White Threads

RUOK?

Today is RUOK Day here in Australia. (RUOK = Are You OK?) https://www.ruok.org.au/

It’s a day when we’re encouraged to ask the people around us, “Are you ok?” Many people struggle with many different aspects of life. They may be finding relationships difficult. Finance might be a problem. They might be grieving the loss of a loved one. They might be desperate for work, housing, safety, understanding, love… They might be being bullied. They might be struggling with self-worth.

We all have the ability to reach out to others and check that they’re ok. And just by asking we may start a conversation that changes a life.

The other evening, I came to realise that despite my many many long hours of hard work, my book is still a long way away from being finished. There’s still so much to do. I had set myself the deadline of having it available for Christmas, and I realised that unless I worked non-stop for the next few weeks, that just wasn’t going to happen.

I went to bed that night feeling that it was just too hard to keep all the juggling balls in the air. Small things became big things. Sometimes I feel like I spend my life cooking meat to keep up with the protein requirements of The Gymnast. Most of the time I just laugh about it, but that night, it seemed too much. Much of the time I remember things that I need to do, but that night I just felt like writing all the lists to make sure I don’t forget things, was too much. It was just all too much.

I went to bed feeling sad, but I slept well.

In the morning, in a moment of clarity, I realised that my self-imposed deadline of having the book out for Christmas was just that – self-imposed. And so, I decided to dispense with it. No, the book will not be ready for sale at Christmas. Part of me feels apologetic about that, because I know people are really looking forward to it. But another part of me feels completely unapologetic about it. This is my life I managing here, and I’m not going to unnecessarily make my life harder by setting a deadline that is unreachable and unrealistic.

So now the book will hopefully be out in early 2016.

All that is to say that I am now ok. But I’m going to ask you, “R U OK?”

Please take the time to ask the people around you today.

Customer embroidery: Portuguese Whitework ornaments

I received a lovely email from a customer, Jane, the other day.

“A few months ago I re-ordered 3 of your books that I lost when a flood hit Dungog. Well, I lost a lot of things but one of the things that I gave to a friend before we went under, was the 38 count linen that I had bought for the Portuguese whitework. I have had limited space to work given that I am still living at the pub. In fact most of the work was done sitting on a fence in the car park of the pub. And since I always had wanted to do the Christmas decorations but previously had too many, I now had the perfect excuse. Here is the photo of the result. Thank you. These are therapeutic. Also, they have been seen by many throughout all stages.”

Jane, they’re gorgeous! I always love red and white together and you’ve done such a lovely job. I particularly love the red and white ribbon you’ve used. I’ve been imagining you sitting on the fence at the pub, stitching these in the sunshine. Best wishes as you continue to rebuild your life following the devastating flood. Thanks for sharing your story with us. Keep stitching!

The designs that Jane has stitched are from Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães.

a well-earned day off!

I spent the weekend in the Blue Mountains, teaching Mountmellick to the Blue Mountains Group of the Embroiderers Guild NSW. We had a very lovely time together. Thanks to all the ladies for making me feel so very welcome!

Yesterday, because I worked all weekend, I took a day off and went to visit my 98 year old Grandma. I took my lunch and we had lunch together. We sat and chatted in the warm sun, and enjoyed our time. Each time I see Grandma, I don’t know if it will be the last time. She’s in very good health – takes no medication of any kind – but she is frail. She’s getting a little confused, but she called me by name, so she knew who I was. It was a really nice way to spend my day off.

I did no work at all yesterday. None. Sometimes, you just need a break. I’ve been working such long hours lately, trying to get the book done, and I needed a rest. It was good to have one.

We probably had our busiest Saturday ever. I was off to the mountains for my class. My husband had a work function to go to in the morning. The Reader went on a day trip to another city with my father for a university open day (yes, she’s getting to the pointy end of her schooling!) and The Gymnast had a gymnastics competition. Both girls had a fantastic time. The Reader came back wanting to be at uni NOW! The Gymnast placed on two apparatus in the competition, and it was just the injection of motivation to continue that she needed. Being injured for a year has been a hard slog for her, so a reward of such excellent results after such a hard time, and so much hard work was really wonderful for her.

I passed another milestone on the weekend. I finished all the stitch diagrams – until I find another one that I need to explain something better! It was good to get to that point. I am getting closer to finished all the time, and it feels good to know that it is close to the end. I have greatly enjoyed writing this book, but there comes a time when you just want it to be over!

Back to work today!

thinking about online classes

Once “Early-Style Hardanger” is published, I’m going to look at doing some online classes. But I can start *thinking* about them already. There’s a lot to think through.

Have you ever taken an online class which was in a counted technique? Did you make a mistake with your counting? Did you find where the mistake was?

My concern about teaching online counted thread classes is that in an in-real-life class, I can check the student’s work and make sure they’re in the right place, and if they’re not, I can put them right. I could do this perhaps in an online class if the student was able to take a good, clear, non-blurry photo, as I *might* be able to find the mistake in the photo. But if I can’t find their mistake and neither can they, then that’s not a very satisfactory outcome.

How has it worked for you in online counted embroidery classes that you’ve taken?

Thanks for any input.

plugging away at the book

I’ve been plugging away at the book, and keep meeting little milestones, which helps!

To help pass the time while I’m so busy, here’s a photo I took while in Bergen, Norway, last year. This was taken on 17th May which is Norwegian Constitution Day – the national day. There was a large parade through the town. Many were wearing local bunads such as those from Bergen, Voss and Hardanger. However, some were from further afield.

This lady is wearing a bunad from Telemark. It is one of my favourites. Doesn’t she look like she’s loving wearing it?

Dove’s eye stitch – clockwise or anticlockwise?

When working dove’s eye filling stitch in Hardanger, you can work it either clockwise or anticlockwise. Both are acceptable, and both work. However, for consistency, you should always stick with the same method throughout a piece.

Do you stitch your dove’s eyes clockwise (right), or anticlockwise (left)? As an addition to this question, are you left- or right-handed? And further, is the thread you are stitching with S twist or Z twist?

Thanks!

Why do you love whitework?

Inspirations Magazine called me “the queen of white thread” in a Facebook post the other day, which was very nice of them!

I love whitework for many reasons. Why do you love whitework?

Please note, if you receive this as an email, if you simply reply to the email, *I* will see your response. However, it is much nicer to be part of the whole conversation by sharing your answer with everyone on my blog, which is where this post really lives. Because of that, I’d love it if you replied here instead of just replying to the email. Thanks!

International Left-handers Day

Today (August 13th, which is tomorrow for some!) is International Left-Handers Day. Celebrate with me by doing some left-handed embroidery!

For many left-handers, it isn’t too ridiculous to say that getting their own copy of The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion, made the world of difference to their embroidery. Each year at the craft show, I have many people tell me how they love it so much. Their enthusiasm for the book does not dampen. I knew people would love the book, but I don’t think I realised they would love it so much! I am so pleased to have helped so many people.

If you’re unsure whether this book would be good for you, take a read of the many happy reviews on my website.

Fabric angle responses

Thanks to all those who responded to my question about fabric angle for needleweaving. Some replied by commenting on the post, others emailed and others posted on Facebook. It seems that A is the most common, which didn’t surprise me. Next was B, which I did find surprising, because I wondered if I was the only person who did this! And lastly was C.

Thanks very much for your responses. I wrote my stitch instructions accordingly.

I’m sorry to have been so silent, both here and on Facebook. I’m working really hard, with very long hours, to finish the book. Hopefully in the next month it will be off to the printers.

Angle of fabric for needleweaving

For those of you who do needleweaving in Hardanger or other forms of needlework, how do you tend to hold your fabric and insert your needle? Do you tend towards A, B or C, or something else? What feels most comfortable to you?