Destination Dallas News

I've been adding to the Destination Dallas 2013 section of Blog quite a bit, so remember to check in there to see the latest thing.  Just click on the tab located under the header to go there, then click on Home to come back to Blog's main page.  For those who wonder about the little paper umbrella photo I posted this morning, I've done another Leigh Designs model and stitch guide.  You can read all about it on the CH Stitch Guides blog.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2013/04/hibiscus-flowers-palm-fronds-mai-tai.html

Smart phone visitors remember to look for the little red triangle to the right of Home.  Click on that and you'll see a menu of tabs to choose from.  I don't know how Blog displays on iPads and Android tablets despite there surge in visitors here using these devices.  Perhaps someone will let us know in Comments?

Many thanks to all of you for showing up here each day.   Knowing you are counting on your daily dose of NP News keeps me blogging away.

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 New and the Creative

There are some new fun things available.  Needle in a Haystack works with a woodworker to offer some charming little ort boxes.  The second link to the NIAH site has a lot of lovely wooden items, particularly the laying tools.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2013/04/cute-new-wood-items.html

http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Gifts_Wood.html

Ruth Schmuff has introduced a new type of snap tray--a small magnetic one for beads.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/04/another-must-have-beady-gadget.html

Not ready to spend a lot of money on a new tool?  Mary Corbet has a great substitute for an expensive floor stand.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2013/04/substitutions-for-a-needlework-stand-clamps.html

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.

All Rhodes

I don't always mention each and every posting that Joni Stevenson writes on her Creative Stitch blog, but that doesn't mean I don't read and study every word. This week Joni's discussion is about the Rhodes stitch and its creator.    Her first posting discusses compensating Rhodes stitches.
http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com/2013/04/rhodes-stitch-compensation.html

The second is a little about the stitch's creator, Mary Rhodes.
http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com/2013/04/do-you-know-about-mary-rhodes.html

 I can tell from what Joni says that she reads stitch books not for new stitches, but for the information that the writers have beyond a particular stitch.  This information is priceless--it is wisdom from our stitching ancestors which we should cherish, ponder and listen to.

It might be time for me to rummage through my stitch library and pull out Art of Canvas Embroidery.  I may be experienced enough a stitcher to appreciate it now, which I certainly wasn't when I bought it in the late 1980s!

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.

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.