Remember Stars?

Tony Minieri's Stars

Looking back through Blog's postings, I see I put Stars for the New Millennium away October 26 when I started Luna.  I am home for a few days before another trip so I think I'll pick up where I left off and see if I can get the middle block in the next to last row finished.  There's not enough time to do anything on Luna but I hope I can complete Marilyn Monroe before I am off again.

Counted canvaswork lovers should note that Nancy's Needle has updated their website with the new designs from this fall.  Most of the designs seem to be based on traditional quilt patterns.  Recently I've seen four of the NN designs stitched and they are magnificent. My favorite is a Desert Star in warm pinks and roses with touches of orange sherbet and pale blue, but Evening Star is magnificent in the original colorway.
http://www.fromnancysneedle.com/Whats%20New.htm

http://www.needleandi.com/store/products.php?cat=7&pg=3

Everyone have fun browsing while I pull out my Stars book, set up the floor stand and pull out the threads Tony wants me to use to stitch Marilyn.  Remember, my colors are violet (A), black (B), terracotta (C) and copper metallic (D).

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

My Prayers Have Been Answered UPDATED

 The fabulous painted canvas designer SharonG is writing a book!  It will be called SharonG’s Simply Essential Needlepoint Stitch Collection.  It's due out in February which means you'll start seeing it in the shops in the spring.  You probably have seen Sharon Garmize's canvases in your shop or online.  Here's her website.

http://www.sharong.com/

You might not know Sharon herself is a fabulous stitcher.  I own several of her wonderful stitch guides, which are worth collecting even if you never plan to stitch the canvas the guide describes because they are full of great ideas and diagrammed stitches that can be used other places.  Lately she's been teaching in some of the larger shops and has distilled what her students want to know about stitching painted canvases into a book.

She tells me it will be a spiral-bound format with one stitch to a page in a 5x8 size.  Perfect to cart around with you in your stitching tote bag, in other words.  This first book will diagram sixty of the most useful and useable stitches she recommends to her students, plus include a little hint about each. There isn't going to be a lot of text. SharonG believes hardly anyone reads it. She thinks folks simply want a good diagram and a short explanation.  Sharon plans to publish more books with the later ones covering more oddball stitches, many of which she has created herself.)

So stay tuned.  I've seen the draft of the first book and it is going to be terrific for the painted canvas fanatic.  (Which would be me.  Wonder if I should buy two copies for when I wear the first one out?)

UPDATE:  The title of the new book has been changed to make the cover fit with the wire binding better.  The new book will be called SharonG’s Simply Essential Needlepoint Stitch Explanations. It is now subtitled "SharonG’s Needlepoint Sense" since this is the first in a series that will bear the same subtitle. I can't wait to have several volumes of SharonG's NP Sense on my bookshelves!


UPDATE #2:  SharonG has updated her blog with a description of the first book.
http://sharongneedlepointdesigner.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-gave-birth.html

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

Clubs for the Fireside

This morning's messages included one from Fireside Stitchery announcing their 2011 clubs.  There are candy canes, carolers and a cow--plus an acorn and corncob club to celebrate Autumn.  You can see the canvases and read more about each club on Fireside's website.
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/clubs/index.cfm?fuseaction=getClubList&CategoryId=3&clubState=future

Fireside's email also mentioned their eBay sales program.  Got excess stash?  They will sell it for you and reimburse you via a shop credit or in cash.  Again, check their website for details.
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/ebay/index.cfm

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

The New Year Approaches

January 2011 is almost here.  For us stitchers, that means the TNNA trade show in less than two weeks is going to tempt our favorite shop owners with the latest things available.  A great many painted canvas designers are starting to post hints about their new designs.  Were you a fan of the Kelly Clark pear series last year?  It looks like this year she is doing a set of candy canes.
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2010/12/national-candy-cane-day-december-26th.html

Teachers are showing off new things, too.  Terry Dryden is showing off her latest design which is called Sahara.  She does lovely abstracts full of color and pattern which are a delight when they are finished. She's going to post progress reports as she stitches the original, too.
http://www.terrydryden.com/-blog/2010/12/26/finally-moved-and-sahara.html

Anne Stradal is continuing to design and then stitch her Nutcracker ornament series.  The next one has three little ballerinas in the Dance of the Flowers.  Even if you aren't interested in the ballet, you'll want to get this for the tiny dancer in your life, or just watch to see how Anne fixes the problem of making a pink background and pink skin look different.
http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2010/12/waltzing-flowers.html

Squiggee is bringing flamingos to Market!  If you are curious, there's a link to a slideshow of all the new items here.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/squiggee-is-busting-out-all-over.html

Patt and Lee Designs are new to Market and are explaining all the things they have to do to get ready to go and sell themselves to the shops.  It's fascinating reading for anyone interested in the business of needlepoint.
http://pattandleedesigns.blogspot.com/

There are other new products available.  Kreinik now has gold and silver paillettes.  Sequin lovers unite!
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2010/12/kreinik-gold-and-silver-paillettes.html

LilyStitch has new miniature travel scissors of a kind I've never seen before.  Your mom rocks.
http://lilystitch.blogspot.com/2010/12/giving-thanks-to-my-mom.html

Finally, Janet Perry has a review of the newest Carolyn Hedge Baird book.  If you are on the fence about this one, read the review and decide whether to ask your shop owner to pick up a copy for you.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepointing-in-your-nest-book-review

On another topic entirely, I think you'll enjoy Plays With Needle's photo essay.  Good job capturing the moment, Susan.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2010/12/littlest-angel.html

Now Watson and I are going out to play in the snow....

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

The Morning After

It's the day after Christmas and I'm sure we all ate too much.  So before we all take yet another nap, here are some fun holiday things to dance through your needlepoint dreams.  Robin has been decorating with stockings and with nutcrackers. How festive!
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/12/stockings-galore.html

http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/12/nutcrackers-and-smokers.html

Lilystitch has wonderful Santas for us to delight in.
http://lilystitch.blogspot.com/2010/12/santa-claus-is-comn-to-town.html

Nimble Needle's finished Kelly Clark pears are gorgeous.  Thank you for the beautiful items, ladies.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2010/12/trio-of-pears.html

Peggi has a great idea for finishing next year's Christmas ornaments!  I bet you can pick up some holiday wine bags right now at a good price, too.
http://phoenixneedlepointnews.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-christmas-needlepoint-idea.html

If you can't face another Christmas ornament right now but you do want something small to stitch, Squiggee has hats, sweaters and mittens that would make delightful ornaments.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/very-seasonal.html

And Barbara Bergsten has an idea how to avoid all the Christmas madness next year.  LOL
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2010/12/needlepoint-holiday-saying.html

Laura Perin is creating new designs that are just perfect for the new colored canvases from Nature's Palette.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2010/12/silver-stars.html

Finally, I have a wonderful story of a pair of rescued Christmas ornaments and a miracle for Christmas.
http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/rescued/

http://www.gayannrogers.com/site_2/Christmas_Story.html

Watson says Merry Christmas to all.

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