May 9th through May 17th, the Kenmore Stitchery Guild presents their 21st Biennial Needlework Exhibit.    Exhibit hours ar 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  there is a $5 admissions fee for adults and $4 for students.

All entries are must be made with a hand-held, threaded needle.  Items exhibited will include blackwork, crewel, cross stitch, hardanger needlace, needlepoint, quilting, pulled thread, smoking and surface embroidery.

Historic Kenmore was built in 1775 as the home of Colonel Fielding Lewis and his wife Betty, sister of George Washington.   This house now serves as a museum and is owned by the George Washington’s Fredericksburg Foundation which also operates George Washington’s Ferry Farm in Stafford County, Virginia.

In 1983 the Kenmore Stitchery Guild was established with the purpose of promoting interest in historic needlework through demonstrations, workshops, lectures, exhibits, and sales of hand-stitched items.  Funds raised are used to acquire and preserve historic textiles for the Kenmore collection.

Entries can be submitted by mail between April 15 and May 1 or delivered locally on May 1 or May 2nd.  Detailed entry information is available at Caroline’s Thread and Canvas 804-752-6902.

Just got my catalog for The Needle Arts Market which will be in Columbus, Ohio in June.  I had almost decided not to go this year, but the classes got me so fired up that I may have to change my mind.

It seems like the needlepoint classes are really focusing on three-dimensional techniques.  I love the look, but am always a little intimidated to try it out myself.

That’s one of the nice things about stitch guides.  They can really give you a jumping off point for trying new techniques as long as you don’t get intimidated and worried about having to do it their way.

This makes me of think of a customer who came in recently looking for classes.  She’d been trying to teach herself to needlepoint starting with the basic tent and basketweave stitches.  After a little demo, it was clear she understood the technique of the actual stitches, but she was petrified of what intersection to go over when changing colors.

After a little *counseling*, I was able to convince her that there was no right or wrong answer.  It’s just one of those things you take a chance with and if you don’t like it you can always take it out before going on to the next stitch.

I frequently have to remind beginners that in needlepoint you are working on a grid so there is no such thing as a perfect circle.  I had to remind my husband of the same thing as he was stitching on his bookmark last night.

Charlie was following a graph for the letter R.  There was an empty canvas intersection at the top and it was driving him crazy.

So I suggested that he put in a stitch at that intersection and he immediately had his answer.  That one little extra stitch made the top on the R too straight.  By leaving it out, he had a nice rounded look.

Good thing he’s a quick leaner!  But he has encountered a new problem stitching his bookmark.

Our basset hound, Bennie, has taken a liking to sitting next to Charlie and resting his head in his lap.  Now trying to stitch with those big ears draped over your leg poses a challenge! 

I suppose moving the dog is an option, but think goodness it’s a small project so Charlie can handle both.

Thinking of Stitching . . .

Caroline

We’re getting into the bookmark challenge and I’m holding my breath that I’ll be able to make a contribution to our local elementary school library here in Ashland, VA.

If you haven’t been following my blog and don’t know about the bookmark challenge, take a look at the last couple of posts & you’ll get the drift.

Better yet, take a look atJen Funk Weber’s website http://jenfunkweber.com.

Not only is it a great site, her Needle and ThREAD blog is full of inspiring thoughts for those of us who love to read.

I’ve become hooked on recorded books and can’t leave home without one.

Just got our TNNA catalog which will be fastly approaching.  Looks like there are a lot more needlepoint classes so I hope that’s a good sign that needlepoint is on the way back.  Not that it ever went away, but there is always a renewed interest in various needlearts.

Just we thought knitting was a lost art, here it is back.  I find more and more cross stitchers are coming in the shop and suddenly being inspired to pick up crewel again, but with those wonderful kits from Phillipa Turnbull, it’s hard not to be inspired.

Hope everyone had a fun April Fool’s Day.  Remember all those silly jokes we played as kids?  In college I really got to have fun because my roomate’s birthday was (and still is) April 1st.  Poor Holly.  I hope I didn’t tease her to much with the old April Fool’s Day jokes.  Happy Birthday, Holly!

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline