Anna Pearson's Needlepoint Blog

We have had the first session of the two day Lettering Class, everyone enjoyed it.  Hard at Work We started off exploring the many, many types of lettering that could be used on needlepoint with the help of a specially prepared work manual.   This gave examples of simple letters, script alphabets, monograms, nautical flags that represent individual letters, and many more. Hard at Play   Besides numerous alphabets there was examples of how each type could b put to create whole projects or simply add a personal touch to a piece.   A lively discussion ensued with many examples of my own work being handled and discussed   Gill Alphabet  Phrase Probably the areas that appealed most to the students were ‘Phrases’ , sayings like ‘You aren’t getting old just more valuable’ and one student brought in a great saying about gardens which will call out for a pretty floral border (to be worked on Day 2).   The Eric Gill script alphabet worked on a...

As mentioned before the weekend I expressed the hope that, because of the back to back sport over the weekend I would get a great deal of stitching done and promised to share any progress! Scheme II & III Well, here is what I managed – finishing a third colourway of Tudor Rose and quite good progress on my Rhinoceros.   Some time ago I showed a ‘vide poche’ piece with Robert’s initials and multiply borders that I completed however I enjoyed working all the different borders so much that I vowed to follow the same idea and make it into a boxed cushion – so as to show the intricate border flat!  The Rhino is hand-painted from a woodcut by Durer (1515) and worked in Vineyard silks (my first use of this thread and good for Tent stitch as it is not divisible) The Border introduced Threadworx Overdyed floss and stranded cotton.   By working the two central columns (top and bottom) and then the corners it makes fitting in the in-between columns simple an...

Just had a spectacular 20 hours;   Swan Lake ballet, the annual meeting of the Needlepoint Network and choosing threads of my next project;   sitting with a cup of tea,   catching my breath after so much excitement. Last evening we went to see ‘Swan Lake’ at a live cinema relay from The Royal Opera House, Convent Garden.   I have written about these live relays before, one sits there and join audiences in more than 1069 cinemas in 26 counties to enjoy world class performances.   Swan Lake was no exception; Anthony Dowell’s production evoked the opulent period of 1890 Russia when Tchaikovsky wrote the music; In my ignorance I had thought the whole story revolved around the swans living by the lake with their classical white costures, but two of the Acts were at Prince Siegfried’s palace, masked balls, acrobatic entertainers and sumptuous costumes. In addition to the beautiful sets by the Lake with the ‘swans’.     Natalia Osipova and Matthew Gol...

While, as I have said in the past I love travelling, seeing new places, meeting interesting   people and getting some truly wonderful inspiration for my needlepoint designs I have to admit that it would appear that some terrible things have happened almost immediately after we have left a country. This has been brought to mind with the destruction and bulldozing of the ancient Assyria capital of Nimrud and the great concern for the future by Unesco the United Nations cultural agency. I well remember the excitement of visiting the Riace bronzes in Reggio di Calabria, more than 2000 years old and discovered in the sea of the coast of Italy – I wrote about them in a blog of the …… when we had been on one of our Italian stitching trips However some of the buildings and architectural detail that have inspired me have resulted in lovely designs.    There are two from Christchurch Cathedral on the South Island New Zeeland; Christchurch Tiles on the left and Cathedral Tile...

Been so busy the last few days;  Valentine's Day last week and three family birthdays, Shrove Tuesday with delicious pancakes yesterday and Chinese New Year yesterday (19 February).  Have also finishing off an additional colour way for the Tudor design - although the backgrounds are skip stitches rather than solid basketweave they still seem to take for ever! Saffie's 1st Birthday present stitched in Myanmar Each Lunar New Year has a special animal with a 12 year cycle, Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey Chicken Dog ad Pig.  The upcoming year is the year of the Goat and my Myanmar newspapers told me that red underwear (especialy bought for you as a gift) would be extremely lucky.  I shall have to visit Keturah Brown, the lovely lingerie shop in Primrose Hill where I know she has some particulary pretty red items! As needlepoint designs some would work far better than others and I as a 'Rat' would defini...

As I have always admitted, travelling to new places meeting new people, enjoying their way of life and, in particular seeing their crafts is one of my greatest joys.   Our trip to Myanmar, Burma that was until their independence in 1948, was no exception. The people were so helpful to us and always had a smile;   the countryside that we visited was green and lush with many lakes, the great Ayeyarwady River which acted as the   main artery for transportation of goods and of course the magnificent temples all over the countryside but particularly in Bagan. Myanmar has borders with Thailand, China and India so the food is a great mix of these cuisines, coupled with the extremely rich soil that produces the most wonderful selection of both fruit and vegetables.   I couldn’t resist a photo of a road side vegetable stall, a vibrant cacophony of colour, smell and variety in a village we passed through However, as always I particularly love seeing the crafts th...

Travelling is one of my passions, I love to visit different countries, meet their people and often I am fortunate to get ideas for new needle point designs!  But on my trips I always take some stitching with me, in fact being seen to stitch often starts an interesting conversation with local people and fellow travellers The following suggestions are for family holidays not for needlepoint retreats or specific courses when one can expect good light,, calm surroundings and uninterrupted stitching time, when of course one takes more demanding designs and one's full battery of equipment! Over time I hope I have learnt some important does and don'ts especially having just returned from Myanmar where I was able to make these notes Do let me know of tips you might like to share! Plan in good time! Allow time for any standard kit to arrive, longer for one with special colours or threads requested. If taking instructions only, allow time to get the right coloured canvas and threads tog...