Tuesday, July 27, 2010

An Answer to the Mystery? UPDATED

Pocket Full of Stitches is closed today but I may have figured out what one of their new monthly clubs is going to be...

Halloweenies from Renaissance Designs!
http://www.pfos.com/PocketFullofStitches_RenaissanceHalloweenies.HTM

Decide for yourself.  Compare the snippets of canvas they showed on their blog over the weekend to the canvases in the link above. What do you think?  It is possible that the second series is the Kelly Clark pears squares that I've seen other places.  But somehow the second "clue" doesn't look like these designs....
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/07/sneak-peek-of-new-clubs.html

UPDATE:  PFOS has revealed All.  I was half right.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/07/more-detailed-look-at-2011-clubsenjoy.html

While in search of more clubs, I found In Stitches Atlanta has a limited edition Nutcracker music box set for sale. These are quite unusual and a great present for the right stitcher.  If that stitcher is you, bookmark the page and then print it out to stick on your refrigerator with BUY ME prominently written on top and the shop phone number circled. Just saying!
http://www.institchesatlanta.com/

In Stitches Atlanta is a newer shop with an expanding presence in the NP online world.  Its owners also own Labors of Love which designed the music box set above.  They are bringing in terrific teachers for their shop and I expect great things from them in the next decade.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/gallery.php

By the way, the canvas above is Labors of Love's Pandora.  Wouldn't she make a wonderful box top lid, especially with a fancy Greek Key pattern border?  Pandora's Box, you know.  LOL
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/products.php?product=299

I'm off to stitch even more of Cha's background before someone throws a shoe at me.  Hugs to all!

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

New Stitch Guide Blog Articles

I've added two new articles to the CH Stitch Guides blog.  
http://www.chstitchguides.blogspot.com/

One talks about Pepita Needlepoint and the other Shear Creations.  These lesser known designers have some surprises up their sleeves:  Shear Creations is the brainchild of the authors of the Stitches for Effects books.  They specialize in small painted canvases perfect for embellishment, many of which come with stitch guides.  Pepita has amazing Judaica and also cute and quick ideas like self-finishing headbands.

The moral of the story is that you should not just use CH Stitch Guides as a resource to look up that popular designer you love.  Browse and you'll find all sorts of styles of painted canvases with their own stitch guides.

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

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Weekend Report

The heat wave continued all weekend with highs of 100-101 degrees and a heat index of 105-107.  It was HOT in other words!  So I sat quietly and worked on Cha's tent stitch background.  I have about 2-3 inches all across the top of the canvas to complete, which is good.  It looks like I will be able to finish Cha by the first of August which was my original goal.

As a followup to my shopping trip last week, I noticed a finished Trubey tuffet on the Point of It All website.  You can see the floral designs better in this photograph.
http://blog.thepointofitallonline.com/2010/07/beyond-pillows-foot-stool.html

Many of you may have noticed the New York Times article last Thursday about the already stitched NP belts that the preppy company Tucker Blair sells.  The crux of the article is now that stitchers don't have to take the trouble of stitching a NP belt for a guy that they almost immediately break up with--they can buy already stitched ones from Tucker Blair.  (Just what's the fun of that?)  Pepita comments on the article here and shares the link to the Tucker Blair headbands one can buy as well as mentioning that they sell headband kits so you can stitch your own.  I thought it was very generous of them to mention a competitor's product!  There is also a link to the NYT article if you haven't seen it.
http://needlepointofview.com/2010/07/23/needlepointwear-preppy/

The owner of Waste Knot had just gotten a shipment of finished belts and dog collars in when I was there.  She showed them to me. She says her customers have equal luck using wool and perle cotton to stitch their belts and dog collars, in case you want to try one yourself. Thanks for the tip, Lori!

You can also pick up great self finishing items like dog collars, key fobs and luggage tags on sale through the end of July at PFOS.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/07/self-finishing-canvases.html

If you like a mystery, Pocket Full of Stitches has dropped a hint about their new monthly club on their blog. I hope they reveal the set today on their blog.  Here's the hint if you like a mystery.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/07/sneak-peek-of-new-clubs.html

Now, let's go back to watching the thermometer climb!

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

Callaway Getaway


Time to start planning for Callaway!  If you are curious about the 2011 classes, here is the link to the Callaway School of Needle Arts page on the Callaway Gardens website.
http://www.callawaygardens.com/info/calendar/calendar.needlearts.event.aspx

You don't want to miss great classes like these if you can help it!

Carole Lake's Father Frost
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Gone Shopping, Part Three


My final posting about Friday's big shopping spree mostly covers the various bags, totes and purses I saw at Waste Knot.  There were so many I thought I'd do a separate article about them.

Most of us have seen photographs of various purses you can buy that have spaces in the front for a needlepoint canvas to be attached.  I was lucky enough to see a great many of these in display and be able to tell you about the things you don't see in photos.


I'd always wondered about the Lee nylon totes.  Photos don't show how high quality they are.  Some have a faux leather trim inside the top margin as well as handles.  All have zips and pockets and the hardware looks sturdy.  I think this are a good buy if you don't want a leather purse.


The Lee leather purses are of outstanding quality--heavy leather, with good quality insides, zipped dividers, pockets, etc.  There are many sizes and styles.  Waste Knot had all black leather ones but they come in other colors.  Refer to the New Lee Needle Arts site for more styles and colors.
http://www.newleesneedlearts.com/files/catalog/Lees_Leather_Goods_Catalog_2010_pt1.pdf


If you like the easy of stitch and zip purses, you may be interested in the Sophia purses.  Here's a better photo (you can just glimpse them in the Lee leather purses photo.  They come in many styles but I can't find a link online to show you.





There are purse canvases, of course.  None are more beautiful than Mindy's.  Waste Knot was having a Mindy trunk show so I snapped this photo of two amazing purses and the handles that come with them.  You should look at Mindy's website for other styles, each of which has an amazing handle included.
http://www.mindysneedlepoint.com/Mindys_Needlework_Factory/purses.html


If you want a quick stitch tote bag, check out Julie Pischke's tote canvases which are on 10 count.  These are called Pischke Pockets.  The canvas and matching tote bag are sold together. All you do is add thread!  There's even a "how to" video on the JP tote website to help you attach the canvas to the tote bag yourself.  Trust me, it is not hard.  Check out the video and other styles on the Pischke Pockets website.  Other more traditional tote bags are on the regular Julie Pischke website.
http://pischkepockets.com/

http://www.islandneedlepoint.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=26&osCsid=dd9a4a745ef129ec4786be2970cd4074


Many needlepoint bags are not meant to be decorated--they are intended for the needleworker on the move who has to take a project or two along.  The bags in the front are the great Ashland Sky bags that Leigh Designs distributes.  The pink and green ones in the back are Walker mesh bags.


There are many more bags on display at Waste Knot.  These are all project bags from various sources.  As you can see, there's something for everyone!


My final photo is not a bag at all, but Trubey's tuffet.  The canvases you see are intended to cover the tuffet.  They are all floral, all with a slightly different background color.  Lori says she's seen this made up with trim dividing the sections and that it looks great finished with trim to unify the various areas.  This would be an interesting and unique project for someone's house.  If you are more traditional, Lori has two sizes of solid wood footstools you can see in the background which accommodate square canvases in their tops. These are sturdy and well made and will last a lifetime.

Hope you enjoyed shopping with me.  I am still working on Cha's background as I'm not willing to handle silk ribbons in this heat.  Today's supposed to only be 96, so things are improving.  The high yesterday was 101 with a heat index of 106 degrees.  No, I don't live in the desert, it just feels like it all along the east coast.

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