Threadneedle Street Has a Button for YOU!

I subscribe to all the shop newsletters I can find. Yesterday's email brought me one from Threadneedle Street in Issqauah, Washington. This is my go-to shop for all things silk gauze and for books. It is a wonderful place and Denise the owner really knows her silks. The newsletter lists the new thread colors in Gloriana silks, Impressions, Soie Crystale, ThreadWorX floss, Neon Rays+, Crescent Colours and Weeks Dye Works flosses.

Denise also announced that Anchor is discontinuing colors in their perle cottons. I'm going to quote her in full here for the benefit of folks who have projects that use the Anchor perle cotton:

"Anchor is in the process of discontinuing a fairly large number of pearl cotton colors. We have never stocked much of the Anchor #3 pearl cotton, but in Germany they have discontinued nearly all available size 3 colors, and as a result, the US will no longer import size 3 Anchor at all. In size 5 pearl cotton, Anchor is discontinuing about one third of the colors. In size 8 pearl cotton they are also discontinuing about one third of the colors, and in size 12 pearl cotton, they will discontinue 12 out of 47 colors, leaving only 35 colors still available. Some inventory still remains of discontinued colors, but if you have a project requiring Anchor pearl cotton, this is a good time to check availability of colors and purchase any colors slated to be discontinued."

If you need more information, call or email Threadneedle Street. Please note that the Anchor floss colors are unchanged. Only their line of perle cottons is effected. Here is the website for Threadneedle Street.
http://www.threadneedlestreet.com/

The shop stocks a lot of books, including the new English Embroidery catalogue from the museum exhibit, SuZy Murphy's new Mini Stitches book, and of course buttons galore. above the the newest and oddest button in their collection--a bedpan button!

Well, you can't say Threadneedle Street doesn't make every effort to satisfy their customers.

By the way, I forgot to mention that if you visit Threadneedle Street's online shop, you can see their new painted canvases by clicking on Needlepoint at the top of the page, then finding 2009 Part I on the left side of the new page and clicking there.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Odette's Georgian Rabbit

The photo above came from South Africa where Odette is stitching the Georgian Rabbit from the Household Pet Guardian Angel series for the ANG Auction. Because the threads Odette has access to are not the same as what I can get in the U.S., the threadaholics Out There will really enjoy her description of her progress so far:

"The underskirt is done in rayon thread 99 by House of Embroidery and I used DMC Jewel effects E155 as the little in between thread. The overskirt was stitched in stranded cotton pansies by Chameleon Threads and the same DMC E155 in between. The borders were stitched with DMC no.4 2745 for the yellow flowers, another Chameleon Threads green apples, twisted rayon, for the leaves and lilac haze perle no 8 also by Chameleon Threads. The border stitch was done with Kreinik #8 007HL. We can get a little of Kreinik but don't get the colour range or the availability.

House of Embroidery and Chameleon Threads are both local. Via Laurie of Chameleon Threads has told me that she has an agent in USA! "

I was able to find Chameleon Threads' website but Google didn't find a U.S. distributor for me. Perhaps a blog reader has seen these in their shop?
http://www.chameleonthreads.co.za/

Here is House of Embroidery's website. They say they have a U.S. distributor also but again I failed to find one. Luckily it looks like both companies will do mail order.
http://www.houseofembroidery.com/h_page.asp

Nordic Needlecraft in the UK has a nice description of DMC's Light Effects Jeweled Effects metallics. I'll have to see if any of the stores here carry these.
http://www.nordicneedlecraft.co.uk/acatalog/DMC_Light_Effects.html

I love the fact that Odette is stitching her angel with local threads we won't have seen in the U.S. It makes this angel very special. Thanks for sharing, Odette. Your angel is coming along beautifully!


Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

More Kimberly

Judy Harper told me that Kimberly Crum (now Kimberly Smith) does some designing for her local shop, which happens to be the fabulous Needle Works of Austin, Texas. So here are a few more Kimberlys to admire, this time with a few kits, some painted canvases and a chart or two. Versatile lady, our Kimberly!
http://www.theneedleworks.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=116&osCsid=9b9721a0c78610694ef2338995f25539

Doesn't that reindeer ornament crack you up? Thanks, Judy!

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Tools, Beautiful Tools! UPDATED

It must be something in the air, because everywhere I look these days I see beautiful tools for stitchers like us. It all started when Gay Ann Rogers was busy at Callaway and asked her cyber students about our favorite scissors.

These are counted thread people who stitch on linen, do hardanger (which involves -gasp!- cutting holes in the ground fabric) and who stitch a lot. Their favorite brand seems to be Dovo scissors, so you should see if any of your local suppliers carry them and test a pair. However, the scissors we all want in Gay Ann's classroom are these French handmade beauties. Click on the thumbnail for a better view (and the price which will blow your socks off).
http://frenchneedlework.com/cgi-bin/general.pl?scissors-&scissors-

Naturally if you own something this gorgeous, you need a case to keep them in. Check out what Kimberly Crum has made! Yes, that's one view of the tool case above. There are more at her Etsy store.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14369302

UPDATE: I found the chart for stitching your own Kimberly tool case. Kimberly Crum no longer does charted designs so this is probably not widely available.
http://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Canvas_Embroidery/KIMs.html

UPDATE #2: This site also has what seems to be the matching chatelaine design.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/products.php?catid=13&firstcid=1

Of course it isn't as magnificent as this antique casket in the new catalogue for the 16th Century embroidery show you're been reading about if you follow Plimoth Plantation's stitching of a reproduction jacket typical of the period. But for me, it is a modern version of our age-old desire to have a container worthy of our most precious tools.
http://www.traditionalstitches.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TS&Product_Code=Twixt&Category_Code=NP

Of course now we need a new laying tool How about these smooth painted ones? They also sell chatalaines if you prefer your tools out where you can easily access them.
http://www.dazzlingornaments.com/layingtoolshome.html

http://www.dazzlingornaments.blogspot.com/

Friends rave about these wooden laying tools which are perfectly smooth and balanced and perfect for someone who wants a more minimal laying tool.
http://www.turn-of-the-century.com/embr.htm

Of course if you have scissors, you need scissors fobs.
http://www.urbanuniquities.com/

And magnets. Fireside has these on sale.
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/infoalerts/Specials/KelmscottDesigns/needleminders/index.cfm

That's enough for now!

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

I Fell Asleep in the Chair Last Night

So I didn't get any stitching done. All this snow shoveling and ice removal is wearing me out!

Luckily I had time to browse all sorts of neat things so there is something to show you this morning.

First of all, Orna Willis is having a sale. Her blog has the details and the sale code so you get 40% off her charted pieces. I've seen her work displayed and in person it is harmonious and fun instead of loud and brash as the designs seem in photos. Plus you can play with the colors and have something uniquely You. So check it all out.
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2009/02/quick-hello-and-good-news.html

Terry Dryden has released her kit of the month, the very beautiful Hydrangea Windows. I also have seen this in person. The photo doesn't show how lovely it is or the dimensionality of the ribbon hydrangeas. If you want a line drawn canvas and the instructions instead of working from the magazine issue, this is the time to buy it.
http://www.terrydryden.com/-blog/2009/2/3/february-threads-kit-hydrangea-window-garden.html

If you love seeing photos of finished pieces, Judy Harper and Gail Hendrix have blog entries to charm and entertain.
http://fairy-crafts.blogspot.com/2009/02/sea-horse-all-finished.html

http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/02/off-to-maine.html

If your druthers are to watch pieces unfold, then you want to go see Denise & Linda at the Stitching Sisters blog. Denise is working away on a Barbara Elmore interior. Right now the wall and fireplace are stitched and they look great!
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2009/02/feel-like-ive-built-house.html

If you are a history buff, this last website which Elmsley Rose uncovered will fascinate. Rose was looking for examples of Elizabethean embroidery and found some spectacular embroidered gloves. I am personally entralled by the Coronation Gloves. Look at that goldwork!
http://charlie.2-minute-website.com/site/trustfund.trial/

Personally I feel very lucky that we have so many stitching friends to visit when we aren't able to stitch ourselves.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow