Caution! Armadillos Here

What's with all those armadillo needlepoint canvases I keep seeing?

The above canvas is by Susan Roberts. It's for sale at an eBay auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Treglown-SW-Armadillo-HandPainted-Needlepoint-Canvas_W0QQitemZ120314322464QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120314322464&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

It works up nicely, as you can see in this pillow treatment by Chaparral.

http://www.ndlpt.com/html/kits.html

They also have the large and elaborate Melissa Shirley version of an armadillo in its natural habitat on their home page.

http://www.ndlpt.com/

Armadillos also come in pink.

http://www.changingwomandesigns.com/Animals.html

Or on cumberbunds.

http://www.clarkneedlepoint.com/finishing.php

Armadillos appear like magic on Alabama's deserted four lane highways, trundling along in the median and scaring drivers who are already spooked by not seeing any traffic for 10 miles. They also run like the wind when chased, particularly if the chaser is Jeff Corwin carrying a butterfly net.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4eAm64I4o&feature=related

Jane, victim of the Armadillo Fright once in CH

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Progress Update from Chilly Hollow

While I've been tent stitching around the wizard and working another project I can't show you, other folks have been busy. Stitch Niche in Mississippi has posted two newsletters. I always find their stitched projects inspiring.

http://www.needlepointyaya.com/newsletter/nwsindex.htm

Stitches by the Bay is doing a 3-D octopus class and one of candy corn (yumm!) dressed as a mummy for Halloween.

http://stitchesbythebay.com/classes.html

I've also posted one of Isabel's Originals canvases as my Canvas of the Day in the right hand column. Isabel's canvases are inspired by French style so the letters of the alphabet are made from French contortionists in traditional dress. The garden of the month canvases show Frenchwomen in their garden each month, with the correct plants for that time of year. They are dressed in 19th Century garb but in a modern touch, you will find zodiac symbols on their clothing. These are large and expensive designs but very beautiful. You can see them here. Click on "Hand Painted Canvases" at the bottom of the page and scroll through the gardens to find your favorite month. July is above.

http://www.isabelspocket.com/

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

While I've been tent stitching around the wizard and working another project I can't show you, other folks have been busy. Stitch Niche in Mississippi has posted two newsletters. I always find their stitched projects inspiring.

http://www.needlepointyaya.com/newsletter/nwsindex.htm

Stitches by the Bay is doing a 3-D octopus class and one of candy corn (yumm!) dressed as a mummy for Halloween.

http://stitchesbythebay.com/classes.html

I've also posted one of Isabel's Originals canvases as my Canvas of the Day over in the right hand column. Isabel's canvases are inspired by French style so the letters of the alphabet are made from French contortionists in traditional dress. The garden of the month canvases show Frenchwomen in their garden each month, with the correct plants for that type of year. They are dresses in 19th Century garb but in a modern touch, you will find zodiac symbols on their clothing. These are large and expensive designs but very beautiful. You can see them here. Click on "Hand Painted Canvases" at the bottom of the page and scroll through the gardens to find your favorite month.

http://www.isabelspocket.com/

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The House on Crow Corner UPDATED AGAIN

Halloween is coming soon and you know what is essential to a good scare? A haunted house!

The House on Crow Corner from Laura Perin (designer is Vicky Hastings/Cricket Collectioin of Dreamhouse Ventures) is shown above. Isn't using beads for autumn leaves clever? More information about how this was stitched and finished at Ms. Perin's blog.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/10/house-at-crow-corner.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/10/stitchers-beware.html

Apparently this is available as a XS chart also from Cricket Collection. The chart is called Three Gables.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2636315990101234019VZbaXl

Middle of page, pre-made house to use in displaying trick-or-treat standups, etc.
http://www.pfos.com/index.htm

Susan Roberts' 3-D Halloween House. Click on NP, then Halloween / Thanksgiving. The bottom of the page shows both the plain canvas and the stitched version assembled.
http://www.threadneedlestreet.com/

David McCaskill's 3-D Halloween house with a candle inside to add to the spook factor.
http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/storedir/proddetail.php?prod=dm_hallhouse

I'd love to trick or treat at any of these places. Happy Halloween!

UPDATE: Needle Works of Austin has this canvas for sale. Head to their website, click on Webstore, then Painted Canvases, and finally Click on Halloween. Or use the search function.

http://www.theneedleworks.com/

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month UPDATED

Most of us know someone who has had or is currently struggling with breast cancer. Because it is such a wide-spread disease, many NP companies, stores and designers have fund-raising efforts.

Pocket Full of Stitches and The French Knot are shops in the fore-front of fund raising.

http://www.pfos.com/

http://www.thefrenchknot.com/newsletter.html

If you subscribe to Needlepoint Now magazine, you've read Judy Harper's article about designers who donate part of their profits to breast cancer research. If you don't subscribe, Judy repeats some of what she wrote on her blog.

http://fairy-crafts.blogspot.com/2008/09/mrs-santa-has-heart-donations-for.html

Squiggee reports how this is working.

http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2008/09/mrs-santa-has-heart.html

Then Squiggee is inspired to widen her efforts towards raising money for all sorts of cancer types.

http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2008/10/special-squiggee.html

UPDATE: Ruth Schmuff tells me her shop has two new breast canvas canvases, one for dog people and one for cat lovers, available on your choice of 18 or 13 count. They are cute and different, and here's a link. Pet the critter of your choice!

http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/products.php?catid=183

Whatever you do to help find a cure for breast cancer, get yourself screened for the type of cancer that strikes your sex most. Remember, it's just been a year since my very dear sister-in-law discovered she has breast cancer and almost 15 years since my oldest and bestest friend underwent surgery for the same. Both are doing very well, but early detection helps a lot.

Get tested. Don't wait. I want you around to stitch plenty more with me!

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow