Newsletters

Don't forget that Amy Bunger and Needle Works both released their monthly newsletters the first of each month.
http://theneedleworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/201102newsletter.pdf

http://www.amybunger.com/current_enewsletters.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Where Would We Be Without Our Tools? UPDATED

Today is all about the tools we use.  Janet Perry has copied ThreadworX's guide to caring for their threads on her blog. The list of things not to do is good to their threads is great to keep in mind with all threads, since many of them are no longer colorfast and we needlepointers don't usually pre-wash threads before stitching like stitchers on linens often do.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/caring-for-threadworx-threads

Rita on the ANG email list mentioned Clover's domed needle case which you can use to carry pre-threaded needles with you on a trip. I was curious enough to look up information about this item, and found a video of how it works on the Clover website.   Click on the video called "Dome Threaded Needle Case."
http://www.clover-usa.com/Make+It/Videos/

Needlepoint Tool Time has received copies of the new June McKnight book "Spooky Stitches."  Tisha does a brief review on the shop blog, including a photo of the page layout.
http://stitchplaywithneedlepointtooltime.blogspot.com/2011/01/spooky-stitches-has-arrived.html

UPDATE:  PFOS has a review with even more photos of various stitches inside.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/02/spooky-stitches.html

PFOS just got in some of Tink Boord-Dill's charted alphabet books and also have a review with page layout photos.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/01/alphabet-books-hot-off-press.html

I think I'm in love with these!
http://theoriginalscrapbox.com/catalog/the-workbox

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

Two Directions for a Turkey

Nancy's Turkey Canvas

After reading Nancy's latest message about her turkey canvas, I started thinking about the two main ways I see this canvas can be stitched.  I'm talking about the turkey body itself now, not the background or the border, not the head or the tail or wing feathers.

Nancy's busy looking for stitches that look like feathers.  That means ray stitches, leaf stitches, triangular shaped stitches, wedges, and fan shapes.  But this isn't the only way to go and it probably isn't the way I personally would stitch this bird.   I think I would needlepaint him.

Needlepainting goes by many names.  It uses stitches like stem stitch, long and short stitch, satin stitches and even Gobelin and split stitches.  I think in essence needlepainting uses a variety of straight stitches to mimic realistic animals and plants.  Because the direction of the stitches is so important, folks working on the grid of needlepoint canvas probably will want to use a sharp needle so that they can control stitch placement in either holes or through threads.

If you would like to see needlepainting in action, you should read Mary Corbet's article on the art below.  There are links to the Chinese site that sells needlepainted pieces which are amazing when it comes to interpreting animals with threads.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2011/01/needlepainting-hand-embroidery-in-silk.html

Remember that any painted canvas can be stitched multiple ways.  There really aren't any wrong decisions if you achieve what you wanted when you started stitching.  I'm just pointing out another path for those who would not use more stylized stitches to create the body of this bird.

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

Sins, Signs and a Newsletter and Trunk Show

Ridgewood is having a Kathy Schenkel (KS Designs) trunk show. On today's blog entry they show off standup designs meant to be topped by a stuffed animal. I've seen the little mini stockings that come with a stuffed animal to insert into the stocking but I didn't know that KS Designs had standups that were topped by such things. Neat idea!  If you want to click on the header of this blog, there's another photo of some of the trunk show canvases on display in the shop, or you can browse the designer website (second link) to see more of what Kathy Schenkel has to offer.  The last page of the What's New section on the designer website has one word canvases, which are becoming very popular.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/01/large-stand-ups.html

http://www.kathyschenkel.com/

By coincidence yesterday Janet Perry posted about the free charted designs for the Seven Deadly sins while...
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/deadly-sins-free-charts

...Pocket Full of Stitches shows off many of the And More one word pillow designs.  These have been very very popular and are now morphing into two word pillows with various short slogans.  This article has a link to the And More website where you can see all the new designs.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-and-more-designs.html

Have you seen what Ruth Schmuff and Amy Bunger do with these?
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2010/12/happy-holidays.html

http://www.amybunger.com/f/Amy_s_e-newsletter_March_2010.pdf

http://www.amybunger.com/albums/album_image/6262614/5533004.htm

Want to see some of the new Maggie designs from the January TNNA show?  The theme seems to be animal portraits, flowers, and  wonderful Art Deco restaurant and advertising posters.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-maggie-designs.html

If you prefer charted designs, enjoy Linda Reinmiller's newest piece which you can watch develop here.  It's a new one for her Walk series.
http://lkreinmiller.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-new-design.html

Finally, Chandail has their latest newsletter up on their website.  If you are a monthly club fan, you'll want to see the models for their ribbon candy designs and for the bell shaped Santas.
http://chandailneedlework.com/news/pdf/2011Newsletter.pdf

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

Behind the Scenes: Backgrounds with Barbara Elmore

You might have seen one of Barbara Elmore's large chandelier canvases.  There are several versions of these, ranging from a shoe chandelier to a Halloween-themed one to the latest which is the Mad Hatter's Chandelier, full of teapots and tea cups and fun. These all seem to be two feet square and painted on 18 count canvas.
http://www.barbaraelmoredesigns.com/barbaraelmoredesigns.com/Canvases/Pages/Just_For_Fun.html

Ever wonder how these large canvases are painted?  Barbara talks about her experiments on painting backgrounds for these big canvases.  The next time I complain about stitching an endless background, I'll remember someone had to paint all those inches first!
http://stitchpography.blogspot.com/2011/01/behind-scenes.html

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