Finishing Friday (More Halloween)

Fancy Stitches in Texas has a wonderful Halloween finishing section on their website. If you need any Halloween decorating ideas, this is the place for inspiration.   By the way, most of the Halloween stitching you'll see in the link below was done by Cynthia Pigg, retired science teacher who works at Fancy Stitches now putting us all to shame with her Halloween decorating.  Wanna come decorate my house, Cynthia?
http://www.fancystitches.com/page19.html

Do you love candy corn?  You'll enjoy Barbara Bergsten's versions.
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2013/10/needlepoint-kisses.html 

Diane has some wonderful Halloween pieces on display.
http://www.dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.com/2013/10/halloween-finishing.html

Love pumpkins?  Then this link is for you.  (But there is a great menorah set, a lovely spooky movie theatre, a cute mini Nativity set, and a lovely Christmas stocking to see as well.)
http://astheneedleturns.com/back-from-the-finishers-2/

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 About Thread Separators

Like Mary Corbet, I was puzzled by the thread separators from Puffin and Company, at least until I tried one. They are fun to use, and I think folks with disabilities might find them very useful indeed in untwisting threads.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2013/09/a-needlework-tool-that-baffled-me-until.html

Things that we take for granted can be huge problems if you have to work one-handed!

The Puffin website has a nice selection of designs, too.  Don't you just love tools that are not only functional but pretty?!
http://store.puffinco.com/servlet/Categories?category=Puffin%20Thread%20|%20Floss%20Separators#srchlnd

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 Website for Labors of Love

Labors of Love has a newly revamped website!  This is a fun browse so pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and get to it.... 
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com

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.

Puddle Colors the John Waddell Way

Sue is working away on a chicken design using an overdyed thread for the background, and was kind enough to explain how John Waddell taught her to space the colors in the thread.
http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/henny-penny/

http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/overdye-puddle-stitching/

Here's John's website, just in case Sue's link to there breaks.
http://johnwaddellneedlepoint.com/gallery.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.

Ann Hanson's House, a Pictorial Visit

Barbara's Needlepoint in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a wonderful shop that uses several local artists to design canvases that are gorgeous. My favorite works in the shop come from the talented brush of Ann Hanson.  Ann creates a limited edition Santa for the shop each year that is always classic and lovely, plus her rabbits are fabulous.  I felt very lucky to find Carolyn Hedge Baird took photos of Ann's house when she taught at the shop.  If you have a Facebook account, here is the photo album full of Ann's needlepoint.  Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.h.baird/media_set?set=a.10200845045032454.1073741827.1353909662&type=1

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.