Shops Love Dog and Cat Canvases UPDATED

Actually, I think we all love dog and cat canvases. Even folks who don't want a pet in real life enjoy seeing those sweet, expressive eyes or a funny pet canvas. Rittenhouse has highlighted several dog canvases from their collection.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/05/gone-to-dogs.html

UPDATE:  Now Rittenhouse is going cat!
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/05/cats-cats-cats.html

Needlepoint of La Jolla is going even further.  They are Going to the Cats and Dogs in June.   Check with the shop for details.  If you scroll down and down and down, you'll get glimpses inside the shop and find a map to locate the fun.
http://www.needlepointoflajolla.com/


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

Hot Fun in the Summertime (with your needle and Barbara)

Barbara Bergsten has been experimenting with video and music to showcase her stitch painted canvases that come with stitch guides and great stitch diagrams. You'll see the bare canvases, the diagrammed stitches (you download those free from her website) and stitched examples.  Easy and fun, that's Barbara's mantra.  This link is to her blog so after you click on the underlined title and sing among to the music, you can go back and explore her website.
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2012/05/summertime-needlepoint-1.html

Very clever advertising, Barbara!

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

A New Type of Bijoux UPDATED

Threadaholic Alert:  I've heard from Gay Ann Rogers that there is a new type of Bijoux that has a white core instead of the black one.  For those of you who haven't used this thin, strong metallic thread, here's what the regular Bijoux looks like.  The black core gives each color a black stripe.  The new Bijoux will have a white stripe instead, which will significantly change the look.
https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/pageread.cgi?Bijoux

Another new thread is Gloriana's silk chenille.  I haven't seen this in person, either, but I can't wait.  I love Gloriana's colors so I know this will be on my To Buy list once it is available locally (and I get to a shop).
https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/pageread.cgi?GlorianaSilkChenille

We are very lucky to be living in this golden age of threads.


UPDATE: I've found a photo of the four new colors of what apparently is called Bijoux Glints.
http://store.needlenook.com/Bijoux-Glints-p36132.html

UPDATE #2:  Vicky DeAngelis has stitched with the white Bijoux and there are photos on her blog.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/05/19/cats-night-out-3/

UPDATE #3:  Vicky shows us the spools of Bijoux, all four colors (white, two golds and silver).
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/05/20/bijoux-glints/


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

Mark Twain Approved

Accoutrement Designs has updated their blog with photos of their newest needle minder magnets.
http://fobfriends.blogspot.com/2012/05/jubilee-celebrations.html

They've also changed their blog a bit by starting to group their magnets and fobs by theme. Look in the right hand column under "Pages."  Click on a Page title and you'll find yourself able to view each set of items that belongs in that category.  If you want to know more about Mark Twain and his jumping frog, here you go.
http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/projects/price/frog.htm

Personally I'm waiting for a blue police box magnet....

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

A Light Magnifier and System 4 Accessories Clamp

The Bristly Thistle has a light/magnifier highlighted on their blog today. It is shown used with a System 4 floor stand.
http://bristlythistle.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/needlepoint-system-4-accesories/

I happened to have owned this very light magnifier and used it happily for over a dozen years until the halogen bulb burned out.  Switching bulbs is not easy in this model (the bulb base has wires, so you have to pull out the old one and insert the wires of the new into the socket) and mine never worked right after I replaced the original bulb. Of course it took the original bulb over ten years to burn out!  The replacement bulb finally shorted out and I've been doing without a light/magnifier ever since, although I have my eyes on a Dazor table model to use as a replacement.  Still, I used it for a very long time and liked it as much as the person reviewing it.  I used mine first with a Gazelle floor stand (made by Elan) and then with a K's metal floor frame.  The base of the light/magnifier is a round pole that is inserted into one of the round holes in the System 4 light and magnifier holder clamp.
http://www.bristlythistle.com/ns4.html

Both my Gazelle and my K's metal stand also have holes the right size to accept this pole, so you can use this style light/magnifier with any stand or base with a matching hole.

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