Easter Crackers

Easter Crackers, Courtesy of Marilyn Owen

I've noticed that the rage for Christmas cracker shaped ornaments has taken hold here in the World of Needlepoint. It used to be just a counted thread thing, with dozens of designs available from most cross stitch and counted thread designers. But it was not a NP interest until recently when Melissa Shirley started designing small rectangular shapes to be made up into crackers.  Melissa has designed crackers for Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day and Easter.  (And Palma reminded me that there are a few for the 4th of July as well!)
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/?searchstring=crackers&searchlist=&Search=Search&dosearch=

Then Melissa tempted great stitchers to do stitch guides for them.  Laurie Walden and Cynthia Thomas have done guides for the Christmas crackers.  Palma Seijan's finishing up guides for the new Easter and Valentine's sets that are premiering this month at TNNA.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/index.cgi?index=1161107729_31742&col=

http://melissashirleydesigns.com/galsearch/index.cgi?index=1330034925_31843&col=

Now Marilyn Owen of Moore Than Needlepoint in North Carolina has joined in with a wonderful set of Easter crackers that are counted canvas work, not painted canvas.  Hurrah!  You can see them in detail in the link below  There is also an ad in the January 2013 issue of Needlepoint Now if you are a subscriber.  Several of the crackers will work for other times of the year if you aren't an Easter decorator.  For example, change the kite cracker's colors to a red, white and blue color scheme and you have a July cracker!  By the way, the instructions for each cracker (sold separately) include finishing instructions in case you want to try your hand at your own finishing for one of these, or use the instructions on other crackers in your collection.
http://www.moorethanneedlepoint.com/Crackers.html

If Marilyn's name seems familiar, she is the designer of the Folding Ort Box, Halloween Treat, and Ornament Quartet in the ANG Chapter Project Book, and created the design Sudoku Serendipity for Needle Pointers.  She also is part owner of Moore Than Needlepoint.  Upon exploring the shops website, I also discovered a wonderful limited edition Christmas ornament that would be quick to stitch up as a present for a golfing buddy or a friend who lives in the Pinehurst area.  Nobody in Pinehurst?  Substitute your own location or just your house number or even leave the lettering off.  

I think this is a shop and designer to keep an eye on....

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

Fashion Embroidery

Several months back someone posted a link to the first of two articles on fashion embroidery on the ANG email list. Part two is finally available, so here are both articles for those who are interested in fashion embellishment.
http://www.torontofashionblog.ca/history-of-embroidery-before-1900/

http://www.torontofashionblog.ca/embroidery-before-1900-part-2/

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

Monthly Clubs in Review

I haven't been posting on Blog about monthly clubs, just updating the tab that covers all the current Monthly Clubs (and some older clubs which are still available).  That doesn't mean there hasn't been a lot of club news, though.  For example, French Knot has removed the Petei Santa club from their website, although clicking on Petei in the left hand navigation bar will still take you to the photographs of their Petei Santas and the stitch guides for these no longer available canvases are still for sale.  If you happen to have one in your stash or manage to buy one on eBay, you can still get one of Diana Bosworth's fabulous guides for it.
http://www.thefrenchknot.com

Fireside happens to have added a new club of Melissa Shirley starfish that is dear to my heart as they are stitched by Palma Seljan as accessories for her Nepture and Queen of the Sea canvases she did for Fireside last year.  Amazing work!  Simple, but elegantly inventive, like all Palma's stitching.  Trust me, the photos don't do these justice!
http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/Clubs/index.cfm?fuseaction=getClubItems&CategoryId=3&clubNumberId=201

http://www.firesidestitchery.com/fs/clubs/index.cfm?fuseaction=getclubList&CategoryId=3&clubstate=classic

Here is what Diane has to say about the clubs she is joining in 2013.
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/01/two-great-clubs.html

The moral is, check out the Monthly Clubs tab occasionally.  I post new items at the top of the list.

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

Fans of the Christmas Gator Alert

The Christmas Alligator Decorates

This morning I stumbled across another Jude Designs alligator ornament on eBay and thought fans of the Christmas alligator (pictured above) might like to see another in the series.  The eBay alligator is called Madame Gator.  (Love the hat feathers!)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jude-Designs-Cajun-Madame-Gator-Needlepoint-Canvas-/120892870171?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c25c6ce1b

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

Tips on Using Japan Threads

Kreinik's newest blog posting talks about Japan Thread, what it is, what the size number means, and how it is used.  This was originally created as a cheaper substitute for real metal threads and basically the threads are used the same way.
http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2013/01/kreinik-q-japan-threads.html

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