The Golfer's Stocking and Santa

The Renegade Needlepointer shows off another beautiful Christmas stocking, this time for the golfer in the family. The "Santa and Critters" stocking has a golf bag tag but is actually about animals.
https://renegadeneedlepointer.com/2016/04/12/lifes-a-game/

The same child also has a custom Amanda Lawford stand up Cowboy Santa, complete with Texas touches and a charming teddy bear and black lab, not to mention another little golf bag.

Amazing, huh?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 1, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Custom Ornament Underway

Boots and Beads has a neat custom project underway based on a work motif personal to her and her job. It's not often we do custom work items as mostly it's pets, locations or school things we want to memorialize. I think this is really clever bow to New Orleans, the job and the traditions so important to Southern life.  Can't wait to see it finished and made up!
http://bootsandbeads.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-current-wip.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Who Paints Canvases from Photographs? UPDATED

People are always looking for recommendations for artists who will transfer a photograph to a needlepoint canvas. After all, there are special places, people or animals we'd like to stitch if only....

This came up on Facebook's needlepoint group.  Listed below are the shops and companies folks recommended.  Some paint by hand, some use transfer printers.  You'll have to follow up with each for samples of their work and pricing.  I have no personal experience with any of these folks so I can't tell you who does the best work.  These are recommendations from customers or postings from folks who offered their services.

Julie Paukert
Email Julie for a quote at repauk@att.net
Julie doesn't have a website but you can see her work at Wellesley Needlepoint.
http://www.wellesleyneedlepoint.com/JuliePaukert.shtml

Jebba Needlepoint (artist is Jan) in Corona del Mar, CA
no website or Facebook page

Needlepoint for Fun
http://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/shop/Frames.htm

Needlepaint.com and Needlepainters (Seth Berman)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeedlePainters
http://www.needlepaint.com

Ridgewood Needlepoint
http://www.ridgewoodneedlepoint.com

Stitch By Stitch
http://www.stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com

Helene Mclaughlin
email her at Helenemclaughlin@yahoo.com

Tammy Sryigos Irrera (contact through her Facebook page)
https://www.facebook.com/tammy.irrera

Deborah Purtell Designs
http://www.deborahpurtelldesigns.com/custom.html

The Needlepoint Novelist
Contact her via her Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/The-Needlepoint-Novelist-Custom-Belts-and-More-443057675768673/?fref=photo


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 30, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ornaments to Honor the Military

Enough stitchers are ex-military or are from families with a long tradition of serving in wartime that I thought Sandy Grossman-Morris' custom ornament for her daughter would be something you guys would like to see.  Sandy will create a custom ornament for you as long as your choice isn't too detailed.
http://sandygrossman-morris.blogspot.com/2014/06/military-emblems-needlepoint-canvases.html

I think it is a wonderful idea!

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

Naples Does Paradise (and Canvases)

Needlepoint in Paradise has a series of custom canvases available that celebrate their Florida coastline life.  If you fall in love, contact the shop to have one of these painted for you.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/We-re-Partial-to-Paradise.html?soid=1102490534507&aid=CYOlpBGuUjg

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 29, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

I Love Dogs Part Two

I thought animal lovers would enjoy seeing two custom dog canvases that Ridgewood arranged for customers. The personalities of the dogs really shine through! 
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2014/01/blog-post_9.html

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.

How to Measure a Needlepoint Belt

Needle Paint explains how to measure a needlepoint belt.  The exact calculation is meant for their custom belt canvases but it probably will help you figure out belt sizes if you don't have a shop nearby.
http://blog.needlepaint.com/2013/06/19/how-to-measure-a-needlepoint-belt/

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.

Christmas in July--Reindeer Crossing

This custom Christmas piece is one of the funniest things I've seen this month!  I hope Ridgewood posts photos of it once it is stitched and made up.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/06/check-out-debbies-custom-painted.html

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.

White Elephants

It's turning to summer here in Chilly Hollow (summer here equals heat, humidity, mosquitoes and drunken tourists) so as an antidote to this--plus an excuse to stay inside and stitch--I present Needle Paint's White Elephant belt.  Doesn't this just make you smile?
http://blog.needlepaint.com/2013/05/22/white-elephant-needlepoint-belt/

Needle Paint does custom pieces as well as lots of belt and wedding designs.  Click on kits to see the range of their offerings.  I've not used their services myself but I've heard from people who were very happy to have the belt or dog portrait they've wanted for years.
http://www.needlepaint.com

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.

The Rumor Mill - Smathers and Branson

Ridgewood Needlepoint's latest e-newsletter says that Smathers and Branson have discontinued their needlepoint canvases as of now and are selling off their inventory. They are not reducing prices, however. Ridgewood also says that the company is still doing finishing for now.
http://www.smathersandbranson.com/web/catalog.aspx?group=0

I am interpreting this to mean that Smathers and Branson are discontinuing any non-stitched canvases.  I assume they are still selling the finished pieces (especially belts) that is the main part of their business.  I don't know if this means they are discontinuing the custom design business.  I am sure that you can check with Ridgewood if you want clarification.
http://www.ridgewoodneedlepoint.com

Since I mentioned belts this morning, here's a gorgeous one, stitched by a NeedlePaint customer for her son.  Nice!
http://blog.needlepaint.com/2013/05/29/kids-needlepoint-belt/

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.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Baseball fans will love the two mini socks that Diane had Kathy Schenkel create.  Facebook users will love how she used to social media to jog her memory about them!
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-mystery-was-solved.html

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

Collegiate Luggage Tags

I've profiled Kristine Kingston here before, but mostly I talked about her stitch guides and her blog.  Today I can show off some of Kristine's custom collegiate luggage tags, thanks to Diane who ordered three.  Kristine does lots of custom designs for folks, but these are especially wonderful mementos of college life.
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/06/beautiful-work-of-kristine-kingston-of.html


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

Custom Bargello Designs

Janet Perry has announced a custom bargello service on her website. Janet loves bargello and will create a custom design just for you.  Here are the details.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/love-bargello-get-a-custom-design


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

Custom Ring Bearer Pillows

If you have a wedding in your future and are thinking about stitching a ring bearer's pillow, you'll want to look at this.
http://designneedlepointkits.com/2012/01/10/custom-shop-for-personalized-needlepoint-ring-bearer-pillow-kits/

You can see the various designs they offer at the NeedlePaint website.  NeedlePaint specializes in turning your photographs into a custom needlepoint canvas.  I've not seen any of their work personally but it is a service that a lot of folks are interested in.  We all have those precious photos stashed away that we'd love to stitch one day, after all.
http://www.needlepaint.com/needlepoint-kits/#3


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

Thanksgiving Treat

Custom Canvas from Leigh Designs

Today's Thanksgiving treat is calorie-free and fabulous. As you all know, I stitch models for Leigh Designs. For the last two months when she and I talked, Leigh mentioned working on a huge custom design for a long-time customer. The canvas is finished and on its way to Pat Delp at Designer's Desk, the shop that placed the order for the customer and that will pull threads for it before sending it to its new home.  Luckily for us, Leigh and the customer allowed me to post a photo for your viewing pleasure.  The design is called "Life's Thoughts."

This is a huge canvas at 24 by 36 inches on 18 count canvas and there is a lot going on .  Leigh told me she enjoyed playing with various focal points to move the eye around the canvas to discover the special items she hid in the piece.  She included a lot of things the customer requested--the two geishas, the musical instrument, the moon bridge, the Japanese castle, and two types of flowers (mums and orchids).  There are wonderful little touches, too, like the purple tassel that hangs off the golden obi in the front geisha's hands and the two types of blossoms in the pink trees.  Leigh says the metallic paint doesn't show up except in person, so there is much we can't see.  But if you study the piece carefully, there is a great deal to discover and enjoy even in a photograph.

I am very sorry that there is just one of these as it is a work of art, but at least we can all see and enjoy the custom work Leigh Designs turns out as our special dessert this Thanksgiving.  Please join me in thanking Leigh Richardson and her customer for allowing me to show off their joint creation!

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

Stitch Guides, Classes and Other Fun Things UPDATED

Those of you who think of stitch guides as just about one canvas may find Ridgewood's mention of the Brenda Hart Banner Book (which discusses stitching Rebecca Wood's series of seasonal banners) enlightening.  I may be slightly prejudiced since I write stitch guides, but I think of them as inspirational reading, not just a road map for a certain canvas.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/banner-year.html

Rittenhouse Needlepoint has posted a profile of their in-house custom canvas painter.  Many designers start out painting other folks' designs, then graduate to going out on their own but a significant minority of painted canvas designers started with custom work, catering to the customer's design to memorialize something special to them.  Jim is going this route and the photographs of his work are something special.  I particularly love his Scarlet Letter pillow but there is lots to admire here.  Kudos to Rittenhouse for showcasing his skills!  I can't wait to see what he does next.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/custom-painting.html

Laura Perin's first cyberclass is over and she is starting to post photographs of her students' finished pieces.  As always, the various colors they chose make each piece totally unique.  One of the greatest charms of counted canvaswork is picking your own colors to create something that is totally unique.  It's not a custom painted design like the ones Jim does for Rittenhouse, but it's the next best thing as the stitcher is the color artist.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/02/photo-finishes.html

UPDATE:  Laura has just announced her second cyberclass, Lilac Time.  Here are the details.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-next-cyber-class.html

Speaking of new blogs as I did yesterday, Beth at ThreadworX has started one, too.  She is heavily involved in ThreadworX's stitching publications and writes lovely stitch guides, so I have high hopes that Peppermint Street will be a fun place for stitchers to visit.
http://www.peppermintstreet.com/

My final treat for you this morning is a close up of Carole Lake's St. Basil's Cathedral.  Any of you who were at the 2001 ANG Seminar saw the original model on display.
http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2001/stbasils.php

Carole occasionally teaches this piece, much to the delight of lucky stitchers everywhere.  Ridgewood Needlepoint has the class scheduled and have received the class materials and the model recently.  They couldn't resist taking some close up photos to showcase this wonderful piece.  Note that there are a few differences between the 2001 model and the class model.  Carole restitched this as the original design and some of the threads are no longer available.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/st-basils-cathedral.html

By the way, there are two openings left in this class so if you live close to Ridgewood, NJ, act quickly!
http://www.ridgewoodneedlepoint.com/national-needlepoint-teachers-carole-lake-david-mccaskill-tony-minieri-deborah-wilson.htm

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