Hi, Everyone —
We had another wonderful day with the lovely Toni Gerdes! We stitched on all but a few areas of our Jasper design. The unstitched areas are “easier” versions of stitches that we already did. Sure they are…
Jasper — End of Day 2!
Tonight was the closing banquet and I must say that EGA does banquets well.
I’ve started packing — tomorrow Sue and I will fly to California for a short visit with my Mom.
Cheers! Rosie
So earlier today I said that I was heading to Westbrook, CT for a stitching retreat. Along the way I stopped at Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont, NY. I had been to this shop once before and hadn’t really planned to stop on this trip. However, yesterday I saw a Facebook post from the shop that they are having a 20% off sale on all Halloween canvases. I happened to mention it to my husband who had accompanied me on the last trip to the shop. He emphatically stated that this was a great shop and I had to visit again (he and the daughter are my worst enablers).
Of course I forgot to take pictures, but the shop is a great find. Lots of canvases that I haven’t seen in shops near us as well as threads galore and all those needlework toys! Betty, one of the owners, is terrific and so helpful. Oh, I did pick up a few canvases …
Purchases from Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont
Then I headed up to Wilton, CT. I printed out directions from Google Maps, but decided to test using the phone app as a GPS unit. She and I did not get along at all – whenever she had to reroute me because I hadn’t followed her instructions, she simply kept quiet for a while. So I still used my printed directions.
This was my first visit to The Enriched Stitch in Wilton. The store did not disappoint, although Route 7 hasn’t improved in the 20 years since we last lived in White Plains and traveled those roads. The store had lots of different canvases and threads, and was bustling with shoppers on their way to the retreat. I found a gorgeous Christmas canvas, that was even better when I was shown the finished model. It was a stand-up music box. Stunning! Here’s the canvas (I forgot to take a picture of the model).
The Enriched Stitch Purchases
Both Mary Susan, the woman who wrote the stitch guide as well as stitched the model, and Ginny couldn’t have been more helpful. I also ordered a canvas that I had seen on the shop’s website and was on display at the shop. It was spectacular on the website and absolutely incredible in person. It’s called Harvest Moon, also by Ewe and Eye.
I couldn’t capture the image but here is a link to the finished piece. http://enrichedstitch.myshopify.com/collections/ewe-and-eye/products/harvest-moon-1
I finally arrived at my ultimate destination and am thrilled with my room. My room is off by itself just above the lobby and there is a great sitting area right outside my door. I’ll include pictures in a subsequent post. Now I’m going to get ready for the Meet and Greet!
Happy Stitching!
Although I am not able to attend the ANG/EGA Seminars quite yet, I do try to save some vacation days for local classes. Today I am headed up to The Water’s Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT for a two-day stitching retreat run by The Enriched Stitch, which is located in Wilton, CT. We will be working on a painted canvas designed by Ewe & Eye exclusively for this shop.
I will be making stops at Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont, NY, a fabulous shop that is having a 20% off sale on Halloween canvases and The Enriched Stitch which I have not yet visited. Reports on the shops as well as the retreat to follow!
I am going to take advantage of being at a spa – I’ve already booked a massage for tomorrow evening, knowing that my back will really appreciate it after a day of stitching!
Happy stitching!
I tried signing up this morning and was successful. I really have nothing to say except that I can actually blog now!
Now it is my turn to be an angel for Toni Gerdes! She is very easy to be an angel for. Aside from passing out the kits as students arrived, I have had to call for an extra chair and more paper towels. Not bad for the beautiful pin I am wearing as well as the angel magnet Toni gave me which is on my canvas.
As Rosie said, we are both in Toni's class today and tomorrow stitching Jasper. Just looking at the colors used, you might not think that the piece had any life to it, but the variety of stitches and the different textures and shades of the threads definitely bring it to life. I learned the hard way today how not to open a skein of Soy Lustre and with the second skein we opened, I learned how to do it correctly. I have about a two hour job ahead of me untangling the first skein! (And I was being so careful!). The other thread that is a bit difficult to manage is the Edmar bouclê.
Soy Lustre, 1, Soy Lustre 2 and Bouclê
This is the time when you can see just how fast (and accomplished) a stitcher Rosie is when you compare the day's output on our two canvases. But I remind myself that this is not a competition. I am having a good time and feel good about what I was able to do today, even if it was only to learn how to open the Soy Lustre! My favorite stitch so far is the Double Dutch stitch which can be found in the large rectangle on the left side. There will be a color change in the threads as I progress down the block, and this will also be a rectangle where some of the leopard and autumn jasper beads will be attached.
Note the angel pin and Double Dutch
Only one more day of class. I am ready for a stitching retreat so that I can work on some of these pieces. Or maybe all I need is to set up some stitching dates for some of us who have unfinished pieces to gather and STITCH!
Sue
Hi, Everyone —
For the first time — Sue and I are taking the same class at seminar! It is “Jasper” with Toni Gerdes. Most of you will realize that this is the third class I’ve had from Toni — this year! And the second — this week! Toni has groupies and I admit that I am fast becoming one of them. Her designs are spectacular and her instructions and classroom manner are A-Number-One!
Jasper is very different from Navajo Blanket. Whereas in Navajo Blanket, the thread and stitches were wool and heavy enough to emulate a woven blanket, in Jasper we are using silk, cotton, soy, and even some wool threads. Toni says that she wanted this piece to have the texture to go with the rocks that will be used in the design and she also wanted it to be a sampler of different, unusual stitches.
When Harold and I were in Sedona (see rosiesmidnightsun.wordpress.com) I went into a store that sold beads. Among the “beads” that were sold were many, many varieties of Jasper. It seems that Jasper can be blue, green, coral, gold, and beige. In our piece we are using Leopard Jasper and Autumn Jasper beads. It is beautiful, but I can’t help thinking that it will go better in my Mom’s house than in mine.
First Day Progress on Jasper!
After class, Sue and I decided to check out “River Ranch” which is an entertainment water park that is part of our hotel here in Phoenix. We both floated around the lazy river and then did some exercises in a lap pool. While we were floating we noted that there was a miniature golf course, a day care center, a ghost town, a water slide, and concession stands. It seems that this is a great resort for families, but I think they are overwhelmed by all the “ladies who needlepoint!”
Cheers! Rosie
Hi, Everyone —
Tour day is one of my favorite days at seminar because I just love visiting new, interesting places.
Our tour today had several stops. The first was at Cosanti Bells. Our tour guide, Jim, kept saying that we were going to Arcosanti after Cosanti Bells. And even when we got to Taliesin West he called it Arcosanti again. Arcosanti and Cosanti Bells ARE related, but our tour did NOT include Arcosanti, which is closer to Sedona. Arcosanti is an experimental city that was designed to be self-sufficient.
The Cosanti Bells stop was mostly a shopping stop so that we could buy bells. I walked around the site and saw the molds which are used to make the bells. There was no commentary about the process, but I must say that the bells were beautiful and had a Southwest feel to them!
Cosanti Bells
Molds for Consanti Bells
Next we went to Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Camp” at Taliesin West. Wright built Taliesin during the depression when his third wife suggested that since he didn’t have any commissions that he should teach. Taliesin West still functions as an accredited school for architects — during the winter months. During the summer, the students migrate to the original Taliesin in Wisconsin. The students must learn by doing — including building their own “tent/rooms” on cement slabs on the campus.
“Taliesin” means shining brow. Wright believed that the architecture should fit into the environment and not overshadow it. Therefore, the structure sits below the top of the mountain and no structure is higher than the surrounding trees in this case the Palo Verde trees.
We were lucky to have a wonderfully informed tour guide to take us through the Taliesin facility. We started with this petrograph that was found on site.
Taliesin Petrograph
It was from this petrograph that the symbol/logo for Taliesin is derived.
Taliesin Logo — Depicts Two Hands Clasping!
Since I know that Sue has some wonderful pictures of the facility, I wanted to show this one:
On the left in the picture is the Taliesin West kitchen. If you are familiar with Wright’s history, he twice lost his home to fires that started in the kitchen. Here in the desert, he built the triangular pond so that he could form a “bucket brigade” in the event of another kitchen fire!
The triangular shape of the pond and of the roof and of the windows was intended to reflect from the triangular shape of the mountains behind Taliesin. Someone in our group asked about the orange fabric and paint that featured prominently in the furnishings of Taliesin. We were told that it was “red” and that Wright used four colors of red: Chinese Red (which seemed orange to us), Red, Taliesin Red (brownish), and Fire Engine Red which he used only for his many cars (and which all of his students also used for their cars). So they made a long red caravan as they made their way from Wisconsin to Arizona and back every six months! “There go the Wright boys!”
We also learned about a sculptor that came to Taliesin West while Wright lived here. She did a bust of Wright and then everyone tried to persuade her that sculpture was her true calling. She is now in her nineties and still lives at Taliesin. Below is a sculpture tat she completed within the past six months:
“Equilibrium” by Heloise Crista
Most of her sculptures only have about ten copies made before the mold is destroyed. The base on which this (and her other) sculptures are displayed rotates so that you can view it from all sides!
Finally — a lovely sunset from our hotel was a nice way to end our day!
Sunset at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak
Tomorrow Sue and I both begin “Jasper” with Toni Gerdes.
Cheers, Rosie
Tour day! Rosie and I went on the same tour today with the high point being the tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, an architectural school that is still operating today. He purchased the land in 1937 and began the place and program as a camp. The early buildings had canvas roofs which were rolled up every spring when the school returned to Spring Green, Wisconsin, and Taliesin East. The tour guide was excellent describing the history, the philosophy of FLW and his approach to architecture and the environment. Maybe these photos will give you an idea of the setting.
Building blocks formed from rocks, pebbles and a minimum concrete
He was very interested in Asian art. He acquired a number of Chinese friezes but they were broken into pieces. He had some of his students reassemble them. They can be found all over the property.
Chinese artwork
Shortly after his death, the third Mrs. Wright received this fountain dragon. After placing him in several locations on the property spouting water, she moved him to his current location. She decided that a dragon does not spout water, but breathes fire! Now it is hooked up to a gas line and during events the dragon breathes a flame of fire lighting up the area.
Fire Breathing Dragon
After the ninety minute tour, we returned to the gift shop which had a number of beautiful things such as these stand glass pieces.
Gift Shop Oieces
This stop was definitely the best of the day!
Sue
My canvas is looking good! I can see myself finishing this canvas as there is no section that has me questioning whether it is something that I can accomplish. We added more sections to the scene today, including the river edge–basketweave needed for a foundation for the river, a large shrub, rocks in the river, and the river. We discussed the sky which is stitched the same way as the river but different threads obviously. Since our classroom was so dark, Lois recommended that we wait to do more than establish the stitching for the river until we get home where there will be better light. Then we will be able to see the shading done with threads better. So now I have a second canvas that I can work on if we get that blizzard that keeps me home but does not interrupt the electric power!
Cathedral Rock
Tomorrow is tour day so there will be different pictures to see.
Sue
Hi, Everyone —
I really don’t have much to blog about today. Sue and I found a terrific fresh deli across the street and after having a wonderful lunch, we ordered salads for dinner so that we could eat quickly before merchandise night at EGA. Plus, we discovered a creamery on site and wanted to try the ice cream before it closed at 7:00 PM. So now we are sated and awaiting the opening of merchandise night!
“Navajo Blanket” class ended today, but I am pleased to have another class with this teacher later in the week.
Navajo Blanket comes to an end.
Tomorrow Sue and I will tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s home at Taliesin West. I’ve been looking forward to this since I heard that the EGA seminar would be in Phoenix!
Cheers, Rosie
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