A Finishing Tour

Quail Run has posted a tour of various pillow finishing styles they've arranged for customers lately. It's a good way to see what types of finishing can be done for your own pillow canvas and also is a great reference to show a shop when you take your canvas to them to have it made up into a pillow.   If you don't have any pillows in your life, this is still wonderful to see.  The finishing is superb.
http://quailrunneedlework.com/blog/post/its-all-about-the-finishing

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 2, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

All About Elizabeth Bradley's Pre-Stitched Pillows

Needlepoint for Fun's latest e-newsletter profiles Elizabeth Bradley's pre-stitched items.  If you ever wondered where these were stitched and by whom, you'll enjoy reading this.
http://www.icontact-archive.com/3sPNpcHW2d6IBVeY4CRghHkGpZ04OnST?w=4

These pre-stitched pillows, stools, lavender bags and tassel trims are called Elizabeth Bradley Home. The entire line can be seen here.
http://elizabethbradleyhome.us/shop/

The unstitched Elizabeth Bradley items are located here.  The kits are cheaper than the finished items but of course you will have to pay to have them finished yourself if you are not handy with a sewing machine.
https://www.elizabethbradley.com

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

Look Who's in House Beautiful!

Lycette Designs is on the back of the latest House Beautiful (February 2018 issue)!  Congratulations, Jessica!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/1611020162308469/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 4, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Celebrate Failures as Necessary Part of Finding Right Answer

Tricia Nguyen talks about design choices using her stumpwork canvas as an example.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2017/09/tough-choices-when-designing-your.html

It's an important lesson—"...in engineering we celebrate these failures as a necessary part of getting to the right answer."

Think of Tricia the next time you abandon a project because you are making mistakes.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 29, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Threadaholic Alert: Kyo-Temari UPDATED TO MIYAKO

This morning I stumbled across Barbara Suess's temari website again.  This is the best website I know about for learning the Japanese craft of making temari balls.  I've not been there in a while so of course I did a little browse, aiming to enjoy the gallery of Barbara's finished temari.  That's when I stumbled across Barbara's page about Kyo, a thread made from cupro.  Cupro is waste from the processing of cotton fibers.  It sounds really fascinating!  Breathes like cotton but it has the sheen (and the unruliness) of nylon threads and there are metallic versions as well.  Here's the link for all those who love tracking down and trying new threads in their stitching.
http://www.japanesetemari.com/Kyo/Kyo.thread.html

The link to a website that sells kyo doesn't work but I was able to find this Australian site.
http://www.temariaddictaustralia.bigcartel.com/product/rayon-temari-thread

Kudos to Barbara for all her work introducing us to temari.

UPDATE:  I heard from Barb Suess herself!  Here is what she has to say—

"Hi Jane! Alas, I need to update my website. Kyo thread is no longer being carried by Ai (the link on my website). However she is carrying another thread that is very similar. It's called Miyako. You can buy a whole set in a beautiful box for color indulgence.
http://www.tentemari.com/AIs_store.html

The box is Chiyotemari
http://www.tentemari.com/shop/chiyotemaripage1.html

Thank you for the compliments on my temari - I'll update that page!
Barb Suess"

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 29, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.