Showing posts with label mysteries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mysteries. Show all posts

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Secret Garden: A Mystery by Mary Charles and Ruth Schmuff

The newest mystery class at Bedecked and Beadazzles is Mary Charles' "Secret Garden."

Ruth started by stitching the house and the wall around the property.

Now we have grass, the four stone balls on the wall pillars, the gate itself and the little roof over the door.


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 19, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

"Friends,"Johanna Virtanen's Mystery Class

"Friends" by Johanna Virtanen is Bedecked and Beadazzled's Mystery class for Summer 2026. What do you think is going on between the cat and the bird?!  Ruth will gradually Reveal All and I'll update this mystery class as she does.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 13, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, March 6, 2026

The Garden Mafia Mystery (Lane Tree Lily)

Ruth Schmuff is planning her spring mystery class at Bedecked and Beadazzled.   It is a bird canvas, but not one of those sweet birdie things--she's doing a bold, colorful piece in primary colors from Lane Tree Lily called "The Garden Mafia" that shows those flying pigs as they really are--Those Who Must Be Obeyed (fed)!

I'll update this as Ruth posts progress photos of the portrait of this gang.  Stay tuned....

First Ruth worked the border.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Fleurs/Being Human (Kimberly)

"Fleurs" --also known as "Being Human"-- is the latest Kimberly class available only at Bedecked and Beadazzled in late February and early March 2016.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 11, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Dots Upon Dots: Winter 2025 Mystery

Ruth Schmuff has announced her Winter 2025 Mystery class--Barbara Basso's "Dots Upon Dots." It 's whimsical and fun and as always, it'll be interesting to see what Ruth does with this design.  I don't usually post about upcoming classes but Ruth shows off her progress photos, making this something you'll want to keep an eye on.  You'll get plenty of good ideas for your canvases, especially if they have polka dots, cats or elegant ladies.

The first lesson of "Dots Upon Dots" has Ruth wearing dots and creating a dotty background.  Interestingly, she does one side of each dot row bottom up to the top, then does the other side top to bottom to complete the row.  She also added a border at the bottom of the design and gave the flowers stems.

The second lesson has given Dottie a face, hair and most of an amazing dress.

The third and last lesson gives the cat a face, body and stitches the flowers.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 17, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, November 17, 2025

Santa's Pup (Fall Mystery at Bedecked and Beadazzled)

Dog and Christmas lovers will swoon over the newest mystery class at Bedecked and Beadazzled--Margaret King's "Santa's Pup."

As Ruth works her magic in her mystery class and posts updates, I'll add them to this so you can see all the fun in one place.  Merry Christmas, doggie!

Here is Ruth's first lesson.  The dog and the border are involved.

The puppy has a magnificent bow!  And the background dots sparkle.

The final touch is something I've never seen before.  That's what Ruth provides--the unexpected!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 13, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Mystery for Fall 2025--"My New Skull"

Ruth Schmuff has announced the Fall 2025 mystery class at Bedecked and Beadazzled--Sharon Hendy-Moman's "My New Skull."

The first class of the three that Ruth's planned is September 7.  I'll update this article as Ruth posts progress photos of the fun.

First lesson Ruth started with the face, the leaves in the background and did an interesting twist on the background itself.

The second lesson is all about the buildings in the background.  Great ideas for other canvases with buildings here!

And she's finished by the third lesson, which dresses her in jewelry, a gown and flowers in her hair.  The skull is fancied up, too!

Here is Renee's version, finished and beautifully framed.

Here is Ruth's version, also lovely in her frame.

Ruth has posted a video that shows a closeup of "My New Skull" and gives you a good idea of what is in the kit.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
 
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 2, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

A New Mystery UPDATED

Thanks to Diversions Needlepoint's June e-newsletter, I've learned about a new mystery set in a needlepoint store near Asheville, NC.  It's called One Sharp Stitch, by Allie Pleiter.  Ms. Pleiter has written mysteries centered on knitters and it looks like this is planned as a series as well.  

I read One Sharp Stitch last June and enjoyed it.  It's a great beach read, with a good cozy mystery obscuring who the killer is plus some interesting people, both important to the plot and peripheral to it.  The family relationships among the various characters are handled realistically and the author knows quite a bit about the social life of a needlepoint shop since she picked up needlepoint with the help of Stitchers Garden in Illinois, Two's Company in South Carolina and Po's Point in North Carolina (plus help from ANG's Queen Charlotte chapter.  If you can get this through your local library, it's worth checking out. I imagine more in the series is planned, and I'll be reading the second book when/if it comes out.

If you are intrigued, Lisa of BeStitched did an interview with Allie Pleiter on Facebook.

By the way, the fictional shop is called Nina's Nimble Needle, but it has no relationship to either Nimble Needle in New Jersey or Nimble Needle in Atlanta!

UPDATE:  Melita says there is a second book in the series.  It's called Two Purloined Pillows.

The third, which will be called Three Tangled Threads, is due to publish sometime in 2027.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 13, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Bunny Love: The Summer 2025 Mystery

The Summer 2025 mystery class at Bedecked and Beadazzled is "Bunny Love" from Lane Tree and Lily.

There will be two class sessions, one the end of July and the other the second week of August.  As always, I'll update this article with Ruth's progress photos.  Here's the first.  The bunny's face is starting to come alive, he has padded ears--and he has a bird friend!

This was a quick stitch, and a very cute one.  Check out the background and his sweet cheeks.  

Now we have three examples of "Bunny Love" finished.  So cool!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 16, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Mystery Class: Window of Opportunity (Zecca)

Ruth at Bedecked and Beadazzled will offer a class this month featuring "Window of Opportunity" from Zecca as her spring mystery.  There won't be any Zoom classes with this triptych, just kits sent to your house.

The fun has begun with an all over background and one stealthy orange cat!



Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 3, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, March 7, 2025

Robotic Uprising: Bedecked and Beadazzled Spring-Summer 2025 Mystery Class

"Robotic Uprising" is going to be the Spring-Early Summer 2025 mystery class at Bedecked and Beadazzled.  This is a David Galchutt design that Ruth Schmuff will embellish with all sorts of magic.  As always, I'll update this article with Ruth's progress reports as she stitches something totally different.

The first lesson covers the blue rays and craters in the background, plus the border is underway and so is the tiny blue planet above the red robot's head.

The red robot comes alive!

Red is nearly done and now Blue is coming to life.

Spoiler: Blue has a dimensional cabochon.

And now Blue is finished.  That "dryer vent" is amazing!

The green robot is done, the rocket is stitched, and there are beaded meteors!

Only one lesson left....

No aliens were harmed in the stitching of this masterpiece.

Here are two of the finished pieces, both spectacular and fun.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 5, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

A New Mystery with a Twist: Zecca Triptych

Ruth Schmuff has chosen her next Mystery with a Twist class--Zecca's "Triptych."

These are very long classes, spread out over years.  This one will start in April 2025 if you are interested.  As always, I will post class progress photos here as Ruth releases them.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved

Sunday, March 2, 2025

A Special Mystery Class: Rebecca Wood's Halloween Cruise Mayhem

Ruth Schmuff is planning a special large mystery class for 2025 with classes in March, May, August and November.  The project is Rebecca Wood's huge--and hilarious--Halloween Cruise Mayhem.

As always, I'll update this article as Ruth posts progress reports.  (For those who are interested, Amy Bunger and Lisa Kessler have both done guides for this cutie.)

Ruth is varying thread weights on the background so it doesn't get too heavy back there.

Next she worked on the boat and sails, plus a few of the hilarious ghosts, ghoulies and sea critters that are along for the ride.

The octopus and the witch are done (hope he lets her breath!) and there's also a shark and a mummy.  Too much fun!

And the grand finale has arrived with the ocean and its critters all sparkly and beaded, the coral is floofy, and the whole thing is a barrel of laughs on the high seas.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 29, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Vibrant Beauty: Winter 2025 Mystery

Ruth Schmuff has announced the Winter 2025 mystery class--"Vibrant Beauty" from Romantzart.

The classes are set for January and February 2025.  Stay tuned. I'll update this article with Ruth's progress reports here as the class dates come and go.  By the way, Ruth had an idea about how to reduce shipping costs starting with this mystery.

Ruth started with an open background and a new Color Dreams thread on the vase.  (Color Dreams is a line of overdyed floche that Ruth has made for her shop.)

Then she moved to leaves and flowers with a Ruth twist.

Then Ruth tackled all those black outlines in a very clever way.  The flower center she's finished is amazing, by the way.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 2, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Brown Bunny: Fall and Winter 2024 Mystery Class

Ruth Schmuff just announced her fall and winter 2024 mystery class--"Brown Bunny" by Strictly Christmas.

I can't wait to see the magic Ruth comes up with!

The bunny has the cutest tail and belly! (You'll learn Colonial Knots and laid stitches from Ruth on her blog here.)

Trees, pretty trees!

Next Ruth tackled the fields.  They look fabulous in my opinion.

The last area will be all the flowers and leaves.

But there's more!  We are all surprised <not> that Ruth decided on more bling!

If you are curious about hot fix crystals, here is what the gadget looks like.  The various tip sizes map to the diameter of the flat back crystals which have glue on the back side that the heat activates.

Here is Ruth's video showing how to attach hot fix crystals to your canvas.

And just in time for Easter, here's Brown Bunny all framed and ready!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 1, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Chinchillin: The Summer 2024 Mystery

Ruth Schmuff has announced her mystery class for June and July, 2024--Heather Gauthier's "Chincillin."  You know the drill by now--I'll update this as Ruth releases progress reports on this cutie.

The first lesson is this adorable chinchilla floating in his coconut shell.

Now we have background.

The leaves are stitched, so only the fruit and flowers are unstitched.

Now we have fruit and flowers and trailing vines.  It's magnificent!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com 
nd at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 2, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Blue Cat in the Jungle Mystery Class

The April-May 2024 mystery project from Ruth at Bedecked and Beadazzled is going to be Johanna Virtanen's "Blue Cat in the Jungle."

As Ruth works the canvas and the mystery is revealed, I'll post updates so you can follow along.

First, Ruth works the background and the black rocks at the bottom of the canvas in subtle stitches.

Next, the cat comes to life.  Those eyes!

And the cat's done! Love the thistles!

Here you see four versions of this piece, all framed differently.  How much fun is that?!


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 25, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Queens Court: Winter Mystery at Bedecked and Beadazzled

Ruth Schmuff just announced the new mystery class for Winter 2024--Lane Tree and Lily's "Queen's Court."

As always, I'll update this article as Ruth posts reports on each of the three classes in this mystery project.  First, Ruth worked the background in an open pattern and gave the dog a trellis patterned coat.

As a bonus, Ruth explains how to count out the trellis pattern around the flowers and leaves on the dog's body here--

Now the crow and the bunny are stitched along with the dog's and the crow's crowns.

And we finish up with silk ribbons on the dog!

Here is Jan's which is finished but not framed yet.

And here are three that are finished and framed, but all differently.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 10, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Ruth Does Thanksgiving with a Custom Nutcracker

Ruth Schmuff's traditional Thanksgiving weekend class for 2023 features a custom nutcracker from Kelly Clark.


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 11, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Winter Flying Fairy Mystery

The winter mystery class at Bedecked and Beadazzled has been announced:  It is Lulu my Pink Turtle's "Winter Flying Fairy."

Ruth has all sorts of options for taking the class in person, with or without zoom, or at home.  Just sign up soon so Ruth can get the canvases.  As always, once the class starts and Ruth posts updates, I'll add them below.

In the first session, Ruth sets the stage with snowflakes in the background and a face for the fairy.

Nest, the fairy has knit gloves, a hat and a scarf, all different.  Plus Ruth creates a fuzzy cat and a pulled stitch wing.

Finally, the fairy has her fur and some background sequins, making her a quick and easy wintery design.

And here she is finished two different ways!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 24, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.