I've always thought that there is nothing more important than knowing where I come from and where I'm going. It gives me a sense of grounding, purpose, responsibility and hope. Where I come from is my family. Where I'm going is my family.
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| My Family |
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In 2001 I wrote an ongoing column called My Family for Needlepoint Now magazine. Each column entry had a story about people in my family as well as a needlepoint design to go along with the story. The designs eventually came together to form a large composition which is pictured here. I would like to bring this series to you, along with the free designs, one column every two weeks.
Why now? Nomi, our first grandchild, was born on April 14th, 2011. She continues the story, she is where we are going.
And here is some fun news for you! Every installment of this series along with the free design will also include a GIVEAWAY. We will be giving one lucky follower a gift of the fibers used in the installment's free design!! I say follower because in order to be included in the drawing you must be a follower of this blog. To follow please look on the right-side column, under the About Me, where it says: Hi, and thanks for following! Sign up and you're automatically included in each of the drawings!
I will be posting the articles just as they were printed in the magazine at the time. Where I feel it important to comment, I will add an explanation on what was happening at the time. Today I will leave you with the introduction to the series. My next installment will include the first free design. I hope you enjoy these stories and perhaps you will be inspired to start a series of your own.
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| Auntie Nina and little Nomi |
MY FAMILY – A NEEDLEPOINT FAMILY ALBUM
It is the greatest honor to be able to address you on a regular basis from the pages of this most wonderful magazine. I sit here in front of a blank page much like I sat 5 years ago in front of a blank canvas. In front of that first canvas, I did not know what a daunting task I was taking on. Many times in my life I have taken bold steps, made radical changes, and I wish I could tell you that they were done after deep thought and with much bravery—often, they were not. Had I thought each of the steps through, I may have backed down and stayed where I was. Luckily I was anxious enough for a change, curious enough to experiment. This time I know what I’m getting myself into. This time I am terrified!
English is not my first language. I sometimes mix up my idioms, translate expressions that make no sense to the English speaker and use words that I have read but never heard, pronouncing them totally wrong. I am being a bit manipulative now: I say all this to ask for your understanding when my writing is perhaps not as good as it should be to grace the pages of this publication. I hope that now I have you on my side…
On this blank canvas, I would like to bring you a “chain of creation”. I want it to start with an idea, develop into a complete concept and with the help of words and stitching, progress into a creation.
My idea began with the realization that the most important part of my life is my family. They are important not only because of the love we share with each other, but also because of the lessons of human nature that I learn from each and every one of them. They are all so different, and yet they all come together into one grouping: My family. Some I never met, some joined through marriage, and others are a part of my daily life, the background and foreground of my every moment, much like needlepoint—Creating needlepoint designs has become what I do, and defines much of who I am. I want to use needlepoint to create a design that will express the importance of my family, and I would like to create it along with you. I have no monopoly on the treasure of family. We are all embraced by it.
Over the next few months, I will share with you a design comprised of elements each representing members of my family. I will tell you about the people that inspired each of these components. They all have such wonderful stories. You can stitch along with me and when we are done, I will show you how they all come together to form my new design: Family.
Before Needlework came into my life, you could find little scraps of paper with doodles everywhere. The telephone area was particularly bad, (remember when you couldn't go anywhere with your phone, you just sat in one spot close to the phone outlet?). 
Then Needlework came into my life. The doodling didn't stop, it just moved onto canvas. I have 2 drawers FULL of doodles. I hang onto them because many of them eventually find their way into one of my designs. I was cleaning up this morning so here are the doodles of this past month or so, making their way into the doodle drawer.
