"If I Can Do It While Watching Netflix, All the Better"

The Ugly Ducking House blog takes up needlepoint, just because. 
http://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/needlepoint-art-diy/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 4, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Finishing Tip: How to Miter a Corner

Just Cross Stitch magazine's website has a tutorial on mitering corners I thought folks who want to try this at home should see. A mitered corner is when two strips of fabric, one at the top and one at the side, meet at a forty-five degree angle.  You see this in pillow corners when the stitching is framed by fabric strips.  It's a nice finishing touch and although I personally find it hard to do, this tutorial is excellent.
http://www.just-crossstitch.com/newsletters.php?mode=article&article_id=4875&key=JCXN&tp=i-H43-6o-4yg-T98sy-1o-PE45-1c-T94CS-2GOgdt

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 28, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Harikuyo 2015 UPDATED AGAIN

Today's the Japanese festival of Harikuyo which honors our needles. Susan has special plans to celebrate. 
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2015/02/two-days-until-harikuyo-2015.html

UPDATE:  Stay tuned for what Susan has planned!  I'll add the link once it goes live.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-gift-of-harikuyo.html

Me, I am too exhausted from celebrating NP Nation's Fourth Birthday to start making a new needle book.  Instead I will do what I always do on February 8th.  I will take all my old needles out of the pill bottle where I keep them, wrap them in aluminum foil, and then use pretty wrapping paper and ribbons to wrap the foil packet. Then I will ceremoniously put them in the trash.

Where would we be without our needles that have served us so well?  Thank you!

UPDATE #2:  Carol-Anne had an amazing needle adventure in Japan.  You will enjoy this.
http://threadsacrosstheweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-needle-in-market.html

UPDATE #4:  More about Carol-Anne's purchases.
http://threadsacrosstheweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/needles-and-pins.html

UPDATE #5:  Carol-Anne's sewing kit - I want one!
http://threadsacrosstheweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/travelling-sewing-kit.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 6, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Let's Make a Ribbon Flower

Elizabeth made a video at In Stitches of Janet demonstrating how to make a ribbon rose flower.  This is a technique that Janet learned at the TNNA Winter show.  Basically you come up with your silk ribbon, then make a Colonial knot followed by a French knot followed by several running stitches, then you go down through the canvas with your needle.  It's not hard but you probably want to see the video to understand.  The silk ribbon with the different colored edge is from Planet Earth Fiber.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=656298941158846&set=o.108537025890131&type=2&theater

By the way, Janet agreed to Elizabeth's making and sharing the video with us.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 23, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Anna Pearson's Travel Tips (with Help from Lisa)

The British needlepoint designer Anna Pearson loves to travel and posted travel tips for the needlepointer on her blog. Those of us who travel a lot for work or pleasure already know these things (and might have tips of your own--put those in the Comments if you don't mind) but if you only fly occasionally, this might help you get organized. 
http://anna-pearson-needlepoint.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/travel-tips.html

By the way, Lisa of BeStitched has a great travel tip--she uses Carol Eix Design snap trays to stay organized when stitching on a plane or keeping items together in a hotel room.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/we-love-snap-trays/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 3, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.