Need Paterna Information

This week I got a note from the Etsy seller KnitStitchPurl who has a large stock of Paterna two ply crewel wool for sale, asking about this wool. She wanted to know if it was the same wool as the three ply Paternayan we are all familiar with. I don't know, never having seen or used this myself. It seems to date from the 1980s and be 100 percent wool.  Here are the best photos of this stuff which she has in both small 16 yard skeins and 1/4 pound hanks.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/163870779/paterna-833-russet-brown-crewel-yarnlot

http://www.etsy.com/listing/165066926/paternayan-violet-purple-crewel-tapestry?ref=shop_home_active

It certainly was manufactured by the Paternayan Brothers and probably intended to be plied (or not) depending on the size of fabric it was stitched on.  Anyone know anything about Paterna?  Have you used it?  Is it really just like Paternayan except it is two plies instead of three?  What size needlepoint canvas would you use one or both plies on?  Any help is appreciated!

Here is KnitStitchPurl's Etsy store main page if you prefer to talk to her about this instead of commenting below (or emailing me directly at chillyhollow at hot maildotcom if Comments don't work for you).
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnitStitchPurl?ref=l2-shopheader-name

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.

Alex Beattie's Creation Series

Ehrman has added a new video to their website: an interview with Alex Beattie, talking about his Creation series and a few other designs.  His discussion of the limitations of the format of needlepoint canvas is fascinating to me.
http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/videos/story/Alex-Beatties-Creation-Series.aspx

Here is a brief bio on the Erhman site.  Click on "View Products" at the bottom to see the designs he's done for the British firm's line of needlepoint kits.
http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/alexbeattie.aspx

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 Friday (Halloween Edition)

With Halloween getting closer, I thought this week's Finishing Friday should be all about Halloween. Want to see all the wonderful finished pieces in Pocket Full of Stitches' shop and window displays?  (And there's a bit of Christmas included for those who aren't into spooks and candy and trick or treating.)
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2013/09/halloween-window-and-tree-of-tags.html

More Christmas and Halloween finishing, this time courtesy of the Stitching Sisters.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2013/10/halloween-and-christmas-finishing.html

Do you love trains and Halloween?  This beautifully finished Raymond Crawford train is heading towards your station courtesy of The Needlepointer.
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2b1a4dafdf1ba6e29e773aa79&id=f7c9f883c6&e=73961ee0ea

Diane is decorating for Halloween.  The finishing is wonderful!
http://www.dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.com/2013/09/halloween-time-is-here.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.

Needlepoint is All About Emotion

SharonG says that needlepoint design is all about expressing emotion. We put ourselves into our stitching.  Our color choices show our personality, our stitch choices show our design sense, and our choices of design show our hopes and dreams.  In that spirit I have two links for you to read this morning.  I also hope when you stitch over the weekend, you will be more aware of just how much of yourself you are adding to a design through your needle.
http://debbeesdesigns.com/DDWrdPrs/2013/09/24/passing-it-on/

http://www.dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.com/2013/09/why-dont-i-feel-like-stitching.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.

A Stitching Sister Inspires More Stitching

If you haven't been stitching a long time or you aren't a Needlepoint Now subscriber you may not have seen Denise's wonderful interpretation of Sandra Gilmore's 9/11 design based on an iconic photograph from that day.
http://larchmont.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/larchmont-needlepointers-show-patriotic-pride?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-1-post&newsRef=true

If you own the September-October 2011 issue of NP Now, you can read more about the design there.  I don't know if Denise used Susan Portra's stitch guide for her version of the piece or not.
http://www.needlepointnow.com/back-issues/2011-issues/sep-oct-2011/

By the way, Denise is the co-owner of the Stitching Sisters' Blog.  Do visit!
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com

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.