"She Looks Like an Angel"

Painted Pony Designs is known for their distinctive series of angels, available in two sizes and often kitted out with a charm embellishment.  (If you aren't familiar with their angels, you can explore them here.)
http://paintedponyneedlepoint.com/designs.htm

I enjoyed seeing the newest ones on Debbie's blog, and to hear about a new way of finishing them.
https://debbieppd.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/she-looks-like-an-angel/

Luv 2 Stitch is a California shop.  I'm sure if you need something finished in a similar way, the shop will be happy to arrange similar finishing for you.
http://luv2stitch.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 28, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: Vineyard Strandable Merino

Suzie at Enriched Stitch tells us that Vineyard Strandable Merino wool will no longer be available in some colors. Vineyard Silks is limiting the range to forty-three colors.  The shop has put their remaining stock of Vineyard Merino on sale as they won't carry a wool that has so few colors.
http://astheneedleturns.com/vineyard-merino-discontinued/

Note that Vineyard Merino wool comes in both strandable and tapestry wool types.  Apparently only the strandable is being reduced to forty-three colors.  Thanks for the heads up, Suzie.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 1, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Glimpse of Glisten

Glisten Sample

Rainbow Gallery's newest thread is called Glisten. It is a mix of two very thin strands of Merino wool and two very thin strands of metalized polyester that looks a bit like a very thin blending filament.  It's not meant to be strandable but I unraveled the cut end a bit in the photo above so you could see the thread construction.  I added a spool of Kreinik's size 8 fine braid on the left of the photo and one of size 16 braid on the right so you could see just how fine Glisten is.  I would say it is between the two Kreiniks in diameter.  The sample above is gray with a silver metallic.  It appears that the color of the metallic matches the color of the wool judging by the photographs on the Rainbow Gallery website.
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/product/glisten/

Rainbow Gallery used their black, white, silver and red Glisten in this JP Needlepoint charmer that they posted on their Facebook page.  I am told by friends who went to the trade show and got me the sample card above that the white Glisten turkeywork on this piece is fantastic.
https://www.facebook.com/rainbowgallerythreads/photos/a.1466449090351554.1073741828.1439340233062440/1713151629014631/?type=3&theater

It would make lovely snow, angel wings, wet hair and probably very elegant clothing.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 1, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How Do Shops Tape Canvas Edges?

Debbie Rowley gives us a glimpse behind the door at the gadget shops use to tape the edges of canvases they sell.
http://debbeesdesigns.com/DDWrdPrs/?p=1827

She also uses electric scissors to cut canvas.  If you aren't a teacher or shop owner, you probably don't need either of these things but it is fun to discover how all this is done.
http://debbeesdesigns.com/DDWrdPrs/?p=1815

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 12, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Free Excel Thread Spreadsheets

Susan Thompson has created a series of thread spreadsheets in Excel which Linda K. Reinmuller posted on her website, adding other spreadsheets of her own devising. If you have Excel on your computer, you can download these and use them to keep a list of what you have in your stash of threads.  Many thanks, ladies!
http://www.lkreinmiller.com/thread-inventories.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 28, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.