Summer Fun

I have been neglecting this blog lately! I've been busy having fun with my family and teaching classes. We took a family vacation to Lake Itasca, where the Mississippi River begins. Those that are used to seeing an immense body of muddy water may be quite surprised to see how clean, clear and tiny it is up here!

We stayed in a cabin in the state park and had fun making smores by the campfire. We also made lots of contributions to the mosquito food bank! It took two layers of insect repellant to keep them off of us.








This last weekend I taught two classes sponsored by the St Paul Needleworkers chapter of the EGA. It was so enjoyable to teach classes with very talented needle workers. They kept me busy flying through the stitches and instructions!

 The first class was this ornament.  This is the second version of this particular design. I taught the first version several years ago at a Nordic Needle retreat, but I never liked the corners in that version so I redesigned it and came up with this one.

Everyone in the class was able to work at least one repetition of each design element in this piece. There were no beginners in either class, and it showed. We made great progress both days. As a teacher I am so pleased when the pacing of the class works out this well. Sometimes classes can get bogged down and I leave at the end of the day wishing I had been able to teach more - or better. Not so with these classes.

 The second day was the Filigree Pocket. I came up with the idea for this one when I was visiting Savannah, Georgia and seeing all of the lovely fences and gates. The Blackwork and pulled thread work is intended to look like the fancy iron scroll and whirls on the fences and gates.

This class went a bit slower, not because the ladies were any less talented (in fact many of them took both classes) but because the design is more difficult. The eyelet chain heart alone has been know to make grown women cry - and curse! I am happy to report that everyone made it through the chain though there was some ripping of stitches and gnashing of teeth!