Nuts about Needlepoint » events

Woodlawn Exhibit Happening in Mid-May

Janet Perry — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:11:17 +0000

The Woodlwan Exhibit of Needlework is very popular for stitchers, who exhibit, and visitors, who love to look.

Because the plantation is undergoing extensive renovation, the exhibit has been postponed. It will start on May 12. YOu can get details about the dates in this blog post.

A check of Woodlawn’s site before I left didn’t reveal the exhibit forms, but they should be available soon. Check out their site to find them.

Given that the weather in DC in March can be unreliable at best (some of their worst blizzards happen in March), having the show in May and early June hits one of the loveliest times of year there.

The past several years I have been in the area at this time, but this year I was planning to go later in the summer.

But now I want to change those plans.

Join this Exciting New Workshop from Terry Dryden

Janet Perry — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:03:01 +0000

Color Kaleidoscope by Terry Dryden is CyberPointers upcoming on-line workshop

Several times a year CyberPointers hosts on-line workshops with national teachers. The upcoming workshop is with Terry Dryden and is pictured above. Here’s what the site says about it:
Color Kaleidoscope is a fresh interpretation of the twelve point color wheel. It is a fun way to learn more about complementary and analogous color schemes and ways to add more depth of color and texture to a design. Over 40 threads and beads are used, Four composite patterns are used throughout the design with each being stitched several times in different color combinations.. To add that extra bit of texture and depth, flat glass beads, large Delicas and cubes are integrated into the stitch patterns. The kit is included in the cost.

Proficiency Level: Intermediate
Design Size: 7 1/2″ x 7 1/2″
Kit Contents: #18 eggshell canvas with design drawn on the canvas. All required threads (silk, cotton, soy and metallic), needles, and flat and round glass beads are included in the kit.

So why am I telling you about it?

The piece is simply lovely and will teach you lots about color and stitches. The opportunity is open to anyone who wants to take it, whether an ANG member or not. The window for signing up is very short, registrations close July 29 and the workshop begins in October.

Just visit CyberPointer’s page for the class to get the pricing and to to sign up.

Woodlawn Exhibit Entries Open

Janet Perry — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:55:05 +0000

Recently the entry forms for the 48th Annual Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit opened. This is the nation’s preimier exhibit of needlework and takes over the entire plantation house for the month of March. It’s a fantastic showcase of needleart and your pieces can be an important part of it.

There are two classifications for canvas work (needlepoint): traditional and multi-stitch. Traditional uses up to 6 stitches (including Tent Stitch). Multi-stitch uses more than 6. This could be why there are so many Basketweave and traditional pieces in the show.

Pieces can be original, a collection, or commercial (all are defined on the form). There is a separate class for exhibitors under 17 at the time the work was done. Entry fees are $20 for the first item and $10 for each additional item with reduced fees for sets.

Just fill out the entry form and mail it with you pieces so that they are received before February 12. Details about categories and mailing instructions are on the form.

I’m planning on entering my Noel stocking (pictured above) and a couple of other pieces. I’m trying to decide on which would be best. You should enter something too!

There is also informatio about the exhibit’s dates, times, and admission prices.

Schoolgirl Samplers Exhibit Opens October 2

Janet Perry — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:07:10 +0000

At one time education for girls was less about academics and more about preparation for their future lives. Girls learned the skills they needed to run households or to supervise the running of the household.

An essential one of these skills was embroidery. We see evidence of this ins the many schoolgirl samplers available. They were often a part of American education for women. Generally these samplers had different levels, with older students learning more difficult techniques. It’s also possible, when studying these embroideries to track particular types of embroidery (like Ackworth School’s Quaker samplers), places, patterns, and even teachers.

Many reproductions of schoolgirl samplers are available as charts. Often these sampler sites will have more information about the pieces.

It’s a rich subject, wonderful to study.

The Florence Griswold Museum opens an exhibit of Schoolgirl Embroideries from the Connecticut River Valley on October 2, 2010. The exhibit runs through Jan 30, 2011.

Needlepoint and Mosaics – ANG’s 2010 Quest Challenge

Janet Perry — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:24:50 +0000

Each year at the ANG Seminar there is a theme challenge, called Quest, that can be done and submitted by any ANG member for the exhibit.

This year’s theme has just been announced, Manipulated Mosaics, and I’m really excited about it. I can see many possibilities for stitching here.

ANG’s announcement says:

The Quest Challenge celebrates its 17th year by offering an opportunity for all needle artists to create and exhibit an original or adapted piece of needlepoint at the ANG Seminar Exhibit 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. All members of ANG are encouraged to accept the challenge and participate in Quest XVII by demonstrating their creative abilities based on the 2010 theme: Manipulated Mosaics.

The theme, Manipulated Mosaics, offers limitless possibilities for individual interpretation and design choices. Consider all meanings – physical and imagined, personal and traditional, literal and abstract – as the source of your inspiration for a special stitched entry. Creative interpretation is the key to success in Quest challenges. As you let your creativity soar, the primary concern should be excellence in design and interpretation of the theme.

Stitched pieces may be entered in the Original and Adaptation judged categories or in the non-judged category of the exhibit, and they must be designated as Quest entries. While technical ability is always a factor, it is not a primary consideration in the Quest challenge. Quest entries will
be evaluated by a panel of qualified judges who will focus on the creative interpretation of the theme.

An Artist’s Statement explaining the design and the interpretation as relevant to the theme is required and must accompany each Quest entry in order to be eligible. The Artist’s Statement will become part of the Quest program archives. The judges will review the Artist’s Statement, evaluate the relativity of the written material to the design and stitched needlepoint, and write a brief evaluation. Qualifying entries will receive the judges’ brief evaluation and a special Quest Certificate of Participation.

Quest XVII is sponsored by the ANG Judging Certification Program.

Tomorrow, I’m going to post about some inspiration possibilities for this quest and I’m going to get working on my own entry.

Stitch in Public Day — Coming in September!

Janet Perry — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:53:39 +0000

Do you stitch in public?
Do you want to show off your lovely needlework & get others interested in stitching?

On September 3, you will have a perfect opportunity to do so, with National Stitch in Public Day. This event commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the found of EGA. There will be lots of public events in Louisville at that time (during EGA’s National Seminar that week). But let’s have a real show of stitching by having stitch in public events all across the country.

Knitters have done this often to generate publicity, and we can do the same thing.

Here are some ideas:

Do you commute to work? Do you have friends who ride with you who stitch? Everyone bring a project and stitch on the bus, train, ferry, or carpool.

Do you have time during the rush hour to hang out? Even if it’s only a couple of people, why not stop by every coffee shop in town and stitch on a table outside, where everyone can see you?

Do you live near a mall and have some time in the afternoon? Grab a bunch of stitchers and sit in the mall and stitch.

Going to soccer practice and know other players’ moms who stitch, bring your stuff along and work during practice.

Are you a teacher or do you have a job where many people take lunch at one time? Why not find stitchers among your colleagues and stitch together on that day?

Remember stitching is more than just needlepoint. It includes lacemaking, embroidery, cross stitch, tatting, quilting, and lots more.

If you are planning an event, email me to let me know. I’ll post it here to let others know who might want to join.

On September 2, I’ll post a list of everyplace I know about. If you take some pictures at your event, send them along, I’ll post those as well.

And tell everyone, I stitch in public!

ANG’s proposed on-line chapter initial meeting starts today

Janet Perry — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:09:30 +0000

An Invitation!!!

We are currently waiting for the formation process of ANG’s first
cyberchapter, The CyberPointers to proceed. Just for the fun of it we have
decided to have a test meeting to try out some of the options for online
meetings. We will introduce the formation committee and discuss the
decisions we have made so far. We will also give you an overview of how the
formation process works.

Each of the people responsible for a portion of the formation will give a
report just like at a real meeting. And there will be a program, a project
designed by a member of the formation committee.

The meeting will be opened at 7:00 pm PDT Thursday, October 25 and will
close at 7:00pm PDT Monday, October 29.

To be a part of the meeting go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ANG_CyberPointers-pending/ This is the yahoo group
that has been used by people who are interested in an online chapter. If
you don’t already belong to this group, push the join button. Once your
request has been reviewed you will be added to the group. This is just to
keep out spam and other ugly stuff. You can start joining the group now.

Hope to see you there!