The Needlepoint Book

Like many stitchers this week, I just received my brand new The Needlepoint Book, by Jo Ippolito Christensen, the new edition.  I know, I swore I wouldn't buy the hardback version, but I caved.  I just couldn't stand it.  Had to have it!

This morning I looked it over and it is terrific.  I would still prefer a spiral bound copy, but this is definitely still "the bible".  The new information is great and so is the old info which I've forgotten and now I'm reading the whole thing.  We should all do this once in awhile!  

It's kind of like the manual for that new appliance or new car:  After you've used the product for a little while, go back and read the manual and find out all the stuff you missed!

Kudos, Jo, a fabulous job!

10,000 Hits

Wow, my Hit Counter just turned 10,000 yesterday! It is hard to believe. Thank you all so much for following my Blog posts!

We are in Reno now and although there was heavy snow a week or so ago, it is nice now. Pretty view out the window with all the snow, but the roads and driveway are clear now! Just right for enjoying the scenery.

I recently got an iPhone and it is so cool. But this morning I got the new app, Suzy's Portable Stitches. Now that is waaaaaaaay cool! So now I will have stitch reference wherever I go! If you want it, search on needlework in the app store.

I'll be working on things for my website, plus I have 2 new projects to start. Maybe I'll get far enough along to have pictures for you in a few days.

Mary Rhodes

I don't have any stitching to show you, so I thought I would share with you: If you have never seen this book, "Needlepoint: The art of canvas embroidery" by Mary Rhodes, you owe it to yourself to try to get a look at it. This book was published in England in 1974. Maybe your library has it? Or your LNS? If you own it, get it out and take another look, I'll bet you haven't looked at it in years. I hadn't. It is a fabulous book. There are the most wonderful stitched pieces, so much inspiration! Rhodes was a master at combining stitches and creating incredible texture without the wonderful threads that we have today. You probably know that she created the Rhodes stitch, which is one that we all use and love. But you may not know what an amazing artist she was. I came across this book the other day when I was searching through my library for ideas for textured stitches and I've been looking at it ever since!

I'll bet we all have books in our libraries that we haven't looked at in ages. Maybe it is time to see what treasures we have forgotten. I found one and I just know I have others. How about you?

(Added later) One of the things I love about this book is the interesting stitch combinations. There's one piece that alternates Rhodes stitches & Square Eyelets of the same size. It looks wonderful. Another one combines Smyrnas and Rhodes and Tent. Surround a Rhodes (over 5) with Tent Stitches, then surround it with Smyrnas. Develops a wonderful kind of diaper pattern repeat.