I AM TAZ. RULER OF THIS HOUSEHOLD.

I has come to my attention that the oldest female human of this household has been taking credit for the designs and charts that are being created. Silly, deluded thing.  I have decided to set the record straight.

 My daily duties include supervising all social media posts and writing the needlework charts.  Sometimes I have to hold the female human's hand down to keep her from making foolish mistakes. Do you think she could possibly write charts like that without my help? Never!

 I also have to supervise homework sessions when the young female ones are home. They are distracted so easily.  Why do they insist on wearing those disks over their ears? It makes it so much harder for them to hear my instructions!

 Then there is the difficult task of prodding the human along in what she thinks of as "her" creative process.  It takes so much energy to project the designs into her mind. I find that I often have to resort to osmosis. Yes, we felines can do this.

 Quality control is a must. All silks must be tested for texture and softness.  It takes a very long nap to ensure that the silks are good enough to be used.

 The designs must be inspected to be sure they are pleasing to the eye and worked with a high level of skill.  Sadly the human often fails to achieve feline standards of perfection and must be supervised even more closely the next time she takes needle and thread in hand.

 Photo sessions are tricky. The human will sometimes take dozens of photographs leaving out the most critical element.  I have to remind her of this in the most obvious of manner. Subtlety is wasted on humans.

 Fortunately we are able to communicate with our counter parts around the world in ways the human can not comprehend.  Here my co-conspirator, Gus, takes over the supervision responsibilities while my human was visiting a friend in North Carolina.  He had the same difficulties with her photography session. How can she think a picture is good if it doesn't contain a cat?

My cousin, Chester, is ever vigilant.  He covers the needlework while working his neighborhood watch shift.  And humans think they are the ones who invented multi-tasking!

I fear that some year the humans may realize just who is controlling the Universe. But then I remember that I can get all the treats I want when I hold the pearl cotton hostage. 

Back to Basics

I was somewhat skeptical about how much I would actually learn in a Royal School of Needlework class.  Well, I learned that I am way to much of a skeptic.  The main phrase that keeps coming back to me is "Your piece will only be as good as it's foundation."  So true.  My class was taught by Nicola Jarvis.  It is a lovely Silk and Goldwork piece. 

This is my progress so far.  I have taken a few classes in the techniques in the past.  These classes focused on the stitches and getting the project as finished a possible during the class.  I ended up frustrated after them as I was never able to get the needlework to look like I wanted it to look.  The RSN class focused on the foundation of the piece and they ways to work with these materials.  I leaned not only what to do, but why to do it.  So many "Ah-Ha" moments!  Simple things like pulling gently on Japan thread and putting it under tension while coughing makes it lay flatter and neater.  I will no longer scoff about taking a class in a technique I already "know".  You never finish learning!  I encourage anyone who has a chance to take an RSN class.  I'm already saving up to take another!

I ended up taking quite a grand tour of the east coast of the United States on this journey.  The first leg of my journey took me from Minnesota to my parent's home in Indiana.  Then it was off to Williamsburg, VA for the class.  Next, I drove to Winston-Salem, NC to visit with one of my BSF's. (Best Stitching Friend)  Her cats gave my needlework the seal of approval.  And did the usual feline photo bombing.

Gus is giving the piece I've named Mediterranean Holiday a good sniff.  I did actually do some work while traveling and have finally finished the rough draft of the chart for this piece.  I need to proof it and send it out to pilot stitchers.  Here's a picture of it without a kitty:

I'll be staying put at home for a while now.  The garden is growing and the outdoors is calling.  I feel the lure of the all too short Minnesota summer!

I love Whitework!

That statement should not come as a surprise to those of you that know me.  I do a lot of whitework.  I could literally cover every surface of my house with runners and doilies and pictures and still have some left over. This is a band sampler named Flowers for Sue.

And now the Interchangeable Diamond Panels:

 This is my intermediate level.  The difficulty level with this series is mostly determined by the complexity of the eyelets.  I happen to adore eyelets.  There are some buttonhole and chain eyelets in it.

 This is the beginner level.  The eyelets are all either single, or the spot type.  Easy-Peasy!

This is the advanced.  There are lots of chain and shaped eyelets.  The cross eyelet at the bottom is especially vicious.  I had to rip it three times before getting it right.

 This is Winter's Dream.  I kept wishing it was warm outside and ended up filling it with flower motifs. There is a close up of the stitched band below.  I was fortunate to fine some pre-finished fabric squares with the lace already sewn on.  It makes finishing really easy, but centering really hard.

 This is my latest finish and is being proofed by pilot stitchers as I write.  it is another one of my travel pieces.  one of the best things about traveling with whitework is I only need two sizes of white pearl cotton. I don't have to be hauling around a lot of skeins of fibers and sorting colors.  Just throw in two balls of pearl and I'm good to go!  I started this one in Koln, Germany and finished it on  Tybee Island, Georgia.

 This is one of my first designs.  It's simply called the Diamond Ornament.  It uses Ukrainian style whitework and the Mereshka Poltavska technique.  It is a fun and fast technique.  I love the lacey look it gives.

 I am occasionally daring and add blackwork to my whitework.  This is a small table runner I designed several years ago.  It is one of my all time favorites.  No, I will not be charting this one for sale.  I am going to keep it my own one of a kind.

 And sometimes I play with shapes.  I was folding paper one night and this is what happened.  I've since designed five of these cute little Lotus Boxes.  This is my first one using my favorite techniques.  (Yes, white and black again.)  I also have a Bargello Lotus Box, and a Cross Stitch Lotus Box, but as they actually use color I will feature them in another blog.  The other two boxes are still under wraps, but I can give a few hints.  One is Hardanger and will be taught at an event that will be announced in October.  The last one is also whitework, but I have also worked it in fall colors.  That one will be featured in the October 2014 issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine.  Here is a little sneak peek:

Nordic Retreat Part Two

The Nordic Needle retreat was filled with fun times and classes.  The two classes I took were wonderful.  The first is a Wessex Needle Book taught by Gail Graham from Bermuda.  Gail is very organized and is full of information.  I never go away from her classes wondering what to do next.

Wessex is worked by layering stitches and colors on top of each other.  In this needlebook the dark teal fly stitch was worked first, the medium teal fly stitch over that, then the yellow eyelets, and finally the green straight stitches and fly stitches.  It is framed by the dark teal wave stitch.

My other class was in Punto Antico and was taught by Kathryn Drummond of Gingerbread Girl Designs.  She has a series of ornaments named for different flavors of gelati. (Yum!)   This one is Gelati al Cioccolato.  Punto Antico is quite different from Wessex.  There are a lot of bullion knots, which is something I haven't done a lot.  I'm learning them very quickly with this design.  There is also cutting and needleweaving.  Now that I can do!  I haven't had a chance to finish the ornament, but here is what I have done so far:

We are given lots of goodies at the retreat.  Roz puts a lot of work into soliciting donations from companies and designers.  There are table gifts at every meal and each and every attendee gets a door prize as well as a goodie bag upon arrival.  We spend a lot of time stitching and socializing.  I love being around other stitches who understand what I'm doing and why I am doing it!

It is a very good thing I had two beds in my hotel room!

Part of the goodies were purchased, and part are gifts.  They are all fantastic!  Like so many others I have way more than I can stitch in one lifetime, and yet I get more.  I think I need to live to be 300!

Nordic Needle Retreat

I must admit that this retreat has a special place in my heart so I may not be the most objective writer.  I am one of two people who has attended all 12 of their retreats, and watching it grow and develop over the last dozen years has been fascinating.  It began twelve years ago with around 38 attendees and lasted only two days.  This year it had 74 avid needle workers in attendance from Wednesday evening to Sunday afternoon.  I have also been teaching classes at the retreat for the past five years. 

This year I took a class in Punto Antico taught by Kathryn Drommond of Gingerbread Girl, and Wessex taught by Gail Graham.  I taught the Flowering Lotus Box, which is my own design.  I was playing with shapes one night and adorable little box was the result.

I must admit it is one of my favorite designs.  I had 17 ladies in my class this year.  We had a great time together learning and laughing....and doing a little grumbling about the reversible black work.  The design was a hit, but several of the ladies were not enamored with the black work part.  Fortunately, doing a backstitch is an acceptable alternative to the reversible black work as the back of this piece is completely covered.  Whew!

I had students from across the US, Canada, and Bermuda. 

There was a wide range of skill levels, but most were intermediate to advanced needle workers.  This particular class would be a challenge for beginners.

I really enjoyed teaching this group of ladies.  Since I've written mostly about my class in this post the next one will be about the rest of the retreat.  One last fun note, a large group of us ate at the hotel's restaurant one night.  They gave me a senior discount.  Wow.  I knew senior discounts would be in my future, but at age 47?  Ummm.......no.  I did take the discount, though! :-)

Stitchville's Spring Fling Wrap Up

Stitchville's Spring fling was held last weekend and the weather was not as bad as feared.  I was able to drive over with no problems.  They do know how to plow roads here in Minnesota. 

We arrived Friday afternoon for our opening sessions and the start of the food coma.  Yes, we eat a lot at Spring Fling.  And often.  After some snacks and getting to know each other we headed in to the classroom for to start Friday evenings project. 

Cynthis Zittel of The Drawn Thread was our designer and she created a wonderful project for us.  Friday night we worked on a scissor fob which goes with Saturday's larger project.

We went to supper - more  food - then back to the classroom to finish the fob.  I nearly finished the fob when I realized that my second initial was one fabric thread too low.  Urgh!  I pulled it out, but decided that since it was already 9:30 PM I was not going to try to put it in.  As tired as I was I would have just put it in wrong again.  I know when to quit!  Off to bed and a good night's sleep.

Saturday started with breakfast, yes eating again, then on to get our kits for the main project.  It is a lovely thread keeper that could also be made into a sampler for those who don't like finish work.  As I love finishing I choose to make the pocket.  The first two pictures below are the pocket.  The next is the sampler.

We worked on the project until lunch - yes, food is the secondary theme here- then more project until supper.  After supper we went and had a shopping frenzy at the Aladdin's Cave known as Stitchville USA.  Such a fantastic shop!  Bliss!!!

Sunday began with more food, then a little more stitching and more food.  I reconnected with old friends and made some new ones.  Stitching, friendship, and food.  Who could ask for more?

There were also several Drawn Thread pieces brought in by retreat participants.  Here are some of them:

And now I am off to Fargo for Nordic Needles retreat.  So much stitching so little time!

"Spring" Fling

Stitchville throws a fabulous retreat and I can't wait to get there, but I'm not so sure about the Spring part of the name.  Here is what my back yard looks like this morning:

Cynthia Zittel of The Drawn Thread is the designer for the retreat.  We will have a quick Friday night project, then a bigger project for the rest of the weekend.  I am so ready of stitching, talking, eating and just being spoiled all around.
I am currently undergoing immunotheraphy (allergy shots) for my bee sting allergy.  I will be having 2 shots each appointment and there will be 15 appointments over a 8 week period.  After each set of shots I have to wait 30 minutes before I leave.  To keep my time productive I have begun crocheting some cord for Romanian Point Lace.   After 5 visits I have over 3 feet of cord.  I think I'll have plenty of cord by the time I'm done.  Here is a piece of Point Lace I did a few years ago.

I'll post all about the Spring Fling next week.  I have two short days at home before leaving for the Nordic Needle Retreat.  Stitchapalooza here I come!