From the Editor

The poet reminds us " ...and what is so rare as a day in June ... cometh then, if ever, perfect days." Welcome to the wonderful days of summertime. It has always been my favorite time of the year, and this year I plan to enjoy it even more with the top down and the wind in my face.

In this issue, for the first time, we reached outside the realm of a needlepoint project. The "beading craze" has taken our country by storm and you see people beading everywhere. I embraced this art form in the beginning and must admit that I really enjoy working with those shiny little beads and creating wonderful treasures. I know, also, that there are many of us who want only to stitch needlepoint. Please be assured that the format of the magazine will not change. This is a "one time only" and we will always be devoted to needlepoint. A friend, Linda Chirby, designed the bracelet and necklace set and wanted to share it with us. We are thrilled to present it to you and hope that the beaders out there wilt have fun with it.

Bob Jordan of East Sandwich, Massachusetts, is one of this country's most conscientious patrons of the arts. He has traveled to China many times and is always acutely aware of the many art forms found all over the world. We are pleased that he chose needlepoint now to present his story about the exquisite two-sided embroidery of Suzhow.

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction. In the mid 1970's I became almost "fanatical" in the needlework world. It was fun and exciting and a wonderful outlet for creativity. I joined a stitching guild and enjoyed the comaraderie of other "kindred spirits." All of a sudden I found myself serving my guild as program chairman. One of the first teachers I booked for the group was a tall and beautiful lady named Marnie. Being the program chairman, it fell to me to meet her plane and entertain her at dinner with other guild members. Then I so enjoyed hearing her lecture, marveling at the wonderful works in her slides and taking the class. I could not even dream at that time how our lives would be entwined over the next twenty-five years. I went on to earn my Teacher Certification and taught needlework - first locally, and soon, all around the country. Marnie Ritter and I taught at many of the same seminars and enjoyed an occasional meal together. How strange that fate stepped in and paired us as roommates during one of the changing times in my career. Marnie was welt known in the needlework world for her beautiful plates which graced the front cover of Needlepoint News (Needlepoint Plus) every spring. When we talked about the future, Marnie kept telling me that so many people missed that magazine and suggested that I start one. She even promised that she would stitch the piece for the first cover. The idea was planted! Soon it began to take form. I asked Marnie to serve on the Advisory Board for the new publication. At our first meeting we were batting around names for the new kid on the block and it was Mamie who thought of "needlepoint now. " And so it began. Today just look at the beautiful piece we can show on our front cover for this issue. I am so grateful to Marnie for her foresight and involvement. I am grateful for all who serve on the Advisory Board and for all who contribute of their talent and art forms. The feature writers are the backbone of this book and how important they are to our content. Our production team unites the best in the field. Jennifer Taylor serves as photographer Par Excellence, Beth Robertson creates clear and wonderful graphs and Pat Timpanaro makes us sing on the Web page. I thank this talented and generous group and you, our readers, for our success and growth.

Joyce Lukomski

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Last Updated November 24, 2004