Presenting on Center Stage in our Innovation Gallery ...
Studio InspirationStudio Inspiration is comprised of a group of stitchers who meet weekly at The Stitchery Studio in Stittsville, Ontario to encourage and inspire one another in their quest for creating their own designs in needlework. An invitation was extended to any interested stitchers through the shop's newsletter. Eight answered the call and held their first meeting in January 1999. The group began by establishing their guiding principles: No negative thoughts - Positive thoughts only; No mistakes - Learning experiences only; No machines - Thread and needle by hand; No apologies - Bragging allowed! They decided on a format which reflected the group's goals: at each meeting one member would lead a discussion, demonstration or presentation of a subject pertinent to their design ambitions. These have included perspective, composition, shading, choice of ground fabrics, thread selection, casalguidi stitch, an exercise in cubism and working the same stitch in different threads. Each member then presents a "show and tell" of their work in progress, eliciting both positive feedback and suggestions when one is encountering a stumbling block. The remaining time is used for stitching or designing. Hope speaks for the group: "Because we meet for 3 hours and we are Canadians, there is a tea break at the point when we can tear ourselves away!" When a design is completed, the entire group shares in the joy and exhilaration. Studio Inspiration is just what its name implies - a place where co-members can inspire and be inspired by each other.
Ann, the current Ottawa Valley Stitchers Guild President, is new to this type of needlework, but has an extensive tailoring background. From the get-go she threw herself into as many courses and learning opportunities as possible. She had never designed before but now has a lovely vase of tulips in the sketching stage, with a sampler of thread combinations to use "in the works."
Susan E. is a novice stitcher, but a talented quilter who has designed her own pieces. She first learned counted thread and soon expanded her stitch vocabulary. A seminar with Thea Dueck on "Designing Your Own Sampler" provided the impetus for Susan's "Counted Thread Sampler" She describes it: "Silk ribbon roses weave their way through a heritage picket fence in this springtime sampler. Soft muted tones of pinks and greens are enhanced by the colour of the whitework bands. Colours complimenting the ribbonwork are subtly interspaced in bands that draw the eye down from the top of the sampler."
Pat has been learning, stitching and teaching the needlearts for a number of years and when designing draws on her vast knowledge of techniques and materials. Of "Garden Fantasy" she says: "This piece is a result of a request from the local embroidery guild to teach a mystery project, plus a skein of overdyed floss I was anxious to find a use for! The floss said, "garden" and I went from there. The results were outstanding with 14 interpretations of the basic instructions and individual creativity."
Heather is another "newbie" to needlework, but brings to it an artistic background in painting. Her work is homage to a special friend and talented musician. Heather elaborates on her "Tribute to Bernice Oak:" "The oak tree represents this great lady and the golden oak leaf her signature. I used perle cotton, floss, silk and metallic thread, kid leather and beads as my "paint." The roots of the tree are bullion knots. The sky is free hand florentine using a variety of threads to create subtle movement with the notes. The entire creative experience was an unforgettable journey."
Susan B. has stitched for several years, and brings an innate sense of composition as well as creative stitching to her pieces. She is embroidering a new garden design to rival her original garden design as well as a blackwork composition based on a moth she sketched as it perched on her window screen. Susan elaborates on "My Garden:" "The garden got underway in a class. At the end of four sessions, we had the background painted…I'm planting all my favourite flowers, working out of my floss box, with occasional additions to get the right colours."
Gaye, whose original Christmas stocking design was instrumental to the genesis of Studio Inspiration, is a fearless stitcher. The stocking, featuring a dragon (a tribute to her son George) and a dog (what else?), is embroidered with an amazing variety of fibers and fabrics. It was Gaye who led the group through the cubism exercise. She is a retired biology teacher who is as much an avid student as she is a natural teacher and guide. Unfortunately, the infamous stocking could not be reproduced in time for this story.
Cindy, co-owner of The Stitchery Studio, completed her apprenticeship at The Royal School of Needlework. She is the most exuberant when she sees others joining in the creative process. She presents her design "A Poppy for Jennifer:" "The full-blown poppy is worked with metal threads, japan gold and leather. The delicacy of the petals is indicated by the free form arrangement of the couched japan gold. The bud and seedpod are covered with gold leather or check purl in various sizes to create a dimensional effect. The poppy is a tribute to our friend Jennifer Jarman (1944-1998)."
Hope, co-owner of The Stitchery Studio, has extensive stitching years behind her. Her design "The National Gallery" allowed her to explore monochromatic shading combined with 3D needlework. Hope explains its inspiration and evolution: " My mother's 85th birthday approached and I wanted to honor her work with The National Gallery of Canada. The glass exterior reflects the buildings and trees. I immediately sought help in getting the perspective as accurate as possible. Then the first really fun step - gathering all the shades of blue overdye fibres that would suit glass and its shadows while anticipating where each thread choice would best represent the variations. I intend to have the posts and bushes in 3D and will also have three graduated padded areas for the forward facing facades of the three levels."
For other stitchers who are yearning to try designing, the members of this group provide the power of example. Their mission statement voices their encouragement and support for fellow stitchers everywhere: "We hope our Studio Inspiration experience will encourage others to take the plunge, who haven't already, and if they can find like-minded people to work with, the experience will be enriched through the encouragement and friendships that enhance their creative endeavors. As you can see we have diverse stitching technique interests, but we all have a passion for stitching as our medium for artistic expression."
If you would like more information about Studio Inspiration, or suggestions on how you can organize such a group in your area, please contact The Stitchery Studio at stitchery@travel-net.com or visit our web site www.stitcherystudio.com
GALLERY ARCHIVES
Click below if you missed past month's Gallery Features."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