The Bayeux Tapestry on Needlepoint Inspires Novel

Needlepoint Now as alerted us to this fascinating story of how a reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry on needlepoint canvas has inspired a novel.
https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/mother-s-masterpiece-tapestry-inspires-deborah-gaal-s-first-book/article_4e5a4c3a-ec9d-580f-887f-4000d9e07b41.html?fbclid=IwAR05M9WkmRhhsTlIfhJJI_A0ExsisQtTz1xHxvnUbWR14I4pu56PLQsm_kg

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 9, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Woodstock for Christmas Santa Hat

Background Done!

I finished the background for my Woodstock Christmas ornament! Hurrah! I like how it looks in the dark Christmas green.  Of course I may have to adjust the shade of brown I choose for the guitar but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, right?

Speaking of getting to it, now that the background is finished, I need to decide what to do next.  I'm pretty sure I want to bead the ornament hanging from the guitar, so that needs to be last.  I find it easier to wait until everything else is done to add beads because threads catch on them.  Since that's going to be last, I think it makes sense to work the remaining parts of the ornament from the top down.  That will keep my hands off areas I've stitched.  Well, except for the background, of course.  I will be careful, however.

That means I will do the Santa's cap next.  I think it makes sense to do the fur on the cap first, then the red part of the Santa hat.  With that decided, I turned the canvas upside down to reach the area easily and worked the white fur with Planet Earth Wool in French knots.  I'd not used this wool before and it is quite nice.  It's a soft thread that is 90% merino wool mixed with 10% nylon, with a light twist, making it a bit thicker than Caron's Impressions.  Once I'd finished the trim around the face and the ball on the end of the cap, I used regular red Very Velvet and a size 18 needle to do long slanting stitches \ \ \ to create the rest of the headgear.

The Bird has A Cap!

The next area I'll work will be the bird itself as I work my way down toward the bottom of the canvas.  Stay tuned!

I am adding each week's progress report to a tab on the Chilly Hollow Stitch Guides blog.  If you want to catch up on what you missed or just re-read everything, it's all there.  Click on the Magic Carpet photo on the right side of this blog and you'll go straight there.  Click on the Magic Carpet photo there to return to Blog's home page.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 11, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Robots are Taking Over

A lot of folks have been commenting that the NTA show in Orlando had lots and lots of canvases featuring llamas and flamingos. That's true, but what really caught my eye were all the robots!

Besides Raymond Crawford's robots,
http://raymondcrawford.com/designs/robots/index.html

Kathy Schenkel had a Christmas robot mini sock,
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2019/04/orlando-market-our-finds-post-1.html

Needlepoint Inc. has a somewhat scary one,
https://needlepointinc.com/products/gray-robot

Actually, they have a lot of them!  I like the red one.
https://needlepointinc.com/collections/new-arrivals/robot

Waterweave has Robot Greetings, which makes me smile.
https://stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/feature.php?id=42269&title=Robot%20Greetings&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases

Pepita has a cute one with a heart beat monitor.
https://www.pepitaneedlepoint.com/product/kits-canvas/robot-one

It also comes with a buddy.
https://www.pepitaneedlepoint.com/product/kits-canvas/robot-buddies

Petei has a tiny robot.
https://www.needlepointbywildflowers.com/products/copy-of-canvas-wedding-groom-handpainted-needlepoint-canvas-by-petei-design-from-p-pony-1

You can even get a robot in a beginner's kit.
https://buttonbluecrafts.com/collections/craft-kits/products/robot-needlepoint-tapestry-anchor-1st-kit-3690000-20019

Or a more advanced kit you can personalize with a name.
https://needlepointus.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MDKHRobots&cat=26

This stitcher created an original design so she could incorporate LED lights into the robot.
http://theageingyoungrebel.com/needlepoint-robo/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 7, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Melita Goes to Class with Sandy Arthur

Melita had the chance to take several classes with Sandy Arthur at the new Rittenhouse Needlepoint location.  She had a blast!
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2019/04/07/bead-and-ribbon-classes-with-sandy-arthur-at-rittenhouse-needlepoint/

Sandy Arthur's website has a section on all the classes she offers.  Have fun browsing.  You can visit her Etsy store to pick up extra class materials, if there are any.
http://duodesignsinc.com/wpsite/

If you are going to be in the Philadelphia area and want to visit Rittenhouse (or just do a little online shopping), here's the link.
https://myneedlepoint.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 8, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Let's Get to Know Emily Peacock

Virginia Wolf Canvas, from Emily Peacock

The latest in Bobbin and Fred's interviews of needlepoint designers focuses on Emily Peacock who is better known in her native United Kingdom than here in the United States.  I was intrigued by what Emily says about copyright since intellectual property theft is something I am campaigning against on Facebook.  It's rampant and also shocking the number of folks who don't think selling someone else's artwork is stealing.
https://www.sewingwithbobbinandfred.co.uk/2019/04/lets-meet-emily-peacock.html

You'll have fun browsing Emily's kits.  Many of them are on 7 or 10 count Zweigart canvas, making them a fast stitch or perhaps a good choice if your eyes are currently bothering you.  She does 12 count printed designs, too.  The portrait of Virginia Wolf above is one of these printed canvases that comes in a kit with Appleton wool.
http://emilypeacock.squarespace.com/shop

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 5, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.