Cupcake and Other Monthly Pleasures

The little man holding a cupcake in the Canvas of the Day spot on the left is from the new Raymond Crawford monthly fairy canvas series for Needlenook of LaJolla. He's the only one stitched and pictured on their website but you can see the other designs by clicking on the photo on their site in the link below (or click on the picture on the left itself as all Canvas of the Day photos link to the original site). The monthly clubs announced earlier this year have links on this same page so you can look for a design series to your taste. http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/

NN of LJ isn't the only store with new club announcements. You will love Fireside Stitchery's new flower, patchwork bear and Rebecca Wood Nativity set clubs. Click on the photo in the upper left hand corner of their site to see them all.
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/FS/index.cfm

If you can't make a commitment for so many pieces, you'll want to see the newest Melissa Shirley purse canvas which has been unveiled on the Beaddecked and Beaddazzled website. It's called Mellow Yellow and is a charmer, much like B&B's owner Ruth Schmuff. http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/details.php?pid=11070&nFirstCatId=181&cname=1478&pname=Mellow+Yellow+Blossoms
Finally, if your pockets are empty and you already have too much stash hidden under the bed, you can browse the gallery of finished pillows on display at Key Stitches. I got a little teary-eyed at the dog memorial pillow and I bet you will, too. http://www.keystitches.com/Key_Stitches/pillows.html

Here's a big "Thank you very much!" to all the shop owners whose websites above are an inspiration and delight to all us stitchers.

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

Holi's Hem Without Beads

Last night I finished couching the hem to Holi's robe and started the basketweave down the right side of the piece next to the hem. I ran out of steam before I added beads but probably I will need to wait until all the background is in to attach them so I don't snag threads on the raised beads. I might do what Judy Harper does and skip the basketweave stitch on an intersection that isn't a bump right next to the hem. Then I can have the beads along that edge in the little skipped tent stitch "hole" so they sit better and don't wiggle.

Beads are big wigglers (think kindergarten kids attempting to sit still listening to a story) and you have to Take Precautions!

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

More Couch Time

Sadly, I don't mean time lazying around on the couch, I mean couching my heavy Kreinik with my light Kreinik to add the hem at the base of Holi's skirt. I've gotten a lot of tent stitch background done but before I can veg out each night and carry that down the right side of the pet guardian angel ornament I need to do the couching at the hem.

I'm thinking about putting beads on the hem, too. Holi says she isn't cheerful enough....

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

More Traditional Needlepoint Rugs

The Mrs. Blandings style blog has more about needlepoint rugs you'll enjoy.
http://mrsblandings.blogspot.com/2009/03/more-still.html

I also found a photograph of Mrs. Bush's most famous needlepoint project, her rug.
http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/image.php?id=2465

You can buy a cross stitch kit of one of the floral motifs from her rug.
http://www.posycollection.com/bush/texasbouquet.html

I hope this makes you consider a needlepoint rug of your own!

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

For the Traditional Needlepointer

Beverly R. sent me a note about this post on the style blog Mrs. Blandings which describes a lady who needlepoints rugs a' la Mrs. George Bush Sr.
http://mrsblandings.blogspot.com/2009/04/gros-point.html

The blog led me to this website which reproduces the Seasons magazine article referred to. Note, clicking on images enlarges them and the text to readable size. (At least it did for me--this might depend on the computer software you have.)
http://www.seasonsmagazinedigital.com/seasonsmagazine/2009spring/?folio=64

I've also got a great lesson from Judy Harper on how to create letters for your Christmas stocking. What is more traditional that stitching holiday stockings for friends and family?
http://fairy-crafts.blogspot.com/2009/04/names-on-stockings-how-to-tutorial.html

If you read Needlepoint Now magazine you will have seen an article about a lady who takes old needlepoint pieces and makes them into wonderful pillows. You can read the article online at her blog (click on the magazine cover photo) and see photos of her latest pieces. There's are links to the Boutique where you can buy a remade piece of your own, or at least enjoy the lovely finishing, as well.
http://cest-chouette.blogspot.com/

Continuing my theme of traditional needlepoint, here is a link to a museum in Holland with lots of photos of old needlepoint and other types of stitching. You don't need to read Dutch to enjoy the photos.
http://m-silkwork.blogspot.com/2009/04/embroidery-at-rijksmuseum.html

Finally, silk wrapped purl may be available again as a thread after centuries. You can read a bit about it here on the blog of the lady who is reporting on the reproduction of the Plimoth Plantation embroidered jacket. I've seen the new Gilt Sylke Twist which reproduction sampler and embroiderers are drooling over. This is another thread in our tool kit which will be fun (although probably expensive) and a doorway into our stitching ancestors' lives.
http://thistle-threads.com.mytempweb.com/blog/index.php/2009/04/silk-purl-another-ripple/

Many thanks to Beverly R. who started me down this path of looking for links for those of us who appreciate traditional needlepoint! Wish I could have thanked you in person but your Replay function on the Yahoo 360 message system is turned off.

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