I have been stitching since 1981, when, the Christmas
before I turned 12, my mother gave me a needlepoint kit and a surface embroidery
kit as a gift. Although my great-grandmother and my grandmother were stitchers,
neither had the opportunity to teach me. My great-grandmother, Ethel, was
no longer able to stitch by the time I was ready, and my grandmother,
Carmen, died when I was 10. Still, I feel both of them watching over my
shoulder from time-to-time when I'm stitching. My mother does some stitching, and has done a fair amount of machine sewing. My sister stitches, too.
My favorite type of needlework is counted cross stitch. I love making X's, what can I say? I've taken classes from Bent Creek, Maureen Appleton, Nan Tyson Euler and Eileen Bennett, and Sally Mayvor. Favorite designers? Depends on the day. I have stitched everything from Teresa Wentzler finely-detailed, blended-thread enormous pieces to folk-style Blackbird Sampler works. Looking around in my shop, I can see I've done a pretty even job sharing stitching time with many different designers. These days I do a lot of stitching for Raise the Roof Designs, the design team I'm one member of. (Sue Rainer, of Kimball, Minnesota, is the other!) You can see that site at www.raisetheroofdesigns.com. I just like to stitch -- and I make time for it in my week. And, although many claim I'm a very fast stitcher, I don't encourage anyone to look at my backs!
I have taught counted cross stitch to young girls and framing needlework to several groups of adults including two chapters of the Embroiderer's Guild of America, and have introduced many friends to the needlearts. I served in the Fargo EGA group for six years, including a two year stint each as vice president and president. I also regularly educate my customers, and those who stumble across my site, the best I can.
This home page has received the Imagination Station's Craft Links Award, and has been featured in Needle Arts, Common Threads, Cross Stitcher, The Washington Post, and beaucoup des newsletters.
After I completed a Master's Degree in Mass Communication at North Dakota State University, my family and I moved to Winona, Minn., which is where this site was conceived. In 1997 we moved back to Fargo, N.D., where my husband and I were raised. Steve's job moved us and my shop to Hattiesburg, Mississippi (about an hour up from the coast) in August 2006. We have two sons, Harrison (born 1991) and Graham (born 1996).
Besides stitching, I like to read, especially non-fiction (especially books about food and ghosts...go figure!) and certain fictional writers, like Richard Russo and Steve Martin. I listen to CD music every day in my shop that ranges from Tony Bennett to John Mayer to Broadway Musicals to James Taylor. I'm also hoping to get into gardening a little more, now that I have more than a 3-month growing season. And I love spending time with my kids...when they're not being NUTS! I also enjoy my friendships, and keep in close touch with my friends and family by phone and e-mail. Oh, and I like to cook, too. I'm just an old-fashioned girl at heart, in Rocket Dog sneakers and blue jeans.
© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com