The Trend of 2015?

One of Yahoo's editors wrote just before Christmas that needlepoint is one of the coming trends of 2015.   I found the article full of inaccuracies but what do you expect when someone from JoAnn's Fabrics is consulted as a needlepoint "expert" or a knitting shop talks about the needlepoint they sell?  Or when Jonathan Adler's work is cited as a major influence?  At least the author had sense enough to ask Don Lynch of Associated Talents and TNNA's Needlepoint Group for help and the Etsy shop they referred to has some nice tent stitched pieces.  
https://www.yahoo.com/diy/hooked-why-needlepoint-will-be-2015s-big-105635472380.html

But this is the view of needlepoint from the outside, where "grannies" who stitch floral designs and pop art pieces interpreted in needlepoint are what needlepoint is seen as.  I suppose I shouldn't roll my eyes too much.  At least maybe the publicity will draw someone in to try.  Let's hope the shops and fellow stitchers are ready for new stitchers!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 24, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Orna Says Happy New Year with a Free Project

Orna Willis has kindly designed a free 2015 project for the counted canvaswork folks among us. Wasn't that nice?! 
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2014/12/keeping-my-promises-come-on-in-and.html

Head to her blog, then look for the link to download the PDF file to stitch this cutie.  It's designed to be stitched on Congress cloth with silk but I think you can play with this and use whatever materials and size canvas you have on hand.  Just remember to increase the size of the canvas and the amount of threads needed.

Thanks, Orna!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 31, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Book for Castaways UPDATED

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Guess what? Carole Lake and Michael Boren have a new book out!   It is called Desert Island Stitches:  Volume One -- Ideas for Small Spaces and is the first in a series of little books that concentrate on stitches that Carole and Michael find very useful and which they'd take with them if they were planning on being stranded on a desert island.  (Hopefully one with a great hotel, room service, and a pool with cabanas and a bar.)

Sneak Peek Inside

The Desert Island Stitches:  Small Spaces book is divided into five sections: tent stitches, diagonal stitches, oblique stitches, straight stitches and cross stitches.  Above is a page I picked at random from inside the book so you could see what the diagrams are like.  It's 78 pages long and the diagrams are black and white and are not numbered.  Each page has multiple stitch patterns diagramed on it.  Carole says it is about the size of the Stitches to Go book, so it is definitely tote bag or briefcase-sized.

The book is intended to be something you flip through when you are looking for ideas for small areas.  Carole says, "It's for when you have that stupid little space and you want something flirty and cute but not out of proportion to the space."

Start Packing for the Remote Stitching Island....

The book will be available through Rainbow Gallery at the TNNA show.   Carole says shops can preorder from Rainbow Gallery now.  Here's to a bunch of happy Robinson Crusoes in 2015!

UPDATE:  Needle in a Haystack has copies and tells us a bit about the book size and layout on their blog.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2015/01/new-stitchplay-designs-book.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 29, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Peace Ornament (Needlepoint Now)

Needlepoint Now's latest newsletter is out online, and it includes a free Christmas ornament.  Of course there's a profile of the new issue and more.
https://www.needlepointnow.com/wp-content/uploads/NN_NWSLTR2_Dec14-.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 24, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Stitch Gingerbread

You know all those really cute gingerbread men and houses canvases that you can't resist? Susan at Quail Run loves them, too!  In fact, she loves them so much that she posted a list of stitches she likes a lot for gingerbread.  So if you have a gingerbread piece in your To Do pile, Susan has ideas.
http://quailrunneedlework.com/blog/post/having-a-sweet-christmas


If you don't have a gingerbread canvas, not to worry!  Susan has a great little gingerbread stocking from Alice Peterson in stock at the shop.
http://shop.quailrunneedlework.com/search?type=product&q=gingerbread

Stitch Therapy has Kelly Clark's gingerbread man with his snowman friend.
http://www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/feature.php?id=21202&title=Friends%20Forever&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases

Kirk and Bradley has a sweet little gingerbread house for your stitching pleasure.
http://www.kirkandbradley.com/whats-new/christmas-snowdome-gingerbread-house

Needlepoint Heaven has Danji's Gingerbread Man with his Candy Cane.
http://www.needlepointheaven.com/enlarge1/10365-gingerbread-man-and-candy-cane-DJGL85.html

Elizabeth Turner has a stocking cuff with Santa and a whole group of little gingerbread men.
http://www.canvasesbegone.com/14498/Elizabeth-Turner-Santa-and-Gingerbread-Men-stocking-cuff-needlepoint-hp-18-ct.html

Finally, Raymond Crawford has designed a gingerbread woman.  Do a little searching yourself and you are bound to find something fun that suits your personal style.
http://www.annieandco.com/products/raymond-crawford-ho764

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 22, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.