Preparing for 2012

 

2012 will be one of my busiest, I know that now.  I want to believe that I will keep a healthy balance. Between all the workshops, the cyber classes, the new designs, all the commitments, I want to believe I will stop to enjoy.   

 

My family has changed this year, we have added a new generation, Nomi.  Nina is growing up so fast, soon it will be 10 years since we first met her in Cambodia.  Reid and I will be celebrating 19 years of marriage in 2012, WOW! I hope I remind myself each and everyday, to keep my life balanced, to take a moment and look up from the canvas or the computer.  I know it sounds cheesy, but I want to remember to look up at the sky!

But in the meantime, it's still 2011 and there is much to do before this year ends.  BTW, Nina is wearing a new design for earrings.  Lots of Tiny Secret Corners introduced next year.  We'll talk soon, so have a great week!

Orna

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Even Designs need a little lovin.....

Do you recall, old friends, the Carolina Cuff? This one was designed back in 2003, and recently, I saw a faded, unfocused photo of this beautiful cuff, and knew it was time!   The instructions have been overhauled, and the thread lists have changed to compensate for discontinued or otherwise unavailable threads. A special thanks to Gayle Roelofs for stitching the lovely new models -- her impeccable technique made it easy to show off the design!

I've mentioned Gayle before, we go way, way back.  We used to talk about our pre-adolecsents, now we talk about our grandchildren.

You've seen a preview of the kits for Dolci being compiled.  Over 300 little bottles!  We've had many requests, after the deadline, asking to sign up for class. Well, we were thinking that while we can't accept any more registrations for the class plus kits, we will continue to accept sign ups for class participation only.  The "Class Participation" option for the Dolci class is being extended to anyone who wishes to take advantage of this wonderful class! With this option you get to learn the special techniques that go into Dolci beadmaking, as well as hang out with other fabulous stitchers on the beautiful Dolci forum. What better way to spend all that extra post-holiday time?

Now could I possibly finish without giving you yet another look at Nomi?

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Visit me on Friday!

I am having a 30% off sale for BLACK FRIDAY! Such a scary sounding name, but if you have ever ventured to the mall, you know it truly is scary out there the Friday after Thanksgiving!

So I put all of my beautifully packaged Notions on sale, along with silk threads, rulers, needles, beginners kits, and much much more. Use the coupon code : black1 to receive 30% off of any items on the Notions page! This sale will run only the 24 hours of Black Friday, so be sure not to miss it!

In other news, has anyone else seen a dog that smirks? This picture basically let's you know who wears the pants in this family! "Ok lady, will you put down the camera already?"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 

MY FRIENDS!

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Who am I and do I care?

From the first time I took a needle to canvas, almost 17 years ago, I have read and heard many heated discussions on whether needlepoint is a craft or an art.  And if it is an art, whether I am an artist or a designer?  On top of that, I have always wondered why the needlepoint world confuses designers/artists with teachers of needlepoint technique?

I'll start with the last one, it's the easiest.  Being a good teacher requires excellent knowledge of the subject matter.  But it also requires an ability to capture attention and interest, an ability to take the complicated and break it down to the accessible.  Do you need to get formal education in order to know a subject matter very well?  Not necessarily, and when we think of teaching technique, of hand-work, years of experience or great motor skills are just as important.  You can teach good practices that assist in the making of a good teacher, you can teach how to prepare a lesson, how much to try to cover in a given period, how to assess the progress of a class.  But how to walk in to a classroom and within a few minutes to have all eyes on you, twinkling and showing great curiosity, you can't teach that.  

Now, let's say you are a wonderful needlepoint teacher both knowledgeable and possessing the ability to transfer the knowledge, does that mean that you are also a great needlepoint designer?  Or a great fiber artist?  The answer is obviously: NO!  Then why do we ask designers to teach and if they are indeed artists, why do we judge their technique, or in needlepoint terms... why do we look at the back of their canvas?

What about craft vs. art and is needlepoint one or the other.  When I use the word craft, I use it with the highest regard, the very highest.  To me, craft means not only what you create but also how well you create it.  What degree of importance you put on the beauty of the "how" and not only the beauty of the what.

From the Philadelphia Museum of Art 2011 Craft Show

From Wikipedia: In English, to describe something as a craft is to describe it as lying somewhere between an art (which relies on talent) and a science (which relies on knowledge).    

To me, that sounds very much like needlepoint. 

I don't think I care about how to define what I do.  I think I care to: 

1. enjoy it  

2.  do it to the best of my ability  

3. bring joy and excitement to the viewer and the stitcher.

Now, off to make dinner!

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Tiny packages.

I've always been attracted to miniatures.  Have you ever been to see the miniature rooms at the Chicago Art Institute?  And this Clue game with the miniature rooms in which someone murdered someone with something in a particular room.  I used to spend hours making miniature foods with polymer clay, never did anything with them,  just loved the process.

So now I'm packaging all the DOLCI kits and the silver pieces are going into teeny tiny glass bottles. The LARGE bottles are 7/8"!  I'm having so much fun!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Follow Up: That's no splinter, that's a STICK!

This is what came out of Nina's foot today.  Even the doctor turned white!

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OUCH!

Mommies can say anything three million times and it just doesn't register.  "Don't climb up there..."  "Don't touch, that's hot", "Don't get on chat rooms without my knowledge..."  the list goes on and on.  I've said "Don't walk around barefoot, you can get a splinter on the wood floors!"  a zillion times.  Not exaggerating!  A zillion times.  So on Saturday, when Shiri, Orin and Nomi were here for the weekend, we here a sudden scream, a wail and then heavy sobbing.  Nina, no shoes on, was dragging her feet and a splinter, a big one at that, lodged into the sole of her foot.  We all ran over, all five of us, (Nomi didn't seem too interested), and started throwing all sorts of advice around.  Soak the foot, cut the foot, heat the foot, ice the foot.  To make a long story short, we tried it all but the good-for-nothing piece of wood is still there.  If it doesn't come out by this afternoon, we are off to the doc's office. 

Nomi witnessed it all.  She is 7 months old, mind you,  (TODAY!), but still...  do you think she learned how important it is to listen to Mommy? 

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Dolci Jewelry

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Colorways Revealed!

Hi everyone-- Genevieve here--we have been getting all sorts of questions about the differences between the two colorways in our Dolci bead class, so Orna put together the colors for  MOD and  NOUVEAU and took some up close shots of  all these beautiful threads!

  Indulge yourself in these gorgeous colorways and join our class! Registration ends on November 15th!

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Color Inspirations, oh how I love you...sigh

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How do they do that?

I'm sitting here at my computer, trying to keep myself focused on charting a new design, but my eye keeps wandering to the chair next to mine.  Nina is sitting at the other computer, editing a video, listening to some Japanese pop music and singing along!?!?  Earlier today she was experimenting with Garage Band, arranging the beat, the music, I don't even know what she was doing!    

I don't care what people say about the "youngsters of today".  (You know, about how great we were and how they just aren't the same).   I think these young people are wonderful!  They know so much, but still stay so curious to learn more.  They are citizens of the world and at the same time loving beings in their own homes.  

BIG FAT KISS TO YOU, NINA!!

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WHY WASN'T I TOLD!!

The E-Z Needlepoint-Ruler.  A ruler that counts stitches on needlepoint canvas.   There is a side for 10, 12, 14 and 18 count canvas.  Did you know about this? 

GENIUS!!

So before stocking it in our shop, I thought I would check to see if it's really as good as it says, and...

YES!  It's perfectly accurate.  I counted 93 and look at the ruler, it says 93!!  I'm in love!

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Those Eyes, ahhhhhhh

They say it all.

We love you, Nomi.

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A Harvest of Color and Dolci updates.....

The Adorn Hues Deluxe Package

We have just put together a whole slew of hand-picked, custom thread packs called AdornHues. Every delicious pack includes 6 thoughtfully coordinated, all-silk skeins. Each 8-ply skein measures 5 meters. 
 

All of these beautiful combinations are one of a kind. Buy a single, or treat yourself to a few, and give yourself some new color to play with! Also available is the deluxe box which includes over 60 skeins of color overload. 


In Dolci news: more beads back from our wonderful, specially trained finisher! Angela  is perfecting the art of the Dolci bead and taking it to levels of detail and consistency we could only have hoped for. Her work is amazing!  Contact info and pricing for her services will be included in your kits.  We just cannot get over how completely "on" her work is.


If you have not had a chance to sign up for the Dolci bead class, or if you just need more information, follow this link here.
Spots are filling up fast!

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Free Gift and Finishing Details!

As a little something special for the holiday season, we had these wonderful little Adorn Travel Tape Measures made up. They are really handy---perfect to throw in your purse or travel bag.  We will include them with every order we send out to you, until supplies run out.

The Adorn Travel Tape Measure

AND for all you Dolci students --- wonderful news. If you normally go to a finisher with your needlepoint work, we wanted to make sure you had that option for the Dolci Cyberworkshop. SO-- we have secured a finisher for the Dolci class who, if you so choose, can complete the Dolci beads from the stitched canvas you send her. She's been carefully trained, does marvelous work ---- we could not be happier with her skill. We will include her contact, pricing and ordering information in every kit!

A sample from our trained Dolci Bead Finisher

Back in a bit!

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The Awesome Days.

The holiest of the Jewish holidays begins tonight.  Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement. On this day we atone for the sins of the past year, we search our souls and ask forgiveness for our sins against God.  While this is most important, as we plea to God to inscribe our names in the Book of Life, I find the second part of our duties on this day to be most beautiful.  It is our duty to ask forgiveness for the sins we committed against our fellow human beings.  We are asked to shed our bad thoughts, our anger, our guilt, and to come with outstretched arms toward any person we may have mistreated, asking for forgiveness.  Doing this wholeheartedly has no perks.  It does not insure our fate in the coming year, it has nothing to do with our relationship with God.  This is between us and our neighbor, our family member, our perceived enemy.  We hear a lot about how forgiving someone who wronged us lifts a burden off our own shoulders, frees us from the weight of anger and hate.  These are not modern day concepts, they are at the center of this Holy Day, Yom Kippur.  We ask forgiveness, we forgive others and in doing so we free them and ourselves of the burden of anger and resentment.  We set forth into the coming year lighter, unburdened, and with a loving heart. 

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GIVEAWAY WINNER and DOLCI IN DEPTH

Hello All!

We have decide to go into detail about the options for the new Dolci class, to answer any questions that may be out there.  Let's start off with what you guys like best: THREADS!

Any Option that includes threads in the title includes the following:

 12 skeins--- 2 metallics and the rest silk. It also comes with seed beads to do the sewn beadwork that
shows up on some of the individual designs.

There are two colorways, MOD and NOUVEAU. This is a MOD colorway Bead:

MOD COLORWAY

Mod is all about bright contrasts, purples, apple green, red, lilac. It's on the louder side. Bright, flashy, cheery.


This is a NOUVEAU colorway bead:

NOUVEAU COLORWAY

As you can see, these colors a little softer--teal, turquoise, browns, and tangerine. Elegant, refined. To see more of each colorway, check out the past two blog postings, go to the website or the product page and you will find many variations on the theme! It really is just two colorways, it's just different combinations!

Here you will see the eight bead patterns you are going to make. The picture shows some of both colorway, but there are eight distinctly different patterns:

The Eight Bead Designs for DOLCI: The Cyberclass

Now, onto the anything that contains "metal" in the title! In each Metal Kit you will receive professional jewelry tools such as round nosed wire wrapping pliers, flat nosed pliers and wire cutters. You will receive headpins, beads, jump rings and other jewelry findings which will be utilized in the finishing of the beads. This kit also comes with the seed beads that are used as accents on many of the individual designs.

Now Options:  To figure out which option is best for you, go to the cyberworkshop page. This page will give you detailed descriptions of each option. If an option lists "Threads" in the title, it includes all the threads for one colorway- Mod or Nouveau. If it lists "Metal" in the title, it includes all the things listed in the metal kit. If the title has Metal and Thread in the title, it includes a "Metal" kit, and a "Thread" kit in whatever colorway you choose!

Every option includes the Class Pass, which gets you into class! Each lesson will be posted in an easy to download, printable PDF for all students, no matter which option you choose.

*** We have also just added a Fifth option as requested by one lovely customer--just in case there wasn't enough to choose from! Option 5 is the Metal Kit and Both Colorway Kits--Mod AND Nouveau! So get all your supplies and roll around in all that silk, if you wish--you can make every bead you see, from beginning to end with this kit!


Ok---AND NOW A WINNER!!


Congrats to Geeky Heather, who has won the latest "My Family" free giveaway kit! Please email us with your snail mail address and we will send you a wonderful array of threads to go with the latest free design.

Please feel free to post any and all questions you have about this class---we will answer any and all questions, and maybe your comment will help others out!

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Modeling Jewels

Over the holidays, this past week, Shiri agreed to do some modeling for my Dolci bead jewelry.  Looking at her, so poised and beautiful, watching as she mothers Nomi with such love and gentleness, hearing her chat with Reid about legal "stuff" with the eloquence of a seasoned, sharp attorney,  I just about burst with pride!!

We also took a photo of a bunch of Dolci beads in Shiri's hands so that you can get a good idea of their size.  I think they are so beautiful bundled up in her hands, Yummy!

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A New Design, A Fresh Approach and A Class you will love!

For months now, I have been hinting at a new Cyberclass.  And here it is -- at long last --  Dolci...

Nouveau Colorway--The Sunburst Bead

Dolci ( pronounced "dole-chaye") means "sweets" in Italian. And it fits these new bead designs perfectly: bite-sized, delicate, and oh so sweet! I am incredibly excited to introduce this class... I feel that this is a new way of doing things, a new way of working with canvas and thread.  It's about details, and it's about presentation--two things I love.

Nouveau Colorway --- The Checkerboard Bead

What sets these beads apart from other jewelry components I have created in the past, is that they are true beads. They are rounded and double sided. They have a 3-dimensionality that has not been done until now.  In the Cyberclass, you will be working with the first 8 designs of a whole new line of  Dolci Bead designs from Adorn. You will learn all of the new techniques needed to create these tiny gems. And they really are tiny--the smallest is as small as a dime!

Nouveau Colorway -- 4 Crescent Bead

It was a long process getting these designs exactly right. We were looking for fiber beads that could be elegant, wearable and sophisticated. A grown up version of fiber jewelry. We wanted there to be a metal element, to give them the ability to hold their own in a finished jewelry piece. We wanted versatility, and above all, an easy way for students to create them.
 

Mod Colorway -- The Stop Sign Bead

And we did it! We got all of that into this class. And we are really proud of it! In addition to that, I put together four registration options, five kit options, and two colorway options! Whew! And you all thought I was kicking back in Israel all summer....

So, go to the website and get more details about Dolci. Read all your options, and see which one suits you best! Registration ends November 15th, 2011, and class begins February 1st, 2012.

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New Free Design - My Family Series

Before I get on with the next installment of the My Family series, I wanted to let you know that I am putting this chapter on my blog with a bit of trepidation.  It might not seem possible, being that I have a blog and that I've been writing about my life, but you must believe me when I tell you that I am a very private person.  This blog has been and still is an exercise for me in opening up, not being afraid to share.  This installment, more than others, is very personal but I feel you can't know anything about my life without knowing about Shiri.  This was originally written 11 years ago, (before Nina came into our lives).  Shiri was a college student then. Now she is a mother, a wife, a lawyer, a beautiful human being and a loving, caring, delightful daughter.  I am leaving this installment exactly as it was in the magazine 11 years ago...

Shiri, Orin and Nomi

My Daughter Shiri

By the time this issue comes to your homes it will be March.  Twenty-one years ago, on the 25th of March, my daughter Shiri was born.  She is my only child.  When Shiri was a few months old, her father and I separated.  I raised her on my own for the next twelve years. 

I came into parenting at the age of 23.  I remember well looking down into my baby’s eyes as she was put on my stomach for the first time.  Her blue round eyes were huge and they gazed up at me with intensity.

Shiri and I spent the next twelve years as a solid unit, she and I facing the world together.  In the first year of her life I was facing a divorce which rocked my world and terrified me.  I had to make immediate changes in my career, becoming the sole provider for our family unit.  I was faced with financial devastation and began a struggle that would last for years.  Planning for my future was a luxury I did not allow myself.   It was Shiri’s future that I would think about at night.  How would I make it all possible for her?

She was an easy baby, very inquisitive, happy and funny.  We spent many hours together, the two of us, and I remember talking to her constantly. From early on Shiri invited me to be a part of her inner most emotional life and she made her way into mine.  Our bond has always been like a metal chain linking the two of us from within.

When she was twelve years old I met Reid and we were married a year later.  Our family unit expanded and Shiri had to make way for a new member.  Just as she did not have any say in her being raised by a single mother, she was now faced with such a big change and she must have been terrified.  The first year of our new life was rocky, but soon Shiri and Reid began establishing a wonderful relationship that has grown into a beautiful combination of love and respect.

I could go on and on about my Shiri.  She is the pride of my life. . . *

*  As I mentioned, this installment came before Nina

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