Preparing for Columbus and Other News

All over the U.S. needlepoint designers, tool makers, shop owners and the thread artists are packing to head to Columbus, Ohio for the TNNA trade show there.  Barbara Bergsten is finishing purses.  Isn't that Stirling Bag gorgeous?!
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2010/06/easy-needlepoint-finishing.html

Laura Perin's released a new design based on daisies.  If you are a summer person or love daisys, you have to see it.  Hummm. Here in CH summer daisies are white but we get fall ones that are light purple with big yellow centers.  Wouldn't that be a great color scheme for this piece?
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2010/06/is-it-summer-yet.html

The Point of It All has rearranged their shop.  I just love the red walls, the window seat covered with NP pillows, and glimpses of all those cupboards.  Wonder what treasures are inside?  Next time you are in D.C., take a peek and let me know, ok?
http://blog.thepointofitallonline.com/2010/06/shop-remodel.html

Finally, Mary Corbert has written about Accentuate.  If you aren't familiar with this thin metallic thread, you should take a look at the photos and read how Mary uses it.  If your shop doesn't stock it, maybe they'll order some for you at the TNNA show.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2010/06/accentuate-thread-review.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Stars: Eva Marie Saint is Done

Isn't she beautiful?  Adding the borders really makes this block look good.  The next block over is called Cary Grant.

Next up, finishing that Nordic snowman stocking!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Monthly Samplers and Frames (and Candy)

Stitchers' Workshop is doing monthly clubs this year that are different from others I have mentioned here.  One series sends you monthly frames with seasonal designs, perfect for folks with lots of photos of family and friends to frame from a designer new to me--Pamela Hill.
http://www.stitchersworkshop.com/needlepoint_category.php?Designer=Collector+Club&Sub_Category=Frames

The other is a seasonal spot sampler set from Lizzie Kate, perfect for the sampler lover who wants to try needlepoint.
http://www.stitchersworkshop.com/needlepoint_category.php?Designer=Lizzie+Kate&Sub_Category=Just+For+Fun

The more traditional monthly club is covered by Chandail's Ribbon Candies designs.  Aren't they cute?
http://www.chandailneedlework.com/series/RibbonCandies.php

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Stars: Eva Marie Saint without Borders

Eva Marie Saint is almost finished.  Here you see her with all the wings and boxes done.  It's a lovely pattern.  I did do the corner boxes before the boxes that flank the corner box, just to help position them correctly.  Otherwise I stuck to the threads and to the order the instructions specified, although occasionally I used fewer plies than Tony recommended.  I didn't have enough time to do the black border under and to the right of Eva, however.  I'll do that tonight before putting Stars away for a bit to assemble the Nordic snowman piece into a Christmas stocking.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The South Seas Fiji Purse

I tend to let my finished canvases pile up if I plan to finish them myself.  I don't like finishing very much--stitching is a LOT more fun!--but I can do simple finishing and often do since it is a lot cheaper to Do It Yourself.  An example is the lovely Leigh Designs canvas above:  South Seas Fiji from the Dynasty ornament series.

I finished this piece last summer and started looking for a purse to attach it to as I just love the piece and want to show it off.  I finally came across the perfect purse last fall, too late to carry the purse as it seems to be a summer into early fall purse to me, not a winter one.

Then I needed trim to hide the round edge of the canvas where I stitched it to the fabric of the purse pocket.  I settled on the beads you see strung on River Silks ribbon above.  These are agates, polished and shaped to look somewhat like bamboo segments, with a hole drilled in the center.  They are heavy stones, in other words, so I strung them on silk ribbon instead of thread, using a lovely grape color that matched the purse.  I used the John James double ended needles (size 26).  The eye is in the middle of these needles.  The ribbon went through the eye, then the ribbon and needle slipped fairly easily through the hole in the agates.  Once I had the ribbon stitched to the edge of the canvas, I tied a double bow knot at the bottom and let the ribbon hang at the bottom of the ornament.

Here is the end result--a beautiful summer purse that I will carry with pride and enjoyment for years to come.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow