Christmas Ornaments

I have approximately 100 needlepoint Christmas ornaments which I have made through the years.  Last year, I was out of town for Christmas.  I didn't want to fool with the big tree but, I wanted to display the ornaments as I was entertaining.  My solution came from Solutions Catalog in the form of a rod iron tree.  The ornaments that didn't fit on the tree hung from the garland on the circular stairs.  This year, I did the big tree in red and silver but kept the ornaments on the rod iron tree.  After Christmas, my daughter informed me that they liked the needlepoint ornaments on the big tree better as it made it more colorful.  Lesson learned: Don't fool with tradition.

Needlepoint Tool Time Sale

Needlepoint Tool Time is having a Thank You Sale  for a great 2010.  Anything on the web site is 20% off.
Sale starts now and runs until we return from TNNA Market on January 10th.
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/

Opps, granddaughters have arrived for dinner & a sleepover.
Tisha

STITCH AND PLAY GETAWAY

Needlepoint Tool Time is sponsoring a Stitch & Play Getaway in San Francisco March 10 - 13, 2011.  I decided that I didn't need another new project to feel guilty about not finishing.  Everyone is to bring something from their stash to work on.  We have arranged excursions to Marlene's Custom Finishing & Needlepoint Inc.  The Getaway will be held at the Triton boutique hotel which is across the street from the Gates of China Town & within walking distance to the needlepoint store & Britex Fabrics.  There is an option of a 2 or 3 night stay or a commuter option.

Gina Wearin at Getaways By Gina is taking reservations.  Contact her at #541-610-6719 or gina.wearin@getawaysbygina.com.  Further details are available on the Needlepoint Tool Time website.

Come join in the fun!
Tisha

NEW MOVIE

I have been blogging away and it's going no where.  Seems I somehow have two blog sites so I've been talking to myself.

Back to the topic of the Blog.  I have loaded a new movie onto my web site.  A computer tech who calls himself Ace talked me thru the process of posting the movie myself.  Ace was also a salesman as he talked me into a toll free number.  We put that on the site.  I needed a large glass of wine to recover!

http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/

Tisha

RAILROADING

I learned a new tip from Kathy Paterson of Bongo Design.  When using 2 ply, you lay the thread in the direction of the stitch, place your needle between the two ply, and then sink into the hole.  This lays the stitch without  having to use a laying tool.  I am doing wome basketweave with 2 ply wool.  I can see the difference between the area that was stitched with a laying tool & the area that was railroaded.The railroad stitches are puffier.  Once I got the rythium, I could do this quickly,  I liked the result.

Tisha
Needlepoint Tool Time

STITCHSMART FLOOR STAND TIPS

I took my StitchSmart Stand to Portland.  The last day of the class, we had to check out of the hotel so took our luggage to the classroom.  When class finished, I opened the suitcase and put my stitching supplies & floor stand on top.  When I arrived home, I discovered that Southwest had ripped the handle off my suitcase and put a small dent in the light weight  stand.  My advice is to pack it in the middle between clothes.
My second discovery is that the pole has a slight curve which should be curving toward the stitcher.  It has something to do with gravity and keeps the stand from falling over backwards.  When I got to Portland, I was in a hurry and put it together with the curve going the wrong way which is why it kept falling backwards.

We have just finished the first week of November.  The desert temperature has been in the 90's.  One TV weather man said the temperature will "plummet" next week.  Another predicted a dramatic drop in temperature.  It's suppose to be in the 80's.  We don't have  much weather to report here.

Kreinik's Holographic Metallic

I am using some of the new Kreinik Holographic Metallic thread on my ANG Stitch of the Month project.
The thread unravels..  It became enough of a nuisance, that I went for my Thread Zap.  I heated it up and used it like scissors to cut a length of thread.  It seared both ends of the fiber as I cut thru it.  End of frustration.  The Thread Zap can be purchased from http://www.needepointtooltime.com/.
Tisha