The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

Mary Corbet recently visited the National Museum of Toys and Iniatures in Kansas City.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2022/07/field-trip-the-national-museum-of-toys-and-miniatures.html

It showcases a lot of needlework, including needlepoint done on smaller count grounds like silk gauze.  I believe that the needlepoint designer SharonG has some of her silk gauze pieces in this museum.  You can do a little more exploration at the museum's website.

https://toyandminiaturemuseum.org/exhibits-collections/miniatures-collection/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 11, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Donna Demo'd at Woodlawn

Donna of the Needleworker Not in Paradise blog lives close enough to Mount Vernon to be able to demonstrate stitching at the Woodlawn Plantation needlework exhibit. She talks a bit about what she did here.  It sounds like fun!
http://majtravaux.blogspot.com/2019/06/march-demo-day.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 1, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Do You Like Doll Houses?

Do you like doll houses? I do, partly because the rugs and wall hangings and cushions and footstools are usually done on needlepoint canvas or silk gauze.   And partly because my cousin and her husband built them from scratch as a hobby.  Janet Granger likes them, too, and designs the needlework that furnishes many a doll house.  She just posted a customer's house, one that is Tudor.  It's a fun browse.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/tudor-dollhouse-stitching/

If you are curious about Janet's designs, check out her website.  She ships her charts and kits and things like silk gauze pieces from the UK but there's not a delay getting them.
https://www.janetgranger.co.uk

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 28, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

For the Tea Lovers Among Us

Janet Granger is having a sale of her miniature tea cozy kits (intended to be stitched on silk gauze for a dollhouse), sparked by a customer of hers who has a collection of miniature teapots and wanted to stitch cozies to match.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2018/10/10/special-offer-on-cute-dollhouse-needlepoint-teacozies/

The tiny teapots and the cozies are charming, aren't they?  Like Janet, I really like the Ginger Cat tea cozy.  It would still be charming on Congress cloth or 18 count or even 13 count canvas if you wanted to experiment.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 11, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

EGA's Storr Miniature House

EGA has a doll house among their collection of needle art.  Apparently the members furnished it with their needlework.  Some of the pieces are clearly needlepoint and many are probably also silk gauze.  It's a fun browse!
https://egausa.org/gallery/storr-miniature-house/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 4, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

From Tiger to Polar Bear

Janet Granger just posted a photograph of some of her dollhouse rugs, all stitched on 18 count needlepoint canvas using one strand of Appleton's crewel wool.  Appleton's crewel is one of my favorites because I love the colors available and it works so well on 18 count.  You can see how lovely Janet's rugs are stitched with this.  As for the title, look at the tiger rug in the photo.  That was stitched from one of Janet's charts, then the stitcher turned it into a polar bear rug!  So clever….
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/dollhouse-rugs/

If you want to do a little browsing, here's Janet's website with the tiger rug kit.  Click on Products and let your imagination fly!
https://www.janetgranger.co.uk/product/tiger-skin-dollhouse-needlepoint-carpet-kit/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 19, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

And You Thought Penelope Canvas Was Just for Needlepoint!

Kris's latest miniatures tutorial is how to make a 1 inch scale model basket out of needlepoint canvas.  It's a fascinating process. If you have friends into miniature making, save your scrapes of needlepoint canvas, particularly penelope, to give them to make their own baskets.
http://1inchminisbykris.blogspot.com/2018/03/1-inch-scale-sewing-basket-how-to-make.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 22, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A New Free Silk Gauze Rug Chart

Natalia Frank of Natalia's Fine Needlework has released a new free rug chart for 2018.  
http://www.dollhouseneedlepoint.com/free-patterns

Natalia describes the new rug this way, "Each year I offer a new free pattern as my "thank you" to all friends, customers, all stitchers who was by my side through the life time and supported my business. You inspire me to work harder. Thank you for keeping my motivation up. This year I would like to offer a pattern for Konya carpet that has been charted based on the original 18th century carpet that is located in The Mevlâna Museum in Konya, Turkey, the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. The rug, based on the motifs, symbolizes fertility and happiness. The pattern is charted for use of DMC floss, but my advice would be to use over dyed thread to give that antique and worn look to it."

Natalia does this every year as a thank you to her customers.  This is designed for 48 count silk gauze but you can adjust the ground fabric and threads to suit yourself.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 12, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Colorful Amalgam Contest for 2018-2019

Natalia Frank just posted this on Facebook about a contest she is running over the next year:

I would like to invite anyone who is interested to participate in the stitching contest Colorful Amalgam 2018-2019.  The contest starts on February, 1st, 2018 and will end on February, 28th, 2019. March of 2019 will be given to finish the carpet (blocking, fringing, or framing, etc…).

At the beginning of each month, starting this February, I'll post a part of the pattern of the carpet that is supposed to be stitched during a following month. Each part will be charted with black symbols which are supposed to be "colored" by you. There will be 12 parts with NON-repeatable motifs that will form a gorgeous carpet at the end that YOU painted!

There are no rules or restrictions towards this creative concept, but two.
1. The carpet should be stitched on silk gauze. If stitched on 40 count the finished size of the rug will be approx. 6" x 8".
2. You need to sign up with a Facebook open to public group Colorful Amalgam and post the pictures of stitching progress each month. If you don't have a Facebook account, forward your images to me and I'll gladly post them on the group's page.

A winner, that will be chosen by public vote in June 2019, will receive a main prize of $200.
You can download Section 1 February 2018 from my website
http://www.dollhouseneedlepoint.com/contest

Here is a link to Facebook group Colorful Amalgam
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1883206485032036/

I started this rug on 48 count.
Let's have fun! It will be so interesting to see rugs with the same design looking different. 

I hope that folks try this.  It's a fun way to celebrate counted work on silk gauze.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 22, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Christmas in 1:12 Scale

If you are a long-time visitor here at Blog, you know I adore silk gauze. So it should be no surprise to you that I wanted to send everyone to Janet Granger's slide show of her dollhouse Christmas decorations.  Janet describes her kits here so you can get a sense of just how small they really are.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/its-christmas-in-the-dollhouse/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 29, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Konya Prayer Rug Free Chart

Fans of silk gauze miniature rugs will be thrilled with Natalia Frank's free rug chart for 40 count silk gauze.
http://www.dollhouseneedlepoint.com/free-patterns

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

Ultrasuede for Ornament Backing (and More)

Those who do their own ornament finishing will be happy to hear I've discovered another source for Ultrasuede.  Micro-Stitchery is a source for miniature doll house rug charts so the pieces of Ultrasuede available are two and four inches square, but this is perfect for small ornament finishing  (or for small appliqués) and a lot of colors are available.
http://microstitchery.com/a_ultrasuede_1.html

Have fun browsing the charts after you pick out the right fabric squares for your finishing.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 21, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Silk Gauze Lover's Dream

I didn't realize Frances Peterson, who has been happily posting photographs of her silk gauze needlepoint rugs on Facebook, has a website where she sells her rug charts.
http://petersonpetitpoint.com

The slide show of Frances' rugs in various dollhouses and miniature rooms is great fun to watch and then you can go browse her designs.  I suggest you click on "All Products," click on the first design photo to come up, then hit Next to see everything.  Clicking on the individual pages will give you a better look.

Boy, that Camden rug is a beauty....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 15, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Janet's Makeover

Everyone with a messy craft storage system will love seeing what Janet Granger and her husband have done to her craft room. Janet is a little different from the bulk of us as she's a professional designer of miniature needlework kits, but the principle is the same.   Enjoy the makeover!
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2016/08/11/workroom-makeover/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 11, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Janet Granger Designs is Twenty Years Old! UPDATED

Janet Granger's business creating dollhouse miniature needlepoint kits is twenty years old!  Seems like yesterday I was thrilled to find I could buy silk gauze from her.  To celebrate, Janet's business is being profiled in Artisans in Miniature magazine.  Head to page five to read all about Janet and see photographs of her work.
https://www.scribd.com/embeds/303215376/content?start_page=1&view_mode=book

UPDATE:  Silly me!  I forgot to add Janet's website so you could browse her kits and see even more. Sorry.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 16, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Shall We Play Spot the Needlepoint?

Janet Granger found a video of the Thorne Miniature Rooms which are displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago online, then wrote about it and explained its influence on her miniature needlepoint design business.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/miniature-thorne-rooms/

She also thoughtfully included the link to the museum website where you can get a good look at all the rooms if the video wasn't enough.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/category/15

Most of the rooms have needlepoint rugs (probably on 48 to 60 count silk gauze or higher!) and many have a pillow or framed stitching and occasionally a stitched chair seat, and I think I even spotted a miniature needlepoint frame set up in a corner.  It's a wonderful way to spend a leisurely weekend browse.

Thank you, Janet!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

FInishing Friday: Dollhouses and More

I haven't done a Finishing Friday posting in a while since several shops do a Friday posting of their customers' work now, but I thought you might like to see what Ridgewood's folks have been up to as there is quite a variety now that Christmas finishing is done for a bit...
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/01/finishing-friday_30.html

...and I thought you'd love to see the dollhouses decorated with Janet Granger's kits.  That's finishing, too, right?
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/gallery.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needlepoint Now Goes Small

The January 2015 issue of Needlepoint Now magazine is out and it includes the design for a miniature sampler from Janet Granger, who is an English needlepoint designer specializing in miniature rugs, chair seats, purses, table items and more for the doll house collector.  Janet's getting in the spirit of things by offering folks who want to stitch this the materials kit, including frame, so you can create your own tiny sampler in a few evenings from the comfort of your favorite stitching nest.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/needlepoint-now-sampler/

All you have to do is find the code in the magazine article, head to Janet's website (where lots of things are on sale in January--enter at risk to your pocketbook!), and enter the code when you cheek out.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/acatalog/Needlepoint_Kits_Samplers_for_your_dollhouse.html

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

Hanging the Stocking on the Tree--Next to a Magnifier

Natalia of Natalia's Fine Needlework showed off a pair of her Christmas stockings on her blog this morning...,
http://scarletsailsminiatures.blogspot.com/2014/11/christmas-is-coming-to-town.html

...which reminded me that Melissa Boling of Miniature Home posed a great little lion and lamb stocking at the Needlepoint Nation group on Facebook. 
https://www.facebook.com/MiniatureHomeDollhousePetitpoint/photos/a.149582905110957.35149.149573375111910/729962340406341/?type=1&theater

These are all original designs, by the way, and done on silk gauze.  I don't know what count Natalia used but Melissa's little angel and animals stocking is on 48 count.

Melissa's website has this design and other wonderful tiny stocking charts for sale.  I particularly like her Scotties in the snow.  Click on the little miniature photo to see these stitched.  
http://www.miniaturehome.com/Holidays.html

Natalia's stockings are available as kits or can be custom stitched for you.  I particularly like her snowflakes on red stocking but there are a lot of lovely designs available.
http://scarletsailsminiatures.blogspot.com/p/dollhouse-miniature-christmas-stockings.html

Janet Granger sells Christmas stocking kits that include 40 count silk gauze as well.  On this count, one ply of almost any brand of cotton or silk floss works well.   These pieces are done in tent stitches and are a lot quicker to stitch than a regular 18 or 13-14 count stocking.  Her Ho Ho Ho Santa stocking is great but I also love her Wise Men stocking as I adore Nativity sets.
http://www.janetgranger.co.uk/acatalog/Christmas_Stocking_kits.html

Have a teeny tiny Happy Christmas!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 26, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Back to the 1930s

Janet Granger's latest dollhouse miniature kit features what she calls the Crinoline Lady.  Dollhouses are made in miniature and they often mimic certain eras or interior decorator styles, so it makes sense for Janet to create tiny pieces that will fit into this or that era.
http://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/new-1930s-style-dollhouse-needlepoint-table-runner-and-placemat-sets-to-make/

In the South we called this the sunbonnet girl. Apparently the official name she goes by is Sunbonnet Sue and this design motif originated as a quilting pattern in the 1880s.  I've seen a lot of cross stitch kits and quilting patterns featuring Sunbonnet Sue-type patterns and there are some charming rework designs that are more elaborate.
http://hartcottagequilts.com/his8.htm

I did find one painted needlepoint canvas featuring a sun bonnet from Jane Nichols but otherwise I think the world of needlepoint design has walked right past the 1930s.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/sun-bonnet-1815.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 6, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.