Choosing a Background (Ruth Sees Polka Dots) UPDATED AGAIN

Ruth Schmuff just posted the latest lesson for her current mystery class (Zecca's Blue Moon with Owl).
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/08/compensation-way-of-life.html

Her background choice was picked because of all the polka dots and round shapes in this canvas.  I've been thinking about background stitches a lot lately as I contemplate a backgrounds book so I was pleased to see Ruth does what I do--choose a background stitch that repeats design elements.  However, I saw leaves and feathers when I looked at the canvas instead of round shapes.  Isn't it funny what different folks notice when they look at the same design?  Bonus points to Ruth for picking a round stitch that broken up into its component parts looks like leaves and feathers!

Ruth violates another of my usual rules, though--she picked a stitch that needs much compensation.  I try not to choose such a stitch if I can help it but I have to say I would have found it hard to come up with a better choice than hers.  Still, it appears she has taken pity on her students and offers them several round stitches to choose from so they can customize their canvas to their liking and the skill at compensation they possess.

If I was working this canvas, I would certainly do the background first and use a contrasting color of thread to continue the stitch on top of the leaves, branches and dots to make sure everything lined up properly.  Then I would pull out the colorful thread and have perfect background compensation!  It's a lot of work to stitch and then rip the parts you won't use but if you have the right stitch for leaves and tree and polka dots, you might be able to leave the colorful thread's background stitches on top of a leaf and cover it with something else.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/09/pirate-cat-background.html

Just something else to think about if you have a background that is broken up the way the Owl's is....

UPDATE:  Ruth is continuing the owl, adding wings and fun background swirls and rounds for the dots.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/09/i-just-couldnt-stop-myself.html

LAST UPDATE:  It is framed!
http://theyoungneedlepointer.blogspot.com/2013/12/bama-girl-finish.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.

Finishing for the Counted Thread Enthusiast

I love good finishing but most of the examples I show off here are painted canvases. I don't want my counted canvaswork friends to feel neglected, so check out the wonderful finishing of these Needle Delights pieces-- 
http://needledelightsoriginals.blogspot.com/2013/06/framing-finishing-ideas.html

Speaking of counted thread designs (not to mention Bargello), Liz has finished her third
"Bloomin' Bargello" design.  Now she just needs to sit down and write out the instructions so that all three charts are available from LizArt.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/bloomin-bargello-analogous-finished.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.

Club Needlepoint

Ada Hayden of Eye Candy takes us on a trip down memory lane as she reviews her club canvases and explains how they evolved.  
http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2013/08/join-club.html


This reminds me--I've been working on reorganizing the Monthly Clubs page here at Blog since June.  I decided that there were so many clubs available that I needed to arrange them by topic--Christmas Clubs, Halloween, etc.  Once I finish that task, I plan to work through all the links and make sure every link still works and all the clubs listed are actually still available.

As before, I will put the newest club on top under its section.

This is going to take some time, however.  After all, I've been doing a little bit almost every day for the last six weeks and I am still not finished!  If you run across a club I've not mentioned or that is no longer available, please let me know.  The number of available clubs is astounding and it is getting hard for me to keep them all straight on my own.

Thanks for the help.

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.

Kirk and Bradley Goes Pinterest

The merged Kirk and Bradley has started a Pinterest page, with photos of new designs and some lovely finishing. 
http://pinterest.com/KirkandBradley/kirkbradley-needlepoint/

UPDATE:  Pat says the Kirk and Bradley link doesn't work.  She's right.  I went back and searched for their page but the link to it is the same one above that doesn't work.  The best I can come up with is to go to the above link and when it tells you it doesn't exist, search for Kirk and Bradley.  Then look for items pinned by Kirk and Bradley and click on one.  That should take you to their page (which has the above link).  Strange!  Thanks for the help, Pat!

By the way, Serendipity Needleworks also posts items from their shop for sale on their Pinterest page.
http://pinterest.com/EllenMJohnson/needlepoint-christmas/

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.

JEC Fund Raiser Auction

The Japanese Embroidery Center in Atlanta is running an auction as a fund raiser via their website.   Here's the auction page.  The second link is their latest newsletter.  It tells you how to bid in case you are interested in some of these wonderful items.
http://jecstore.com/index.php/auction/index/

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c61370f1c79a3dd905652f1e4&id=1051253c97

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.