The Making of a Master

Brenda is going through the American Needlepoint Guild's Master Needlepointer program.  Here is stage one.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2022/06/master-needlepointer-program-of-ang.html

Stage Two looks like quite a challenge but Brenda was up to it.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/06/master-needlepointer-program-of-ang.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 29, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

New Laptop Sleeves from Rachel Barri Designs

Rachel Barri is introducing self-finishing laptop sleeves with canvases sized to fit a 13 inch MacBook or an iPad.  The sleeves come in black or blush.  Use the left side arrows to see two more photos of the designs and sleeve colors.

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

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 8, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

BREAKING NEWS: IStitches Vol. Four is Now an App UPDATED

Ruth Schmuff's newest book--iStitches Volume Four--is now available as an app in the iTunes store. Details on the book and the previous three volumes (also available as Apple apps) are here.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/06/apps.html

Sorry, Android users. This only works on Apple iPhones and iPads.

UPDATE:  If you are getting the "not available" error messages when you try to download Vol. Four, wait a day and try again. I suspect too many people are trying to download this at once.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  June 3, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needlepoint for Your Laptop

I just realized that Art Needlepoint (which specializes in fine art printed on needlepoint canvas), has a good many laptop, tablet and eReader covers you can stitch and then assemble yourself.   If finishing isn't your forte', the company will assemble the cover or case for you for an extra charge.
http://www.artneedlepoint.com/e-readers-ipads-and-laptops?&_ga=1.168431587.376107352.1390668600

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 6, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The App for Working on Black Canvas

I've been remiss in posting a great tip from the counted canvaswork designer Brenda Kocher, whose blog mentions a great app to help those working on black canvas who have an iPad.  It is called Color Softbox and it is free.
http://toldthruneedleandthreads.blogspot.com/2013/08/aurore-boreale.html

You can read a bit about Brenda's design "Aurore Boréale" which was a free design in Needlepoint Now magazine's July/August 2013 issue here.

http://www.needlepointnow.com/wp-content/uploads/NN_NWSLTR-0713.pdf

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.

Digital Books (with Tips)

Like many of us, Sheena has found digital books you can download to your Apple device very useful.  Not all the books available for iPhones/iPod Touches are available for iPads but there's a workaround for many of them in the second link.  Basically you just have to look in the iPhones area and then use 2X to make the books easily readable on the iPad's larger screen.
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/digital-era/

http://www.sheenasstitches.com/digital-addendum/

By the way, Ruth Schmuff's latest eBook isn't compatible with older iPod Touches.  Sigh.   If you try to download something that won't work, the iTunes store will post a warning message.  Keep an eye on what works with what if you don't have the latest thing.

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.

New Ruth App

Hurrah! Ruth Schmuff's newest book is now available as an app from the iTunes store!  Volumes one and two are $9.99 each and volume three is $10.99.  I have the first two volumes on CD and use them a lot.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/06/got-apps.html

You can buy the books in several forms from Ruth herself if your local shop doesn't have them in stock.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/needlepoint/--b-1.asp?category=56

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.

Comes With... UPDATED

Pocket Full of Stitches is highlighting products that come with various items: rhinestones and frames specifically.   Amanda Lawford sends rhinestones with her little eggs while Cheryl Schaeffer has frames that are prefect for her collage canvases.
http://www.threedles.com/06012011/2013/2013Designs.html

Gosh, that pink leather iPad case is gorgeous!  If only I had an iPad....

UPDATE:   Sorry, folks!  The link above is wrong.  Here's the correct one.  Many thanks to all who pointed this out to me and apologies to everyone for just getting this corrected. I was offline all yesterday due to the upgrade of my computer.  Took me forever to download the new software and get it updated and all the preferences reset to what they were before the new software overrode my changes back to the default settings.
http://www.pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2013/04/amanda-lawford-cheryl-schaeffer-designs.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.

Interesting Christmas Ideas UPDATED

The Needlework Retailer News posted a very good reminder on their site this week--Ghost Stitchers can stitch your stocking and make it up, too!  It probably is too late for this holiday season but they come around every year.  Be prepared for Christmas 2013!
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2012/11/ghoststitchers-can-stitch-and-finish-your-needlepoint-into-a-stocking.html

Kreinik talks about a new product used in a way I never would have imagined!  They sell something called Conductive Fingertip Yarn, which allows you to touch those touchscreens in use everywhere without taking off your gloves.  Here's how it works.  There's a link to the Kreinik site with a photo of the thread in the article but I am repeating the link below,  just in case this article disappears later.  Folks need gloves for their smart phones in 2013 and 2014 and beyond, you know.
http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2012/11/giving-helpful-hand-this-year.html

http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=17399&cat=405&page=1

UPDATE:  Yesterday I got a comment that said the Kreinik links don't work.  I found the second posting on their website another place and corrected that link but the first has been deleted. Just discovered why!
http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2012/12/conductive-thread-tips.html

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

Updates and Why They Matter

I hate to do two software-related postings in one week (it's a boring topic), but this is important news for those with iPads who also have the Stitch Landscape book.  The author has done an upgrade for the book that will make it easier to read on iPads.
http://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/sky-23-stitch-landscape-itunes-update/

But of course you have to update your software periodically.  Apparently if you have an iPad, you plug it into your Macintosh and the Mac handles the upgrades for you, including this one. I'd urge everyone to keep on top of the upgrades that are available.  They make things work better by removing bugs and it protects your computer as well because a lot of upgrades are security-related.  I know upgrading the PC can be a nightmare (my husband has a fancy Windows 7 machine that always has to be reset after an upgrade) but Mac and iPad upgrades are much easier.  I actually check for upgrades on my Mac and iPod Touch each morning and if one is available, I download it.  You don't have to be so fanatical about this, of course.

Just keep an eye out for updates and things will work better, I promise.


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