Sunflowers (and more) for Ukraine

I'm starting to see sunflowers all over, and realized this is because they are Ukraine's flower.  As I write this, the invasion of Ukraine is still stalled.  Hopefully diplomacy (or common decency) will prevail and the Russian army will retreat.  To take this back to needlepoint, Carol Curtis Needlepoint Design has a lovely realistic sunflower.

https://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2022/02/sunflower.html

Suzi of VNG has a sunflower fund raiser for Ukraine.

https://astheneedleturns.com/sunflower-fields/

So does Pepperberry.

https://familyartsneedlework.com/collections/stand-with-ukraine-1

Judy Ann has added several small sunflower pieces to her Etsy store.

https://judyannneedlepoint.com/product-category/stitchin-for-ukraine/

If you are fond of traditional needlepoint pillows, Beth Russell's pillow kit is gorgeous.  It's also available with a green or paprika red background but we'll show the blue since yellow and blue are the Ukrainian flag colors.

https://bethrussellneedlepoint.com/collections/sunflower/products/sunflower-1-blue-background

Are you a fan of abstract art?  Then this Zecca canvas of four sunflowers is going to be right up your alley.

https://stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/feature.php?id=31201&title=4%20Sunflowers%20-%2013ct&itemtype=hand%20painted%20canvases

The Meredith Collection has at least two sunflowers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CapO0hMNQEz/

Mary Lake Thompson has a gorgeous sunflower boot for the Southwestern fans.

https://myneedlepoint.com/sunflower-boot-mlt242-ms.html

Want something smaller? This Abigail Cecile version is for you.

https://needlepoint.com/products/abigail-cecile-single-jacobean-sunflower

JP has a lovely little peace ornament and...

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219818702850103&set=a.10202723598043167

...a darling sunflower egg design.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219866724330610&set=a.1526682219092

The queen of floral needlepoint design is Jean Smith.  This beauty is on 13 count.

https://www.annieandco.com/products/jean-smith-181m

Jean also has a very elegant sunflower topiary.

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/small-sunflower-topiary-needlepoint-canvas

Patt of Patt and Lee has a large sunflower that's gorgeous.  Change the teal background to blue and there you go.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4977918388956561&set=a.107871135961335

Jody Valentine has several small sunflower ornaments.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JODYdesignsNEEDLEPT?fbclid=IwAR0tf_XTdMH3f6WyuzkfY1R_O99oiYrA6gjdMaZDrnFB7mU2JoDazIRAQNU

If you are a fan of counted canvaswork, Laura Perin's "Ukrainian Eggs" is a fabulous design from a chart.

https://www.madameneedle.com/item_21088/Laura-J.-Perin-Ukranian-Eggs.htm

Laura has taken one of the eggs from "Ukrainian Eggs" and charted it for a free project.  Thanks, Laura!

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2022/03/sharing-this-ukrainian-egg-ornament.html

JP Needlepoint is painting an Ukrainian egg design.  It's not finished yet but you can see how it is developing here.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219795548711264&set=a.1526682219092

JP Needlepoint now has individual Ukrainian eggs available.

https://www.facebook.com/427220977360465/photos/a.427244014024828/5170064076409441/

If you have more canvases than time, how about this charming heart magnet from Kirkland Design Studio?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/4911653968911722/

https://www.kirklanddesignstudio.com/listing/1179245884/ukrainian-flag-heart-needle-minder

Rebecca Wood has a charming reindeer ornament for Ukraine.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/4938273442916441/

We stitch our hopes and dreams, don't we?  We dream of peace in Ukraine.  By the way, Tilli Thomas of Planet Earth has a new Ukrainian flag ornament that is a fund raiser for the brave soils there.

https://www.facebook.com/ostervilleneedlepointshop/photos/a.722684687832921/4313611592073528/

UPDATES:  Jolly Red has a subtle bow to Ukraine in their Brighter Days Daffodils kit.

https://www.jollyred.co.uk/product/brighter-days-daffodils/

Kathy Brandt has added a lovely heart flag to her line.

https://www.facebook.com/KathyBrantArt/photos/a.381585001987545/2861224667356887/

Hedgehog has a Kyiv Vintage Luggage tag needle magnet now.

https://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.shop/shop/c/p/Vintage-Luggage-Tag---Kyiv-Needleminder-x62433949.htm

Hannah Bass has a traditional needlepoint kit.

https://hannahbass.com/products/peace-for-ukraine-charity-needlepoint-kit

Laura Love Designs has a new charted sunflower chart fund raiser.  It'll be available as a painted canvas later this year.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/4971059322971186/

Laura Love's painted version of the pretty Ukrainian embroidery with sunflower is ready.

https://store.apneedlearts.com/ukemfl1.html

Elizabeth Bradley has redone their small sunflower kit with a Ukrainian blue background.  All profits go to charities to help the Ukrainian refugees.

https://needlepoint.com/products/elizabeth-bradley-sunflower-mini-kit?_kx=spGqMUEEs3Pe26tF9Jkghd_FvizqCNqZrcu-EtTsuNa-X-jY5kdJAFI_-tT2BvST.TxAVmM

CanvasWorks has a great kit with the Ukrainian symbol.  Available this summer.

https://store.apneedlearts.com/ukemfl.html

BeauVerre Art has Ukrainian needle minders.  The Labors of Love shop has them in stock.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdV2mLErwDO/

Painted Pony has an angel that is a fund raiser for Ukrainian displaced children.

https://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2022/07/ukrainian-angel.html

Anne Fisher is distributing two needlepoint canvases from Julia Krasnik, an Ukrainian artist.

https://www.annefisherneedlepoint.com/collaborations

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com\

© Copyright March 1, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Laura Perin Helps with Color Choices

If you like to do charted designs but have trouble picking colors that work together, have I got a great tip for you!

Laura Perin's website lists the threads needed for her various charts (at least her American Quilt series of charts do; I'm a bit afraid to explore more as I really like her work but don't want to buy another chart!).

http://www.laurajperindesigns.net/american-quilt-collection.html

If you absolutely love one of these beauties, just copy down the thread brands and numbers needed for that chart and you'll have a great starting point for choosing colors you know you love and that will play nice together.

Thanks, Laura!  It's always nice to have a color genius help out.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 19, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Pink or Blue?

Laura Perin has a new cyber class, featuring a lovely geometric in either pinks or blues.

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-serene-new-cyber-class.html

Want to take a class from the comfort and safety of your own home?  Sign up through her website.

http://www.laurajperindesigns.net

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 24, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NJNA Wants YOU!

The New Jersey Needle Artists chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild is planning lots of interesting programs for 2021.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2021/01/21/whats-happening-at-njna/

If you are interesting in joining, talk to NJNA.

By the way, here is what everyone is stitching for their 2021 chapter projects.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2021/01/23/sotm-january-2021/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 21, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Shadow Stitching Cyberclass

Registration has just opened this week for Laura Perin's latest cyberclass, "Daylily."  It is a class on shadow stitching, which means light coverage stitching over a design printed on needlepoint canvas.  The printing will show, creating an interesting interplay between the light coverage stitches and the pattern you won't quite cover.

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2020/10/daylily-shadow-stitch-cyber-class.html

You can sign up for this at Laura's website with a choice of two color ways, making this an interesting way to learn this technique on a small design.

http://www.laurajperindesigns.net/ljp-cyber-classes.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 23, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Beading Three Sunflowers

Sue stitched three identical sunflower designs (using a Laura Perin chart) and decided to bead the centers of each differently.  And she's posted instructions here!
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2019/07/05/the-tale-of-three-sunflower/

By the way, what I call messy beading is piling beads of all colors/shapes/sizes on top of beads, starting with loops and then just sticking in 1-2 beads where the loops didn't cover well.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 5, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Four Diamonds

Lorraine of Colour Complements has chosen a fun way to showcase the new thread colors she's come up with for her line of threads for Spring 2018—she's stitching four sections of Laura Perin's Jewel Box with them!
http://colourcomplements.com/2018/02/jewel-box-5.html

If you are especially charmed by one of the diamonds or just see what other colors Lorraine put together to make each one, go to the bottom of the page and click on "Previous Post" to see the details of each of the four.

Way to go, Lorraine!  Color makes a huge difference, as Debbie Rowley explains so well on her DebBee Designs blog.
https://debbeesdesigns.com/2018/02/23/in-praise-of-neutral-colors/

By the way, I've used Lorraine's overdyed perle cottons and they are scrumptious!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 23, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Free Design—"Heart of the USA"

Laura Perin has released a little free chart to celebrate the 4th of July. It's darling!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-little-red-white-blue-ornament.html

If you want a little something to stitch while you are waiting, this would be perfect!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 4, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sandra's Skin Colors

I've just discovered that Fleur de Paris sells sets of DMC cotton floss called "Sandra's Skin Colors" that match Sandra Gilmore's skin tones in her painted canvases.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2017/01/clara-is-going-to-tnna.html

I searched all over the Fleur de Paris website and didn't see any mention of this but I bet your favorite shop can order for you if you have one of the Sandra Gilmore people to stitch, or just stitch lots of faces and am a collector of skin tone threads.

Many thanks to Laura Perin for the tip!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 13, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Counted Christmas from Laura Perin

Fans of counted work--rejoice! Laura Perin has released a free Christmas chart called "Christmas Square" that is a companion piece to her free Thanksgiving chart called "Thanksgiving Square."   Thanks, Laura, and Merry Christmas back at you!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2016/12/free-christmas-gift-for-you.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 23, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Thankful Chart

Laura Perin occasionally creates a free chart for her fans to stitch and this Thanksgiving she has made an autumn one that is just lovely!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2016/11/giving-thanks.html

Thank you, Laura.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 25, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Color Switches

Laura Perin shows off four different versions of one of her "Summer Days" quilt designs.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2016/04/color-possibilities-summer-days.html 

Plus four versions of her "Arizona Star."
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2016/04/color-possibilities-arizona-star.html

I imagine none of us will ever doubt the power of color changes again.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 4, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Free Little Autumn Fun UPDATED

To mark the cool fall season, Laura Perin has posted a new free chart on her blog. Thank you Laura!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-little-friday-fun.html

UPDATE:  Laura has added another free chart for an autumn season of stitching. I love the maple leaf look of some of the stitches.  Thanks!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/11/fall-is-in-air.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Custom "Starry Nights"

Lorraine at Colour Complements has come up with a custom autumn color set for Laura Perin's "Starry Nights" chart. It's a stunner, particularly if you love harvest colors of greens, golds, reds, oranges and touches of blue and pink.
http://colourcomplements.com/2015/09/starry-nights.html

The threads are Lorraine's own so you'll have to get the chart from Laura, but that's easy to do.  Just head to her website.
http://www.laurajperindesigns.net/american-quilt-collection.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 24, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Using Thread Weight to Best Advantage

Laura Perin shows how to use different weights of the same thread line to best advantage on her classic "Reflecting Pools" chart.  Very clever technique.  Thanks for sharing, Laura!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/08/splish-splash.html

By the way, if you fall in love with this design, you can pick up the chart via Laura's website.
http://www.laurajperindesigns.net/Impressionist-collection.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 31,  2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Little Summer Fun for FREE

Laura Perin has released another small free design, this time a charmer in red, white and blues called "A Little Summer Fun No. 1."  This is perfect for someone who wants to try out charted needlepoint or who needs a quick and fun gift project.  Raid your stash for your favorite three colors and stitch the summer away with Laura....
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/08/oh-lovely-summer-days.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 25, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A New Freebie from Laura

Fans of Laura Perin's counted canvaswork charts have reason to cheer this week as Laura has released a new free chart!   It is called "Little Flower Basket #1" which I hope means there will be others in the series before too long. Thank you, Laura!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-little-free-friday-fun.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 24, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mark Likes Easter Eggs (And So Does Laura)

Mark at Labors of Love has collaborated with JP to stitch some of the Labors of Love Easter eggs that are available from their company.  Well done, Mark!  I love what you are doing with these little guys.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/blog

You can see their three Easter eggs and all the other Easter-themed designs on the company's website.
http://www.laborsofloveneedlepoint.com/easter.html

By the way, Laura Perin likes eggs, too.  She's into Faberge eggs, and does counted designs for those who like their canvas unpainted.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/03/an-elegant-egg.html

Makes me want to go eat a chocolate egg.  (But what doesn't?!)

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 16, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Cyberclass: Spring Patchwork (Laura Perin)

Laura Perin has announced her spring cyberclass--"Spring Patchwork." 
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-luscious-new-cyber-class.html

The class itself will start in May.  There are more details about this counted canvaswork piece and the alternate color ways available on Laura's website.
http://www.laurajperindesigns.net

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  February 22, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Laura Does That Seductive Thing Again--AND AGAIN

You know how Laura Perin posts photos of her stitched charted pieces occasionally and tempts me to buy charts? And I don't even LIKE stitching from charts?!   Well, she did it again.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2014/11/fall-color.html

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2014/11/more-fall-favorites.html

UPDATE:  More temptations.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2014/11/celebrate-bounty.html

Beware, she is the daughter of the devil and will tempt you, too!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 10, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.