INDEPENDENT NEEDLEWORK NEWS

I hear it will be difficult to outdo the phenomenal retreat Shepherd’s Bush hosted in 2006, when their theme was a Haunted Weekend. However, sisters Tina Richards Herman and Teri Richards intend to make the 2008 retreat their best ever … So if you’re a Shepherd’s Bush fan, you won’t want to miss it!

Preliminary information for the 2008 Shepherd’s Retreat has been posted, so now you can finally start planning your fall calendar!

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008, will be an open house at the Shepherd’s Bush shop in Ogden, Utah. If this will be your first time travelling to Ogden, then don’t forget to print out a copy of the directions from Salt Lake International Airport to the shop!

The actual retreat will follow from Thursday through Saturday, September 25th-27th, 2008, at The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah.

Accordingly, interested stitchers will probably want to reserve the dates from Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008, through Sunday, September 28th, 2008 in order to allow for plenty of SHOPPING (and travel) time on both sides of the retreat.

The 2008 retreat theme, teachers, classes, and all further details will be posted in the retreat brochure toward the end of March on the Shepherd’s Bush website. I’ll do my best to remind you when the time comes, but you’ll want to be watching for the brochure yourself, too. That’s because you’ll want to register for the retreat as soon as you can after it’s posted — Tina and Teri recommend “… within a few days … ” of their posting the retreat brochure — because retreat enrollment is somewhat limited.

And don’t let your spouse make any argument about spending your tax refund for this very special reason. After all, he agrees you’re worth it, doesn’t he? If need be, tell him you’ll be giving him a five day vacation from you (this would be a good time to remind him of your one or two annoying habits), and then bat your eyelashes and offer him something special from next year’s tax refund. After all, he’s not likely to hold you to that agreement, right? (Will he even be likely to remember that agreement just a month later? One year, I think I spent “our tax refund” several times over! I just waited a few weeks between each expenditure … ) Besides, even if he does remember, you’re still safe … since the Shepherd’s Retreat only happens every other year!

Technorati Tags: Shepherd’s Bush, retreat, Ogden, Utah, Park City, The Canyon, needlework, cross stitch, Shepherd’s Retreat, Tina Richards Herman, Teri Richards, tax refund

Are you aware the Loudoun Sampler Guild is putting on a tremendous effort dedicated to Quaker samplers this year? It’s called A Token of Love — The Quaker Girl and Her Needlework and is a series of lectures, classes, and other special events which will occur in the Leesburg, Virginia area on weekends in March and April of 2008.

Currently scheduled are lectures from Quaker needlework historians such as Betty Whiting Flemming, Sue Studebaker, Kathryn Lesieur, Lynn Tinley, Mary Holton Robare, Barbara Hutson (Queenstown Sampler Designs), and Kathy Moyer.

Designers teaching classes during the course of March and April include Kathy Barrick-Dieter (Carriage House Samplings), Barbara Bernard (Loudoun Sampler Guild), Cathy Campbell (Primitive Traditions), Ellen Chester (With My Needle), Pamela Darney (Guildhouse Samplers), Betsy Morgan (Willing Hands), and Kathryn Myers (Loudoun Sampler Guild).

I have one gorgeous class project picture for you: a picture of Barbara Bernard’s A Quaker Scissors Keep (unfolded) is here in .PDF format.

In order to provide you with as much information as possible about this fantastic event series, I am quoting below from an email written by Karen Bollin, Programs Chair of the Loudoun Sampler Guild, on November 10, 2007:

1. This series is NOT a symposium. There is not an overall fee, and the programming is not held over a single weekend. This is a series and will be held over MOST weekends thru March & April, 2008. Each event is priced separately & is independent.

2. Most program days have two or more events, but a few vary. The only overlap is the Children’s Class. The parent can be in her/his event and the child in her/his as well.

3. We are fortunate to have food available for three dates for pre-order, catered by Specialteas Catering. Just complete the form and include the funds.

4. The prices for each event are based on costs from the principal, kit fees, space rental, and any extra expenses the event incurs. Each event must stand on its own or it can’t go forward. The only way to be sure a class or lecture succeeds is with your ticket orders. Please don’t wait until the last minute.

5. To order tickets, print the registration form page, check the events you want to attend, enclose the check, and mail it back to me. Be sure to include any of the lunches you want. Be sure to copy the completed form for yourselves.

7. Seating in each event will be limited by the venue and the teacher. I control neither. Personally, I would love to have so many attendees that I have to rent air, but that’s not feasible, so we will go with room size and teacher limits. I will endeavor to give as much info as possible. Locations will be established based on demand for events. Waiting lists will be established as necessary, but I’ll try to get space for everyone who wants a lecture or class. All events will be in the greater Leesburg area.

8. Anyone who might be travelling from afar, there are a lot of hotels & motels in the general area. If we have several of you in need, I will try to get some reduced rates. We can work on that as time approaches, but get your registration forms in so I can work-out whatever I can get for you.

9. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, special needs, or just want to know what’s up. I might not get to you the same day, but I will get to you!

10. We will have boutique tables and trunk shows, Several of our members & friends will be presenting their wares tailored to this series. Many of our designers will try to have as much on hand as possible for your stash enhancement. Some of our lecturers to have their books on hand for those of you who need to obtain them.

11. We are also having a “special” boutique table — the Second-Hand Stash Sale!! This sale table will be available pn all March weekends to benefit Woodlawn Plantation, site of the annual Needlework Exhibition each March. The sale will rise again in April to benefit the Waterford Foundation, the organization that works to preserve the historic buildings in the Quaker community of Waterford, VA. Basically, it’s a garage sale of stash, with ALL of the proceeds going to these very worthy organiations. To be successful, your QUALITY stash donations are required…..just one or two things.

Schedule: Our own Betty Whiting Flemming will open the series with her lecture, The Quaker Schoolgirl: Her Life and Her Needlework. Later in the series, Betty will also give a short talk about the 35-star Quaker flag (just prior to Ellen Chester’s class of “Long May She Wave”), and join with Mary Holton Robare to present a lecture about samplers from several generations of a Quaker family.

Kathy Barrick-Dieter of Carriage House Samplings will teach her Pinball class, which I understand is a lot of fun for all participants. Your kit comes with all materials to make the stitched pinball at your own pace and the materials to make a pinball in class.

Mary Holton Robare will present 2 lectures covering both Quaker samplers and Quaker quilts. Her samplers lecture, A Quaker Family’s Samplers, presented with Betty Whiting Flemming, will explore the three samplers completed by four generations of a single Quaker family. These samplers have been scattered among descendants, but come together for this lecture. Mary’s other lecture, Quilts & Quaker Heritage, covers the journey that began with a Signature Album quilt and grew into the discovery of dozens of Quaker textiles. Excerpts from letters & diaries highlight the role of needlework in the lives of Quaker quiltmakers. Because many of the quilts were signed and dated, they provide unique opportunities to compare technical elements & designs, as well as revealing new avenues for exploring the pre-Civil War community of Quakers in America.

Our Children’s Class, led by another LSG member, Kathryn Myers, will feature the series logo as its project. All attendees will receive a kit with most finishing materials and snacks. This class is aimed at children 7-14 years of age.

Ellen Chester of With My Needle is teaching her Needleworker’s Sampler Huswif AND the exclusive adaptation of Long May She Wave, which will ONLY be available during this series. It will be preceded by the talk by Betty Flemming about the historic 35-star Quaker flag, from which Ellen adapted her design. You will be able to stitch either the original or the adapted design.

Cathy Campbell of Primitive Traditions has adapted some of her own designs to offer us a short techniques class in making her wonderful Bronwyn’s Biscornu Pyn Pillowe…a special treat. You will receive a complete kit, and the class focuses on the finishing techniques. A quick, cute, charming addition to your needlework smalls.

Lynn Tinley will join us from Georgia to present her lecture, Quaker Samplers: from Carnation Borders to Colorful Medallions. It promises to be very enlightening.

Barbara Bernard, also a very talented member of the Loudoun Sampler Guild, is a staff member at the National Gallery of Art. Barbara is teaching her design of A Quaker Scissors Keep, a very useful memento, covered with Quaker medallion designs on soft colors reminiscent of the Quaker palette. Barbara has also designed our series commemorative tote….be sure to get one!!!

One of our most renowned speakers, Sue Studebaker, is joining us for what will be a wonderful lecture covering the Quaker movement west, entitled The Friends Journey Westward. I know I don’t want to miss it.

Betsy Morgan of Willing Hands Designs is offering, for the first time, her special design of a Quaker Schoolgirl Etui. Betsy is also offering a kit for the smalls…be sure to order it in advance. Betsy designed this project for the Loudoun Museum’s symposium which was cancelled and we are so pleased that she is letting us have the debut of this beautiful set.

Pamela Darney of Guildhouse Samplers is a new designer to most of you, but to the Loudoun Sampler Guild, she is one of our very talented members. Pamela has designed a gorgeous sampler, entitled I Byde My Time Quaker Sampler, which coordinates with the etui & smalls designed and being taught by Betsy Morgan. As one of the first people to see the completed sampler, I can attest to its incredible beauty.

Pamela is also graciously donating her beautiful new, original designs for our Fundraiser — two designs called The Quaker Diamonds. Speaking of the Fundraiser, it should be a lot of FUN as well. The Loudoun Sampler Guild is proud of its record of providing monetary grants to various museums, historical societies, and other organizations for the on-going preservation of their needlework. To meet our goals, we have regular events to build the Grant Fund. With Pamela’s beautufully charted designs, which will be presented to each ticket holder for this event, attendees will receive appropriate fabric & monochrome threads to stitch these diamonds as a 2-sided ornament, framed pieces, or whatever suits you. We will also provide snacks, surprises, and some fun…like prizes and such. We will have members & experts available for discussion and Q&A. The Fundraiser is scheduled in both March & April.

And, a new addition to our schedule, is the lecture of Kathy Moyer, archivist and historian of Oakwood Friends School, which traces its roots to Nine Partners School in Poughkeepsie, NY. Kathy has developed a detailed and fascinating presentation, Nine Partners School: History, People, & Samplers, filled with history & details of the Quaker school, community, students, and their treasures.

For more information, including the full schedule, class descriptions, and pictures of the class projects, take a look at the brochure for this wonderfully exciting series of events — something is sure to catch your eye! As Karen mentioned above in her email, there are also some fabulous charitable events scheduled to benefit Woodlawn Plantation, where the 45th annual Needlework Exhibition will occur in March; the Waterford Foundation, a preserved Quaker-established community in Virginia; and the Loudoun Sampler Guild’s Grant Fund, which is used for preserving needlework held in museums, schools, and other organizations.

For more information, including larger class project photos, or to register, please contact Karen Bollin as soon as possible. Karen is taking pencil-in registrations by email, especially for the earliest scheduled events.

As of the last report I had from Karen on January 18th, there was still room in each event for attendees — but final registration for some events, especially the earliest ones, is coming up FAST in order to allow enough time to provide notice to teachers/lecturers for their class preparations, so there is absolutely no time to waste! Additionally, there are — unbelievably — a few events in danger of cancellation due to low enrollment at this point, so PLEASE don’t hesitate in contacting Karen if you are interested in any of them. Don’t be kicking yourself for not contacting Karen today only to later find out one of the spectacular classes you most wanted was cancelled due to low enrollment … email Karen NOW and let her know you’re putting your registration payment in the mail!

Technorati Tags: Loudoun Sampler Guild, Quaker, needlework, sampler, Token of Love, Quaker Girl and Her Needlework, Betty Whiting Flemming, Sue Studebaker, Kathryn Lesieur, Lynn Tinley, Mary Holton Robare, Barbara Hutson, Queenstown Sampler Designs, Kathy Moyer, Kathy Barrick-Dieter, Carriage House Samplings, Barbara Bernard, Cathy Campbell, Primitive Traditions, Ellen Chester, With My Needle, Pamela Darney, Guildhouse Samplers, Betsy Morgan, Willing Hands, and Kathryn Myers

Having seen this issue mentioned in many places — such as blogs, bulletin boards, and mailing lists — and as someone who is promoting both shows, I am reposting the following, with permission (because to do otherwise would be a copyright violation, and you already know how I feel about those — and why ), so more people have access to the official thinking on the matter. Besides, it is far better written than I could do! It was originally posted to the Stitching Jubilee Yahoo Group, which is THE place to stay up to the second on news about the Stitching Jubilee.

Fellow Stitchers,

In 2006, the Hershey Festival was held very close the Louisville show. In 2007, the same thing happened. In 2008, we plan to hold the Jubilee one week before the Louisville show. I have been asked why this is.

Many times, in planning these events and shows, organizers are quite limited to dates because of venues. We want to place the events and shows at large enough locations, with good access to extras like shopping and food options. Sometimes these venues are very limited to when they can host particular events.

Marilyn knows that many of you are concerned about the proximity of the Jubilee and the Louisville show. She understands that it can be a time crunch.

All this to say why we scheduled the Jubilee when we did. I thank everyone for their concern on this matter. It’s questions like this that the Moderators are here. We want you to understand the Jubilee. We want you to attend if you can. It’s about the stitching and the fun.

Regards,
Megan Andres
Webmaster
http://www.stitchingjubilee.com

By the way, check out who’s already scheduled to teach at the Stitching Jubilee! I guess Lorri Birmingham isn’t completely retired — yey!

Technorati Tags: Stitching Jubilee, Marilyn Vredevelt, Stoney Creek, Valley Forge, King of Prussia, Catherine Jordan, Lorri Birmingham, Patricia Hartman, Pat Hartman

… of the Stitching Jubilee website!

(I am out of town seeing medical specialists for a couple of days, and without the opportunity to check up on this link or make corrections, so if by chance that link doesn’t work, I apologize and please give it a try again later … and also try this one. They should both work very, very soon!! )

Lots there already to enjoy, so settle in with a glass or mug of your favorite beverage and start planning — or at least dreaming. You deserve it!

Technorati Tags: Stitching Jubilee, Marilyn Vredevelt, Stoney Creek, Valley Forge, King of Prussia

Most of us have seen this coming, as we watched the number of Stitching Festival shows around the country be cut back drastically over the last few years … until this year, when there was only one show in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and, of course, there was a great deal of chatter and speculation because it took a rather frighteningly long time for the Stitching Festival website to be updated with 2007’s class and other show information. However, it is still with a very heavy needle that I write of this stitching tragedy: Liz Turner Diehl (Blogroll) and Stoney Creek’s (Blogroll) Marilyn Vredevelt have announced that the Stitching Festivals, previously called the Creative Arts and Teaching Show (CATS), previously called the Creative Arts and Textiles Show (also CATS), have officially closed their doors.

In my opinion, the name changes hurt their business, as did the fact that they never had a location which served midwestern US stitchers well (a very surprising thing, since Stoney Creek, who was one of the main sponsors and coordinators of the show for its entire run, is located in a beautiful midwestern city itself — Grand Rapids, Michigan) — Des Moines was and is just too out of the way and too small to fit the bill. What about St. Louis or Chicago — both cities with huge, dynamic, international airports (and at least halfway decent public transportation, too)? Too expensive? Then go to a suburb of one of those cities instead; just going 15 to 30 minutes from the airport would reduce costs dramatically for both event organizers and event attendees. Too busy and confusing traffic-wise? (What? Compared to New York City or Atlanta? LOL … ) Then what about a city like Indianapolis? It’s got a slightly smaller but still very functional international airport, though it does not have the halfway decent public transportation Chicago and St. Louis do (of course, if you leave the downtown area of either of those cities, public transportation is a crapshoot or non-existent anyway). And there are easily dozens of midwestern cities I’ve never been to which would make great locations for a “traveling stitching festival” — cities YOU know and love because you live in, or have been to them for one reason or another. Please see below, because I want to hear about them.

The good news — at least for east coast stitchers (the thousands upon thousands of midwestern stitchers are still being left out, unfortunately), is Marilyn decided almost immediately that she couldn’t desert us completely. Therefore, she announced Stoney Creek will be organizing a new event called the Stitching Jubilee, which will begin next year. It will start off occurring in only one location: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, from October 2 - 4, 2008. Marilyn is promising that the new website (Blogroll) will be up and running no later than January 15, 2008. (I’ll keep checking and will make a post to let you know when it IS up and running; right now, clicking on that link will give you an error.) In the meantime, you already can sign up for more information here (Blogroll). Further information will also be available, of course, in Stoney Creek Cross Stitch Collection magazine, which is one of my favorite subscriptions.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to swing a trip to Valley Forge myself (which is a location I personally preferred to the Hershey location. I got the chance to check them both out when I lived in New Jersey, at which time they were conveniently located for me, and I was constantly hungry in Hershey … must have been the smell of chocolate in the air because that’s all I wanted to eat, too! I think I gained twenty pounds every weekend I went there, LOL), but I’ll definitely try. I hope a lot of you will try, too, because if this venture doesn’t do well, clearly, it won’t continue.

Although it makes perfect business sense for Marilyn to select the east coast to begin her Stitching Jubilee venture, as the east coast is where the Stitching Festival was always most successful, I look forward to seeing the Stitching Jubilee grow — and I hope THIS venture will grow WELL into the midwest, too. With that in mind, I want to hear from you, as mentioned above. Despite all my traveling, there are literally dozens of great midwestern cities I have never been to and thus know little to nothing about; I want to help Marilyn select the BEST and most viable choices for Stitching Jubilee locations, but I need your help to do it. So I hope stitchers from all over the midwest (and anywhere else, if you’d be willing to travel to the midwest) will comment on this post with their suggestions for a midwestern location you would find convenient to attend — wherever that may be. Please tell me not only the name of the city, but also the reasons it would make a great location for the Stitching Jubilee. If I get enough responses (at least one hundred) I’ll forward the answers to Marilyn myself — but only if those answers wouldn’t make it look like I’d sprayed buckshot all over the center of a US map! So please try to consider traveling instead of having it in your back yard (unless you’re already located in a really good location with a great airport ). The location needs to be within a four to six hour drive of most of the rest of the midwest to be “perfect,” and it must have a really good international airport. (Why international?  Because we want the Stitching Jubilee to be able to bring us designers from other countries to teach classes, too, and because there are always a good-sized number of stitchers from around the world who manage to travel to an event such as this if they are provided with the requiremed means to do so; we certainly don’t want to leave those stitchers out because if they can afford to travel to this event, then they can probably also afford to spend money on classes and in the market to help make it a rousing success! )  A good public transportation system is a huge plus, and having a train hub is also a significant plus, in my opinion.  (Personally, I’d far rather take a train than drive myself — OR fly.  If I were traveling with someone else and thus sharing gas costs and the driving, then driving becomes a bit more attractive … but not much, LOL, as I could be stitching all the way on a train!)  Also, please tell every stitcher you know about this post, so that we get enough comments to make this a worthwhile survey. . Here are the links to this post (just highlight, copy, and paste): http://independentneedleworknews.com/2007/12/16/stitching-jubilee/ or http://tinyurl.com/34v4jg

Please help me help Marilyn bring the Stitching Jubilee to ALL stitchers! After all, this is the season of giving … It’s time to give back to a designer who has given us a great deal over the years.

Technorati Tags: CATS, Creative Arts and Textiles Show, Creative Arts and Teaching Show, Stitching Festival, Stitching Jubilee, Marilyn Vredevelt, Liz Turner Diehl, Stoney Creek

Shepherd’s Bush (Blogroll) recently started a blog which no doubt will draw some interesting traffic considering its title: Bush Blog. Designer Tina Richards noted right off the bat in her first post that the title is subject to change.

Meanwhile, although INN’s focus isn’t politics, I am certainly not apolitical or afraid to speak my mind, as you have no doubt noticed. Having believed since he was sworn in that America needs to prune its shrubbery (and that by the time we got home from the market with our purchase, only to discover we’d been handed a different bush than the one we actually chose, but dang it, the receipt is nowhere to be found — yes, I’m one of THOSE people as well, ha ha), I’d really love to see how one of the most popular needlework designers (and shops) on the planet would handle some things. I think they’ve already got a good start on world peace!

Anyway, back to Bush Blog … Tina Richards has so far been the author, and her good intentions are not just to update Bush Blog (Blogroll) at least once a week, but also to do so at the beginning of the week. So far, she has made three timely posts, so you can easily catch up on the entire blog and, with good fortune, stay up to date with it.

Additionally, if you can manage to be in the neighborhood of Ogden, Utah where Shepherd’s Bush’s retail shop is located, today and/or Saturday, November 30th and December 1st, and if you are at all interested in learning needle felting, you could have the opportunity to learn it from Judy Bielec of Mosey ‘n Me (Blogroll). Just look at these amazing projects you’d get to begin creating.

Needle felting makes me wish I weren’t allergic to wool and even has me contemplating the idea of wearing rubber gloves to do an entire project.

Needle felting, at least the way Judy Bielec does it, is truly artwork — you end up with a piece reminiscent of sculptured clay, but instead of clay, the material is fiber. What could possibly be more fantastic?

Technorati Tags: Shepherd’s Bush, Tina Richards, Bush Blog, Shepherds Bush, needle felting, Mosey ‘n Me, Judy Bielec

Merry Cox, who is as famous for her finishing techniques as she is for her beautiful stitching designs, has begun to put up her 2008 teaching schedule, and she has also put up some new teaching pieces on her website for your viewing pleasure …

Ophelia, Part 1 was new last year …

… and is now joined by Ophelia, Part 2.

But my favorite of the new pieces has to be A French Bonbon Box, which makes me hungry just looking at it!

All I can say is YUM!!!

I would love to hear from any INN readers who have been fortunate enough to take any of these classes with Merry already … and if you’d care to share pictures of your stitching with us here through INN, I know other INN readers would just love to see them!

Technorati Tags: Merry Cox, From Merry’s Heart, Ophelia, French Bonbon Box, teaching

Sage Stitchworks (Blogroll) is a discovery I have been wanting to share with you for months. In fact, I’ve had this post all prepared … but the WordPress software didn’t seem to like it. It just would NOT let me use the Publish button. I have no idea why. Until today, when I was looking at it again, about to give up and try copying and pasting it to a new post, and I heard my DH griping out loud to himself about consumerism and the over-commercialization of everything because of some ad he ran across that mentioned, “There are only so many shopping days until … !” My heart skipped a beat because usually my shopping is all done by the end of October, and I haven’t even thought about it this year. My finger twitched, meaning I hit that lefthand mouse button while the cursor was poised over “Publish” again, and suddenly, there it is. Add a dash of panic, and the Publish button suddenly worked! Then I had to go back in to add this paragraph … So I guess this Publish button was also a Panic button!

Sage Stitchworks creates needlework motto kits today using the same types of materials — perforated paper, variegated floss, and gold foil — which were used to make them in the Victorian era.

Enjoy exploring their website and you’ll find a wealth of information both on stitched mottoes from the past and on recreating them today, and I think you’ll also find your fingers itching to get started stitching one by the time you are done!

I was so excited about Sage Stitchworks that I called them the next day (it was the wee hours of the morning when I found their site the first time!) and spoke with Jennifer, who pretty much does everything as far as the business is concerned. I didn’t think to ask if she ever solicited any help from her family or anyone else as far as preparing kits or otherwise running the business, but it was wonderful to talk with someone who knew so much about how these kits were and are made, who was so willing to share information with me, and who seemed almost as excited to talk with me as I was to talk with her.

Below is a picture of what Jennifer would include in a typical kit for you: the pattern pre-printed on perforated paper, a Stitching Guide, plenty of variegated floss, gold foil backing, and a needle.

Stitchers who are already very familiar with stitching and have their own stash of variegated floss they would like to use may easily do so. Sage Stitchworks offers every standard kit they make in a “Pattern Only” option for $20 less than the full kit would cost. With the Pattern Only Option, you receive only the pattern pre-printed on perforated paper. However, you’ll always have access to the directions, which Sage Stitchworks calls their Stitching Guide, online from the comfort of your own home.

The Pattern Only option may also be preferred by stitchers who enjoy changing a design’s colors, which is a much easier undertaking when stitching a motto than when stitching a cross stitch pattern. Sage Stitchworks’ mottoes do not come with detailed directions for each particular design; rather, you rely on the Stitching Guide, the picture of the finished design if you want it to look like it does with those colors, and your own wishes with regard to how you want it to look. As Jennifer remarked, she could very easily stitch the same motto twice in a row with the same colors and have tiny variations in her stitching — the stitching of mottoes isn’t as … persnickety … as much cross stitching, although the outcome is just as lovely.

The only item you may have some difficulty finding if you choose the Pattern Only option is the gold foil. However, Jennifer said this hasn’t seemed to be a problem for any of her customers. She recommended checking the gift-wrapping sections of various craft stores, especially around holiday time. I am positive I’ve seen gold foil gift wrap pretty much year round in certain stores which are known for carrying “high quality” (maybe it’s just expensive?) gift-wrap — such as Hallmark stores. That would be a bit on the pricey side, but it would give you your gold foil if that’s what you were looking for and still be well under the $20 you saved by choosing the Pattern Only option. Aluminum foil is another option — and it’s an inexpensive and readily available one, too — if you prefer the silver look over gold, which several of Sage Stitchworks’ customers do. Silver foil is also an authentically Victorian choice, so there is nothing historically inaccurate about it. And then Jennifer says since she doesn’t get asked about the foil very often that she thinks a lot of her customers just don’t bother with it, perhaps for the same reason she skips it herself: she often feels it steals attention from the stitching.

This Stitching Guide from Sage Stitchworks is one of the best guides I have ever seen, by the way, for explaining how to use long and short stitches in the technique specifically used to stitch mottoes on perforated paper — with a fantastic close-up picture that just brings it all together, especially if you are a visual learner as I am. This technique also works on evenweave or linen, and mottoes can be stitched on those materials, although I think the technique is most easily mastered on perforated paper first — and certainly it is much more difficult to keep those long stitches nice and straight on evenweave or linen … and then a good framing job becomes imperative to keep them in place. But for those who wish to do it, it can be done.

Of course, once an experienced stitcher sees the above picture, something becomes really clear. Stitching a motto from Sage Stitchworks is an opportunity to have a happy dance in just a few days! It’s just a hop, a skip, and a jump from there to realizing these make FANTASTIC gifts, too, because they look like so much more work than they actually are … Of course, we stitchers have all mastered the art of saying, “Oh really, it didn’t take that long,” while everyone else who doesn’t stitch is thinking we are staying up until 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. every morning trying to get all our stitched gifts done for everyone. (Nevermind that in some cases we are; that’s because, in those cases, we’re having a darned good time! )

Sage Stitchworks also has taken the time to write up some of the history of mottoes I think you will enjoy reading.

You can also have special mottoes created for you. This option is shown specifically for a family last name, although the page mentions also having done first names in the past. Please keep in mind that the high price on this one is due to the individual typesetting required. I did ask Jennifer if it would be possible to order these in the Pattern Only option, and she said that is possible; however, the price would be reduced by $20 (just like with any of the other Pattern Only options) to $48.99, and again, this is to cover the typesetting required.

In fact, all you stitching grandparents out there might want to consider giving each of your grandchildren a kit with his or her name on it. These kits are actually advertised by Sage Stitchworks as being easy, satisfying, and addictive because they require absolutely no counting! What better way to get a child started loving needlework?

One of the things I talked with Jennifer about was the possibility of adding a new line of mottoes to the current product line she already has — something with a more modern feel. I don’t know for certain how well it would go over, but perhaps you all can make comments on this post to let Jennifer and me know what you think of the idea. It will be a bit of market research, although done rather haphazardly. Anyway, my thought was to have mottoes that say more modern things, but that are still designed with the textual look and feel of these recreated mottoes from yesteryear. I would just love to have something like, “Martha Who?” in a motto format, for instance. Or how about, “So it’s not Home Sweet Home; deal with it”? Jennifer and I had a few giggles coming up with other ideas of a similar nature, too, so if you have any suggestions along these lines, please feel free to add them as well. If you would prefer to contact Jennifer directly with your thoughts, she can be contacted through her website or emailed directly.

If you place an order or contact Jennifer with your thoughts, please be sure to mention that you heard about Sage Stitchworks through Independent Needlework News!

Oh … just in case you also look through the Gallery on Sage Stitchworks’ website like I did, and just in case you notice some of the gorgeous mottoes stitched on black perforated paper like I did, and just in case you think you’d like to order any of those like I did, they have all unfortunately been retired. It seems that most stitchers found them difficult to stitch on such that Jennifer was receiving more complaints than praise about them … So she decided to discontinue those lines. I specifically asked about the pineapple Welcome design, and it is definitely out of print.

Technorati Tags: Sage Stitchworks, motto, mottos, mottoes, Victorian, fancywork, sampler, door texts, embroidery on paper, perforated paper, punched paper

Judy Odell (Just a Thought) has announced she will have three online classes ready to begin near the first of next year.

One will be her beautiful, but extremely limited, class for My Treasures Workstation. It is so limited, in fact, that on her website, it says this particular class is completely SOLD OUT … But Judy happens to have a very limited supply of the wooden bases needed for finishing this gorgeous project. However, due to its limited status, this class will be strictly reserved for members of her JAT Message Board — so be sure to join NOW to make sure you don’t miss this class!

I adored stitching My Treasures Workstation during the first run of the class and really cannot recommend it or Judy’s teaching of finishing skills highly enough; you will be amazed at what you can accomplish under her tutelage, and it will be actually easy (or, at least, almost easy) — I promise.

The second online class will be yet another new needle book class project! Judy just keeps cranking them out; she is so talented!

The third will be her Woodland Lace Box, originally designed for the Northwest Sampler Guild, redesigned as a class project.

It will be fun to see exactly what is meant by “redesigned,” as it could be anything from the stitched design to part of the finishing of the box itself …

No matter what, with one of Judy O’Dell’s designs, you know you can count on it to be beautiful when finished!

Technorati Tags: Judy Odell, Just a Thought, JAT, class, JAT message board, Woodland Lace Box, Northwest Sampler Guild, My Treasures Workstation, Workstation, needle book, needlebook, finishing

Cindy Valentine has organized a very special retreat to occur February 10 - 13, of 2008, with the help of an amazing group of HIGHLY in demand needlework designers — in one of the most amazing cities in the world – New Orleans, Louisiana. One of Cindy’s goals is to help bring tourism back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and with that in mind, she has organized a retreat which welcomes spouses to come along, too.

Patricia Bage of Patricia Ann Designs, Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler, Janie Hubble of The Cat’s Whiskers Design Studio (all the way from Australia!), Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose (I really wish this wonderful designer would step into 2007 and get a website! That’s a hint for anyone who is able to go to this retreat … ), and, of course, Cindy Valentine herself, will be the five extremely talented designers at this retreat, offering you one very mysterious, but very lovely project which they designed together!

This particular project will be a hollow box etui with five sides stitched in a New Orleans theme (but six sides total), and be filled with goodies. If you take a peek at Cindy’s website, you’ll get a fairly good idea of what four of the five stitched sides look like.  The etui also comes with needlework smalls, one designed by each of the five fabulous designers especially for you, so there’s still a lot more mystery left! Don’t worry; I wouldn’t spoil all the good stuff for you — I’m here to tantalize and entreat, but you have to go to the actual retreat in New Orleans for the real thing. 

Included in your retreat price of $800 if sharing a room with another stitcher ($1100 for a single room, or $1100 to bring along your husband), you’ll stay for four comfortable nights at the Ambassador Hotel in the old Warehouse District of New Orleans. In fact, the Ambassador Hotel itself was once a coffee warehouse, and it’s also only a short three block walk to the French quarter! If your or your husband are lucky gamblers, a stop at Harrah’s Casino a block away may be worth your while to build both the stash fund and the any-other-kind-of-shopping fund in order to contribute toward Cindy’s goal of helping rejuvenate New Orleans tourism.

Ambassador Hotel rooms include in-room spa services, so you can even get that pedicure you’ve been wanting while you catch up on some stitching, or your hubby can get a massage prior to a nice afternoon nap before dinner while you surreptitiously slip out with the credit cards for some stash enhancement.

Or you can elect to stay elsewhere if that suits you better — and it might, as it means your retreat fee will be reduced to $550. However, I bet you’ll find it difficult to match the Ambassador Hotel’s price of $62.50 per night, especially when you’d also have to deal with additional daily transportation costs to the Ambassador Hotel for the retreat classes, and would most likely be paying for your own breakfast (which is included if staying at the Ambassador Hotel).

There will be plenty of opportunities for shopping, although since Cindy has designed this retreat to help the New Orleans area get back on its feet, some of those may not necessarily be needlework related — but I’m sure you’ll still love them! Cindy has promised a group outing to a New Orleans needlework store as well as the opportunity to buy direct from the designers (sort of trunk show style, but without the trunk show), too, so you’ll have oodles of opportunities for stash enhancement.

Make sure you save a few pennies, though, because Cindy also has a friend in New Orleans who is setting up an optional cooking class event at one of New Orleans’ finest restaurants. This would be at an additional cost, of course — but so worth it to be able to bring home a bit of New Orleans’ fine cooking to your own kitchen! Better yet, send your husband off to the cooking class while you put your feet up and stitch (or do a little shopping he doesn’t need to know about ), and then when you get back home, he can cook for you while you work on finishing your fabulous retreat project! It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Don’t wait to sign up for this retrea!  It is very, very limited with regard to the number of stitchers who can attend.  As I write this, only seventeen sixteen fifteen spaces remain available.

You only need to pay $250 when you register, then half your retreat total (minus the $250 already paid for registration, that is) is due by September 15th, 2007, and final payment is due by November 30th, 2007.

Then you have a couple of months to save up spending money for while you are actually in New Orleans — and if you work out a deal with your husband that this is your holiday gift … or your holiday gift to each other if you both go on the retreat … it’s practically like SAVING money — and definitely like saving TIME — because you won’t have to fight traffic during the holiday shopping rush! 

Technorati Tags: needlework, cross stitch, retreat, Cindy Valentine, Catherine Strickler, Indigo Rose, Cat’s Whiskers Design Studio, Janie Hubble, New Orleans, Thea Dueck, Victoria Sampler, Patricia Bage, Patricia Ann Designs, etui, smalls, Ambassador Hotel