Nanette Sagastume is from Chico, California, and I believe you will enjoy reading her stitching story. Contrary to her opening sentence, I think she is being too humble. I believe everyone has a unique story of how they came to love needlework and what it has meant to them in their lives. The ability to create such beauty with your hands is a gift and one that Nanette, as well as many of you, has grasped and used it to enrich your own life as well as many around you. Thank you, Nanette, for sharing your story.

"My stitching story is really rather ordinary. I was six or seven years old when my mother taught me stem stitch (the only embroidery stitch that she knew) on a craft project that she hoped would keep me busy during the ten days of no talking and bed rest that tonsillectomy convalescence required in the 1950s. Maybe some of you remember that? I never finished the project. My mother never cared for sewing of any sort and I never followed up. The exception was one Christmas, about 1960, when money was very tight and my mother decided we could make gifts for our relatives and save money. My sister and I were tasked with embroidering people's initials on white hankies. After that I didn't pick up a needle till in the eighth grade when I decided to embroider the border of a full-size top sheet and matching pillowcases with an iron-on transfer displaying a running garland of flowers-stem stitch, of course. It was a secret anniversary present for my parents and I worked hours and hours to complete that. I put so much sweat equity into the linens that I still can't bring myself to give the set away.

I didn't stitch again until almost twenty years ago when I bought an inexpensive cross-stitch kit just for fun. And an obsession was born!

I was lucky enough to attend several Spirit of Cross-Stitch Festivals, where I learned a vast variety of stitches beyond the stem- and cross-stitches. My very first class was intimidating. Sandy Orton taught it and the design contained eyelets, satin stitch, bouillons, and bargello stitches. Boy, was I over my head. I did complete eventually, years later. While I have tried other kinds of needlework (tatting, needlepoint, ribbon embroidery, Hardanger, etc), I really enjoy cross-stitch-but particularly pieces that use color and fractional stitches so that the finished product looks like a painting. I love to do landscape pieces.

In the last few years I have found that it can be days before I am able to pick up my stitching. There are times I can only spend fifteen minutes a day. At other times I am able to get two hours or so in. When I haven't stitched for several days, I find I start to feel deprived and very sorry for myself.

My husband and I have been married for thirty-seven years; we have three sons, one daughter, two grandsons, and four granddaughters. I am fortunate that all the grandchildren live in the same town as I do, so I babysit the toddlers one day each week and our families get together for dinners most weekends.

I retired four years ago from my work at our local university's health center. Much of my time has subsequently been spent taking care of various relatives who have had health issues. One of them, an aunt who subsequently died a year ago, gifted us with a vacation from which we have just returned: a stitching cruise to the Western Caribbean. My husband did not take the stitching classes, but I and twenty others learned thirty specialty stitches, including Hardanger, on the two days we were at sea. A romantic getaway with my honey and time to stitch; what could be more perfect? Thank you, Aunt Carmela!

Reading is my other pleasure, though there has been little time for leisure reading lately. This past fall I completed an intense year to become a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner (energy therapy) and just opened a private practice. I have also completed a manuscript for a book about my experience of my son's four years in the Marine Corps during wartime. I have begun the process of looking for an agent.

One bit of wisdom I've come to lately for myself is to stitch whatever I want and not feel obliged to frame it or have it be a present. Life is too short to put the projects that I want to do aside while I do wedding presents or birth samplers on deadline. The expense of framing things has made me hesitate to embark on a project. Now I've decided to stitch as I like and not worry about framing. It's the stitching that's the most fun, less so the finished product. If, after my death, my kids find drawers loaded with finished, unframed pieces or embroidered kitchen towels, they can figure out what to do with it all. I will have had the enjoyment of stitching.

I have become more careful to whom I give my stitching, and only give it to those who appreciate the love and labor that has gone into their gift. I did some ornaments on perforated paper for a fundraiser years ago; each object took about ten hours to complete. And while I know I was doing this for charity, still I was appalled that someone decided to price them at $2.00 each. I should have just bought them all myself for that price, and decorated my own tree with them. On the other hand, I stitched a Tiffany stained glass design, "Birch Trees" years ago for an auction fundraiser. Some of the attendees knew that I had spent over well over 500 hours stitching this large piece and they kept bidding till it finally sold for $1,800.

I love Marc Saastad's (The Silver Lining) flower pattern leaflets and Graphs by Barbara and Cheryl. I prefer linen to Aida cloth, but lately need the larger count. I loved the Glenshee that Maureen Appleton always used in her classes. As for threads, I like the hand-dyed ones but don't use them as often as DMC, which is readily available locally.

The largest piece I have done is "Church Street" by Graphs by Barbara and Cheryl. The finished piece is 375 by 205 stitches. It took me three years to complete but that was also because I always have many project going on simultaneously and never devote my time exclusively to one project. And due to the size of it and the number of floss colors used (ninety), it was something I could only work on at home. The entire canvas was stitched; there were no empty spaces. I loved working with the floss colors, which delighted my eyes and soothed my soul.

Stitching has also taught me to notice all the shades of color in nature. When I first stitched, I was surprised at the different colors used to stitch, say, a tree. Wasn't it just green? Now as I take a walk in the park I notice all the shadows and shades of color on the sun-dappled leaves. I often now see an object in nature and immediately think of the DMC thread number.

Stitching calms me and feeds my soul. I notice that certain colors of floss soothe me. When I am stitching for another person, I find I spend much time thinking of that person, and the time becomes a prayer of my heart. There is much solace in slowing down to stitch, working with lovely colors, and creating beauty.

It is getting harder for me to see which threads are over and which are under. At home I have an Ott True-Color standing lamp with a magnifier, and that makes my stitching easier. I'm still working on trying to find the "perfect" travel solution. I have several varieties of Mighty Bright small lights for working when on an airplane (view Mighty Brights). If I think I may do a lot of stitching in a hotel room, I take my compact flip-up Ott light (view Ott Lites) or the lightweight Visual Mate II (view Visual Mates). An idea that came from this newsletter, and which has worked very well for me, is to use an inexpensive pair of reading glasses over my trifocals.

As usual, I am working on several pieces currently. I just completed two stitcheries for American Soldier Memorial Project, which I learned about two years ago through Nordic Needle's newsletter. The goal of this project is to create for every family of those killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq, a framed stitchery which honors their loved one. My two stitcheries are very special to me as these are memorials for my son's good friends from his Marine platoon in Iraq. I am currently working on another one, "Red, White, and Blue" (Cricket Collection), for a third Marine from his platoon and have plans to stitch for a fourth Marine from his platoon (seven were killed in a suicide bombing in 2004). I find that I experience much healing as I stitch through my grief for the parents of these friends of my son.

I just completed several small ornaments for gifts and some Christmas stockings for two of the grandchildren. I can see making a stocking for each grandchild will be a matter of years. Just for fun, and to take my own advice, I'm stitching a dahlia pattern and a Christmas poinsettia on some showcase huck towels-just because I like the colors. I am also working at home on "Angel of Healing" by Lavender and Lace, which will be for myself, to celebrate the completion of the certification process for Healing Touch and which I will hang in my office. This also will be slow going; it is too complicated to do except at home with my standing lamp and magnifier.

I don't have any pithy "pearls of wisdom." I am starting to choose my projects differently, based on my age and my vision. I have a loaded ophthalmic family history and changes in my eyes, suggesting that there is a high probability of eventually developing glaucoma and macular degeneration. I want to get to those projects that I have waiting for me in the "to-do" bin while I can. I have become more discerning regarding which projects I want to spend my time stitching. Even if a project has many colors that I like, if there is too much repetition of pattern (as is the case with many samplers), I get bored. Life is too short and my vision future too uncertain for me to spend my time doing things that aren't enjoyable. Carpe diem!"

If more of you would like to share your stitching story, write to me and I will send you the questionnaire.

I received this hint from one of my newsletter readers so will pass it on to you:

Hello,

I just thought you'd like this tip. When at the Doctor for that nasty injection ask the nurse for the protective sleeve that the needle is supplied with. It makes a great cover for the scissor tip . I hate injections and somehow it makes it worthwhile if I get the needle cover.

I carry my scissors around on public transport and when at classes I am usually in a hurry to get my kit out to start the class. No accidents as I fumble in my carryall.

Jennifer

1. Hi Roz,

   Here is a picture of me standing by my Christmas tree which is a 20 year work in progress of almost 100 hand stitched ornaments. They are smocked, silk ribbon embroidery, cross stitched, hardanger, gold work or beaded made from various plates, patterns and my original designs.

   Dolores Blohm Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

   

   Check out the forum topic for a larger view!

I have enjoyed hearing from some of you as a result of the new inter-active topic, Stitching Showcase! I want to show everyone what you have stitched and I would love to have a photo of you holding or standing by your finished piece. Please send photos to me, along with your name and city and state and also the name of the design and the designer please, and we will show them off to all our newsletter readers.

Additionally, we invite you to come to our "Showcase" forum and share your finished work and chat with us and fellow stitchers! It's easy to join and we would love to have you. :)

Join the Showcase forum today!

Thank you for sharing!

My RECIPE this week is from our Stitcher's Choice cookbook and it is from Carol, one of our long-time staffers here.

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

• 10 cinnamon rolls, scrape frosting off
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup raisins
• One-half cup sugar*
• 3 tsp. vanilla
• 3 cups half-and-half (milk/cream)

Cut up pre-baked or store-bought cinnamon rolls into a 9" x 13" pan, then sprinkle with raisins. Mix together the vanilla, eggs, sugar and half and half. Pour over the rolls. Sprinkle top with cinnamon. Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Bake covered for the first hour.

Caramel sauce –

• One-half cup brown sugar*
• One-half cup white sugar*
• One-half cup whipping cream
• One-half stick butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Slowly bring to a boil. Remove so it doesn't curdle. Serve hot over bread pudding.

*Healthy Option: unrefined sugar (Sucanat or Rapadura)

I will close with some reminders for you. Here are some quick references to read more about these events:

Stitching Around The World Retreat - We would LOVE to add your name to the list of attendees!

Have you checked out our second website, nordicneedle.net? You'll find an amazing amount of information, a blog, free patterns, and stitching guides, to name a few features. Ryan has been at it again!

The Hardanger Design Contest is getting close to deadline for this year. Read about it and send your entries soon!

For all you Hardanger Card Club members, the February card kit should be mailed to you the second week in February. For those of you who still want to join and get in on the fun, click here for all the important information.

Special Announcement---------after working together with Sue Meier as my business partner for 35 years (come June 2), she has decided that full-time retirement is better than her present part-time retirement. So, as of February 26, 2010, Sue will be fully retired. Don't panic! I am totally happy for Sue and business will carry on as usual here at Nordic Needle. Her duties are being covered by other staff but she will remain half owner of the business. The biggest difference is that we will all miss her here at work. She leaves with 35 years of valuable knowledge and experience in the needlework industry. She has always been a sensible, practical business woman and the success of Nordic Needle is due largely to Sue.

Without our super competent manager and staff, it would be much harder to see her retire. For me, it just won't be the same without her. Our 35 years together as founders and builders of Nordic Needle have been blessed with a great working relationship as well as years of personal interaction. We had our four daughters in a 3-year time period and enjoyed those child-rearing years together. We have traveled to markets, enjoyed our time together with our husbands included, been each other's confidant and supporter through all these years. We have always said that we are very different from each other but we tend to work well together because where one has weaknesses, the other has strengths. It's been a good partnership and friendship.

I invite you to write a note to Sue and send it to me (email). I will collect these and assemble them into a keepsake folder to give to Sue when she retires. Maybe you have a special memory of your interaction with Sue in the past 35 years. Maybe you just want to wish her a happy retirement……that's up to you. Please send your notes to me by Friday, February 19th so I can put it all together for her. Thank you for your participation.

In closing I would just like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mom, Carol Wold. February 7 is her birthday and instead of mid-eighties, she's more like mid-sixties! I hope I have as much energy, a good memory, a positive attitude, involvement in many activities and zest for life if I should live as long. Mom, you are an inspiration and such a positive roll model. I love you. Have a great birthday week!

Thank you all for your continued business. Have a great stitching week and thank you for your time.

www.NordicNeedle.com
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