Bonne Chance

Good Luck? you might say… what is this about? It is a funny little story and you will have to ask me about it, but I did have such a wonderful, super time both at Celebrations and my 2 classes in Montreal, hence the French! I probably should say BONJOUR! Bienvenue…. to you all… Celebration of Needlework in the New England states is such a wonderful event, everyone is excited and the designers have made so many special things…. it is just great to see some of the class projects in ‘real’ – it does truly make a difference seeing things for real rather than on the net. The vendor marketplace is always so nice too, vendors set up lovely booths and it is a stitcher’s shopping adventure. I was thrilled to see so many old friends and spend some time with some of you in class, what a treat, it was great to see you! Even though Manchester, NH is really quite close to Montreal — when you think how far west I am in Calgary -but there is no direct flight and so it was a trip over Philly to get to Montreal but it was awesome once I got there. I had some lesson time myself in Schwalm- whitework embroidery, and taught at the Lakeshore Stitchery Guild and a group called Les Brodeuses Québécoises . It was exciting to meet with old friends, having taught at the LSG in 2006- and it was a treat and to meet new stitchers to me at the other guild. It was an adventurous few days in the community where we had the second set of classes as the cadets were practicing for ‘Jean Baptiste Day’ and it was a fanfare of either “Oh Canada” or other songs that I didn’t recognize but they could softly hum to, and I was enchanted, at one point they sang a beautiful song in French to me, it brought tears to my eyes. So you can imagine, music and handwork crosses all language barriers and despite the translating we had a wonderful, memorable time.

Thank so very much to everyone on each part of the journey that made it fun and memorable, to each one of you that participated in a class that I taught, and to new and old friends, I am blessed indeed!

Au revoir…. ’til next time….

Off and running.......

Just a quick little note, to say hey, look forward to seeing you all soon! We will have fun and enjoy our stitching time! It is a beautiful day here in Calgary – 26 degrees celsius! Which is terrific for us in the higher elevations and more northern latitudes, now I have a few little things that help me remember Fahrenheit to Celsius and they are 28 C = 82 F and 16 C= 61F, cool eh! That way I kind of know what is what in the temperature area. Here is a lovely picture from being in the Toronto area earlier in April, how I love the first flowers of spring!

Spring Events

Just a little update on what is happening this spring in events. I am busying getting all my things ready for the Needleworker's Marketplace put on by Gitta's. Kathrin has a lovely website giving all the info on it and you can sign up through the NWMP website for a class or just come to the show at The Waterside Inn in Mississauga, ON  just down the road from the shop! on April 13, 14. Look forward to seeing you there, I will have a 'booth' so come, stop by and see what is new. I have a lovely ABC sampler for a class on Sunday. After returning to Calgary post the NWMP on the 16th  I will madly be getting ready for Celebration of Needlework  in Nashau, NH. There too I will have a 'booth' so please come and stop by and see what is new. I am teaching 2 pieces there - one is the Isle of Hope Sampler (Ellis Island)- a charming sampler starting with getting on the steamship in the old world and ending with landing by the Statue of Liberty in the new world! The other class is called Memory Box accessories - I have hand painted a little box "suitcase" and decorated it and made some "Ellis Island" smalls to go in it. I even have a picture of my mom and dad on their boat when they immigrated in the 50's on the inside.

From there I will fly to Montreal and teach a piece called "La Petite Trousse" to 2 guilds there. This piece is a lovely roll up needle/scissors book that has your initials on the front and some great specialty stitches throughout. On the second day we will go through all the finishing techniques with wool felt. It makes for a great finish.

By then spring should be well underway and I will return to Calgary and start working on the projects for the fall! I am working on a piece for fall at the moment for the Just Cross Stitch Magazine. I always find it a bit of a challenge to work on items out of season. Sue at the retreat in Mystic, CT  of Stitcher's Hideaway calls it Seasonal Stitching Disorder, she can only stitch what the season is! I laughed when she said that! I always have to design what is 'not' the season! Sometimes difficult like now, when the JCS ornament is also due and so you feel like designing spring but you have to do Christmas! I should do the ornament over Christmas...... ha! mmm........

Well I do hope to see you at one of these events and look forward to attending and sharing my work.

as ever,  jeannette