The End Is in Sight

Most of the black areas of Luna's hem are finished.  I need to thicken the bead clusters in the largest section of the black hem on the right and then finish the gray areas.

By the way, I took the photo of Luna while she was lying on the large sheets of red tissue paper that protect her when I'm not stitching.  That's why her sleeves have the dark blood red tint.  No, Luna's not been changing her clothes while you weren't looking!

Before I forget, any "follower" of Blog should comment on Sunday's Nov. 7th article "100 Followers, 1 Book" if you are interested in the almost new copy of Brenda Hart's Stitches for the Millennium which I have to give away.  I'll draw a name at random tomorrow morning, check to make sure they are signed up as a follower, and then announce the winner so I can get the book in the mail to them ASAP.

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

(Video) Stitch Resources

Mary Corbett is redoing her online stitch videos.  These are really useful for when a diagram just doesn't make sense.  I thought you'd like to browse and possibly bookmark this site.
http://www.needlenthread.com/videos

There are a lot of online stitch diagrams such as ANG's Stitch of the Month pages on their site.  Do you have any favorites to add in the Comments?
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

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

News While I Bead

If you don't watch Ruth Schmuff's blog to watch her stitch her mystery classes, you probably don't realize that stitching the canvas isn't the last step for Ruth.  The last step is perfect finishing!  She just posted photos of her Harvest Colors Puzzle as a purse ornament.  Ruth tackles the problem of snagging the stitched piece in a very creative way!  By the way, Ruth's Harvest Colors Puzzle is now charted.  After all, she loves counted thread folks almost as much as she loves us painted canvas fanatics.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2010/11/harvest-colors-puzzle-mystery-solved.html

Speaking of counted canvasworks pieces, Orna Willis has several new small designs available.   They are called Tiny Trinkets and come with three small frames with the set.  You get all the threads needed to stitch the design three times, in three different color combos.  This is a quick and fun way to see how color makes the same pattern change.
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-designs-at-ornaments.html

When it comes to learning how to do something, many of us have trouble reading book instructions and understanding what they mean.  Videos are a perfect tool for visual learners and I've got a dandy for you today--Mary Corbet shows how to use a laying tool!   Please note you don't need to run out and buy yourself a laying tool to learn with.  Try using a smooth chopstick, the largest needle you own, or even a toothpick.  I know folks who have grabbed collar stays in an emergency to use as a laying tool.  Anything not too short or long that is smooth so it won't snag your thread will work to practice with until you get the hang of using a laying tool.  In fact, I use the nut pick from my nutcracker set with ribbon-like threads.  It does a better job with ribbons or ribbon floss than any of my fancy laying tools!
http://www.needlenthread.com/2010/11/how-to-use-a-laying-tool-video.html

In the new product catagory, Chapel Hill Needlepoint has a great belt featuring all the landmarks of Chapel Hill, NC.  This is perfect for any Tarheel, particularly if stitched in Carolina Blue.  (If you are a Duke fan, try stitching the outlining in deepest navy.)
http://chapelhillneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-chapel-hill-needlepoint-belt.html

The Cabin Fever canvases from Leigh Designs aren't new; they are being brought back due to popular demand.  Don't they make you think of cabins and fall leaves, wood fires, a hearty stew and playing board games?
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/11/cabin-fever-from-leigh.html

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

Where Do I Go From Here?

Last night I did more beading and basketweave while I pondered my next move on Luna.  The end is in sight for the gown so my next move is to figure out what part of Luna to stitch after the long gown is finished. Looking at her figure, the purple lining of the cloak is behind her hair. The sleeves are prominent and in one area touch the cloak lining, which means I'll want to do the lining before the sleeves or hair. The hood of her cloak is certainly behind her hair so I might want to stitch it before her hair so I don't snag any hair stitches.  The same thing is true of the cloak across her shoulders:  it is also behind her hair.  The broach, ring and fingers are going to be a problem when it comes to deciding when to stitch them.  I don't want them to snag anything next to them.

Since I like to work from the background forward, it makes sense for me to tackle the inside of her cloak, the hood and the cloak across her shoulders, and possibly the fingers and ring next.  I will start seriously thinking about them while I continue to bead and basketweave that gown.

Sorry it has taken so long but Luna's a big girl.  The canvas is on 12x20 inch stretcher bars, and Luna's gown is roughly 12 inches tall with a width that varies from 1 to 5 inches.  Lots and lots of work!

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

100 Followers, 1 Book

Sometime Friday the 100th "follower" signed up to get Blog's postings via Google's Friend Connect system.  That's amazing!  I want to celebrate so I invite any of the 100 followers to post a comment here to enter a drawing for a copy of Brenda Hart's Stitches for the Millennium.  I have a lovely pristine copy courtesy of a friend who doesn't use the book.
http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/accessories/books_author.html

Long time readers of Blog know I love Brenda's books and use her Favorite Stitches 1 and Favorite Stitches 2 and Stitches for the Millennium constantly.  Brenda is a widely traveled teacher who constantly is coming up with interesting ideas for needlepoint canvases.  I'll let folks post comments here until next Wednesday.  That way I can announce the winner on Thursday after a random drawing of all those who comment and perhaps get the book in the mail to them by Friday.

Thanks very much for all your support.  Remember, if the comment system won't work for you, you may email me at chilly hollowathotmail dotcom to be entered in the drawing.


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