Customizing Your Stitching

Needlepoint is a very personal art, even though we work from charts or painted designs.   We put so much of ourselves into our needle and thread that the outcomes can be very different, even if the design came from a class or stitch guide.  You'd think that people who took Ruth Schmuff's mystery class using the Eye Candy Garden Party Mod Heart Collage design would have very similar designs at the end.  No way!  The stitch might be the same but the finishing takes two designs in two very different directions.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/01/patterns-on-patterns-on-more-patterns.html

Now let's look at Robin King's stitch guide for Katt Z. Witch from Kelly Clark's Halloweenies series.  One of the customers for Ridgewood Needlepoint stitched this design using Robin's guide.  Look at the design very very carefully.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/01/witch-lovers-this-is-terrific-canvas.html

Now look at Robin's model. Study it.  What is different?  The Ridgewood stitcher turned the cat under the witch's arm into a dog and removed the cat at her feet entirely!  Now Katt Z. Witch is a dog lover!  LOL
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/02/katt-z-witch-stitch-guide-are-now.html

Each choice you make with your canvas turns what you are stitching from one of dozens into something totally unique and You.  We needlepointers are creating individuality by adding our personality into our stitching.

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

A Tisket, A Tasket, What Goes in Your Basket?

If you ever thought you were alone when it comes to going blank on a section of a canvas, you are not alone. Kelly Clark totally understands!
http://kellyclarkneedlepointhandbook.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-fill-empty-basket.html

(She also co-authored a CD on how to weave items to dress up your canvas with Amy Bunger.  It's number 7 "The Ins and Outs of Needle Weaving" in Amy's "How'd You Do That?" series.  You can get this many places but Amy's own website has a nice photo of the CD cover.
http://www.amybunger.com/catalog/item/6256888/7437353.htm

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

What Geniuses Do

Have you been wondering if those expensive stitch guides and classes are worth it? Just check out what Tony Minieri can do with two sizes of silk ribbon, then...
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2013/01/doorway-to-springtime.html

...check out Amy Bunger's magic.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-memphis.html

Now start saving your pennies!

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

Keep Calm Needle Magnets

A Magnet for Your Needles

As I was cruising eBay this morning, I stumbled across a series of Keep Calm and Carry On needle magnets for sale by Bloomin' Stitches, which I think might be a needleworks shop.  These apparently are exclusives made just for Bloomin' Stitches.  They come in a variety of colors.  I grabbed a photo of a purple one for here and you can see the rose one at this link.  There are three styles of these available.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bloomin-Stitches-Keep-Calm-and-Carry-On-Dark-Pink-Mini-Cameo-Needle-Magnet-/281034125789?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416ef071dd

If you search eBay for "Keep Calm and Carry On Matte Chrome Frame Needle Magnet" they should all turn up.  These are a Buy It Now auction for $9.99 plus free shipping.

If you are a fan of this series of canvases, then you will want to check these out.  As always, although I sometimes know the seller--the NP World is a small one)--I have no financial interest in this sale.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch of the Month

A second Stitch of the Month design has showed up on the Internet. Many of you are familiar with ANG's Stitch of the Month design series. Now Blue Dogwood Designs has their own free SOTM series.
http://www.bluedogwooddesigns.com/sgom/01-2013-SOM.pdf

If you aren't familiar with ANG's program, here is their project page.  Both work the same way--a new stitch for a section of the design will appear each month during 2013.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

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