February 2011

 

February brings Valentine’s Day and The Stitchers’ Village 2nd birthday. It is also Nashville wholesale market month which will bring lots of new releases from your favorite designers. The main focus this month is that we have designated February to be bookmark stitch along month. To get this event started, Erik Shipley from Ship’s Manor designs has made us a lovely complimentary bookmark design. He will also be available in the social area of TSV in the chat room at 7 p.m. central time this evening, February 1, 2011. I hope you will take this opportunity to stop in and chat with fellow villagers and thank Erik for taking the time to create this special bookmark. I hope you enjoyed the “Stitch Sampler” that was posted over the past two weeks. Several individual stitch diagrams were posted and then a band-type sampler chart was posted to practice the stitches in a variety of thread variations. This will remain available through the link in the Forum under the Stitch Along topic stitch sampler.

Member Article:

Diversify or Specialize? By Linda Henry 

It is apparent, by viewing photos posted by fellow villagers, that some stitchers prefer one form of needleplay while others work in several. This brings the question to mind - is it better to specialize or diversify? If we were talking about your financial portfolio – for those of you fortunate enough to have one – the common advice seems to be diversify. If you look at many of today's retailers, it is evident their philosophy is all about diversification. How many of our parents or grandparents could have had all their grocery, clothing, medical, and household needs met in one giant store? On the other hand, today’s factory farms have gone to the other extreme and are all about specializing. But what about stitching? If we choose to diversify, we open ourselves to a myriad of opportunities and possibilities. We could try something new every few months and not run out of new adventures for a significant amount of time as the list of choices is long. If we don’t try new things, might we miss the opportunity to find the one thing that absolutely talks to us and makes our heart sing or risk becoming bored? Diversification in the needle arts? There is generally a cost factor involved with trying something new. Most things require at least some monetary outlay for the basic tools, gadgets and materials to complete a project. Even a few initial supplies to get you started can be costly. You might ask yourself: Do I have the time to do multiple projects of multiple techniques? Do I have the time and capacity to acquire a satisfactory result for each? Do I need or want to know all there is to know about what I try, or do I simply enjoy a challenge? Can I afford the supplies that will complete a project? Are you someone who needs the motivation of a new challenge to hold your interest? The mastering of new techniques can be very satisfying. Now, let’s look at specializing. Specializing offers its own comfort zone, develops confidence, and fosters a sense of security as we make steady progress in our accomplishments. Some find it gratifying to develop expertise in one method. For others, that may translate as boredom and cause them to walk away from needleplay feeling as if they’ve ‘been there, done that’? Perhaps there is a way to respond to that boredom within one stitching genre - diversification within a chosen and preferred needleplay. This is where the wide variety and complexity of designers and designs, fabric, thread and stitches can provide significant options. Many of us started on white or ecru aida and have branched out to try many different fabrics; liking some rejecting others. The same can be said of our thread choices. There are currently a number of members experimenting with stitches as they enjoy Patty's "Stitch Sampler" stitch along. You might try your hand at some designing of your own; or perhaps you will devise new applications for your finished pieces. I suspect the quandary might then become how we will ever have the time to try all that is available. I recently revisited a form of needleplay I first learnt a long time ago, but had not done in many years. I have been pleased, intrigued and captivated by the possibilities it offers. While it may not be that 'one thing', I am truly enjoying the time I now spend in this corner of my stitching playground. So, returning to my initial question - Should we specialize or diversify? - the answer would be that there is no right or wrong; good, better or best way to approach needleplay? We must each determine what suits us best and what we prefer. As long as your needleplay gives you joy and satisfaction and positive feelings about yourself and your accomplishments, and doesn’t turn to needlework, then that is best. Sit back, stitch in some happiness, and enjoy!