Cat Topiary Garden: Why Tulle?

Since I've gotten multiple questions as to why I layered tulle over the cat topiary garden canvas, I thought it is worthwhile to provide an explanation for those who missed it the first time round.  When I finished stitching the background, I realized there was a problem.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-ruths-fault-we-are-going-shopping.html


I knew from paying careful attention to Ruth Schmuff's stitching and from using tulle over the Melissa Shirley Red Geisha that tulle could fix my problem.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-ruth-brought-tulle-into-my-life.html

Tulle isn't the perfect answer.  If I knew in June what I know now, I would have just put a piece of tulle over the background only and left the rest of the canvas uncovered.  But if I hadn't tried covering the entire canvas, we wouldn't know this, so it is a worthwhile experiment.  Making mistakes in your stitching is how you learn.  The perfect stitcher never gets beyond perfect stitches to memorable needlepoint.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/06/tulle-on-needlepoint-canvas-drawbacks.html

On the other hand, the tulle provides a secure background for making French knots if you are doing light coverage.  That's something worth remembering if you ever need to scatter French knots over something that won't really hold them in place well.


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

Needlepoint in the 1970s

This is pretty much what needlepoint was like when I taught myself how to needlepoint in 1988.  


Flashback!!

Sadly, this is also pretty much what folks who don't stitch think needlepoint is like today.  By the way, Brini Maxwell is a vintage style specialist on New York City cable TV and now on the Style Network.  She also sells pillows but they are fabric, not needlepoint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=l_qg-Pq3O8k


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

Doodling at BeStitched

BeStitched has posted another short essay on aspects of needlepoint. This one is about how and why to use a doodle canvas.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/news-and-updates/what-the-doodle-is-a-doodle-canvas/


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

Military Canvases

Sandy Grossman-Morris showcased a custom military badge canvas on her blog she created for her daughter as a reminder that her custom painted canvases can create a very special and personal ornament or pillow for the soldier/sailor/airman in your life.
http://sandygrossman-morris.blogspot.com/2011/11/military-emblems-needlepoint-canvases.html


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

Trish's Tips for Better Needle Painting

Whether you call it long and short stitch, needle painting, random long and short, or any other term, Trish Burr has mastered the art of using threads to create realistic plants and animals, particularly birds. She's posted ten tips to help folks do smoother shading in this style on her blog. If you use this technique or want to, you should check Trish's tips out.
http://trishburr.com/2011/10/25/smoother-shading/


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