More Russian Santas

Susan's Birdland Santa

Fans of the Leigh Designs Russian Santas should be smiling all over this morning as I have two more finished examples to show you. Above is the Birdland Santa.  This charmer was stitched by Susan M. using Brian Shaw's Steppe Stitch for a snowy ground under Santa's feet and Carolyn Taggart's idea for the golden brown robe.  Here is the diagram for Brian's Steppe Stitch once again.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2014/03/blue-russian-final-glimpse.html

Here is Carolyn's detailed description of her Birdland Santa, the basis for Susan's robe.  By the way, since Carolyn posted the information below, she has written a stitch guide due to popular demand--complete with nice stitch diagrams--for her version of Birdland Santa.  If you are interested, contact Carolyn Taggart via Facebook or let me know at chilly hollow at hotmaildotcom and I'll pass the message along to Carolyn.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2014/03/more-russian-santas-birdland-santa.html

The second Russian Santa I have to show you isn't actually a Santa.  It is the Russian Golden Maiden companion piece that is an exclusive at Enriched Stitch.  They are doing a Russian Santa club at the shop and talked Leigh into designing a lady to go along with all those Ivans.  This has been stitched by Becki Gebhart.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=777528838946344&set=gm.660242244052937&type=1&theater

If you want to purchase the canvas and guide of Golden Maiden, contact Enriched Stitch.  She is available without your having to join their Russian Santa club.
http://enrichedstitch.myshopify.com/products/golden-snow-maiden-exclusive

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 12, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Congratulations to Pamela Harding

Pamela just posted on Facebook that her design "Highland Summer" has been accepted into EGA's Spectacular Color International Exhibit.  This exhibit is juried but Pamela made the cut!  Congratulations!

Here's Highland Summer for your drooling pleasure.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201822752358340&set=p.10201822752358340&type=1&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 10, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Favorites: Cats and Terry Enfield

This week by coincidence two different blogs posted photos of special favorites of theirs. First up is Ada's blog, showing off stitched versions of her Eye Candy cat design. They are amazing, aren't they? Each canvas has its own personality depending on the finishing or the extra little touches that the stitcher added, like a special border or background.

Secondly, the owner of Needle Nicely posted several canvases by her favorite designer, Terry Enfield.  You may find these elsewhere under the Red Thread name as that is Terry's distributor.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2014/04/my-favorite-needlepoint-designer.html

Since I like cats and Terry Enfield's work, I was very happy to stumble across these postings.  Have fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 16, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Competing with Walmart UPDATED

Erin is continuing her adventures in opening Needlepoint Land, a new needlepoint store in Stuart, Florida with a two part essay on her competition, Walmart, and how to compete with a chain that can offer DMC floss at almost wholesale prices.
http://needlepointland.com/2014/05/10/the-wal-mart-effect-part-i/

http://needlepointland.com/2014/05/11/the-wal-mart-effect-part-ii/

UPDATE:  Erin pulled a fast one and now has three parts to her essay on competition with the big chains.
http://needlepointland.com/2014/05/11/the-wal-mart-effect-part-iii/

However you feel about shopping at the big box craft emporiums, at Walmart, or on eBay, let me assure you that shop owners think you are taking food out of their children's mouths every time you do.  As food for thought, any canvas you buy elsewhere and take to your local shop --assuming you are lucky enough to have one-- to buy threads is giving them only the pitiful profit on threads, not the nice juicy profit on a canvas purchase.  If you ever wondered why a shop is not thrilled to help you select threads for a purchase made elsewhere, that's why.  Not every shop assumes you value their customer service enough that you will buy your next canvas from them which allows them to stay in business a little longer.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 10, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Playing with Angelina

I thought you'd like to see the experiments Helena is doing with silk gauze and angelina.  
http://hgotts.blogspot.com/2014/04/jellyfish-and-angelina-fibers.html

http://hgotts.blogspot.com/2014/04/jellyfish-done.html

http://hgotts.blogspot.com/2014/04/jellyfish-20.html

Angelina is new to me so I looked it up.  It comes in a lot of colors.
http://www.texturatrading.com/angelina.html

It is a sort of fiber mass out of the package, often set with heat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgA1MdPj8oA

Interesting stuff.
http://www.embellishmentvillage.com/store.php?cat=3

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 16, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.