Susan Portra Class Announcement

East Coast Stitchers Alert!  Susan Portra is coming to Connecticut to teach in April. Here's the scoop so you can mark your calendars.  Taking a class from Susan is one of my greatest stitching wishes.
http://astheneedleturns.com/susan-portra-is-coming/

http://www.susanportra.com/page/page/8750914.htm

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.

Mary Loves Scotch Tape

Here's why she loves it, and why you should have a roll of tape in your stitching toolbox. 
http://www.needlenthread.com/2013/12/embroidery-scotch-tape-a-match-made-in-heaven.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.

Traveling Threads: Avoid Seeing Them on the Front UPDATED

If you do a lot of needlepoint, eventually you will have a situation where the threads on the back side show through to the front. Joni Stevenson shows you how to hide a traveling thread on the back of a canvas that runs from one spot to the next.  
http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com/2013/11/hiding-travel-threads.html

I have my fingers crossed she'll tackle other situations in which the thread on the back side shows up on the front.

Hurrah!  Joni has added new information, this time on hiding traveling threads in compensated edges.
http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com/2013/12/keep-compensated-edges-neat-and-clean.html

Next, she discusses hiding traveling threads in large cross stitches.
http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-large-cross-stitch-and-hiding.html

http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-large-cross-stitch-and-hiding.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.

Walking the Dog (with Ruth) UPDATED WITH ROSES

Ruth Schmuff has just announced her next mystery class to start in mid-February, after the holiday mystery class (the one with the Santa birds) ends. It's Michele Noiset's dog walker and dog piece, licensed especially by CBK Designs for Ruth and her class.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2013/12/inquiring-minds-want-to-know.html

This is going to be another fun piece!  Can't wait to see what Ruth does for the dog fur!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/02/the-star-of-show.html

UPDATE:  The background is wonderful and the shoe very fashionable.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/03/the-spotlight-is-on.html

UPDATE #2:  The ribbon touches are wonderful!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/03/swanky-cute.html

UPDATE #3:  Finished!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/01/not-day-for-walking-this-pup.html

UPDATE #4:  Finished again!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/06/ooh-la-la-dog-walker-got-makeover.html

If you want to see all Ruth's mystery classes, click on the "Bedecked and Beaddazzled Mysteries" tab in the link above.  Most of the classes are still available, even though the mystery has been solved.

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.

Or Nue' on Needlepoint Canvas

Sunday I posted a link to a video about Margaret Nicholson and her fabulous Or Nue' embroidery.   Today I want to talk about all the variations of Or Nue' (which I believe translates as "shaded gold") used on needlepoint canvas.   Traditional Medieval Or Nue' was used on church vestments and altar cloths.  You can see some stunning examples here.
http://www.pinterest.com/gbertholet/embroidery-opus-anglicanum/

The Nimble Needle has a fabulous article with photos of Or Nue' that includes a link to Jane Zimmerman's explanation of how to do Or Nue' on needlepoint canvas.  When you study Jane's article, note she is couching pairs of gold threads. The reason I emphasized this will become obvious tomorrow....
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/05/or-nue-or-shaded-gold-work-ready-to-try.html

If you would like to do a little Or Nue' yourself, how about using Mary Duckworth's flower pattern generously hosted on the Caron website?  Note that Mary couched down Caron threads using other Caron threads instead of using the traditional gold base thread held down with silks, but there's no reason you can't switch threads if you prefer to use what you have in your thread box.
http://www.caron-net.com/designerfiles/desaugfiles/augchrt.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.