I Fell Asleep in the Chair Last Night

So I didn't get any stitching done. All this snow shoveling and ice removal is wearing me out!

Luckily I had time to browse all sorts of neat things so there is something to show you this morning.

First of all, Orna Willis is having a sale. Her blog has the details and the sale code so you get 40% off her charted pieces. I've seen her work displayed and in person it is harmonious and fun instead of loud and brash as the designs seem in photos. Plus you can play with the colors and have something uniquely You. So check it all out.
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2009/02/quick-hello-and-good-news.html

Terry Dryden has released her kit of the month, the very beautiful Hydrangea Windows. I also have seen this in person. The photo doesn't show how lovely it is or the dimensionality of the ribbon hydrangeas. If you want a line drawn canvas and the instructions instead of working from the magazine issue, this is the time to buy it.
http://www.terrydryden.com/-blog/2009/2/3/february-threads-kit-hydrangea-window-garden.html

If you love seeing photos of finished pieces, Judy Harper and Gail Hendrix have blog entries to charm and entertain.
http://fairy-crafts.blogspot.com/2009/02/sea-horse-all-finished.html

http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/02/off-to-maine.html

If your druthers are to watch pieces unfold, then you want to go see Denise & Linda at the Stitching Sisters blog. Denise is working away on a Barbara Elmore interior. Right now the wall and fireplace are stitched and they look great!
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2009/02/feel-like-ive-built-house.html

If you are a history buff, this last website which Elmsley Rose uncovered will fascinate. Rose was looking for examples of Elizabethean embroidery and found some spectacular embroidered gloves. I am personally entralled by the Coronation Gloves. Look at that goldwork!
http://charlie.2-minute-website.com/site/trustfund.trial/

Personally I feel very lucky that we have so many stitching friends to visit when we aren't able to stitch ourselves.

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

Leigh Designs With Black Tweed

The last bit of news from the Leigh Designs e-newsletter deserves a posting of its own. A closeup photo of the new tweed canvas that Leigh used for her Ray's Moppet canvases was included. I grabbed it for you to see above. The holes sort of disappear unless the canvas is painted. That makes it easy to see how to stitch a Moppet in her bathing dress and makes it easy for the unpainted tweed background to appear solid. No background stitching! As someone with endless background around my Baroque Fish to stitch, I really do appreciate this.

You can see Ray's Moppets here on Leigh's website. Note how the background looks like fine wool tweed from a distance.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp503x.html

The story behind Ray's Moppets is a great one. Dr. Ray Endicott is a long-time customer of Leigh's and the idea came from him. He has stitched many a Leigh canvas and knows exactly what we needlepointers want when it comes to canvases. Many thanks to Dr. Ray for his inspiration!

You can read more about Dr. Endicott's needlepoint and see lovely photos here.
http://www.caron-net.com/03janfiles/jan03fea.html



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

Leigh Report (With Black Ice Garnish)

Leigh Designs' e-newsletter just arrived in my email box, just in time to distract me from more snow and particularly ice. See the nice clear driveway? It actually is covered in a thin layer of ice I can't even stand up on. I hate winter!

But Leigh has news of new Sundance bead colors and a little booklet called "Sundance Beads for Needlepoint" which explains the types of beads and stitches to use with them. Small enough to tuck into a pocket and not very expensive, so this is something to look for. It's not on the Sundance webite yet, but you can always browse the many colors and styles of beads and beading wire, not to mention painted canvases.
http://www.sundancedesignsonline.com/

Leigh noticed two other great new projects at the TNNA show--Zephyr 100% Merino wool from Aurora Yarns which Leigh thinks the size and texture of the discontinued Medici and which comes in overdyed and coordinating colors--and Thentix hand conditioner which is
non-greasy and which will not come off on your needlepoint. Thentix has a touch of honey and feels great. If you need a skin conditioner, you may want to try it out.

The links are below for more information. Please note that like Sundance, Aurora Yarns doesn't have anything on their website for their Zephyr wool yet. These are brand new products, just introduced at TNNA. And thanks to Leigh Designs, we know about them, too!

http://www.aurorayarns.net/

http://www.selectmarketing.us/index.php/Thentix.html

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

Bubbles and Eye

The title says it all--I added an eye and silver bead bubbles to the Baroque Fish over the weekend. I'm still working on the background and also the top part of the skirt. Note the front of the skirt where it should meet tent stitches has no tent there. I wanted to wait and see where the skirt stitches would logically end and then put in the tent stitches. Remember, this is an outlined canvas and you don't want those outlines to show. I want to put in the tent stitches where they meet the figure later to both hide those lines (which might show through the ecru thread) and to compensate evenly.

The eye is a length of Sparkle Rays in seafoam green covered by a lazy daisy stitch that is tacked down at the top and bottom but not in the middle. I thought it looked good as is and didn't take the loop down on the right hand side.

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

Amy Does February

The Feb. newsletter is up on Amy Bunger's website. You'll find the link to it in the text or on the left side of the page.
http://www.amybunger.com/home.html

The newsletter has details on the new Barely There DVD #6 which focuses on this JB Designs (distributed by Julia' Needleworks) canvas of 12 plain vases in a row which is above. There are many other canvases in the DVD that illustrate the technique of not covering the canvas mesh entirely.
http://www.juliasneedleworks.com/gallery2/gallery2embedded.php?g2_itemId=2390&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

There is a new YouTube video, this time showcasing the standups that one of Amy's customers stitches. The photos are detailed and give you a good idea of how the featured Santa was put together. Fans of Elliott the Cat will see him in the last shot, checking the standups to make sure their hair is all combed and makeup on!
http://www.amybunger.com/YouTube.html

The Russian Magi from the Home Study of Kelly Clark's Nativity set is ready. You can see the other canvases in this series, some stitched and some not, by clicking on Previous or Next at the upper right hand corner of the photo. I had been told Amy is pulling out all the stops on the Wise Men. Looks like my informant was right!
http://www.amybunger.com/albums/album_image/6366238/4787691.htm

I can't imagine what Amy will do with the Brenda Stofft trunk show coming to her shop soon. She's just discovered the Elizabethean Rabbit and the Elizabethean Cat. You are doomed, Amy, DOOMED! Here is Brenda's website, in case you want to check out her work before the trunk show arrives. The two Elizabethean queen canvaes are in the Cats & Dogs and Rabbits & Hares sections.
http://www.brendastofftdesigns.com/

Have fun reading the newsletter, seeing the eyelet heart stitch diagrammed, and looking at what Sarah found in her new needlepoint stocking.

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