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The Needlework Nutshell—November 1, 2006 Volume 2, Issue 11 November 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 and Brilliant Ideas 3. What’s New at Funk & Weber Designs 4. Make It Yours! 5. Readers Ask 6. Puzzle Contest 7. Contact/Subscribe/Unsubscribe *********************************************************** 1. NEEDLEWORK MUSINGS *********************************************************** Happy Birthday, Needlework Nutshell! I can hardly believe it's been a year, that I've written 12 of these newsletters, that you've read them, and that you seem to want more. Clearly, we're onto something--yay! I may not know exactly what it is that we are onto, but I have confidence that together we'll figure it out. My original goal in starting the newsletter was pretty simple: to connect with stitchers. The benefits of these new connections, however, I didn't fully anticipate: I've e-met fabulous people with fabulous ideas; been inspired by the creative accomplishments of readers; and been spurred into creative action by questions, requests, and a monthly deadline. Thank you! So where do we go from here? I'm actually compiling something like an editorial calendar: ideas for articles and projects for the year. What would you like to see here? Go ahead and dream--though that's not a promise that you'll get it! Let me know what you'd like. Here's something I'd like: I’d like to *Do Something Good* with needlework and this newsletter. Knitters knit hats for preemies and people undergoing chemotherapy. Crocheters crochet scarves for homeless people. Quilters make quilts for the elderly. What does an embroiderer have to offer? Okay, I admit it: Embroidery may not have the inherent usefulness that some other fiber crafts do. But there must be a way to Do Good with it. We’ve already talked about teaching others to stitch. That’s Doing Good. For those who joined us later, or for those who need a reminder, see the March issue in the NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL archives for a list of reasons why stitching is good. http://archives.zinester.com/57410 Here's another idea. As many of you know, I lead multiple lives: children's author and needlework designer, to name two. Does anyone need a list of reasons why reading is good? I didn’t think so. If I marry these 2 beloved pursuits (da-DUM-dee-dum), I get…bookmarks. Hmmm. What if we were to stitch bookmarks to promote literacy? We could donate stitched bookmarks to libraries to give away as prizes during summer reading programs. We could give books and bookmarks to sick kids in hospitals. I could design and publish bookmark patterns and donate part of the profits to literacy programs or libraries. Yeah, I'm using plurals. What's the point of aiming low? We can practice what we preach by listening to books on tape while we stitch. Listening to books on tape counts as reading in my book. (Yeah, that was intentional--I crack me up!) Instead of holding "Stitch and Bitch" events, we could hold "Stitch and Read" events. One person reads aloud while everyone else stitches. Or we could read the books at home and get together to discuss them while we stitch. A Book-and-Needle club...Story Threads. Is it just me, or does this sound like great fun?! I have no idea how to organize a needlework-for-literacy campaign, but I'm willing to learn. If you have ideas, and a moment to share them, drop me a line. What do you think? Does this interest you? Will you join me on such a journey? At the very least, we can each stitch a bookmark, take it to the children’s area of any library, and say, “Here. Give this to a child who deserves a reward for reading.” That's Doing Something Good with embroidery. *********************************************************** 2. TIPS AND TRICKS AND BRILLIANT IDEAS *********************************************************** This month's TTBI (tip, trick, brilliant idea) was inspired by a question on a crafting message board. A stitcher asked for ideas on how to finish a cross-stitched picture. She loves to stitch but has no desire to frame her work in the traditional "picture" way; she's not allowed to hang things on the walls in her apartment, anyway. I love this question! It's not that I have anything against framed needlework. I don't. It's more that I have something *for* alternative uses for, and presentations of, needlework. I especially like the idea of displaying our needlework in public. That's why I'm so into our bracelet and tag patterns; they put our creative efforts Out There. But this stitcher already has a picture stitched. It's something like 10 x 12 inches, not exactly bracelet or tag material. Here's my brilliant idea: Sew it to the back of a jacket. In my mind, I see it on the back of a vintage jean jacket, but lots of jackets could work. How would I do this? *Trim the 4 sides of the fabric so they are even: about 2-inches beyond the stitched area. *Wash or steam the piece, iron and block it. You want it to look clean, smooth, and straight. *If you know how to hemstitch edges, do it. If not, keep reading. *Press the raw edges to the back, creating a 5/8-inch hem. *I would miter the corners, but that's me. *Stitch around the piece about 1/4-inch in from the edge. This could be done with a contrasting thread and decorative stitch, or it could simply be done with a thread that matches the ground fabric so that it more or less disappears. You could backstitch through both layers by hand, or zip around the piece on a sewing machine. *After stitching all the way around the needlework, I'd pin it to the back of the jacket, and stitch it in place, either with a slip stitch by hand, or with a somewhat long stitch on the sewing machine. Why would I stitch the piece twice? Why not stitch the hem under and the piece to the jacket at the same time? You could. My goal in stitching the 2 steps separately is to create a hemmed piece that can be removed fairly easily when the jacket needs to be washed. I'd just rip the second stitching. Did you groan? Oh, come on--it's not that big of a deal! How often do you really wash your jackets? But what if you spill chocolate milk on it? It's not such a big deal to remove the needlework if you don't have to re-do the hem and mitered corners. An alternative could be to attach the piece with snaps, buttons, or Velcro. What do you think? I have no idea if jean jackets are "in," and I can't say that I care. Needlework is timeless, so whatever is used to display the needlework becomes timeless, too, right? Now all I need to do is hunt up a vintage jean jacket and design a picture to stitch for the back! *********************************************************** 3. WHAT’S NEW AT FUNK & WEBER *********************************************************** Some current projects-in-progress include: *designs for 2 magazines *a new novel *new TAGS FOR BAGS, CLIPS FOR ZIPS pattern titled WA-HOO! (I don't think that's giving away too much, do you?) *two book proposals: one a kids' puzzle book, the other a stitching book *beginning stitching online class *family-, class-, or group-stitching online class *********************************************************** 4. MAKE IT YOURS! *********************************************************** Ready to be dazzled? (And perhaps put to shame? Er...I mean...motivated, encouraged, inspired, galvanized into action?) Diana, from Edinburgh, UK, won the September puzzle contest and chose the *EmbroiderMe! Composite Cross Stitch Bracelets* pattern as her prize. Check out her first bracelet project, for which she put together her own color scheme and materials: http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/make_it_yours_diana.html Have you adapted a pattern to Make It Yours? Tell us about it! mail@funkandweber.com *********************************************************** 5. READERS ASK *********************************************************** Please e-mail me with questions for this section. mail@funkandweber.com Here's a question I get repeatedly: Where do you get your ideas? Sometimes it's in relation to stories; sometimes it's in relation to puzzles; sometimes it's in relation to designs. I've avoided this question because I'm not sure I can answer it well, and I imagine any answer I give will be LONG. Truth is, ideas are everywhere, free for the taking. The trick is in recognizing them as ideas. To some degree, my imagination has always been active and likely to run off with any Tom, Dick, or Harry idea that comes along. But it's also been trained to do that. I think anyone can learn to generate creative ideas. Say I'm walking to the mailbox--a bit of a journey for me. I see snowshoe hare tracks along the road. My brain automatically jumps to a story about why those tracks are there, or it jumps to the idea of animals tracks as some sort of puzzle (maze, matching), or it jumps to a needlework design of the brush with tracks and then a hare hidden somewhere. Say I'm making oatmeal for breakfast--always with blueberries from our yard. My brain jumps to a story about weird foods people eat for breakfast around the world or through history. (Did you know that people used to eat popcorn as cereal?) My brain thinks of a puzzle based on grains or berries--maybe a word search where the unused letters spell some nutrition fact about grains for a Children's Better Health Institute magazine. My brain thinks of a food or kitchen version of our WHAT IN THE WORLD? design. Say I'm watching a movie about a blind man. My brain jumps to the idea of a blind girl in a mainstream school who tries out for the cheerleading squad. My brain jumps to the idea of a puzzle that uses braille for a code. Or, how about using French knots to create braille messages in needlework? Maybe use special fibers and beads to stitch an image that could be viewed and understood by touch. Ideas are literally at your feet, in your breakfast bowl, and right before your eyes. Want to generate some creative ideas of your own? Identify what you want to create. If you create the same kind of thing over and over (stories, puzzles, needlework designs) your brain will start to think that way automatically. Until then, brainstorm. Let's say you want to come up with a creative idea for a holiday gift; it's about that time. Who is the recipient? List the person's hobbies, interests, and favorites. I'll do this right now for my dad; he doesn't read this, and I haven't decided what to get him this year. Here's my list for him (not quite as extensive as I would really make it): *Works for funeral homes *Sings barbershop, enjoys opera *Enjoys gardening *Drives a lot *Enjoys traveling *Is a good cook, but generally eats alone *Drinks coffee and tea Now it's time to use these as jumping off points for my brain. What are some gifts that might be used in any of the above? *Could use black hat, coat, scarf, gloves for winter funerals, or might enjoy the series "Six Feet Under." Are there any undertaker novels? How about an elegantly embroidered black scarf? *Music CD, course on history of opera or composers, tickets to opera, opera glasses, opera DVD *Plants or gift certificate from gardening company, tickets to Rose Garden, community education class on flower arranging, gardening gadgets *Books on tape, hands-free setup for his cell phone, cooler that plugs into his car *B&B stay, maps to secluded or small-town sites, travel journals *Gift certificate to a place where you can make interesting freezer meals, frozen crabcakes, exotic spices *Interesting teas and coffees, gift certificate to tea at a tearoom Try it! Everyone can generate creative ideas, and the more you practice, the better you get. *********************************************************** 6. 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) November 7, 2006. The winner will be selected on November 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 in THE NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL. To the puzzle! http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/nutshell/crazy8s.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~ OCTOBER PUZZLE CONTEST WINNER: Lorene, from Aurora, Ontario ACK! I botched this puzzle! After creating it, I went back and changed the letter strings to complicate it a bit, but then I forgot to change the windows accordingly. (See? My puzzles are too hard for me, too.) Strangely enough, some puzzlers still got the right answer before corrections were made. Those are the *fiends* we have to watch out for! Thanks to everyone who pointed out the errors so that I could fix them. The answer I was looking for: Junkie Nut Zealot Hound Buff *********************************************************** 7. 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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