New Classes, New Threads

There are some spectacular new classes being offered I thought you would enjoy knowing about. In alphabetical order, BeStitched in Arizona is having a two-part class on Barbara Elmore's Ghost Cat.  Barbara posted photographs as she worked on the amazing metallic cat background and then needle felted roving on the cat's face.  If you are a cat lover or a collector of Halloween canvases, you will want to see this piece.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/two-part-stitching-specatular-series/

Needle House in Houston has Laurie Walden teaching Peter Rabbit, a Labors of Love canvas.  I've seen slightly better photographs on Facebook and I must say, this is a showstopper as well.  The umbrella is amazing!
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2013/04/peter-rabbit.html

Two canvases, both wonderful in their very different styles.  Click on the photos for a slightly better view.

For the threadaholics, Needle in a Haystack has great news.  They have Bella Lusso Twinkle and Diamant in stock now.  Twinkle is a rayon/metallic mix in a limited but very pretty range of colors.
http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/GS_Twinkle.html

Bella Lusso is 100% merino wool from Fleur de Paris.  They don't stock all the available colors but will special order what you need.  The wool itself is soft to the touch and the colors are very soft and pretty as well.
http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/FDP_BellaLusso.html

Diamant is a Japanese metallic thread distributed by DMC in Europe.  Needle in a Haystack is importing spools for our stitching pleasure.  The first link is to the colors on the NIAH site, the second link is to DMC's website with more information and better photographs of the available colors.
http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Thread/DMC_Diamant.html

http://www.dmccreative.co.uk/Products/Needlework-Threads/Embroidery-Threads/Diamant.aspx

Aren't we lucky to have such wonderful classes and threads available to us?!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

CraftOptics: Light Magnifier Clipons

If you are interested in a light and/or magnifier that clips onto your glasses, then this review of CraftOptics' lens systems is something you need to read. It shows you exactly what the system is like and how it works.  This is very valuable information for those who are hesitant to spend that kind of money on clip on lights/magnifiers that might not work well for you.  It's also interesting to see other options than large light/magnifier systems which don't work well for everyone's stitching nest.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2013/04/craftoptics-so-you-can-see-the-details.html

Here's the direct link to CraftOptics' website.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Visiting Needle Works in Austin

Excuse me a minute while I go try and control my jealousy. While I'm off doing that, you can see a bit about Linda's visit to Needle Works in Austin.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-needle-works.html

http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-needle-works-part-ii.html

Maybe I'll feel better if I steal a convertible and head west to Texas...?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Reading Blogs on Smart Phones UPDATED

I decided I'd better reposting this update to the Destination Dallas article, just so as many folks as possible would see it.  Sorry if this is duplicate information for you!

Marsha just let me know that when she uses her smart phone to read Blog, she can't see the tabs to go to other sections of the site (like Destination Dallas).  We experimented a bit and she discovered that when she typed in the URL to go to Blog, she can see the tabs.  When she gets to Blog via a Google search, she can't.  I discovered that when I use my iPod Touch to read Blog, only the Home tab shows BUT there is a little red triangle to the right of the Home tab.  If I click on that, a list of all the tabs appears and I can choose the one I want to visit.  This should work for iPhones but I don't know about Android users.If you are a smart phone user (and about 500 people a week visit Blog via smartphones), you might want to know these things and play around with them.  Let me know what you find out, ok?   I use tabs more than any other blogger I know but quite a few people use 1-2 on their blog so this is important to know.  You might be missing something!

UPDATE:  Donna uses an Android phone and sees the red triangle when she visits Blog so this must be a universal way of handling multiple blog tabs.  Thanks for the info, Donna!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Impact of the Internet

The designer SharonG sent me this link to a lecture on how the Internet has impacted hand made items in the arts and crafts world.  It touches on copyright theft, but really it's about how we are losing creativity through endless sources of information and access to informed critiques that will help us do better in our chosen art.
http://www.slideshare.net/Harriete/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-in-the-age-of-the-internet?fb_action_ids=511751435527281&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%22511751435527281%22%3A501911846510799%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22511751435527281%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

or Tiny URL
http://tinyurl.com/d6xcoea

It is almost forty-five minutes long but it is worth the time.  It has given me much to think about as the writer of stitch guides and the pusher of many Like buttons!  So pour your favorite beverage, ignore the phone and listen....

Thanks very much, SharonG!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.