Hello Stitchamazers!

Welcome to Winter 08 Stitchtalk! I’m excited about all the news that I’ll be sharing with you! My stitching world has been full, busy and productive during the past few months.

I’m so pleased that my friend Joyce Lukomski has invited me to contribute to her magazine, Needlepoint Now. My feature articles are titled, The Joy of the Painted Canvas. This topic allows me to revisit the painted canvases that I’ve created and by so doing, I’m inspiring myself and others. Joyce is very dedicated to making our needlepoint world a very special place! Needlepoint Now is filled with features, projects, articles, well chosen ads, great color and much to motive us to create even more. To subscribe, you can reach Joyce at editor@needlepointnow.com.

My Toronto Stitching Group at my Needlepoint Exhibit from left to right..........Leni, Rosalyn Shilianne, Dianna, Edith, Louise	Inside the Gallery, Opening night at the Needlepoint Exhibit

The Art of Needlepoint was the title of my second exhibit, held at the Contemporary Art gallery in Toronto. The Exhibit was well attended by many stitching friends and by the public who appreciate textiles.

Unfortunately, in spite of my best efforts, the Press, Galleries and Museums were noticeably absent. I am now on my soap box, bemoaning the lack of interest in our art form. We must realize that we are declining in numbers and fading to extinction in some parts of the world.

My moaning seems to have been heard all the way to the Netherlands because I received a wonderful email from my friend Anna Maria Salehar! Her email was so heart-warming that I invited her to write about her stitching adventures for all of us to enjoy in her article Stitchamuse. Please click here to read the Stitchamuse Article

Anna Marie exhibits her amazing stitching in our Guest Gallery. You are welcome to email Anna Maria at amsalehar@yahoo.com.

Other friends have written that their web sites are now updated.

I’ve visited Orna Willis at www.ornadesign.com and Jane Zimmerman at www.janezimmerman.com.

Both sites are wonderful! These very creative needlepointers have so much to offer us! You can see Orna’s work in our Guest Gallery.

Lucinda Hathaway is planning her next stitching group travel adventure. Knowing Lucinda as I do, I’m sure that travels with her are full of laughter, great stitching, the best food, and fun stitching tours. Lucinda also exhibit in the Guest Gallery.

The Guest Gallery is starting to sound like a special group of my friends. It didn’t begin that way. They certainly are a special group and I did know some as friends first. Others became friends through our common bond of needlepoint and the desire to share what we do.

The Guest Gallery is an opportunity to exhibit your art and to inspire others. The expenses are minimal for so much exposure. Stitchamaze pays for the web hosting. Wired Solutions does the technical setup. All you need to do is to send pictures and brief text about yourself. I welcome you to join this Gallery. It’s a fun experience. The best part is that the person who will be inspired most, is yourself!

Please contact Stacey from Wired Solutions at stacey@wiredsolutions.ca.

Julia Berkley has written to introduce me to her amazing blog of fiber art. Although it’s not needlepoint, I feel that it’s worthwhile for you to visit her at www.juliaberkley.blogspot.com. Here’s what Julia wrote that spoke to me: “Take a break from the news and take a fresh look at my blog—you’ll find new art that soothes and inspires.”

I have many canvases in work, so even a partial completion of one is a celebration! I’ve completed the first part of Wind Dynamics in time for my Exhibit and I’m celebrating!

Wind Dynamics©, a triptych, is a painting by artist Dianne Bersea, www.islemuse.com. Dianne kindly allowed me to have her painting interpreted on needlepoint canvas. You can order all three or even one section only by contacting needlepoint artist Sharon Lee at needlepoint@inkart.ca. I don’t do a stitchguide but I can explain how I stitched the canvas and how to approach working it through. Wind Dynamics was the topic of my Nov/Dec 08 article for Needlepoint Now. This is currently my ‘most fun’ stitching piece and I’m looking forward to starting the center section in the new year.

"Not Just Another Doodle Cloth is a canvas where I’m auditioning stitches for Wind Dynamics©. In this piece, I’m doing canvas collage, open work, experimenting with design. The colorful border is random stitching with scraps of thread that would usually be discarded. That border was the original inspiration. I’ll show this to you as it progresses."

Our stitching friend and ‘reporter’, Lorene Salt, has been traveling again. She returned home just in time to continue her Ramblings of and avid Needlepointer. Even when traveling, Lorene always has a canvas in hand. It’s a great plus for passing the time when her husband John is taking photos! Here’s Lorene’s Guest Gallery exhibit. You can contact Lorene at lorene.salt@sympatico.ca. Lorene is a vital member of my stitching table so I get to hear and see the news first hand!

It is time once again for another Top 10 list. Time sure flies when you are stitching!

Here are 10 things that I found of interest for this issue

1. For those of us who would like to belong to an ANG chapter, but for whatever reason can’t, there is now a Cyber Chapter of ANG. It is called Cyberpointers. For more details go to www.cyberpointers.org
2. I am always on the look out for pretty needlework accessories. I found some absolutely beautiful ones at www.dazzlingornaments.com. Wawanna makes beaded chatelaines and fobs.
3. Homestead Needlearts in Grand Blanc, Michigan is a wonderful shop. Theresa Swiecicki offers lots of variety. The customer service is wonderful. She also has a newsletter that you can sign up for and does mail order. Check out her site at www.homesteadneedlearts.com.
4. Anyone looking for needlepoint books, new and used, should try www.ruthkernbooks.com. Ruth and her team have a marvellous selection of books and they ship anywhere. If you can’t find it and you want it, just email Ruth and she will help you.
5. Amy Wolfson from Amybear Needlepoints is going to be teaching her newest piece “Fascination” on an 8 day 7 night cruise to Bermuda. For details contact www.amybear.com.
6. Those looking for inspiration for their needlepoint creations, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum’s website www.vam.ac.uk. The possibilities are endless!
7. The Textile Museum of Canada is another spot to view lovely pieces of work. www.textilemuseum.ca is a treasure trove of useful information.
8. The Shining Needle Society is offering yet another great cyberclass. This time it is with Judy Souliotis. The piece is called “Floral Rondel” This course offers a change to study with a veteran teacher and try some new techniques. For more information check out www.SNS_Home_Room@yahoogroups.com.
9. An on-line source for stitch diagrams is Johanna’s Needlework Stitches. The diagrams are large and easy to follow. Check out her site at www.fidella.com/webstitch/needle_stitch.html
10. 10. For truly lovely hand dyed silk threads and perles check out Vikki Clayton’s website. The colours are wonderful and the mail order is quick and easy. www.hand-dyedfibers.com.

Well these are my “ramblings” for this issue. If you come across a find or have any questions, please contact me at lorene.salt@sympatico.ca. Till next time . . . Happy Stitching!

Next time we speak, I will have returned from Callaway Gardens School of Needle Arts in Callaway Georgia. The course that I’ll be doing is with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn. I’ve waited years to take a course with them and I’m looking forward to it! It will also be a time to reconnect with stitching friends! You can read about the school at www.callawaygardens.com/needlearts.

I would like to wish all of you the very best for Happy and Healthy Holidays!

Stitchamaze yourself!

Rosalyn Cherry-Soleil