My First EGA class: From Fail to Fun

In my last post I mentioned my joining the EGA and my first class; a Blackwork Pumpkin.  Today I am going to show you the results.
Embroidery is a generic term for a great many styles/types of needle work - I love it all but I don't want to stitch it all.   This class has clarified in my embroidery portfolio, I will never be accomplished at doing counted work.  Math is not my best friend, I only like it in small necessary doses. Counted Work ( Blackwork being part of that) requires counting and compensation, recounting and more compensation and I am not even going to try to explain that here - I am just a total flop at it.

I discovered with my pumpkin class once I got beyond the pumpkin out line I became totally lost in the counting and the compensation part.  I really have a new appreciation for my fellow stitchers who excel at this.  I love it, but not for me.

This is the pattern I traced you can see the stitches - along with the tracing parts, there are details stitch instructions which included measurements and pictures - which were of no help to me whatsoever - my bad - the pattern was fine

I decided right off I wasn't going to do the pumpkin in the traditional black - what would I do with it after?  Who wants a black pumpkin on bright white fabric.  That should have been my first clue.  I feel like If I am going to spend precious time on something, it needs to do something other than sit in a drawer.

Those of you who do this, no doubt can look at this and see this is not for me.  This took me three hours!  I thought about ripping it out (again) and starting over (again) and then I started thinking about some of the pretty orange fabric in my scrap basket and how nice this would look as an applique'd piece, on black fabric, with beads, with gold thread.  And that was the end of my Blackwork career

I retraced the pumpkin parts cut out fabric bits, pulled out fibers and this is the result:

I had so much fun doing this I think I will do a motif for each season  and frame it .  Next I think will be pine cones and boughs.

Shakespeare's Polonius said    "To thine own self be true"  and that is good advice, however there can be a lot of fun in trying new things in the process of developing that self.  So now I know I will never be that precise type of stitcher and will love and appreciate the skill and talent from afar, while I am ankle deep in beads.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Ginny M

Local EGA First Meeting of the Year and Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself.

The Mohawk Valley Chapter of the EGA had it first meeting of the 2019-2020 year, I felt so privileged to be there as a member.  Joining a local EGA (Embroiders Guild of America) has been something I have wanted to do for decades.  Either there wasn't a local chapter or I did not have the time to join - Now there is a local and I can sandwich the meetings into my day.  I am very thankful for this time in my life that I can do these kinds of things - I used to say "Someday". Today is that someday and it is such a pleasure to go and find new friends with like interests. 

Today I received gifts as a new member and was able to take a class. Enjoy coffee and listen to a short lecture.

A sweet Newbie gift, I picked the yellow one.

Take s class on a new to me style of needle work : it may look easy - it isn't!

Pick up a few goodies at the "White Elephant Table"

I midnight project to get my name tag made:

We are commanded to love our neighbor as yourself - I am working on taking better care of myself so that I CAN love my neighbor.  Needle work has been something I have loved since I was 11, it is a relaxing past time and helps me fill my home with "all manner of beautiful things".  It brings me a sense of accomplishment in a loved form of artistry. 

I think if you are reading my blog you to are a crafter - I hope you can find time to pursue some of your passions just for the sheer enjoyment of it -love yourself!

Thanks for stopping by and go express yourself!

Ginny M