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Saturday 19 November 2011

- - - Saturday Stitches - - - and a Mentor for me : )

Hi and welcome to Saturday Stitches where you watch me teach myself as many embroidery stitches as I can.  : )

Here is the button pic, and here is the URL to all related posts.

I needed more texture in a piece of my art, so I pulled out some ribbon embroidery books and stitching ribbons I collected along the way.  I did simple Straight Stitch first.  I think I pulled it too tight and it didn't lie flat.  So I tried a Japanese Ribbon stitch.  It's very pretty!  Take a look.

very easy to do, makes great petals & foliage!

I went around and around with different lengths, and it sure makes a pretty flower!  I also tried a Lazy Daisy Chain - also makes a really pretty flower.  I need more practice to not twist the ribbons though.  My second attempt already looks better than the first doesn't it?  See the twists?  (You don't want that.)

hey... practice makes perfect right?

I can use those, but it still wasn't the shape I'm looking for.  I want to stitch some prairie lilies into the foreground of a piece.  They need to be very narrow at the ends and wide in the middle.  Maybe the right size of ribbon would make a difference.  I'm definitely looking into more silk ribbon embroidery.  I just love it!

In the mean time, I want to say how incredibly fortunate I feel.  You've heard me mention how many times Margot Lindsay (local embroidery artist) & I have crossed paths.  I was so excited to learn about her!  I was even more thrilled to 'accidentally' meet her at a show I was in last May.  After seeing my art, so many people strongly suggested that I meet her.  At that May show, I watched one older woman with snow white hair looking at my work.  She came back a second time and told me it was 'very, very good'.  She told me her name, and the smiles and conversations began.  It was her!  What serendipity!  In the end, she gave me her phone number and invited me to stitch with her some day.  And that is how I finally met Margot.

As the story goes, I never got around to calling her over the summer.  I was so busy with the kids, and that dress.  I happened to see Margot the next time at our Quilt show and was tickled pink to be able to show her my prairie dress in person.  What are the odds!?  She really loved it.  I think (hope) I genuinely impressed her.  ; )  That was a very humbling moment for me.  I think sh'es been a prairie stitching artist for a very long time.

Finally, we made a date to get together.  As I write this, I have just returned from my first visit over to her home and studio.  She was SOOO kind.  My gosh - what a sweet soul.  She explained lots about her process to me.  She gave me a tour of all her art that was in sight.  In her sewing room, she opened container boxes upon container boxes to show me all the things she's collected, dyed, cut into strips, a decorative yarn or thread in hundreds of colors.  She showed me samples...  WOW.  I have wished for a mentor for so long.  This is really incredible.  I felt like red riding hood finally arriving at grandmother's house.  (No wolf, but that forest I've travelled through was a lot of work!)

Embarrassed after seeing all her incredible work, I told her I had brought a piece of mine to show her.  It was my re-do of Bloom.  She studied it for some time and seemed very impressed.  She pointed out a lot of things she liked, and oohed and aahed over the teeny stitches.  She loved the teeny purple stitches and the long stitched free-motion grasses.  o m g  That was a strange moment: humbling and exciting at the same time.  It's easy to show my work to someone who doesn't do what I do.  This was all so different.  I'm pretty happy, and happy that I'll have an opportunity to learn much from her.

She sent me home with this.  Thank you Margot!


It might look like a pile of left overs to you, but it's like being sent home with a big bag of candy!  I had to hurry home to pick up the kids from school, and so I only had an hour with her.  On my way out, she suggested we get together to stitch next time.  Oooh I can't wait.  She gave me some great ideas for alternative backings that are easier to stitch through than what I use.  What a GREAT visit!  I wish I had my camera to show you.  I came away so enriched in so many ways.  : )

The funny thing is, after school, a woman came to pick something up from my house and saw Bloom 2...
 ...and she bought it. (Thank you!!!)  This will still be on display for the show.

What a day!
What a year.  My goodness.  I truly believe I am right where I am meant to be.  Things are just unfolding.

Happy stitching!  Thanks for listening.

12 comments:

felicity said...

Monika, your happiness and excitement at working with Margot absolutely jumps off the page. So happy for you!

Anonymous said...

I am so incredibly happy for you Monika :).

My UTEE arrived today, so I'm building courage to go experiment :O.

Stay inspired!

Karen said...

what a great story Monika. I am a little envious of you meeting such a special person....

Sheila said...

How wonderful to have a mentor so close by who you can learn from and stitch with , lucky you .

Dena said...

That is a wonderful story of events Monika. It is so inspiring to hear when people who have walked the journey before us, share and inspire others. I love the eye candy!

Vicki W said...

What great luck to find a mentor so close to home....and a generous mentor at that! What a treasure trove of materials!

Bernie said...

How interesting the story about you and Margot. I've known her thru the heritage world (the Superintendent's Residence/FFFH) for a couple of decades but at those types of events one never talks about sewing. We talk heritage. Most people in that world probably don't know that I am a quilter/sewer as I didn't know she was. I'm not surprised that she came to our event - she usually supports our events - but I'm glad it turned out so well for you.
Bernie

PS I know that feeling of a bag of "stuff" being priceless - like all hte landscape fabrics I was given!

Ellie said...

What a great post. Your happiness just comes bubbling through. I'm so happy for you. It's amazing where life takes us!! :))

Anonymous said...

Big Sis Says: You are SO-o-o-o-o-o LUCKY! Make your new mentor PROUD!! Secretly very jealous... Big Smile!

Becky said...

That is so cool!! What a thrill! I have an amazing quilt teacher/mentor/friend here who is much the same, so I can relate to that story about showing your work to her... What a nice story!

rosie said...

I am so happy for you to have such a wonderful mentor who lives close by.. Hope there will be many more opportunities to get together..

Kitchener Quilter said...

Wonderful beautiful story, Monika. I was wondering if you would be able to post a photo or two of Margot's work sometime? With her permission, of course. I would love to see what inspires you so.

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