Reviews

Personally I hate buying things sight unseen. Given my isolated location, this means I rarely purchase the latest book or tool or whatever until it has been out a while and all my friends tell me this is a Must Have.   Fortunately, I have a LOT of friends!

Linda of Stitching Sisters picked up her grandson's Christmas Santa ornament (so cute!) at her local and splurged on Kelly Clark's stumpwork sampler canvas and instructions booklet at the same time.  I think this is a kit, so you can't buy just the booklet.  The canvas shows various motifs and the booklet shows you how Kelly creates stumpwork for each section.  This is perfect if you want to try stumpwork on a painted canvas, learn something new and then recreate the techniques somewhere else.  I've been dying to see this, so the photos are very helpful in evaluating whether I want to splurge.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2012/11/finishing-and-stash-enhancement.html

To add to the information Linda posted, here is Kelly's finished sampler and (second link) her instructions for creating an amazing goldfish.  She makes it look easy!
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2012/09/kellys-new-sampler-stumpwork-naturally.html

http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-koi-and-turkey-preview.html

On another topic entirely, Inspirations magazine is well known to embroiders for its wonderful and varied projects.  It is now available in eBook form for those with electronic devices that run Android or iOS software.  Here's Mary Corbet's review.  Looks like it works for every flavor of device, too.  (Kindles can't run every Android app even though they are an Android device, for example.)  However, you should be aware Mary uses Macs so she only tested how it works on those.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/11/inspirations-magazine-e-readers.html

This makes me happy as it means the magazine is more widely available, which is important to folks like me who can't buy an individual copy of the magazine except via mail order.  It also makes me a little sad as the real thing has just taken one more step down the road of digital content only.  Progress is a two-edged sword, isn't it?

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

The Alligator Comes for Christmas

Jude Designs' Christmas Alligator

It is pretty hectic here in Chilly Hollow as we try to finish some renovations before company arrives for the holidays, but I have gotten a bit done on the small Christmas Alligator ornament from Jude Designs. Here you see the background almost finished and his red stocking cap finished except for the white fur trim.  For the background I decided to use Double Cross, a stitch Vicky DeAngelis talked about on her blog.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/its-all-about-the-finish-part-2/

I used Double Stitch on my Cat Topiary Garden for sone of the evergreens and it is a beautiful stitch. However, it is a thread hog and I ran out of the 18 count size of ecru Silk Lame Braid # SL03 I was using for the big crosses.  That's why I worked on the stocking cap before finishing the background while I waited for an emergency shipment of Silk Lame Braid.

By the way, step two of Double Stitch is the tiny cross stitches.  They are in a similar color in Impressions (#1146) but because of the difference in textures, the Double Stitch has some depth and interest to it, besides having the sparkle of Silk Lame Braid.  I like having a lot of metallics on Christmas ornaments to help them stand out among all the other Christmas decorations.  One thing I didn't notice until I did the scan for this posting was the loop of thread laying on top of the red stocking cap above the alligator's left eye.  This is a bit of the metallic from the Silk Lame Braid which untwists itself as you stitch.  I use short lengths of thread to minimize this, but you can still have something stick up at the end of a length of thread if you aren't careful.  Interestingly, I don't have this problem with the smaller Petite Silk Lame Braid, perhaps because the twist is tighter.

In the photo the right half of the background has the tiny cross stitches added but I haven't gotten to the left half yet.  I also still need to do the background between the tail and the head but I ran out of steam last night and went to bed.

The stocking cap is done in the new shaded Petite Very Velvet.  Rainbow Gallery shows off the colors of regular shaded Very Velvet in the link below so you can get an idea of the colors available.  Sorry but I couldn't find an online color card for the Petite shaded.    I am using V810, which seems to be similar to the regular Very Velvet's Holiday Reds.  I used Interlocking Goblein which is done in horizontal rows and allowed the colors to fall where they wished.  
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=1251

Once I finish the background, I plan to use Don Lynch's basketweave beading technique on the blue Christmas ornament.  While I run around like a maniac, getting ready for Christmas, you can wander over to Don's website at Associated Talents and see how he does basketweave beading.
http://www.atneedlepoint.com/Guides/HE-801-GUIDE.pdf

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

The Needlepointer's Finishing Newsletter

Periodically, The Needlepointer sends out an e-newletter showcasing finishing they do for customers. This is always fun to see since the canvases are usually new to me and the finishing is very well done.
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2b1a4dafdf1ba6e29e773aa79&id=ac1a36fe56&e=73961ee0ea

You can sign up for their newletters on their home page.  They often do a daily newsletter about their current trunk show and there is a regular monthly newsletter, too.  In other words, if you don't like getting lots of e-newsletters, don't sign up, but if you love shop newsletters with themes, this is the shop you want to follow.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com

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

Taking An Idea and Running With It

It doesn't matter if you are Halloween crazy like Ada of Eye Candy is or not, you'll want to see her take on a collage design created by Susan Kerndt.  Create a grid, add ribbons and fabric inside some of the boxes, stitch inside others, toss in some buttons and beads and there you go--Happy Halloween!
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2012/11/just-little-more-halloween.html

You can see more of Susan Kerndt's Stitching Kreations here.
http://www.caron-net.com/designerfiles/desaprilfiles/desapril.html

I particularly like Floral Fantasy.  I think most of Susan's work is for the classroom but occasionally you can find a chart from her.
http://mystitchinggallery.blogspot.com/2011/03/floral-fantasy-susan-t-kerndt-designer.html

This is a very interesting way of creating something by using what you have been collecting or have left over to make an original design.  Way to go, Ada!

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

Let's Talk Finishing Books UPDATED

Marianne at New Needlepoint asked about finishing books at the Needlepoint Group on Facebook as she was considering whether to add Pat Mazu's finishing book to her online bookstore.   Apparently it was a good choice as she has been selling them like hotcakes!  Marianne stocks the classic Sandy Higgins finishing book as well as an out of print finishing book by Katharine Ireyss.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=&keywords=finishing

UPDATE:   Michele at Bristly Thistle added in the Comments below that although Amazon.com stocks Sandy Higgins' Sandy's Finishing Touches:  A Step-by-Step Guide to Finishing Needlework, they have the 2008 edition.  Most needlework shops have the later 2010 edition.  Thanks, Michele!

I have used Summer Louise's finishing tips which makes me think her books would be very helpful.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2012_10_09_archive.html

I've also used The Needlepoint Doctor for finishing ideas for odder items.  This is an out of print book so you'll have to use Marianne or other used book sellers to find it.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/content-product_info/product_id-2435/the_needlework_doctor_by_mary_kay_davis.html

Pat's book can also be found at Stitches from the Heart who also sell her charts.  Sandy's Finishing Touches from Mrs. Higgins used to be available from her website which is gone but you can find it a lot of places now, from Nordic Needle to Marianne's shop to Amazon.com.
http://stitches-heart.com/needlepoint/pat-mazu-designs/

Anyone know of any other good finishing books, either out of print or new?

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