Hello everyone
This week a reader sent me a request for a picture of a crewel design that I had done many years ago. She said that she had come across it on the internet but had since been unable to locate it. In my search for this picture I came across several crewel projects that I had done in about 1998 which I had almost forgotten about, and took me on a little trip down memory lane. As we approach Thanksgiving it is a wonderful time to take stock of all the good we have experienced in our lives and how much we have to be grateful for – it will make you smile!
When we had made the decision to leave Zimbabwe and move to Cape Town in about 1999 I decided I wanted to teach embroidery – at the time I had done cross stitch and was gaining an immense interest in surface embroidery, in particular Crewel embroidery in wool. I discovered that the EGA in the USA offered a correspondence course on teaching surface embroidery, so I applied and was accepted into the Mastercraftsman course. One of the suggestions was that I taught a live class to gain experience, so I appealed to all my friends who agreed enthusiastically and we formed my first class. There was a total of 8 students and they came to my house every week for a period of 6 weeks in which time we stitched this piece of crewel embroidery. Am not sure if they actually learned anything but we had a lot of fun!
I remember clearly being rapped over the knuckles by my mentor at the EGA when I sent her a picture of us in the class – she said “I was very concerned to see the coffee cups and glasses on the table – this is not allowed in our workshops”! When I think back on my first classes and total lack of experience I feel so grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded me since then and how it has led to where I am today. Needless to say I never did finish the Crewel Embroidery course with the EGA, although I had some wonderful mentors during that time which had a huge influence on my work, but since then I have taught numerous classes and although I dont profess to know it all, I feel that I have gained a better understanding of “putting myself in my students shoes” and as I result have been able to reach out to people from all over the globe through my books, kits and classes.
I feel so grateful that I am able to do the work that I love and if I havent said it before THANK YOU for making it possible and for your ongoing support and encouragement. It is always helpful to hear your ideas and what you would like to see more of or less of so please do let me know. Next week it will be my great pleasure to share with you the work of one of my students, meanwhile wherever you are be it winter, spring, summer or autumn have a wonderful weekend and many happy stitching hours. Trish