

They come in three lengths and have a large eye and a blunt tip like regular tapestry needles, making them a good choice for bullion beginners or stitchers who don't like sharp objects sticking up at them from their canvas.  (Colonial also makes them with regular sharp tips.)
http://www.colonialneedle.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?category=NEW_PRODUCTS

I'd like to add that as well as the right tool, the right thread makes all the difference in making nice bullions.  Try crewel wool if bullions are giving you fits and see if that improves the look of your bullions.

These videos on the Colonial website may also help.  They are done by our own Cynthia Thomas, by the way.
http://www.colonialneedle.com/html/bullion_video.html

The best price I found for the tapestry point bullion needles is at this site, but I don't know anything about this company.  If your local shop has them in stock, pick them up there.
https://www.stuff4crafts.com/yarn-and-needle/knit-accessories/embellishments.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 1, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Jan Copies Me (But Better)

Mika Fash Insert from Leigh Designs

Jan wanted a tote bag for Christmas so she had a place for her current projects, so she called Michele at Come to the Point (hereinafter referred to as Santa's Helper or The Temptress, take your pick).  Jan ended up with the same Lee nylon tote I own except that I use mine as a purse and have carried it almost daily for about three years.  I love it!  
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/nothing-like-picking-your-own-present/

https://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/lees-snowman-progress-2/

https://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2015/01/20/snowman-insert-finale/

The only difference is that I have never had the time to stitch an insert for mine.  Someday....

Smilin' Jack Fash Insert from Leigh Designs

I use mine to model various canvases when I finish them.  That's what you see in the photos above.  My tote came with two sticky backed inserts so you can switch canvases at whim.  More inserts are available separately if you want to change each month, with the holidays, or just to match your favorite outfits.  Lee has a great product in these purses.  I absolutely love mine so I am sure Jan will absolutely love hers, too.

Your shop can order the Lee purses and leather goods from Colonial Needle.  Have fun browsing the catalogue and picking out your favorites!
http://www.newleesneedlearts.com/html/catalog.html


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 28, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Missed the Christmas Finishing Deadline?

If you missed the Christmas finishing deadline at your local shop, Stitch By Stitch points out it is not the end of the world. Simply pick up a self-finishing piece and go to town like the ones from Lee that the shop has in stock right now. 
http://stitchbystitchlarchmontny.blogspot.com/2014/09/hello-stitchers_48.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 7, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Blunt Point Bullion Needles from Colonial Needle

Cynthia Thomas (who worked with Colonial Needle to develop them) has posted a photo of the new style bullion needles on Facebook.  The needles are all about the diameter of a size 20 tapestry needle, have blunt tips and come in lengths of 3 1/2, 5 and 7 inches.  Cynthia says she can get size three perle cotton through the eye (although she can't double it to force it through) so this should work with many threads if you are making bullions.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/663493220394506/

Cynthia made a video of these needles in use but it isn't up on the Colonial Needle website yet, nor are these needles but I imagine your shop can order them from Colonial now.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 18, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

New Wools and Bead Buddies

Paternayan is in production again.  According to Cynthia Thomas who posted about this on the ANG email list, two companies are making Paternayan. Saco River Dye House owns the Paternayan name and are making a three ply wool, with each ply the same.   Colonial Needle is using the same spinner as JCA did (the last owner of Paternayan) to make three ply wool, each ply slightly different in size.  Cynthia thinks Colonial's version is called Colonial Persian Wool.   The basic colors are available now and more colors are planned.  Cynthis says, "I handled and stitched with both and think they are both fine" but she warns stitchers to make sure they get enough wool in the same dye lot to finish their project.

I've also heard on the ANG email list that Fleur de Paris has a new wool from New Zealand called Anahera.  This is a single ply tapestry wool that is said to be very soft and durable.  You can read more about it on the Fleur de Paris website.
http://www.fleurdeparis.com/products/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=NW-8

Vicky DeAngelis has posted photos of Meredith Willett's latest brainstorm--Bead Buddies,  As I understand it from Vicky's explanation, these are little plastic boxes with lids that have a magnet pair on the bottom and sticky stuff inside.  You attach them to your canvas to keep your beads close by.  These are available from Elizabeth Turner Collection.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/blue-bonnet-needle-arts-retreat/

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.

Presencia for Christmas?

I like Presencia's perla cotton a lot but I don't know if I'd go as far as to give it as a Christmas present.  (Obviously there aren't enough stitchers on my Xmas list.)  Receiving some, though, that would be terrific!
http://needlemenow.blogspot.com/2012/12/think-thread.html

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

Suzanne's Self Finishing

Suzanne talks about her experiences with the self-finshing leather goods from Lee/Colonial Needle, and how she replaced the first canvas with a second.
http://suzannehicks.blogspot.com/2012/11/whats-on-your-wallet.html

Speaking of self finishing, I think this Sudberry House wooden mirror is lovely.
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2012/11/sudberry-house-wooden-hand-mirror-with-mounting-area-for-needlework-.html

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

Perle Cotton Explained

Colonial Needle's blog is all about perle cotton (also known as pearl cotton) today.  There is a about about the name and the various sizes and what they are used for.  Colonial distributes the Presencia brand of perle cotton which I have tried. It's great stuff!
http://needlemenow.blogspot.com/2012/10/perles-of-wisdom.html

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