Anna Pearson Looks Back

Anna Pearson recently had an open house to celebrate forty-five years of her stitching.  Luckily for those of us not in the British Isles, Anna's done a little review of what happened there on her blog.  Her display pieces show off common themes and interesting finishing ideas, plus the importance of expert finishing.
http://anna-pearson-needlepoint.blogspot.com/2016/06/well-we-did-have-special-celebration.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 13, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NAN Course Descriptions for 2017 UPDATED

The class descriptions for the National Academy of Needlearts in Mary 2017 are now online. 
https://nationalacademyofneedlearts.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/assembly-2017-class-descriptions-and-teacher-biographies.pdf

NAN classes cover many forms of needle art taught by some of the best-known teachers available.  Please don't drool on your keyboard!

UPDATE:  Nan noticed the original link didn't work.  Obviously NAN has updated their website since this was written in mid-May.  Sorry!  The link above works just fine.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 19, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Leaf Stitches from Melissa

Mary Legallet does a lot of models and stitch guides for Melissa Shirley and gets to visit Melissa's studio periodically. I know you are green with envy like I am, but this visit Mary spied a purse canvas Melissa herself stitched and diagrammed some of the small leaf stitches Melissa used for us all.   It's the next best thing to being there ourselves.  By the way, the Instagram closeup links work whether you have an Instagram account or not.
http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/6/12/sweet-small-leaves

In case you want to see what Mary spied, Melissa posted this photo of the back of her finished clutch to Facebook a while back.  No drooling on the keyboard!
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaShirley.Needlepoint/photos/a.10150103192084252.304722.370199729251/10153970361899252/?type=3&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 12, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Professional Japanese Scissors

The Japanese Embroidery Center website has two photographs of traditional Japanese scissors geared toward the professional stitcher.    I'd seen these in use in videos but I did not know the Atlanta JEC carried them in their store.  Regular Japanese scissors are very high quality in my experience so you may be interested in picking up a pair.  They work very differently than traditional scissors, though, and they are very expensive compared to regular embroidery scissors.
http://jecstore.com/scissors-professional.html?___store=ad&utm_campaign=social_push&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=yotpo#.V1tqLDcldjc

I found further information here.  Don't miss the video of these being made--amazing!
http://www.altomagazine.com/newsdetails/design/craft/the-last-craftsmans-search-for-a-successor-4400143/#.V1tryTcldjc

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 10, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Designers Desk Has Dora Canvases

Designers Desk has started posting images of the last Dora canvases they have in stock. I am a big fan, and have loved every photograph, even if I can't buy them all.
https://www.facebook.com/Designers-Desk-Needlework-Shoppe-1660738667547577/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1736438509977592

Dora was a portrait painter in Hungary from what I understand, and her needlepoint canvas portraits are stunning.  I am not certain if she's retired or has died, but with Designers Desk for sale (the owner wants to retire--how dare you, Pat!) this may be your last chance to score one of these beauties for your stash.  And it may be the last glimpse you'll see of such many of Dora's canvases.

 Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 13, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.