Jane Greenoff writes... Jane's Journal

Itch to Stitch photography & new projects added today…..

fowlerjane — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:48:26 +0000

Hello again Everyone,

Bill and I are back from our Northern France Tapestry Tour and today we spent the day photographing projects for Issue 96 of Itch to Stitch and now getting ready for our Together We Stitch Weekend at the Hilton Hotel a 10 days time. Never a dull moment here!

Our trip to France was marvellous and I will sort through the 657 pictures on my camera and publish some of these shortly. We visited the Bayeux Tapestry and even though I have been before many times – it was still amazing….We went on to Claude Monet’s Garden – I will never tire of that enchanted place. I am grateful to Neil Cuthbert, a new member of the CSG team for letting me use some of his pictures here. At least this way you do get to see evidence of the trip!

The House

The Bridge

A Riot Of Colour

Claude Monet Trio

I thought you would like to see the holiday project for this year – I was completely bowled over by my last visit to Monet’s Garden in Giverney so had no problem using inspirational material from my last trip to create a Claude Monet Trio pictured above.This is now available as a complete kit – just click the link for more information,

I used Hardanger embroidery for the lily pond and eyelets for the hollyhocks, neither of which were in evidence on this trip but that was hardly a problem. It is not just the variety of plants that make you smile – it is what is planted with what that makes you gasp…..I am working a another stitching project inspired by this special garden but more of that anon….

I have some news for you about a very exciting development coming to the CSG web site but I am not allowed to tell you anymore as yet – watch this space.

Off to France on Saturday and more!

fowlerjane — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:29:14 +0000

The Stitch Book

I am sitting in a sunlit Studio feeling a little bit pleased with myself! We seem to be back on track again after the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show, delivering the book to the printers, posting Itch to Stitch on time and getting ready to go to France with our group this Saturday! Before we leave on Saturday, I intend to sign and post the pre-ordered copies of the Stitch Book which arrives with us tomorrow – all the envelopes are addressed and ready to go…….I do hope you find it useful.

The Conservatory Classroom

I thought you would like to see the Conservatory before my Saturday class started! Rather tidy and calm, don’t you think? Well I think the picture below tells a story! We started with a roaring log burner and then had to open the French doors.

Some of the usual suspects

Petite Fleur

This was the project for this class and I must admit to being amazed at how much was achieved in the day. The project included counting with seed beads, cross stitch, buttonhole bars, bullion knots and how to create a folded hem. The little weighted fob includes a magnet and the Watbo has tiny seed beads for the flowers.

Next time I am in touch, we will have been to France and I can let you see the Monet project!

Issue 95 of Itch to Stitch is on its way

fowlerjane — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:00:31 +0000

After a weekend of envelope stuffing, we packed our mail sacks in to the mail van yesterday and your next magazine is winging its way. I hope you enjoy it. If you have not received your copy by the weekend send me an email and I will investigate…..We have finally given in and bought a franking machine and in the nick of time. The new postal rates are real stinkers and I am going to have to invent new products that are very thin – I have had to add some postal charges to a few items where I would actually lose money as things stand. Sometimes being in business is like climbing the greasy pole..but an old friend of ours used to say “Do not worry – I will succeed because I am pure in heart” I think of him often…….

Back at my desk

fowlerjane — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:40:22 +0000

I have almost put everything away after our trip to Olympia. We did have a marvellous show and I love the new West Hall with the amazing glass wall and the part glass ceiling. I had forgotten just how dark it could be in the old Olympia 2. I am busy looking at the after the Show list and it seems to get longer every time I look at it. So this week, we will be starting to mail your next magazine which includes Tudor Treasure photographed below. I do hope you like it…….

Tudor Treasure closed

A detail of the Watbo inside

Off to the show – will talk again next week

fowlerjane — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:21:27 +0000

Bugs and Beasts

Almost packed and ready for Olympia, London for the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show. These days because I am so long in the tooth we do have help with transporting all the stuff to shows. Rob, our man with a van will be here at the crack of dawn tomorrow – I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this help.

Just a few thoughts before I close for a few days – I have seen the proof of Issue 95 of Itch to Stitch which we should be able to post by the end of the month. I thought you would like to see another new kit completed in the dark watches of the night! As you know, I have always loved samplers and have collected for a number of years. All these little patterns have originated from antique samplers either ones I have collected or possibly hankered after! I am starting a series of Collector’s Samplers – each with a theme and this is Bugs and Beasts.

With luck, I will be up to date with all our mail order when I leave in the morning, but after that I am afraid it will be next week before I can get to the desk again…..

Happy stitching until then…..

Packing for Spring Knitting and Stitching Show!

fowlerjane — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:30:52 +0000

Well, here we go again! I am surrounded by boxes and plastic bags getting ready to set up our space in the new West Hall at Olympia. I am sure once we are in the building and the van is unpacked, all will be well but at the moment the thought of the challenges on Wednesday are almost too much.

The whole exhibition centre has been rebuilt and the whole show is now one one floor but upstairs. The old retail area is now the loading bay! I am, however, thrilled that we will have all that natural light and I am sure that the event being in one place rather than on three floors will be marvellous.

As you can imagine, it is all systems go here at Pinks Barn. I am sorting out items that should have been made in to kits ages ago – I thought you would like to see this new Butterfly Chatelaine. I stitched this originally for a class and have been just waiting for a chance to put all the bits and pieces together. I hope you like it!

The main design is worked on our lovely Vaupel and Heilenbeck linen band and I have used Oliver Twist threads for the Hardanger embroidery.

Just a note : I will be adding many of Jean Oliver’s (Oliver Twist) threads to this web site shortly – Watch this space……

I am probably going to be out of touch now till next week as we leave here on Wednesday morning and am not back till Sunday night. I hope to see lots of you up in London this week and will be back at my desk on Monday. The gang will be around to answer phones etc….

Happy Stitching everyone…….

Painted Patchwork Pincushion and more

fowlerjane — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:29:44 +0000

It has been a lovely week here at the Studio at Pinks Barn. I had one day at the studios filming for Create and Craft TV but apart from that I have working here and been designing and stitching for my next series of classes and the projects for the holiday to France next month.There is always a project waiting to be started or finished! Don’t worry – I know how lucky I am…….

Painted Patchwork Pincushion

This biscornu shaped pincushion started life last year as a class project but is now available as a complete kit. I have called it Painted Patchwork Pincushion because I have used space dyed threads and there is an option to work the design in a patchwork format

This image shows the top section of the pincushion where I have used unbleached and ivory linen to good effect – You can see that the Hardanger sections are worked in Oliver Twist space dyed threads. In the original, I lined the pincushion with felt but I have used a lovely silk fabric for the kits.

Tudor Treasure

I thought you would like to see this project from your next magazine – Tudor Treasure has been in my work tray for almost a year whilst it cooked! I am sure you know what I mean when I say cooked! It has four different designs on the outside and I am finally happy with the end result. The charts and instructions will be included in issue 95 of Itch to Stitch our CSG members magazine. Go to Join us

Tudor Treasure

Tudor Treasure is stitched on 28-count Cashel linen and made up by hand. Inside there is a little treasure - a little three-sided Watbo scissor keeper which you can see in the image below. I am sending out this magazine at the end of the month -

Now I must get back to the packing for the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia. I hope hoards of you come as see us on Stand F50 -we are running classes every day and I will be on the stand for the duration. The show is in the new West hall and I cannot wait to see it. The whole fair is on the first floor and it should be tremendous!

See you then…..

Prize Draw and more

fowlerjane — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:20:49 +0000

Afternoon all,

Very tired and a bit grumpy this morning – Had a Bu**er your day letter this morning and in spite of it being rubbish it still stings a bit…… Why do some people make a complaint so spiteful – and so personal…. Still I am lucky – don’t have many of these. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be a Royal and not be able to fight back and believe me I did -

Pulled lots of names out the hat today and am sending out Prize Draw goodies to the lucky ten folk who entered the Draw on the web site. The names are Elaine Grace -Rochdale, Sherri Acres -Canada, Doreen Wray – Leeds, Alison Whelan – Southsea, Diana Campos – Alloa, Sally Roberts – Mid Glamorgan, Thea Gurrero – London, Carol Bath – Glastonbury, Barbara Stone – Bristol Marjorie Cotton – York – Little surprise on its way today….

At home tonight after day in Birmingham

fowlerjane — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 21:18:30 +0000

Lovely to be back this evening although it means an early start in the morning – Back on the Needlework Demonstration Stand at The Craft, Hobby and Stitch Fair at the NEC Birmingham tomorrow and I am staying up in Birmingham tomorrow night and have a supper meeting with the MD of Madeira- they supply our lovely threads…

Should be interesting……

Had a very good day today – it is a really odd experience as I no longer supply stock to the Trade but am there as the Stitching Ambassador ! Ho Hum…..

Will have a good look around tomorrow and report back shortly

Happy Stitching….

My new display boards!

fowlerjane — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:55:00 +0000

I thought you would like to see these – I have had four made (over 1 metre wide) to decorate the exhibition space at the NEC next week- They were made for me by the team at Originzone in Swindon who are our new printers. Many thanks to Simon Fell for his lovely artwork! Originzone printed our lovely catalogue and the latest Itch to Stitch magazine which is out this week.

As I write, we have started some updating and improving your CSG Web site and indeed we are going to make changes on this Journal as well – Iconnet and in particular, Ben Howard does his best to keep me up to speed and up to date – We have some very exciting plans for this year so keep an eye on the site….