Getting Ready for the Trade Show

Today's the big day when classes start in Columbus for the big TNNA June trade show.  The shops take these classes and then come home and teach their customers fun things with new threads and techniques.  But a lot of preparation is involved by the designers and tool and thread manufacturers.

Tapestry Fair has finalized their 3-D turkey canvas and is busy writing up the stitch guides.  You can't see the back panel on the turkey's rear.  It reads Gobble Gobble in funky letters. LOL
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2011/06/hes-back.html

DMC has new colors in their memory thread, mostly neutrals although they have a lovely aqua and a lovely purple in the wired category now.
http://dmc-threads.com/memory-thread-colors/

Patt and Lee Designs has packed the car and are driving like the wind to the show.
http://pattandleedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/06/packing-time.html

The shops are excited about the show.  The Stitching Studio is taking classes and plans to blog about their experience.
http://thestitchingstudio.blogspot.com/2011/06/to-market-to-market.html

Team Deeva is getting excited, too.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/06/08/team-deeva-is-ready-for-tnna/

Robin has even created an apron of all her Creepy Halloween Characters for Needle Deeva to better catch the eye of shop owners at Market.  After all, this is the time when everyone has to convince the shop owners to buy from them.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2011/06/creepy-characters-apron.html

I wish everyone a safe and productive trip.  Have fun and don't forget to tell us all about it!

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

Jan and Liz Start Stars

Jan and Liz are stitching Stars and posting their blocks together so you can see the differences a little color change makes in this fabulous design.
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/stars-of-the-new-millennium-marilyn-monroe-done/

http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/stars-for-new-milleneum-progress-1.html

Wonderful!  I haven't forgotten Stars but my obligation stitching has taken over my schedule and you'll have to wait a while for me to pick up my version again.

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

New Things at Market

Janet Perry has written two reports about new items that should be available to order at the Columbus trade show.  She mentions all sorts of things, not just new painted canvases.  Sadly there are no photos or website links but as these things are pretty new, they probably aren't viewable anywhere yet.  However, I did find three of the new Kelly Clark Halloweenies ornaments.  That's the third link, midway down the page.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/fun-new-needlepoint-items

http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/more-fun-needlepoint-products

http://www.theneedleworks.com/catalog/index.php

All the designers are getting ready for the trade show.  Here's Patt's report on how things are going as Patt and Lee Designs prepares.
http://pattandleedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/06/update-from-alabama.html

EyeCandy has a new Halloween pin cushion that'll make a nice frameweight.
http://www.eyecandyneedleart.com/EyeCandy_Needleart/Blog/Entries/2011/6/6_New_Designs_for_Summer_2011.html

Brenda Kocher has two new designs out for the counted canvaswork collector.
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2011/06/lavender-logs-kit-from-brenda-kocher.html

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

Tulle On Needlepoint Canvas: The Drawbacks

Now that I've got my tulle stretched across my needlepoint canvas and have started stitching right through it, I thought I should mention some of the pluses and minuses of using tulle this way.  First of all, the aqua tulle I choose does indeed change the background stitch and make it less prominent.  It also alters the colors of the painted canvas slightly.  I find I need good light to stitch through it as it does make it a little harder to see the threads and holes of the underlying needlepoint canvas.  And of course ripping out is a little harder since you don't want to cut the tulle.'

Naturally I never make mistakes!  (Please keep the eye rolling and laughter down, ok?  You'll hurt my feelings.)

But not to worry if all this is way too daunting for you.  Instead of my background stitch, forget about the tulle and use skip tent instead.  Your canvas will be different than mine but it'll look nice.  Here's a good diagram of skip tent.  Use one or two plies, depending on the look you want and whether you are stitching the 18 count or the 13/14 count version of cat topiary garden.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2010/06/one-of-my-favorite-stitches.html

This is the Chilly Hollow Needlepoint ADVENTURE, so I am being adventuresome.  If you think the experiment doesn't work or you don't want to spend the time and money on tulle, don't.  If you start and cut the tulle when ripping out, it is easy to take out the basting stitches and remove the tulle.  If you haven't stitched too much through the tulle, it will be easy to remove that stitched section, pull out the basting stitches and remove the tulle layer.

But I am going to see this through.  I needlepoint to have fun and for me, trying new things is great fun.  Besides, I think we all want to know just how the experiment will turn out.  Will Jane have a wonderful needlepoint wall hanging for her mother's apartment door?  Will tulle teach her new swear words?  What is the optimum use for tulle on needlepoint?  Stay tuned....

I've gotten the first spruce tree half restitched. Once I finish that I am going to work on the other big spruce on the right so I have photos and a stitch diagram to show you around Monday of next week.

UPDATE:  Pat asked in the comments if tulle lays flat on the canvas well or if it slides around even though it is basted.  On Red Geisha (which has an 8x8 design area) it did not but on the cat topiary garden (which is a bit more than 11x13 design area) it puckers a bit in the middle. The way to get around that is to baste it down in the middle and remove those basting stitches when you get to that area to stitch it.  I may do that but I haven't yet.

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

Don Did Good

Don Lynch of Associated Talents has been busy stitching some of the Halloween-themed canvases to be released at the Columbus trade show.  Here are the newest canvases from AT--
http://www.atneedlepoint.com/CanvasLookup.asp?Category=New%20Arrivals&SubCategory=&Query=ViewAll

And here is how they look after Don gets done with them.
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/at-dl733-compete?context=latest

http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/at-ee926-932-933?context=latest

Well done!

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