Glow in the Dark Beads Available

If your Halloween or any other canvas isn't glitzy enough, you can now buy size 11/0 glow-in-the-dark beads. Deborah posted two photos on Facebook. One shows the bead tubes in regular light and the other shows the glow colors.  Use the right side arrow to see the second photo.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1113391885441451&set=pcb.1180992715311218&type=3&theater

Deborah got hers from A Thread Garden in California.
http://athreadgarden.com/athreadgarden.com/Home.html

Ruth Schmuff says she will have these in size 11 shortly.
http://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com

The beads seem to be from Toho, which is a Japanese bead company.
http://baublesandbeads.com/store/category/1/72/11°-Rounds-Japanese/9%2529%2BGlow%2Bin%2Bthe%2BDark/

If you buy online or in a local big box crafts store, make sure you check the size.  The very big size 6 pony beads have been available in glow colors for a long time but they are pretty large for most uses on needlepoint canvas.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 31, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Custom Pet Portraits UPDATED

Those of us with companion animals in our families sometimes need a custom portrait of our cat and dog (or parrot or whatever) friends.  I thought I'd compile a listing of folks who will paint a portrait of your pet from a photograph.  Here they are, in alphabetical order.  (By the way, most of the examples are of dogs.  Apparently most customers want dog portraits.)

Alice Twiggs Van Trease, Needles and Threads of Ruxton, is said to do lovely dog portraits. I haven't found any examples to show you.  Sorry.

http://needlesandthreadsofruxton.com

Barbara's Needlepoint has a painter (Cindy) who does lovely dogs.  Contact Barbara's Needlepoint via their Facebook page to arrange this at the second link below.
https://www.facebook.com/107558659287177/photos/a.471227749586931.100490.107558659287177/1082334315142935/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/Barbaras-Needlepoint-107558659287177/

https://www.facebook.com/107558659287177/photos/pcb.1369658023077228/1369657099743987/?type=3&theater

Heidi does very nice dog portraits.  You can view Heidi's designs on Flickr by searching Heidi Stanley or heididesigns. She can be reached by email at jonrheidir@gmail.com.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1622699111329011&set=pcb.933002363443589&type=3&theater

She also has an Instagram page.
https://www.instagram.com/heidistanleydesigns/

Labors of Love does a series of very nice cat and dog canvases but they will also do a custom portrait for you.
https://www.facebook.com/laborsofloveneedlepoint/photos/a.163225933826831.39001.163219983827426/692426104240142/?type=3&theater

Some of their customs are at the bottom of this page.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/cats-and-dogs.html

Lisa Ferguson does nice dog portraits that are like the animals but not too complicated to stitch.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206643238509378&set=pcb.1094417757302048&type=3&theater

Contact her via her FB page (second link below).
https://www.facebook.com/lisa.ferguson.710

Sandra Gilmore/Blue Moon Studio will do custom dog portraits.  Contact her via her distributor, Fleur de Paris.
https://www.facebook.com/needlehearts18900/photos/pcb.512520835601438/512519772268211/?type=3&theater

Jackie at Smiling Cat Studios does a lovely dog that doesn't appear too complex to stitch.  The only contact information I have for her is via Needlepoint Breeze (second link below).
https://www.facebook.com/Needlepointbreeze6/photos/a.487770404613196.113970.487766711280232/1195481983842031/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/Needlepointbreeze6/

Gail Hendrix at Squiggee does nice dog portraits.
http://squiggeedesigns.com

My Pink Sugar Life does pop art style portraits.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/253390010/hand-painted-pop-art-pet-portrait-of?ref=shop_home_active_4

Tammy Syrigos Irrera does fabulous dog and cat portraits.  Contact her via her Facebook page.  You can see a lot of examples of her work there, too.  UPDATE:  Tammy is temporarily closing her custom painting business as she needs to concentrate on her ill parents right now.  (January 2019)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207366421909027&set=pb.1540727335.-2207520000.1474036636.&type=3&theater

UPDATE:  As Mary Agnes reminds us, many local shops have painters who will do custom pet portraits.  Just ask if you are lucky enough to have a shop nearby.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 16, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitching with Disabilities--or Just Aches and Pains UPDATED

None of us are getting any younger so thinking about tools and techniques to keep us doing our preferred type of needlework is important.   Some of us struggle with chronic illnesses or vision problems; others just overdo it.  The repetitive motions involved in needlework can cause issues on their own.  (If you tend to stitch for long stretches, make sure you get up periodically and stretch.) There is a section in Blog's right hand column under the koi pool with links to exercises for hands and tips on ergonomic chairs, etc.

I found a charming article written by someone with arthritis that talks about the things that help them with their needlework.  It will start you thinking about how to make needlepoint easier on your body.
http://www.incolororder.com/2012/08/safe-sewing-crafting-with-arthritis.html

123Stitch.com has a great product list, many of which you will find helpful.
http://www.123stitch.com/Stitching_Aids.html

Personally, my favorite adaptive tool for needlepoint is the Handeze fingerless craft glove.
http://www.123stitch.com/item/Handeze-Craft-Glove-Medium-1-Per-Package/EDM-HA13

Just make sure you pick the right size.  I wear small but my hands are so tiny that I can buy my winter gloves in the kids' clothing section.  These keep your hands warm and the circulation going.
So what's your favorite tool to help you stitch easier?

UPDATE:  Sara Leigh highly recommends this brand of gloves.  She says they are more expensive than the Handeze fingerless gloves but she finds them better for her own stiff hands and sold them in her shop.
http://www.theraglove.com/products.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 27, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Bitch Background is Beaded UPDATED

Background Bead Choices

The final touch on my Bitch canvas was to add beads in the middle of all those darning circles in the background.  But what color?   I laid out three shades and sizes/shapes of gold beads, the purple beads I used on the word "bitch" and the ivory beads I originally picked as the best choice on the background.  That's what you see above.  Which would you have chosen?

I finally decided on the ivory beads.  The beading seemed to take FOREVER!  But beading always does. As I worked I realized that I could add some of the tiny gold beads to the diamond shapes in the background if I wished for an even richer look.  But in the end I decided against that.

Here is the final result.

Done!

Now that I have finished stitching this piece, I will put it safely away until after the Christmas finishing rush.  I plan to have it made into a pillow but this is the wrong time of the year to send finishing in if you don't need it made up for a Christmas present.

Looking back on this piece, I realized it is the first monochromatic piece I've ever stitched.  The lettering was all shades of purple and the background was cream with iridescent gold paint to add sparkle.  I ended up adding touches of gold to echo the sparkle paint and I think that worked well, particularly on the word "bitch."  Working essentially with just one color I felt I needed a lot of texture on the letters and the contrast of another color to make the purple really the focus of this piece.

I'll finish up the stitch guide this week.  It's available as a free PDF file for the asking--just email me at sgfromchnp at gmaildotcom-- but you need to promise to send photos when you are done.  We all want to see the endless variations of color, stitches and textures that make this a really interesting design to stitch.

By the way, Laura at Bloomin' Stitches has some great ideas for customizing your Bitch canvas.  Check them out on her shop blog--
http://www.laura-loves.com/2016/09/laura-lovescustom-orders.html

UPDATE:  Pat has finished her version.  It's gorgeous!
https://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2016/11/this-one-is-finished.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 29, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Taping Your Needlepoint Canvas: A Tutorial

Needlepoint for Fun has added to their collection of useful How To articles with one about taping the raw edges of your needlepoint canvas.
http://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/how-to-tape-your-needlepoint-canvas-edges.htm

Personally, I look for wide bias tape that's been folded down the middle at places like Joann's Fabrics.  Slip it over your edge and sew it down with the machine.  Easy!
http://www.wildflowersandwhimsy.com/2012/07/sewing-school-day-19-bias-tape/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 27, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.