Melitastitches4fun's Blog

I am so thrilled to have gotten a blue ribbon this year at ANG Seminar for Festive Fireworks.  First place in non-professional original design! More about the piece after I get home and can take a picture of the beautiful stitched center on the ribbon.

Now, I want to talk about some of the other non-professional stitchers who won awards and have recently volunteered with the Distance Learning Programs. Brenda C (incoming Correspondence Course Chairman), Barbara E  (incoming Cyberworkshops Chairman), and Kristi H (incoming Distance Learning Coordinator) all helped set up, staff the DL table at Teacher Showcase, and box up for shipping home.

Between the 3 of them,  all first time exhibitors, they won 5 ribbons including:

First place for Kristi for a past Correspondence Course (CC), English Goldwork Heart III from Michele Roberts under Independent Project (she’s not a first timer doing goldwork) and Honorable Mention for Solar Flare by Ro Pace under Class Project (done in reds and yellows).

Second place for Brenda for a current CC, Rose Swirls by Carol Algie Higginbotham under Independent Project. Thanks again to Brenda for piloting this CC.

Second and third place for Barbara E with Miss Puff Tote under Painted Design with Stitch Guide (by Pajamas & Chocolate with a variety of threads and stitches) and Geometric Purse under Painted Design without Stitch Guide (by Mindy’s Needlepoint with DMC #5 & either Snow or Kreinik for sparkle), respectively. Both have lots of color and are fun.

I’m not going to talk about the professionals who won awards because they’ll be covered in the magazine in January. But I do want to talk about some of the other non-professional pieces that I saw.

Nancy D’A stitched Sharon G ‘s Five Vases – that’s in my stash & I really want to stitch it too!

Frances W stitched the 40th Anniversary Heart, ANG SOTM 2012. That’s a project my Main Line Stichers chapter is doing this year. And, I am looking forward to that too.

Michele Roberts had students submitting lots of pieces all wonderful goldwork:

Lisa E – Florentine Fleur de Lys, current CC (Honorable Mention)

Julie B – Fleur D’Lis, a past class project (Honorable Mention)

Leticia J has 3 pieces including the up coming CC, Golfing at St. Andrews; its companion piece and previous CC, Thistle and Kilt; and, Tree of Life

Congrats to all the wonderful pieces that are submitted.  They are truly inspirational. And, thanks to Brenda, Barbara, and Kristi for their time this week and in the coming year. Here’s my plug, it feels great to give back and volunteer to help this organization grow – find something to do to say thanks. As I step away from CC’s after 4 years, I plan to start visiting local chapters promoting Distance Learning Programs,  learning from chapters what is working & what isn’t working, and finding out more about what chapters can share with other chapters.

The seminar logo design is Meredith Willett’s. I didn’t stitch this – it’s the cover of our booklet.

My last class was yesterday learning about Rozashi – Patterns in Blue and Green with Margaret Kinsey.

It is not as difficult as I had imagined it to be. And, the holes are bigger than I expected although I need a magnifier. I may be low on potassium – I got a cramp in my hand from holding down the thread so tightly.  But, Margaret recommended hand stretches & I got back to it in short order. I can finish this!

Today, Brenda C, her husband Pete, & I enjoyed a city tour. The stop at the cemetery, nearly killed me (pun intended) – first time I left the hotel. It is sooooooo humid! Sultry. I though I got more pictures but I don’t find them. Beads are in the trees.