SharonG's About Darn Time

SharonG's second book is out now and Theresa of Homestead Needle Arts came back from Market with autographed copies.  AND she's done a short review in her latest newsletter.  If you are on the fence about this book, check out the review to learn more about what's inside.
http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=75cc9d0ed2d76a48c9e165ab2&id=c940523f5e&e=810b807e3a

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

Bears Go to College

Ridgewood has a customer who requested custom college bear bean bags which can be used for frame weights or on a desk to weight down papers. They also make very cute decorations for the backs of couches in apartments.  Plus there are quite a few colleges with bear mascots.  I see plenty of fun for the college set here.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/05/school-bears.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 21, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Cookie Cutter Ornaments Reduce Stash --- Or Do They?

Suzanne is trying to reduce her stash of threads by making ornaments using her cookie cutters to outline shapes which she'll fill with various patterns and colors.  She says it doesn't always turn out that she has enough threads, but what the heck!  It's still fun.
http://suzannehicks.blogspot.com/2015/05/more-unconventional-use.html

http://suzannehicks.blogspot.com/2015/05/cookie-cutter-project-update.html

Mary Agnes of Needle Nicely is doing the same thing, except I don't know how she got her outline.  She is created a series of stars for a garland for the shop, using any threads at hand to fill the star shapes.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2015/05/another-star-for-star-garland-ii.html

Mary Agnes also create a tree topper star using a Bargello stitch.  Isn't it nice?
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2015/04/tree-top-star-in-bargello.html

The creativity of these ladies and their thrift using up odds and ends of canvas and thread are inspiring!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 17, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

BeStitched's Birthday Gift

I imagine you have noticed BeStitched's publicity about Needlepoint Flix, their new subscription video series.  For $9.99 a month, you have access to their video stitch library and can watch their stitch videos whenever you need help with a stitch, or just want to pass a few minutes sitting in the doctor's office learning something.  If you are like me, you are wondering just what you get for that monthly amount.  Lisa tells me that they have forty-six videos in the subscription, four complimentary videos and eleven that are Pay to View (the Pay To View are very long supplementary class material to help ghosts take BeStitches' classes long distance), and are working towards a goal of one hundred videos by August.  So they are putting a lot of work into this, trying to spread needlepoint knowledge everywhere.
http://www.needlepointflix.com

You don't have to wonder any more.  For today only --June 3-- BeStitched will allow you to sign up for a free month's trial as part of their Fourth Anniversary Celebration (they are having a sale, too).  You have to give them your credit card number to set up your free account but you may cancel anytime before the month is over if you discover this isn't something that will work for you.

The free code you enter when setting up your account is birthdaybash.  Basically, you click on the link, then watch the short video.  At the end is a green Create a New Account Button and a gray Login button.  Choose one and get signed up today.
http://www.needlepointflix.com

Here's more on exactly how to get started.  Every step of the way is full of information, which impresses me.  It's hard to communicate, after all, especially online, but BeStitched has everything clearly laid out.
http://www.needlepointflix.com/how-to-subscribe/

I've set up my trial subscription but haven't accessed it yet as I wanted to get this written and off you to first.  After all, this trial offer is for June 3 only.  If you think you might want to add Needlepoint Flix to your Hulu and Netflix subscriptions, act today.

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

TNNA Columbus May 2015 Favorites

I've started to assemble a collection of my favorites from TNNA's Summer Show in Columbus, Ohio.  These are personal favorites, things I'd like to stitch myself, and listed in no particular order.

Melissa Shirley has created a huge number of new pieces for the summer show.  
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?bsn=1

Melissa Shirley's Christmas Tree Angel Ornament 1879-D

I am particularly fond of Melissa's little angel ornaments (also available in a larger standup size),  but the dog ornaments in the Best Friends Collection from Mary Lake-Thompson are also charming!  Some of them repeat dog portraits that were released earlier as full sized pieces.

Border Collie Ornament (Mary Lake Thompson) MLT325-F

Not to worry, there's a cat among the dog ornaments.

Vicki Swayer's Snowy Nadia VS152

Fans of Vicki Swayer's animal portraits won't be disappointed.  There's a cow, a huge number of funny chipmunks, birds from the beach (and other places), a hare and a toad, and my personal favorite--this polar bear.

Leigh Designs has released their normal series of eight--this time the Gold Diggers.  Each beauty features typical gear for a gold digger in that neck of the woods.  Recognize anyone?  LOL
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp505x.html

Leigh's Gold Digger Miami

Leigh's friends have been busy created stitch guides for this beautiful crew of ladies looking for the big bucks!    Sandy Arthur has done a guide for Hollywood, Pat Miller has done Vegas, Houston is by Carolyn Taggart, and Sharon Quick has done Scottsdale.  My personal favorite is Miami and I'll be stitching that once I finish No Flying Monkeys.

Spooky Pumpkin H-011 from JP

Juli Poitras of JP Needlepoint has a lot of classic pieces, but my very favorite is "Spooky Pumpkin" from her Halloween banners.
http://www.jpneedlepoint.com/Newdesigns.html

Pepperberry's Cool Reindeer

Pepperberry Designs also has dog ornaments (Do I sense a theme developing here?) but my favorite is this Cool Reindeer ornament!
http://www.pepperberry-designs.com/whats-new/

Labors of Love's Mini Mermaid LL510T

Labors of Love has added new clip on birds and a dimensional turkey and 2-sided snowmen, but their series of eight mermaid ornaments is my favorite.   They've also added to their Storybook characters series and have created a "bridal tree" club.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/see-whats-new.html

Ewe and Eye's Winter Sleigh Scene with Custom Frame

Ewe and Eye and Maggie have collaborated again with Lisa Krause for some wonderful custom frames.  There is even a mirror and a dry erase board!  My personal favorite is this winter sleigh scene above.  I don't usually like folk art designs but I find this one charming.
https://www.facebook.com/NeedlepointCom/photos/pcb.839615632797446/839614979464178/?type=1&theater

Scott Church/CBK Beaver working on Candy Cane

CBK has some new Scott Church Creative pieces.  The beaver above cracks me up.
https://www.facebook.com/519994421356592/photos/pb.519994421356592.-2207520000.1433078779./910783172277713/?type=3&theater

Those are my very favorites but I know there are many great canvases I missed.  What's YOUR favorite?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 29, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.