The Swans Are At It Again (Spring Edition)

Stephanie's SWAN group in Texas has been meeting again. Stephanie posted photos of their current projects on her blog for our enjoyment.  For me the star of the show is the newly made up Melissa Shirley double-sided Easter rabbit stand up.  Wait'll you see her!
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/02/beautiful-bunnies-and-other-cute.html

But there are other darling pieces that are stitched or underway.  Want to see one of those fabulous but now unavailable MCM rabbits?  Want to drool over a nutcracker Boy Scout in uniform?  Or see the cutest 3-D Easter house in Texas?  All of this is above, thanks to Steph's quick camera.

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.

What's Your Hair Like?

Melissa Shirley Mermaid

Linda's busy trying to create the perfect bangs.
http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2013/02/thank-your-hairdresser.html

Personally, I don't like bangs.  They look terrible on me (and I think Michelle Obama's too perfect hair looks like a wig) but I do like curls.  My current favorite stitched hair is the mess of overdyed wool bullions on the little Melissa Shirley mermaid above.

What is your favorite stitched hair style?

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.

What's Your Sky Like?

Bargello Background on Night Rider

Steph is thinking about sky stitches this morning. She's got quite a few on display, too.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/02/sky-stitches.html

What you see above is MY favorite sky stitch--a Bargello stitch done in one ply of sage green silk mixed with a strand of Glints from Bijoux.  The canvas is Night Rider from the Old Crows series by Leigh Designs.  What's your favorite?

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.

Visiting Shops in California

If you are curious about the shop owners you have met online or want to know a bit about California needlepoint shops, here's the place to explore.  There are photos and brief descriptions of many of the shops you want to visit, plus links to the websites.  Note that Regal Rabbit closed when the owner retired and relocated but their website store is still active. You just can't visit in person any more.  Status Thimble has also closed. (Sob!)
http://www.stitchknots.com/who.html

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.

Cooper Oaks Goes Plastic

Until I saw a posting by Barbi Sherman of Canvases By Barbi on Facebook, I had no idea that Cooper Oaks sells acrylic boxes and frames for needlepoint. There's a huge range of styles, from towel holders to trivets to frames and trays.
http://www.cooperoaksdesign.com/CooperOakS-COL_Gallery.html

Barbi uses the clip board style insert for her frameweight canvases.  She trims the canvas close and uses a sticky backing felt to hide the underside since the clipboard piece is clear.  Sadly, there are no photos of her pieces inserted in the clipboard but you can see the unstitched canvases here.
http://www.canvasartbybarbi.com/Blank.html

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.