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Do You Know Someone Who Wants to Learn Needlepoint?

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:58:02 +0000

Often people think needlepoint is hard to do, not very creative, and very boring. We know the truth — it’s easy, endlessly creative, and a great stress reliever.

Do you know someone who wants to learn needlepoint? Maybe it’s someone in your family. Maybe it’s a co-worker who looks at your work and wishes she could do it herself.

I can help. I have a free beginning needlepoint course that is sent through email. Called “Right from the Beginning,” it teaches you about the different types of needlepoint, ten stitches, the tools, and everything you need to get started.

Over 1500 people have taken the course so far. Just sign up on the linked page to get started.

And if you are a beginner, several of the classes I have comping up are ones that will expand your knowledge of stitches and threads. Just contact me (using the link in the masthead) for more information.

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Do You Know Someone Who Wants to Learn Needlepoint?

Want to Learn how to Stitch Faces?

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:41:32 +0000

I think stitching skin and faces is probably the most challenging thing a stitcher can do. And, like many stitchers, I used to be afraid of it.

But I’ve learned how to do it and create realistic and beautifully shaded faces.

Now I’d like to share this process with you in my upcoming “Shading the Face” cyberclass I’m doing with Art Needlepoint.

In this three-lesson class using the canvas pictured here, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make the complex shading of a face work in needlepoint.

Best of all, the class is free with the purchase of the kitted canvas.

Excerpt from:
Want to Learn how to Stitch Faces?

NAN Assembly Classes for 2012

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:00:50 +0000

NAN (National Academy of Needlearts) has announced their schedule for their popular Assembly for 2012. Held annually at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, in 2012 it will be from February 29 until March 4.

Open to anyone, the Assembly features top flight teachers, a merchandise night, and two banquets. You can learn about it and register on NAN’s Assembly page.

Some of the teachers who are scheduled to be there include: Toni Gerdes, Carlene Hardwick, Shay Pendray, Marni Ritter, an Gail Sirna.

You can see a list of the 2 and 4 day classes here, but you can see pictures of the projects from all the classes in their ” target=”_blank”>Flickr pool.

Continued here:
NAN Assembly Classes for 2012

Learn How to Shade with ANY Thread

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:36:31 +0000

Most people think the only way to create shaded needlepoint is to use stranded threads and a technique called needleblending.

But this just isn’t true.

You can create beautifully shaded needlepoint with any thread, using this innovative technique of single strand shading.

Ombre, the fiber art piece pictured above has tons of subtle shading between the colors. This piece, on a 14 mesh canvas from Art Needlepoint is the focus of my free class beginning Sept 1.

The piece is stitched using Anchor Tapestry wool. All you need to do to join the class is buy the kit.

Please note: If you are looking for the final Japanese pattern post, it is going to be delayed. Bingley, one of the kittens, fell off a dresser during the night on Sunday, landed wrong and broke his hip. Monday evening and yesterday we’ve been dealing with that, so I’m kind of behind. He’s going to require surgery and is current;y in a puppy crate (so he won’t try to climb) in my studio.

Summer Classes from Art Needlepoint

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:59:37 +0000

I am so excited about the classes I’ll be teaching for Art Needlepoint over the summer. Each class will focus on a specific technique. They are offered exclusively through Art Needlepoint.

Best of all, the class is free with the purchase of the canvas and kit.

The first class, pictured here, is a basic shading class. It uses this charming Art Nouveau Iris and Needlepoint, Inc silks to teach needleblending, a technique for shading using stranded threads. It begins June 11.

Starting June 15 is Stitching the Impressionists with Shadow Stitching using a lovely watercolor of waterlilies by John LaFarge. The combination of this technique with the changing colors and textures of Impressionism will make for dynamic needlepoint.

Learning how to do effective shading with single strand threads is the topic of the class beginning July 1. It uses a contemporary shaded circle design and wool threads. This technique will free you to do shading on any canvas with any thread.

The lovely Flowers by contemporary artist Virginia Kelly will be combined with textured stitches and special effects in a class beginning July 15. In this class you’ll learn lots that you’ll be able to use on other projects while creating a lovely project that will make a great pillow or picture.

You sign up for any of these classes by clicking on the link and purchasing the kit.

The last class, Shading the Face, will begin August 1 and will use a lovely portrait of a girl by a Brazilian artist. You can read about the painting and the class in a blog post from Art Needlepoint. Please let them know if you are interested in this class.

All the classes are conducted over the Internet with lessons emailed to you, private discussion groups, and scheduled chats.

Hope you’ll join me!

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Summer Classes from Art Needlepoint

Techniques with Overdyed Threads – Last Week to Join Class

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:11:59 +0000

Overdyed threads can do so much in needlepoint, but, all too often our efforts are frustrated because the thread doesn’t behave the way we’d like.

I love overdyed and hand-dyed threads and have spent years developing techniques that let stitchers get amazing effects using these threads and simple stitches.

You’ll be amazed at how you can create the look of stucco, stone, sand, and a cloud-filled sky with these threads.

As you can see in the class piece, a canvas from Sandy Grossman-Morris, not only will you learn these great techniques, but you’ll make this charming ornament of the Chicago Harbor Light.

The class begins June 1 and is $50. The price includes the glicee-printed canvas and the class. No threads are included.

See more here:
Techniques with Overdyed Threads – Last Week to Join Class

Techniques in Overdyed Threads – Class Now Open

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:37:09 +0000

Overdyed threads changed the world of needlepoint, but how often do you feel perplexed about how to use them? If you do, you’re not alone.

But, as you can see in the glorious ornament from Sandy Grossman-Morris, it’s not hard to use overdyed and hand-dyed threads to create big impact needlepoint.

My new class,beginning in early June is designed to teach you many wonderful techniques you can use with these popular threads. Every thread used in this ornament is hand-dyed or overdyed. In the class you’ll learn how to:

make “stone” walls
use two similar colors to create (stucco)
ways to use these threads with decorative stitches
make an amazing (and easy) sky)

Not only will you learn about the techniques, you’ll try every one of them while making a delightful piece of needlepoint.

Registration for the class is open only until May 23, so don’t delay.

The class, including the canvas but no threads, is $50 and you can register by clicking the button below. (If you prefer not to use PayPal or live outside the US, please contact me for other arrangements.)

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Techniques in Overdyed Threads – Class Now Open

Calloway Gardens 2012 Classes

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:43:00 +0000

At Calloway in 2012, you can take a class for this delightful bear!

Calloway Gardens has just posted the class list for their 2012 Needlework Retreat. The descriptions of the classes, including this charming Joan Thomasson bear, are really detailed and make you want to take them all!

Many popular teachers come to Calloway to teach and, you’ll find, among the classes projects that have been taught recently at National Seminars (I saw more than one that is on the list for ANG this fall). They also have classes in other techniques besides needlepoint, including Japanese, embroidery, cross stitch samplers, and embroidery.

Forms are available on the site for registration and for exhibiting.

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Calloway Gardens 2012 Classes

DIY Stitch Guide Email Course Now Open

NutsAboutNeedlepoint — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:20:13 +0000

Does the whole process of picking stitches and threads for a canvas confuse you?

Would you like to feel more confident in your stitch and thread choices?

Do you have a canvas you love but have never started because you don’t want to “spoil” it?

Have you abandoned or been disappointed with pieces you’ve done because they seem “wrong” or “too much?”

I’m putting together an email class designed to help you put together your own stitch guides. While each person stitches a canvas differently, there are guidelines, techniques, and tips that will help any one, at any stitching level, create a lovely finished canvas.

I’ve worked and thought and stitched over decades and developed principles that I want to share with you in this pilot cyberclass.

Participants in the class will not only get the five-lesson cyberclass but a selected group of people will get to have a canvas they submit analyzed for stitch guide possibilities. Another group of students will be able to have one stitched or partially stitched “failure” analyzed for how it could be improved.

In the cyberclass I’ll show you, with stitched and unstitched examples, the things no one tells you about. You’ll learn

the different ways designs get on canvas and what they mean for stitching
how to pick threads for different areas for realism, fun stitching, and special effects
the different types of stitches and how to pick them so they fit on canvas
why every canvas needs to have some Tent Stitch on it
how to create a balanced canvas

Not only will you learn the things you’ve always wanted to know but that no one would tell you, but you’ll see the guidelines in action, with my successful canvases, my failures, and even my unstitched canvases. As a bonus you’ll see how, with one canvas, my initial plan got changed as I translated it to stitching.

Needlepoint is so wonderful and creative but for too long have people treated the creation of a stitch guide as a secret.

It’s not, you can learn to do it yourself, and I want to teach you how.

Become part of this exciting pilot cyberclass, beginning May 20 and continuing for five weeks. There will also be a private Yahoo group created as part of the class where we can continue the discussion and share our problems and results.

The class is only $15 and you can sign up today using the PayPal button below. If you would prefer not to use PayPal, please contact me.

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DIY Stitch Guide Email Course Now Open

French General Workshop: Dyeing with Woad

Natalie Zee Drieu — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Kaari from French General in LA has a special event coming up next Saturday, April 9th. The French General Woad Workshop on April 9th from 9am - 4pm is being taught by Denise Lambert, one of the world's few master woad dyers who is coming from the South of France to teach this medieval craft. Denise will teach how to dye with a plant that produces the eponymous French Blue color which can fourteen different shades of blue. Denise was written up in the January 2011 issue of the French magazine Cote Sud, as being one of the few remaining people in the world that are still teaching this magical technique of dyeing. Participants will get the chance to dye anything they like in the four dye vats.

Jenny Ryan will be covering this special all-day workshop here on CRAFT. Look for the story mid-April on our site. If you are in the LA area and interested in joining this special workshop, there are still a few spaces left you can sign up for.

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