Is Needlework a dying art?

While at the Hawkesbury show I spoke to one of the stewards for some time about the entries. She commented that there were half the amount of craft exhibits as there used to be. The steward was a lovely senior lady who had been a part of the show for many years.

I mentioned I was a school teacher two days a week and we chatted about craft being taught in schools (or the lack of).

Today at work, one of my colleagues entered into the same conversation with me.

I know it's important for children to be able to read and write, and to do their sums. But the pressure these days to perform has pushed out nearly all other parts of a well rounded education.

I am fortunate that my daughter's teacher decided to do some stitching with her. But it's the first time in her 7 years of schooling that she's been exposed to this kind of craft. She's also lucky that both her grandmother and her mother are keen stitchers, so she's been surrounded by it for as long as she can remember. I've given her a few projects, from straight stitches, card lacing and counted cross stitch. She hasn't completed them all, but she has at least been exposed to the craft.

What about all those people out there who don't have family or friends to encourage them to have a go?

Is needlework dwindling into a dying art? Or will there be a resurgence of interest down the track? Perhaps, as in the nineties, cross stitching will become a fad again.

What do you think?
I'm interested in your opinion.

Hawkesbury District Agricultural Show

What a lovely morning.

I was up early to make sure I got to the show and grabbed a good car parking space. The weather was beautiful and it made driving the short half hour trip very pleasant.

I actually arrived a bit tto early and the exhibition wasn't due to open for another 10 mintues, but the doors were open and I asked the steward politely if I could get in before crowds to take some photos as I would liek to do an article for Embroidery and Cross Stitch Magazine. They were so accomodating and even offered to open some of the glass cases for me. I took over a hundred photos and my arm was geting quite tired holding the folder up to write down names by the end of it.

I won't go into too much detail here, as I will be writing an article to submit to at least three Express Publication magazines (Beads, Patchwork and Quilting and Embroidery and Cross Stitch).

But here are the winning cross stitch entries.

Class 74 (Cross Stitch) First Place, V. Brown

Class 74 (Cross Stitch) Second Place, Annette Leck (Below)

Class 307 (Cross Stitch on Even Weave - small article), Frist Prize Elise Stephenson

For more detail, and other categories, I guess you'll have to check out the article when (and if) it goes into the magazine. I'll let you know when
Jenni

unable to post

Frustrating.
DH says he doesn't have the problems I do and he said maybe it was the way I was accessing blogger through my email. I should be going to the page through google. I'll try that and see how it goes.
But I did also get an error message from blogger saying the site was unavailable for a while. Maybe it was in the short wondow of opportuntiy I had to post yesterday.

In any case, It's Saturday here now and as I've done the necessary house work I'm free to pursue my favourite pass times.

I had a nice idea for country style Christmas item that I'll probably start today or tomorrow (they need to be to the magazine by June ... I know it's strange doing Christmas things at this time of year).

I had a rotten few days at work this week and I'm keen to work hard at my designs to try and pull myself forward into that career.

I've been enjoying stitching the magnolias in the evenings too. I've only had time to do a few threads. But it has been helping me feel 'whole'. I think it's the recreational nature of this stitch (rather than something I'm trying to sell) that makes me able to do just a bit at a time without stress.

I'm off to Hawkesbuty show tomorrow so I'll have photos and plenty to write about.
See you than
jenni

My Daughter's Rainbow

I'm so proud of my daughter who stitched me a rainbow for mother's day.
Like many of my forum friends at cross-stitching.com I agree it's wonderful that her teacher took the time to show them how to stitch and then gave them opportunities in class time to complete it.I had quite a few requests for a picture of her work. Bare in mind it's her first finished work and she's only 11.

Actually I was pleasantly surprised the stitching is quite neat. She had to design the backstitching herself and she said she shortened the rainbow.

She's had a go at designing something herself and even though she didn't finish stitching it, I know she enjoyed the process. So who knows, maybe she'll be following in my footsteps as a designer?

See you tomorrow

Jenni

Magazine Magic

How exciting.
I had the previlidge of visiting the offices of Express Publications to spend some time with Marilyn Horwood, the editor of Embroidery and Cross Stitch Magazine.

I arrived a little early and she was still proofing the pages for the next edition. She invited me to sit with her and watch the process. Not only did I get a sneak peek at what's coming up next, I saw how the rough proofs of the magazine were checked by Marilyn for content and consistency. She talked openly and freely while I watched her bring up the pages on her computer and I learned a little on the process of the layout and advertising.

Then we went upstairs to her office where Marilyn showed me more of the gorgeous work that's soon to grace the pages of E&C. Wow! There are some talented people in this world. To see all the stitched samples together was quite daunting. I had to remind myself that they come from many different people with a wide range of talents and experience. Luckily Marilyn also seemed appreciative of the work I'd brought to show her. She appeared to be particularly interested in my dyed background fabric.

As I was leaving, she showed me different departments and introduced me to editors of other magazines that I've often enjoyed such as 'HandMade', 'Beading' and 'Country Craft'. Not only were they all such lovcly people, they made it clear I'd be welcome to submit work (from the other crafts I enjoy) to their magazines.

And what a place to work!
There's patchwork quilts, samples of fabric, and examples of people's work everywhere. It certainly wouldn't be the ideal office for anyone who enjoys clear surfaces, but I'd be in my element.

I left feeling so inspired and ready to create. I look forward to a bright future contributing designs to the many wonderful magazines at Express Publications.