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.

The iPhone Icon Belt

NeedlePaint.com just designed a fun new belt that uses the classic iPhone icons as decorations. Got an iPhone lover who needs a belt? This is the one! 
http://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2014/04/09/classic-phone-app-needlepoint-belt-for-tech-lovers/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 9, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Let's Take a Field Trip

Enriched Stitch allows people to participate in their classes via Skype, but they also have visitors in person. Here is a group from Rhode Island who came to visit the shop which is in Connecticut.  It occurred to me that a field trip might be a fun thing for stitchers to do over the Christmas break, assuming your shop is open right before or after Christmas when you and your stitching friends have a little free time. Of course Enriched Stitch also uses Skype to do a personalized tour of the shop in case you are too far away to do a field trip.
http://astheneedleturns.com/field-trip/

The Needlepointer in Washington State also uses Skype and Face Time (that's the iPhone version of Skype) to interact with customers.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com

Isn't it nice that we are finding technology so useful in the handwork we create?

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.

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.

Organizational Database for iPhone and PC UPDATED AGAIN

Brenda has added a list of her favorite smart phone apps to her blog. This article talks a bit about her thread organization database. To see the list of apps, click on the X in the upper right hand corner of the article and then choose the Apps tab. 
http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2013/06/favorite-apps.html

It looks like the eBooks are all from the iTunes store which means they only work on Apple phones and devices.  I don't know if the database is PC compatible or useable on Android phones.  If you want to do a bit more research, here's the HanDBase site.
http://www.ddhsoftware.com/handbase.html

UPDATE:  Brenda describes how this works on her iPhone and PC.  Essentially she has a database of thread brands with type information that links to a database that lists all her threads.  She can sort by project, color number and much much more.  If you love databases and organization, this is definitely something to explore.
http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2013/07/handbase-threads-inventory-database.html

MORE UPDATES:  Brenda explains how she set up her database, very useful information for those of us who are interested in HanDBase or databases in general.
http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2013/08/handbase-projects-database.html

And now she is using Excel, too.
https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2018/03/project-list-and-thread-inventory.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.

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.

Reading Blogs on Smart Phones UPDATED

I decided I'd better reposting this update to the Destination Dallas article, just so as many folks as possible would see it.  Sorry if this is duplicate information for you!

Marsha just let me know that when she uses her smart phone to read Blog, she can't see the tabs to go to other sections of the site (like Destination Dallas).  We experimented a bit and she discovered that when she typed in the URL to go to Blog, she can see the tabs.  When she gets to Blog via a Google search, she can't.  I discovered that when I use my iPod Touch to read Blog, only the Home tab shows BUT there is a little red triangle to the right of the Home tab.  If I click on that, a list of all the tabs appears and I can choose the one I want to visit.  This should work for iPhones but I don't know about Android users.If you are a smart phone user (and about 500 people a week visit Blog via smartphones), you might want to know these things and play around with them.  Let me know what you find out, ok?   I use tabs more than any other blogger I know but quite a few people use 1-2 on their blog so this is important to know.  You might be missing something!

UPDATE:  Donna uses an Android phone and sees the red triangle when she visits Blog so this must be a universal way of handling multiple blog tabs.  Thanks for the info, Donna!

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.

iPhone Cases to Stitch

Needle in a Haystack shows off the new stitchable iPhone cases. Looks like they are going to be available in two sizes (the latest iPhone is larger than the old ones) and there are charts to work from if you don't want to stitch or bead your own design.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2013/02/new-stitchable-iphone-case-coming.html

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

Custom Cell Phone Cases for Stitchers

I have a basic cell phone. It's about six years old and a hot pink flip style. (Stop snickering!) The only thing keeping me from switching to a better phone is that cell phone coverage is very spotty in Chilly Hollow. Even when I drive to the nearest large towns, the phone won't work much of the trip.  So I don't bother with the latest phone since the functions that are so cool aren't available unless you can actually get onto a phone network.  HOWEVER, that doesn't mean I don't lust after a really cool cell phone case.  If I did have a fancy phone, I'd stitch a themed case, that's for sure!  Courtesy of the DMC blog, I just discovered easy instructions on how to make your own plus a link to a company that makes stitchable cases (second link).
http://weelittlestitchescrossstitch.blogspot.com/2011/10/stitch-your-own-cell-phone-case.html

http://connectdesign.co.kr/front/php/product.php?product_no=170&main_cate_no=1&display_group=2

The other way to go is to have a photograph of your favorite piece of needlework made into a phone case.  Like Tricia did.  How cool is this?  It's expensive but still when I win the lottery and install a cell phone tower in my back yard....
http://thistle-threads.com.mytempweb.com/blog/index.php/2010/10/iphone-case/

http://custom.case-mate.com/imakemycase


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

Ruth in Three Formats

Ruth Schmuff not only teaches, runs a needlepoint shop, and creates and distributes painted canvases, she writes books.  Since this is the 21st Century and Ruth is a very modern stitcher, her books come in three flavors:  CDs, e-books and regular books.  Here is her website in case your local shop doesn't have these in stock right now.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/products.php?catid=56&firstcid=6

Her latest volume is now appearing in book form.  It's not downloadable to iPhones and iPads yet, but I expect that in the future.  In this latest blog entry, Ruth tells us a bit about the new version of Backgrounds Volume One.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2011/08/now-its-book.html

The physical book versions are expensive because they contain so many stitch diagrams.  I use the CDs which are perfect for me, but nothing beats a good browse.  However, if you travel a great deal, you might want to explore getting Ruth's books as downloads for your smart phone.  Search for Ruth Schmuff at the iTunes store.

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

Fool The Engineer With Needlepoint

I very much enjoyed the short article from Needlepoint of View (Pepita Needlepoint's blog) about engineers and needlepoint.  It got me thinking.
http://needlepointofview.com/2011/07/15/attention-engineers-try-needlepoint/

Janet Perry's found an iPhone stitch it yourself kit.  Would an engineer with a smart phone be tempted to try by this?
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/spiff-up-your-iphone

Or would an engineer be tempted by classic trompe l'oeil as stitched in Ruth Schmuff's class?
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2011/07/needlepoint-can-fool-your-eye.html

Whichever route you take, go tempt an engineer with needlepoint, will you?

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