Suddenly It's The End Of the Year......

2012 has been a busy year for me, what with the publication of Crewel Twists and trips to Australia, Ukraine and Russia along with trips within South Africa.  I'm looking forward to a family Christmas and a chance to recharge my batteries for 2013, which promises to be just as hectic.

During February 2013 I will be travelling, with Di van Niekerk and Wilsia Metz (our South African publisher), to Paris to attend L'Aiguille en fête from the 14th to the 16th.  I will be giving half-day workshops at this show, teaching a miniature version of the popular Midnight Meander design in my book.  

This will be followed by a hop over the Channel to go to the Craft, Hobby and Stitch International show in Birmingham on the 18th and 19th of February.  At this show - in conjunction with Search Press - Di, Wilsia and I will be presenting a seminar to teachers and designers in England on the subject of taking their embroidery businesses international.  We look forward to meeting up with our French and English friends and customers at these events.

During June and July, I will be teaching at Koala Conventions.  Wherever you are in the world, if you are passionate about your embroidery, this is a go-to event.  The Brisbane event is nine days devoted completely and entirely to embroidery and related needle crafts.  Definitely worth saving up for.  And if you've already been to the Brisbane event, consider taking in the beauty of New Zealand as Andy and Wendy are taking it there as well next year.  Go to www.koalaconventions.com.au  to read about it.  At that site there is a downloadable brochure for both events.

  

Australia and New Zealand will be followed by a hop over to Norway in September to teach at Bitteliten Broderie's retreat in Stavanger.   I will be repeating the Midnight Meander miniature that I am teaching in Paris, along with the small Jacobean project that is in the image above.   Once again, the Australasian and Norwegian trips will provide a chance to meet up with friends in those parts of the world.

And I haven't forgotten my friends in South Africa.  I won't be at Hobby X this year as it is too soon after we get back from the UK and France.  We do, however, plan to be at the IQCA in Johannesburg during early September.  To find out more about this event, visit http://www.iqcafrica.com/. The first IQCA event was held during 2012 and it was fantastic.  There is no doubt in my mind that it will develop into the premier needle craft event in South Africa, if it isn't already.

In between all of this, I'm spending most of my time in front of my faithful friend the telly, in the company of my other faithful friend, Neville the glorious white Boxer, working on a new book.  Entitled Crewel Intentions, and due for publication in June 2014, it will continue the theme of breaking the rules.  Introducing yet more textile and needle craft techniques into your crewel work and steering clear of wool, which should please embroiderers with allergies - a very real problem for many of us.

It's a slow but gratifying process, not least because the rest of my family is quite prepared to take on boring tasks - like cooking the supper and feeding the dogs while I'm lost in stitch heaven.  Apart from the two extracts shown here, it will eventually go on to include designs with beads, crystals, needle lace and much more.

Please do feel free to visit our website over the festive season.  If you want to place orders that is also fine.  We might not deal with them as promptly as we normally do, but you won't be ignored for too long. 

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm during the year.  I hope you all have a happy and peaceful Christmas and look forward to seeing many of you during 2013.