Is My Butt Too Big?

dede Odgen's Reflections Bunny Ornament

I'm still really busy this morning with TNNA postings but I did want you to see this little dede Odgen ornament I worked on during Christmas when I had my Day of the Dead lady put safely away while we had houseguests.  The photo you see above shows the bunny's head stitched in brick stitches over two threads and the body stitched in brick stitches over four threads.  The contrast between the size of the stitches is too much.

What to do?  Rip out?  I could have ripped out the body and redone the brick stitches over three instead and that probably would have muted the effect.  However, I decided to pull out my bunka brush and fuzz the heck out of the body and head as a way to hiding the size difference.  Aren't familiar with bunka brushes?  Here's a picture.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/6749.html

It works quite well but not in tiny spaces like the bunny's head where I had to be careful not to snag the ears.  For that I used my Boo-Boo stick, which is normally used to get fuzz off a canvas after you rip out a section.  It did a good job on the head although that area isn't as fuzzy.  It's nylon bristles won't fuzz an area the way the metal bristles of the bunka brush will.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/6726.html

Bunny after Fuzzing

By the way, the body is done with two plies of DMC's glow in the dark white floss mixed with a strand of Wisper.  The rabbit does glow a bit except for his ears, which are all Wisper, but not as much as the skein itself glows.  Using only two plies muted the effect but I do like it.  I don't think Glow in the Dark is Halloween only.

I plan to add stem stitches with Wisper along the shoulder join between the head and body but you'll have to wait to see how it all turns out.  I am concentrating on Belleza right now.

The reflection ornament is from a series by dede Odgen.  They aren't on her website but you can see most of the series here by using the search button under the header and looking for "reflections."
http://www.stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com

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

Beading Thread - Which One?

Two Types of Beading Threads

You know how there are ten million kinds and colors and shapes and sizes of beads?  Turns out there are a lot of beading threads, too.  I've been playing with two of them.

On the left in the photo you see a package of Sundance Designs' beading thread.  My color is Dark Cream.  It's really medium cream but who am I to tell Sundance to call their threads "medium" instead of "dark"!?  They have lots of colors of beading thread.  You can see them here, at the bottom of the page. The label points out that colored beading thread may not be colorfast.  If this is an issue for you, stick to white Sundance beading thread.
http://www.sundancedesignsonline.com/catalog.php?LimitRows=all

The Collection also has beading thread.  The packet on the left is theirs.  It is called "Braided Bead Thread" in "crystal" and the label says there is no breaking, fraying or knotting with this thread.  The Collection's website doesn't show a range of colors.  Crystal (which is actually clear and looks like monofilament fishing line) may be the only color they have but I don't know.
http://www.allaboutstitching.com/e-z-beader-and-beading-thread.html

Both seem strong.  I don't think the sharp edges of beads will cut into either easily.  They are constructed differently.  The Collection's braided beading thread is a round thread that is very thin nylon.  Sundance's thread is flatter and frays just a tiny bit at the cut edge, which shows it is made of multiple strands of very thin nylon (or another synthetic).  It is a little difficult to tie a knot at the end of each brand for securing it on the back.  The Collection's nylon line is stiffer to work with.

I prefer Sundance's but that is just because I like the feel of it better.  There is no reason for me to pick one over the other.  Using the "Dark Cream" doesn't change the color of the red and green areas of Belleza's mirror back but the white areas turn a little yellower when I use it there.  If you don't want any change in the look of your beads or the paint of your canvas, you would want to use the "Crystal" from The Collection.  If you are worried about the color running in blocking, then you would need to go with white Sundance beading thread or the crystal from The Collection.

I don't have any price comparison for you as each of my two beading threads were gifts, but there may be a price differential.  I just don't know and Google wasn't much help there today.  Either will do the job, so pick depending on what other needs you have.


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

TNNA Favorites

Somehow I didn't manage to write an article for Blog this morning. But not to worry, it is easy for me to talk endlessly about needlepoint on the spur of the moment. Since the TNNA wholesale trade show is happening right now, I'll just mention the things that have caught my eye.  This simple little Zecca skull would be fun to embellish the heck out of.
http://www.amybunger.com/catalog/item/8713494/9721897.htm

I'm a sucker for Nativities, so the mini Nativity by Kathy Schenkel has great appeal for me.  The little figures are on pages 4-5 of her updated What's New section.
http://www.kathyschenkel.com/new/0.html

I also love the two new Nativities from Tapestry Fair.  One set is domed and in a modern style.  You can see one piece here on their blog.  This might be an Egyptian Wise Man....  I don't have photos of the other, sorry.  It is an enameled Russian set, each piece inside a circle, or at least that's how I describe the style!
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2013/01/sneak-peek.html

I also like the new Halloweenie characters from Kelly Clark.  There is a witch and (my favorite) the Grimn Reaper.
http://www.kellyclarkneedlepoint.com/whats-new?page=3

I think the Peter Adderley cat and dog canvases from Maggie are going to be big hits.
http://www.maggieco.com/html/drill.php?category=7

I also have become charmed by one of the Melissa Shirley Woodland series, the owl and acorn trees.
http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?index=5984&cat=70

I also like her Winter word scene.  Icy!
http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?index=5983&cat=70

Mindy has a gorgeous ecru piece called Asian Bamboo.  The Lani botanicals are lovely but they aren't whispering my name like Mindy's bamboo is.
http://www.stitchinginthetexashillcountry.com/the_needle_works/2013/02/more-pictures-from-market.html

Colleen has also posted what she especially liked--Lani's shoe canvases (these stitched are to die for!) and her koi, new Amanda Lawford complex abstract florals, all of Leigh's Femme Fatales, and two Zecca pet canvases.
http://www.stitchinginthetexashillcountry.com/the_needle_works/2013/02/day-1-omg.html

Like her, I thought the Melissa Shirley little vintage style Irish children charming and the peacock jar is to die for. The Debbie Mumm tiny round Halloween ornaments (especially the cat on a fingernail moon) would be great quick fun, and I like John Johannsen's floral heart.  That would be wonderful to dress up in ribbons and wire!
http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?bsn=1

What's caught your eye?  Post it here in the Comments with a link if you have one.

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

New Accessories

Rittenhouse has written about some of the lovely stitching accessories they have in stock. Some of these are new, some are no longer available. If you need new scissors and want something unusual, check out what they have featured here--
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2013/01/charming-needlepoint-accessories.html

Don't need accessories for your stitching?  How about a new belt?  This little article has some hints about how to successfully stitch yourself a NP belt, too.
http://horsecountrychic.blogspot.com/2013/01/primer-on-needlepoint-belts.html

Or a new bag?  Everyone needs a killer needlepoint purse!
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-sampler-of-needlepoint-purses.html

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

In Class with Sandy Arthur

The shops that go to the TNNA show can sign up for classes with various well known teachers. Michele of Bristly Thistle took two Sandy Arthur classes and blogged about some of the wonderful things she learned.   This isn't about new merchandise so I am putting it here for your reading pleasure instead of in the TNNA Winter 2013 tab.
http://bristlythistle.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-first-class-at-winter-market.html

http://bristlythistle.blogspot.com/2013/02/ore-fun-with-sandy-arthur.html

If your shop took a class, like Michele they will have a lot of fun new things to show you the next time you are in the shop.

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