NJNA's News

NJNA's latest e-newsletter is out.  As usual, it is full of ANG news, both local chapters and the upcoming Seminar.  There's news about finishing and kits for beginners, a new club, an Olympic chart (and a French poodle), and the fact that Absolutely Needlepoint in Miami has been sold and will become Stitch Miami in September 2024.  

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2024/07/27/whats-happening-at-njna-7-27-24/

As always, a fun read.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 28, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Create a Rhodes Circle: The Movie

Needlepoint.com is doing a Star Santa Club in 2024, releasing one of Associated Talent's Star Santas and a guide each month.  They've done a video demonstration of a Rhodes Circle Stitch here.

https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/santa-stars

There are also diagrams of various sizes of Rhodes Circles, so you can see how to enlarge or shrink the stitch to fit the round area in your design.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 27, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: JJ Needlepoint Designs

Congratulations to Jane and Jennifer for their brand new website, JJ Needlepoint Designs!

https://jjneedlepointdesigns.com/

Jane recently retired from owning Two's Company in South Carolina.  Now she and her daughter Jennifer have started a wholesale needlepoint business, with Jane's wonderful series and customer work available for your favorite shop to order.  DO NOT miss her cats and dogs of the month.  These are classics!  You can see them under the "Standup Series" drop down menu.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 1, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

And Now For Something New from Hook and Harbor

Hook and Harbor is a new designer who sells her work on Etsy.  Recently I mentioned her Harry Potter canvas.  It's not on the shop right now but I did notice she's doing something new—a mystery ornament of the month based on a theme and a thread of the month. UPDATE:  When I wrote this 10 days ago there were no Harry Potter themed canvases but they are back, including a new chocolate frog canvas, and there's a Hogwarts mystery club, too.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/HookandHarborCo?

Here is what Hook and Harbor says about the Monthly Mystery Ornament Club:

"Join us for a monthly mystery club where each month you will receive an exclusive ornament canvas that corresponds to the theme for that month! These designs will be exclusive to club members until after a full calendar year when they will be added to the shop. So whether you want to increase your ornament stash or just gift yourself some happy mail, this is the club for you!

The theme will be announced prior to the start of each month and orders will be open until the first 7th of that month. Ornaments will be shipped out during the third week of the month. Ornament design size and canvas mesh will vary based on theme/design."

The thread of the month choices are a custom dyed thread that looks like the inspiration photo posted.  The photo is posted before the first of the month and orders are taken from the first until the 7th of the month.  Thread club orders are also shipped in the third week of the month.

It's a different approach and an interesting one.  Good luck with this, Kate!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 4, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Twelve Days of Christmas on Display

Ridgewood is showing off their finished Twelve Days of Christmas Club on their blog. They are charmers (love those beaded pears!) all stitch-guided by Jennifer.  They make a lovely set, so if you are kicking yourself for not stitching anything for your Christmas tree this year, you might want to contact Ridgewood to sign up for this set.
http://www.ridgewoodneedlepoint.com/12-days-of-christmas.htm

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

Kelly Clark Demonstrates a Needle Felted Bee

Kelly Clark is stitching her bee skep club that shops are offering and she posted a lesson on how to create a needle felted bee for the fifth canvas (the bee skep in the stone wall) on her blog.
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2015/07/stumpwork-bumble-bees-needle-felting.html

It's a great tutorial on making bees and wings whether you are interested in her club or not.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 20, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Gadget Queen UPDATED

Danielle talks about her favorite gadgets.
http://stitcherista.blogspot.com/2015/07/gadgets.html

UPDATE:  More fun tools!
http://stitcherista.blogspot.com/2015/07/more-gadgets.html

If you are into tools the way Danielle is, check out the latest things available from Needlepoint Tool Time...
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com

...and from Needle Little More.
http://www.needlelittlemore.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Plus if you need help collecting cool and useful things, Ruth's got a club for that.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/07/gadgets-gizmos-and-great-inventions.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 9, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Tulip and The Mole

Linda at Split the Needles is stitching away on a mole, using Tulips.  Her canvas one of a series of little autumn animals from Melissa Shirley that The French Knot is doing as a club (second link below). Linda's already finished the bunny.
http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2015/06/mole-head.html

http://www.thefrenchknot.com/z-thanksgiving.htm

Tulips is a subtle colored kid mohair thread from Gumnut in Australia. Purl Soho describes it a beautifully here but it looks like they've sold out.
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/7701-Gumnut-Yarns-Tulips-

Not to worry, though.  If you want a sample to play with and your local shop doesn't carry it, Alex Paras will sell you whatever you like.
http://store.apneedlearts.com/gumnutyarns.html

Here is the Gumnut color card for Tulips.  Custom House is the distributor in the US.
http://www.customhouseofneedlearts.com/gumnut/tulippic.html

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

Amanda Has a Song in Her Ornaments

This week Virginia highlighted a series of Christmas song ornaments from Amanda Lawford that I didn't know existed.  This isn't a totally unique idea--Tony Minieri did a charted series based on Christmas songs some years ago--but the designs are beautifully executed and Virginia stitched hers very nicely.
http://stitchstyleblog.com/2015/01/snowed-stitching-away/

Chandail used Tony's for a club.  I'm not sure if it is still available as they don't seem to be on Chandail's website any more.
http://siterepository.s3.amazonaws.com/956/e_newsletter_july_chandail_2012_0820_final.pdf

Aren't designers clever to come up with these wonderful things?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 28, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Life's a Circus at Virginia's House UPDATED

Virginia is happily stitching away on the Kirk and Hamilton (now Kirk and Bradley) circus animals.  She's got some nice tips on stitching fur and adding bling to designs you might be interested in.
http://stitchstyleblog.com/2015/01/kirk-and-bradley-circus-animals/

The set was a club at Chandail a few years back with guides from Emily Pannier.  I'm not sure it is still available but you can always ask the shop.
http://www.chandailneedlework.com/shop/Series/Circus-Circus/p/Circus-Circus--The-Works.htm

You can see better photos of the entire [unstitched] set here.
http://www.needlepoint.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=circus

UPDATE:  Virginia has posted more, this time of the ringmaster, plus information on where to find the set since it's been discontinued.  Thanks!
http://stitchstyleblog.com/2015/01/kirk-bradley-ring-master/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 4, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mysteries of Needlepoint (Amy Bunger)

Amy Bunger has started her club for 2015 and it's a bit different this year. She calls it Amy's Book Club and the bi-monthly offerings are her Mysteries of Needlepoint chapters. If you are a fan of Amy or just want to tap into Amy's vast knowledge of the stitching we all love, there is more information here.
http://www.amybunger.com/catalog/item/8713494/10138388.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 28, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

BeStitched's Kit and Club Video UPDATED

BeStitched's Lisa Kessler has posted a video about their class kits and clubs on YouTube. If you want to see what the shop has available in video form, here's the link-- 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuG4_vlu4UA&feature=em-upload_owner

If something catches your eye, here is the shop website.
http://www.bestitchedneedlepointshop.com

UPDATE:  Here's more information about their Stitch Addiction Box of the Month.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/learn-new-stitching-techniques/

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

Needle House Newsletter News

The Winter edition of Needle House's shop newsletter is now available. It's full of interesting news, including a new club of butterfly canvases created by A Collection of Designs exclusive to the shop that starts next March.  The big news is that the shop's "From Russia With Love" monthly club that features Fabrege style eggs (also from ACOD) is now available as individual kits.  These are gorgeous pieces.
http://theneedlehouse.com/jm/images/newsletters/Winter_2015_WEB_PDF.pdf

This link shows off the finished models.  Told you they were gorgeous!
http://www.theneedlehouse.com/jm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106&Itemid=102

By the way, the newsletter has coupons good for December at the bottom.

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.

Amy's December-January Newsletter

Amy Bunger's shop newsletter for December and January is up on the Internet!  It has instructions for making a silk ribbon leaf,  lots of photos of beautiful canvases to tempt you to shop Amy's December sale, news of her book club for 2015 and much more.
http://www.amybunger.com/f/1214.pdf

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

Mysteries, Classes and Clubs

The August newsletter for Bedecked and Beaddazzled is the complete listing of all Ruth Schmuff's upcoming mysteries, shop classes and clubs. But there is more!  Ruth always throws in a stitch diagram and explanation of how to use it and derivatives of it.   This month she talks about Milanese, how to use it, how to make compensation easier and how to work it in vertical rows instead of on the diagonal.  
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/content/uploads/bedeckednewsaug2014.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 2, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wanna Join a Princess Dress Club?

BeStitched is asking folks on Facebook if they'd be interested in a Princess Dress club. Whether you are or not, you need to see the stitched dress canvas they posted. 
https://www.facebook.com/BeStitchedNeedlepoint/photos/a.152368144832122.34517.126229327446004/672656382803293/?type=1&theater

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

And Brenda Showed Up

Needle Works just had a retreat and a guest came to stitch along with the participants. Yes, Brenda Stofft herself appeared.   Monica took pictures (thank you!) of the designer at work and of her Nativity set which is the club at Needle Works this year.  Don't miss the finishing of the Holy Family piece!  It's very clever.
http://lazydaisyneedlework.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-little-surprise.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 12, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Need a Tree?

This year Needlenook of La Jolla is doing a monthly club of ornaments for display called Trim-A-Tree Club.
http://store.needlenook.com/Trim-A-Tree-Club-p36987.html

The tree that is free if you participate in the club is also available for sale if you aren't doing the club. Since it is quite a nice metal tree, I thought I'd post the information here since so many of us are always on the lookout for an ornament display item.  Please note that the tree is now only available in brown although the photograph appears to be of a black iron tree.
http://store.needlenook.com/Ornament-Tree-p37139.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 13, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

More Russian Santas

Susan's Birdland Santa

Fans of the Leigh Designs Russian Santas should be smiling all over this morning as I have two more finished examples to show you. Above is the Birdland Santa.  This charmer was stitched by Susan M. using Brian Shaw's Steppe Stitch for a snowy ground under Santa's feet and Carolyn Taggart's idea for the golden brown robe.  Here is the diagram for Brian's Steppe Stitch once again.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2014/03/blue-russian-final-glimpse.html

Here is Carolyn's detailed description of her Birdland Santa, the basis for Susan's robe.  By the way, since Carolyn posted the information below, she has written a stitch guide due to popular demand--complete with nice stitch diagrams--for her version of Birdland Santa.  If you are interested, contact Carolyn Taggart via Facebook or let me know at chilly hollow at hotmaildotcom and I'll pass the message along to Carolyn.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2014/03/more-russian-santas-birdland-santa.html

The second Russian Santa I have to show you isn't actually a Santa.  It is the Russian Golden Maiden companion piece that is an exclusive at Enriched Stitch.  They are doing a Russian Santa club at the shop and talked Leigh into designing a lady to go along with all those Ivans.  This has been stitched by Becki Gebhart.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=777528838946344&set=gm.660242244052937&type=1&theater

If you want to purchase the canvas and guide of Golden Maiden, contact Enriched Stitch.  She is available without your having to join their Russian Santa club.
http://enrichedstitch.myshopify.com/products/golden-snow-maiden-exclusive

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 12, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

I'm a Sucker

I'm a sucker for a good Nativity set, so I was thrilled to see Diane's Nativity progress on her Carol Dupree Creche set.  She's only got the angel to go, so pretty soon I hope we will have photos of the finished set made up into figures.
http://www.dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.com/2014/03/my-nativity-is-almost-finished.html

Here's the link to the set offered by The French Knot in Fort Worth, which has sponsored this monthly club.
http://thefrenchknot.com/current-series.htm

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.