Sunday, April 27, 2014

The Needlepoint Now May Preview

Needlepoint Now's newsletter preview of the May/June issue is up on the web to whet your appetite for the next edition.  It looks like the next edition will kick off a series of Henry VIII and Wives canvases plus much more!
http://www.needlepointnow.com/wp-content/uploads/NN_NWSLTR_Apr14.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 25, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

May 3-5 is On the Horizon

I know half of you read the title and said so what?  Of course the first week of May is just around the corner! But the above dates are for next weekend's TNNA show in Indianapolis.   The designers are getting ready, packing madly, making dinner reservations, checking their To Do lists frantically!
http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/create_needlepoint/2014/04/needlepoint-showcase.html

The shops are getting ready, too.  Many have sales just before the trade shows so they clear out inventory and have a little extra cash to buy-buy-buy!  Don't forget to keep an eye on the April Trunk Shows and Sales tab as well as the one that reads "TNNA Indianapolis May 2014."  I've already been posting lots of updates about new items as the manufacturers and designers drop hints or post photos on their Facebook page.  I've also been updated the CH Stitch Guides blog with the newest guides.  Don't forgot to ride the magic carpet over to see what is there when you are looking for inspiration.

The Blue Russian Santa is all ready.  He and two brothers have been turned into stand up figures. They are going to hang out in the Leigh Designs booth with Leigh's latest series (which is fabulous, naturally).  If you are going to the show, I hope you drop by to see him in person.  Nothing beats seeing a piece right in front of you.

Meanwhile, we stitchers are waiting impatiently for everyone to arrive in Indianapolis and for the show to begin!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Shapes IV: A Mini Review

Yesterday I had to take the car in for an oil change so I took my copy of Shapes of Needlepoint  Series IV:  Diagonals Verticals Horizontals by Sandy Arthur to amuse myself while I waited. WOW! I read it cover to cover for the first time, admiring the gray scale diagrams and looking carefully at the stitches as I mentally try to find something good for my next project.
http://networkedblogs.com/OPVam

As you know, this is the fourth in Sandy's series of Shape books, all of which categorize stitches by their general shape and then arranges them in the books by their width and height.  This makes it very easy to find a stitch that will fit in an area on your canvas.

The thing I enjoyed most in this book, besides the diagrams which I admire greatly, was seeing vertical, horizontal and diagonal versions of the same stitch. You don't see that in most books and it is something that I will find invaluable when I do repeats of the same stitch oriented differently. The book is worth the admission price for that alone if you are constantly stitching and making it up as you go along.  I don't generally count threads when I am looking for a stitch to put in a space, and I should get into that habit. Sandy's books make it a lot easier to solve stitch problems because they are set up that way.

I loved the book. Now that I have actually sat down with it and become familiar with what it covers, I will probably refer to it at least once per project. 

If you are not familiar with Sandy's books, some of which are available as apps in the iTunes store, check out her website.  Right now she has a special if you buy all four books at once.
http://duodesignsinc.com/wpsite/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 25, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.