Leaving on a jet plane!

Off to teach at the Jupiter Lighthouse chapter of ANG tomorrow!  They chose "Reflections of Joy", a great learning design.  Lots of different Crescents, Jessicas and learning to manipulate lovely overdyes.  This chapter is celebrating a Silver Anniversary and in honor of this I designed a new colorway for them.  These are the colors, (lots of silver and lots of Florida colors):

In September I will be teaching another class of Reflection of Joy with a special colorway, in honor of the EGA Madison Chapter.  I'll share that one a little later...

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New Class - Cyberworkshop

Registration for my ANG Cyberworkshop has begun.  

Check it out HERE. 

I want to aggressively do some self promoting, well, not self, rather Grecian Glory promoting.  This is a great cuff and a wonderful class.  Not only because of the aesthetic of the piece but also because of the unique learning opportunities the cuff affords.  What do I mean?

• AMAZING threads!  AMAZING array!  The cuff uses only silks and one wool but they are in different weights, they are used in different ways, and they are combined creatively.  Learning how this is done goes with you at the end of the class, it doesn't only stay on the cuff.
• The design is stitched on the diagonal, it's a different angle with very interesting results.
• You will get very detailed, step by step on how to finish a cuff without having to send it out to the finisher.  It's very doable, really!  Again, this goes with you, it doesn't just stay on the cuff.
• You will learn how to embellish using fine jewels, pearls, beads to make your piece of jewelry rich.
• The colors...  ahhh, the colors you will combine.  (Three colorway options, all stunning, if I may say so myself). 
• You can use the design for more than just a cuff, it can be multiplied into a belt, a curtain tie back, a shoulder bag strap.  Again, it goes with you beyond the cuff.
• You will  learn how to adjust stitching to different wrist sizes.  Goes with you beyond the cuff...

The threads are all Gloriana silks and one Lorikeet wool.  Have you stitched with them before?  It's the "soaking in a glorious bath with a glass of champagne" of needlepoint fibers.  

So, go on over there and check it out.  Hope to see you in class!!

Grecian Glory Cuff Cyberworkshop!

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What to bring?? Tell me and participate in a give-away drawing!

The house is very quiet.  Nina has been away for a week now.  She is having a fantastic time, learning so much about fashion and jewelry design, 3D printing, music editing, (yes, this is a camp! I wanna go too!). 

My summer is busy with prep for Chicago.  We have hundreds of skeins and cards of fiber in every possible shade and hue ready for my Color Inspiration class.  We have beautiful kits of threads, beads, semi-precious gems, jewelry findings, ready for the Samburu class.  We have kits coming together, so many, as well as many other offerings for merchandise night in Chicago.  

Every time I prepare for merchandise night, I feel I am able to anticipate what you, the stitchers, will be looking for.  I get this sunken feeling when I need to tell a customer: "It's not here, but I can ship it to you when I get back to the studio".  I know it's not a big deal, and I do ship for free, but from my own experience, I like to walk away with my purchase.  Nothing quite like opening a shopping bag in my hotel room and rummaging through my purchases.  Anyway, every year I make a list of what to bring and inevitably I find that there is a big surge of interest in something I don't have multiples of.  Big :(

So, maybe you can help me?  What would you like to see at the tables that night? What type of items do you tend to look for when away at a stitching event?  There is never enough room on the tables for everything I'd like to bring, so choosing the right items is crucial.  

Write your ideas and thoughts in the comment section.  We will have a giveaway next week, an amazing fiber pack, in thanks for your efforts of helping me think this through!  Let me know what you like to see, what you don't like to see, what your past experiences have been, what works for you and what doesn't.  Don't hold back!!  Bad experiences in previous events?  Great experiences as a result of what? 

Next Friday, July 18th, we will draw a winner, a recipient of a beautiful group of fibers that will grab your heart and not let go!!

Thank you again, my friends!  I know I can always count on you!!

xo

Orna

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Kvelling!!

Irene Urban sent me beautiful photos of her Yuval cuff.  The colors, the jewels, all her choices!!  She describes the colors as a bit Bollywood.  I love them!!  Thank you, Irene.  I admire your choices and the speed in which you created your Yuval cuff!

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We had Nomi with us for 5 days and Ruben for the weekend.  Ahhhhhhh, just kvelling.  

Nina will be on her way to Israel in a week.  I'm already missing her.  It's going to be difficult so I will need to keep very busy preparing for Seminar in Chicago.  Already the studio is bursting with kits, fibers, embellishments, instruction books.  It's very yummy around here.  

Will you be at Seminar and if so, do you have any special requests for merchandise night?  I'm always looking for help on what to bring, how to display it all for your ease in viewing.  Any tips? 

Upside down photo by Nina

A fun bath before heading home

I'm off to make some order in the house.  I'm finding toys in the strangest of places!

xo

Orna

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Not so good news, but on the bright side...

I got "the" phone call.  One of my three seminar classes did not make the cut, meaning not enough people signed up.   :(

The Village I Built will not be at Seminar.  I'm sad, I love this design, the petite images, the geometric quality.  But I must look on the bright side which means that I can offer it to all of you as soon as I get the final corrections from my pilot stitchers.

Chins up, Orna!

My new design, Victory Gardens, is being proofed by two of my favorite stitchers and friends.  Here's a little peek from one of them...

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One of my very favorite people of all times is visiting with us.  My aunt Bella, who has been a special person in my life through thick and thin, is visiting from Israel.  She is one of those people who makes you feel special and safe when she's around.  What a treasure!

I love you, Bella.

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More about my co-pilots:

Sorry I had to run off yesterday.  Nina is feeling much better but still stayed home today to get more Mommy pampering.  

On the second day of classes here at the "Factory" I was so surprised and excited to see a show-and-tell of my designs stitched by some of my co-pilots.  I'd like to share one in particular with you.  Carol stitched Windmills of Color, combining the colors on her own and coming up with a beautiful, sophisticated color scheme.  She told me she was very nervous and almost reluctant to try her own thing, but I, for one, am very happy she did.  

Windmills of Color - stitched and color selection by Carol Toman

These are my samples

On Sunday we worked on Samburu, the needlepoint and beading necklace.  I warned the ladies in advance that the piece is more difficult than it seems because it is stitched on the diagonal.  I went on and on, only to find out that they were not at all confused.  I guess it's just me, how embarrassing!

Diane cutting her Ultrasuede tassels

Joyce moving along with the design

Tara attaching the cord to the tassel

Ladies practicing folding back excess canvas

Karen working hard despite an injured hand

Putting together a beading sequence

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To my dear co-pilots, THANK YOU!

What a weekend we had here at the Cigar Factory, Philadelphia! Three days, thirteen ladies, two classes and tons, I tell you, TONS of fun!  

The first class was piloting The Village I Built. While there was trepidation about stitching on 40 count silk gauze, each of the ladies at the end of the day agreed, it's not at all hard.  If you have the right lighting and good magnification, it's very doable.  What a great group of stitchers graced my home. Very accomplished and attentive, helpful with comments and insights, a teacher's dream team!

Everyone loved Esther.  They loved her so much that when they walked over to La Maude to pick up lunch, Esther went with them! We all agreed she was jealous of the attention I gave the ladies and was a bit of a pain.  This is Esther looking for the next victim to play ball with her...

Just got a phone call from the School Nurse...  off to pick Nina up, probably a stomach flu!  :(

More tomorrow...

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Bon Voyage!

Just a quick note before I run off to Target for a few last items.  Yesterday a huge box went out to California with all the models for my three Chicago Seminar classes and one Cyberworkshop class.  The Glory cuffs will be offered for an online class and with that in mind I decided to bring a new colorway to the mix, (top right).

"The Village I Built" is on it's way as well along with a sample of the kit for this piece placed a neat clear box to see the silks in all their glory.

I also sent out all the inspiration photos for the color class I will be teaching in September here in Pennsylvania.  I love teaching, but more than anything I love teaching this color workshop! 

I will be writing to you on Facebook, or here, so please stay close by. 

Love to all,
Orna

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Samburu, all four colorways for you to preview.

Happy 4th of July weekend!  

Here they are, the four colorways for my Samburu class at ANG Seminar 2014 in Chicago.  This class will be about stitching the amulet but also about the finishing, the beading, the tassel making, in short, you will learn how to make what you see!  

SAMBURU - Vast Sunset Colorway

SAMBURU - Cast Shadows Colorway

SAMBURU - Desert Thorns Colorway

SAMBURU - Animal Instinct Colorway

I hope you are all enjoying your 4th of July weekend and staying safe!

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New design for ANG 2014...

I've mentioned before that I will be teaching three classes at the Chicago ANG Seminar in 2014.  One of them is a fab-u-lo-so color class.  I've designed a new piece for the class, this is the piece we will stitch as an interpretation of our color photograph.  I'm almost done with my second colorway sample so I just had to show you!  I'm loving the piece, it is very, very, very fun to stitch.  In fact, if I have the time before I leave for Israel, I may try one more colorway.

It amazes me every time, the same design in different colors gives the piece an entirely different look, mood, sensibility.  Please join me in this class, although I must warn you,  it is addictive!
Enjoy your weekend!
xo
Orna

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This is where I'll be. Come join me!

A few updates on upcoming workshops that you might want to participate in...

September 27-28, 2013 - The Brandywine EGA Chapter.
We will be working on COLOR!  This color-workshop is so much fun, you will enjoy every minute!  Color play, thread picking and a needlepoint design to bring it all together.

November 2-3, 2013 - Syracuse ANG Chapter.  We will be working on Gayle.

 

If you have any interest in either or both workshops, let me know and I'll have the wonderful ladies coordinating these events,  contact you. 

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Chicago Classes... here I come!!

Chicago, what a town!  Reid is from Chicago and I promised him that I'd do my best to get us there for ANG Seminar 2014... so here we come!

I will be teaching three classes at Seminar, (provided you guys sign up!):

(1)  My Color Class. THREE days!  I'm thrilled that the committee picked this class up and will be giving me three days of amazing color exploration.  I must put all humility aside and tell you that if you have not taken a color class with me, or if you have and need more, this is the class to take!!

(2)  Samburu, a two day class on making this beautiful piece of jewelry.  It will be offered in a few color choices so if you want to suggest some color combinations, now is the time.

(3)  The Village I Built, a two day class for this piece done on silk gauze.  It's a real charmer in person and although only 4.5"x2.5", it packs a punch!

Let me know your requests for Samburu colorways and if I get enough requests, maybe I'll even do another colorway for The Village I Built, (go on, tempt me...)

Have a great week!!
xo
Orna

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I'm so confused!!!

For the past few years, and hopefully into the future, I have tried to alternate my summer plans; one year teach at the ANG National Seminar and one year go to Israel to be with my family.  I did not apply to teach at this upcoming Seminar, I was exhausted after last years' wonderful event and I want to spend a nice chunk of time in Israel this summer.  Now, the Chicago Seminar of 2014, that one I don't want to miss. Chicago is Reid's hometown and he can't wait to tag along, for him I MUST teach in 2014.  

So I've been putting together proposals for classes and they now sit ready in a box going out tomorrow in order to meet the deadline.  I'm exhausted!  It's so much work, deciding what to propose and how to "show" the class to the faculty committee.  It must be presented in a certain way, there are definite guidelines.  It should look nice and appealing, and forms must be filled out.  Samples should be stitched, it helps, I've been told.  I mentioned that I am exhausted, but it's not from all I've mentioned.  It's from trying to figure out What Do I Propose?????  

There are two different groups of people I need to appeal to; the selection committee and the student body.  They may not think alike, they may not like the same thing.  Stitchers may tell me that they would be so interested in a certain type of class, but the selection committee may not see the appeal or the need for such a class, therefore stopping me in my tracks.  The selection committee may enthusiastically choose one of my proposals, only to have less than the minimum required students sign up.  That's when a class gets cancelled before Seminar even starts.  

I've been proposing for Seminars for over 12 years.  I still have NO CLUE how to make it work.  What is the magic formula for a class that will appeal to the committee and will attract student registration.  To me it still seems like a magic equation, one that I am not privy to, but with a bit of luck, I may just coincidentally get right.

In all honesty, I've been lucky many times, but not always.  In fact, many times I've predicted a certain class would be a huge hit and it wasn't and the other way around...



 I'm confused and have my fingers crossed for Chicago Seminar 2014...

I don't have a photo of my confused face, and you probably wouldn't want to see it anyway... but I do have a photo of our Nina playing at her concert in the Jazz Ensemble.  They were great!!  Got the entire audience swaying!  Sitting in the front row, with the glasses, I present... Nina Willis!

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