Product Reviews UPDATE

Somehow a bunch of reviews appeared on the Internet almost simultaneously, so I thought I'd post them all in one article so that those interested can explore and everyone else can move on. First up, Quail Run talks about Waverly Wool, which is a Persian wool (the three ply kind).
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/12/needlepoint-tapestry-yarn.html

Mary Corbet reviews Jan Messent's new book Embroidered Portraits and reveals that it isn't quite what we all thought it was about.  It's still a great resource for period hair and clothing styles but the "embroidered" faces it discusses are really mostly stumpwork ones.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/12/embroidered-portraits-by-jan-messent-book-review.html

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

Frosty the Snowman with Sequins

Ruth Schmuff has posted progress on her newest mystery class--the Zecca snowman. You will be shocked, SHOCKED, to see that she used open stitches for the background and sequins.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/12/sparkles-are-good-thing.html

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

How to Open a Skein

Mary Corbet has done it again--come up with useful information to help us stitchers. This time she talks about how to open a "pull skein" of embroidery floss.  Or now not to.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/12/pull-skeins-embroidery-floss.html

It's a funny article about a serious subject, how to open those durn things without swearing as you create a real tangled mess.  (By the way, don't miss reading the Comments.  They are priceless!)

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

The Gift

Stitchers do all sorts of things to help others.  Here are just two examples.
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/12/meet-material-girls.html

Here are more examples of community service, from ANG's website.  If you belong to ANG's Yahoo Group, you can also find addresses of prisons to donate stash so that inmates have something creative to occupy their minds.
website.http://www.needlepoint.org/projects.php

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

Sakura and Other Joan Eidman Delights

Joan Eidman has just set up a blog that showcases her amazing designs. If you like pink used in a non-girly way, you will love Joan's work.  I picked one of her painted canvases almost at random to show off her work, but you can always click on the header and just browse all of her blog entries for even more colorful fun.
http://joaneidman.com/sakura/

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