Needlepoint America To the Rescue

Melita is on a road trip to Kennebunkport, Maine and needed thread.  Fortunately for her, she found some and fortunately for us, she tells us all about it here.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2016/06/05/forest-glen-and-maine-roadtrip/

Here is the shop website, just in case you need a browse.
http://needlepointamerica.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 5, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Gucci or Tess & Thorn?

Tess &Thorn talk about the endless question--couture or custom?
http://www.tessandthorn.com/from-the-studio/2016/04/04/chapter-two

Personally I wouldn't pay for couture--I'd stitch my own.  Even the bag finishing is going to cost much less than a Gucci handbag.

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

A Tale of Jealousy in Needlepoint

The Baltimore Museum of Art has done a video about a late 17th Century pillow that illustrates the story of Hagar, Abraham and Abraham's wife.
https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/narrative-needlepoint-baltimore-museum-art/

The video narrator talks about the fact that the story all occurs in the same dimension, even though in space and time the story would be laid out more like a cartoon in different panels.    I found that interesting because for us 21st Century needlepointers, the choice of designs is often a window into our mental processes, not a straightforward narrative.  It's also interesting that so few needlepoint designs today tell a story at all, much less in such a compact way.

Some designers do tell stories, of course.  Think about Annie Lane's animal pieces.  "Granny's Wild Ride" is a short story in and of itself.
http://www.wellesleyneedlepoint.com/AnnieLaneDesigns.shtml

But most designers only hint at what is going on, leaving the stitcher to fill in the blanks mentally as they stitch.  A good example of this is "Miami Beach" from Otto Agular/Purple Palm Designs.
http://www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/feature.php?id=31016&title=Miami%20Beach&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases

Is the couple walking on the beach breaking up? Sharing secrets?  Or just getting exercise?  Today we mostly add the narrative as we stitch, instead of stitching the narrative.

But I could be wrong.  Have you stitched a story yourself?  One that is as easily interpreted as Hagar's Pillow?

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

Words of Stitching Wisdom

Katherine has a few words of wisdom for us as she stitches on her Nativity set.
http://bootsandbeads.blogspot.com/2016/06/what-a.html

She's right, you know.  Many times we don't think about the process, just the end result.  Me, I'm all about the adventure, so ripping out is just part of it.  However, I would advise the perfectionists among us to relax and be kind to yourself a bit.  And the slap dash among us (that would be me) can learn not to settle for second best.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 15, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Today's Smart Cookie Award Winner

Carolyn Hedge Baird just posted a great tip on her Facebook page for working black threads on black canvas-she lightly colors the black area with a white pencil.
https://www.facebook.com/nestndlpt/photos/a.141837499194211.26316.141607859217175/1183412585036692/?type=3&theater

Jan, you are one Smart Cookie!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 15, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.