Source for Needlepoint Earrings and Handbags

Thanks to Needlepoint for Fun I've learned of a good source for needlepoint handbags and jewelry--Dude Relax, which has an Etsy store.  The mostly clutch-style purses are all geometric, some obviously inspired by Art Deco.  The earrings are geometric and often shaped like various African countries.  Fun browse!  Make sure you alert Santa....
https://www.etsy.com/shop/duderelax

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 7, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Choosing the Right Stitches: A Movie

The Needlepoint Flix channel that BeStitched runs occasionally posts free videos for all to see. I found a neat one of Lisa talking about how to pick stitches for a canvas but the video moved, the URL went dead, and I couldn't find it again. But today I managed to track it down and discovered the Vimeo channel that BeStitched posts their free videos on.  Here's the how to choose stitches video. in case the video URL died before you could see it.  It's very interesting to watch.
https://vimeo.com/148791913

Here's the Needlepoint Flix Vimeo channel.  Take a little browse and see all the free videos available!  I've added the link to the "Stitch Diagrams and Resources" area of Blog waaaay down at the bottom of the home page, by the way.  You can always find great stuff there.
https://vimeo.com/user46701235/videos/page:1/sort:date

If you love what you see, you might ask Santa for a subscription to Needlepoint Flix's videos.
http://www.needlepointfix.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 7, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Threadaholic Alert: House of Embroidery

Folks who love trying new threads will be interested in Mary Corbet's latest posting on her website. It's all about threads (cotton, silk flosses plus vicose threads, cotton perles and ribbons) from House of Embroidery in South Africa.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2016/11/house-of-embroidery-threads-review.html

You don't have to ask the company to ship to you from South Africa, either.  House of Embroidery has a US distributor for its cotton flosses and perles.  And Mary--bless her!--has negotiated a sale price for her readers that is good until Cyber Monday (November 28 for those who live in places where cyber sales after Thanksgiving aren't part of the normal vocabulary).
http://www.akonyekena.com/product-category/marycorbet/

Right now the sale website is down due to too many threadaholics visiting, but keep trying.  A new thread is worth returning.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 18, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Town and Country Loves Needlepoint

Once again Town and Country magazine has listed their preppy gift guide for the holidays. And once again, needlepoint is on the list--three times!  They recommend needlepoint dog collars, pillows (they like Jonathan Adler designs but we have a broader selection), and of course a baseball cap with a needlepointed motif.  Not quite needlepoint are slippers made from kilim carpet remnants.
http://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/news/g1004/tcs-preppy-holiday-gift-guide/?src=socialflowFB

Many thanks to Rachel for the heads up.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 3, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Walk Down Memory Lane with Laura Ashley

Hands Across the Sea Samplers has a brief biography of Laura Ashley today that shows one of her needlepoint kits.  These were very popular in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/laura-ashley/

Here's a rose wreath apparently called "Country Rose."
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/410601691003840058/

This is a very lovely needlepoint floral.
http://picclick.com.au/LAURA-ASHLEY-CHEVELEY-FLORAL-TAPESTRY-NEEDLEPOINT-KIT-42cms-x-162206030007.html

I found another pillow design in this not very good photo from eBay.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8kcAAOSwvzRX0c4u/s-l300.jpg

Another pretty floral.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/LAURA-ASHLEY-TAPESTRY-CANVAS-AND-WOOLS-FOR-YOU-TO-SEW-SCARBOROUGH-FAIR-/192010785436?hash=item2cb4bc129c:g:AwoAAOSwLnBX4UTF

This is a pansy design stitched with wool.
http://swimtwobirds.com/gallery/

All the kits I saw from Laura Ashley in the early 1990s were screen printed and kitted with tapestry wool.  I stitched a small rosebuds piece myself that was probably intended to be a pin cushion.  I gave it as a gift so I don't have a photograph but I think this is it.  It may have come in a blue floral version as well.
http://geb.ebay.com/g/ImportHubViewItem?itemid=122045003229

This is allegedly a Laura Ashley needlepoint but I can't see the logo at the top of the page.
https://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/6756680/il_570xN.319834931.jpg

These seem to turn up on eBay regularly.  If you love English style tapestry, keep an eye open for some of these beauties.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 3, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.