Rabari Embroidery Class - July 30 - 31, 2004 - A workshop taught by the Rabari Artisans of Kutch, India.

    Dianna Stevens was invited by PNNAG to teach a class entitled "Needle Tatting with Beads." The class was held Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 22. Beginning tatters were welcome. We learned to tat first and then added beads to our tatting.  Check out Dianna's tatting Web site at www.domesticarts.com .
    She creates and designs tatted jewelry and bags. She learned needle tatting and advanced shuttle techniques from a talented "master tatter" in 1990. It's worth the visit to her Web site just to see the delightful tatted angels on the border of her Web page and the tatted bodice of a wedding dress (submitted to her tatting Web site by Mary Hickox) -- this wedding dress is divine, it is so beautiful.
    Dianna has many samples and patterns of her own work as well as the work of others in the tatting community; she gives us challenges and links to further tatting groups.
    Dianna was born in Yakima, Washington with at least 4 generations of needlework tradition supporting her, and she has lived in Anchorage, Alaska for many years during which time she wrote her first book. She has promoted the arts in Alaska and Washington State. She is the author of 3 books on tatting.
    Currently she is living in Kent and is a member of Lacemakers Guild of Puget Sound (yes, she can do bobbin lace). Last year she participated in Canterbury Days in Kent and demonstrated tatting and other techniques with Lacemakers. Photos from this event are also on her Web site.
Dianna is the author of three books: Forget-Knot Alaska Tatted Jewelry (tatted jewelry designed while in Alaska), Tatterly's Delight (tatting designs), and It's in the Bag (tatted beaded bags shown in the photo above).

Jean lives near Melbourne, Australia.  She is a nature lover.  She began designing and teaching stumpwork over six years ago.  Her designs are of Australian themes as her recent book title says, "Stumpwork the Australian Way, Some of the Unique Flora and Fauna of Australia in Raised Embroidery".  Jean is working on her second book and is hoping to have it published before her June trip.

We thank Loretta Holzberger of the NAGOPS Tacoma Guild.

Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery Guild:   Jean was in town for a seminar on Brazilian Embroidery put on by the Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery Guild.  It was a for-members seminar, but membership is open to all.  If interested send Mary Peretz an email at mperetz@fhcrc.org or call her at (206) 325-1919 and she can send you information.  There were four days of classes with two sessions per day.  It was held at Namaste in Wilsonville, a conference center with cabin style accommodations and the costs were just over $500 and membership.

Block Party invites the members of PNNAG to join them in the following classes:

• Bargello Reflections -- Marilyn Doheny -- February 5, 2000
• Perse Broderie -- Pat Means -- May 6, 2000
• Girls Day/Night Out -- Roxanne Carter –

A challenge is a fun way to explore new directions in creativity. It was in a local seed bead group that the challenge went out --create a hollow bead using seed beads. These beads can be very intricate, be folded upon itself and use different methods of beading. During this challenge Georgia began to think of fish, embellishing her hollow beads with fins and tails using bright colors, wavy fringes and more beads. It is her embellishing skills that create amazing creatures. Imagine an aquarium never needing cleaning filled with these fish!

In our class Georgia will give us her pattern for a blowfish and we will learn to make a "hollow bead" fish. The stitches are peyote in the round and various fringe stitches for embellishment. Georgia offers a supply kit of beads for your fish in prices ranging from $4.00 to $10.00 depending on the beads you choose.

Georgia is president of the Northwest Bead Society and a member of the Maplewood Rock and Gem Club. She has taught silver- smithing for over 25 years, cutting stones and creating her own mountings. She is interested in silversmithing, lapidary, stained glass, fused glass and beads. She has a beaded 1930 Model-A Ford in the Beads to Buckskin book, and photographs of her work in Beads and Buttons magazine. She demonstrates her work at area gem and mineral shows.

This 2 day class will examine the difference between lace knitting and knitted lace, a difference perhaps only a purist could be sure of. Basic components of lace knitting will be reviewed and students will work through a series of developing motifs. The second class will cover more complex lace patterns,and participants will follow a process of designing a lace pattern of their own, either singly or in small groups. Class level is intermediate to advanced. Anne encourages knitters to take her class. (If you aren't sure of your skill level please call her at (360)321-8003, Anne finds that some of her friends are easily intermediate knitters but are modest about their skill level. She can ask a few easy questions and she can help you decide if the class is for you.) It is best to call her early morning (7:30-9:00 am) or early evening. A supply list will be mailed to you upon registration.

The class fee is $50.00 for members, $60.00 for non-members, $15.00/deposit.

This class was inltially scheduled for the January general meeting. There has been a growing interest in this class, so we would like to reschedule it for March 18.

This class will introduce the student to weaving beads into fabric. Each student will be provided with a piece of even weave fabric. Within this fabric an area 3" x 4" will be marked with a border of satin stitch. With embroidery scissors, the students will cut and remove the weft (crosswise). The remaining warp threads become the bead loom. These threads can be painted with fabric pens and then the beads are introduced in a similar fashion to beadweaving on a loom.

The finished piece can easily be sewn into fabric boxes, books, purses or into clothing during construction. This technique is elegantly described in Jane Conlon's book "Fine Embellishment Techniques".

Supply fee: $3.50 for kit of beads (size 11), beading needle, pattern for Valentine's Day, even weave fabric and thread. Suggested tool list mailed upon registration.

The class fee is $15.00/member, $18.00/non-member

Nancy Nehring is a nationally recognized author from California, teacher and designer in the needle arts field.  She has three published books:  50 Heirloom Buttons to Make, The Lacy Knitting of Mary Schiffmann and Ribbon Trims. She has published numerous magazine articles in Threads, PieceWork and other needlearts magazines.  She has designed for DMC, Donna Karan, and Better Homes and Gardens.  She teaches locally, regionally and nationally, including the Embroiders' Guild of America Seminar '96 and '98 and Crochet Guild of America Chain Link '98 and '99.