Birds in the Air

Labors of Love has a very popular clip on bird canvas series that comes with tail feathers and the clip on hardware.  The design is double-sided so that the bird when the two sides are stitched together and stuffed, you have a bird that will attach to an artificial tree, drapes, or just about anything for display and delight.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/gallery.php?category=53

Nimble Needle has photos of two of these birds finished and promises more pictures when others return from the finisher's.  NN mentions stitch guides but not who wrote them.  However, I know that Tony Minieri and Amy Bunger both have done guides for many of these canvases.  Your local shop can find out if the birds you prefer have guides and from whom exactly, but from Amy's stitch guide catalogue, it looks like she has a guide for the Baltimore Oriole, the Flamingo, and the Peacock.  There may be more in the works, too.  I'm pretty sure Tony did the Owl but I can't find any information on exactly what birds he created guides for.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2012/06/birds-from-labors-of-love.html

These are charming and different enough that I imagine there will be flocks of needlepoint birds flying around all over, stitch guide or no.  After all, there's even a purple Halloween clip on owl!
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/gallery.php?category=50

Come to think about it, Amanda Lawford has some lovely bird designs as well.  Something for every taste--that's needlepoint!
http://bristlythistle.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/rhinestone-birds-by-amanda-lawford/

Regardless of whether there is a stitch guide 
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Rumor Mill: Regal Rabbit is Closing

I just heard on Facebook that Regal Rabbit in Napa Valley is closing.  
http://a-z-needlepoint.com/

[deep sigh]


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

Rittenhouse Newsletter

Rittenhouse Needlepoint has their latest newsletter online.  Their 3-D Santa class sounds especially interesting but you can also see the new Baby Fleece thread and laying tools they brought back from the Columbus trade show.
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9b9b7549e5c8f818070e0508c&id=5c00cf9182


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

New Designs and Threads for Your Viewing Pleasure

Folks are still posting about new items from the June TNNA show.   Do stuffed animal canvases make your heart beat a little faster?  You'll never see the Sew Much Fun stuffed critters in better photos than the ones Vicky DeAngelis took.  The second link shows both sizes of the various animals they offer.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/07/06/does-this-make-my-butt-look-big/

http://cindysneedleart.com/Canvases.html

Pocket Full of Stitches is posting photos of new items as they arrive in the shop on their blog.http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/

Interested in getting in on the custom size of this Ewe and Eye canvas that Amy Bunger is going to do a stitch guide for?
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-next-fourth-of-july-project.html

Are mermaids and pirates your thing?  Then you'll want to order this Eye Candy kit (painted canvas, threads and beads and more, plus stitch guide) from Ruth Schmuff.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/07/ahoy-mateys.html

Are you a thread-aholic like me?  Then you'll want to see photos of the new threads from Rainbow Gallery.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/07/09/thank-you-rainbow-gallery/


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

Christmas in July

I know a lot of people are stitching their brains out to make finishing deadlines for Christmas items, so I thought you might like to see a special finished ornament that was designed for the White House's set of needlepoint ornaments.  Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Pull Toy Research."  I think it's wonderful.  The other items are historical recreations in various types of handwork.
http://www.threadsofhistory.com/Eowyn/EowynsEncheiridion/Embroidery.html


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