|
|
 |
Monday, August 25, 2008
News & Features Newsletter #229
|
|
Disclaimer: Please remember that items mentioned in our newsletter archives may no longer be available, or their prices may have changed.
|
Hello!
|
|
Marsha Cannon, of Rush Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, thinks her first experience with embroidery was when she was only 3 or 4 years old! Here is her story.
"I believe the first piece I stitched was a needlepoint mouse. Around the same time I stitched a little Dutch girl embroidering with leftover floss colours from my mother from a transfer pattern she gave me. I don't recall when I began needlework - it has always been a part of my life. I must have been around 3 or 4 when I did the mouse though. I still have it too! I should note that unlike so many others that I read about I did NOT start with stamped embroidery and have only done it once when someone gave me a tablecloth as a gift.
I have tried nearly every type of needlework out there and the few that I haven't tried I intend to get to someday when I get the ‘time'. I currently have projects on the go in quilting, appliqué, blackwork, needlepoint, embroidery, petite point, Hardanger, cross-stitch, goldwork, knitting, tatting, beadwork, tassel-making and crewel - just to name a few. It is hugely difficult for me to select a favourite as it depends upon my mood, the time of year and inspiration. My favourite thing to do is freehand work - embroidery, crewel, Hardanger (well it IS freehand to me!).
I spend as much time as possible with my stitching but that is not nearly enough. I am a working artist and farmer as well so some time has to be given over to those pursuits. I do some kind of needlework every week and some weeks - all week. It often depends on the cycles of farm work and weather, with more happening in the winter and less in the summer.
I am a working artist - working in drawing, acrylic and printmaking and I am also a frustrated gardener as those of you in the Dakotas would know - short, intense growing seasons and very dry so it takes a lot to make even a meager showing though I persist in planting such no-no's in my zone 2 garden as tea roses and lavender.
In addition to being a working artist, my husband and I run a farm with 3500 grain acres and 1000+ feeder cattle. In the past I worked for the provincial government as a beef specialist and eventually quit to devote more time to the farm and my artwork."
I asked Marsha if there is a particular project she would like to stitch or a new technique she would like to learn in the future and she replied, "A dear friend brought me a 2 yard piece of "mallard duck green" silk from Thailand. I have plans to make an exquisitely worked Jacobean style wall hanging of it, covered in trailing vines and flowers with beetles and other insects worked throughout in silk shading and goldwork. I also would like to get into designing needlework patterns from my artwork. I have made many for myself but I have no real idea how to start marketing myself, so for now it remains a dream.
I would like to learn more goldwork and tatting as I am a beginner in both techniques. If there is anyone out there reading this who lives close to me and knows how to tat - I would sure like an afternoon or 2 of instruction! So many questions and so much experimentation when learning from books! On the other hand, I enjoy the challenge of teaching myself and I never am tied to rules (good or bad). I have learned many of the shortfalls of books by this method of teaching myself!
Lastly, I harbour a dream of someday being able to study at the Royal School of Needlework in London. THAT would be satisfying!
My ‘Bit of wisdom' is: Don't ever feel guilty taking time to stitch. The house will never be clean enough, the time never generous enough, the idea never clear enough. Accept that and dive in anyway. The dust will wait, the time will appear and ideas flit like moths and are lost if not indulged in some way. Creativity keeps human spirit positive and the world beautiful. It is far more important than our current society would have us believe.
When I give away a piece of needlework, they are surprised and pleased. I rarely let someone know that I am making something for them ahead of time as I never know whether I will finish it or who it will best suit until the last stitch is put in. Plus, I love just sending something off to someone and having them receive a lovely surprise for no reason. I believe in paying it forward! I keep very few items in my own home and am comfortable knowing they are loved where they are sent. For me, the pleasure is not in completion but in the process and the gift.
I don't have a favorite designer as I usually make up my own designs and rarely use a kit or pattern. Having said that - I do like the Ink Circles designs and Permin of Copenhagen has exquisite cross-stitch patterns that give me lots of inspiration. Also Tanja Berlin of Calgary does lovely goldwork that inspired me to start experimenting with that tradition of stitchery."
 The Bee Scissor keep is Marsha's original design in Goldwork on silk with silk threads. It is about 4 inches round with a hand made tassel and piping threads, filled with lavender.
"I maintain a large library of needlework history books from around the globe that keep me inspired and fascinated.
My favourite fabrics are silk and linen twill. Both VERY hard to come by for me but lovely to stitch upon. When I do counted or pulled thread work I like to work on very fine linens (36 or 40 ct). I realize I am straining my eyes but I love the softness of the fabric and am less happy with a coarser weave for tablecloths or dresser cloths, etc. I love to stitch with pure silk (Au Ver a Soie, Kreinik), cotton (DMC, Caron) or wool (Paternayan) depending on the project at hand. I admit to wanting every colour available and I maintain a ridiculously large stock of threads and yarns because I never know what inspiration will strike next and I wouldn't want to be unprepared! I am still desperately searching for a reliable North American source of skein silk (unspun) such as is used in Japanese and Chinese silk work.
My favorite stitching tool is a lovely British made gold tapestry needle that is "just right". Unfortunately I have no idea where I acquired it or how I will replace it when the time comes. I also love my scissors keeps that I made. I would have lost all my fine and costly embroidery scissors by now if I did not have them.
The largest piece I have made is a king-sized "Hawaiian style" appliqué quilt of silk and cotton for my parents with a tulip motif. I have also made several tablecloths in embroidery and/or Hardanger."
 This Hardanger table runner is an original work in progress by Marsha. When finished, it will be 12" x 48", stitched on 40 count pale green linen with Caron silk Wildflower threads.
"Needlework in my life has meant Sanity! Plus pleasure, challenge, achievement, peace and endless joy.
I was raised in a very creative household. My mother is a Dutch immigrant and taught us the lovely traditions of Dutch knitting and needlework. We had instilled in us the Dutch work ethic that allows for no idle hands. We could sit and listen to music or watch TV only if our hands were busy. I am now in my 40s and still always have some project at hand for when I want to ‘rest'. We were always encouraged in our creativity and as a result we all became passionate about the role of art, beauty and creativity in our own lives and as a positive influence in society.
I feel strongly about the loss of hand skills that the industrial revolution created. I am glad to be a part of a world-wide community of needlefolk that maintain these traditions despite offerings of cheap, mass manufactured goods. I am forever grateful that I was taught to knit, sew and embroider and that I can teach others these now rare skills and keep them alive for a new generation of stitchers.
I am so glad to be a part of a forum such as this newsletter, that gives all of us who wield a needle a place to communicate and find support (and supplies!). I always encourage others to be aware that they participate in needle ARTS - it is not simply a hobby - it is a skill and a gift and should be honoured."
WOW, Marsha, thank you for sharing your stitching story and encouraging us in our needlework skills. You have challenged all of us to share our needlework skills with the younger generation.
If any of you would like to share your needlework story, please click here to email me and I will send you the questionnaire. Thank you. |
Thank you for sending me your emails, telling me "When I retire I plan to....." Here are the next five responses:
- I became unable to work due to back pain/medication issues about 6 months ago. I was a working registered nurse for 35 years straight years. I am now so busy with projects!! I am knitting prayer shawls and prayer blankets to be distributed to people in need of a hug, through my church. I am also knitting a "summer" shawl for my sister. To add more variety, I am crocheting afghans for both me and my husband and am also trying to learn "wiggly" crochet to make pot holders. Needle arts???? I need to purchase Mill Hill beaded, punched paper ornament kits for Christmas, and am working on a floss (cotton not wool!) needlepoint picture called Porch Cats for my sister for Christmas. I also am slowly gathering up meaningful t-shirts that both my husband and I have worn, and will then cut them up to use as a quilt topping. I'll use batting and then back in a jersey, and use yarn to hold the batting in place. I found the pattern in a woman's magazine probably 4 years ago, while I was still working. There was a company charging nearly $400.00 to make a queen-size exactly the way I'm planning on making mine!! I want it to be larger than queen size so that it will cover the bed with plenty of overhang. Maybe I should start measuring?????
Anyway, forced retirement was difficult on both my husband and me; but now that I'll start getting disability, I'll have a clearer conscience to just sit and work (play for me, really).
Nan Ziegler
-
Hi Roz, I am a stay at home mom who's husband has somewhat retired, now eligible for social security. We have a 14 yr old who will be starting 9th grade this coming fall and another son who will be a Jr. in college, and our oldest who hopefully will not be going back to Iraq after 3 tours of duty. I only dream of retirement. I would do it all over in a heart beat. Growing up in a small town in North Dakota, knowing that the only way I would ever see the country where my grandparents came from was to join the Army and serve in Germany. During that time I taught myself to cross stitch. Life has brought me to a small community in Arkansas called "Rose Bud". Life has been a wonderful journey. What I love the most is coming back home to ND and hearing the accents of the people. I am proud of my roots and where I grew up. And I thank you for what you do for those who love to create art with a needle and thread.
Sincerely,
Tamera Ann
-
Greetings Roz:
It's Arlene K. from Beer Sheva Israel writing. I hope you are well. I especially enjoyed this last newsletter, although they are all great! When Boston University closed their graduate program in Israel in 2001, I went into an intentional short-term retirement while in my 40s, wanting a break from having no break from working despite changing continents in 1992. I found that there is still not enough time in the day to get everything done, all those plans we dream of fulfilling when we stop working. I'm still in that retirement mode, although if a proper job showed up I'd have to take it (financial issues of course). In the meantime, I work on my needlework (cross stitch) while watching television, read (though not as much as I used to due to the eyesight thing), surfing (and shopping) on the internet. I enjoy my two cats very much, as well as pondering dusting all the other cat paraphernalia in my apartment. I have done the de-cluttering thing, but I still have the only American/Mediterranean country apartment I've ever seen here (lots and lots of stuff that collect dust and don't get dusted as often as they should). I would love to email with some of your other customers who share my interests, if you wouldn't mind posting my email address.
Click here to e-mail Arlene!
Many thanks,
Arlene
- Hi Roz
I'm still a few years away from retiring, but I've been thinking about it since my DH will retire during the next year.
So I've started cleaning out by getting rid of things that I haven't done in years and passing them on to others to enjoy such as a huge box of basket making supplies and books. What remains is more what I want to do and not what I have to do. I want to enjoy the needlework I do, so if it isn't fun I'm not going to do it. Same for the fabric or books I no longer love. I have the next 20 projects I want to do most within close reach, so I hope I won't get too distracted by the new. : )
Margaret
Travelers Rest, SC
- My retirement so far has been fabulous. I haven't organized a thing...except hubby did set up a craft room for me. It's a mess in there but it's my mess. I've been able to work on needlepoint, cross stitch, knit, crochet and most recently; sewing a quilt for my new grandbabies (I have two coming into the family in July and August). I love to do my sewing during the day and the handwork stuff at night when I'm watching television. So when I say my retirement has been fabulous, I wasn't kidding! Everything's to my schedule...
Laura from San Rafael, California
In my last newsletter, I introduced a new topic and invited you to write to me in response to the statement: "If I had no limits on time and money, the project I would stitch next would be......" I appreciate the responses I have received and welcome more.
- If time and money were absolutely not a factor, my next project would be an all-silk crazy quilt with all sorts of really neat stitching to embellish it, complete with cigarette silks, antique buttons, and THREADS of all sorts and colors. Additionally, I would be working like crazy (!) on the Patchwork of Peace needlepoint.
These projects would require a few "adjustments" at home, including a special table and an architect's chest (antique, please) in which to store my silk pieces until they were completed and made into the quilt. Oh how fun that quilt would be! A really nice addition would be a chair: comfy, adjustable, w/pockets for supplies and a drink/cup holder (insulated, of course).
Pat C.
Springfield, VA
- I would love to stitch Nova by Genny Morrow.
I've been intrigued by this design for years, but I just can't bring myself to spend that much on a pattern! Maybe I should add it to my wish list... ;)
Julie Gritton
- Hello Ladies,
Well what a question!!!!!!!!!! Everything big and time consuming of course. I have just finished a cross stitch of Van Gough's sunflowers which took me the better part of 6 years to complete. In that time I have had 2 children and worked a lot. But back to the subject at hand. All of the Mirabilia fairies and mermaids on some lovely dyed linen.
I love a lot of the old world samplers from different companies with the Gentle Arts threads.
Your site has certainly opened up the possibilities in this craft. I have been stitching for about 12 years (I'm only 38 now) and find that the more you do the more projects you must have. It is the never ending fun hobby to explore and grow with. I love quilting as well and have been making those for the same length of time. Cross stitch has come along a lot since I started and the options in patterns and threads is so overwhelming now this question is actually quite hard to answer. So to finish of I will just say, MOST OF YOUR CATALOGUE PLEASE. Thank you for sourcing so many wonderful projects and I look forward to teaching my two girls as they grow a bit bigger. They are only 4 and 5 at the moment.
Happy Stitching
Alison Turner
Brisbane
Australia
- If money and time were no limit I would like to travel to many more countries and pick a style of stitching from each to complete either while travelling or in the safety of my own home. A bit of a dream really. (Roz: I love your dream, Patricia! What a wonderful idea.)
Patricia Ayers
- A complete set of all of the Lavender and Lace Angels. Probably won't happen in this lifetime although I do have all the charts for that "one day".
Margaret
I would love to hear from more of you on the subject: "If I had no limits on time and money, the project I would stitch next would be......" Please click here to email your ideas to me. THANK YOU.
|
|
Here is a delicious and figure-friendly recipe I made a couple weeks ago and it is SO tasty.
Sweet & Sour Chicken with Pineapple
- 16 oz. chicken breast meat, cut into bite-size pieces
- 10 green onions, chopped finely, or 1/2 sweet onion chopped
- 1/2 large green pepper, cut into 3/4" squares
- 2 T red wine vinegar
- 1 T cornstarch
- 3/4 cup fresh pineapple cut into chunks. I used canned pineapple in pineapple juice, not syrup
- 2 T Sugar Twin brown sugar
- 1 T ketchup
- 1 tomato diced. I used about 6 of those small tomatoes
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
Spray skillet or wok with Pam or olive oil. Add onion and green pepper and stir-fry over medium heat until they are crisp-tender. Remove and set aside.
Spray skillet again and add the chicken pieces. Stir fry over medium heat until no longer pink.
In saucepan, mix the vinegar, cornstarch, chicken broth, brown sugar and ketchup together and cook until thickened and then pour over the chicken.
Return the onion and green pepper to skillet. Stir in pineapple chunks and tomato pieces. Cover and cook for 2 minutes or until heated through.
Serve with brown rice.
|
Special Announcement
Before I get to the NEW PRODUCTS this week, our super-duper website designer and maintainer, and all-around-amazing person, Ryan, has something exciting to tell you about her latest improvement for our website - take it away, Ryan!!!
Wow, Roz, you're going to make me blush! Thanks for such an introduction! I do have some neat news for everyone. There is a great new feature on the website for our customers who have online accounts with us (if you don't have an online account with us, you can click here to sign-up).
From your "My Account" screen, you can now View Your Recent Orders with us. This is a great tool that allows you to not only view your past orders (to a certain date), but also to reorder those items by adding them to your current shopping cart with just a click of a button! You can then edit your cart and remove or update quantities of the individual items. If an item is no longer available however, it won't be added to your cart (so be sure to take advantage of the sale items quickly!). This is a great tool for reordering those essentials that you frequently purchase without having to create a new order.
The website will continue to be refreshed and updated with new and better features, so make sure to bookmark the home page (www.nordicneedle.com) for updates and news. Also, before Roz's awesome Fall Catalog hits the mail within the next few weeks (and trust me, it is snazzy), you'll be able to view both the main January and May Catalog online at our Browse Our Catalogs page.
And lastly, as always, if you have a suggestion for or comment about the website, please e-mail me with your ideas; I always love to hear from you!
Thanks so much for reading!
|
This Week's Featured Products
|
 I hate to mention it, but the Autumn season is just around the corner. Actually, that is my favorite time of the year so I am looking forward to it. This charming design comes to mind.
Harvest Trio is a new design from Mill Hill with a design by Jim Shore. This trio of blackbirds atop a plump pumpkin is stitched on 27 count linen banding or you can use 28 count Cashel linen (3281-053) and the finished size is 5" x 12 1/3". The leaflet is available alone or you can purchase all the beads and buttons with the pattern so all you would need to add would be the linen and thread.
|
 I am thrilled to tell you about these premium embroidery scissors from Dovo of Germany! In the German Solingen Valley, Dovo is the oldest scissors company in Germany, and they have been called the finest embroidery scissors made. When you hold a Dovo scissors in your hand you will feel how sturdy and high quality they are. Their fine sharp points are perfect for Hardanger embroidery and every other embroidery technique. Treat yourself to one of these exquisite scissors and you'll see for yourself just how incredible they are. These scissors are made by Solingen master grinders under most rigid control, from the finest, hot forged special steel. Satisfaction is guaranteed.
|
 Have you tried Bargello? It is a form of canvaswork and this new design, Bargello Trees by the Needle's Notion would be a great way to give it a try and end up with a beautiful decoration for Christmas. The large tree stitched on 18 count mono canvas requires canvas cut in three sizes: 22" x 16", 18" x 12", and 15" x 11". The small tree requires canvas cut 18" x 12". Floss required includes DMC (DM001-0320, 0367, 0368, 0369, 0890). 8-10 skeins of each color required for large tree, 3 skeins of each color for small tree. General instructions are included in the chartpack.
|
 With the seasons about to change soon (sooner up here in the north country than other places it seems), here is a beautiful canvaswork design just released by Genny Morrow's company. Tree For All Seasons is a re-stitching of a great pattern from a while back with designs showcasing beautiful patterns for all seasons. You will need a 16" square piece of white congress cloth (3990-100). Extensive materials listed for each color way and theme is included in this 26-page booklet. As usual, this Genny Morrow design includes excellent diagrams and instructions.
|
 Staying with the "Seasons" theme, My Big Toe Designs just released this beautiful cross stitch piece, Quaker Seasons. "To every thing there is a season, a time to every purpose under heaven." This gorgeous sampler with symmetrical flowery motifs, designs, and borders is stitched on 32 count antique ivory Belfast linen (3609-233), and measures 8.5" x 14.75". Threads used include Weeks Dye Works (WD001-1232, 1266, 1270, 1271, [2] 1277, 1298, 1317, 2103, 2104, 2158, 2200, 3550, 3860, 3940, 4129).
|
 Katherine Kennedy has designed some very pretty Huck Embroidery Christmas Ornament Kits! This one, Star and Dala Horse, just shows what you can do with huck embroidery, also known as Swedish Weaving. This technique is quick and easy to do and a great way to teach a younger person how to embroider. Two lovely Swedish weaving (huck) designs are included in this kit. The kit includes front and back fabric, thread, needle and ribbon to make two ornaments.
|
 Rosewood Manor decided to celebrate ten years in business with this stunning collection of cross stitch designs, Something Old, Something New. With over 40 patterns in this book, you will be able to create beautiful and meaningful samplers with groups of several designs or stitched separately for small ornaments, bookmarks, and framed pieces. There are flowers, birds, sayings, alphabets, patriotic flags, Christmas designs and more. Designs are coded for DMC or Anchor floss. This is a very versatile and spectacular book of designs (in my humble opinion).
|
 Sometimes when I am deep into a project, I need to measure something and just don't want to get up and look for a ruler. This new little Walnut Thread Organizer Ruler offers the best of both worlds. Organize your threads while keeping a ruler always handy! Keep your stitching supplies consolidated and tidy with tools that are functional and efficient. With the imprint, "Anytime is Stitching Time", the ruler measures up to 6" and is hand-crafted in Canada by a wood artisan who makes many of our other wood stitching tools..
|
Very soon the September catalog will be mailed out to you. If you have a different mailing address, please let us know immediately! Just click here to send your change of addresses to us! Thank you.
I've shown you many photos over the past months of our little cabin that we like to escape to whenever we can. Last weekend we took our pets and escaped there again. It provided a very quiet and peaceful setting for me to sit and proof catalog pages! Not what you were expecting to hear, huh? Sometimes you just have to combine relaxation with work and it all evens out. Besides working, we invited my parents to come out for Saturday night supper and I even gave my mom a ride on the 4-wheeler. We (mostly Harold) pulled weeds, mowed grass, painted trim, and did all the little jobs that have to be done when you own property. What we love most about going to the cabin is the peace and quiet it brings to our busy lives. Standing outside at night and looking up at the stars, seeing the Milky Way, hearing the sounds of nature, breathing the fresh clean air, it all brings such tranquility to our souls. I had my stitching along of course, working on a piece for our next Retreat. Life is good.
I hope you find a place to be where you can unwind, relax, sit, nap, and re-energize your life - and bring your stitching with you!
Thank you for your time!
|
|
Have a great week and let us know if we can help with your stitching needs! |
Photo shows Roz proofing the catalog in their rustic cabin in the woods.
Roz
 |
|
Information
My Lists
My Account
My Cart
Click here to print this article
