Face Stitching Video

Because I've had so many questions about stitching faces, I was excited when Mary Corbett posted a link to a needle painting artist who filmed the face she was stitching. You can see how the layers are built up. The thread used is DMC cotton floss, I believe, and probably only 1-2 plies are used.  Hope you find this as interesting as I do!
http://www.needlenthread.com/2011/12/embroidered-face-video.html


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

Scarab Rings, Kreinik and a Fancy Terry Background

Terry Christopher's Snow Wave Stitch

With space limitations in the jewelry box lid where I plan to insert my Egyptian scarab jewelry canvas, I had to figure out just how to make the design shine without the use of beads or fancy stitches.  So I turned to Kreinik.  Their metallic threads were perfect for gold jewelry.  I pulled golds, blues, red, and brown from my stash, looking for shades that go well together but trying to use as much holographic Kreinik as possible.  I really wanted the scarab rings to shine and holographic Kreinik does just that.

After I had the threads chosen, I simply tent stitched the design.  I did have to be careful to keep tied off ends of thread well away from the edges of the scarab rings since holographic Kreinik frays a bit and those ends will poke up through the lightly stitched background if I am not careful.

Once the scarab rings were stitched, I turned my attention to the background.  I needed a subtle but pretty background stitch. I played around a little with the idea of stitching Egyptian hieroglyphics in the background but the complexity of the letters defeated me.  So I turned to one of Terry Christopher's stitches which you see in the background in the photograph above.  I saw this piece on Facebook and diagramed the stitch Terry created for a student at 2 the Point (Terry's shop).  This is a Shorebird Studio design, by the way.  You can see it on Shorebirds' website by searching for canvas M424.  The second link is to Terry's online store.
http://shorebirdstudio.com/

http://www.topoint.com/terry_bio.htm

You can see the original photo that Terry posted on 2 the Point's Facebook page.  I'm not sure if those without a Facebook account can see this, but here's the link.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188567564508578&set=a.188566801175321.42855.157438187621516&type=3&theater

What you see in the photo above is my diagram which was done on a page from Ruth Schmuff's Stitches CD Volume One.  Ruth's bargello stitch is very similar to the stitch Terry used but it isn't quite the same stitch. In Terry's version, each stitch unit moves up a thread in Terry's snow wave stitch.  In the diagram you see two stitch units drawn in pencil.  The X shows where the third unit moves up a thread to start.  Each unit moves up one thread.  The photo of Terry's original design and my charting of her original stitch are posted with Terry's permission.

Isn't she just the greatest?!


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

Monthly Club Updates

Since the monthly clubs that many shops run are so popular, I wanted to let everyone know about updates to the offerings. Ridgewood's Paper Doll Club has a new outfit available.  I think the doll and her outfits are by Maggie.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/11/jammies.html

You can see the original canvases on the Ridgewood website.
http://www.ridgewoodneedlepoint.com/hand-painted-needlepoint-doll-canvas.htm

Beth's Needlepoint Nook has models of most of the Santa's Wild Ride canvases from Brenda Stofft up on their website.  I know a lot of people are interested in this club since Brenda Stofft has many fans.
http://www.bethsneedlepoint.com/Dot_ClubsExec.asp?idClubCategory=8

Finally, Pocket Full of Stitches has more Christmas tag canvases finished.  It's been great fun to see each model appear as the shop finished stitching them.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/11/frosty.html

http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/12/another-tag.html

http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/12/yummy.html

All of these Collection of Designs canvases are on their website but to see the stitched versions you'll have to check their blog (above).
http://www.pfos.com/ChristmasClubs/Kelly%20Clarks%2012%20Days/PocketFullofStitchesTagYoureIt.HTM


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

The Beach and The Christmas Stars

Jan and Liz have finished another square on their two versions of Stars for the New Millennium, Tony Minieri's charted quilt block masterpiece.  They've caught up with me and are starting to have more progress on their version than I have on mine.  I hope to work on it a little next year.  Deadlines are starting to take over my life, however.  Here is Jan's Christmas red and green version.
http://threadmedley.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/stars-of-the-new-millennium-ava-gardner/

Here is Liz's wet sand and blue water version, which reminds me of the beach.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/stars-for-new-millenium-progress-11.html


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

Nimble Needle Has You Covered

The Nimble Needle (the one near Atlanta, not the one in New Jersey) has published their latest newsletter.  It announces a December 16 finishing class, a new Kathy Schenkel Nativity class, mentions their next beginner class, and announces their monthly club for 2012-Associated Talents' spooky squares.  The squares are tiny monsters, quick and easy and fun to stitch after our daily responsibilities are done.  (Full disclosure:  I own Skeletor the little skull and fully expect to have fun with him next year myself.)
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=45d1a2a693824b7bef0df6f6c&id=260ac51cd0&e=40e2c26c15

If any of the above tempts you, here is their website with contact information.
http://www.atlantanimbleneedle.com/index.html


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