Cha Waits While the Floral Background Grows

I know I am close to finishing Cha but I don't have the energy or focus at night to work on her this week.  Too much is going on!  Oh, well, things should calm down shortly.  Right?  RIGHT?!!

In the meantime I started the third step (of five) in SharonG's brocade variation stitch.  You can see that it is changing the background substantially.  I may have to outline the skulls to separate them from the background. I didn't expect that but it is easy to do.  Part of the fun of this stitch is watching it change as you add another layer of simple stitches.

Even though it is very hot here, the seasons are starting to change.  I found my first frog in the garage this morning.  Reptiles try to sneak inside where it is cooler during the heat of the day.  Thankfully it was a baby toad this morning, not a snake!  Above you see him just before he hopped out of my hand onto the mossy ground out back.   Yes, I washed my hands!

Speaking of which, the thing on the screen and in my hand is a jar fly.  You know them as cicadas.  They love the heat and spend all day sitting in the tops of trees, buzzing to each other.  Judging by the racket, there must be thousands of them all around us.  Despite the numbers, I rarely see them as they are usually very high up, but yesterday I found this baby sitting on the screen.  He is about 2/3 grown.  (Yes, I did wash my hands again.)  He has the same bulging eyes that the toad did. Odd how nature creates a similar look in different creatures.

The critters we share Chilly Hollow with are fascinating to me.  It's a sign of the summer season changing to fall when I start actually seeing them.  Usually we hear, but do not see them, as they are shy around people.  I hope you enjoyed a quick look at a few of them.

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

Floral Background Comes Into View

Yesterday was hectic again, as we cleared up the downed trees and piled up wood to be split for the winter.  Chores are never done, are they?  I was so tired that I barely managed to finish Step 2a of the iPhone case's floral background and start on Step 2b.  You can see in the photo above how adding the + sign on top of the big X adds to the design.  I've done the first column on the left and started on the second.

In other news, The Needlepointer says the Tapestry Tent stockings in their trunk show are 10% off.  These are large stockings and are expensive but if you've fallen in love, you'll want to check out the trunk show due to this discount.
http://np.theneedlepointer.com/trunkshows.php

Vikki Clayton's e-newsletter this week mentioned a new product--paper linen.  Curious, I headed over to her website to see what on earth this is.  There are examples on the home page and free project instructions in the  "Articles and Information" link on the left side of the page in the Menu box which is the third box from the top.  Click there and then choose a project.

http://www.hand-dyedfibers.com/oscnuked/

I've found an interesting collection of Oregon canvases at The Playful Needle.  Normally I see state canvases for places that draw a great many tourists (Florida or Cape Cod) but these are interesting and fun for anyone who has ties to the state.
http://www.the-playful-needle.com/Index_oregon.html

I have two more monthly clubs to mention:  Family Arts has a Halloween ornament of the month club and a Christmas ornament of the month club for the reasonable price of $40 for each one.
http://www.familyartsneedlework.com/Clubs.html

Little Shoppe of Stitches has added a Twelve Days of Christmas ornament set to their collection of clubs.  These ornaments are notable because they are shaped like pears.
http://www.littleshoppeofstitches.com/clubs.html


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

Fashion Totes

I see that New Needlepoint is liquidating their stock of fashion totes from Claire Sanchez.  These are lovely bags at great prices and if I didn't have two brand new tote bags, I'd be buying one of the silk bags with the copper squares. I think they are lovely!  They certainly are a stylish way to lug your projects around.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/content-categories/cat-186/claire_sanchez_totes_bags.html

Speaking of tote bags, I was just told that Crate & Barrel has a great tote bag.  They aren't as nice as the Sanchez bags but they are practical and sturdy.  And there is a coordinating tote bag organizer (second link).  You know, I might need one of the organizers.  They seem a practical way to keep loose items organized in the oversized bags we lug around with us these days!
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/bags-umbrellas/tote-bags/f38112

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/bags-umbrellas/portable-tote-bag-organizers/f38113

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

A Grinning Border

Not too many borders are as cheerful (in a macabre way) as the one I finished last night for the iPhone case.  No, I didn't work on Cha again.  We are busy cleaning up a tree that went down in the storm that took our power out last week and I was just too tired to do anything besides a simple charted pattern.  Maybe today I'll get back to Cha if we don't finish clearing away the treetops and stacking the part of the tree that is suitable for firewood.  I am getting too old to do physical labor and still be able to sit and concentrate on needlepoint later.  Sigh.  Oh, well, the mess is almost cleaned up.

As you can see, the top border on one side is finished.  I also positioned the first motif in the border that will continue to the other side of the iPhone case while I had the count down.  Then I finished the grid on one side and have started filling it in with large Xs.  Once they are all done, a large + sign goes on top of the X in each box.  I'm using the new holographic Kreinik for the border but a regular purple Kreinik in size 4 braid for the background pattern.

This is easy stitching as long as you don't totally zonk out while doing it.  Just what I needed last night!

I'm getting nostalgic for the endless tent stitch background on Cha.  At least I was making progress on that design but didn't have to think while I was working it.  Here's wishing you some mindless relaxing stitching of your own today....

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

Tips and Resouces

I've run across some useful tidbits online recently, so I thought I'd better post the links before they get lost again among all the bookmarks I maintain.

First, here is a great finishing demonstration for a Christmas ornament (see August 7, 2010 article).  This is a miniature pillow finish.  Scroll down to the previous article for a miniature ornament finished flat.
http://focusonfinishing.wordpress.com/

Little Shoppe of Stitches has a brand new set of Stitches of the Month this year.  I think the roof stitch particularly interesting and can't wait to see what August's stitch will be.
http://www.littleshoppeofstitches.com/stitchofthemonth.html

Pocket Full of Stitches has updated their Sale page.  There are lots of bargains we haven't seen before.
http://www.pfos.com/SalePages/sale1.htm

Need some fabulous hand dyed ribbon?  These pleated ribbons are beyond beautiful!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53104744/silk-shibori-pleated-ribbon

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