Fruitcake?

Vicky has just finished her Kirk and Hamilton piece for the Winter TNNA show in February. It's a figgy pudding! I have no idea what that is but Vicky thinks it is a bit like fruitcake.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/now-bring-us-some-figgy-pudding/

To try and get an idea of traditional British puddings I visited Ivan Day's website.  I think boiled puddings are probably the most like Vicky's figgy pudding.
http://www.historicfood.com/English%20Puddings.htm

If you want to read more about British food history and puddings, visit Ivan's blog.
http://foodhistorjottings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/pudding-king.html

http://foodhistorjottings.blogspot.com/2012/08/one-family-and-empire-christmas-pudding.html

Whether you are interested in food or not, Vicky's very British pudding is a delight to see.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Monthly Club News

Recently I've been putting monthly club news on the Monthly Club tab so that everything is in one place for those who are interested in browsing the huge range of clubs that area available. But since two shops just posted about new clubs, I was tempted to announce them here as a reminder to check the monthly club news occasionally.  Even if you are not in the market for a club, it is fun to see the varied ways they are stitched.

Pocket Full of Stitches is the shop I credit with the monthly club craze.  They offered a variety of clubs before any other shop as far as I know.  The newest club is Blessings, a series of fancy crosses from A Collection of Designs, perfect for meditative stitching.  It starts next January.  Here are the models for almost all the series.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2012/11/blessings-stitched.html

Needle Works just posted the last Labors of Love elephant model (it's a humdinger!) from their current and announced that the new club for next year is a Nativity set by Brenda Stofft.  The Nativity set club will also start up next January.
http://www.stitchinginthetexashillcountry.com/the_needle_works/2012/11/new-nativty.html

What fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Presencia for Christmas?

I like Presencia's perla cotton a lot but I don't know if I'd go as far as to give it as a Christmas present.  (Obviously there aren't enough stitchers on my Xmas list.)  Receiving some, though, that would be terrific!
http://needlemenow.blogspot.com/2012/12/think-thread.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Christmas Shoe Surprise

You are going to love the story of a pair of wonderful needlepoint slippers.  I won't say more, just go read it and enjoy.
http://maisoncourouge.blogspot.com/2012/11/paved-with-good-intentions.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Introducing Patchwork Santa UPDATED

I've been remiss in not mentioning the photo of Patchwork Santa which has decorated Blog for Christmas for a couple of weeks now. This JB Designs canvas was stitched by Mimi Maddox who graciously gave him to me. He's presided over Christmas celebrations here in Chilly Hollow ever since. I think he is magnificent!  He was stitched in a Carole Lake class at Needle Works years ago but the design with Carole's guide is still available. Stephanie has stitched him, too.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2012/12/patchwork-santa.html

There is also a Mrs. Patchwork Santa.  She's in my stash, waiting her turn to be stitched and made up to join Santa in overseeing all the fun during the holidays.
http://bristlythistle.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/patchwork-santa-needlepoiint/

I hope Santa brings me more hours in the day for Christmas!

UPDATE:  Here's another Mrs. Patchwork.
http://www.canvasesbegone.com/blog/christmas-tree/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com