From the Editor

W e don’t like to “rush the season” as a rule, but when we saw Marnie Ritter’s beautiful bellpull, All Wrapped Up, we changed all the rules! Normally this would have been done in two or three installments and would have started in the November/December issue. But, we knew that you, too, would love this design and would be eager to get started with the stitching. How pleased we are to print the entire project in this issue! Whether you stitch the complete project or do smaller units of the design, we know that you will enjoy.

To help you celebrate the festivities near at hand, we offer two timely designs for the harvest season and Halloween. Debbie Stiehler creates a loveable monster, Date Night Frankie and Tricia Wilson Nguyen offers Treats to make entertaining even more festive. Donna DiMarco designs the small, but lovely, Eyelets and Squares pillow.

Our feature writers share an abundance of information. You probably recognize the name, Elizabeth Bozievich. She has written several articles and has created several stitching designs in past issues. Elizabeth agreed to author the feature, New Product Review. In this issue she informs us about the Soy Luster™ threads. Amy Bunger begins teaching us how to paint a design on canvas and Judy Harper inspires us with a creative design source, Talavera. Suzanne Howren critiques an exciting new book and most informative lessons on DVDs. I even have a book critique in this issue as Suzanne Howren (along with cohort Beth Robertson) has written a new book and could not write her own critique. In our popular feature, Jody’s Needlepoint Excitement, Jody Valentine describes some new ideas in needlepoint for the teen set.

There is always something so special about spending time with our stitching friends. I have recently returned from two weeks in our great Pacific northwest. The spectacular scenery is always an inspiration to me but it is the warm and friendly attitude of the people that makes it such a special time. I started out in Eugene, Oregon as the house guest of Elizabeth and Jay Bozievich. Our stitching class was held on the property - as was the fun cookout for everyone. There was even a chance to restore tired feet in the hot tub! Then it was time for some “R&R” with the “Noble Friends” - named so because the pot Roberta used to cook many of our meals has always been called “the noble pot.” Elizabeth and I were joined by Annie Harrison and Pat West and the four of us motored off to wonderful Ashland to get our annual Shakespeare fix. There we met Michele Graunke and our “guru” who put the whole week together - Roberta Montgomery. The plays were wonderful, the lectures inspiring and the shopping so great that it not only wore out our bodies but also our checkbooks. Then Roberta and I moved on to her home in Tacoma where I enjoyed more western hospitality and the pleasure of teaching a new needlepoint class. My final stop was in Seattle where I had the joy of teaching needlepoint and renewing old friendships. I stayed with dear friends, Olga and Jack Hare. As my plane took off over those majestic mountain peaks, I could not help but remember Dinah Maria Mulock Craik’s poem that I have loved for a very long time:

“Oh, the comfort- the inexpressible comfort
of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts,
Nor measure words- but pouring them
All right out - just as they are -
Chaff and grain together -
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them -
Keep what is worth keeping -
And with a breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.”

I suggest that you pick up the telephone and call an old friend today.

– Joyce Lukomski

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Last Updated December 19, 2007