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September,
2003.
ANG National
Seminar 2003
I've just returned from Lexington, Kentucky, where I attended
my first ANG Seminar. It was an amazing experience of stitching,
meeting new friends, shopping and eating.
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see "Celestial Dimension"
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I really enjoyed studying 'Celestial Dimension' taught by the great
needlepoint designer and teacher Judy
Souliotis. I hope to exhibit this piece here when it's
complete.
Although I did complain to myself about how hard I found it stitching on black congress
cloth, the black does enhance the silks that I've newly discovered
and it creates a wonderfully dramatic piece.
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I
love workshops for the uninterrupted hours where I feel entitled
to just stitch. It’s always so much fun that I don’t
want to stop even at the end of the six hour days.
Break time for me meant going shopping. I loved searching
for books at Ruth
Kern's. I never have enough needlepoint stitch guides.
The pop- up book, Wizard of Oz won't help my stitching but
my Grandsons Lucas and Jake are very happy that I bought it
from Ruth!
I had a wonderful time searching for new threads and stitching
tools. My new magnifier is so small that it clips onto my
frame.(I wondered why I bought another magnifier instead of
using the one that I have brought from home!) Judy said that
it's important to keep up with the newest technology. Since
I had brought a new digital camera to seminar with me, I felt
very 'in the loop'!
One of the highlights of seminar is Needlework Expo. The huge
hotel ballroom was converted for shopping. It's a one night
shop till you drop. It's actually mesmerizing and so much
fun.
When I entered the room, I immediately gravitated to a table
piled high with painted canvases. Like I need another
canvas! Without hesitation, I picked up a canvas painted with
a doll (Hungarian?). The doll is sitting and stitching and
she's lovely in her dramatic costume. [My Hungarian grandmothers
were there looking, one over each shoulder]. I soon found
out that this was a canvas being given away to be stitched
for Auction at the next Seminar in Reno. [My Grandmothers
insisted that I take it and stitch the doll. I said "but"
and they said "just do it"].
To my surprise the doll has a second canvas for the back and
small additional canvases to stitch for her embroidery and
her scissors. So, my other pieces are on hold as I work on
the doll. I'm very happy to be stitching this piece and I
guess you know that I plan to be at the
next seminar.
My suggestion for the planners of Merchandise Expo would be
to have a second night where I could go back and buy
the great items that I missed!
The day trip to Berea was wonderful. Our bus and guide took
us through the beautiful Kentucky countryside to the town
of Berea for shopping and a tour of an old
weaving mill that is still in full use, a delicious lunch
at a historical hotel and more shopping or should I call it
a Treasure Hunt. That's what I call a great day!!
One night, there was an evening called "Get
Inspired". We were invited to present slides of our work
and I showed some of my slides from Stitchamaze galleries.
They were very well received and some people are even interested
in learning how to do Canvas Collage! I may teach this in
the future.
I'm very glad that I allowed myself the time to just stitch
and indulge the passion for needlepoint. Being in the midst
of 900 plus people who also love to needlepoint is very motivating.
Seeing the exhibit of their work and being at an auction of
needlepoint (rather than rugs or fine art) really puts needlepoint
on the pedestal where it belongs.
I have found that many people needlepoint "seasonally" or
when they have some extra time. Now I've been among people
who create art in needlepoint, take courses to upgrade, become
Masters in their field, and win awards for their skill. Why
not?! Because we work in isolation so much of the time, it's
great to get out into the milieu of like-minded people
and absorb the collective energy.
I plan to stay more connected
and keep this great energy working for me. I hope that many
of you will be able to do the same wherever you can find courses
and a supportive needlepoint environment.
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www.stitchamaze.com
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