Show and Tell

This morning's show and tell is brought to your by Tapestry Fair which has posted a lovely finished version of one of Leigh's cowgirl canvases,
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2011/03/show-and-tell.html

and by Ridgewood which shows off two different versions of a canvas that folks are stitching in class there,
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/03/coat-ladies-class.html

and by Melinda who is showing off her finished Amy Bunger Home Study canvases and enjoying the new class from Ruth Schmuff that just arrived in the mail.
http://melindaslivingthegoodlife.blogspot.com/2011/03/halloweenie-family-portrait.html

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

Woodlawn 2011: Overall Impressions

This year's Woodlawn exhibit differed from past years' exhibits in that there were many fewer samplers than in the past, and more of those big Mirabilia ladies done in cross stitch than I've seen recently.  (If you don't follow XS, there is an example in the link below.)  When I first started going to the exhibit, these were everywhere but they have died out over the years only to start a comeback this season.
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2011/03/charlotte.html

It seemed to me there was more beadwork and surface embroidery than I've seen recently.  A lot of the show was needlepoint although there were a few pieces of Japanese Embroidery and smocking and some crewel.  The needlepoint designs were both geometric counted canvaswork and painted canvases but there was a significant number of original designs, which makes me very happy indeed!

The counted canvaswork interested me because I saw no Susan Portra charts (for the second year in a row) and only a few Jean Hilton designs.  Instead, there were many more charted pieces designed by folks like Debbie Rowley, Laura Perin, Carole Lake, Ro Pace, Michael Boran, Orna Willis and others I couldn't immediately place.  It seems to me that counted canvaswork is having a renaissance.

The painted canvas pieces were predominately tent stitched.  There were some embellished pieces but not many.  Unlike last year, the majority of the tent stitch pieces seemed to me to have been stitched using the popular silk/wool blends, with some notable exceptions like the large rectangular fish pillow in the main parlor which was beautifully tent stitched in metallics for the fish and solid silk/wool for the seaweed background.

This year I didn't notice any color trends, but as usual, there are enough animal- and Christmas-themed items for them to have their own display rooms.  There were many floral designs and quite a few Asian-themed pieces (although perhaps not as many as in past years).  As usual there were a good number of Halloween pieces but I didn't notice much in the way of Easter rabbit or egg designs.

I was impressed by the number of junior pieces (under 18) this year.      But before I talk about some of the pieces I admired, let's take a break.  I'll be back later with the rest of my Woodlawn report.

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

More Thread Reviews

Since I've been talking about threads myself a lot lately, I thought I'd turn over the topic to Janet Perry who has several thread reviews on her website that you might be interested in.  The first article talks about the new Candy colors from Kreinik.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/candy-metallics-from-kreinik-thread-review

Dinky-Dyes has new colors for their silk threads and ribbons.  Because Dinky-Dyes is an Australian company and their threads perhaps not available in your local shop, the second link is to their website to do a little exploring.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/new-dinky-dyes-colors

http://www.dinkydyes.iinet.net.au/

Janet's final article is about ThreadworX threads and talks about their colorfastness and proper care if you plan to wash them or get your finished piece damp in blocking.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/caring-for-threadworx-threads

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

Out the Door (with Crewel Wool)

I'm heading out the door shortly for two weeks of vacation visiting family.  But not to worry!  I have sent up a series of Blog postings that will appear like magic while I'm gone.  (They'd better or I will make a personal appearance at Google Headquarters demanding to know why not!)

Yesterday I posted a new article about Tapestry Fair and their stitch guides on the CH Stitch Guides blog.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2011/03/tapestry-fair-adds-stitch-guides-to.html

I also noticed the announcement of a new crewel wool from Weeks Dye Works.  They started out specializing in gently faded colors of floss for the repo sampler crowd so I expect the colors will stay in their usual range.
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2011/03/wdw-crewel-weight-wool-available-at-norden-crafts.html

The WDW website has a nice slide show of the crewel weight wool they are dyeing and distributing now.
http://www.weeksdyeworks.com/crewel-wool-yarn.html

When I taught myself to needlepoint in 1988 there were two threads available to me--wool and wool.  I could choose between Paternayan wool or Appleton crewel. I learned to love crewel wool then for its strength, texture, color and versatility.  Although I don't use it much now (I'm allergic to most wools) I still love it and am happy that we have this new thread in our stitching toolbox.

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

Overdyed Very Velvet UPDATED

Overdyed Petite Very Velvet

One of the new threads introduced at the January 2011 TNNA market is overdyed Very Velvet.  Most of us have seen Very Velvet (or the Petite Very Velvet, sized for 18 count canvas) in the shops as it is a very popular thread for anything that needs a velvety look. Rainbow Gallery has now come out with overdyed versions of Very Velvet, some of which a friend sent me to show to you and stitch with.
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=1251

As you can see in the photograph and in the link, the colors are mostly a light to dark range of one color.  I think the reds will be very popular for a red velvet Santa coat since you won't need to do anything to have a subtle shading.*  My personal favorite is the subtle grays but the brown card will be perfect for tree trunks in a forest or for animal fur.

Many thanks to Rainbow Gallery for a great new thread to add to our stitching tool box.

*UPDATE:  While on my annual Woodlawn exhibit and shopping extravaganza, I ran into Ruth Dilts of Needlepoint 101 and 202 fame.  Ruth showed me a small Santa she was stitching using the red overdyed Petite Very Velvet.  She created a Bargello pattern on his coat front, mirror imaging the sides so that the shades of red played out on both sides exactly the same way.  It was gorgeous and very imaginative--a great use of this new thread that showed it off beautifully.
http://www.ruthdiltsdesign.com/newest.html

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