This Month in Our Gallery
Award Winning Designs from the 1999 ANG National Exhibit
by Rita VainiusLet's start out by saying, "It's not your grandmother's needlepoint!" Many stitchers are familiar with the traditional needlepoint of the past - shaded roses or other flowers with the background filled in with either black, maroon, green, navy or beige. They were ubiquitous - displayed on dining room chairs, a piano bench or footstool. In many cases, the stitcher of old even bought the canvas with the flowers already worked, requiring her to just fill in the background with tapestry wool in a tent stitch. My, how things have changed, and all for the best! Contemporary needlepoint is fresh, new, inspired, invigorating, experimental and innovative. The technique now encompasses a wonderful variety of disciplines. No longer are stitchers confined to tapestry and/or Persian wool or the other old stand-bys - pearl cotton and embroidery floss. Today's market offers a huge array of glorious fibers from fine wools and cottons to silks, linens, novelty threads as well as paper, fabrics, ribbons and threads that have been overdyed. Not to mention the explosion of charms, beads and other embellishments to choose from. We aren't even confined to "needlepoint" stitches, intriguing as they are. Today's needlepoint features techniques borrowed from Hardanger, blackwork, drawn and pulled thread work and surface embroidery.
For some insight into what and where needlepoint is today, The Caron Collection is proud to display works designed and stitched by some of the ribbon winners from the 1999 National Exhibit of the American Needlepoint Guild held in Atlanta, Georgia. We extend special appreciation to Gail Sirna for her descriptions of these exceptional pieces of needlepoint.
Note: all the designs are shown above the name, designer and descriptive copy.
Among the Leaves - designed and stitched by Jean Udd
A fabulous non-traditional example of canvas work employing fabric manipulation, needlelace over a wire frame, overcast plastic rings, sheer ribbons on a gently color-washed canvas. This piece could be considered avant-garde and iconoclastic.Butterfly Box - designed and stitched by Pat Morse
This box is constructed of a color washed Lugana lightly embellished with a gossamer butterfly, whose organza wings are stitched onto a fine wire. Flowers of ribbon embroidery, surface work, and needlelace are employed along with unusual objects such as washers, covered with fine stitching. This is a wonderful example of needlepoint taken totally away from the traditional.Emperor's Coat- stitched by Brenda Hart
Designed by Joanne Frerking
Adapted to needlepoint canvas for Brenda by Waly Young
This exciting piece of needlepoint was adapted from a painting by Joanne Frerking with her permission. It is worked mostly in conventional canvas work stitches and relies on the dramatic effect of color for its impact. Numerous threads, lovely beads, and an unconventional use of glittering or nué are beautifully combined in this eye-catching pieceArbor Day Inspiration stitched by Stephanie Mallozzi
Designed by Sue Newhouse
Adapted to needlework by Stephanie Mallozzi
The artist used an interesting bookmark as her design source and took it to new heights of embroidery expression. She carefully achieved perspective by the texture, sizing, and placement of her stitches but also innovatively added a layer of sheer silk to create a misty impression. This piece is stitched in silk, hemp, and pearl cotton. Though stitches are basic, they are extremely effective.Bargello Symphony- stitched by Penny Boswinkle
Designed by Loretta Spears
This piece is stitched from a chart by Loretta Spears on fine rose Congress cloth with the most delicate and beautiful threads and beads. It is notable for the lovely use of color, the exquisitely laid stitches, and the subtle use of metallics. The charted design intrigues the stitcher with its use of stitch patterns assembled in an abstract fashion.Poppies - stitched by Pat Dowse
Designed by Jean McIntosh
Of all the pieces in the 1999 Exhibit this comes closest to being traditional needlepoint. The design consists of intricately shaded flowers all worked in tent stitch (either Continental or Basketweave) and was taken from a chart. That is where the similarity ends. This lovely example was stitched on 40 count silk gauze in various cotton flosses and is especially notable for the stitcher's prowess in leaving no telltale lumps or bumps when changing colors - not an easy achievement.See More.... Gallery Continued on Page 2
GALLERY ARCHIVES
Click below if you missed past month's Gallery Features.The Dynamic duo of Marjorie Hunter and Amy Bunger A Bear Tail, Oops, Tale There are Bears, and Then There Are Donna Cornelison-Henasy's Bears Revisiting Robert Forman New Watercolours and Wildflower Threads K's Creations Tools of the Trade for Stitcher's Contemporary Crewel Embroidery Sampler Fest Christmas Sock Designs Part II The Mary Jane Collection Nan Halberg of Colorific Thread and Dye Works Studio Inspiration "Flower Power" Gallery of Designs
Exhibition of Original Christmas Sock and Stocking Designs
Judy Ritter
of Whiteworks Heirloom Christening GownsDaniele Bertin
the proud owner of Zip Mercerie in Le Havre, FranceThuve-Stua The mother-daughter design team of
Lillill Thuve and Anne-Stine ThuveCarol Tinson Design Booklets (England) Voirrey, Embroidery Centre, in the UK Christmas Sock Motif Contest Winners Barbara Greenberg, artist, sculptor "Lacemaker Extraordinaire", Marjo Timmers. New Caron Designer Patterns and Thread Colors
International Style Collection by Pam Davenport and new Watercolours and Waterlilies threads."Inch" Winifred Sharp
A true industry pioneer whose example and work are an inspiration to needleworkers everywhere.Nautical Contest Entries and Winner!
See the simple nautical motif transformed by these interpretations.The Breast Cancer Quilt Projects Parts I & II
"Raging Light" USA, Life Quilt for Breast Cancer CANADAContest #3 Winner and Participants
Italian Winner Giulia Manfredini, MDNorthern Virginia Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild "Red Squared" by Stephanie Novatski
(Winner and other entries to Contest No. 2)Yarn Painting by Artist Robert Forman Karen Cohn, of Dragonfly Clothing Embellishment of, Deanna Van Assche Contest #1 Winner Roxanne Barkofsky and other contest entries The Wearable Art of, Kimberly Crum
