Orna Made Her Do It

Remember how I suggested you use Orna Willis' thread sets for sale in her Etsy store as inspiration when choosing colors?   (If you don't you can click on this link and read my deathless prose!)
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2015/10/ornas-silk-collections.html

Susan's friend  Irene has taken this one step further and used Orna's "Sunflower" as inspiration for her crazy quilting.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2015/10/halloween-candy.html

Here's Orna's version of "Sunflower."
http://adornbyorna.com/collections/kits/products/sunflower-needlepoint-kit/?variant=3911976193

http://adornbyorna.com/collections/instruction-guides/products/sunflower-instruction-guide/?variant=

Every time I look at the model, Irene's version and her crazy quilting, I see something different. Orna, you are a genius!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 5, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Every Snowflake Is Unique

Susan Elliott's blog is terrific inspiration, even though in today's posting she is describing a crazy quilt block she created for a friend's calendar.  Those with snowflakes on their needlepoint will be thrilled to see Susan's snowflakes, each of which is beautiful and different and made from simple stitches combined with sequins and beads and crystals.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2015/10/winter-wonderbird.html

Those who admire Scott Church's designs for CBK should look at this and then decide how to incorporate Susan's ideas into embellishing this wonderful piece.
http://www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/feature.php?id=24388&title=Chickadee's%20Snowman&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 8, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kelly and Spider Webs

Kelly Clark talks about creating spider webs on her designs.
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2014/02/webs-i-have-woven.html

She has finished the background stitching and now the crazy quilting will begin!
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2014/03/background-stitches-all-completed-on.html

http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2014/03/halloween-crazy-quilt-is-done.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright March 10, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kelly Does Halloween Crazy UPDATED

Kelly Clark just announced that she is starting the third of her crazy quilt series, the Halloween quilt.  If you like crazy quilting, or just are crazy about Kelly's stitching and designs, you have to take a peek.
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2014/01/halloween-crazy-quilt-under-way.html

http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2014/02/crazy-love-halloween-style.html

http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2014/03/halloween-crazy-quilt-is-done.html

Eventually Kelly will have a stitch guide for this piece, just like you can get a guide for the Spring crazy quilt or the Christmas crazy quilt.  I am not sure which I like best.  Better stitch faster, Kelly, so we can all decide which one is "the one" for us!

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

The Needlebook, the Geisha, and the Queen

Remember how excited I got when I saw Susan's new needlebook?
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-book-of-needles.html

The only thing missing from Susan's article (besides her saying she would sending the needle book to Chilly Hollow) was a tutorial on making them.  Thanks to DMC's blog, I have a link to instructions!  This needlebook is also Asian in feel as it uses a free XS portrait of a charming geisha for the cover.  Here's the how to.
http://meari.blogspot.com/2007/06/needlebook-instructions.html

Here's the direct link to the geisha pattern, which is called "J is for Japanese Embroidery."
http://www.brookesbookspublishing.com/Freebies/J_Japanese_Embroidery_Pub.pdf

Speaking of Susan, she is starting a new series of blog articles about a Queen.  Want to see some of the new William Loves Kate/William Marries Kate samplers?
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2011/02/royal-inspired.html

Here is Susan's Majesty.  She's inspired by crazy quilting but a needlepointer could create their own Queen very easily.  Needleworkers have the skills to move between needle arts if they are brave enough to try something new.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2011/02/welcome-your-majesty.html

Now here is where we start to see Susan building her Queen.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2011/02/becoming-queen-part-i.html

And here she explains quite a bit about English coronation gowns and how Queen Elizabeth II's gown is replicated on Your Majesty.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2011/02/becoming-queen-part-ii.html

I know this isn't needlepoint, but it is about fantasy and aren't we all stitching a fantasy of some sort as we work?   Right now I'm dreaming of a slinky vampire walking through a graveyard but soon it'll be another geisha....

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