Thursday, June 20, 2013

Breaking News: Gitta Has Left Us UPDATED

I'm sorry to say that Gitta, the owner of Gitta's, which is just outside Toronto, has died.   I understand she battled cancer for quite a while now.
http://www.gittas.com

Gitta's is well known for silk gauze and charts especially done for silk gauze, but they carried a lot of everything.   I am sorry to hear that their founder has joined the stitching angels.

UPDATE:  I am told Gitta's daughter will probably keep her shop open, which is good news.  I finally got around to finding photographs of two ANG Seminar exhibit winners worked from Gitta's charts.  I think there are more but there aren't photos of all the winners on the ANG site.  Look for Pat Dowse's bowl of red poppies.
http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/1999.php

Then there is the vase of lilacs design by Jeanne Wesline.
http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2008/index.php

Beautiful work and beautiful stitching.  Thank you, Gitta.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kickstarting Paternayan UPDATED

This morning I found a comment posted by one of the owners of Saco River Dye House posted in an earlier message about their revival of Paternayan wool. This is what Claudia said in part.

"During the last several months, we have been incredibly consumed with the re-establishment of the Dyehouse, re-introduction of Paternayan and trying to ensure we are getting the word out. As always - keeping up with communications in a fully packed day has proven challenging. We are trying to address this in two ways - posting more to a blog on our website and the start up of a business Facebook page for the Dyehouse. We are starting to 'talk' a lot - some about Paternayan and a lot about the Dyehouse in general. So here is my request......

Yesterday we started a Kickstarter campaign with the goal to add equipment substantially expanding the Dyehouse capacity and improving our environmental impact. Although the campaign talks about 'organic yarns' - the truth is that all of the yarns including Paternayan will benefit from the addition of package dyeing equipment. In order to meet our financial target - we need to spread the word about the campaign as quickly and as far as possible. One way to do this is to post to blogs or ask the blog administrator to start 'talking' about the Dyehouse. I was wondering if you would be willing to do so and how I could best support your interest in doing so. We are already grateful that you have been willing to write about Paternayan - it has been a real bright spot in the re-starting of the Dyehouse operations. The loyal following has been incredible. Let me know your thoughts. Claudia"

I wrote Claudia back and said of course I would post about their Kickstarter project here.  Needlepointers are always eager to hear more about the reintroduction of Paternayan wool!
Here is the link to the Kickstarter campaign fund raiser. There's a video showing their facility, yarn being dyed, and talks about their desire to build an American company in Maine that makes organically certified yarns for needlework.  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dyehouse/dyehouse-organic-yarns-made-and-dyed-in-the-usa?ref=live

If you aren't familiar with Kickstarter, it is a way of connecting folks who need funds with those who are willing to support their work.  If you are a fan of Paternayan wool, this is a good way for you to contribute to its being available once again in needlework shops all over the USA.  Read through the information carefully and decide if you want to become a supporter.

For more information, here is the Sacco River Dye House website.
http://sacoriverdyehouse.com/site/

There is a link at the website to the Dye House blog but here's the direct URL in case you want to bookmark it.  If you are a Facebook user, you can "like" their Saco River Yarns page.
http://sacoriverdyehouse.com/site/?cat=4

Good luck, Claudia!

UPDATE:  The Kickstarter campaign reached its goal of $25,000 eight days into the campaign.  Congratulations!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Latest Fireside Stitchery Newsletter

Fireside's latest newsletter is out, and it is chock full of news about upcoming monthly clubs (Henry VIII and his wives plus the Zecca cube cushion), about the current trunk show (Kathy Schenkel) and of course photos of the current monthly clubs (the Kelly Clark firecrackers and the Patti Mann Graveyard Witch).  Even if you never participate in a club, it is great fun to see what Fireside is doing.  Here's the link.
http://www.benchmarkemail.com/c/v?e=2F710F&c=353ED&l=33B241A&email=V%2FEwCv7EFfcGrlzr2t%2B6BLQR3BgPsWUo&relid=C6EC164

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Midori's Gallery

This morning I stumbled across Midori Matsushima's website.  She teaches Japanese Embroidery in England, and I've heard mention of her name before.  If you find JE pieces exceptionally lovely, please look at the Gallery section to admire her work.    I also enjoyed browsing the shop to see the stencils and other exotic tools used in create Japanese Embroidery masterpieces.  It's a fun glimpse of another stitching style that is mostly alien to me and to my personality.  Enjoy!
http://www.midori-embroidery.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.