Dinky Dyes Go Live UPDATED

Needle in a Haystack has added new threads to their online catalogue, including Dinky Dyes' silk perle, their silk floss and their silk ribbons.  Good news for fans of this thread, which is now based in Houston instead of Australia.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2012/11/new-threads-added-to-our-shop-updates-to-our-online-catalog.html

UPDATE:  Janet Perry reports that Dinky Dyes are going to be sold and the manufacturing moved to Nevada.  This means there may be dye lot changes as a different climate and water do effect dyeing, so if you need a lot of one dye lot, now is the time to buy.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/breaking-news-changes-dinky-dyes/

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

Art Show: Folk Art

Rittenhouse Needlepoint occasionally publishes little essays about needlepoint that are always informative. This time their topic is folk art and needlepoint. This is a lovely way to take time out from Christmas Madness, so click on the link and enjoy the art show.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/11/folk-art-and-needlepoint_30.html

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

Color Your Own Beading Thread UPDATED

Someone mentioned this on Facebook (I'm sorry, I don't remember who) and said that Meredith Willet of M's Canvashouse and Elizabeth Turner Designs recommends this technique of coloring beading thread.  Please note that the person at Beading Daily is a jewelry maker who uses a braided beading thread, not floss or the brands of beading thread we are familiar with through Sundance and our local shops.  I would assume that you can color any beading thread besides the braided but I don't know that for a fact and of course some colored threads markers won't do much to change.
http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/inside_beadwork_magazine/archive/2012/11/29/stitch-pro-coloring-braided-beading-threads-like-fireline.aspx

UPDATE:  Vicky DeAngelis is the person!  Here's what she said in the Comments section of this article~
"That was me Jane...and you might want to mention that it is not just any colored markers, they are Sharpies. And the thread should be waxed."

Thanks, Vicky!

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

The Alligator's Girlfriend

Christmas Alligator Makes a Mess of Decorating

The Christmas Alligator is done! All I have to do is make him up into an ornament. I'm not going to have time to do that for this Christmas but perhaps after the holiday rush is over I can sit down and do the finishing that is piling up here in Chilly Hollow.  Hope you like him.  This is a Jude Designs ornament.

Fortunately Alligator Has Help Decorating

I've already started on my next small project, an angel holding a star garland from Petei.  For now, Petei canvases are not available so I feel lucky to have snagged this little beauty.  What you see is step one of the background, which I want to look like a starry sky.  You'll have to wait and see how it turns out....

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

Stitches for Advent

Sheena is doing a fun Advent contest on her blog, Sheena's Sweet Stitches, but she is also posting stitch diagrams for all sorts of wintery or Christmas stitches.   Today's is a great darning stitch for snow and Sheena even reveals what threads she used for a snowy hill effect.  Do take a visit and explore all the stitch diagrams that started showing up on December 1.  Thanks, Sheena!
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/darning-patterns/

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