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2008 September/October

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Editor's Column

Autumn leaves – cooler days – back to school – summer is becoming a treasured memory and perfect fall days are on the horizon. Now is the time to enjoy the season and to begin to think about the holidays that will soon be approaching. One of our favorite designers, Marnie Ritter, has a wonderful flair for fashion. She will get us all dressed up for the season with her beautiful bag, Fascination. It is worked on black canvas and a little of it is exposed for a dramatic effect. The rich color palette features many different types of thread, beads and paillettes. This one will be fun to stitch and a joy to carry or to give as a special present.

Once in a while you meet someone who really “rings your bell” and such was the case when I met Rosalyn Cherry-Soliel. She is an amazing lady who is not only a patron of the arts, but one who also loves to create a masterpiece of stitches, colors and threads on a painted canvas. Just the size of her canvasses alone would be daunting to most of us, but she enjoys the challenge of spending several years on one project. Be sure to read her inspiring account of the joy that she has found in stitching painted canvases.

Margaret Bendig completes her beautiful quartet of stitcheries, Seasons of The Kimono in this issue with her crisp and lovely Winter White Kimono. We have so enjoyed featuring Margaret’s work and know that you have loved it, too. We look forward to more of her magic in the future.

I have just returned from my annual (and glorious) “Girls’ Week at the Beach” with my two daughters. We enjoyed the beach, the spa, the meals out, the wine classes, the sunset cruise, the great shopping, the Lost Colony outdoor drama and on and on. We especially enjoyed our stitching time on the deck where we had lots of conversation but no telephones and no computers. I haven’t put away my beach hat as yet, so I know it is too early, but we have started to plan for the holiday season. You’ll find some “spooky” stitches for Halloween in Amy Bunger’s article and Barbara Richardson’s stocking ornaments herald the Christmas season. We want to welcome Inez Eppright as a new contributor to our publication. We know you will enjoy stitching her small project, Kris’ Crosses. This colorful design would also make a great ornament.

I have a love/hate relationship with my computer and sometimes I feel like the computer is my nemesis. However, I must admit that is can also be the source of good things. It helps me do this magazine! Recently a friend used the computer to send me How To Stay Young. I think you will enjoy it, too:

Try everything twice. On one woman’s tombstone she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times!

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches.)

Keep learning: Learn more about crafts, computers, gardening, etc. Never let the brain get idle. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. The devil’s name is Alzheimer’s!

Enjoy the simple things.

Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have friends who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with them.

Tears happen: Endure, grieve and move on. The only person with us our entire life is ourselves. Live while you are alive.

Surround yourself with what you love: family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but not to where the guilt is.

Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity.

Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance.

Remember! Lost time can never be found.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I think that most of us do stay “young” by keeping our keen interest in the art of needlepoint. And, besides...our stash is just too big – we need to work some of it down.

Stitch happy,

– Joyce Lukomski

As of July-August 2009 back issues of Needlepoint Now are available at a cost of $7.00 per copy, plus shipping and handling. All preceding back issues are $6.00 per copy, plus shipping and handling.

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