Starke Art's Acrylic Bases for Finishing

Starke Art Designs now has acrylic stand up bases to use in finishing.

https://www.facebook.com/StarkeArtDesigns/posts/pfbid07uZ5GPcMvBtDkyN6ecshpdyxjvWqYF8K68UMMCdCUpAr5jiyNtZ5YVe9Si5E9r9xl

Here is what they look like for those without a Facebook account.

https://firesidestitchery.com/products/acrylic-stands-bases-starke-art?_pos=8&_sid=81d563c8f&_ss=r

These are available from the following shops:

Bexar Needleworks
Fireside Stitchery
New England Stitchery
Radish Roots Needlepoint
Splendid Stitch
The Needlepoints North

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow 

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 28, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

New Stand Up Acrylic for Ornament Display

Stitch Stash has a new acrylic standup to showcase your round 4 - 4 1/2 inch ornament.  They weigh around 3 pounds and have a slit at the top where you drop in your finished canvas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_TzvMRSzmR/

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_Twg_YyJPb/

You can also get a square version for a 4 - 4 1/4 inch square ornament.

https://stitch-stash.com/collections/exclusive-acrylic-round-and-square

These are only available at Stitch-Stash (above) or Emily's Stitchery.  Note that the shops are taking pre-orders--these should be in the shops by late September-early October.

https://www.emilysstitchery.com/products/round-acrylic-standup-exclusive-to-emily-s-stitchery-and-stitch-stash

https://www.emilysstitchery.com/products/square-acrylic-standup-exclusive-to-emily-s-stitchery-and-stitch-stash

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 1 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Beautiful Standups

Ada Hayden of Eye Candy showed off several of her designs on her blog that were stitched by customers and made up into standing pieces by West Coast Finishing.   The designs are charming, the stitching wonderful and the finishing perfection so I thought you'd like to see.  Thanks for the "eye candy," Ada!
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2015/07/finishing-oldies-but-goodies.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 15, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Petei Contest

Stephanie has thrown down the gauntlet--whoever has the most Petei Santas wins!
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/11/whoever-has-most-petei-santas-wins.html

I'm not even in the bottom ten as my few Petei canvases don't include any of the iconic Santa designs.  What about you?

I guess now that Painted Pony has picked up the Petei line we can start to assemble a collection, though.  Let's see, do I want Cleopatra or the Astronaut most...?

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.

For the Nutcracker Nuts

Stephanie just posted a series of nutcracker designs stitched by or for a friend of hers who loves nutcrackers.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/12/nuts-for-nutcrackers.html

Sheena also posted some fun Christmas finishing, which includes a cowboy and girl nutcracker set.  That's something you don't see every day!
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/merry-tex-mas-stitched/

I have to admit they seen a little creepy to me--those teeth!--but I know there are many nutcracker collectors.   And occasionally I find a nutcracker canvas that really charms me--like this Peter Ashe nutcracker and mouse king piece.
 http://www.bristlythistle.com/past26.html

Whether you are a nutcracker lover or not, hope you enjoyed the nutcracker collector's designs.  Got a great nutcracker to recommend to fellow collectors?  Just comment below....

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.

A Special Christmas Friday Finishing

As this is the Friday before Christmas, I wanted to share a special piece of holiday finishing that Diane just got back from Marlene's.  This Melissa Shirley Christmas Pear banner was an Amy Bunger class.  It's amazing what happens when you combine a great design, a great class, a great stitcher and a great finisher.
http://www.dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.com/2013/11/the-christmas-pear-banner.html

The sentiment brings me to tears.
http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2013/12/mary-engelbreit-ornament-finished.html

The love that has gone into these pieces is amazing.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/12/blog-post_12.html

Merry Christmas Pears to all!

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.

Victorian Carolers for Dr. Donn

When I saw Stephanie's set of Victorian caroling stand up figures form Heartstrings, I thought of a friend who sort of would like to stitch such a set. This is for you, Donn!   Merry Christnas!
 http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-little-caroling.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.

Friday Finishing: The Classics

Nobody knows classic designs and classic finishing like Needle Nicely. Their monogram pillow from Patti Mann is lovely now and will be lovely in twenty years, too.  Some things never go out of style.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2013/11/monogram-pillow.html

Enriched Stitch has a little bit of everything to show off.  Many of these items are from their fabulous classes.
http://astheneedleturns.com/fall-finishing/

Nothing is more classic than a custom needlepoint belt.
http://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2013/11/21/custom-needlepoint-belt-stitched/

Or a basketweave pillow with awesome trim.
http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2013/11/flower-needlepoint-pillow-stitched-and.html

Do you like Painted Pony's classic angel designs?  Then you will love their classic finishing, courtesy of Steph.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-about-stitching-only-small-painted.html

Are you a fan of elephant canvases?  If so, you'll love this one.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-post_21.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.

Happy Thanksgiving Stitching

Nothing is cuter than the turkey stand up collection Sue has posted for us today.
http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/thanksgiving-2/

Or the turkey Ridgewood has on display.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-post_27.html

Or the turkey pillow from Tapestry Fair.
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-thanksgiving-surprise.html

Hope you are having a Thanksgiving full of fun and family and food.  If you aren't, remember that those who are envy you the peace and quiet and time to stitch.  And you belong to the family of stitchers, even if you have no blood ties.

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.

Friday Finishing the Fulkerson Way

This morning I have some wonderful stand ups for Christmas and Halloween from Cheryl Fulkerson. They were done for Nimble Needle's customers. 
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/11/labors-of-love-trunk-show-through-dec.html

If you are charmed, you will want to pour a cup of your favorite beverage and visit the Cheryl's Needlework Finishing website.  It looks pretty barebones when you arrive at the home page but click on something and the delights will start to unfold like one of those dried paper flowers you drop in a glass of water.  Start clicking and all sorts of wonderful items will bloom!
http://www.cherylsfinishing.com

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.

The Swans Are At It Again (Spring Edition)

Stephanie's SWAN group in Texas has been meeting again. Stephanie posted photos of their current projects on her blog for our enjoyment.  For me the star of the show is the newly made up Melissa Shirley double-sided Easter rabbit stand up.  Wait'll you see her!
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/02/beautiful-bunnies-and-other-cute.html

But there are other darling pieces that are stitched or underway.  Want to see one of those fabulous but now unavailable MCM rabbits?  Want to drool over a nutcracker Boy Scout in uniform?  Or see the cutest 3-D Easter house in Texas?  All of this is above, thanks to Steph's quick camera.

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.

A Dickens Christmas (For Donn)

Today I have a wonderful set of Christmas stand up pieces for you to admire. They are a set of Dickens Christmas figures from Heartstrings.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2012/07/christmas-in-july.html


Donn, I thought of you when I saw these.  Here's the entire set on the Artists Collection website (they distribute Heartstrings).  Stephanie and her friend got theirs through Needle Works in Austin.  They aren't on the NWKS website right now but any shop can order them for you.
http://www.artistscollection.net/Artists_Collection/The_Carolers.html

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

New Clubs, New Finishing Instructions

Fireside Stitchery has just announced four new needlepoint clubs that will all start in September.   The clubs include pastries (love that blueberry pie slice), Halloween bears in costume, holiday themed baskets that make up into cute 3-D display baskets, and cookie cutter ornaments.  Click on the Click Here link under each photo to see all the stitched models for each club.
http://firesidestitchery.com/fs/clubs/index.cfm?fuseaction=getClubList&CategoryId=3&clubState=future

By coincidence, Cheryl Fall, the About.com needlepoint guide, has posted instructions for finishing stand up needlepoint figures on her site.  They look fairly simple so if you are interested in stitching the Halloween bears and trying your own finishing, this might be a good starting point.  If you are interested in stitching a Nativity, she has also posted charts for the Nativity set used to illustrate her instructions elsewhere on this site.  Click on the links to go to the charts.
http://needlepoint.about.com/b/2010/06/14/finishing-instructions-for-stand-up-figures-posted.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Wizard Stands On His Own

The Wizard is DONE! I am happy to say that I've finished two rows of beads around the base (the bottom is the larger purple beads used on the side edge, the top row smaller clear beads similar to the Sundance cryatal beads also used on the sides).

You can see the back of the stand-up figure in this photo as well as the beaded base and edges (sort of). It is in a medium blue moire cotton.


I'd like to thank Joan Thomasson for permission to show off this piece in such detail here. I had a blast stitching this piece, but that's nothing new with her Stitchin Stuff Designs--they are all wonderful!

If you are curious about the original piece, you can see it on Joan's website. Click on Catalog in the left hand column and then click on Holiday Spirits. My wizard is the Halloween spirit Santa instead of the Valentine one.

http://www.joanthomasson.com/

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow