From the Editor

How exciting it is to present elegant silk and metal thread work on both of our covers! Judy Souliotis offers us the sophisticated Tortoise Star, a lovely design with an Oriental flair and perfect for stitchers who have had some experience in working in this medium. Meredith Barnhill presents her elegant Friendship Flower, a wonderful little project that fits in the lid of the beautiful glass jar and is perfect for stitchers who are just beginning to work in this medium. Meredith even offers basic information and helpful hints on working with silk and metal. Enjoy both projects.

We are going into our fifth year of publishing this magazine. In all that time, we have rarely presented just a charted design. However, Yellow Ribbon by Jody Valentine is a timely and inspirational exception. Jody, a designer of national reputation, called and said she had just completed this design and wanted to give it to needlepoint now. We stopped production in mid-stream and moved mountains and layout pages. Jody said: "I'm so pleased you liked the design and wanted to use it and I thank you. My hope is that it brings comfort to those who stitch and/or receive it. Maybe it will send good karma out into the world. That's my intention. Thank you for the opportunity of sharing it with others"

Our continuing features have a wide following and we realize that you are waiting for the next issue so that you can "keep on stitching." What a flood of letters, emails and phone calls we received when the last installment with the finishing instructions for Home Sweet Adobe were not shown in the March/April issue. Please know that it was a legal situation beyond our control. I felt your frustration in every word and we have kept on file every one of your messages. We are so sorry for the inconvenience but are happy to present those instructions in this issue. Thank you for your patience. We also present the next installments of May-be More Purr-fect by Marnie Ritter, Christmas in the City by Gail Sirna and Ornaments of the US by Pamela Harding.

For several years now, questions about copyrights and stitchers have been flying around everywhere. You hear the discussions at chapter meetings of the stitching guilds, in chat rooms on the Internet, in your questions to the magazine and among stitching friends. There is so much erroneous information out there that often we make infringements in all innocence. We have gone to the experts who will tell it to us in plain English so we may all have a better understanding of this much maligned topic. Matthew Booth and Mary Ann Jones of Booth/Wright, a law firm that specializes in developing and protecting intellectual property, including patents, trademarks and copyrights, have teamed to write a comprehensive article on this topic. Besides being a knowledgeable office administrator for the firm, Mary Ann is also a stitcher who shares our love of the art and understands the copyright situation and how it relates to stitchers. Matthew Booth is a brilliant young attorney who is blessed with a winning smile, calm and easy attitude, courage and integrity. This firm is "user friendly" and has become the mecca for needlework designers and teachers to have their work registered and copyright questions answered. You may contact the firm at stitching@boothlaw.com. In addition, we are pleased to present the full article on our Web site. The staff of needlepoint now and Booth/Wright Law give permission for you to download and print this article. In fact, we urge you to print as many copies as you would like and give them to your friends.

When you receive this issue, the "season of the sun" will be in full swing. Summer has always been a favorite season for me because I so love days at the beach and find inspiration there. I hope that your summertime will be filled with fun times. Grab your stitching project, a lawn chair and don't forget your magazine and some sunscreen. Take time to unwind with your toes in the sand and your head in the clouds. "Drunk on the sweet, salty air I am filled again with the joy of living."

Joyce Lukomski

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Last Updated November 24, 2004