The Gadget Queen UPDATED

Danielle talks about her favorite gadgets.
http://stitcherista.blogspot.com/2015/07/gadgets.html

UPDATE:  More fun tools!
http://stitcherista.blogspot.com/2015/07/more-gadgets.html

If you are into tools the way Danielle is, check out the latest things available from Needlepoint Tool Time...
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com

...and from Needle Little More.
http://www.needlelittlemore.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Plus if you need help collecting cool and useful things, Ruth's got a club for that.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/07/gadgets-gizmos-and-great-inventions.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 9, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Copyright and Deviant Art

DeviantArt.com is a website devoted to art, so of course they are very interested in intellectual property rights and protecting an artist's works from theft of various kinds.  Recently they posted a discussion (with many links for further reading) about copyright and the Internet, and much of this pertains to needlepoint designs.  You can see their presentation here.
http://protectart.deviantart.com/journal/The-Art-Theft-Discussion-544490149

We all know the impact that cross stitch designers have felt from rampant copying and distribution of their work.  They have lost thousands (and even tens of thousands) of dollars from this practice, and it has driven many designers out of business.  Needlepoint designs have also been impacted by copyright violations but in a different way.  The most obvious similarities to what has happened to the cross stitch world are the copying of stitch guides and charts to be sold on eBay and Etsy or handed out among friends.  I think the rampant copyright violation of unlicensed logos and brand names may catch up with some painted canvas designers and cause them great financial harm eventually.  But that is my opinion only.  Needlepoint is under the radar to some extent and that may protect the law breakers from being noticed by those they are ripping off as long as they stay away from Disney and Harry Potter items.  (These companies are well known for having legal teams dedicated to protecting their intellectual property and prosecuting violators.)

Regardless of all that, it is smart for all of us to educate ourselves about copyright and what's legal and what isn't.  The best discussion of copyright I know that talks directly about copyright in the world of needlepoint in the United States is on the Needlepoint Now website.  If you haven't read this, you probably should.
https://www.needlepointnow.com/advertising/copyright/

Thanks for staying legal and ethical!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 20, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Frank and HIs Needlepoint Pillow

Frank's Bathroom with Needlepoint Pillow

While doing something totally unrelated I stumbled across the announcement that Frank Sinatra's Villa Maggio in Calfornia is for sale. What is it that makes us stop and stare at celebrity homes?  Whatever it is, I'm glad I looked because I found a needlepoint pillow.  The motto on it says 'One Can Never Have Enough Dogs" and there is a paw print border and three pooches in the center with the lettering.  Now I have no idea if Frank Sinatra actually owned dogs (many of these homes are styled to make them sell) but I liked the pillow and wanted to share it.
http://www.lonny.com/Frank+Sinatra's+California+Compound+Is+For+Sale?utm_source=yaho&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Yaho-LN-US-Desktop-Specials-Home-Frank-Sinatra

The house is in Pinyon Crest in the Coachella Valley and is selling for just under $4 million.  It was built in 1970, but since several people have owned the house since Frank had it built, this probably isn't really his pillow.  I did find a photo of his bedroom in another house and there are four needlepoint pillows there.  The two blue ones both seem to say "Frank" while the chair pillows say "You Dirty Rat" and "Don't Get Mad Get Even."
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/93027548523048208/

Fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 9, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Looking for a Fun Project?

If you have lots of leftover threads and bits of canvas you can't bear to throw away, how about using them in a Christmas ornament project from Susan Portra? 
http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2015/07/holiday-ornaments-by-susan-portra-72015.html

It would be a great learning project for a new stitcher and a great project for a local guild to have fun with, too, particularly if you want to decorate a library or stitch for a fund raiser.  All you need are copies of the magazine and a pile of extra supplies to use up.

Many thanks to Brenda for showing us how much fun we can have with leftovers!

UPDATE:  Brenda is continuing to do the light bulbs and they are lovely!

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2024/10/ornament-holiday-light-orange-103124.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2024/11/ornament-holiday-light-purple-11624.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 20, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: 2 the Point is Closing

I just spotted this posting by Terry Christoper Costello on Facebook: 

2 the Point Needlepoint Designs and Fibers

As many of you know I have been trying to sell my store. The last 17 years have been very rewarding but I am closing my store on August 29th. During the last several years I have found myself concentrating on teaching, stitch guides and retreats. It is with this in mind that I will be opening a teaching studio in Jan 2016. 

All of my shop models will be sold in a Silent Auction starting July 22 with final bids awarded on August 15th.

Additionally, all canvases, threads, etc are 30% off from July 22nd-Aug 1.

Our last sale will be 40% off from Aug 4th -15th. Any remaining product will have to go by Aug 29th.

Thank you all for your support and friendships. I look forward to seeing you in my new endeavor.

I can't wait to see what Terry plans next!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 21, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.