Spring!

The snow is almost gone, the crocus are blooming and the birds are singing.It must be spring.

It has been busy here.

First, I have another piece published in Inspirations. It is a pulled Thread piece.

As always, I am very pleased with the way they displayed it.

Another piece is on its way to the United States. It will tour as part of the 21st Eye Of the Needle Exhibit with EGA (Embroiderers' Guild of America).

This was a very challenging piece and I enjoyed every minute. If the strings are pulled tight enough, it will make a sound - another part of the challenge. I won't see this piece for another two years. That makes three exhibits in a row with submissions.


I am now preparing a major project for A Needle Pulling Thread magazine. I can't say much now but I hope it will be well received when published. I am also working on an author owned course for EAC (Embroiderers' Association of Canada) I continue to work on a couple SALs. I promise to post my progress with them soon.


Happy Spring to All!

Happy Stitching!

Kim

Happy Holidays!

Hi

It has been another busy time. I finished my challenge for the crystals I received. I decided to make a treasure chest. The chest is completed in crayon tint with embroidery. I used black felt and attached with needle and thread pearls and shells. I then used the crystals to make necklaces and chains to add to the treasure. Here it is:

I am pleased with the results.

I am now working on an advent sampler. You get a piece of the sampler each day starting Nov 30 and going to December 24. You can find details at:
http://historischestickmuster.blogspot.ca/

I am using 40 count linen I had in stash and shades of my favourite colour. I have had to adjust to fit the fabric, but like it so far. I promise to post the finished piece when I am all done.

I like how it is developing.

Well, back to Christmas preparations. I wish all the best of the season.


Happy Holidays!

Happy Stitching!


Kim

A Fun Challenge

Hi

Recently I participated in San Francisco School Of Neeedleowrk and Design's At Home Challenge. It was a neat challenge. I decided to use crayon tinting, some special embroidery stitches and beads to create the piece. Here is the result:

I was pleased with the results and have been playing with more crayon tinting.

The school posted my piece on facebook to remind people of their exhibit. That was neat!

This past week, I received my goodie bag from entering the challenge. Lots of goodies!

Along with the goodie bag, I was fortunate to get the next challenge. Using the upcycled Swarovski crystals provided, create a piece for the theme"Jewels of the Sea".

Now I have until January to come up with my creation. I have a plan, but you will have to wait....

My Muskoka Landscape workshop with Virtual Threads started today. This is my first virtual workshop - teaching. It is exciting and I can't wait to see what everyone does with the design.

This is Thanksgiving weekend. The trees are beautiful. Enjoy the weekend!

Happy Stitching!

Kim

August 2016

Hi,

Wow! August already!

It has been a very busy time since last post (can't believe the date on that). I officially have my Teacher Certificate for Embroidery.

I have taught my first class. it was with the Toronto Guild. It was a Blackwork course. I designed a special biscornu for them.

It was designed to give the students as much choice to make it their own and match their skill level with Blackwork. It was a fun day. I enjoyed meeting and working with all those who attended.

I have been busy coming up with designs for The Embroiderers' Association of Canada's(EAC) Seminar in 2018. Submissions for classes are due Sept 1, 2016. This is part of the reason I have been quiet.

I was fortunate to win Seminar theme for EAC's Seminar 2016 - Inspiring Threads. I have a piece being considered for the Bobby Pilling Award with EGA, and I am looking to submit to the "Eye of the Needle" exhibit with EGA, as well. A few designs have headed off to various magazines too.

This fall I will be hosting my first Cyber class. The piece is called Muskoka Landscape. It involves Pulled Thread and Surface embroidery together. In designing it, I wanted to include both, but was aware that many shy away from counted embroidery. The piece is approximately 4 X 6 inches, so enough to try something new It is being offered with Virtual Threads, the cyber guild of EAC (on Yahoo). It is open to members of Virtual Threads. I will post a picture after the class. If you are a member, photos and information are posted in the Files section. If you are not a member of Virtual Threads, consider checking it out. While you check it out, you can see this workshop being offered - one of many they do offer(they try to provide workshops in a variety of techniques)

Well back to work. It has been an awesome summer (a Little too dry but not complaining as the snow will fly soon enough)

Happy Stitching!


Kim

SALs

Hi For 2016 I thought I would try out a couple SALs (also known as Stitch Alongs). One goes the whole year - 1 submission per month - and the other was a submission each week for about six weeks. I wanted to see how I like the different formats. The six week SAL was from Brodeuse-Bressane called Snowdrop. It is actually the center to a much larger piece. The SAL creates the center and then you buy the rest of the pattern. I just wanted to try it, so I set myself up to create the center. You can pick the colours you want. After each week, you send a photo. This is my finished piece:

The second SAL is a Hardanger SAl from Mabel Figworthy. Each month there is a new pattern that focuses on a particular filling or aspect of Hardanger. I signed on for this one because I want to explore more of the different stitches and fillings. I know I have books on the subject, but this makes me try different things that later I can incorporate into my designs. This SAL is called Round in Circles. Colour is yours to pick. She does give suggestions. At the beginning of the month, instructions are sent. You send a photo when you are done. Each month is the same size. I am thinking of maybe a book to put them in, but nothing is really decided. Here is January and February:

I enjoyed Snowdrops and am enjoying the Round in Circles. Lastly, since this weekend is Valentines, I am posting a photo of a couple heart pins I created.

Have a great Valentine's weekend! Happy Stitching! Kim

2015 and 2016

Hi The holiday season is here. The weather is warm, which makes it hard to believe it is that time of year, but I don't mind not shoveling! It has been a busy year. I have been very fortunate. I look forward to 2016. I have a few projects in the making (actually working on them now). I plan on being at Creativ Festival in the fall again and I am working on those projects now. I am planning a couple other workshops and projects for not only 2016 but into 2018...those that know me, know I love working ahead. To end 2015 I had the opportunity to stitch on The Embroiderers' Association of Canada's Project 150. This is a banner created to represent Canada and will be hung in Rideau Hall for Canada's 150th in 2017.Here is a photo of the project:

There is more information about the project on EAC's website at http://www.eac.ca/project150.html Here is a before and after of the section I worked on:

I also created four Izzy dolls for Health Partners International of Canada. A call came out through Virtual Threads (cyber guild of EAC) for more of these ( see http://www.hpicanada.ca/izzy-dolls/) They do not take long and are a great way to use up the little balls of wool laying around. I am planning for 2016 to make more. Here are my four:

For 2016 I have joined two SAL. I will have more information on them in January. I am going to try and make a post at least once a month in the new year. For 2015 I madea "to do" list. It started off very small. I kept track of what I completed, and was quite surprised to see the list grow. There were only two things I did not complete from the original list, but added about thirty other things that came up in the year. I am thinking about maybe hosting my own SAL but probably not until 2017. Have a safe and healthy 2016! Happy Stitching! Kim

Fall 2015

Hi I hope all is well. It has been busy here. Happy Belated Halloween! Two weeks ago was Creativ Festival in Toronto. It was different only being there for Saturday. I taught two classes. I would like to thank the sponsors for providing most of the supplies for these classes. The morning one was needle tatting. This was the first time I have taught needle tatting. It was a lot of fun. It was a beginner class and the goal to make a tatted cover for an ornament. I had 16 students and everyone was tatting by the end of our three hours. No one finished the cover, but I think everyone has a good start.

The afternoon was a Hardanger Pincushion. This was a smaller group but still fun, even though we were all tired (them from a busy week of classes at Creativ festival and me a week of work) I try to come up with a small project and try to keep it to three hours to keep cost down, but we were stuck on buttonhole stitch which took most of our time. It was nice to see everyone in this class,as they have been in my other workshops. I was even evaluated for my Teacher Certificate in Needlework. I think, looking back that I am going to set up workshops to focus on the stitches and student can take home the project to complete.

I am now working on two classes for next year's Festival. The students wanted more needle tatting but with beads and they also want to try pulled thread embroidery. I am quite excited with some ideas I have for these - will keep you posted. I am also working on magazine projects. I have one Hardanger piece at Inspirations now. I believe it will be in issue #90. I have two others here that are works in progress. I am also going to submit more regularly to A Needle Pulling Thread. I saw Carla (editor) at Creativ festival and was asked if I planned on continuing to submit projects. I, of course said yes. I like supporting a Canadian magazine. I am working on a couple larger projects for future workshops/classes. My Teacher Certification is almost done. I have the written exam to complete and I believe that finishes that goal. Have a great November! Happy Stitching! Kim

Summer time 2015

Hi I am sure everyone has enjoyed this summer so far. I know I have kept busy and haven't been writing much. Time to play catch up. Last time I wrote I did not include that I had entered Nordic Needle's Hardanger Design Contest. It was my second entry and I managed a Honourable Mention. I was very proud. I created a needle case. Today, they returned the needle case with a copy of my write up that is in the book and a rosette.

Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine have posted a few photos of the Fall 2015 issue. I made the cover. In the spring, they asked to do an article on me, so that is also in there. it comes out soon. Can't wait to see it in print!

This summer I have also had the chance to try some quilting....a lot of fun when you have the right person with you... I have also tried crayon tinting. I really like this as I can control where the colour goes. I can also recreate the look of cards that I make. I am working on a couple things using crayon tiniting - we'll see how they turn out. Here is one of my first attempts:

Enjoy the rest of your summer! Happy Stitching! Kim

2015 is quite a year!

Hi I hope all is well with everyone. I have to admit, I am having an awesome year. I guess it is time for an update. First, the Spring issue of A Needle Pulling Thread is now out and I have some more Hardanger featured. I have another piece in the Summer issue, followed by another design in the Fall issue. This is the first time I have had designs for a full year! This is a photo of my piece in the Spring issue:

Next, Seminar 2016 in Calgary just wrapped up for the Embroiderer's Association of Canada. Unfortunately I never get to go because of the day job, but I don't let that stop me from entering pieces in different categoeries. This year, with the inspiration from a creamer, I felted a pumpkin. I really liked how it turned out but wanted to do more embroidery. I decided to do a pumpkin in Blackwork and another in Pulled Thread because I couldn't decide which technique I preferred. The Blackwork one was entered in the Original Design and the Pulled Thread pumpkin in the Pulled Thread. I was very fortunate to have both take the awards.....awesome!!! They just arrived home.

I am considering offering them as a class for Seminar 2018 for EAC. I have a few other designs to submit, so we will have to wait and see. I have been asked by Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine if they could feature me in an article for the Fall issue. They will have a smalls set I designed - sorry no more details there until it is out. I look at this as a wonderful opportunity to share my path so far and where I want to go with my designing. Last but by no way the least, Inspirations #86 is out. I have a piece of Hardanger in it called Queen of Hearts. As I think I have mentioned before, this is my second piece is this beautiful magazine. My first piece was in 2007. It was my second published piece ever. I had no idea at the time what an accomplishment it was, but now cherish both. This present design I had sent for a competition they had last fall. I had sent some other designs asking if they would be interested. They replied that the piece that had arrived had caught their eye and that they would like it for the magazine. I, of course, said "yes".

Like I said it has been quite a year and I look forward to the rest of it! I am still designing and sewing like crazy in my spare time....wouldn't have it any other way! Happy Stitching! Kim

Creating something from nothing

At a recent retreat, a friend had an neat little item that caught my interest. She had made it at a quilt workshop. It was a collapsible Ort Container. This is something that holds the thread ends from projects. What I liked about this, was it folds up almost to nothing, leaving more room for the more important stuff. I found instructions on the internet and set to work. It didn't take much time and was really easy! Here are the results:

Happy Easter!!

Keeping busy and Zentangle fun

Hi It has been a bit. I have spent these wintery cold days designing and stitching. I just completed a thread painting course with Tanya Berlin. It was great! her instructions and feedback are high quality. Here is the finished piece:

I also completed a piece for Inspirations 11 X 11 Competition:

Last June, I took a Zentangle course through EGA. I really enjoyed it. It took patterns from Zentangles and added paint and embroidery. I have been working on a creative journal where this has been my focus - one zentangle a week. I have recently been making them for some challenges. The Embroiderer's Association of Canada has a Fibre tile challenge and I created

I created two ATCs for an exchange with Virtual Threads - the online cyber guild through EAC

and this little project

So, you can see I have been keeping out of trouble. My last little bit of news for now (and I have manage to keep a secret since September) is I will have a Hardanger design in Inspirations again. I feel very fortunate to be contributing again. The design will be in Issue #86 - out around May. Hopefully Spring will surface soon. I love the longer days...Spring must be close Happy Stitching! Kim

Happy Holidays!

Hi Well, the holiday season is here. I remember thinking in the summer, oh it is a ways away, but it came quickly. I am busy organizing and finishing some things before the New Year. I like to start a new project on New year's day but also like to have a few things cleaned up. 2015 will have some exciting events for me...can't share yet...it is hard to keep a secret! I hope you 2015 is full of stitching and good health! Happy Holidays! All the best in 2015!

A busy, busy time...

Hi We are half way through the summer and when I look at all I have achieved so far this summer, all I can say is wow! This has probably been my most creative and productive summer yet. While I have been stitching new designs, I have a few that are being published as we speak. The latest Cross Stitch and Needlework issue features an article I wrote about reversible blackwork, as well as, a design for an autumn bookmark. It does show some of my other reversible blackwork pieces.

I will be teaching at Creativ Festival in the fall. I was just featured on their blog. If you wish to check it out: http://csnf.com/blog/2014/08/bemish/ There is an ornament design coming in the fall issue of A Needle Pulling Thread. I hope you get a chance to see it. I just found out last week that I was one of the winners of Nordic Needle's Shamrock Challenge. Here is my entry:

I have been working some other pieces for next year and will let you know where they end up. Have a great August! Kim

Happy Summer!

Well, the sun is shining and it is very busy. I am playing catch up on a few projects and trying to complete some new designs. It is nice to check things off as I get them done. Sitting by the water and stitching is definitely the way to spend these summer days. I hope you are enjoying the summer as well. I promise to post in August and try to get beck into routine with this blog. Happy Stitching ! Kim

Happy New Year!

Hi A new year, and a very busy start! I have been working on designs I sketched as fundraisers for EAC Seminar 2016. My guild along with four other guilds are working together to put this Seminar in place. It is interesting to learn the process. I am almost done my designs....one to go. I would love to post them but they have to stay a surprised... The EAC cyber guild is very active. This guild is known as Virtual Threads. It is quite the energetic group. We have many things going on. I am running a Stitch a Month project. We are taking one stitch and on a small linen page, creating variations of that stitch. These linen pages will later be anchored to felt and then made into a book. For some, they wished a sampler and I have given them a pattern for that with each square of the sampler being a stitch. There are lots of opportunities to "make it your own" with linen choice, threads and colours. Our next meeting starts this Monday. I am working on a sampler through EGA Cyberstitchers. It is a neat sampler. I decided to complete the sampler over 2 instead of over 1... I have a couple designs to send to magazines now, will let you know how that goes too. I hope your new year has started of well! Happy Stitching Beamish

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Well, we don't have to worry about a white Christmas in my area. We have more than enough. It is funny to think that we were thinking a snowy winter was long gone since the last few winters have had less snow. It does make it beautiful, especially with a full moon and the trees full of snow. The holidays will be busy with designing and sewing...just the thing for snowy, cold days, sitting by the fire. Merry Christmas to you! All the best in 2014!

A Busy, Busy Time...

I know it has been a bit. Now with the holiday season, the days just fly by. I belong to the cyber guild of The Embroiderers' Association of Canada. We just had our first on line meeting. I love how people from all over the world can join together. I also belong to The Embroiderers' Guild of America's CyberStitchers. It always amazes me how people not in the same room can create such excitement and inspire. If you haven't tried one of these guilds, I strongly suggest you do. It is perfect for those that can't meet up with a guild in their area, whether because of your location or your work. Our first Cyber meeting for EAC was wonderful. There are some great ideas and projects starting. I only wish I had more time to do it all. I have offered to get s stitch of the month project going. I love the challenge of coming up with a design for all levels, and a design that you can use any fabric or thread. It is still in the planning stage but I have picked a linen and threads for this new idea. I look forward to working on it and seeing where we go with this as I haven't done anyhting like this before. I have many other projects on the go. I am finalizing designs to be used for fundraisers for Seminar 2016. Again the challenge is to design something for everyone and keep it reasonable in price. I have been looking ahead to next year and have one ornament completed and one in the works. I am hoping to post them in a magazine for next festive season....I will let you know how that goes. I hope you are finding time to get ready for the holiday season. I have to admit that because I have to work ahead for magazines, I work ahead on holidays for the family. I think most things are ready (except the tree which will go up very soon) although I still have cards to send out. Enjoy the holiday season. If you have a minute check out the cyberguilds. We use Yahoo groups to meet and share. Happy Holidays!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I love this time of year.  The cool nights and warm sunshine during the day.  It is always amazing how the sunshine really gives more to those changing leaves.  It is very fortunate to live in an area where we see all four seasons.  I love all four seasons but Autumn is a little more special to me.

I know I haven't posted for a while...it's a busy time.  I have been designing.  I have two autumn designs ready for Creativ Festival in 2014 and 2015.  I am working on some Halloween designs now and writing instructions for five other designs.

I really like how A Needle Pulling Thread photographed my ornaments. Their latest issue is all ornaments.  I love the selection.  I am also working on one for next year in case they decide to have an ornament issue again.  This year my ornament uses reversible blackwork.  I like this technique because finishing is easy.  it is the same on both sides and with some nun stitch edging...it's done!

I like to design things that don't take too ling, especially when you know people are busy with things and want something that doesn't take long.

Enjoy your weekend!

Autumn is Coming...

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer.

You can now notice the change in the air.  Trees are starting to turn, some more than others.  It is also a time to reestablish routines. Kids go back to school, dance and hockey starts up again for another year. Maybe I will make more routine entries to this blog....we'll see

 

With the days getting cooler (at least the evening and early morning) hopefully some will find time to stitch.  How many of you have started an autumn or Halloween pattern?

I have been designing pieces for these themes....nothing to show yet, but I know you will see them in the year to come.

Autumn is a wonderful time to take pictures to use for inspiration.  Last year I chose one tree and photographed it every day until all leaves were gone.  It is neat to look back and see the gradual change that occurred.

Have fun,

 Happy Stitching!

Kim