From the Editor

Much like youth, the golden days of summer are fleeting. How I hate to see them go since I have not yet put a toe into the salt water. But, Fall is a wonderful season and its full and colorful canopy is almost upon us. All of our senses are made aware of the glory of nature during this spectacular season with the bright, burnished leaves and crisp night air. As we anticipate the harvest season we realize that soon the holidays will be here.

Gail Sirna has designed a most wonderful stocking, O Little Town. It was worked on 18 -mesh canvas for her son-in-law and features a dusky and unusual color palette for the holidays. It is straightforward in its use of stitches and threads and will be a treat for stitchers of most levels of skill. We give you the entire pattern in this issue. Here is a little sneak information about our next issue - Gail is our "centerfold" and we begin a new continuing feature that showcases one of her most popular designs. I know you will love it.

In A Letter to a Friend, Edith Semiatin talks about the breathtaking yarmulke she created for her grandson, Julian. I was so moved when I saw this magnificent piece of art that asked Edith to please share it with all of our readers. Thank you, Edith.

Crescendo by Carolyn Mitchell of Canada is a charming little stitchery that becomes a scissors sheath and an accessory that you can wear or tuck inside your sewing box.

Our three continuing features remain popular with our readers. We offer the fifth installment of Nanette Costa's exciting Mystery Sampler. Our sixth and final installment will be featured in the November/December issue. Susan Hulme's colorful Contemporary Bargello appears in its third installment. The fourth one will be in November/December issue with the fifth and final one in the January/February 2003 issue. The Ornaments of the US presents three states each issue and all of them in alphabetical order. We figure that with our vast land with so many states we will all be too old to stitch when the series is completed, but we are having fun working them now.

It is said that a man who works with his hands is a craftsman, a man who works with his hands and his heart is an artisan and a man who works with his hands, his heart and his soul is an artist. Varujan de Melkon is such an artist. He is a fifth generation master jeweler who, from a youth, was exposed to magnificent designs created for royalty by his uncle and his father. I met "John" (as we call him) a decade ago and have been impressed by his unique creations sculpted with clean lines, exquisite materials and impeccable taste. He has made a few special pieces for me. When I asked John if he could design a diamond stickpin that looked like a needle for me to wear in my lapel, he said that he would try. When I saw the finished piece, I was thrilled and knew that I had to share the news of this talented artist who can design anything with style. He has taken an ad and you can see the photo.

How I appreciate your input and your emails and letters. Thank you for the very positive response to our three new features. The Finishing Touch, The Finish Line and Reflections will not appear in every issue but will be included in the magazine from time to time as space and time allow. Be sure to send us good photos and a little information on the projects from the magazine that you have finished so that we can include your work in future issues.

Joyce Lukomski

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Last Updated November 24, 2004