Introducing George

Sign of the Arrow's Limited Edition design for 2026 is out and it's "George" --as in George Washington.  I think this is the second year in a row that their limited edition design is only available as a painted canvas, not also as a chart, which is a shame.  There are still counted canvas lovers out there, after all, and having both canvas and chart available is a great way to cater to both types of stitchers.  

It looks like you can buy just the canvas, or the canvas and thread kit, and you can add the matching needle minder as an extra this year.  

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/2026-Limited-Edition.html?soid=1102635760603&aid=Q18sdCXCMOI

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 4, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Rehoming Ann Hanson's Limited Edition Santas

Every year Ann Hanson does a limited edition Santa for Barbara's Needlepoint.  They are small in number and highly sought after.  You can see a typical Ann Hanson Santa (not a limited edition one which tend to be larger and much more detailed) on the Barbara's Needlepoint website at the link below.  The 2025 Limited Edition Santa is also visible on this page lower down in the You Might Also Like section.

https://www.barbarasneedlepoint.com/products/ann-hanson-small-cyclamen-santa

Barbara's Needlepoint gets a lot of inquiries about finding one of these Limited Edition Santas from previous years, so if you or a family member has one of the limited edition Santas and you know it's not going ot be stitched, talk to Barbara's Needlepoint who can help you with a valuation of your Santa, they'll discuss a buy-back or help you get in contact with someone looking for that particular Santa.

After all, Santa needs a good home where he'll be stitched and enjoyed each holiday season, so help Barbara's customers out if you can.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 10, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

2021 Limited Edition Design from Sign of the Arrow

The 2021 limited edition design from The Sign of the Arrow is now available.

http://signofthearrow.com/shopping/category.php?category=39

Its a lovely little Christmas ornament kit, available in either charted or painted canvas versions.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 14, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

2017 Limited Edition Ornament from Sign of the Arrow Revealed

Sign of the Arrow just announced their 2017 Limited Edition ornament—a penguin! This is available as either a chart or a painted canvas and includes directions and all the threads needed.
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1102635760603&ca=b7f8f8b7-50d6-4141-b918-5f35ed6fc9b5 

Sign of the Arrow's profits are donated to various charities in the St. Louis area so this is a nice way to help out those in need while stitching.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 3, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitching People: Inspiration from the Masters

Chris Tirey Does Lani Ballgown

I don't know about you, but I love stitching people.  So when I noticed these photographs posted on Facebook last month, I wanted to share the fabulous hair and clothing that the masters of needlepoint embellishment are stitching these days.  Starting in alphabetical order, what you see above is Chris Tirey of Nimble Fingers in Houston stitching a Lani ball gown.  The light coverage background, the random placement of sequins for sparkle and the masterful bow all make this a wonderful piece.
http://nimblefingerstx.com/NimblefingersTx.com/Welcome.html

http://www.lanisneedlepoint.com/pd-5e-formal-gown-5.aspx

Lani Stitches her Leopard Evening Coat

Speaking of Lani, Lani herself is a masterful stitcher.  Check out this Leopard Evening Coast stitched by Lani herself with a touch of fur on the collar and hem.  Once again the light coverage background is terrific but what makes this special is the leopard coat's luxury and the fur trim, not to mention the two borders.  This design is new for Fall 2016, by the way.
http://www.lanisneedlepoint.com/ec-1b-leopard-evening-coat.aspx

Kathleen Stitching Santa Using Mark Young's Guide

Mark Young of Labors of Love is also a master of design and stitching.  In the photo above you see Kathleen's stitching Labors of Love's Red Stand Up Santa using Mark's stitch guide.  The beard is a masterpiece of shape and movement and contrasts nicely with Santa's clothing.  This piece is a four-sided tear drop that finishes into a Christmas standup.  You can see all the pieces on the Labors of Love website.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/santas-and-snowmen.html

Madame Pompadour, Stitched From Tony Minieri's Guide

Our last inspirational piece is also a Labors of Love design, stitched using a guide from Tony Minieri.  This is a limited edition canvas titled "Madame Pompadour."  It has magnificent greenery and a background pillar that work perfectly with the dress.  It is exceptionally hard to attach dimensional pieces to a canvas and achieve a balanced look but Tony's student did a terrific job with this.  Labors of Love designs a limited number of canvases with the china faces and hands to be attached when the stitching is finished.  This piece is sold out but you can see other limited edition figures on the Labors of Love website.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/limited-editions.html

By the way, this is the 2017 Limited Edition figure from Labors of Love.  There are only ten.  Place your order now.
https://www.facebook.com/236197349333/photos/a.477851644333.261602.236197349333/10154893875159334/?type=3&theater

Hope you enjoyed seeing what masters of embellished needlepoint canvas can do with the human figure.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 5, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Barbara's Needlepoint is Raising Money

Barbara's Needlepoint is raising money for an employee who is about to give birth to a baby who will need major surgery. This limited edition Ann Santa will be auctioned to raise funds. The details are on Facebook as Barbara's doesn't have a website.  Contact the shop for more information. 
https://www.facebook.com/107558659287177/photos/a.629766710399700.1073741860.107558659287177/907462875963414/?type=1&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 21, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Limited (Labors of Love)

Each year Labors of Love combines a love of porcelain with a love of pattern and color to produce a limited edition canvas that comes with china attachments to create a dimensional doll of sorts that rises from a needlepoint background and wears needlepoint outfits.   Each year all ten-fifteen canvases sell out.   Nimble Needle talks a bit about Madame Pompadour, the subject of this year's edition, on their blog.  Click on each photograph to see it better.  This year's china pieces are the head and two arms, one holding an amazing fan.
http://www.nimbleneedlenj.com/introducing-madame-pompadour/

Most of the series are historical royal figures, kings and queens, although a couple of years ago JP Sligh did an amazing geisha figure.  You can see them all here.  I think my favorite is Anne Boleyn.  Can't wait to see her stitched!
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/limited-editions.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 10, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

For My Counting Friends

This posting is for my counted canvaswork friends who will love seeing four different color ways of Threedles' 2012 ornament design.  Jan is stitching these as presents (plus a small one for herself) and using a variety of color schemes, all of which are beautiful.
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/threedles-2012-ornament-finales/

If you are not familiar with Kurdy Briggs' work, here is her website.  Every year she does a small Christmas ornament design.  I am not sure if these are available after the year has passed but I do know the 2014 ornament is at the bottom of this page.
http://www.threedles.com/06012011/2014/2014Designs.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  October 31, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Limited Edition Hair for Halloween?

I had no idea that Thread Gatherer did limited edition curly thread each year.   I thought I was the threadaholic supreme!  This stuff is called Wild Hairs and it comes in Halloween shades.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/09/wild-hairs.html

It looks like this is available all year round in selected colors.  Never heard of it!
http://www.threadgatherer.com/wild%20%20hairs%20page.htm

 Obviously I have shopping to do, so if you will excuse me...

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.

Remember the Name Ann Hanson UPDATED

Linda fell hard for a canvas by Ann Hanson, the in-house artist for Barbara's Needlepoint, that she saw on Facebook. So she ordered it and got the threads and a brief guide that explains where to use the threads.  Linda has been having great fun working on this classic design using mostly basketweave.  Here's what she said about the piece.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2013/02/almost-finished.html

UPDATE:  Linda's done!
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2013/03/santa-ornament-finished.html

Barbara's Needlepoint doesn't have a website so if it wasn't for their postings on Facebook, Linda never would have fallen in love and I wouldn't have seen Ann Hanson's work.  Ann does a limited edition Santa canvas for the shop each year.  They are all beautiful but when they are gone, they are GONE.  Ann doesn't repaint them, sadly.  Not to worry, though.  She does other wonderful work for the shop.  If you have a Facebook account, visit Barbara's Needlepoint and browse the photo albums to catch glimpses of her designs.  Roll down to the 2012 photo albums and look for Ann's Available Santas to see the limited edition Santas that haven't sold out yet.  This link may work for those who don't have a FB account. This is the 2013 Santa from Ann Hanson.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=503187233057649&set=a.471227749586931.100490.107558659287177&type=1&theater

This is one of Ann's rabbits.  Perfection!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=488355084540864&set=a.488354974540875.103166.107558659287177&type=3&theater

Ann's a real talent.  I wish I could see more of her work.

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.

Thread Collector Alert

If you want to pick up a limited edition color of DMC cotton floss, Needle in a Haystack has stocked up.  This was created for a pattern in Just Cross Stitch but we all love new colors.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2013/01/dmc-floss-ltd-ed-color-127.html

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