"I'm going in!"

This is a direct quote from The Front Range Stitcher before she throws open the doors of Mindy's Needlepoint Factory and goes inside.  Lord!  I wish I'd been there, too!
http://frontrangestitches.blogspot.com/2011/05/mindys-needlepoint-factory.html

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

June is Wedding and Graduation Season

With June now approaching on the calendar, it's time to get wedding and graduation presents ready.  Rittenhouse knows our time is short, so they've written a nice little article about stitching small accessories that'll make those presents memorable ones.  How about his and her luggage tags for the new bride and groom's honeymoon?  Or how about a little box for the new graduate to put in their new apartment to remind them of home when they fly the nest for their first real job?

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

The Designer Speaks

We are awfully lucky that the Internet has brought not only loads of fun stuff to buy into our homes, we get to interact with the designers themselves as well.  Orna Willis has let us know she has a granddaughter!  To celebrate, she is reprinting the family series of designs she wrote about in Needlepoint Now in 2001.  Every two weeks a new section of the design will appear on her blog as a free design, and each new posting will have a giveaway of the fibers Orna used for her model.  What a way to celebrate family!
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2011/05/where-i-come-from-and-where-im-going.html

Ruth Schmuff just got two of her mystery class pieces back from the finisher.  It's not your typical Christmas finishing, that's for sure!  Share her surprise and delight over at her blog.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2011/05/home-decor-for-santa.html

Finally, my fellow stitch guide writer Vicky DeAngelis has been blogging about her latest Needle Deeva project and has run into a snag.  (Hint:  Look very carefully at the purple roof tiles between the middle and left window.)  Guess who shows up to solve the problem?  SharonG!
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/05/06/easter-egg-house-by-needle-deeva/

By the way, Blogger has been down for a very long time.  I think everything is fixed now, but don't count on it!

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

Threading Beading Needles

LauraZee posted a comment on the Blog article that mentioned Pace needles saying that she had trouble threading a beading needle. Since Comments are not working quite right this morning, I thought I'd answer LauraZee's comment here.

Sometimes changing to another brand of beading needle helps.  Some have larger eyes than others (although a large eye isn't much help with tiny beads).  Vicky DeAngelis says she likes Bohin beading needles and Mary Arden beading needles.  Looks like Mary Arden needles (which I've never heard of before) are English needles distributed by Colonial Needle.
http://www.colonialneedle.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?category=NEEDLES_-_Beading&search=yes

Bohin beading needles are imported from France.  By the way, John James beading needles are very popular because they are the normal needle length instead of being three inches long like most beading needles you find at fabric stores.  Personally I love the longer needles but not everyone does.
http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/Needles.html

I use the old wire loop threaders to thread my beading needle.  I buy them whenever I see them because they seem to be harder to get.  After I open the package of threaders, I line them up on a sheet of waxed paper on the kitchen counter, then put a drop of Super Glue on the base where the wire attaches.  This makes them last a lot longer.
http://assistivetech.net/search/productDisplay.php?product_id=39966

I hope some of these ideas help you with your beads, Laura!

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

Blogger Has Problems UPDATED

Blogger (which hosts Blog) seems to be having trouble. I had to switch browsers to access my account, I can't post a new Canvas of the Day, and the two articles I wrote to post this morning haven't published. I am going to write and publish this right away and see if it hits.

Blogger had an update yesterday. That might have borked everything.  Stay tuned!

UPDATE:  I forced today's messages to post but I can't find a way around changing the Canvas of the Day yet.  At least messages have posted!

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