My featured stitcher this week is from our neighbors to the north; Canada. Here is her stitching story.

"Hi! My name is Doris Dieners and for the last 22 years I've lived in beautiful Oakville, Ontario, just a few minutes from Lake Ontario. I was born in Germany and immigrated to Toronto in 1955 with my parents when I was two-and-a-half years old. I will be eternally grateful to my Mutti (German for Mom) for making me go to German grammar lessons every Saturday morning and for making me speak my 'mother tongue' at home as I was growing up. To this day I can read, write and speak well enough to find it a breeze whenever I visit Germany or communicate with overseas cousins.

Embroidery is (or at least, it was) an important part of a German household, so my love of needlework is not a surprise. My maternal grandmother embroidered pillowcases, tablecloths, doilies and wall hangings, many with beautifully crocheted edges. The annual Christmas parcel from overseas was always a highlight when I was little and always contained a piece of needlework from my Omi (Grandma). My Mutti had quite a few linen pieces of her own that, as a young girl, she embroidered to place in her 'hope chest'. I inherited this same hope chest to start saving items for my future marriage, just as she did. Mutti introduced me first to knitting dishcloths when I was about seven or eight years old. We laughed so hard at some of the outcomes and strange shapes these simple squares became. We both agreed that knitting was not my forté.

So we tried stamped pillowcases and found that I enjoyed this needlework and was fairly good at it. Although my hope chest had many purchased linens and kitchen gadgets in it, it was sorely lacking in needlework pieces. I was too busy growing up, going to school, dating and working. I didn't get back into it until I was expecting my first baby. My husband had given me a beautiful crewel kit to work on during those sleepless nights while I was waiting for my son to make his appearance. The stitching bug hit me hard, but it was short-lived, again. Mothering, working and a second baby two years later left little time for me, let alone needlework. My first marriage broke up a year after my daughter was born, and I investigated in-home selling by The Creative Circle, to supplement my income. Instead, I purchased my first counted cross stitch kit and still have it to this day.

The bug had come back with a vengeance and there was no time to sell crafts above and beyond my day job. So I just worked on simple little projects after my son and daughter were in bed and gave the little projects away as gifts; until I met my second husband, my soul-mate, years later. For our first Christmas after we were married he actually scouted our area for a needlework shop and bought all kinds of goodies! What a man! He's a stitcher's dream come true. Even to this day, if we happen to pass a stitching shop he will turn around and take me back if I ask him to. He has stopped for me at needlework shops in many places we have vacationed: Mexico, Germany, Hawaii and numerous other states.

I have tried stamped and crewel embroidery, knitting and crocheting, white work, black work, petit point (too hard on the eyes!), needlepoint, bargello, Hardanger and counted cross stitch. Nowadays I spend time on my most favourite --- counted cross stitch with some specialty stitches and Hardanger thrown in. I go weak in the knees when I see charts that call for some shiny stuff; Kreinik blending filaments or cord, Mill Hill beads and my beloved Swarovski crystals. Last June, after my son was married in Germany, my husband treated me to a trip to the Swarovski Kristallwelten (Worlds) in Innsbruck, Austria.

After working 27 years with the Canadian division of appliance-maker, Whirlpool, I reached 'Freedom 55' and retired. I had promised myself that I would put aside some time every day to stitch and finally put a dent in my stash. I had been collecting kits, books, floss, beads, fabrics and ideas for many years, saving for that 'when I have time' at retirement. I am happy to say that I do all my household chores in the morning and stitch to my heart's content each afternoon for at least two hours. Unless we have something else planned, a typical weeknight after dinner is spent on the couch in the family room with the TV on, more to listen to than watch. I am on one side with my current cross stitch project and my husband is on the other side with his laptop. His love of computers and electronic gadgets compliments my love of needlework perfectly.

I always have a small project to take on vacation and my best friend and I try to get together every two weeks for lunch and some serious stitching at each others' homes. She and I have been buddies for at least 35 years and we also belong to a stitching group. I manage to join in every month or so even though the group meets almost weekly. You can visit our website. Simply stated, I stitch in the winter and I stitch and do some gardening in the summer. In between, I stitch. However, summertime is harder to find stitching time since that's when the BABY comes out of the garage; my husband's other passion – his Corvette. Since he's not retired yet, we go on weekend road trips and cruises with our friends. Sure keeps us feeling young though! I still like to crochet at least one afghan each winter to donate to the needy. I think I've made and gifted at least 30 afghans over the years!

If I can ever get up the nerve or find the extra pocket money, I would love to stitch some of Martina Weber's Garden Mandalas from Chatelaine; German Ostsee, Alpine Seasons, Egypt Garden, Taj Mahal Garden, and especially her Hawaiian Garden Mandala (which is no longer available!!! – Another lesson learned. You have to buy it when you see it!). One of these days I will sign up for a Mini Mandala Mystery!

For my 'bit of advice', I used to agonize over every little error I made. I'd rip out rows of stitches to fix just ONE stitch that might have been the wrong colour or was stitched in the wrong direction. Then one day my stitching fairy (aka my inner voice) told me that it was MY piece, and that no one else would know. Besides it made the project my very own! So my first bit of wisdom is: don't sweat the small stuff! I also thought that I had to finish a project before I could allow myself to start another one. I finally pooh-poohed that one and starting with January 2009 I began a new project almost every week. So I have 8 projects on the go! So what? I am having a ball! I enjoy playing with my fabrics, flosses, charts and embellishments each time I gather all the goodies together to start a new project! Again, it's MY stuff, and eventually the UFOs will get done! Life's too short; enjoy your stash now!

Finally, I always thought you had to frame every piece when it was finished, or have a specific purpose for stitching it. Not so. I don't have enough walls in our house for them all. I do have a large dress box where all my finished pieces lie sleeping peacefully until some fairy godmother comes along to whisk it off into her kingdom. Just last month my daughter, who lives in Edmonton with her husband, came to visit and claimed two projects she just loved. How wonderful! I loved stitching the pieces and they're going to someone who loves them in return. It just can't get any better than that! So my third and final bit of wisdom is stitch for the sheer joy of it!

No one gets one of my pieces unless they beg for it, ask me to stitch it for them, or prove that they appreciate it. Only other stitchers know how painful it is to put all that effort and love into a specially selected project for someone only to see it shoved into a closet without a second look at it. I've been there. Those who have received pieces from me genuinely are happy with it and although I don't expect it, I am delighted when I see it displayed somewhere prominent, like hanging in the living room.

There are so many talented designers out there! I love stitching Thea Dueck's samplers and have taken five of Victoria Sampler's cyberclasses. I have finished the Four Earth Elements recently and just purchased the Heirloom Christmas Sampler. I haven't decided yet if I will stitch it in the muted or traditional colours. I also enjoy Nan Caldera's designs and have finished at least a dozen of the twenty-two charts of hers that I own. 'Bliss', 'Christmas Ribbons' and 'Queen of the Needle' are in line, waiting to get started on very soon. My other favourite samplers come from Marilyn Vredevelt of Stoney Creek. I wholeheartedly support her every year by attending the Cross Stitch Festival / Stitching Jubilee each year, and my friend and I have driven the 10 hours each way to Pennsylvania, together, for over 10 years. Needless to say, we've taken our share of classes and bought more goodies for our stashes than we need, at the shopping mall. I just finished 'Wings to the Soul' and have a number of festival commemorative samplers waiting to be finished. Last month I finally completed 'Faith-Hope-Love', a special edition design from the 2007 Stitching Cruise through the Panama Canal that we've been on (and we took our hubbies with us!).

I've also enjoyed completing a number of Valerie Pfeiffer's and Marjolein Bastin's designs and have a few of their charts waiting in the wings to get started. I love nature and it's reflected in the pieces I stitch. Then there are the little square samplers from Sweetheart Tree that I love ....

I love stitching on 28 ct linen and especially enjoy the Stoney Creek dyed fabrics. DMC wins hands down in the thread department for cotton skeins and Kreinik for blending filaments.

For accessories, I could not live without my little plastic organizer boxes, such as Darice Floss & Needlework Organizers, the ones that have dividers in them. I have all sizes and in order to pass my requirements, each has to have at least one compartment big enough for a pair of embroidery scissors. Each box, in addition to the threads I need for a project, includes a needle threader, 26 & 28 tapestry needles and one beading needle. I keep flosses in numerical order in the larger size and marked the outside with the range of colour numbers each contains. Zippered mesh bags keep all the goodies for a project neatly together in one place. Yellow fluorescent highlighters are a must for my aging eyes. Otherwise, I'd spend way too much time looking for that next stitch. It may take a little bit longer to mark off all the squares I've stitched, but it's much more relaxing for me. My Excel spreadsheet named 'XStitch Master' is my other best friend. Under one tab, it lists almost all of my stash, whether kit, chart, book, magazine or freebie; who the publisher or designer is; plus a short description, theme or topic; and whether I've stitched it or not. Another tab lists beads that I have and another, specialty threads (no need to list DMC --- I have ALL of them!). The file also includes conversion charts, e.g. Anchor to DMC, GlistenGloss to Kreinik. I can sort, search and print anything in this file and is a real help when I'm looking for something specific.

The largest piece I've ever stitched is JanLynn's 'Boy King'. All those metallic threads, and the royal blue fabric is not the easiest to stitch on!! I thought I was going to go blind. I had the framer use UV-protecting glass so that when the sun shines King Tut sparkles and the colours will not fade.

A challenging piece I completed was a wedding sampler for my daughter and her husband. It was a learning experience. She and I chose 'Hummingbird Heart' from the Stoney Creek Collection. Although it's gorgeous, I have discovered that I do not like working with silk ribbon so I did what I could and improvised at the end just to get it finished – FOUR years after their wedding! But my daughter loves it and it's hanging in a special place in their home.

Needlework to me represents comfort, companionship, continuity, wholesomeness, everything good in life. When someone remembers me with a gift of a new chart, some floss or a small finished piece, I know they care about me – because they know how important stitching is to me. I have made wonderful friends through our common love of needlework and all stitchers I have met in my life are beautiful, warm, caring people. I've been comforted by stitching through my mother's illness and death. I've enjoyed giving the gift of stitching to others as a DMC Mentor and was amazed at how much some of them embraced their newfound craft. Needlework is a way of expressing myself with threads on fabric, in stitched pictures and verses.

In closing, I love your catalogues!!! They are my main reference tool for colours of beads, fabric and threads. I enjoy browsing through the charts and kits to help me plan what projects I want to do next. And I look forward to finding out what new gadgets are available!"

Thank you, Doris. I loved reading about your stitching passion! Thank you for sharing your stitching story. Doris stitched a design that is on the Victoria Sampler website and is offered as a free design. See it here for a free download.

If you or anyone you know would like to be featured in a future newsletter, please send me an email and I will send you the questionnaire.

Thank you for continuing to send me your thoughts on the two interactive topics I have going. It's time to change this first one and make it your favorite place to stitch in the FALL and WINTER and what you plan to stitch in the fall and winter. Please send those emails to me. Now for the next ten emails on the summertime stitching.

My favorite place to stitch in the summertime and what I plan to stitch this summer are:

31. My Favorite Place to Stitch in the Summertime - Wherever the sun shines!! LOL I love to sit out on the front porch or back yard patio with my legs up in a chair or on my lounge chair and bask in the sun as I stitch!

    I have found I get twice as much stitching done in the sun than I do in the winter or indoors. If I'm outside, I can ignore the interruptions that happen indoors! My second favorite place to stitch would be by the pool. I love to sit there and watch my children (and this year grandchildren!) play in the water as I stitch to the music of my mp3 player. I always have people walking up to me to see what I am doing and what it looks like. I normally take a good sized project with me so it's more like they will see it. Sometimes I take smaller projects, but usually the big one I am working on goes wherever I go.

    For this summer I will be working on Spring Beauty Princess by Passione Ricamo along with Laura's Once Upon A Time. OUAT will be stitched for my daughter's wedding in May 2010. My daughter loves to watch my stitching "come to life" and she really loves Passione Ricamo designs, as do I. I have stitched over 20 of her designs! The colors, details, beads and metallics are so wonderful to use!

    Stitching Keeps Me Sane!!! :) Jean Jones

32. I always stitch while watching TV, and I am a huge baseball fan, probably watching close to 200 games in a season, so I get lots of stitching done between April and the end of October! The relaxed pace of the game lends itself to stitching, more so than basketball or hockey. I just finished three pieces from Carriage House Samplings (Strawberry Blonde, The Song They Sang, and Scarlet Berries). Next, I'm going to work on a couple of William Morris-inspired designs of arts and crafts style artichokes. They're intended to be a needlework pattern, but I think it will look just fine in cross stitch. I like to use Monaco cloth when I cross-stitch a needlework design, as it really supports the stitches and retains its shape.

    And now... play ball! Kaye Simonson

33. I love to stitch at my friend's log cabin in the Great Smokey Mountains. It is very peaceful and quiet out there and she has a screened in porch. I plan on stitching a project from Bent Creek called Season Row for a shop that is close by, Dixie Darlin, and from Needle House Needleworks called Moon and Stars.

    Julie U. Sevierville, TN

34. For several years now we have rented a wonderful, tiny house near the Barnegat Bay in New Jersey. It is actually a garage that was converted to a summer cottage and I LOVE it. Two of the four walls of the house are floor to ceiling jalousie windows. It has air conditioning but I almost never turn it on unless it is 80 or more at night and I cannot sleep. I LOVE the gentle breeze that wafts through the house almost all the time. I can sit in the living room in the big comfy recliner in the evenings and stitch, or read, to my heart's content. Because the outdoors come into this little house so well, my husband calls our time there "living on the porch".

    So, my favorite place for summer stitching is "in" our "porch". Teresa

35. I would design a large piece with different items representing Texas A&M University. My husband is a graduate from there. I bought a drawing of those items (a collage) from a well-known artist in College Station, TX and gave to my husband a few years ago for Christmas. I'd like to do that same drawing in needlepoint or counted-cross stitch for him to hang in his office along side the print.

    Candi Faulk Hot Springs Village, AR

36. My favorite place to stitch in the summertime is the same place I stitch all year long. Houston is very hot during the summer so there is no question about going outdoors, or stitching with the windows open! I sit in my oversized comfy lounger with the overloaded table next to it, my Ipod ready to go with the latest audiobook., and the air conditioning going. Sounds lazy, I know, but I love it! Lately I have been energized by your bookmark competitions and am making bookmarks for all the avid readers that I know. I am desperately using up scraps of fabric -- sounds like I'm nesting!

    Joyce Gilbert Houston, TX

37. I plan on finishing the 3 foot octagon shaped rug started last September. The rug is stitched in wool. I will be stitching either in my new Florida room with lots of windows for good light or the patio that has a large tree and has shade all day long. A few years ago I made a pledge to finish a project before I started another one. I have stuck to that pledge so far. The rug is too large to take with me so I am working on a brick cover. I need something that is easy to take to the doctor's office, waiting to pick up the grand kids, etc. I only work on this when I am away from home.

    Sandra

38. I'm looking forward to finishing Carolyn Mitchell's Parallel Dreams this summer. I finished half last year and had to put it aside for bookmarks, Holidays, etc. It is so much fun to work on because each block is different. I'll be sitting in our air conditioned family room keeping myself and the project out of the Las Vegas sun and temperatures. The family room looks out on our back yard, a park just past our block wall, and one of the small mountains that surround Las Vegas. If the heat starts to feel like it will never end, I'll work on the Dimensions Holiday Tree Farm for some subliminal cooling (my husband picked it out when he saw the finished project hanging on Nordic Needle's wall).

    Cynthia Zachow

39. We moved to Manzanillo, Mexico from Garrison, Minnesota in October 2007. Because of that move my favorite place to stitch (all year long) is on our patio. While stitching I can watch my Shih Tzu play in the grass and watch the hummingbirds (yes, we have hummingbirds in Mexico, too) drink from my feeder. I never in my wildest imagination thought life could be this good -- warm weather, pets, and stitching. How much better can it get.

    Linda Breun Manzanillo, Mexico

40. Living in Alberta where we have long, cold winters, it may be surprising that I cross stitch more in the summer time than I do in the winter. That is because I stitch while watching baseball on TV. I am a Boston Red Sox fan and a Toronto Blue Jays fan – except for when they play the Red Sox. But I will watch almost any baseball game. The pace of the game is such that I can stitch and still not miss a lot of the game. If the cross stitching is going well, I will start with a game played in the east and progress across the continent as the evening wears on.

    At present I am putting the finishing touches on "Ebenezer" from Just Nan's Shenanigan's series. After that, I will go back to a Stitch-Along piece that I started last winter. And, by the way, thank you so much for your great service recently when I ordered the black "Fyre Werks" that I needed for his eyes and hat!

    When we travel with our RV, DH drives and I stitch small ornaments on perforated paper or plastic. An ornament project is generally small enough that I can manage it within the confines of the truck or from my spot in the fifth wheel when we are stopped. The best ever such stitching was done in the Yukon in early June a couple of years ago. The light was so bright and clear there. At midnight, it was still light enough for me to stitch in natural light.

    How interesting to see responses in your newsletter from so many Atlantic Canadians. I am from NB, originally, myself.

    Wanda in Edmonton (her website)

Now for my next topic – thank you for all your suggestions.

What are we going to do with all of our vintage and antique embroidery pieces and hankies?

21. Dear Roz, When I lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, the talented ladies at Holy Family Catholic Church took old, embroidered hankies and sewed them into angels.

    The Ladies Guild sold the angels as Christmas ornaments at their annual bazaar in early November. I was lucky enough to purchase a few of these treasures in 2006!

    Debbie L. Nelson Green Bay, Wisconsin

22. While I haven't done it, I have seen an absolutely beautiful wall hanging done with antique handkerchiefs and surface embroidery ... looks like a fantastic crazy quilt.

    Joan S.

23. I use the needlework items my grandmother did as decorative objects. I have the old wooden clothes drying rack set up in my bedroom and I drape the tea towels, napkins and runners along it. Always protect the fabric from the wood dowels because they will leave a stain. Small items can be finished like Christmas ornaments and hung from lamp switches or doorknobs. I also hang old embroidered purses from picture hooks on the wall or from the corners of bookcases. I also wedge an old chopstick or other object under the books and poking out into space so I can hang things from it. If you have a flat wooden stair rail you can drape pieces along the stairs.

    I also hang items over an old frame that is hung on the wall like a regular picture so I don't have to alter the embroidery. Of course, many people frame old handkerchiefs. I have also seen Christmas angels made from old 40's hankies. SHOW YOUR EMROIDERY WITH PRIDE Julie B.

24. Roz, I have many pieces of handwork from my mother, and both grandmothers. Some I have framed, and will get more framed with a photo of the maker and one of her crochet hooks. I saw this done and it was beautiful.

    As to the hankies, which I have none, I did see them displayed in a bedroom around the door frame to showcase the pretty designs. I think they were attached to a cord of some kind with clothespins so they could be taken down and used.

    The best gift I received when we were married, 33 years ago, was a set of embroidered kitchen towels, my grandmother had done when she was ill just before she died in 1943. My dad's cousin was caring for her and kept the towels for me (I wasn't even born yet) and gave them as a gift to me in 1976. Any ideas for them? Thanks for all the great news!

    Cindy from Wisconsin

25. Old tablecloths and napkins, I just don't know what to do with them. I just inherited a whole bunch of linens, tablecloths, napkins, dresser scarves, bread cloths, etc. I'm in the same boat as you, except I have 5 cats to contend with. Right now, all these lovely linens are packed away. It just might be time for me to pull out a different set of dresser scarves!

    Now, for the hankies....in my next home (Ely, MN) I plan on taking hankies that I've purchased and lay them out like diamonds, then tack the two opposite corners to the next hankie. I'd only make a temporary type stitch; and then delicately put them over a pretty round curtain rod and gently sew a tack like stitch to hold them in place. These would be put in my windows like valances. This would be for the bedrooms only. Then on the furniture, I could put out the dresser scarves!

    I can't imagine all the time that was put into lace making, applique, Hardanger, etc. the lives the women lived at that time were a lot tougher than ours. I guess when the dishes were done and the children put to bed, it was time to stitch. What a fantastic time to live that must have been.

    I hope you get a lot of good ideas! I always look forward to Mondays and my Nordic Needle letter! It certainly brightens my day!

    One of your faithful readers!!!! Nan Ziegler

If you have more ideas on this topic, please send them to me. Thank you so much.

I made this dish last week for just the two of us and it was a "keeper" with leftovers for the next day.

Chicken Marsala

• One-fourth cup cake flour like Wondra
• One-half teaspoon salt
• One-half teaspoon pepper
• One-half teaspoon oregano powder
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons EVOO or vegetable oil
• 4 chicken half breasts, boneless and skinless
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms
• 1 cup sliced sweet onions (optional)
• One-half cup red or Marsala wine

In a shallow dish, like a pie plate, combine the flour, salt, pepper and oregano powder, mixing well so it blends completely. In a heavy skillet, heat the oil and butter until it bubbles slightly.

Completely coat the chicken breasts in the flour mixture and sauté in the bubbling oil/butter for at least two minutes or until the first side is slightly browned. Turn the chicken pieces to the other side. Add the mushrooms and onions around the edge of the pan. Brown the second side and pour the wine over the chicken. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. You may want to turn the chicken again so it gets more brown on both sides.

Serve with jasmine rice or noodles or small potatoes and vegetable of your choice.

It is so fun to have so many visitors to Nordic Needle in the summer months. Thank you for making Nordic Needle either a stop along the way on your vacation or for making it your destination! We love having you stop in and would be happy to give you a tour anytime you come! My summer travels have been very limited and all within the state where I live; Minnesota. When Thomas was here we traveled to central and northern Minnesota, and spending that wonderful week at the lake resort, Birch Villa. Now Thomas has gone back to Switzerland and I am in the middle of the Fall catalog work. It's gotten very quiet all of a sudden.

Usually when I would be working on a catalog, I had my cat, Harley hanging on my arms while I type or sitting right in front of the monitor so I had to stop and pet him for awhile. Well, you know that Harley has been gone now for 6 weeks and it's just not the same around here. We really miss him.

So, with prompting from our daughters, Jess and Alyssa, I looked at the Humane Society website to "just see" what they have available in the cat adoption category. That was all it took. When I saw all the beautiful cats they are trying to find homes for, I felt the pull to give one of them a home.

It doesn't help that the Humane Society is located just a few blocks away from Mary Lou's house, where I bring all my catalog copy to be typeset. So twice I stopped in there to just look and the second time I held.................and I was a goner, a sucker, a complete hopeless case. A house is just not the same without a cat around, in my opinion. There are so many animals that need homes, it just tears your heart apart. SO, the cat that tugged at my heart the most was Gabby! She's a 5 year old female large tiger striped cat. She has a very loud motor and purrrrrrrs constantly when you are petting her. She had been there since April and the keepers said she was getting depressed. I picked her up last Monday and thus begins another chapter in our lives of being cat owners.

Our two dogs, Sadie and Sophie, are exuberant and want to play or at least get to know Gabby better but so far they really freak her out. Our dogs are half chocolate lab and half Springer spaniel and very verbal. Gabby is staying mostly in our basement so far, but the door is open so she can come up whenever she dares. She has Taylor's bedroom all to herself for now but she will soon find out that she will be the boss of the dogs and they will let her be. Harley was the boss and now Gabby will be too. As I write this, she has ventured upstairs and is now sleeping on our bed so there is progress every day. Our house must feel like a castle to her after being mostly in a cage since April.

As you think ahead to your fall and winter stitching projects, let us help you with your supplies. Our staff is ready to take your orders, give advice, answer your questions, and ship your orders. Thank you for your loyalty to our company – we deeply appreciate you. Thank you for your time.

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