Why Fit In?

Ruth Schmuff has finished one of her Mystery with a Twist classes. Here is Zecca's Why Fit in and it's lovely!
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2018/06/why-fit-in-2/?mc_cid=2128bcc70c&mc_eid=c05eb4bd3b

UPDATE:  Here she is framed.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2018/12/shes-home/?mc_cid=a0ccf32601&mc_eid=60242fbe68

Bedecked and Beadazzled offers Mystery with a Twists class periodically.  The lessons only arrive very slowly, to give folks plenty of time to stitch the project.  By slowly, I mean it can take over a year for the class to finish.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/classes/mystery-classes/mysteries-with-a-twist/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 7, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Mystery with a Twist Comes with Flowers

Ruth Schmuff has announced the next Mystery with a Twist class, Annie O'Brien Gonzales' "Let's Fall in Love," which will start in April 2018.  You are probably familiar with mystery classes—they are available at Ruth's shop or via mail order over a few months.  But the Mystery with a Twist class is a long-term project, spread out over 2-4 years with a class arriving via mail order only about every six months.  It's for the relaxed stitcher who is happy to have plenty of time between lessons.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2018/01/lets-fall-in-love.html

If you are interested, you can sign up via Ruth's website.  Stay tuned!  As photos from the current lessons are posted on Ruth's blog, I'll update this article….

UPDATE: Ruth starts with the background areas, all in yummy threads and stitches.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2018/07/lets-fall-in-love/?mc_cid=733d7795fc&mc_eid=c05eb4bd3b

Now Ruth adds the tablecloth and the cut glass vase.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2020/03/stitching-crystal/

The final step is creating all those flowers and leaves.  If you ever wanted a master class in making ribbon petals and embroidery leaves, this is it.

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2024/01/holiday-miracle/

Final Update:  Here it is framed.  Magnificent!

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2024/06/glorious-frame/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 20, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Santa Fe Felines: A New Mystery with a Twist UPDATED

Ruth Schmuff has announced hew upcoming Mystery with a Twist class--Laurel Burch's Santa Fe Cats.  The mystery with a twist is one of Ruth's mystery classes, but it is stretched out over a year or two so there's no pressure to finish. I'll update the links directly below as Ruth posts progress photos.  Even if you are not taking this mystery class, the progress reports are always interesting.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/09/santa-fe-felines.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/12/santa-fe-felines_28.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2018/01/cats-cats-and-more-cats.html

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2019/06/meow/

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2021/05/soon-ish/

And it's done!

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2025/01/almost-a-christmas-miracle/

Here's more about the class on Ruth's website.
http://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/product/santa-fe-felines/

Here are all Ruth's Mysteries with a Twist.
http://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/classes/mystery-classes/mysteries-with-a-twist/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 2, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Shot of Color From Mystery with a Twist (Why Fit In?)

Ruth Schmuff is starting her newest Mystery with a Twist class. This is a mail order class that spans a long period, with periodic updates (and wonderful packages) from Bedecked and Beadazzled.  There's no rush to finish one lesson before the next arrives, so you can relax and play along with the stitch guide, learning interesting techniques and using different threads and bling of various kinds. (You know Ruth--she's all about the Bling!)

Ruth is using Zecca's Why Fit In? bird canvas for this Mystery with a Twist, introducing shots of color with overdyes and sequins and I think I see some holographic Kreinik in those baby blue eyes....
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/01/those-eyes.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/05/leaves-are-falling.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/11/leaves-and-more-leaves.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/01/happiness-is.html

It's the perfect antidote to the horrible cold.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2017/05/its-really-ready.html

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.

Ada Demonstrates Memory Thread While Ruth Makes Trees UPDATED

Ada Hayden of Eye Candy just wrote a fun article about the use of DMC's memory thread on various Eye Candy designs. It's full of ideas and pretty things to boot! 
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2013/11/things-to-remember-about-memory-thread.html

Ruth Schmuff shows off two styles of beaded fur trees on her Melissa Shirley Christmas Village class.  One style of tree even has "snow"!  (By the way, this is part of her Mystery with a Twist series, which is a mail order class done in small lessons over a long period of time.)
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/11/its-snowing-at-north-pole.html

Check out the red and green roof!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/03/as-long-as-its-still-snowing.html

UPDATE:  Fluffy snow can be different, right?
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/08/santa-has-arrived.html

UPDATE:  Reindeer and bunnies!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/03/bunnies-and-reindeer-join-fun.html

UPDATE: Christmas Village Mystery with a Twist is done!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/11/this-just-in-for-holidays.html

Thanks for the inspiration, ladies.

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.

Tips and Tricks From the Clever Needlepointer

There are a lot of smart stitchers Out There and many of them blog. Today I have a collection of smart ideas from all over that may come in handy in your stitching life. First up is Mary Agnes in Vero Beach, whose staff came up with a clever way to deal with running out of thread for a stocking. (By the way, the singing turkey link she mentions is hilarious!)
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2013/11/saving-ones-bacon-stitching-wise.html

Diane has a very clever way of making sure both sides of a coat or other stitched clothing match.  And no, I hadn't figured this out!  By the way, notice that the Holy Family have a golden yellow background while the Wise Men all have a blue background.  This is a very clever way of making the central figures of the Nativity stand out.  Kudos to Diane!
http://www.dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.com/2013/11/nativity-update.html

Linda demonstrates an easy way of using cording to outline areas of your canvas.  She is making rings for her Shelly (I think) Twelve Days of Christmas piece #5.
http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2013/11/rings-on-her-fingers.html

Got any clever tips?  Either blog about them or share them in the Comments below, please!

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.

Row of Ladies Mystery with a Twist Finished (and Started!) UPDATED

Ruth Schmuff just finished her first Mystery with a Twist canvas, a series of six Asian ladies, all in fancy outfits.   Ruth decided that some folks enjoy relaxed mystery classes that are more than a few months long and which aren't really set to any deadline.  This is the result.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/10/now-party-can-finally-begin.html

UPDATE:  Ruth has managed to talk Lee Designs into a companion piece.  Six more ladies in fancy outfits!  This will be an upcoming Mystery with a Twist piece for the shop.  Email Ruth if you want to stitch the second row or if you never got around to the first row.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/12/what-more-girls-want-to-come-to-party.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/04/the-party-continues.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/09/haute-couture-girls.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/05/can-i-have-favorite.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/06/row-of-ladies-is-ready-for-their-next.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2017/08/purple-brocade-hmmmm.html

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2020/07/are-you-ready-for-a-party/

The next Mystery with a Twist is Melissa Shirley's Holiday Village.  You can see it here about a third of the way down the page.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/needlepoint/Mystery-Classes--a-24.asp

UPDATE:  The Holiday Village is coming right along.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/03/as-long-as-its-still-snowing.html

http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/02/the-house-with-pink-eaves.html

By the way, Ruth's regular mystery class (Hal Mayforth's Boo) is coming right along.  Who would have thought to have little waving ghost hands!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/10/waving-from-bedecked-and-beadazzled.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.