Wed, Sep 03, 2008. Welcome to the latest issue of 'stitch-talk'...
My 'mission' with 'stitchamaze' is to exhibit Needlepoint Art, mine and yours, and to share the joys and news of the Needlepoint world. I hope you'll enjoy spending some time here.
I’ve lost count of the number of canvases that I currently have in various stages of completion. To be more honest, I don’t want to count. I find the reality of it overwhelming and anxiety producing.
Logically you might ask “So why do you have so many?” and then I could say, “I don’t know!”
My belief is that if I find a canvas that I love, I buy it or collect it because I just don’t know when I’ll find another or whether I’ll find that particular one again.
My friend Dianna recently asked me, “How do you know which canvas to work on?” The decision happens this way: There’s an intuitive decision and a logical decision.
First, let me explain that my work in progress canvases hang on my design wall where they are protectively covered with a plastic opaque shower curtain on a rod. The curtain keeps the canvases clean and somewhat protected from light. The curtain also prevents me from having to view all of those canvases waiting for my attention!
Intuitively, a piece that’s on the wall, starts to appear in my mind. I say that it speaks to me. It tells me to pick it up and continue working where I’d left off. This conversation can happen over a few months before I actually return to work on the piece because the logic decision comes into play.
Logically, I know that I can only handle three or four pieces intensively. Of the three or four, I try to spend an hour per day working on The Tribe. Another selected piece will be one that I’m really excited about and don’t want to put it away. Currently that piece is Wind Dynamics!
The next piece is Drama Masks. I’ve chosen that one to focus on because I want to complete it in time for my exhibit in November. This becomes the piece that has a time deadline. The fourth piece also has a time deadline so it must be included. This canvas is a Tallis Bag for my Grandson Lucas. I’ll show you this piece next time.
Then I do try to break my own rules. Not Just Another Doodle Cloth is being created in tandem with Wind Dynamics. I use this canvas to audition stitches for Wind Dynamics so these two canvases may rotate. I’ll show you this piece next time too.
Another main canvas that I love and didn’t want to hang on the wall is In a Garden Kimono. It’s politely waiting its turn, considerate of the attention needed by Drama Masks.
As I Sit and Ponder was ‘sent’ to the wall when I reached a major stitching block while trying to stitch a hat! Can you believe that one? It has the nerve to be calling to me now and I’m tempted to get back to that hat!
...Sounds like a group of children wanting Mother’s attention!
You can see some of these pieces here.
"Five and a half years with 'stitchamaze!
...and it's been the most fabulous experience! Rosalyn's work is truly amazing and we have had a wonderful 'connection' during our time together creating and updating her website. Sadly it's time for me to hand over my role.
Thankyou for your support and appreciation, it has been a HUGE pleasure to be so closely involved with such creative people! I wish you all the very best for the future!"
Kind regards,
Cherry Phillips
Australia
July 2008
Many of you did get to meet Cherry via email when she created your Guest page, answered your questions, replied to feedbacks and even more. I’m sure that you join me in wishing her very well in her new interests.
Thank you Cherry!
Rosalyn
This piece designed by Jean Hilton, is one I stitched what seems long ago at a class I attended. Along with others it is dispayed in my Tuning Gallery.
You can buy this beautiful chart/book at Homestead Needle Arts.
Gleneagle
My workshop studies continued and my courage to experiment soared. This intricate design allowed me to explore my colour instincts without reservation. This piece is not primarily about colour although I took it in that direction because I love working with colour.
Jean Hilton wrote to me recently saying: "Very interesting work! Your site is a delight to study. I liked how you changed Gleneagle, well done indeed." Jean Hilton, Apache Junction, Arizona. May 2008
Thank you Jean for your message, it was lovely to hear from you!
New Guest! I'm so pleased to introduce you to Daphne Goodyear.
We were invited to visit Daphne's house in Florida. Standing in the center of a 'Needlepoint Home Gallery' which was filled with vibrant colour, I had to take several deep breaths to center myself! It seemed that my eyes were soaking in the exuberant use of stitches, soul-satisfying colour and exotic images. Daphne's style is vibrant, moving, exciting! In fact, words don't do it justice. I love the mix of silks, wool, beads, metallic's and more. Daphne uses thread the way an experienced artist uses paint: freely and from the heart!
My 'Featured Guest' this time is Jan Haag. Jan writes: "Working on my pieces has become one of my primary ways of understanding both the world and my experience of it. Over a period of thirty-three years I have created twenty-three works in needlepoint. The collection contains works based on my journeys and studies. They have been shown in solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Marin County and, most recently, at SAAM, the Seattle Asian Art Museum... "
Here you can see the canvas "Knitting" made into a cushion. Also finished are Jeremy's Talles Bag and Kippa. You can see them in the latest work section.
Each newsletter I suggest a few websites you might like to visit:
Jean Ritter
Jean Ritter from Australia started needlepoint at the age of sixty five, 19 years ago. Jean works in a way that creates spontaneous pictures. Recently her grandson Steven put an exhibit of her pieces on a website. Do visit and be inspired!
http://www.jean-ritter-tapestries.id.au
Tapisseries de la Bûcherie
Bucherie.com is owned by a little shop called Tapisseries de la Bûcherie. The shop is located in the heart of Paris on the left bank of the Seine. It is the online store for French needlepoint, specializing in unique needlepoint kits, including hand died wool from Aubusson.
http://www.bucherie.com/default.asp
"Experience the gracious art of needlepoint!"
See what's new and explore Kandy's Alex-Para's Needle Arts fabulous website:
http://store.apneedlearts.com
Mary Alice Sinton
Mary Alice Sinton's beautiful Japanese Bead Embroidery... explore her amazing work and find out more about her classes at:
www.bluebonnetstudio.com
See also the seven categories of pages in the links section.
Please do let me know if you have ideas for websites to feature here.
I hope you will all continue to stitch-amaze yourselves!
email: Rosalyn