Breaking News: Patricia Sone's Designs are Live

The new Patricia Sone website is now live!  You probably know Patricia for her stitch guides but she is branching out into painted needlepoint designs.  Click on To The Trade to browse and ask your favorite shop to order for you.
https://www.patriciasone.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 8, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Behind the Scenes with Nimble Needle

The Nimble Needle in New Jersey is revamping their website and blogged about the experience. I thought you might like to hear about how that is done and how much work it is for a shop owner.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-webstore-complete-with-growing-pains.html

All the work explains why shop owners don't update their websites more often!

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

New Website for The Needle Bug

The Needle Bug has revamped their website and added lots of fun new areas. like a photo gallery on Flickr of their finishing and trade show extravaganzas, a link to their Facebook page, lots of in-stock canvas photos, events listings and much more.  Have fun browsing, but take my advice--hide those credit cards first.  Southern shops specialize in personal charm as they whisk $$$ from your wallet....
http://www.theneedlebug.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 15, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

BREAKING NEWS: Tony Minieri Dot Com

Yes, it's finally happened. Tony Minieri has a website.
http://www.tonyminieri.com

You can see some of Tony's original designs, check his class schedule, read his bio, and check in on occasional blog postings.  There is a link to Tony's Pinterest page and a place to buy lovely chatelaines and scissor fobs.
http://www.pinterest.com/tonyminieri/

Sadly, you can't buy old class materials or see what stitch guides Tony can provide, but perhaps that will come in time.  The first step has been taken toward that goal, however, even if it is OUR goal, not Tony's.

Congratulations to Tony and Luis and their friends!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 15, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Easy, Intermediate or Advanced?

Sheena has an idea that she things will help new stitchers who are browsing for a canvas online--shops should indicate somehow whether a canvas is likely to be easy, intermediate or advanced to stitch.  This isn't a foolproof system but it is going to be useful to an inexperienced stitcher.
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/appealing-younger-generation/

Here's the site that got Sheena thinking what a cleaver idea this is--
http://www.comfy-cottage.com

If you are a shop with an online presence, this isn't a bad idea to implement as you add new photos to your web store.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 21, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Market is About to Begin

The TNNA trade show is about to begin in San Diego.  Many of the designers and manufacturers of our favorite items are setting up their booths and many shop owners have arrived, ready to balance their checkbook, look at everything, and then place their bets as to what you will want to buy from them later this year. In most cases, orders are placed and the items will be shipped in 2-3 months, so the newest won't show up in the shops until the spring. I know it is hard to wait but the designers can't afford to create a lot of inventory before the show that no one orders.   The one exception is the Sample It! display which offers a limited number of items that a shop can pay for and take home right now.  Your shop owner will be taking classes, picking up new tricks and techniques and cool new designs to bring home to their customers so you can learn something fun.  Needlepoint Etc. has already posted about the Sandy Arthur class Gussie took yesterday.
http://needlepointetc.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/thursday-january-9/

Here's the teacher list.  Click on the class links to see the models they will be teaching.
http://www.tnna.org/?WinterTeachers

As has been my practice for the last year, I have a tab called TNNA Winter 2014 San Diego where I'll list all the updated websites, Facebook photos and blog information I can find.  Click there to see the latest on top.    There are some shop websites and blogs you should keep your eye on in case a huge and ever-changing list of eye candy is really more than you want.  First of all, Chandail has praised to put photos of new things they see at Market on their website.  Here's the link--
http://www.chandailneedlework.com/market.htm

Amy Bunger usually posts new things on her website pretty quickly, although you will want to keep an eye on her Facebook pages (Amy's Golden Strand and also Amy Bunger), too.  She promises a en percent discount if you place an order during the show.  (Remember, you are going to have to wait until the orders are filled.)
http://www.amybunger.com/market.html

Colleen almost always blogs about all the goodies she's seen on the Needle Works blog.
http://www.stitchinginthetexashillcountry.com

Pocket Full of Stitches often blogs once they get home.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-from-san-diego.html

It looks likely that Enriched Stitch will do the same on their blog.
http://astheneedleturns.com/category/as-the-needle-turns/

Vicky DeAngelis usually has lots of photos but not normally until she gets home from working the shows.  Still, keep an eye on her blog.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com

If you have a favorite designer, check their website.  Raymond Crawford, Needle Deeva and Patt and Lee already have updated their site to show off their newest things.  You may have to wait until Sunday or Monday to see things, though.  It has been traditional for designers to not show the general public their newest items until after the shows end.  Just keep checking back.

If you have a Facebook account, check your favorite designer's FB page, too.  I have seen an accelerating trend of posting the newest things there first as it is quick and easy, and much cheaper than having your webmaster update your website.

It is an exciting time, and I'll check for new items as often as I can.  If you find something fabulous, post the link in the Comments here so we can all see what caught your eye.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go update the TNNA Winter show info!

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.

Judiacia Makeover

Judaica Needlepoint just announced a makeover to their website (second link) to make it more tablet and smart phone friendly. 
http://needlepointofview.com/2014/01/06/judaica-needlepoint-gets-a-face-lift/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=judaica-needlepoint-gets-a-face-lift&utm_reader=feedly

Smart move!  Blog stats tell me that tablets especially are growing wildly in popularity.  Smart phone users visit Blog a lot but desktop computers are moving into third place when it comes to browsing the Web for fun and knowledge.
http://www.judaicaneedlepoint.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 Caron Guide

Looks like Caron has published a color guide to both their solid colored threads and the overdyes. 
http://store.apneedlearts.com/caco.html

Judie from Alex Paras says that the Variegated Color Guide is not available right now from her online shop.  She also told me that the Variegated and Solid Color Guides are a color card with good photos of each currently available color and has tips for each thread on the back page.  Folks who love collecting color cards should see if their local shop has these in stock.

Caron does have an online color card and a section of their website about their thread lines but the online photos of the colors are small, so this physical color card may be very useful for mail order.  Besides, who is online all the time anyway?
http://www.caron-net.com/tcolor.html

http://www.caron-net.com/threads.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.