DIY Painted Silk Ribbons

Helen shows us how to paint our own silk ribbon to get the color we want. Easy!
http://hgotts.blogspot.com/2015/04/painting-silk-ribbons.html

Of course I would also paint my hair, clothes and the floor but that's why God invented plastic sheeting and water based paints that wash out.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 11, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

And the Award for Clever Use of Background Goes To....

...Anne Stradal!   I love the shading in the blue background.  It's just right--not obtrusive but interesting.
http://thecapestitcher.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-downtime-project.html

This is one of Joan Thomasson's Christmas bulb series.  I have stitched one of the two versions of Mrs. Santa (below).  There is also Santa himself and the angel.  These aren't on Joan's website now but I see them on eBay occasionally.
http://www.stitchinstuff.com/ProductCategories.aspx

Joan Thomasson's Mrs. Santa Bulb Center 

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Choices and More Choices (Meredith Willett)

Meredith Willet (she of M's Canvashouse and Elizabeth Turner Collection, the lady wears many hats and all look good on her) has been teaching at Bedecked and Beaddazzled in the Baltimore suburbs again.  This time Meredith come up with multiple ideas for a canvas and everyone picked the option that suited them, then picked threads to make the choices their very own.  Much fun ensued!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2015/04/many-birds-many-trees-many-leaves-much.html

Meredith is very talented but when you throw in a huge thread selection and adventuresome students, things get really exciting.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 10, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kreinik Color Selector

Kreinik has a new tool on their website--the Kreinik Color Selector.   You can enter the thread name or number and see what it looks like. You can also sort the metallic threads other ways such as color family or find the shading order when you need a light-to-dark set of colors.  It's a fun thing to play with and will be very useful, so I added it to the "Needlepoint Groups and Resources" section at the very very very bottom of Blog.
http://www.kreinik.com/color_selector/

Thanks, Doug!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Target Sells Needlepoint UPDATED

Thanks to Patty who posted about it on Facebook, I know that Target now carries needlepoint kits.  They have a section called Hand Made Modern near the stationery stuff, apparently, at least in some stores, which is where you find the green and blue blocks kit.  They also have something called an embroidery box with has a lid with perforated holes which you stitch over using thick thread like knitting yarn.  The label shows an initial, so these are meant to be done as monograms.  Patty posted a photo of a chart of the alphabet that comes with the box.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205215949131719&set=pcb.841633489247144&type=1&theater

Dawn bought the needlepoint kit with the blocks pattern.  She says it is cheaply made and has blue and green skeins of what appears to be cotton floss, but she says if it gets folks interested in needlepoint, it is a good thing.

Jenny Henry has done a comprehensive list and review.
https://jennyhenrydesigns.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/needlepoint-at-target/

Thanks for the information, ladies!  Target, here we come!

UPDATE:  Donna took photos of things at her local Target.  Very 1960s look to the display, don't you think?
http://majtravaux.blogspot.com/2015/04/everything-old-is-new-again.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 9, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.