The Easter Bunny Wears a Tie

This is seriously off-topic but with Easter coming, I thought you would enjoy seeing what to do with those old silk ties you always hated but wouldn't throw out because they were so expensive.
http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/03/silk-dyed-eggs.html

The above canvas is a Shelly Tribbey design, by the way.

http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/canvas/holiday/easter/

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

Once Again, the Yarn Harlot Speaks Truth

The Yarn Harlot often says exactly what I'm feeling. Since she's a knitter, I occasionally find this odd. I don't knit, you know. I know how, but I don't much enjoy it. However, when you think about it, needlepoint and knitting are needlework, and we practitioners of these things have a lot in common, even if I can't wear my needlepoint on my feet--unless I do needlepoint slippers which I have decided I will avoid since I'd be too frightened to actually *wear* the things.

Come to think about it, how on earth do knitters talk themselves into wearing works of art like these?
http://mimoknits.typepad.com/knitting/2006/09/sock_season_soo.html

Back to what the Yarn Harlot was saying. Go read her blog and then come back. I'll wait. I need to do some more tent stitches on Holi's background anyway....
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2009/04/04/the_opposite_of_alert.html

Back already? Gosh, I thought I'd get more done. You were fast! (Or I am a slow stitcher. LOL)

The Yarn Harlot describes our situation as needlepointers pretty well, doesn't she? We live in a place and time that doesn't value hand work. The only place we can go to find someone who really understands us is gatherings of other needlepointers, folks who know us, admire our work, understand the problems we've overcome and applaud us for it. But the yearly ANG Seminar isn't always close by, guild meetings are often at bad times for us, and even getting to a good shop isn't always easy. Thank God for the Internet.

If you belong to the ANG email list, if you have a favorite online shop that helps you out whenever you call or email, if you've taken a cyberclass or used the free charts and stitches available at various sites, well, you know the power of the Internet to fuel our creativity and our needlepoint. It's how we overcome the distance and loneliness and find folks like us.

It's how we all ended up here.

So the next time you visit your favorite blogs to enjoy the stitching of friends you have never met and maybe never will, the next time you place an email order for that canvas you have lusted for that is on sale at a shop a thousand miles from you, the next time a friend in another country sends you some local threads and you reciprocate, the next time you learn about new threads or designers or shops, think of how much the Internet has enriched your stitching life.

I'm grateful. I just hope that somewhere someone is capturing all this web NP for posterity. Or in 200 years folks will be piecing together the story of needlepoint in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries and they won't know who we were.

But our needlepoint will speak for us. So do the best you can. It's history you are stitching. Our history.

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

Charted and Sideways (April SOTM)

ANG has finally been able to post a charted version of their Stitch of the Month (SOTM) project on their website. If you want to stitch The Glittering Kimono along with Tony Minieri but you aren't comfortable printing out a line drawing, enlarging it, and tracing it onto 18 count needlepoint canvas, visit this link.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2009/images/jan-tres.jpg

To see the 2009 Stitch of the Month project (a new stitch each month makes up this fabulous kimono pattern) head to ANG's website and pick the 2009 entries.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

The April stitch (Nobuko Variant) just went up and you see my rendition of it above, stitched in one strand of mauve-pink Impressions, color # 2054. If you are wondering why my stitch is turned sideways, I found it easier to stitch this way. Turned upright the way Tony diagrammed it, I kept missing the count. I finally turned the canvas 1/4 turn so that the left side was on top and stitched Nobuko Variant in vertical rows. Of course you have to turn your diagram also, and you see it turned to the side the same way in the photograph.

It's very pretty. I was a bit worried that Impressions would be too thick for congress cloth (I wanted to use ecru canvas but I didn't have any 18 count) but it looks good. Since this is a mystery project and we don't know what it looks like, I am just posting photos of the various stitched sections for now. Once more of the kimono is filled in, I'll show you more of what my version looks like.

Kudos to ANG for talking the lovely lady who charted this pattern into letting them use it on the website and for tracking down Tony Minieri (who was on the road teaching) for permission to chart his pattern for the counted thread crew!

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

Elegant Accessories

Yesterday was the Glitzy Accessories class, today we have antique sewing accessories. And what accessories they are! There are twelve pages, each more beautiful than the last. The swan scissors in their case is just the first delight.

http://www.needleworkantiques.com/gallery_of_needlework_tools.html

I've had a lot of fun this morning reading the descriptions and thinking now I'll know what the sewing tools mentioned in 19th Century novels look like.

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

Glitzy Accessories and Other Classes

The latest Shining Needle Society class is open for registration. This time your teacher is the fabulous Carole Lake and the project the Glitzy Accessories shown above. You pick your colors, Carole will teach you the rest.

Here, straight from the SNS class announcement, are the details:

"Who: This class is intended for the student who loves to combine threads and stitches, who doesn't mind buying her own supplies, and wants to work on something that is easily finished and that she can actually use! What: A name tag, a tasseled frame weight, a laying tool case a scissor case, a needle book and a scissor fob. Yes, there are SIX items that you can make -- all in the same class! Why: Do-able, finish-able, fun projects with real life uses after class. Learn handling techniques for various threads in unusual places. We will start from the ground up, deciding on sizes and color placement, making guided decisions all the way. Do-it-yourself finishing is included in the class, as well as tassel and twisted cord making. Why not?

You'll love creating these small pieces of useful needleart in Watercolours, Neon Rays or ribbon floss, Kreinik #16 metallic, pearl cotton and beads on colored 18 ct. canvas. You can choose to make all your accessories match by using the same colors and threads, or you can experiment with those wild colors that you've wanted to use, but that don't seem to fit anywhere else. You don't have to buy a kit of threads you may or may not like; you can even raid your stash!

Details: The teacher for this project, Carole Lake, will post pictures of the each accessory as it is being worked, and will be in contact via email during the class. She will answer questions and give advice about all phases of the workshop, including finishing. Because choosing your own favorite threads and colors is an integral part of this class, no kit is offered. The pieces are stitched on 18 count colored canvas, and the threads are generally available. While we would prefer that you consult your own local needlework store, we realize this is not possible for everyone. The teacher will, upon request, provide mail order sources. She will also be available for color consultation via email anytime after you sign up for the class.

A detailed thread list will be mailed to each student upon registration. The amount you will spend for supplies depends on what you can raid from your stash and how many of the accessories you ultimately stitch. The teacher used Watercolours, pearl cotton, Neon Rays, and Kreinik metallic, but you can make substitutions. The pieces are stitched on colored 18 ct. mono canvas, and the canvas color is a part of the design.

Level: All levels, if able to thread a needle and follow stitch diagrams Technique: Canvas Time: Three months What you will get when you register: Your registration fee includes a booklet with comprehensive instructions for stitching and finishing plus full size color photocopies of the pieces.

Design sizes: Name Tag: 4" x 6" (varies with length of name) Scissor Fob 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Frame Weight 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Laying Tool Case 2"x 6" (varies with length of tool) Scissor Case 3" x 4" Needle Book 5" x 3"

You will need to provide (a detailed list will be provided but the general requirements are listed below): Canvas and all threads for stitching (you'll have a choice of working the pieces all on one large piece of canvas or on six small pieces) UltraSuede and all threads for finishing Stretcher bars to fit the canvas size(s) you are using Tacks or staple gun to attach the canvas on top of the frame Tapestry needles sizes 18 through 24 Needle for beads, such as a #28 tapestry or a #10 crewel needle The "classroom" for class will be a dedicated mailing list.

You will receive a "lesson" each week for six weeks, plus a finishing lesson. In between lessons, the teacher will be available to answer any questions. In addition, the teacher may post visual aids (stitched samples, expanded charts, etc.) to the Yahoo website.

Class begins May 1st and the online class will run for three months. The total cost for this class is $50 ($55 for international) per student, which includes postage. The instructions contain clear, complete directions for both stitching and finishing. Also included are close-up full size color photos of each piece.

As the class progresses, completed pieces from students who want to submit them will be available so everyone can see the wonderful color combinations. The instructor will mail your booklet to you after your class registration payment is received and processed. Class fee includes booklet with complete instructions for stitching and finishing, postage to mail that booklet to you, teaching fee and SNS administrative fee. Student supplies all stitching materials. This is a great project to use up stash! Students who have previously taken this class may 'audit' the class for $20 using their existing directions. NOTE: With this class, Carole is furnishing a new booklet of instructions for these projects. However, if you took the class before with the old directions, you can still easily follow along with the class. The only reason to acquire the booklet would be to have the fancy new booklet! Payment can be made by check or by credit card using PayPal. To sign up for the class, send an email to the instructor, Carole Lake who is carole@carolelake.com

http://www.carolelake.com/TeachingPieces/Glitzy.htm

and let her know if you would prefer to pay by check or PayPal. Carole will email you the proper invoice for payment. Class begins May 1, so don't delay! We hope you will enjoy this new learning opportunity with Shining Needle Society."

To take the class you need to be a member of SNS but that's the easy part. Just click on the link to SNS's website that you'll find on Carole's class description page. Email the address you see on the SNS site and BINGO! You'll be a member of SNS and able to sign up for any class you like.

The hard part is choosing a class. I plan to post about more class opportunities other places on the WWW shortly. This message is getting too long!

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