Making Waves at Sturbridge ...

... was the name of the stitching retreat from which I have just returned.

The class project was a marvelous needlepoint piece, Making Waves, composed primarily of 27 rows of randomized bargello stitching of varying band widths gradually progressing from white sea foam to deep turquoise sea blue.  There were also randomized eyelets in #8 and 12 perle cotton, beading and a bullion stitched star fish.

The designer, Diane Herrmn, pictured here with the project, drew her design inspiration from the graph of a sine curve.  [Here I will insert a very small apology to Sister Anna St. James for ever doubting that geometry and trigonometry would ever have an impact on my life after 11th grade.]  It was fascinating to follow Diane's design process as she described how she decided to lengthen and lighten the waves as they approached the shore, why she used 65 beads [no more and no less] to lend sparkle to the eyelet sea foam, how she selected the colors and graphed the proportions of light and dark when blending the strands.

I believe no class is truly a learning experience unless I get to practice a new technique or to try a new stitch.  This class met both requirements.  After 40 some years of stitching, I finally learned how to lay my stitches.

I actually got to use the laying tool I bought a decade ago simply because I thought it was lovely.  I will say it makes a difference.  I don't expect I'll become one of those fanatics who lays ever single stitch I take. But I will probably use it for all my satin stitching in future. Using stretcher bars was a new experience as well.  I learned how to mount the piece on the bars.  In the past, I'd always done needlepoint in hand, relying on the stiffness of the canvas to make handling the piece manageable.  I am a convert and will invest in stretcher bars in various sizes in future. Oh, yes, and a small ladylike hammer is on the shopping list as well.  Pressing in all those thumbtacks by hand is painful, to say the least.

And I learned the proper way to make a bullion stitch.  I practiced: got the first one done perfectly and proceeded to mess up the next three to varying degrees.  And then made two more reasomably decent attempts.  But I have seen it done properly, remember the tips and just need to practice some more.

Since this was a Sue Donnelly Stitcher's Hideaway retreat, there were the usual generously stocked gift bags, door prizes and an in house shop.  In other words, it was a very complete stitching experience. Here's a photo of the stitching room.  Some folks are busy stitching, some are socializing and some are off camera in the shop area at the back of the room. The accommodations at The Public House were comfortable, the meals were good and the support staff were attentive and helpful.

Sue's retreats always include an exchange and a show and tell session.  Above are a few photos of the exchange items and of the projects on display for show and tell.  There was a great deal more but my photographic skills are sadly lacking.

And, finally, here's a photo of what I accomplished in class.  I expect I'll make better progress now that I am home and can use my stitching stand.  Not having to balance the stretcher bars between lap and table edge will make for quicker two handed stitching.

The Company of Like-Minded Friends

I was able to spend a little time with some other stitchers recently. It never ceases to amaze me how relaxing it is to stitch in a group. The company of others who share my passion for textile art is such a joy. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my solitary stitching as well! But to be a part of a group is at once energizing and affirming.

And The Stitcher's Hideaway at Sturbridge, Mass. was a perfect case in point. I became re-acquainted with a number of folks from previous retreats and enjoyed my second class with Thea Ducek. The class project was a joy and I learned a few new skills. Thea has upgraded her class project folder to include an instructional DVD which I am certain will be most useful when assembling the stitching box. Unfortunately, the batteries on my camera decided to quit on Show and Tell night, so I have no photos of some of the fabulous work displayed by fellow stitchers and sadly, no photos of the phenomenal tambour work displayed by our guest lecturer. Nor do I have a photo of our hostess par excellence, Sue Donnelly. But for those that are interested Sue will be putting up a "fun report" on her website towards the end of the month

But, here are a few photos from the early part of the retreat:

First, Thea in action

The class project

And, finally, my progress on the class project thus far ... I was able to make some fairly substantial progress on this piece because I left Sturbridge for a very relaxing vacation at the Bavarian Country Manor in Purling, NY. If you look closely you will see that I have a bit of frogging to do on the box lid. I oriented the left center Queen stitch heart in the wrong direction. However, I will wait till I am done with the rest of the pieces to frog it ... I want to be sure I will have enough of the Autumn Arbor to re-stitch it properly before I completely destroy the floss to be frogged. Anyway, I did get one of the side panels to the box lid completed and another one started as well ... I had plenty of opportunity to stitch at The Bavarian Country Manor. This beautiful lakeside inn in the Catskill region of NY state boasts an elegant porch that is just perfect for lazy morning stitching. And, I can assure you, I took full advantage of the comfortable wicker chairs and tables. Every morning after breakfast, I staked out a spot on the shady side of the porch, set up my own little stitching corner. On days we didn't have a day trip planned, I followed the shade around to the side porch to continue my stitching into late afternoon.

I'll have a few more vacation pictures to share in upcoming posts. Bill and I liked the place so well, we have already made arrangements for another visit in the fall to luxuriate in all the vibrant colors of the fall foliage and the crisp autumn air of the mountains. If you like a relaxed, family and pet friendly ambience and enjoy authentic German cuisine, I can highly recommend this spot. The inn has been run by the same family for three generations, since the early 1930s ... but it was around long before that: built in 1865.

Off to Mystic Stitcher's Hideaway

My husband and are packing ... we leave today at noon for Mystic Ct where I will be attending the Stitcher's Hideaway and he will wander the seaport meeting up with me [and the other stitchers and their tag alongs] for meals. I am looking forward to this and have been working diligently on the pre-work for the past two days. I am the sort who always works to deadline - I turned in my bachelor's thesis the day before my wedding. That was 37 years ago and I am still a down to the wire kind of person ... it's not that I procrastinate, it's just that I take on more than is reasonable and then juggle everything till it all works ... or crashes about my head. Most of the time it works.

Anyway, this time, at least, I probably should have started the pre-work earlier. The whole reason I signed up for this class was to learn hardanger. So what do you think the assigned pre-work is? That's right: all the Kloster blocks and blanket stitching on the pocket and, time permitting, the Kloster blocks on the tuffet pin cushion. So it is all very slow going ... very paranoid stitching ... stitch, count, stitch, recount, stitch, count yet again, frog, stitch, count, frog, count, stitch, re-count, pray, curse effusively and creatively, stitch ... well, you get the idea. But the finished project will be worth it ... a whole set of Thea Dueck [Victoria's Sampler] stitching accesories ... the design references the locale with all sorts of 19th century tall ships, ladies, lighthouses, etc.

I am looking forward to this immensely ... partly because I will be meeting some people I "know" only through stitchery message boards, partly because I will enjoy the project/classes/teacher, and partly because my professional life has been a mad whirl since mid September and will not let up till January ... so this provides a much needed break halfway through the career-related insanity.

Shall report on the hideaway upon my return.