Sneak Peek: The Orcas are Coming!
Seminar 2026: Pacific Dreams/Rèves du Pacifique has released a sneak peek of their fundraisers! See what will be on offer in person at Market Night in Calgary on May 15, or place your order beginning May 16.
2023 Leonida Leatherdale Award
The first-place winner of the 2023 Leonida Leatherdale Award was Diane Scott. Her entry is titled What I Learned at Seminar. Diane designed these stunning orchids and used various stumpwork techniques to bring them to life. Second place went to Kim Beamish for her original design, Masquerade II. Kim’s three-dimensional mask showcases a variety of embroidery techniques. The base is pulled thread and whitework. The stumpwork is needle lace and pulled thread. Beading is worked on the base and around the piece for embellishment. Designed and stitched by Marcella Pedersen, Marco Polo Blessings took third place. Marcella’s piece features blackwork stitches with gray floss to create shading on the linen sails; polyester sewing thread for the stumpwork components; wooden hull, snakeskin net, cotton batting clouds, stretched jersey fabric to create the wavy sea, and polycotton fabric for the sky.
Seminar Theme Award Winners
EAC/ACB’s 2023 seminar theme was The Stitch Goes On/Le point continue. That theme was interpreted quite differently by the three winning entrants. First Place: Diana Kelly, Lakeshore Creative Stitchery Guild, The Stitch Goes On & On & On Diana Kelly’s entry is an original design. As part of the Seminar Theme Award, the entrant provides a statement about their piece. From Diana’s statement: Second Place: Marcella Pedersen, Regina Stitchery Guild, The Stitch Goes On & On & On Marcella’s Hardanger runner was stitched with #8 pearl cotton on Lugana white opalescent 28-count linen. The design was adapted from a chart by Evelyn MacKay. No statement was submitted. Third Place: Lorraine Iverach, Winnipeg Embroiderers’ Guild, Edith Adele Campbell Starts Her Day From her entry statement:
Viewers’ Choice Awards 2023
1st Place Odette Gaudet, Chickadee Chapter of Needlearts: Dedication and Service, Original Design As a young woman, I took notice of Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Canada in 2010. Everything about her inspired me. Her dress, professionalism, duty and service. On her 21st birthday in 1947, she said, “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” She honoured that declaration. This project has been a labour of love, from learning pattern making and dressmaking to goldwork, silk ribbon, bespoke hand beading, crewel and stumpwork. Various sizes of sequins, beads, and pearls were used with wool, velvet, silk, and cotton threads on satin fabric. Stitches include satin, satin stitch padding, backstitch, straight, split, cable, feather, fly, trellis stitches, colonial knots, couching, and wrapped cording. 2nd Place Megan McLoughlin, Individual Member: Tropical Punch designed by Debbie Rowley of DebBee’s Designs Tropical Punch is a fun-to-stitch symmetrical piece in a palette of primarily blues and lavenders, with vibrant splashes of colour thrown in. Due to the variety of threads called for by the designer, the different textures create interest, and the piece is filled with intermediate and advanced counted canvas work stitches. 3rd Place Shirley Ganske, Winnipeg Embroiderers’ Guild: Dimensional Beadwork Display, Various Designers
Avis Plumarius Takes Flight
Our gal loves bling! She’s flirty and sassy, sparkles and dazzles! Avis’ plumage is the combined effort of 22 enthusiastic embroiderers who teamed up to create her 24 feathers.
In 3rd: EGP’s Endless Scene: Out for a Walk
Endless Scene: Out for a Walk is a myriorama of 14 embroidered and embellished scenes.
A Celebration of Bears Takes 2nd Place
A celebration indeed! The Winnipeg Embroiderers’ Guild’s entry titled A Celebration of Bears was awarded 2nd place in the Seminar Group Project category at the 2023 Members’ Exhibition. Thirty-four members of WEG stitched the 193 bears that make up this entry.
Issue 33 of Giuliana Ricama
submitted by Joyce Gill I was really pleased when I heard that Giuliana Ricama was going to be produced in English. I have several past issues in Italian that I love to browse. The projects are inspirational, and I feel that I could accomplish some of them using the diagrams, even though I do not know the language. Issue 33 in English does not disappoint. The millefiori flowers are exquisite. The Springtime Easter Eggs are really lovely. The Reticella project opens up new worlds to me. So far, I’ve only browsed and dreamed, but I know that one of these three will be on my to-do list very soon. Italy is halfway around the world from my home in Atlantic Canada, but the magazine is a doorway to the artistry of a new fellowship of needleworkers.