From the Editor

Welcome to a crisp new season. How we love to enjoy the days of fall with its plethora of colors in the abundant foliage and the bountiful harvest. We turn our thoughts to the return to school for many and the approaching holidays for all of us.

How happy we are to tell you about two exciting new features. Little Bits by Peg Dunayer made its debut in our last issue. This column celebrates the season with little fun projects that you can stitch up in a couple of hours with threads that you probably have in your stash. This is exactly what many busy people want. The possibilities for the use of these little bits are endless and we want to see how creative our readers can be, so we are asking that you send good photos and tell us about your own unique way of finishing some of these projects.

Our other new feature is especially pleasing to me because I have always been interested in the history of our art. While teaching in the bay area of California last year, I had the good fortune to meet Robin Berry and to see some of her work. Robin is a skilled researcher and has a keen interest in needlework from the medieval and renaissance periods. Not only will we be able to learn history but we can also stitch a small example of it. Her first article talks about Assisi work and she designed a bookmark in the Assisi style to stitch.

Marnie Ritter is the subject of Gail Sirna's Art and Inspiration in this issue. Marnie holds a very special place in my heart because she was one of the driving forces in my starting this magazine. We roomed together some years ago when we were both teaching classes for TNNA. She talked incessantly about the need for a commercial magazine devoted just to the art of needlepoint. I told her that I wasn't sure and that it would be an all-consuming task. Where would I start as I didn't even have a cover project. She responded with "Yes, you do!" She returned home and started to work on Heart of Hearts which was our very first cover and is shown in this issue. I didnā't realize just how many friends I had in this big and wonderful needlework world until that time. So many friends were supportive in every way. Many suggested names for this yet-to-be-born magazine, but it was Marnie who came up with needlepoint now. I know you will enjoy reading about her. She has also given us a fun project that was designed to be a learning experience of many varied needlepoint techniques. Sew Together is a classy and colorful eyeglass case that anyone would be proud to own.

We have an exciting continuing project! Neptune's Treasure was beautifully worked by a talented new contributor, Marjorie Vig, of Richmond, Virginia. Gail Sirna's quaint and charming Blossom Cottage is just the type of artistic design that many of our accomplished stitchers love to stitch.

We love your letters. Thank you for caring enough to write us. Amy Taylor of Oklahoma wrote to say that she would like to see more articles on finishing projects and on canvas artists. She also said "I have only held a subscription for a year, but I always look forward to getting your magazine. I immediately read it cover to cover. I have sent many of my finished canvasses to the shops that advertise in your publication and have been impressed with their work." Deborah Doyle McWhinney of San Francisco writes " I am one of those crazy working women who think we can do it all. I was just appointed to the Executive Committee of Charles Schwab. When people ask me how I do it, I say 'Needlepoint is my therapy.' I love your publication. It helps me think out of the box with new stitches. It is a break from business. It is my reading before bed." Barbara Huling of Oregon said "I love the Tony Minieri articles! Also all "technique" articles. Irene Koutouzis of Florida says "I would like to see different stitches being used in projects such as stockings, bags, belts, picture frames, etc." We are working on your suggestions and thank you for sending them. You help us to stay on the cutting edge.

Joyce Lukomski

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Last Updated November 24, 2004