October 2008 Chilly Hollow Newsletter Article

The only thing that rivals the beauty of the forest leaves outside my window in late October is the heap of silk skeins in my stash. How about we explore silk this newsletter? This website talks about the process of turning silkworm silk into beautiful silk skeins for needlework.

http://www.wormspit.com/

For the historians among us, here are two painted canvases that illustrate the process in ancient times.

http://www.artneedlepoint.com/_product_19259/Making_Cloth

http://www.artneedlepoint.com/_product_19259/Women_Preparing_Silk

Nordic Needle has a nice summary of various silk threads on the market here. Why not explore a new brand of silk? A skein of luxury is only $5-6 each and we spend that much on coffee at Starbucks.

http://www.nordicneedle.com/newsletters/stash/08.shtml

Now let's see lovely things are done in Asian embroidery with silk. Here are the designs used to teach the phases of Japanese Emboidery.

http://www.japaneseembroidery.com/Instruction/study_and_instruction.htm#Phase

Here are other pieces from the English JE site.

http://www.nuido.org.uk/

The Japanese JE site sells obi.

http://www.kurenai-kai.jp/en-gallery/index.htm

Here is the American JE site. Note the CD for sale and all those threads!

http://www.jecstore.com/

I can't help it--I'm drooling!

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

Videos and Cleveland and a Newsletter

How's this for a mish-mash of a blog posting! LOL

First of all, The Point of It All has a bunch of how to do needlepoint videos. I've seen them mentioned several places already but haven't had time to view them. I hope they are useful to you. One tip--turn the sound down or mute it before you click on the link.

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/11638-needlepoint

Are you from Cleveland or do you have friends for whom you'd enjoy stitching a Cleveland ornament? Wool and Willow has delightful souvenir ornaments of the city.

http://www.woolandwillow.com/Cleveland_landmarks.htm

Finally, Stitches in Time has a newsletter up that is fun to read. The link to it is at the top of this page. The Stitchers Gallery is full of finishing inspiration as well.

http://www.stitchesintimeneedlepoint.com/

Enjoy!


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

Summer TNNA Photo Shoot

I just discovered a slide show of new designs from the TNNA show this summer. What fun!

http://www.tnna.org/MemberBenefits/MemberSectionsGroups/NeedlepointGroupGalleriasummer2008/tabid/176/Default.aspx

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

More Progess in CH, No Photos

I stitched off and on all weekend and finished the rows of tent stitch all around the outside edge of Joan Thomasson's wizard. I also have the project I can't show you 2/3 done. This week after work each night I hope to work on the mystery project so that it will be finished by next weekend when I hope to turn the wizard into a standup. I'm going to shop for edge trim or braid and aquarium gravel this week. I have everything else I need to finish the wizard. Wish me luck!

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

Vicky DeAngelis Does Christmas

A while back I wrote this about the ANG Seminar exhibit, "By the way, the blue ribbon for painted canvas without a stitch guide (professional) *and* the first Nina Goerres ribbon for Christmas projects went to Vicky DeAngelis who stitched Kelly Clark's Twelve Months of Santas. I think these are Vicky's pieces which served as the models for the stitch guides."

http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/events/kellyclark/index.html

I have managed to wrangle a good photo of all Vicky's Santas together which you can see and drool over above. These were stitched in Vicky's role of part owner of Needle Nook of La Jolla and they are available as kits from the shop for those who saw them on display at the Indian Wells Seminar and despaired of ever doing anything as wonderful themselves. But this isn't the only example of Vicky's fabulous stitching for you to see. I've managed to accumulate lots of links to Vicky's work for your viewing pleasure. Most of these have won awards, too.

Tapestry Tent cat
http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2001/lazy_cat.php

Terry Enfield kimono

http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/1998/DeAngelisKimono.php

Christmas ornament

http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/stitchers_corner/images/deangelis_orn.jpg

Gay Ann Rogers? Christmas ornament

http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/stitchers_corner/images/deangelis_orn2.jpg

Geisha by Sandra Gilmore (Once in a Blue Moon)

http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2002/midori.php

Lee's Needlearts black and white geisha

http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2007/images/4003-22.jpg

I just wish I could charm Vicky into revealing her stitching secrets! How did she get to be so good? Is there hope for us all?!

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