A Tip on Value from Bob

Hunt Country Yarns is only about 90 minutes from me but they aren't on the way to anywhere so I've not visited since they moved. It's too bad because Bob (the owner) always has fun tips. Here Bob talks about Value when choosing colors. Yes, he uses skeins of knitting yarn (Hunt County Yarns is 2/3 a knitting shop with needlepoint on the side) to illustrate his point, but the theory still applies to needlepoint. 
http://skeins-huntcountryyarns.blogspot.com/2015/08/30-august-2015-its-all-about-value.html

Thanks for the tip, Bob!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 30, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch like a Politician

If political madness is overtaking your household, at least you can stitch like a Democrat (or Republican)!  Here are a selection of political designs for you to choose from.  Ridgewood has little boxes.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/08/political-party-hinged-box-canvases.html

You can stitch the fun patriotic donkey and elephant ornaments from Rebecca Wood.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/patriotic-donkey.html

http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/patriotic-elephant.html

You can stitch coasters from Canvasworks in either elephant...
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/elephant-coasters-set-of-4.html

...or donkey versions.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/donkey-coasters-set-of-4.html

Or you can just stitch something that covers both parties, courtesy of Petei.
http://www.canvasesbegone.com/product/petei-god-bless-hp-needlepoint-18-ct-can-1-140129

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 25, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Seeking Helene

Recently someone asked the ANG email list about a thread called Helene. I'd never heard of it, but Mary Jo says It is "a Rainbow Gallery Thread with the full name Backgrounds Helene -- a single ply 100% silk thread made in Switzerland. It is available in white and black on 20 yard cards."
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/Detail.CFM?ID=322

It is possible the white is more of an ivory color...
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/Detail.CFM?ID=224

...but on the color card it looks white.
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=84

Terry Dryden sells it in her Etsy store.
https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/218778483/helene-backgrounds-silk-yarns-silk

So does Stitcher's Paradise (look under Backgrounds).
http://www.stitchers-paradise.com/threads/RainbowGallery.html

Needle in a Haystack has all the Backgrounds threads from Rainbow Gallery although they are a special order.  They are not in stock, in other words.
http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/RG_Misc.html

Interesting question!  I never knew that Rainbow Gallery had a line of threads (including Helene) intended for backgrounds.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 30, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

I Didn't Know the Gun Was Loaded

The Needlework Copyright Information blog has posted a useful diagram of tips on how to know you are visiting an illegal pattern sharing site.   Although the blog talks more about cross stitch charts, the same things apply to stitch guides, stitch diagrams and counted canvaswork charts.   Don't be a copyright thief--follow these common sense guidelines.
http://needleworkcopyright.blogspot.com/2015/09/i-didnt-know-site-contains-copyright.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Building the Commander's Palace

Boots and Beads is stitching a needlepoint representation of the Commander's Palace Restaurant in New Orleans.  Because she is so inventive in her stitch choices, I thought you'd like to see what she uses for architectural stitching.  Here is a bit about the place in case you've never been to NO.
http://bootsandbeads.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-new-flavorful-start.html

Love the roof stitch and the padded pillars!
http://bootsandbeads.blogspot.com/2015/07/half-way-there.html

Here's the pretty painted wood siding.
http://bootsandbeads.blogspot.com/2015/07/almost-there.html

All done!  This is a small piece but action-packed with a lot of fun touches that I hope will inspire you to stitch a small building ornament of your very own.
http://bootsandbeads.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-new-week-new-finish-and-new-start.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 28, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.