White Threads

Pintangle review of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery

Sharon B of Pintangle has posted what I think is the very first online review of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery. You might like to pop on over to Pintangle to read what she has to say. 🙂

http://pintangle.com/2014/06/26/sardinian-knotted-embroidery-by-yvette-stanton/

If you’ve never visited Pintangle before, I encourage you to take a look around. Sharon is an amazing stitcher and prolific needlework blogger. She’s the person behind TAST or “Take A Stitch Tuesday”. You’ll learn lots on her blog!

Thanks for the lovely review, Sharon!

Why patterns cost what they do

I belong to a needlepoint group on the internet. (If I had more hours in my day, I could really enjoy doing some needlepoint, but alas we only get 24 hours. So instead I enjoy looking at other people’s needlepoint!)

Yesterday someone posted a question: “Why are needlepoint patterns so expensive?”

It has been interesting following the discussion of the question. Of course hand-painted canvases are expensive – they’re labour intensive to prepare! I don’t think anyone would doubt that. But for a charted, counted needlepoint design, I think the work that goes into it can be a little more hidden.

My answer was as follows:
“Are you asking about charted designs with stitch instructions? Or are you asking about handpainted canvases? Or something else entirely?

As an embroidery designer (not a needlepoint designer), let me answer why my designs/patterns cost what they do.

When you purchase one of my embroidery designs, you’re paying for my quality instructions and diagrams. You’re paying for the expertise that I gained from going to university to study design. You’re paying for the time it has taken for me to research the style of embroidery. You’re paying for the time it has taken for me to experiment with threads, fabrics, designs etc, to come up with a design that I feel is good enough to release to the public.

All of this takes time and effort. But it means that you get a good product and one that is hopefully enjoyable to stitch.

We designers don’t generally whack out a new design every weekend. It takes time, effort, money and expertise to produce a new design. I hope that helps in explaining the cost of my designs at least. I realise that needlepoint is a little different, but maybe some of it also applies to needlepoint designing.”

Upcoming Sardinian knotted embroidery class

In October, I’ll be teaching my first class for The Crewel Gobelin in many years. Since Julie took over the business a little while back, she’s been slowly reintroducing classes. And now it’s my delight to teach for them again! This will be one of the very first opportunities to learn Sardinian knotted embroidery from me.

Sardinian Knotted Embroidery Petite Doily
16th and 23rd October, 2014
The Crewel Gobelin, Killara, Sydney

This petite doily featuring a style of historical Italian whitework embroidery is from my new book Sardinian Knotted Embroidery: Whitework from Teulada. The style is called Punt ‘e Nù, and is from the town of Teulada, Sardinia, Italy.

It features a design using traditional motifs, worked in a simple knotted stitch. The doily’s hem is worked with a peahole hemstitch and a needlelace edging with picots.

Punt ‘e Nù is a counted embroidery, worked on 28 count linen. Experience with counted embroidery is recommended.

More details and bookings: www.thecrewelgobelin.com.au

books going here there and everywhere

The mail out of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery was going so well that I accidentally ran out of padded mailers on Tuesday! Thankfully my supplier had them in stock so they arrived yesterday, though unfortunately they came so late in the day that I was unable to actually post anything that day. I’ll continue sending out books today for orders and to contributors.

I have been getting reports from those who’ve already received their copy. It is lovely to hear that they’re very impressed and very happy with their purchase! It also seems like posties have been heeding my demands not to bend the envelopes – yay!

The shipment has arrived at my distributor in the US, so hopefully the book will get out there in the shops in the next few weeks.

The UK and Europe will take a little longer, as being a big distributor they have proper procedures and release dates etc which means they don’t just rush something to the market. A little patience will be required, but it will be worth the wait. 🙂

The New Zealand shipment is also on its way, so all you New Zealanders will hopefully see the book soon in your shops too.

When you receive your copy from my mail out, or when you purchase it from your local shop, I’d love to hear what you think of it. You can email me directly, put it in a comment on the bottom of a blog post, or put it on the Vetty Creations Facebook page (while you’re there, “like” the page if you haven’t already). If you’d like to do an online review on one of the big online bookstores’ websites, that would really help to get the word out. And if you love it, please tell your stitching friends, write a review for your guild’s magazine or newsletter, and put it on your blog if you have one! (Thanks!)

I’ve organised some reviews in magazines and on needlework blogs in coming months, so keep a look out for them, and for their completely independent thoughts on Sardinian Knotted Embroidery.

Back to stuffing envelopes…

The legend behind Punt ‘e Nù

I recently received a tantalising email from Anita L. of Concord, Ontario. She asked me if I’d heard the tale of the creation of Punt ‘e Nù. “No, I don’t think so.”

100 Cose, December 1979 edition

Anita first learned of Punt ‘e Nù about 30 years ago, in an old Italian magazine called “100 Cose”. This is Anita’s retelling of the story behind the embroidery, based on the magazine article and other sources:

A man known as Ziu Antoni Salis (i.e., Uncle Antoni Salis) fell in love with a young lady and his love for her was so great that he and the lady could not bear to be apart; however, the young lady was already married and, she was pregnant by Ziu Antoni. The lovers eventually murdered the young lady’s husband. Ziu Antoni was condemned to death by hanging; the lady however, being female and pregnant, was sentenced to life in prison.

In the boredom of her cell, the lady spent her time embroidering and invented the Sardinian Knot stitch (or punto Teulada / punt e’ nu / etc.) Eventually, knowledge of her great skills became known to the Baron’s wife who wished to have some items embroidered. So, the imprisoned lady struck a deal with the Baroness. The prisoner would embroider an item for the Baroness that would be so fine that no one would be able to discern how the stitches were made and therefore could not be reproduced, in exchange for her freedom. She embroidered a blanket as a gift for the Baroness that upon receipt, the prisoner was immediately pardoned.

Legend tells that the young lady subsequently lived a very long life embroidering and praying the rosary for the repose of her lover’s soul.

Anita also mentioned that “in the 100 Cose edition there is a detail stating that the events surrounding the legend occurred during Spain’s domination of the island of Sardinia sometime between 1300 and 1400”.

Isn’t that a fascinating story?! If you’re from Teulada, does this correlate with the story you’ve had passed down to you?

Thanks so much for sharing the legend of Punt ‘e Nù with us, Anita!

New Sydney Exhibition Centre

Yesterday I went into the CBD for a tour of the new Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island. This is the new home for the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair for the next three years.

A lot of people have been concerned that it’s going to be much harder to get to. Well, it’s not. It IS going to take a little longer to get there, but not much.

But how about this: arrive at Australia’s largest craft show by ferry on beautiful Sydney Harbour. Wow! I can’t think of a nicer way to get to the craft show. Sydney Harbour is just gorgeous in the winter morning sunshine, and that’s how I plan to get to the show each day.

There will be free ferries from both Circular Quay (30 minute trip) and Darling Harbour (10 minute trip) running all day. There will be free buses from Central Station. And there is onsite parking and overflow parking (with a free shuttle bus to the venue – 3 minutes away).

In the picture above, the closest line of roofing is where the buses and coaches will deposit their eager show-goers. A little further behind is another line of roofing which is where the ferries will dock. Both are right on the doorstep for the show entry. In the very left of the photo is a cruise ship at the White Bay terminal – some wags at yesterday’s preview suggested that was to be our ferry boat! In the background is the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

But the FIRST thing I noticed about the new venue is the lighting. The exhibition halls are full of natural light. It’s lovely! Natural light is what we embroiderers live to stitch by and choose fabrics and threads under. This new venue is filled with gorgeous natural light!

For those of you who are on the craft show’s mailing list, you’ll be getting your Craft Fair Friend preview magazine in the next few days. Turn to the “What’s Hot” section, and you’ll see “Sardinian Knotted Embroidery” as the number 1 listing! And then further on in the booklet, there’s a little blurb about me.

There will be heaps of wonderful exhibitors and displays at the show. Cavalcade of Fashion will be there as usual, and the wonderful quilt show that we all love to ooh and ahh over!

Yours truly will be at the Vetty Creations stand (C86), ready to help you with your embroidery needs, and to autograph your new copy of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery. I’ll have Sardinian, Portuguese, Mountmellick and general embroidery supplies, and all my books.

I’d love to meet you, so please come and say hello!

The Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair is on from Wednesday 9th to Sunday 13th July at Glebe Island.

For more details about the show (lots of information about getting there) and to pre-book tickets, visit the show’s website.

Customer question: Is Sardinian Knotted Embroidery good for a left-hander?

This morning I received an email:

Re: the Sardinian knotted whitework embroidery book. I am left handed in every aspect. Would this book be for me? I have done hardanger for the last 7 years and would now like a new challenge.

The answer is a resounding YES!

Apart from The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion, Sardinian Knotted Embroidery is my most left-handed-friendly book yet!

pages from Sardinian Knotted Embroidery
All stitches and techniques are shown for both right-handers and left-handers on separate pages. The only exception to this is where the techniques are exactly the same for both left- and right-handers.

Left-handed step-by-step pages are colour-coded with green. There is a green stripe at the edge, near the top of the page, the heading is green, and the diagrams are predominantly green. (Example: right page, third from front)

Right-handed step-by-step pages are colour-coded with blue. There is a blue stripe at the edge, near the top of the page, the heading is blue, and the diagrams are predominantly blue. (Example: back left page)

For pages where instructions are suitable for both left- and right-handers, there is no stripe near the top of the page, and the heading is a light brown colour. (Example: back right page)

So whether you are left- or right-handed, Sardinian Knotted Embroidery has instructions written just for you. Lefties will not need to adapt anything at all. (I can hear you all sighing with relief!)

If you have any questions about Sardinian Knotted Embroidery, please don’t hesitate to ask.

I’ve just received an email saying my shipment of “Sardinian Knotted Embroidery” books will definitely be delivered tomorrow. YAY!

Shipment arriving at the end of the week

Well, it looks like my shipment of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery will be arriving on Friday. Because I don’t actually know what time of the day they’ll arrive (and because I already have other things planned that I must do on Friday), I might be able to get started on the mailout that day, but I may have to be stuffing envelopes over the weekend, ready for posting on Monday.

It means that if you’ve pre-ordered your copy, it will be on its way to you very soon. If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, there’s no reason why you can’t order your copy of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery today!

Monday was a public holiday here, as we were celebrating the Queen’s birthday (which isn’t even in June!). I had a lovely day sorting through the photos I took on my research trip, and extracting every bit of embroidery that I photographed. I’ve now printed out all those photos and snippets of photos as reference for designing. It’s a very valuable resource to have!

I’ve been working on a new design for the next book, which has been most enjoyable. I don’t yet have the fabric to stitch on, so now that I’ve finished one design, I’ve moved onto designing yet another one.

In the next few weeks I’ll have to organise everything for the Sydney craft show, which I will again be exhibiting at this year. While the craft show is normally in June at Darling Harbour, since last year’s show they’ve demolished the exhibition buildings to rebuild them. So for the next three years while that is happening, the show will be at Glebe Island. This year, it will be in July, rather than June. It will be on from Wednesday 9th July until Sunday 13th July.

I’m pleased to again be exhibiting, and my plan was always that I would have “Sardinian Knotted Embroidery” ready and here to sell at the show. When you come to the show, you can be sure that I will have cartons of stock of this book, (and all my other ones!) and will be very happy to sign a copy for you. You’ll also be able to see all the stitched models from the book on display.

Because Glebe Island is a little way out from the city centre, the transport options are going to be a little different this year. I’ll hopefully be finding out all about that tomorrow. I do know that one of the options is catching a ferry (boat) to the show, which to me sounds like a lovely way to arrive!

When I know more, I will tell you about the options for getting to and from the show, to come and visit me and buy your autographed copy of my new book!

More book reviews

I’ve just added a whole pile more book reviews of my books to the book reviews page on my website.

There are many, many new reviews there, and if you’re looking for a new embroidery book, read my book reviews page first!

A few samples of the reviews for you:

The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion:
“Other embroidery books MIGHT have a section for left handed embroiderers, but usually only basic stitches are presented. This book is a treasure trove of stitches that we left handed stitchers can now learn to do the correct way. It is the best embroidery book that I own. The steps are all pictured clearly and are easy to follow. THANK YOU Yvette Stanton for recognizing the need and creating this embroiderer’s bible. W.S. Massachusetts”

The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion:
“This book was given first as a gift to me. I then bought it to give to my needlework school as it was amazing. I think it is the best book on the market for this subject. I use it frequently. Instructions are clear. Excellent pictures. For anyone who does needlework this is an absolute must. Linda Ingham”

Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães:
“The techniques for this beautiful form of whitework are well illustrated and explained as always in Stanton’s books with step-by step photos and written instructions. Best of all, all materials are easily obtainable and the projects cover a range from beginner to advanced so mastering this lovely form of whitework will be a snap for even a novice embroiderer. Another highly recommended book from Stanton. Lovely pictures, inspiring techniques and projects, clear and understandable instructions for the visual and the word focused learner -what more could any crafter ask? Highly recommended. A. McPherson, Utah”

Elegant Hardanger Embroidery:
“I bought this book as a gift for a friend who is a relative beginner at Hardanger – she found it so useful and the instructions so clear that I bought a second copy for myself. In addition to the basic techniques there are helpful tips not found in other books plus some delightful projects. C. J. Kilby, France”

If you’d ever like to review one of my books, you’d be very welcome to! If you’d like to submit your review to Amazon, or your favourite book-store website, I’d be very grateful. Of course, you can also post it in the comments section on my blog posts, or email it directly to me. Thanks!

tax time and the ship is getting closer

Over the past week I’ve been buried in paperwork, doing my tax from last financial year. Given that this financial year ends on 30th June, once I finished last year, I moved right on to this year! It is dull, boring and not my favourite thing in the world!

In the little bits of time in between, like waiting for children at their activities, watching a DVD in the evening etc, I’ve been working away on the embroidery I took overseas with me. I got heaps done on the plane and in the evenings when I was away, and I’ve been slowly getting more done since returning home.

Today, I could choose to do more tax, or maybe finish the embroidery. I know which one I would rather do, but I think I’ll end up doing the tax. 🙁

People keep asking me how things are going with my book. The Sardinian book shipments are on various ships around the world, heading to their temporary homes at my distributors. My shipment should actually arrive here a bit ahead of my original schedule (the ship was alongside the northern NSW coast yesterday afternoon), some time in the next week or so! Then there will be a mad flurry of activity, packing and sending out all the orders I’ve already received. How exciting!

You can order your copy of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery from the Vetty Creations website, now!