A Sale at Ruth Kern Books

Ruth Kern has some great books on sale at her blog.  Not all are needlepoint, but many are.
http://ruthkernbooks.blogspot.com/2020/02/januaryfebruary-2020-creation-is-drug-i.html

If something interests you, just contact Ruth.  Here's how:

Give us a call Monday through Saturday at: 602-943-0738. If you get the dreaded message please don't be shy about leaving a message for me. I'll get back to you ASAP.  Or you can e-mail me at: rkern3@mindspring.com.  Or mail your order to: Ruth Kern Books  7235 N. 9th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 24, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Creating a Case for Your Smart Phone UPDATED

Morgan Julia Designs has a fun tutorial on turning a needlepoint design into a cell phone cover.
https://morganjuliadesigns.com/blogs/news/diy-needlepoint-phone-case

It didn't go to plan but she has ideas on how to fix that.

Zazzle lets you turn photos into stickers to cover those clear cases.  That means you can take a photo of your favorite piece of needlepoint and make it into a case.  I think it's probably smart to get permission of the designer before you use a photo of their work, though.  It's polite to do so and probably might head off questions from the folks that make these items about copyright.
https://www.zazzle.com/custom/cases

The Case Studio takes it even further with their designs and the ability to use your own photographs if you prefer.  They offer cases for phones, laptops and tablets.
https://thecasestudio.com

UPDATE:  Colour Complements has another version of a stitched phone case.  This one is on fabric and done in pattern darning but the idea is the same.
https://colourcomplements.com/2020/03/smart-phone-case-embroidered-colour-complements-floche.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Do You Like Real Stitch Samples?

Quite a few folks want their stitch dictionaries to have photos of the stitches stitched, preferably in color, along with diagrams. As this adds substantially to the cost of publishing, not a lot of books have this.  But there are books that do have photos of the stitches.  The last time this question was asked on NP Nation, I started a list.  Note that many of these are out of print and that I haven't seen many of them, so I don't know if they actually have photos of the stitches.  The folks recommending them say that do, but on social media, folks don't often read carefully and therefore they answer incorrectly.

Jo I. Christensen's Needlepoint Book, all editions (photos are black and white)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-needlepoint-book-jo-ippolito-christensen/1118892276

SuZy Murphy's books all have photos of the stitches in the back, some black and white, a few in color.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Needlepoint-Book-SuZys-Darn-Stitches-OOP-Suzy-Murphy-reference-stitching-patter-/283637737379

The Got Stitches? series, available from Gone Stitching.
http://www.gonestitching.net

The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden - Half of the stitches are on fabric, half on needlepoint canvas
https://www.needlenthread.com/2007/12/book-review-embroidery-stitch-bible.html

Needlepoint Dictionary of Stitches by Susan Sturgeon Roberts.  Available on Kindle.  Susan has a website with stitch diagrams where you can buy her books.
https://www.needlepointteacher.com

Stitch Sampler by Lucinda Ganderton, with all photos in color.  British author so may be easier to find in the UK.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/stitch-sampler-the-ultimate-visual-dictionary-to-over-200-classic-stitches_lucinda-ganderton/300719#isbn=0135011574&idiq=33976833

Mary's Whimsical Stitches by Mary Legellet doesn't have photos in the book but does include URLs to type into your computer to see stitched examples.
http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/marys-whimsical-stitches

I'd like to warn folks shopping for needlepoint books to be careful about buying on Amazon.  Often the prices are very inflated.  If a book is out of print, you might find a bargain, but you might not.  It's best to look for books at your favorite needlepoint store, on eBay, at the Book Depository, or through the folks who specialize in needlepoint books.  Links below.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com

https://www.needleworkbooks.com

https://ruthkernbooks.blogspot.com

https://www.bookdepository.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Painted Pony Angel Trivia

This post about Painted Pony angel trivia had me smiling.
https://www.facebook.com/PaintedPonyDesigns/photos/a.650201021703545/2857938980929727/?type=3&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 14, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

And Once Again We Are Fashionable

Apparently the style now called "Grandmillennial" incorporates needlepoint and other forms of embroidery into a home design philosophy that is both personal, traditional and modern.
https://www.tmj4.com/grandmillennial-is-the-newest-home-decor-style/

By the way, I took the quiz linked to above.  Apparently I am a grandmillennial despite my advanced age.

Frankly, folks, people with a style of their own are always fashion-forward!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 14, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.