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The Needlework Nutshell—September 1, 2006 Volume 2, Issue 9 September 1, 2006 <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> THE NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL Needlework news, musings, tips, contests, and what’s happening now at FUNK & WEBER DESIGNS <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> Editor: Jen Funk Weber Mail to: mailto:mail@funkandweber.com Web site: http://www.funkandweber.com Your privacy is important to us. Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others. *********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE *********************************************************** 1. Needlework Musings 2. Tips and Tricks 3. What’s New at Funk & Weber Designs 4. Readers Ask 5. Puzzle Contest 6. Contact/Subscribe/Unsubscribe *********************************************************** 1. NEEDLEWORK MUSINGS *********************************************************** It’s fall in Alaska. Tundra plants are turning red and orange, and the aspens are turning yellow. Most of my summer obligations are fulfilled and I’m staring at a relatively blank calendar. And stare is about all that I can do; I’m exhausted! It seems to be a symptom of age, since my friends suffer the same malady, but I feel busier than I’ve ever been before. From May 31st to August 22nd, I was home for all of 3 weeks, and during those 3 weeks I somehow wrote 2 kids’ activity books. Or so I’m told; I’ll believe it when I see them. So it’s no wonder I’m tired. I *should* be tired! The problem with being bone-weary, brain-mushy tired is that it’s hard to get motivated to *do* anything, let alone be creative. So what’s a run down gal to do? I took a day off and went to the Alaska State Fair. A busman’s holiday, you say? Maybe. As Superintendent of Handwork and Needlework, I am involved in the Fair, but I wasn’t there on business. I watched some shows, ate fried crab cakes, petted goats and pigs, and wandered through the exhibit buildings. Seeing the quilts, beads, art, baked goods, giant vegetables—and even the embroidery, crochet, and knitting entries that I helped display—was inspiring! I started to get ideas. And energy. As I strolled around the Fair, I absorbed everything it had to offer. The creative well inside me filled up again. When I returned home, I listed my ideas, and set deadlines on my calendar (it’s no longer blank). I feel refreshed and ready to tackle new projects. It makes sense. Creativity is something that comes out of you. At some point, you’ve got to put something else back in or eventually you’ll be empty. You’ve got to fill the creative well. But what if you can’t go to the Alaska State Fair? What are some ways that you can get inspired? 1 – Visit any craft fair, expo, or festival. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with needlework. 2 – Wander down aisles that you don’t frequent in the craft store. Maybe you *can* use clay in your needlework! 3 – Check out some craft books from the library. Any craft will do. 4 – Take in a museum, concert, or poetry reading. 5 – Take a walk in a park or around a different neighborhood. Open your eyes and look for something you haven’t seen before, something pretty, something that makes you smile, something that makes you think. Fill yourself up, and when you return, creativity will pour out of you once again. *********************************************************** 2. TIPS AND TRICKS *********************************************************** As promised last month, we’re going to discuss Stitching Over 1. That is, stitching over 1 thread on a linen, plainweave, or evenweave fabric. But why would anyone want to do that? Sometimes patterns contain a small area that is stitched over 1, while the rest of the piece is stitched over 2. Faces, for instance, might be stitched over 1. Why? Because it allows for finer details: subtle shading, tighter curves, etc. Sometimes the desired end product is tiny: buttons, pendants, or watch faces, to name a few. Sometimes we just want to try something new! Take a look at the technique and give it a shot. http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/nutshell/over1.pdf *********************************************************** 3. WHAT’S NEW AT FUNK & WEBER *********************************************************** Registration is still open for our September 19-24 BRACELET BASICS & BEYOND online class. Get inspired with a new technique! Visit our web site for details and to register. ~~~~~~~~~~ I turn 40 in a few days. ~~~~~~~~~~ NEW PATTERNS TAGS FOR BAGS, CLIPS FOR ZIPS: THE BEACH. Beach motifs for tags, key chains, zipper pulls, magnets, and more. Complete instructions for making the tags, from start to finish. These are great grab-and-go projects for public stitching. COMPOSITE CROSS STITCH BRACELETS. Now easier to resize for a perfect fit. Another great grab-and-go project. NIGHT LIGHTS. Bright city lights illuminate this new black-and-white Stitchling. If you ask me what city it is, I’ll say, “Mike-alopolis.” I asked Mike to design a nighttime cityscape and this is what I got. Right now, it’s my favorite in the series—which is strange since I am *not* a city person. See them all at: http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/index.html *********************************************************** 4. READERS ASK *********************************************************** Please e-mail me with questions for this section. mail@funkandweber.com xsnut401 asked if I have a blog. Not at this time. It has crossed my mind, though, to turn this newsletter into a blog. Sometimes I want to send a message to Everyone in the middle of the month. For instance, back in July I wanted to let you know that you readers are really popular! I actually get e-mails from folks who want to meet you (or want your addresses), or who at least want me to pass on a message from them. I never do, of course. To be honest, the messages haven’t been especially relevant, so I don’t think you’re missing anything. But isn’t it cool to be in such high demand? What do you think? Should I turn this newsletter into a blog that I can add to willy nilly whenever the mood strikes? Seriously. Can we take a vote? mail@funkandweber.com *********************************************************** 5. PUZZLE CONTEST *********************************************************** Play with me! Solve this puzzle, and be entered to win a free Funk & Weber Designs pattern! Winners will be randomly selected from all correct entries. E-mail your answer, with “PUZZLE CONTEST” in the subject line. The deadline for this month’s puzzle is midnight (Alaska time, of course) September 7, 2006. The winner will be selected on September 8, 2006, notified by e-mail, and announced on our web site and in the next NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL. To avoid sending e-mail attachments, contest puzzles will be uploaded to our web site. I will provide a link to the puzzle only in THE NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL. This is without a doubt one of my favorite kinds of puzzles to make and solve. Please, please, *please* try it. Print it out and sit down with a friend, spouse, child, or co-worker and see how many you can come up with. I’ll let you in on a little secret to solving these kinds of puzzles: say the words out loud. Over and over. Let your ears do most of the work. To the puzzle! http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/nutshell/movies.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~ AUGUST PUZZLE CONTEST WINNER: Isobel, from Fort McMurray, Alberta. Answer: What Alaskan animal eats with its tail? They all do; they can’t take them off! *********************************************************** 6. CONTACT FUNK & WEBER DESIGNS *********************************************************** SUBSCRIBE: 57410-subscribe@zinester.com UNSUBSCRIBE: 57410-unsubscribe@zinester.com ARCHIVES: http://archives.zinester.com/57410 Jen Funk Weber mail@funkandweber.com http://www.funkandweber.com Copyright 2006, Funk & Weber Designs |
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