Victoria Classics Holiday Bliss Special Edition

Thanks to Patti P's posting on Facebook, I discovered the Victoria magazine special Christmas edition for 2013 has a three page spread on needlepoint stockings, featuring Strictly Christmas stockings with the help of Needleworks of Birmingham.  This is a special edition so if you subscribe you won't get this issue.  Hopefully you have a local bookstore with a copy or you can order online.
http://www.booksamillion.com/product?mid=0002023769

http://www.gritsnp.com/Needleworks/Welcome.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.

Let's Take a Field Trip

Enriched Stitch allows people to participate in their classes via Skype, but they also have visitors in person. Here is a group from Rhode Island who came to visit the shop which is in Connecticut.  It occurred to me that a field trip might be a fun thing for stitchers to do over the Christmas break, assuming your shop is open right before or after Christmas when you and your stitching friends have a little free time. Of course Enriched Stitch also uses Skype to do a personalized tour of the shop in case you are too far away to do a field trip.
http://astheneedleturns.com/field-trip/

The Needlepointer in Washington State also uses Skype and Face Time (that's the iPhone version of Skype) to interact with customers.
http://www.theneedlepointer.com

Isn't it nice that we are finding technology so useful in the handwork we create?

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.

Important Color Advice

I know most of us struggle with color, trying to figure out how to evoke dimension on a two dimensional needlepoint canvas. I just ran across important color information on Plays With Needles that you will want to bookmark and remember. 
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2013/11/playing-with-organza-part-two.html

"All things become cooler in color and lighter in value as they recede into the distance."

I'm going to have to tattoo this on my forehead!

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.

Victorian Carolers for Dr. Donn

When I saw Stephanie's set of Victorian caroling stand up figures form Heartstrings, I thought of a friend who sort of would like to stitch such a set. This is for you, Donn!   Merry Christnas!
 http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-little-caroling.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.

Friday Finishing: The Classics

Nobody knows classic designs and classic finishing like Needle Nicely. Their monogram pillow from Patti Mann is lovely now and will be lovely in twenty years, too.  Some things never go out of style.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2013/11/monogram-pillow.html

Enriched Stitch has a little bit of everything to show off.  Many of these items are from their fabulous classes.
http://astheneedleturns.com/fall-finishing/

Nothing is more classic than a custom needlepoint belt.
http://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2013/11/21/custom-needlepoint-belt-stitched/

Or a basketweave pillow with awesome trim.
http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2013/11/flower-needlepoint-pillow-stitched-and.html

Do you like Painted Pony's classic angel designs?  Then you will love their classic finishing, courtesy of Steph.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-about-stitching-only-small-painted.html

Are you a fan of elephant canvases?  If so, you'll love this one.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-post_21.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.