Destination Dallas

Destination Dallas is a non-TNNA wholesale only trade show for needlepoint and associated supplies, where the shops and the people who supply them gather in a hotel in Dallas and have fun running from suite to suite, checking out the newest items and placing orders. Some things are cash and carry, which means a few days after the September 26-28 show, your shop owner will pull him- or herself together and drag tons of new goodies into the shop.  Other things will appear over the fall as orders are filled.  You can read a bit about what is planned here.  
http://www.destinationdallas.net

I'll update the Destination Dallas tab with the latest information as I find it.

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

Help Stitching Hair

Almost every needlepoint face is framed by hair--straight, curly, wavy, spiky, wild, or controlled.  So how do you stitch hair?  Let's ask the experts.  Here's a compilation of hair resources in various books, blogs, and videos.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/05/hair-resources.html

Many folks have posted about how their created the specific hairstyle on their current project.  Maybe your hair puzzle can be solved by getting their help.  Want to try a wigmaker's knot?  Colleen has step-by-step instructions.
http://www.stitchinginthetexashillcountry.com/the_needle_works/2013/09/share-a-stitch-sunday-september-22.html

How about really really REALLY curly hair?  Sandy shows how easy it is to create.
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2015/05/stumped-for-hairdo-here-is-recent.html

Do you need flowing but curly locks?  This stumpwork tutorial by Anna is a lot easier than you would think hearing the word "stumpwork."
http://annascottembroidery.blogspot.com/2014/06/curly-wild-hair.html

How about stylized wavy hair?  It's easier than you think if you use ideas from the great Amy Bunger like Steph did.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2014/08/straight-from-stephs-beauty-shop.html

Four years ago (My!  How time flies!) I posted about hair on Blog and asked folks for their ideas based on a series of portraits from A Collection of Designs.  Here is the collective wisdom of many stitches.  Make sure you read the Comments section below the main article.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/05/brainstorming-hair.html

Ok, now we have hair, eye and skin ideas.  Now let's talk about stitches for faces next.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Skin and Eyes UPDATED

Before we talk about faces some more, I thought I'd post some online resources to help you with that face that is driving you nuts. First up are thread colors and types of skin.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2012/09/skin-tones-in-dmc.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/10/threads-for-perfect-skin.html

Here are some wonderful tips for stitching "speaking" eyes.
http://www.funkandweber.com/create-eye-sparkles-in-cross-stitch/

All these links are in my  "Tutorials and Tips" tab above but I've noticed most folks don't realize that is there so it bears repeating in the main part of Blog.

UPDATE: Jane G. reminded me of the Access Commodites skin tone kits.  They come in a clear plastic box with instructions on how to use them written by Tony Minieri.   Jane says each set comes with a wide variety of silks.You can see them on the Access Commodities website but you'll have to click on "Silk Thread Kits" and then on "Access Commodites Skin Tones" to see them.

http://www.accesscommodities.com/products

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Leaves Fall and Halloween Approaches New Jersey

The weather is starting to turn here in Chilly Hollow so up north hundreds of miles from us this is certainly happening to Nimble Needle in New Jersey.  The shop is celebrating by putting seasonal canvases on sale and posting the latest in shop news in their e-newsletter (second link below).
http://www.nimbleneedlenj.com/september-newsletter-and-more/

http://createsend.com/t/y-ED22A95B47ECFF12

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 14, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Needlepoint Portrait

Melissa Shirley's Red Geisha

I've been thinking about needlepoint portraits a bit lately, spurred by this counted canvaswork image of Catherine the Great from Gay Ann Rogers. Gay Ann's been posting finished versions of her design on her website home page. She also has photos of her Queen Elizabeth I, as well as Bess of Hardwick and Mary, Queen of Scots still on her website, too.  Click on "Elizabethean" to see them.
http://www.gayannrogers.com

It's interesting how each portrait is a tad different, even though they were all stitched from the same counted canvaswork set of instructions.  Each has a bit of their own personality added by their stitcher.  In needlepoint faces, one stitch can make a huge difference.  You can see this in Penny MacLeod's painted canvas portraits, too.  Look at all the women on The Collection's website (The Collection is Penny's distributor).  Each has a different expression--wary, inquisitive, bold, puzzled, friendly.
http://www.thecollectiondesigns.com/penny-macleod.html

Even stylized faces of geishas can have their expression changed with just one stitch.  Above is Melissa Shirley's Red Geisha which I stitched for her.  Look at her lips.  The expression could be very different if I hadn't left the tiny red stitch between her parted lips visible.  Now to me she looks like she is about to speak.

Maybe we'll talk about faces later this week.

By the way, Red Geisha is being discontinued so if you fall in love, act before Melissa runs out of stock.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galcol/?col=171

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.