Author Archives: suesci

Oct2

Empire of the Sun

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Toni Gerdes designed a beautiful kimono filled with rays similar to the rays on the Japanese rising sun flag. When I first saw it last year, it was the rays that impressed me. I selected to do this on the pewter canvas with the accent color teal. The remaining threads are shades of grey as well as an almost white. Aside from some blue Bijoux for glitz the other threads are all silk. As usual, Toni has a visual table of contents–a drawing of the piece with the area and page in each section. This makes it fast and easy to select what page you are looking for. We worked today primarily on learning the stitches for all the rays in the bottom portion of the kimono and one ray in the sleeve. We had lots of stitching time to work on each portion. For me that means I can get all the loose threads completed and tied off at least at same point in class.

By the time that class had finished today, we had worked on each of the different rays making sure we understood how each stitch would fit in the ray. The only portion that we did not begin was the beading for the color. Toni's explanation was so clear that it should not be difficult. The kimono has some beads trailing done the rays in a random pattern. We all know that asking needlepointers to do something random places a heavy load on us. Toni showed us random: imagine a playground with second graders out there playing and you are watching from above. Here are three girls giggling together over here. Further away is the new girl standing alone watching everyone. Over there are two boys kicking a ball and in another area a group of kids are playing softball with several clustered around home plate and others a bit scattered. That explanation made random clear to me! Thank you, Toni, for that story and visualization!

Empire of the Sun

 

One of the women in class had a neat Ott light that was not available at one of our favorite stores for Ott lights. She purchased it at an electronic store. It weighed less than three pounds, folded flat, with a power cord. It had three kinds of lights and different intensities. On the arm it had a clock, calendar and thermometer–our classroom was 70 degrees.

Ott light

This class was a perfect ending for the seminar. New Orleans, here we come!

Sue

 

Oct2

Stitch of the Month, 2016

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Those of us from NJNA who are attending the seminar were delighted with next year's offering. It is designed by our own Susan Hoekstra! (We still claim ownership although Susan has moved to Maine.). The design is called “Feuilles d'ananas, a Study in Values”. The layout is similar to a pineapple quilt block and the title means pineapple leaves. Susan stitched hers in different values of gold ranging from very light to very dark. The threads look like they would be floss or silk, (maybe Splendor would have the range needed) with some Kreinik and a few beads. It appears as though you would be working out from the center of the design and adding layers each month. I think it would be a fun piece to stitch and to see what happens as different stitchers use a different family of thread values. (Pictures are not permitted in the display area.)

Sue

Sep29

Seminar tidbits and Day 1and 2 of Copper Line with Sue Reed

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I took a look at the classes being offered next year at New Orleans and there are some good ones. I had hoped I would find only a couple of classes that I liked and could spend more time working on finishing one project instead of sharing the time among several projects. Maybe that will come sometime in the future, but not next year! There are some really good classes with some excellent teachers.

Yesterday was the first day of my first choice for the whole seminar, Copper Line with Sue Reed from Peabody, MA. I had taken a short 1/2 day program with her right after the seminar in Anaheim at the San Bernadino chapter meeting. I knew then that if I saw a class of hers I really liked, I would take it as she is an excellent teacher. She has the patience needed to spend time with someone who is having difficulty doing a stitch until they can do it on their own. This is an encore class first done about ten years ago. I was able to get in the class because someone dropped out and my name was at the top of the waiting list.

Day one

I obviously did not post last night so to continue with the class, day two was another good day with Sue Reed. It is often amazing the little tidbits you pick up from a teacher as well as new stitches. One of the things I learned today about Smyrna stitches is that the placement of the top stitch depends in part on its location. If you have a row of Smyrnas the horizontal line is enhanced if the top stitch is placed horizontally as well. In a column it is better to have the top stitch vertical. Who knew?

A pretty stitch we did today was a scotch stitched with several tied stitches in it. The ties were a metallic adding a bit of bling or sparkle to the section. For some reason the photo becomes distorted when I try to insert it so I will leave it out.

Sue

 

Sep27

Color Play, day 2

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Today was a good day for stitching! We began with the background stitch which is a double running stitch that creates a hexagon design when completed. Three back and forth passes create the honeycomb. We worked a row across the top or bottom to create the frame work and will complete the background off of that section. The stitch is worked with a single strand of DMC Jewel Effects. The way that the light reflects off it makes a perfect simple background. We did start the last hexagon which will eventually use four different threads to complete it. Now it looks a bit like a smattering of mud on top. Once I established the design and completed the thread. I returned to complete the two smaller hexagons and to work on one of the large ones. The addition of the red thread, only a single line in each pattern made all the difference. It was a fun class and oh what I learned!

Day 2of Color Play

Sue

 

Sep27

Day One of Color Play by Jennifer Riefenberg

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She is the designer of the Carrots, the Radishes , and the Beets! This piece is fascinating in the way that the underlay of paint on the canvas changes the thread and the thread changes what you see. Add onto that the use of variegated thread, Wildflowers, and it is amazing. I should have taken a picture of the unstitched canvas.

Note the canvas colors

 

If you just look at the small top hexagon, you get an idea of what we are doing to the colors you see. When you realize that the area it is covering was once the same color as the other hexagons, it seems as though you might be looking through smoked glass.

Today we began the stitching on four of the hexagons with the more difficult (read careful counting required) before lunch and the easier stitching after lunch. Later this morning we will begin the last hexagon as well as the background stitching and learn about the outline stitch we will do. Jennifer loves explaining about color and the various features of what we see as well as the why and how of what we are perceiving.

Robin is also taking this class and enjoying it. I am sitting next to a woman that Rosie and I spent much of an afternoon with when we were in. Phoenix. It took us about half the morning to recall how/where we met, but it was long enough to recall a number of facts about each other. She is a pleasant stitch ing neighbor as is the woman on the other side of me. Once I returned in the afternoon wearing my winter weight sweatshirt jacket, I was comfortable!

End Day One

 

 

Sep25

From relaxing retreat to stimulating seminar

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It is hard to believe that this morning I was sitting on a fifth floor balcony overlooking the ocean watching the beach walkers and waves, and now I am in my hotel room at the Myrtle Beach ANG Seminar, 2015! I did accomplish some stitching on my Summer Wonderful Humbug by Ada Haydon, a CyberPointers chapter meeting project this morning before packing and getting ready to leave our retreat hosted by Carol. I am currently working on the ladybug walk section.

Summer Wonderful Humbug

My first class begins at 8:30, my stitching bag is packed and ready to go!

Sue

 

May17

A Trip to Needleworker’s Delight

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I went to a lecture/demonstration at Needleworker's Delight in Colonia yesterday. Dawn Boisvert of A Sweet Stitch showed us seven different ways to showcase cross stitch pieces, most based on a flat ornament. Then she demonstrated how to mount a flat ornament. Dawn shared with us the specifics on the glue, mat board, tools she uses and the how's of these finishes. There were about seven of us attending with two or three who have done there own finishing in the past while the others have had others do their finishes. At the end those of us who have done this in the past felt that we had learned things we can put to good use while those who have not decided that it was worthwhile to have Dawn or another professional continue to do their finishes! It was a great way to spend several hours. I know that there are several techniques I plan to use when I need to finish my Christmas ornaments this year. After the positive reaction of the group attending, I believe that there will be more lecture/demonstrations in the future.

I go to Needleworker's Delight about every two or three months, and every time I go, more things have been added. This was the first time I saw the room that they use for workshops or for the Stitch-A-Long sessions that they offer. It is well lit and has both chairs set at tables as well as upholstered chairs for stitching. There are more threads being added as well. This time I saw Treenway Silks, Planet Earth's Pepperpot silk, Dinky Dyes floss and wool/silk. There were several Designer Showcases as well. My eye was drawn immediately to Threedles Needleart Design. There is a sample of A Different View as well as other designs by Kurdy Biggs. One was a handbag with one of the smaller designs set into the flap of the handbag as well as another small piece set into the front of a pouch. These will be on display until the end of June and well worth a visit.

You can learn more about what is going on there by going to their website (www.needleworkersdelight.com) and clicking on the events link. You can learn more about Dawn Boisvert and her finishing business by going to her website asweetstitch.com. Dawn works only with fabric, not canvas.

Sue C.

Mar16

Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit, WOW!!!!

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Woodlawn on a Sunny Day

 

I hardly know where to start and what to leave out. First of all the “Frankies” designed by Michael Boren that were stitched by NJNA were on display on one wall in one room on the second floor. They were spectacular all seen together. There was also another Frankie by someone else on the same wall that completed that set. It was wonderful to hear the comments of visitors as they came in and saw them all in such a variety of colors. We had three winners in our group, Rosie L. took a second place, Linda M. and Sue C. both took an honorable mention in the multi stitch canvaswork. I was told that Michael Boren was told of this display. It is hoped that he will be able to see it.

Looking through the catalogue of stitchers, I saw that Barbara L. had three pieces entered. Two were very pretty pillows displayed in the parlour on a sofa. Barbara's third piece won a third place in the multi stitch canvas work, but I was never able to find it! I had the help of three friends and several docents but no success. Before returning next week, we need Barbara to tell us what we are looking for. Congratulations to all exhibitors from NJNA! In the smocking room is the second piece that Kathy M. exhibited, a lovely dress with a smocked white bodice attached to a taffeta skirt and attached apron. It was so pretty.

You will see several renditions of the Debbie Stiehler's 2013 STOM. One is made into a large flower with beads along two edges standing in a flower pot! Kurdy Biggs has two pieces on display for those of us who like her designs.

For those who will make a visit to Woodlawn this year there were some beautiful pieces with wonderful stories to accompany them. In the parlour is a surface embroidery piece that borders a piece of fabric with Hebrew script on it. I asked the docent if the “story book” had any information on the quote. It came from the book of Proverbs about the role of a woman that is quite heart warming. In the first room off the entry room are a number of miniatures and beadwork (fascinating all). One is a beaded purse with both shells and stones encrusted. The woman who made this missed a family trip to Florida because she stayed home with a son who had mono. She asked her daughter to bring her home shells and stones that she found on the trip. These are what she put on her purse. Each room has stories and the docents have the notebooks of many. When you are in the parlour, ask the docent which is the piece stitched by the lady who is 100 years old! (Oh, to still be stitching 25 years from now!)

You will recognize Susan H.'s sheep on two pillows in your wanders. There is a canvas work clock using beautiful buttons in place of the numbers. There are several pieces of animals and birds that must be Charlie Harper canvases. There is an original land grant document for land in Alabama signed by James Monroe framed with a reproduction of a sampler from the family. These have stayed within the family from the mid 1820's!

I could go on, but I want to tell you that lunch in Nelly's Tea Room is a worthwhile visit. The food is good; any money made (including tips) supports the Woodlawn Plantation.

The Menu

 

Three of us ready to order

I am so glad that I will be returning next week!

Sue C.

 

Mar10

A Visit to Morven Museum in Princeton, NJ

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I went with a friend to Morven Museum in Princeton on Sunday to see the exhibit of schoolgirl needlework of New Jersey from 1726 to 1860. This exhibit ends on March 29th. If you live near Princeton, it is well worth a visit. The exhibit is divided by counties into several rooms. Although it is poorly lit to protect the fibers, you can get close to most of them. Extra lighting such as a flashlight is not permitted, but magnifiers are. Since I knew very little about schoolgirl samplers, I did not realize that one of the ways that the history of a piece can be determined is by the design. Schoolgirls who learned under the same teacher had certain of the same elements in their pieces. In one room there were often pieces done by girls who studied together where you could see this. Although most of the pieces were the type we expect of samplers of that time with alphabets and pictures of animals, trees, buildings there were two maps of northern New Jersey with a few towns whose names surprised me, such as Hamburg and “Sicckasinny”, or some such spelling! There was also a small globe that was done with ink and some stitches.

Of course, the stitching was most often done on very fine linen, much smaller count than my favorite 28 count! There were many more stitches than the usual cross stitch including Smyrnas, eyelets, and many queen stitches as well as beautiful satin stitches. Do not look for correct sizes of things. One squirrel in a tree looked more leopard like in size! The most common thread that we saw was silk with some wool and some cotton. There was berlin work done in wool to be seen.

There were two difficulties in the exhibit, the low lighting which was needed as well as the pieces hung so high that those of us using bifocals or readers ended the day with a very sore neck! Unfortunately, as there are no chairs or benches on the rooms for resting, you just need to persevere! It is well worth it. There is parking on the premises as well as a gift shop. If you want to go, check out the website for days and times. http://www.morven.org.

Sue

Mar6

Into the framers!

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Even though I have spent most of the last week at home, it has been productive as I have spent time stitching as I listened to audio books. I was able to complete American Mosaic, a map of the United Stares. It is the class that both Heidi and I took in Chicago this past August. It was a piece I thoroughly enjoyed seeing come to life. Seeing Heidi's completed inspired me to get back to it.

American Mosaic

I also added a couple of rivers that were not on the original which had the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers. I added the Delaware River for New Jersey, my home state, and the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington for a few wonderful vacations spent out there.

That is three completed seminar pieces and two to go!

Sue