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"Hanukah Still Life" is Gail's original design in fulfillment of Step 6 of the Master Craftsman in Canvas Embroidery program,
and represents about a year and half of work from inspiration to finish. She began work on the masters program about 5 years ago.
Here is what Gail said about her experiences.
"I am satisfied, and pleased, with my achievement.
"Other than completing Step 6 and finding out that I had achieved Master Craftsman, I most enjoyed the stitching, and when things
came together the way I hoped. Sometimes this occurred only after several unsuccessful attempts. I also enjoyed stitching on my doodle
canvas and trying out different colors and stitches before trying them on a piece.
"My least favorite part was deciding on an idea, and making a plan was difficult. Creating an original design was a very painful process.
"Some of you might want to know that one learns from participating in the program despite the fact that this is a testing program.
For example, I was not familiar with diaper patterns prior to the program and had to do a lot of research in this area. Also, I had never
done canvas appliqué prior to this experience and I had to read about it and practice it. I also practiced couching and asked a friend
for lessons after several unsuccessful attempts on practice canvas.
"One other item that might interest others is the provisional pass I earned on my step 2 and step 6 pieces. This was particularly
disappointing at the step 6 level since one should have a good grasp of the standards by this point in the program. Thinking about this
from the judges’ perspective, I recognize that the piece to earn Master Craftsman certification has to be just right. The good news is that
I persevered and corrected the perspective on my gift box to the satisfaction of the judges and have now earned the title of Master Craftsman
in Canvas Embroidery."
About the design:
"Hanukah Still Life" is stitched primarily with stranded embroidery cotton, including variegated browns and tans, the piece also includes red
and gold Balger braid, DMC metallic gold, and Balger blending filament. Some accents were stitched in silk and wool blends (Impressions and
Silk and Ivory), Persian wool, Medici wool, silk, nylon and polyester blend (Petite Frosty Rays), and Wonder Twist.
The dark night background is stitched in irregular Byzantine. It was quite a challenge to start and stop the stitching to go around the
menorah, candles and reflection and keep the pattern in line. A simple Florentine pattern was used for the candles, the flames and the base
of the menorah. The reflected candles were stitched in mosaic and the reflected menorah is stitched in tent stitch, as is the reflected package.
The dreidel is stitched in diagonal tent stitch.
The table and its reflection are composed of cross stitches using a variegated thread and making the crosses one at a time as you stitch.
The muttons were stitched in Gobelin with a line of tent stitch along the edge. The larger package was stitched in Hungarian and the ribbon and
bow was stitched in cashmere. The gelt (coins) are stitched in diagonal mosaic with a couched thread at the rim. The arms of the menorah were made
up of three “rows” of 12 ply metallic thread each that were couched to the canvas. The candle cups are an invented stitch that is a variation
of stitches by Jean Hilton.
Text and photograph copyright © 2005 by Gail Stafford. Published with permission.
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