Remember these?

If you have been reading Blog a while, you'll recognize these as projects I finished recently. But they are not made up yet, and that is the next thing I need to do. I don't really like finishing but it saves a lot of $$ to do it yourself. So I save up pieces that need finishing and do them all together since I need something stiff for inside, padding for inside, sewing thread, braid or trim for the edge and of course backing for the rear side. I assemble the materials I need and put them all together one right after the other.

In the photo above you see the three camels stocking (by Liz), the Blue Wizard Santa (my own design) and one of two of Pat Miller's Blue Heart that I stitched. Unseen is my nametag and the Maggie cat in a coat stocking which I am sending off to be professionally finished since it needs to be a real stocking with a lining and for something that small, I would prefer a professional handle the finishing. There wasn't room in the photo for everything so I omitted what I could.

I plan to explain as best I can what I did for finishing. Remember your promise not to laugh at the glue in my hair!

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Stitches for Effect at Shining Needle Society

I just got an email announcing that Beth Robertson and Suzanne Howren are going to teach at least three short classes via the Shining Needle Society's Yahoo Group. These are going to be stitch notebook-type classes so students will furnish their own supplies. Each class covers 12 stitches and each group of 12 stitches will cover a theme. July 1-August 31 is sky stitches, Sept. 1-Halloween is quilt pattern stitches, and November 1-December 31 is stitches for realistic animals.

For more information and how to sign up for the Sky Class, join the Shining Needle Society here--

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SNS_Home_Room/

then search for message #328 which has the Stitches for Effects class announcement and all the details.

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-7rjKEjEyc6.dskPWsp8S8mzUleA-?cq=1

Let's Talk Business UPDATED

I'm starting to hear rumors here and there about DMC's financial situation. I see that they have added information about their stock price and press releases to their home page and have delayed announcing financial results from 2007. I've been told that their thread division isn't in trouble, it's their fabric division but I have no clue whether this is correct.

http://www.dmc.com/

We'll just file this under Rumors and move on.

UPDATE: Here is a press release sent by DMC America to some cross stitch designers who shared it with some business lists. I quote it in full--

For Immediate Release

South Kearny, N.J., April 30, 2008.

In recent days, there has been a significant amount of information in the form of press releases, media reports, etc. regarding financial difficulties and operational restructuring plans at the DMC corporate offices in France. Those activities and court filings within the legal system in France are directed towards seeking a formal resolution for two divisions within the DMC Corporation (Sportswear fabric and a small chain of retail stores found only in France that are not related to the embroidery thread and craft activities, which remain the core business of the corporation.

In addition, the U.S. division of DMC operates as a separate legal and financial entity with its own financing, receivables, payables, etc, and as such, is not included in any legal filing or petitions to the courts that may occur in France. We are financially secure and fully prepared to conduct business as usual here in the U.S.

DMC has been manufacturing needlework threads for 262 years and we remain committed to providing stitchers with the highest quality embroidery floss, specialty threads, needlework fabrics and other supplies they need to continue to enjoy the wonderful art of needlework. We look forward to continuing to serve all of our customers and loyal users of DMC products into the future.
Joseph D. McCabe
President/CEO
DMC, Inc.

Main blog at http://bl0g.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Let's Talk Tent

Now that my ANG Auction project of the two little Asian girls is almost finished, let's talk about What's Next. I have some finishing to do and I'll post photographs of that, but my next project is going back to our roots in the 1940s-1960s when needlepoint was done for chair seats in all wool using the tent stitch family--basketweave, continential and tent stitches.

Even today if you plan to stitch a needlepoint rug, you will probably use wool and either something from the tent family of stitches or cross stitch or Victorian cross stitch. Wool in these stitches is very durable, perfect for rugs, upholstry or other similar NP that will get hard usage. But today's needlepointer tends to choose charts or painted canvas designs and tries to use all sorts of fancy threads and stitches. So why would I want to return to 1956?

Because good design will include something from the tent stitch family in almost every piece of needlepoint to allow the eye to rest. Tent stitches are perfect for that small area where you need coverage and for places where nothing else works. And tent stitches are the perfect stitch for practicing how to start/end off threads, how to choose the right size of needle, how to handle multiple colors and how to learn to control stitch tension. There are some really gorgeous designs available which won't look good with fancy stitches. If you aren't familiar with Kaffe Fassett, check out his website, then head over to Ehrman Tapestry to see the best of English design in regular old tent stitches. The photo above is a Kaffee Fassett design on the front of an old Ehrman Tapestry catalogue. Isn't it gorgeous?!

http://www.kaffefassett.com/needlepoint.htm

http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/

Ever go to an exhibit of needlepoint and see two identical renditions of the same design? Almost always one looks better than the other even if they are the same right down to the threads and colors chosen and even if they are in a similar frame. The reason one piece looks better is due to that stitcher having mastered starting/ending threads, switching colors and knowing how to keep their tension consistent.

I'd like to propose that we learn better stitching technique using Lani's Autumn Leaves piece with simple tent stitches. (You'll see the bare painted canvas under my Current Project listing on the right side of this page.) I'll gussy up the lessons by using some fancy new threads. Don't assume I know everything there is to know about tent stitches, by the way. We'll be learning the best way to do some things together. I'll tell you what I've learned about basic needlepoint techniques and you will share your tips with me and everyone else.

So stay tuned as we talk tent!

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Dark and Dreary in Chilly Hollow

I’ve not stitched any for almost a week now due to other responsibilities and the death of my light/magnifier which helped me stitch on overcast days or late at night. The little bit of stitching I still need to do on Fan needs good light which has been scarce recently. It’s rained a lot in Chilly Hollow, which is good for the flowers and water table, but bad for my needlepoint. So it might be a good time to talk about the kinds of lights and magnifiers stitchers in my situation can choose from.

I already know what I want--a Dazor. But what suits my stitching style and the chair I stitch in here in Chilly Hollow may not suit you at all, even if we have the same vision. Look the various lamps Stitcher’s Paradise sells, some with magnifiers and some without. There are a lot of brands and styles and features to choose from!

http://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Lamps_Magnifiers/Lamps_Magnifiers.htm

Some people love the Daylight lights which have special light bulbs that are said to mimic sunlight closely and show colors the way they actually are. Personally I can’t tell the difference, but your eyes may be totally different and this might be exactly what you need when choosing just the right color from similar shades.

I rarely travel, so I am not interested in a portable light--with or without magnification--but you may need something like clip-on magnifiers. Try before you buy. I can’t see anything through these because my close-up vision is very good.

Do you need a light and a magnifier in one item? Will the style you like fit on a table near you or must you have a floor stand model? Is the light too heavy to have clipped to your frame while you stitch? How much are you willing to spend? All these are questions you must figure out for yourself to choose the right light and/or magnifier.

Read carefully the information at the bottom of the page of the link above for more issues that will effect how happy you will be with a certain type of light. I’ve not shown a ton of links to lights as there really are a great many styles but you can get a sense of what is available here. If you belong to a guild, try to set up a show & tell about lights and magnifiers so you can try out a variety of style so you know better what suits you. Then watch for sales, particularly at Joann’s Fabrics online store and at your local shop. The Silver Needle has a big sale on Dazor’s each November and there may be other places where you can buy what you want at a discount. After all, you’d rather spend the money you save on thread, charts, canvases and tools, right?

http://www.silversites.net/daylight.php?Reloaded=True&osCsid=1c853bb8f4d3cadb9d9e9dd2b4799ada

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2738

By the way, sorry to not have posted at Blogspot at the same time I posted this at my main blog. Blogspot would not ever open this morning to add a new blog entry.


Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow