Christmas at Bed, Bath and Beyond

Many thanks to Jo I.C. who noticed that Bed, Bath and Beyond is going traditional this Christmas.
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/100-years-of-flight-hand-stitched-needlepoint-throw-pillow/1046974334

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/window-seat-kitty-needlepoint-square-throw-pillow/1046974426

Of course you can buy needlepoint stockings at LL Bean....
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/75284?&qs=3127501&cvosrc=ppc.bing.cotton%20needlepoint%20stockings&cvo_crid=%7Bcreative%7D&Matchtype=b&gclid=CNC8jJaPtdACFQJNNwodr_EMwA&gclsrc=ds

...and at Sears.
http://www.sears.com/search=needlepoint%20christmas%20stockings

They aren't high quality at any place but they do seem better than what I've seen in many years past.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 19, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

BREAKING NEWS: Sandy Rodgers Has Died UPDATED

I've just gotten confirmation that Sandy Rodgers, teacher, writer and stitcher extraordinary, has died.  She was a delightful person, a wonderful teacher for both ANG and EGA and a superb stitcher who did the most beautiful silk and metal embroidery on needlepoint canvas.   Plus Sandy wrote articles for all the needlepoint magazines for years and years.  I always enjoyed her profiles of new products immensely.
http://sandyrodgers.com

I am so sorry to have never had a change to take one of Sandy's classes.  My condolences to her family and friends.  We will miss her.
http://sandyrodgers.com/Classes/winterwhites.html

UPDATE:  The funeral service is planned for later this week.

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

Crewel Videos and Embroidery Tips

Once again Mary Corbet has mentioned things of great interest to embroiderers--that there are great videos on The Crewel Work Company's revamped website and EGA has published a booklet with embroidery tips that is available for online viewing or download.  Since needlepointers often use crewel stitches, you'll want to check this out.

The Crewel Work Company is a venture by Phillippa Turnbull and you can see her video collection here.  I may be prejudiced (I learned crewel embroidery before I learned needlepoint) but I think the skills used in crewel are very useful for needlepointers who love to embellish their work. If you have trouble with French knots, for example, Phillippa demonstrates how to make them. If you ever wanted to use fly stitch for bird feathers, watch her video first.
https://www.crewelwork.com/pages/videos

The EGA brochure is called "A Little Book of Embroidery Basics."  It really does cover the basics, from keeping your hands clean to learning how to start/end a thread.  If you want a refresher course, or just because you are learning, this is a great place to orient yourself before your next stitching project.
http://www.egausa.org/images/Resources/LittleBook_8x5_2016.pdf

And of course if you need a break from Holiday Madness, a good little book or a good little movie is the perfect thing to enjoy!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 19, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Self Finishing Videos

Folks who are tempted by self-finishing kits but who are a little intimidated by doing the finishing themselves will be interested to see the finishing videos by Point2Pointe, which offers kits for wine stoppers, needle magnets, and jewelry.   The videos show exactly how to finish their square and round canvases into the metal framework.  It looks like a quick, fun stitch for holiday presents.
http://www.point2pointe.net/finishing/

By the way, Amy Bunger talks about how to finish these step-by-step in her latest shop newsletter.
http://www.amybunger.com/f/1216.pdf

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

I Heart Backgrounds

Needlepoint for Fun shows off three pretty heart-shaped darning stitch backgrounds for your stitching pleasure.
http://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/three-ways-to-needlepoint-heart-patterns-as-darning-stitches.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 16, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.