Review: The Stirling Self-Finishing Small Tote

Stirling Small Tote Front

Susan kindly loaned me a black Stirling bag which I've photographed for you.  Note the bag is black, not blue, but the morning light-camera combination turned it a lovely blue shade.  I guess I should be glad the camera didn't decide to make it the color of baby poop, right?

Stirling Tote Back

The bag above is the small tote bag.  The opening on the front is exactly 8 inches square and there is a sheet of paper you peel away inside the opening to expose the sticky back that you press your finished canvas against.  There is a small lip of leather all around the opening except at the top, where the overhang is much larger.  I think stitchers probably will want to put a row of tent stitches around their design's perimeter and perhaps do 2-3 rows at the top of the canvas.  I don't think anything will show but a row of stitches will prevent the bare canvas from showing if someone is looking at an angle.

Stirling Logo

The back side is all leather with the Stirling logo embossed at the top. The shoulder straps are roomy, long enough to go over your shoulder but not so long that you can't carry the bag by the handles without dragging it on the floor.

Interior with Pockets

The interior of the bag is plaid fabric protected by clear plastic.  Thee are three little pockets made from the same clear plastic.  The leather handles look sturdy and the outside leather is fairly thick and substantial.  The purse width is narrow. This is not going to hold a great many items but it will carry the basics in style.

Here's the Stirling website with all their products so you can see the colors available in the small tote bag besides black and see the other items they sell.
http://www.stirlingcases.com/products.php

I've only read one other review of the bags.  Linda had a problem with hers and got immediate attention that fixed it.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2010/07/sterling-bags-great-experience.html

I've seen the Lee leather bags in person.   They seem sturdier and more classic in style to me.  They are also more expensive.  If I wanted a bag that I'd use for a decade or more that would never go out of style or wear out, Lee is the way to go.  If you want a more fashion-oriented, cheaper bag that comes in a variety of colors that you can put away after a while, Stirling is the bag for you.

I hope with Christmas coming this is a useful review in case you wanted to put this on your wish list or were considering buying a Stirling bag for someone else.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

A Bit Behind But Still Here

I overslept this morning and then spent a while getting all the volunteer stitchers organized so I'm late posting to Blog. Sorry.  I have five volunteers with a problem canvas all lined up, ready to show off the canvas and ask for your ideas on how to stitch them.  The conversations will start Saturday and I hope everyone will chime in with ideas.  After all, this is an analysis and working plan for these designs, not a stitch guide that reports on something already stitched with exact directions on how to reproduce the pattern.  Many of Blog readers may have worked a similar canvas and can report what they did to give the volunteers ideas.  But they will have to try them all out and see how well they work before we know.  That probably won't be possible on Blog since most of the volunteers brought very large canvases with them.  But I hope next year sometime we'll get to see photographs of their finished work.  So put on your thinking caps!

In other news, Busy Needle has a big sale going on this week.  25% off everything in stock.
http://www.busyneedle.com/index.htm

Stitches from the Heart has a new photo of ScottLee up on their blog.  These are the folks who distribute Jean Hilton's designs and fans will enjoy seeing a new colorway.  Click on the photograph for a huge, wonderful look.
http://stitches-heart.com/different-colorway-for-scottlee/

I'll be back tomorrow more organized, I hope!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Wednesday is Laura J. Perin Day

I have very good news for fans of Laura Perin's charts--she has the latest seasonal long panel design finished and also has an oldie but goodie chart still available.   First up, Sara Leigh has photos of the finished Long Autumn panel on her shop website. It's a gorgeous mix of purples and oranges, tempered with ecru and perhaps a touch of blue.
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-laura-j-perin-design-long-autumn.html

Laura herself shows off an old design on her personal blog.  It's not one I'd seen before as it is not on her website.  It is subtle colors with black for emphasis and done all in tent stitches.  Perfect for those long winter evenings in front of the fire (or TV).
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/oldie-but-goodie.html

For folks who haven't visited Laura's website before, here it is.  There are free charts, along with lots of lots of stitching goodness.
http://laurajperindesigns.tripod.com/index.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

I Need a Volunteer From the Audience

Finishing Luna's gown took a very long time, especially since I've not had much time to work on it recently.  I'm getting ready to leave CH to stay with my mother who is ill.  So Luna is about to be put away.  While I am gone, I will have computer access but no way to upload photographs, so I am taking another piece to stitch.  I won't be posting about my stitching while I'm away since that's not going to be possible.

This is where you come in.  I need volunteers who have painted canvases hidden away that they love but haven't a clue how to start.  I will feature one of these a week (or so) and we'll talk about it publicly to come up with ideas of how to stitch each canvas.

To be featured here on Blog, you will need to send me either a link to a good online photo or you will have to email me a good photograph of your canvas that I can post.  I think (but I am not certain) I will be able to download photo attachments from emails and then upload them to Blog while I'm away.  (Since I don't know this for certain, we'll start with someone who sends me a URL of their problem piece.)  Remember, whether you send a photo or a URL, you will have to answer emailed questions from me promptly as to your preferences when it comes to threads and stitches, any ideas you have already, and your reactions to what I tell you on Blog.  I won't away give your name, however.  Only you and I will know you are volunteering.  You can choose any pseudonym you like.

Anyone who participates will need to be able to answer emails about their problem canvas right away and will see their answers (probably edited for length) here on Blog.

Do we have volunteers from the audience?  Please raise your hand by emailing me at chillyhollow at hotmail dot com.

Those who don't send in problem canvases can contribute by posting comments here with your ideas about the featured designs.  Sometimes it is easier to come up with ideas for someone else's canvas than your own.

Thanks everyone.  I think this is the best way for me to continue to talk about painted canvases without being able to show what I am currently stitching while I am away from home.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Calling All Thread Detectives

Remember when I talked about the new High Cotton five-ply floss from Hyla Hurley?  I did a review on Blog here.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/10/thread-review-high-cotton.html

Two different sources have told me they think the thread is rather matte (like Needle Necessities' Madras was)  but I thought it had more sheen to it than regular DMC cotton floss, both in the skeins and especially when stitched in long stitches.  In tent stitches it does look matte, or at least not any different than using DMC or Anchor floss in tent stitches.

I'm wondering if it was just the color I used (pale lavender), or if I am losing my mind. (There is heavy betting action on the latter.  LOL)  I am going to test stitch with other colors when I have time but for now, I'd love to hear from folks who have stitched with this thread about what they think.

I'll update the earlier review with a note about the matte/shiny decisions we all came to once I have more input.  So, what's your opinion?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow