New Santas Just in Time for Christmas UPDATED

Just in time for Christmas, Leigh Designs has released four new designs, from a planned series of eight Russian Santas.   Each Santa is about six inches high on 18 count ecru canvas.  They are small enough for ornaments but will make lovely stand ups for a table or mantalpiece.  Here they are--
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp833x.html

I'm going to stitch one right here on Blog.  I'll post every stitch diagram and thread selection, so you can follow along, then make all the information up into a stitch guide for the shops later.  Which one do you think I picked?  Which one do you hope I choose?

Once my Russian Santa arrives, I'll get started.   I need to go rummage in my stash for threads and beads and crystals and felt.

Or maybe velvet....

In the meantime,  С Рождеством.

(That's Merry Christmas in Russian for all my Russian friends!)

UPDATE:  Enriched Stitch is planning a club for the first four Russian Santas starting in March 2014.
http://astheneedleturns.com/russian-santas-club/

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.

Tips and Tricks From the Clever Needlepointer

There are a lot of smart stitchers Out There and many of them blog. Today I have a collection of smart ideas from all over that may come in handy in your stitching life. First up is Mary Agnes in Vero Beach, whose staff came up with a clever way to deal with running out of thread for a stocking. (By the way, the singing turkey link she mentions is hilarious!)
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2013/11/saving-ones-bacon-stitching-wise.html

Diane has a very clever way of making sure both sides of a coat or other stitched clothing match.  And no, I hadn't figured this out!  By the way, notice that the Holy Family have a golden yellow background while the Wise Men all have a blue background.  This is a very clever way of making the central figures of the Nativity stand out.  Kudos to Diane!
http://www.dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.com/2013/11/nativity-update.html

Linda demonstrates an easy way of using cording to outline areas of your canvas.  She is making rings for her Shelly (I think) Twelve Days of Christmas piece #5.
http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2013/11/rings-on-her-fingers.html

Got any clever tips?  Either blog about them or share them in the Comments below, please!

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.

Leveraging ANG

Melita, who is inventive beyond compare, and her guild are using two Stitch of the Month stitches from the ANG website to create simple and fun Christmas ornaments.  Learn a new stitch--make a pretty ornament for your tree (or for a friend).  Win-win!
http://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/practice-ornaments/

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 Quail's Quill for Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving edition of the e-newsletter from Quail's Run is available on the Internet now.  Click on the link to start reading about the latest threads to arrive, new trunk shows, pages and pages of inspiring designs from customers fresh from the finishers,  a little essay about the differences between needlepoint and cross stitch, and much more.  So put the turkey or ham in the oven, pour a mug of hot cider with a cinnamon stick to swirl the spices, and settle down to read.
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=32f13437-7c23-4676-9114-68da9a8ff3f9

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.

Talking Turkey

Actually, we are talking turkey work today.   If you have a Facebook account and belong to the Needlepoint group known informally as Needlepoint Nation, you will have seen Elaine ask what folk's favorite thread for turkeywork was.  This quickly morphed into a discussion of the easiest way to do turkeywork, with Don Lynch of Associated Talents posting his favorite technique.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202498803651684&set=gm.568890126521483&type=1&theater

This inspired Kimberly to post her favorite technique and threads on her blog.  Isn't it nice that the designers we love are so willing to share how they master a somewhat difficult technique?
http://akimberlydesign.blogspot.com/2013/11/turkey.html

By the way, my favorite threads for turkeywork are silk/wool blends with a little metallic mixed in.  Lush!

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.