The Embroideress

Thanks to two awesome women, I'm going to be able to attend the upcoming IEC (International Embroidery Conference) in Louisville next month. I had not anticipated the ability to participate so not only will I be able to spend time with two inspiring friends but we'll be awash in a tidal pool of needlework.

This is a conference that more nearly parallels the UK model of AGMs in that it focuses on exchange of ideas rather than learning of technique. The BIG picture. Although National seminars are good fun and a way to surround onself with lots of enthusiastic stitchers, IEC fits me like a very comfy shoe - but a shoe that sparkles and dazzles and threatens to waft one to new approaches and paths of inquiry and introspection and a chance to sit in a corner and be inspired.

Labels: EGA, IEC

What a treat to go "under the bigtop" for a circus. Cirque du Soleil's latest production Kooza
took me back to my childhood when circus was up close (even though there was no sawdust to smell). The colors were spectacular, the costumes sophisticated and although the production had plenty of sound and light, it missed the sometimes too glitzy atmosphere of many of the company's indoor/Vegas productions. I came away to have dreams of swirling colors and precision feats of fantastical difficulty.

Then harkening back a century to the time when needlework was taught in schools, I joined the San Mateo EGA for their Christmas luncheon and shared my collection of plain sewing samplers with them along with some photos and comments. It was a lovely group and included some old friends as well as new faces.

After that it was home in time to stitch up an ornament for my satellite stitching group ornament exchange and to cut up a few sandwiches for lunch with the ladies. The tomato chutney from the Pacifica Farmers' Market was a big hit.

Now a few more things to do for Christmas and work on the next books and the website. Gosh when you work for yourself the boss can be really tough.

Labels: Circus, EGA, Plain Sewing Samplers

A very glad day in that I finally made it to a meeting of our local Shelbyville Satellite group of the Cheekwood Chapter of EGA. What a nice welcoming group of ladies and what a super lunch they fed me. The work they are doing is top notch and they have wonderful projects in hand for the rest of the year. I am really glad to have a local group to stitch with. That was difficult in Los Angeles.

A sad day because I've had to withdraw from the NCCSS2007 show at Rockome in June. I had high hopes for the show when I heard the new owners had decided to go ahead this year. It was always a wonderful experience and had a lovely character of its own. But, as often happens in life, change occurs and the new management folks have a different vision of the show than that to which we were all accustomed. My customers seem not to be ready for these changes and I guess I'm an old stick-in-the-mud as well. I always believe "if it ain't broke, don't smash it just so you can try to fix it." Ah well, I have lovely memories of Rockome past and my friendships from those shows will continue forever.

I will be completing the kits of the reproduction sampler I was going to teach and it will be offered for sale at my online catalog. We had planned a fun evening event, a Teddy Bear Picnic, but believe me - I've not abandoned those ideas. Libby and I will be hosting it somewhere else in the future.

If anyone needs information regarding the show, Butch Phillips will be happy to help.

Labels: EGA, NCCSS, Rockome