Old Town Needlework & Framing - Page 2 Click Here to go back to Page 1 of this Shop Feature Gail's sense of fun was the driving force behind a much anticipated bi-annual event. She elucidates, "Choosing colors of threads and the fact that I always wanted to be a cruise director on a luxury liner, made us start Camp Wannastitch. Twice a year, spring and fall, we transport...women of all ages... to a camp for 3 days of nonstop stitching and eating. We work on projects... and the rest of the time is made up of eating, stitching and uncontrollable laughter. Even when we retire to our cabins, too tired to take even one more stitch, the women turn into 10 year olds on a sleepover!" For one session, Linda Ebright, designer of the adorable Lizzie*Kate designs, was a featured guest. Gail adds, "She designed a sampler using a variety of threads, with a cabin, pine cones and even our crossed marshmallow roasting sticks! After all what is a camp without s'mores?" This rustic retreat is sheltered within 150 acres of dense piney woods in northern Arizona. At just $175.00, it can't be beat! This year's spring camp is scheduled for April 14 to 16, with special workshops in Bargello and Sweatshirt Embellishment. The Fall 2000 camp will feature Catherine Coleman, noted teacher and designer from Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Gail is a long time fan of the Caron Collection. She emphatically states, "Lois is one of the most dependable people in the needlework industry. The quality of her products is matched only by their popular demand. We have sold thousands...of skeins of Watercolours using their Byzantine Ornament pattern." Gail also offers a selection of ornaments which are fast to stitch using Watercolours on gold perforated paper. She says, "What a treat for busy moms who do not have lots of stitching time to be able to use the overdyed threads...and have a completed project in a little over an hour!"
Now for one of Gail's favorite anecdotes, "I was in the shop...The front door opened and I peeked out to say 'Hello.' Two elderly ladies came in and one said, 'My friend here does not stitch but I do all of this, so I am going to show her around.' She proceeded telling her non-stitching friend that all of the books were for needlepoint and so were the models on one wall. They were really cross stitch books and models. Then she proceeded to tell the non-stitcher that the hand painted canvases on another wall were 'stamped' cross stitch. They made it back to the front where we had a big brandy snifter full of stitched bargello balls. The non-stitcher exclaimed how beautiful they were. Upon which the 'stitcher' grabbed one saying, 'I do this all the time!' She turned to me and said, 'Miss, Miss, isn't this that bordello?' Well, I could not contain myself any longer...I said, 'Madam, bordello is a whorehouse. That is bargello!' The non-stitcher said, 'Edith, watch your mouth!'" Gail stifles her laughter long enough to add, "We cannot look at the bargello balls without thinking of dear old Edith and hope she is stitching away somewhere on her 'stamped' cross stitch canvas!"
For anyone looking for a socially acceptable opportunity to regress and at the same time, stitch to your heart's content, contact Gail for details on getting away to Camp Wannastitch!
Old Town Needlework & Framing
7050 E. Fifth Ave
Scottsdale, AZ. 85251
phone: (480) 990- 2270
fax: (480) 949- 0851
e mail: shop@oldtownneedlework.com
website: http://www.oldtownneedlework.comMon. - Fri. 10.00am - 5:30 pm
Saturdays 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sundays (from approximately Oct. to Apr.) 12 noon - 4:00 pm
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