Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Four great days in Austin

I got home last night after spending the last four days in Austin at a Tony Minieri class - the Back to Basics class.  It was a great time - I would highly recommend it, if you have the chance to attend.

 
It was all technique.  Back in 1979 or so when I started stitching, I took 6 classes, but things were so different then.  Along the way, because I was working and raising a family I didn't take classes at all, so until I moved to San Antonio, I was doing a lot of things incorrectly.  Since then, I have corrected a lot of bad habits, but I knew I'd learn a lot from Tony, and I did.  He's great.  Highly recommend the class.   I rate it four stars, with enthusiasm.

Got to spend time at night, too, with my stitching buddies.  Very fun.

Happy stitching.
Jane

If you want to know what I did this weekend...

Check out Colleen's blog. 

I shared my chair with her new kitty, Rhett.

http://www.theneedleworks.typepad.com/

I'll show you pictures of my Cat in a Kimono later today.

Jane

"What's she been doing?" you may wonder (or maybe not).

I've had my not-so virtual behind in a chair all day long for four days in a Tony Minieri class at The Needleworks in Austin.  This was the first time he has taught his newest piece, In The Footsteps of the Pharoahs, which is number 4 in his series, I believe.  Each section is an historically accurate representation of a fabric or other textile from the era of the Egyptian Pharoahs. 

It was intense, let me tell you.   I'm sure many of you have taken his classes before, so you know exactly what I'm talking about.  

I'm showing a picture of the result of my four-day adventure - but only reluctantly.   Crazy that I made such a small dent in this canvas. 

I'll have to say I learned a lot about technique from him which will apply to things I do from now on.   I'm taking another canvas enhancement class with him in August, and I've signed up to take his four day Back to Basics class in February of next year (or some time next year).   He's very instructive and good.   Lots of funny stories along the way, too.

I'm posting this picture, because the blue band here is the only part of the whole thing that is actually finished.  Most of the areas are at least 5 steps - some are 7 or 8.  Maybe I'll finish this in my lifetime.

No stitching today.   Didn't want to look at anything related to stitchy-ness.

Later.
Jane

I'm busy stitching....

Forgot to tell you that I was signed up for a 3-day canvas enhancement class with Tony Minieri at The Needleworks in Austin this weekend.  This is the canvas I'm working on.  It started Saturday, so I've been making the 1+ hour trek up I-35 for the class.  Love it.

I know, I know.  I said I wasn't going to buy any more canvases, but you see, I committed to this last year, so it doesn't count.   Ok, maybe it does, but the chances are if you're reading this blog you either know my addictions (shoes, clothes, dishes, linens) or you stitch.   So you get it.  

I keep forgetting to ask Tony if he minds if I blog about the stitches he prescribed - and I need to email Brenda Stofft, too.   If that works out ok I'll show you my progress in the next day or so.

If you haven't taken a class with Tony, you must do so immediately.   He's great.   Big on technique, which as he said today, most people have learned or more probably just done on their own, so there's always a lot to learn but more importantly to unlearn.   I asked him about how to do French knots today.   How many years have I been doing French Knots?   20.  But there's always something to glean (I mean unlearn), and I wasn't disappointed.  

Happy stitching.
Love, MIMI

P.S.   Colleen definitely has one the best shops in the country.  Every time I go up there, I'm amazed at the inventory of threads that she has.  The customer service is fabulous, too.  I think they've studied The Ritz-Carlton - if you ask them where something is - they WALK you to it.  No pointing in that shop.   Knowledgeable and so willing to help.  Just wish I lived closer.   And if you can imagine, she's building a new shop.  Construction starts next January.  Buckle up.

He's not red -- he's green

Again, Brenda is just amazing. It's a crazy thing to work do stitches you've done before and use threads you've used before, but to see a whole new world open up in combinations of the two.

I told her on the last day that if I do the other 2 nutcrackers on my own, they'll look like orphans!! She kindly made suggestions on them to avoid that problem.

It was a fun three days. The only negative was that my neck and shoulders cramped after just the first day. Luckily there was a Massage Envy shop just around the corner. I'm thinking Needle Nook should work out some sort of package with them. Stitch all day -- get a massage.

Originally posted February 4, 2008