Friday, July 19, 2013

Monastery- Final Part

To finish up my report on our trip to see the embroideries at the monastery in St. Joseph, I would like to share a few of the things that impressed me... other than what I've already shared!

In the photo below you can see one of the storage drawers pulled out so we could view one of the vestments. This storage piece was specially designed so the embroidered vestments could be laid out flat without being creased. 


If you look carefully you can see that the drawer pulls out on a center hinge and rotates much like a lazy Susan cabinet you would find in a kitchen cupboard. Some of the drawers opened to the right while others opened to the left. Each piece was then covered to protect it from, I suspect, any visitor who might like to touch the lovely embroideries.

Also on display was a selection of some of the silks used in one of the pieces. You can see how they achieved the shading in the flowers and leaves by using such a variety of color.

I asked which piece these colors may have been used in and was shown this one as a possibility. I wish you could see it in person. It is simply breathtaking!

The piece below is one that I was taken with. The stitches are executed in a way that is not only technically excellent, but there is such care in each stitch. In talking with the sisters they reminded us that the women who created these pieces were not only stitching for beauty , but this was very much an act of worship for them.

Right now the embroideries are not on display in the museum, but there is discussion about bringing them back as a permanent exhibit. I don't usually do this, but I think this is such a worthwhile project...If you would like to make a contribution to the sisters you may do so at this link.


Friday, June 28, 2013

Monastery Visit- Part Two

Didn't you just love the embroideries from my last post? The work these women did just amazes me!

There were two sisters who were instrumental in the development of the Art and Needlework Department.

At the young age of 13, the first sister, Willibalda Scherbauer, received a scholarship from King Ludwig to learn embroidery. This was quite an honor. She later graduated from the Royal Art School in Munich. As you might suspect, this love of embroidery carried through when she found her way to St. Joseph!

The second sister who was instrumental in the development of the embroideries was Justina Knapp. She wrote a book, Christian Symbols and How to Use Them, that is still available on Amazon. She worked for 60 years in the ecclesiastical art department and was instrumental in obtaining over 500 volumes for the library. Many of these books are out of print.

One of her rules for the sisters who were embroidering was they must take a break every 45 minutes and set their eyes upon something else. She also brought in guests who would teach on various topics such as color. She understood that these embroideries were works of art, an expression of their love for God. She was named one of six women who most influenced artistic development in the state of Minnesota!

There is a nice article about the embroideries and Justina Knapp at this link. Scroll down in the PDF file to pages 8-13.

In addition to the ecclesiastical pieces, the sisters also embroidered for friends and family. Below are several examples. Be sure to click on them to get them full screen, and then click again to enlarge the photo so you can see the detail.





Don't you agree that they are lovely? One of the sisters told us that sometimes these were given to people who would see their lovely work and provide more embroidery materials for the sisters. Wonder if that would work for us today?

I still have more to show you so expect one more post on our trip!


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Visit to St. Benedict's Monastery

Today our EGA (Embroiderers' Guild of America) chapter took a field trip to the St. Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota. What a treat! Upon our arrival we were warmly greeted by the sisters who had set out fruit, sweet bread and coffee for us. There were four vestments on display in the room where we were to hear Sister Moira tell us a little about the history of the embroideries stitched at St. Benedict's. This is one of them:




This was just a teaser for what was to come! But first, some background... Sister Moira told us that this order originated in Bavaria. They came to this country in 1852 and made their way to St. Joseph, Minnesota in 1863. In 1867 the Art and Needlework Department was established. St. Walburg Hall was built specially for doing needlework.

The sisters would take orders for liturgical pieces. They had a catalog of possible designs, but all items were made to order. There were as many as 18-20 sisters working in the Art and Needlework Department. They used quality materials, silk and gold threads and fine brocades. At the time these materials were not available in the US so had to be obtained from Europe. Sadly, the department was closed in 1968.

There were two people who were instrumental in the needlework efforts of the sisters, but more on that in my next post. For now, let's go back into the inner room!

One of the pieces that I was taken with was the ciborium cover. Look closely at the intricate detail of the stags. And notice the background of chain stitches. They loop over one another and create an intricate background all from a simple chain stitch.



 

Another favorite was this piece with the angels. The shading on the wings is incredible. And do you see what is at the top of the wings? The backs of the angel heads! Each strand of hair carefully embroidered. Just lovely!




This was truly a special day for our group and I have much more to show you in my next post! So, until then...



Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A complete set of SANQ!



Yes, I haven’t posted in a number of weeks. Things do tend to get busy around here! Since my last post I accomplished something I’m very excited about! I now have a COMPLETE set of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly!!

This is my favorite magazine. It is a little more expensive than other US needlework magazines, but is well worth the money.

I’ve had a subscription for several years. To fill in my missing issues I spent time on Ebay (or as my friend Chris refers to it, the Bay of Evil). I did find a few locally at our EGA chapter’s annual stash sale, but by far the majority came from winning online auctions. I purchased some as single copies and others as part of multiple issue lots. 

So why do I like this magazine so much? I love the history. Each issue has several projects that are either actual reproductions or pieces that are greatly inspired by historical needlework. In addition to the projects you can stitch, the editors also include articles on a variety of topics that are focused on needlework throughout history. For example, one issue had a fascinating article on Tartan ware and another had info on tambour hooks and stilettos.



The projects also vary. You usually find a piece that is a sampler, but you also find a variety of other projects. You can see from a few of the magazine covers some of this variety. There is everything from basket toppers to sampler ornaments to purses to pincushions to needlework tool cases. There is a little something for everyone!



If you haven’t yet tried this magazine head click on this link. As of this writing there is a free motif available that was taken from one of SANQ’s most popular samplers. You can also find more information about ordering a sample issue. You have the both print and digital download options. 

Can you tell I like this magazine? Well, as a little bonus for those who have read this far, check out this link for a free sampler—not related to SANQ! Click on Téléchargement gratuit : Marquoir Elise for the PDF download.

Monday, April 1, 2013

April Fool... not!

This morning I opened up my laptop and the temp said it was 18 degrees. I thought to myself, "Good one, Weather Bug!" And then I stepped outside...

So what to do on a chilly April day but continue to work on my multiple projects. I currently have three different EGA Group Correspondence Courses in the works. I am piloting one so no photos until it is officially available. I am doing one with my local chapter. It's a Schwalm piece. The last one is a beaded necklace that I am doing with the Heartland Region. I will post photos of those as I make some progress. Right now they are in the messy, not much to show stage.

I am also working on a set of Hardanger coasters that my friend, Becky, is teaching at a local shop. Of course, starting this project got me doing an internet search. I have had this site bookmarked for a long time. There are a lot of very lovely designs with free tutorials. The blog is in Spanish but Hardanger is very visual so you can easily follow along. Scroll down the page on the link to see the many postings. When you get to the bottom of the page click on "Entradas antiguas" for even more posts!

Since my last update I participated in a smalls exchange with the Sampler World group on Facebook. This is what I received: (pardon the positioning-- I can't get them to post correctly)





Isn't this a nice needlebook? The design is a free one from Ink Circles and can be found here. Look under the free charts for 2006, September and October. You'll find quite a few free charts here!

This is what I stitched for my recipient:



It is a pinkeep that became a little larger than I had intended! I found the free instructions here. Just scroll down a little on the page and you will see a link to download the instructions.

Before I finish, I must tell you about my recent Craftsy purchase. I bought a class on knitting with beads. They were running a contest on Facebook that day and I actually won the class for free! As much as I enjoy the quilting, knitting and other classes available, I do wonder why they haven't added any other types of needlework. Wouldn't a finishing class be great? Or what about classes on various ethnic stitching techniques? Maybe if we all ask for them...

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Snow Day!



Yes, we finally got one of these storms that keep missing us. We need the moisture but I do wish it hadn’t come on the morning of our EGA chapter meeting. I'm sad the meeting had to be cancelled but that gave me extra time to work on a few things.

First I will share the promised photos of the card table cottage I made for my granddaughter’s birthday. It is a little wrinkly but you get the basic idea.



Isn’t it adorable? There is a barn version that I suspect I will sew for her brother’s birthday this summer.

I also made this cute owl apron for her.


Today I am doing some pre-work for one of my classes I will take at the Nordic Needle Retreat in April. It is a pulled/drawn thread class. I am almost finished with it and then will move on to start the Schwalm group correspondence course a number of us just started. I also need to do the finish work on a stitching small for an exchange with the Facebook group, Sampler World. Photos will follow once the recipient has seen it!

I’ll leave you with a freebie I found while doing a little research on blackwork. It is a book that is full of blackwork patterns and is available here on Mary Corbet’s website.

Now, off to enjoy more of my snow day!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Crafting on Sanibel



I’ve been a little quiet these past several weeks. I’ve been on Sanibel Island in Florida enjoying the sun, surf and sand!

I brought along a few projects to work on while there… the baby quilt I am making for my newest grandchild who was born on Christmas Day and the huge flag from ByGone Stitches. The biggest project was sewing together an adorable cottage that fits over a card table, a gift for my granddaughter’s birthday this month. Photos will be posted when I get it set up properly!

When not enjoying the warm weather or stitching I found time to visit the three crafting shops on the island. I had been to two of them in the past but the third was new to me.

My first stop, and I made several here, was at Three CraftyLadies. They are on the main drag of the island, Periwinkle. This shop features a variety of crafting supplies. About half of the small shop is quilting fabric. Here you will find a nice selection of seashore/ocean themed prints and batiks. There are also other non-beachy fabrics to be found. You can pick up bits and pieces for painting, beading, needlework, scrapbooking and there’s even a small children’s section that features books and activities with a beach theme. I purchased quite a bit of the fabric I needed to make the cottage here as well as a couple of patterns and a  batik I liked.


Next on my list was Geez Leweez. This is a combination needlepoint and yarn shop. It is a small, family owned shop. The day I was in mom, dad and daughter were all working. They have canvases on display all around the shop with a nice selection of Sanibel Island and seashore pieces, including the Sanibel Lighthouse. I picked up a few hanks of cotton yarn in bright tropical colors. I forgot to ask for them to be wound so now will need to do that myself, which will be tricky without a yarn swift! 


While there I learned that this shop will be moving “off island” in April to a new space near the outlet mall that is just on the other side of the causeway. They said they need more space but I imagine they need more visibility. Right now the shop is located in a small strip mall on a side street and the bridge toll of $6 may keep some from driving over. 

On an interesting note, I needed to find either Q Snaps or stretcher bars while I was on the island and neither of these shops carried them, not even the needlepoint shop! I found that to be somewhat curious.

The final crafting shop on the island is the Sanibel Bead Shop. This is on Periwinkle and in an almost hidden shopping center that is right across the street from the Dairy Queen (one of the very few national chains found on the island). The shop is small but the woman working that day was very personable and helpful. I purchased a fun bead with Sanibel inscribed on it. They also have them for Captiva.  I picked up the supplies to make a Sanibel bracelet. Don’t you love the fishy toggle? The Raku beads are exclusive to their shop. And, of course, I had to pick up a little drill to make all of my shells into jewelry!