This two day class was the first national seminar for my teacher, Wendy Moore, and she was ready for us! Her directions were a stitcher’s dream–great diagrams with lots of little extras to help you along the way, as well as a heading on each page with the thread used, the number of strands, the stitch and where it is on the canvas. The iris is stitched with straw silk which was fun to use once it was ironed flat. There are enough shades of the silk to make the soft shade changes. On day one we worked on the iris and day two on the stalk and frame that will go around it.

Look at the top portion of the frame (only part stitched yet). The corner motif idea came from the design on a ceiling tile Wendy sees when she is at the hair dressers and having her hair washed! (Rosie often takes architectural photos for stitching ideas!). Then the frame is two parts with one being a longer scotch stitch and the other laid threads tied down with spaced Gobelin stitches. When you see the completed piece, it really looks like a wood frame! This piece is quite large and is currently going home with Dee as she kindly agreed to carry it in her car back to NJ! If you see a design that you like at a class or seminar with Wendy as a teacher, sign up. I think you will enjoy being in her class.

A few notes about this place as a seminar location. I loved it! The rooms are more spacious than ones we have had at other seminars with adequate drawer space and floor space for all the things needlepointers need to have on hand. The staff has been very friendly and accommodating and always with a smile. The lazy river has been a perfect way to loosen up tired muscles after a day of stitching. There were several days when we “walked the perimeter of Texas” a few times against the current for a bit more exercise! The surrounding area had open space which a suburb gal needs, places to eat within walking distance, and a great specialty grocery store. The seminar committee did a great job in their selection of location in my opinion.

Hi Everyone —

I don’t really have much to report today.  I quite enjoyed the remainder of my class and I am awed that we discussed every single stitched area, bead, and thread on this piece.  Cynthia was an energetic and supportive teacher, but we all would have liked more time to stitch.  I have a free morning tomorrow, so I may try to put a few more stitches in.

My progress at the end of day 2.

Tonight was the closing banquet.  We had a table of 7 NJNA members and Donna F from San Francisco area who happens to be a California stitching buddy of Barbara L!  Small world!  Hello’s all around!

Tomorrow afternoon I have to pack up all of the correspondence pieces for shipment back to the teachers.   Surprisingly, Houston was a great choice for seminar and this is one of the best hotels we have ever had in terms of lighting, distances, and amenities.

Next year in Tucson!

Cheers, Rosie

August 17, 2019

Hi Everyone!

Today I started a new class — a painted canvas by Brenda Stofft Designs — with Cynthia Thomas who designed the stitch guide and is teaching the class.  It is called Lady with Mandala II.

The painted canvas!

I started the class by asking what a mandala was — I had thought that they were the crystals hanging behind the lady — but no — they are the disks in the upper right quadrant of the design.  So — here’s what Webster’s had to say:

Mandala, (Sanskrit: “circle”) in Hindu and Buddhist Tantrism, a symbolic diagram used in the performance of sacred rites and as an instrument of meditation.

We have four students in the class.  I am the only one who does not usually do painted canvas, but I explained that I needed to get back to stitching on my Lombard Street and I hoped that the course would provide some inspiration.  I also asked Cynthia to explain how and why she picked the various stitches and it’s been great!

The kit has hundreds of threads, beads, and crystals and was beautifully kitted by Chandail Needlepoint.  We mostly worked on the lady’s hair today — I think this class could easily have been a three or four day class, so we have to hurry to get through everything in two days!

My Progress at the End of Day One!

After class I walked the perimeter of Texas a few more times and then attended the Seminar Expo! after dinner.

I discovered my picture on Facebook today — ANG had taken a picture of me hawking the correspondence courses last night!

Time is flying by.  I spent some time this afternoon looking at the classes that will be offered next year in Tucson.  I think I found some interesting options!

I’m looking forward to getting some uninterrupted stitching time!

Cheers, Rosie