Filed under: Canvas Master Craftsman Program, Embroidery Guild of America, Fireside Stitchery, Needlepoint Shops, Step 6
I love where they decided to place my Fireside Sampler inside Fireside Stitchery! It’s inside the front desk area displayed with a lovely set of ornaments. Lynn wants to get a fireplace, but in the meantime . . .
I got to see it hanging today after visiting the Valley Forge Quilt Show which was spectacular as always. I didn’t ask for permission to post any of the quilts, but I think i can post a part of Becky’s quilt to show off her talents, particularly noting the machine quilting she did herself. Stunning. Such a talented group of quilters. Very inspirational. And, they are excellent bakers as well. I got a few goodies!
Stephanie, of Spellbound Stitchery (.com), designed and taught a painting class at Fireside Stitchery today. She’s a lovely young woman, and I wish her all the best as she grows her line of canvases.
In just 2 hours, we painted our Philly Pretzel designed by Stephanie. It is small at 2.25″ square.
I didn’t count right to start off! I got the center marked without issue but then must have double counted the center when I marked off the 40 x 40 area.
Stephanie said to go slow as we counted out the border, and I should have gone slower. Stephanie found my error & I covered the spots with white and repainted them in the proper brown. Cute little design.
I’d like to paint a second one at home in a quiet setting. There were 2 tables of 8 at each table! I can see where my painting is less than professional, but it gets stitched over anyway. So, that makes me think I should just stitch it from the cross-stitch grid provided. But her tips on painting from a grid make sense, and class was fun. Two of my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter members were in the afternoon class, at least one member in the morning class, and one past member came over to say hello.
For the 2024 ANG Seminar exhibit in the Original Design category, I sent in my Fireside Sampler created for Step 6 of the EGA Master Craftsman in Canvas. But the ANG judges moved it to from the Original Design category to the Adaptation category because my artist statement included a photo and description of how I revised my 20-year old design. The second one is considered an adaptation of the first one. Had the original design not been mentioned, it would have remained in the Original Design category.
It is my second year being in the professional category. It did not get a ribbon from the ANG Seminar judges (it had gotten a 3rd place ribbon from Woodlawn judges). It scored well enough.
The score that is particularly confusing is for Workmanship/Technique because I lost 6 points while the critique has no negative comments regarding this area. It states: “The brick work in the fireplace surround shows immaculate thread control. This indicates a full understanding of the stitches chosen, thread pull while working each area, and control of stitch tension. The inner fireplace bricks and andirons are also finely worked, and the satin stitches creating the logs are even in both tension and thread twist maintenance. The long stitches used for mortar between individual bricks are well controlled. There are no loose or sagging stitches in this area.” So, why did I lose 6 points? It makes no sense.
There was no comment on why Finishing/Presentation lost 2 points. I’m just curious.
I can agree that the size ratio of the mirror is small compared to the size of the candles. I’ll also agree that the flames are very intense and a slight change in temperature of the flames would have added a more realistic appearance to the design. However, I can’t see that because the bottom flame row is very symmetrical, it detracts from the effort taken to add interest in the top row.
I was really pleased to see the judge felt it was a well-written artist’s statement and helped them understand just how much thought went into improving upon the original work and the efforts taken to create depth perspective on a flat surface.
And, I was happy to read, “I commend your thread blending efforts on the rug . . the result is worth the time and effort. Well done.” Again, a positive for Workmanship/Technique.
Once again, here is my Fireside Sampler.
Lynn from Fireside Stitchery has asked to display this in her store. She wanted a fireplace in her store! I just hope nobody wants instructions. It would take a lot of effort. I left it at the store after I discussed this at our Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting.
Filed under: Canvas Master Craftsman Program, Embroidery Guild of America, Step 6
Step 6 of the EGA Master Craftsman program for Canvas had to be an original design. This was an opportunity to redo a piece I designed years ago after taking First Steps by Nanette Costa. I learned 30+ stitches through my first ANG Correspondence Course and used those stitches in this fireplace.
I especially wanted to make the design area taller instead of square and change the candles and background.
The updated piece (pictured below) passed with distinction and all 6 pieces will be going to Boston for the Seminar!
At least one of the judges felt the white in the flames was a little strong but that the ThreadworX overdyed was a perfect choice for the sooted walls inside the fireplace. The diaper pattern wallpaper recedes (as it should) and adds just enough texture to add interest. Different values of the bricks and logs add dimension as do the Smyrna cross stitches around the large Jessica. The glow on the rug is lovely and well-executed. The rug employed a 21-step thread blending formula to move from light to dark using DMC Floss 842, 841, 840, 839, 838 (5 strands).
Thanks so much to the three judges who take the time to review and critique the pieces. It was a challenging experience with some angst occasionally but I enjoyed the process.
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