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| Great St. Claire of Assisi |
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| Kit Cost: $80 Proficiency Level: Low Intermediate Ground: white congress cloth Size of Piece: 9" x 12" on 13" x 16" stretcher bars Length of Class: 2 days | |
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Patroness of Needleworkers Every embroiderer needs a patron saint to watch over her needlework. St, Claire of Assisi is considered the needleworkers’ patron, and here is depicted as the subject of a beautiful illuminated capital. Claire of Assisi is the founder of the Franciscan Sisters and is shown in her religious habit, seated on a small chair in front of a beautiful stained glass window. In her hands she holds her needlework. The large, elaborate “C” which begins her name is interpreted in beautiful shiny silk, embellished in gold and other metallics. This is a modern interpretation of traditional calligraphy. Several couching techniques are employed to create this beautiful letter. the remainder of Claire’s name is lettered in foundational letters, surrounded by gold. St. Claire herself is worked in the most appropriate of techniques: Assisi! She will be outlined in double running stitch, with the interior space left unstitched. The stained glass window serves as the background, thereby combining two techniques and interpreting them in a modern way. The teacher will hand letter the prayer to St. Claire which she has composed. It will be reproduced on an elegant paper and will be included with the kit. The finished illuminated capital may be framed by itself, or with the prayer below. | |
| Jean Taggart's Arctic Santa |
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| Kit Cost: $60 Proficiency Level: Intermediate & up Ground: 18/in white mono canvas Size of Piece: 8 Length of Class: 2 days | |
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Santa, with his fluffy polar bear companion, is the epitome of Winter. His opulent quilted coat is richly trimmed with close-napped fur and a silver banded collar, while his robe shimmers with pale, icy hues, highlighted with silver. Further enhancing his elegant costume are a boldly striped sash and a dark border, overstitched with silver at the hem of his robe. The frosty Arctic theme is intensified by two sizes of glittering crystal snow flakes, the smaller one adorning his hat and the larger hanging from his silver staff. As students work this project they will learn to shade with a familiar patterned canvaswork stitch and to use simple straight stitches worked over basketweave to create delicate details, which are otherwise impossible to achieve on 18 count canvas. Special emphasis will be placed on methods of creating different textures of fur and beards. Students will also have the opportunity to couch various materials on canvas, from stiff silver Jaçeron, Japanese silver, and even a flexible silver chain. The completed project may be framed or finished as a free-standing figure. This project is one of Jean Taggart's final designs and was worked by Gail and will be taught by her in Jean's memory. | |
| Knotty . . .but Nice |
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| Kit Cost: $20 Proficiency Level: Advanced Beginner and Up Ground: pink or ecru congres cloth Size of Piece: 5 Length of Class: 1 day | |
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The knotted stitches are some of the most visually interesting in the embroiderers' lexicon. They add unparalleled texture to almost any form of needlework, and every stitcher should have them at her disposal. Knotty . . . but Nice is a fresh and feminine sampler which depicts fantasy flowers and is composed almost entirely of these knotted stitches. Stitchers will learn French Knots, Long Legged French Knots, Colonial Knots, Chinese Knots, Coral Knot, Bullion, Cast-On Bullion, and Double Cast-On Bullion, and the oh-so-clever Twisted Knot. A pretty border of Fancy Cross Stitches is worked in a pastel overdyed floss and its colors are repeated in the flowers created by the knotted stitches. An autumn palette is also available. This class is a must for any stitcher who wants to build a repertoire of stitches and its attractive, too. It makes a quick and pretty gift, too. | |
| Morning Glory Santa |
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| Kit Cost: $125.00 Proficiency Level: Intermediate and Up Ground: 18/inch mono canvas Size of Piece: 9” x 12” on 14” x 16” stretcher bars Length of Class: 2 days | |
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Morning Glory Santa is a fanciful design offering diverse learning experiences while creating an exquisite Christmas heirloom. Santa strides boldly along, clutching in his hand his shepherd’s crook on which are growing radiant morning glories. The brilliant blue flowers twine up his staff, turning their faces to the daybreak sun. Each is interpreted in the finest of needlework techniques. Santa’s outer robe is a garment of beauty. The fur edging is worked in uncut turkey work, while the outer robe is a complex pattern involving several discreet stitches, worked in a variety of threads and colors. The inner robe is trimmed in guilloche stitch, to suggest a passamenterie braid, and this is festooned with couched gold and crystal beads. A twisted cord creates a belt--the student will learn to make this is class. The inside of Santa’s robe has blown open a bit to disclose a magnificent lining: additional morning glories are revealed, all worked in glittering or nué. The student will learn or nué and soft shading, the construction of a twisted cord, plus several complex canvaswork stitches to create a visual treat and a beloved keepsake holiday decoration | |
| My Sister and Me . . .When She Was Three |
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| Kit Cost: N/A Proficiency Level: Intermediate Ground: white congress cloth Size of Piece: 10 x 11 inches Length of Class: 2 days | |
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Stitch these charming children, so reminiscent of life in a bygone era. You can recreate some children you know--yourself and your sister, or yourself and a friend. Perhaps you?d like to render your two daughters in needlepoint, or even your beloved granddaughters. You make this composition your own. The student will choose the floss colors for the children, selecting appropriate hair colors, as well as the floss for the children?s clothes. Hair styles will be created in class, from the curly heads of the teacher?s design to braids or shiny straight hair. You also choose the appropriate colors for the children eyes. The small items held by the children are worked on 30 count polyester gauze which is worked prior to coming to class. These are easy to do, and work up quickly. Finally the background will be filled with beautiful flowers, all created with clever textured stitches in wonderful colors. This is a fun piece, and one you will love to give, or keep for yourself. | |
| O Little Town |
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| Kit Cost: $ 85 (floss ) or $120 (silk)-- Proficiency Level: Intermediate Ground: 18/inch mono canvas Size of Piece: 16 Length of Class: 2 days | |
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It's close to midnight and the birth of Mary's child is imminent. As the holy couple draws near to the tiny town of Bethlehem the hamlet sleeps in the light of one amazing star, and its gleaming rays bathe the town in celestial glow. But there is no room for them in the town so they take refuge outside the walls of the town and the blessed miracle occurs. Stitch your own little town of Bethlehem, choosing either the mystical blues and violets of the nighttime sky. The sky will reflect the colors of waning daylight ranging from peaches and pinks to the deep indigo of the evening sky--all lit by one wonderful star. O Little Town may be finished as a medium sized Christmas Stocking approximately 16" x 10" or may be framed to hang on the wall. Or . . . the nativity could be eliminated to create a Jerusalem scene for Jewish stitchers. | |
| One Last Topiary |
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| Kit Cost: $85.00 Proficiency Level: Intermediate Ground: green congress cloth Size of Piece: 14" x 7" on 18" x 12" stretcher bars Length of Class: 2 days | |
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For certain five topiaries were enough. I had exhausted the subject, right? But?when I was designing Summer Topiary, what I really wanted was to do sunflowers and poppies in those hot summer colors of yellow and orange, stitched on sage green congress cloth. Unfortunately, sage green congress cloth did not exist, but the muses must have heard my plea for what goes on the market the following year but sage green congress cloth! This beautiful new canvas cries out for a design, and so for it I have created One Last Topiary. This topiary is designed around the hot colors and the showy flowers of the late summertime, when all is in full flower and final ripening. It reminds us of the summers of Europe or California. Golden peaches nestle near the center of the design, surrounded by brilliant sunflowers and wispy poppies. Other flowers include trailing verbena, ubiquitous impatiens, spiky butterfly bush, and feathery astilbe. The arrangement is presented in a pot fashioned after those of the Native Americans. The earthen red/orange is the perfect foil for this joyous design, and the pot is further embellished with turquoise heishi and a whimiscal bird. | |
| QUILT SHOW |
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| Kit Cost: $30 Proficiency Level: Basic Intermediate Ground: Congress cloth Size of Piece: 8 Length of Class: 2 days | |
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Come join your friends at the local quilt show where you will see two women totally engrossed in their study of one of the exhibit pieces. The women are both dressed in values of grey and black, a perfect foil to the colorful quilts which adorn the wall. The dominant quilt is Little House. You will choose the colors for this quilt, based on your color preference and some input from the teacher. You will arrange the colors so that no two blocks are exactly alike. In addition you will have the fun of working the lawns in variety of intriguing, fast-moving stitches which will allow you to examine the effect of stitches on the color combinations. The smaller quilt is worked in complementary colors, and is based on a design found in a window in a French chateau. Here again you will choose the colors and color value, and will make use of the grey scale to show off your choices. Finally the design is embellished by a winsome flower arrangement, and a ribbon in the color you select for your judge's choice quilt. The Quilt Show promises two days of fun and learning of color and stitches | |
| Shimmering Cheryl |
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| Kit Cost: $28 Proficiency Level: Advanced beginner and up. Fun for everyone Ground: white or bue congress cloth Size of Piece: 5-1/2 x 7 Length of Class: One Day | |
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Shimmering Cheryl is a winsome Christmas angel, a confection of shiny, matte, and metallic threads stitched all in beautiful winter white. The student chooses pink, blue or white congress cloth for the background fabric. This piece was designed to introduce the student to some of the newer threads available. The stitcher will learn the proper use of Designers' Dream, Flair, Splendor, Kreinik Flat Braid, and the new Petite Beads, plus polishing her skills with Kreinik #8 braid and everyone's nemesis, Marlitt. Interesting and unusual stitches are employed to depict this vision of feminine loveliness, but the emphasis is on the unusual threads. This piece works up quickly and may be finished as an ornament or may be framed. | |
| Spring Topiary |
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| Kit Cost: $80 Proficiency Level: High Intermediate to Advanced Ground: pink congress cloth Size of Piece: 14" x 7" on 18" x 12" stretcher bars Length of Class: 2 days | |
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Spring is the season of joy and hope, here artfully rendered in a charming topiary tree, the third in a quartet of seasonal floral expressions . The topiary is composed of the appealing flowers of emerging life. The valiant pansy is here expressed in tints of pink, and lavender. Dainty lilies of the valley dangle here and there from the topiary. Fragrant lilacs bring their own special note of color, texture, and scent to this delightful arrangement. Other fantasy flowers complete the composition and are enhanced by beautiful heart-shaped leaves in a lively spring green. A braided stem supports the beautiful topiary and the silver-gilt pot is decorated with diaper pattern couched over gold and silver japanese metallic thread. Spring Topiary is stitched on a pale pink congress cloth and is worked in a variety of silks, overdyed cottons, novelty threads, ribbon, and metallic braids. Techniques include long and short stitch, diaper pattern couching, and the very intriguing lazy daisy plus bullion stitch. | |
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