Blog #75 - Thirty Anniversary Stitches
Thursday, 31 May 2018
As I wrote in last month’s blog, beginning this blog with the same words, “Oh, dear”.
Tomorrow is the day the Thirty Anniversary Stitches ‘Mystery Sampler’ is to be released and although I’ve written the instructions for Part One, having the greatest of difficulties with drawing one of the stitch diagrams. The Colonial Knot. Oh, how I wish I was a graphic artist. It would be so much easier if I could copy a diagram from a published needlework book, but cannot as to do so would be illegal.
As a consequence the mystery sampler will not be able to be released tomorrow, but hopefully the next or following day - that is, when I’m relatively happy that the participants will be able to follow my drawing and the accompanying written instruction.
As related in my last blog, this needlework piece is a celebration of my thirty years in business. 30 stitches for 30 years. However, I’m also supplying an additional chart with other numbers on it so that if one chooses, they can use numbers to depict a special occasion meaningful to them. (e.g. to commemorate a special event in their life or life of a friend or relative to whom the sampler is to be given).
This past month I’ve not done much more than stitch, stitch and stich. Almost finished Part Five of the sampler. I’ve made several changes to my original charted version. As so often is the case, what looks good on paper does not always look so good stitched.
Therefore, I’ve also done a lot of “reverse stitching”.
And, I’ve messed up badly when stitching the Part Five area. Miscounted. Unfortunately I didn’t realise it until after I had worked the Hem Stitch area, thus having removed fabric threads. I couldn’t ‘undo’ what I had stitched and restitch correctly without making it look messy. Consequently my stitched piece is wrong! In my instructions I will have to tell the participants to read the instructions and NOT look at the image of my work. I am SO cross with myself, as I do not like making such stupid errors!!
Another sad month for Keith and his lovely family. His lovely sister (Dulcie) from Canada that came to stay with us and all other family members in February has passed away. On her return to Canada it was discovered that her cancer had returned. Losing two sisters within three months has been difficult.
Another sister, Ngaire, was very close to Dulc, and so when Dulc & Stan travelled back to Canada, Ngaire travelled with them with the intention of having a three month holiday with them. This proved to be a blessing as she was there to support everyone as they went through the distressing ordeal.
Other upsetting news received this month is that one our lovely NATTER day ladies, Glenys from Waipukurau, has suffered a brain bleed. This occurred when she was in Whangarei whilst visiting her elderly, unwell father, and she had to be flown to Auckland hospital. As I write this, Glenys is no longer in ICU but in a ward and in time will be transferred back to the Hawkes Bay. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her husband, Neil, for a speedy recovery for her and strength for Neil as he helps to aid and look after her during her recovery.
Sunday, 9 September 2018
The last few months have slipped by so quickly! I never did get to finish this blog started at the end of May and so just adding to it. Update on our friend, Glenys. Wonderful news! A few weeks after her operation she was flown from the Auckland hospital to the Hawkes Bay hospital and is now back at home and has made a miraculous recovery. Not quite her “old self” yet but not far from it. Fortunately no impediment with speaking, walking, etc. We will know that she has definitely improved when she can begin stitching again without a headache occurring and when she can begin bringing her lovely baked items (slices or a loaf) to our special NATTER days. Bringing a plate containing a baked item has never been a requirement when coming for the day, but Glenys always made something yummy for us all to enjoy!
The weeks between the end of May and now have been busy with writing up notes and drawing diagrams for Parts Two, Three, Four and Five of the Mystery Sampler. Here’s how the sampler was looking at the end of June -
Also experienced another sadness as my only surviving aunty passed away which necessitated travel to Lower Hutt. She was rather a special aunt. I last visited her in February when I was at Upper Hutt for the special Whiteman family get-together. Aunty Hilda was 92, still very alert and interested in what I and the family (remembering all their names) were doing. Wonderful attitude to life - always happy and laughing - despite being blind for many, many years. She was very musical. Was a piano teacher. She tried to teach me but I was not a very good pupil. In her younger days she was gorgeous looking but sadly she suffered terribly from sickness almost every day of her life. No-one expected her to marry but she did marry late in life. I was 14 years of age at the time and was her junior bridesmaid.
Had to have minor surgery in June. A little lump appeared near the tip of my nose and it grew bigger and bigger quite quickly. I felt like “Witchy Pooh” or “Nanny McPhee”. Fortunately tests proved it not to be cancerous but do now have rather a “dent” in my nose where the lump was cut out. I do not like this aging process!!
Beginning of July I began feeling rather unwell - the outcome being that I have been rather sick with my usual lung problem which developed into pneumonia. But life has to go on and so struggled at the end of July to attend a lovely two day class with Phillipa Turnbull from the UK who specialises in crewel work. Her business web address is - www.crewelwork.com. I first met Phillipa at the International Needlework Trade Show at Charlotte, North Carolina in 1995! Some of you may recall that Phillipa (for the year 2000 celebrations & the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday) was commissioned by the Royal family to recreate a bed cover and bed hangings originally stitched by the mother of the Queen Mother - the Countess of Strathmore - that had deteriorated. These beautiful items can be seen at Glamis Castle.
Pictured above and to the right is a photo of Phillipa which was in her brochure that I was given when attending her exhibition booth at the Trade Show over 20 years ago and the other image is of her and the beautiful replicated bed coverings she worked as requested .
Phillipa was teaching a piece of crewel work recreated by herself - Bird on a Bough.
Phillipa’s aim is to recreate embroideries from the lifetime of Lady Anne Clifford who began her long life at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Her father was a Queen’s favourite and her mother was the Queen’s Lady in Waiting. Lady Anne herself was a favourite of Queen Anne of Denmark.
‘Bird on a Bough’ is a detail from the late 17th century bed hangings that can be seen in Dingestow House, Wales.
I struggled! I truly do appreciate the beauty of crewel work but it is not for me. I’m a ‘counted’ lady. My passion is to work with fine threads on fine linen fabric. Wonderful class and experience though.
Another objective with attending Phillipa’s class was to talk with her about the needlework tours conducted by herself and her daughter, Laura - private tours of needlework collections in stately homes in the UK, needlework classes, and staying in these stately homes. The outcome is that I (together with my friend Joy McNabb from Havelock North) are participating in one of these tours in September next year. The tour begins in York and finishes in Kent.
It is known as the All England Tour Part II. I am SO excited!
I truly am so blessed to have been given an awesome legacy from my grandmother which has enabled me to have such a wonderful experience and fulfil dreams that I never thought would ever be possible. I do so wish I could give her a hug and thank her personally for her gift.
More details in another blog.
Two other commitments I struggled with were in August. Both necessitated the packing up of stitched models and then displaying them at the venues and one necessitated packing up of stock to sell as well.
The first was at a ladies church meeting where I had to speak about my needlework journey and the second was at Otane’s annual “Soup and Bun Day” that raises finances for cancer research. Always a lovely day. Over 90 ladies attended this day raising over $2,000.00
Once these commitments were over it was ‘all go’ with preparations for Needlework Galleria - the needlework retreat at St. Charles, Missouri.
It has taken me twice as long to do a task than usual
due to still feeling so unwell.
Pictured below is the beginnings of making up of twenty five (25) fob kits and twelve (12) class kits. Teaching again at this retreat as well as exhibiting and selling my own designs. Besides the kit preparations many designs have had to be reprinted which necessitated collating, folding and packing into individual plastic bags when they were delivered from the printing company.
This coming week will be taking all the models out of their frames and placing them into “travelling” frames, sorting out quantities of each design to take, packing everything safely, ensuring all home and business accounts are paid or prepaid, ensuring cupboards are well stocked with food, preparing meals for Keith, etc.
So much to do. So little time. I leave for the States on Saturday.
And whenever I have a few spare moments I need to stitch some more of my third version of ‘Family Quaker Sampler’ as I want to display this at Needlework Galleria with the other two versions.
I’m working this third version over one fabric thread on 32 count Permin Linen - White Chocolate -
with overdyed Simply Shaker Sampler Thread - Endive - by The Gentle Art and placing the children’s and grandchildren’s full names on it rather than just their initials.
As you can see from the image pictured below, I have a lot of stitching to do!
Must away. Till next time, bye for now.
