Monthly Club News

Besides the Day of the Dead pieces Robin is going to stitch I mentioned in the last article, Eye Candy has just showed off the last of the models for their Owls club. It's a hoot!
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2012/03/celebrate-season-with-holiday-owl.html


Vicky is also working on her monthly club, the one with Needle Deeva's trees that is called Fab Firs.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/04/09/a-new-finish-in-the-fab-firs/


Needle Works has posted photos of the circus elephant canvases for their club that starts in June.  One is stitched.  I can't wait to see it made up!  I think the canvases are from Labors of Love but I am not sure.
http://theneedleworks.com/elephants/


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

Holiday Stitching by the Experts

Holiday stitching never seems to go out of style. Ruth Schmuff just finished stitching (with help from Brenda Hart and her mother) one of the Michael Stoebner canvases that her company distributes.  It's the Easter Bunny, caught in mid-run, carrying flowers and a basket to some lucky little boy or girl.  Ruth shows off an easy silk ribbon flower technique in her article about Mr. Buns.  He is about the cutest bunny I've seen this year, from his fluffy tail to his pink crystal nose!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/04/hippity-hop.html

Robin King is showing off the new monthly club series she's going to be stitching for Needle Deeva--pastel sugar Skulls for the Day of the Dead celebrations!  Naturally, being Robin, she is going to accessorize her stitching with Day of the Dead magnets and snap trays for her tools.  If you like something a bit edgy or just want to celebrate Halloween in the springtime, you will enjoy all of these goodies for Dia de los Muertos.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2012/04/sugar-skulls-by-needledeeva.html

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

The Millenium Frames and Necessarie Floor Stands

I've heard quite a bit about Millenium frames from friends in the UK, but didn't know much about the company behind the wooden frames and floor stands.  I didn't even know that their name was Needle Needs, so I'd never visited their website.  Fortunately, the Unbroken Thread has visited their manufacturing facility and shows off the process behind making their products.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2012/04/08/needle-needs/

Here is their website.  It has lots of videos and help for using their products.
http://www.needleneeds.co.uk/store/


This is a company in England, mind, so it might not be the easiest frame to purchase but everyone seems to like their pieces.  If a wooden frame that expands by turning the large wooden screws is what you are looking for, this is the frame for you.  I was particularly interested to see that it works well for taller stitchers.


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

Layering Your Needlepoint

The Queen of Layering Needlepoint with anything that comes to hand and making it took great has written a bit about how it works. Fascinating concept!
http://www.stitchpography.blogspot.com/2012/04/layers.html

Thank you for the explanation (and the inspiration), Your Majesty.


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

Updates and Why They Matter

I hate to do two software-related postings in one week (it's a boring topic), but this is important news for those with iPads who also have the Stitch Landscape book.  The author has done an upgrade for the book that will make it easier to read on iPads.
http://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/sky-23-stitch-landscape-itunes-update/

But of course you have to update your software periodically.  Apparently if you have an iPad, you plug it into your Macintosh and the Mac handles the upgrades for you, including this one. I'd urge everyone to keep on top of the upgrades that are available.  They make things work better by removing bugs and it protects your computer as well because a lot of upgrades are security-related.  I know upgrading the PC can be a nightmare (my husband has a fancy Windows 7 machine that always has to be reset after an upgrade) but Mac and iPad upgrades are much easier.  I actually check for upgrades on my Mac and iPod Touch each morning and if one is available, I download it.  You don't have to be so fanatical about this, of course.

Just keep an eye out for updates and things will work better, I promise.


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