Needlepoint Estate Sales Online

Everything But the House (abbreviated as EBTH) auctions off vintage items, including needlepoint. I thought you'd like to see the current needlepoint auctions. 
https://www.ebth.com/search?q=needlepoint&state=active

As usual, nothing needlepoint-related brings big prices so this isn't a great place to sell, but if you want a vintage needlepointed chair or want a wooden tray or fabulous frame to reuse, it's a great browsing site.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 28, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Introducing Little Red Finch

We have a new designer--Little Red Finch! Right now the bulk of her designs are geared toward Minnesota stitchers, but that will change as the company gets off the ground.
http://redfinchstitches.tumblr.com

You can also contract to have pieces stitched for you. Contact the company for details.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 17, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Help with Borders

Mary Legallet has written a series of great articles about border stitches on her blog. 
http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/2/4/dont-fence-me-in

http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/4/6/turning-a-corner

http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/4/13/go-wide

http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/4/20/beetle-border

http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/4/27/randomness

Bookmark Mary's blog if you haven't already as each month she tackles stitches for a certain area or effect.  Very educational!

If you need more borders help than just stitch ideas, treat yourself to Michael Boren and Carole Lake's latest Desert Island Stitches book--Ideas for Creative Borders.  Here's a bit about it. I found it really helpful working my Leigh Designs Gold Digger Miami border.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2016/02/border-help-from-carole-and-michael.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 28, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Finding the Perfect Stitch

When I last showed off the Egyptian Catra design from Tapestry Fair, I was dithering about the perfect thread and stitch for the top of the lotus fan pillars.

When in doubt, pull threads!  So I visited my stash and found Flair, DMC perle cotton, Caron's Watercolours and Waterlilies, plus silk ribbon, all in approximately the same teal green as the top feather parts of the lotus fans.  Those with access to a shop will probably go through the same process, buying everything they think is the right color to test in stitches.

Then I tried slanting satin stitches in the Watercolours (I used one ply of the three from the strand of Watercolours) and stem stitches in the perle cotton.  Nope.  All I had in the perle was size 5 which was too thick.  The Watercolours also seemed a little too rough looking although I loved the color (068 "Mediterranean") so I mentally decided to try the silk Waterlilies in the same shade elsewhere in the design.  Ok, two of four down.

Flair Versus Silk Ribbon Test

Then I tried the slanting satin stitches using Flair (right side of the photo above) and Japanese ribbon stitch using the silk ribbon (left side of the photo).  The silk ribbon is perfect!  It matches my mental image of what the fan should look like so I ordered silk ribbon from Waste Knot since I only have a tiny amount on the card.

Sometimes you just have to test stitch to see what works and what doesn't.  Next time I'll reveal the finished lotus fan pillars and talk about the body of the cat.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 6, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

ANG Seminar News

ANG's annual seminar this year is in New Orleans from the end of August until early September.  You can read more about it here.
http://needlepoint.org/Seminar-16/index.php

The teachers are busy doing pilot classes...
http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2016/04/sisters-by-nancy-cucci-pilot-class.html

https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2016/04/28/sisters-with-nancy-cucci/

and hearing about signups for their classes.
http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2016/04/it-is-official-i-have-been-notified.html

Stay tuned for more fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 27, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.