The Trailer Stash

The Stitchin' Den has a mobile shop, created to meet the needs of folks in Colorado who were cut off from the outside world by flooding.  It's called the Trailer Stash and it has classes and specials.
http://thestitchinden.com/wpsite/trailer-stash

Very clever way to cope with rural life and weather!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 31, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Dainty Dots Decoupage

Dainty Dots Decoupage's Needle Magnets

Needle minder collectors and someone looking for an unusual gift for a stitcher will want to check out the Facebook page of Dainty Dots Decoupage.  I grabbed a photo at random from her FB page so those not on FB could see the size and general style (above).  This UK-based company creates decoupage needle magnets featuring some lovely vintage designs.  And yes, she does ship to the US.
https://www.facebook.com/www.daintydotsdecoupage

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 5, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

"Cuddly as a Cactus"

Literary stitchers will laugh until they cry at this Dr. Seuss duo.  Sold separately by Ridgewood.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/08/grinch-magnet-and-canvas-available-now.html

By the way, if you are a cactus fan, check out the new Purple Palm designs from Sharon Weiser....
http://store.needlenook.com/cart.php?m=search_results&search=purple+palm

See, even prickly things are fun to stitch.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 31, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Trish Tutorials: Needle Painting

Trish Burr, the South African teacher and writer best known for her embroidery classes and kits, is going to post a series of tutorials on her website. The first one is available and it is on needle painting, the technique by which you create realistic animals and plants with a single ply of (usually) cotton floss.  Of course we needlepointers use a readily countable ground, i.e., needlepoint canvas, but if you switch to a sharp needle you can put your stitches anywhere you wish, even through one of those underlying canvas threads.  We don't use hoops or typically wash our work after the stitching is done, though.  Still, with a few modifications, needle painting is very useful for needlepointers.
http://trishburr.com/tutorials/

Trish also reminds us she has free designs on her website to use to practice what you have learned.
http://trishburr.com/south-africa/

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.

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.