Gloria Ranieri
I met Gloria while shopping at the needlepoint shop where she works. We often discuss our passion for stitching and the huge pieces that we both like to tackle.
Recently Gloria surprised me with pictures of her work and then showed me a work in progress. I was just amazed! Her work is so beautiful! Gloria uses decorative stitches, colours and fibers that create emotional responses. I just had to ask her to share her talent with Stitchamaze.
Gloria writes:
"I have always done handwork, starting with knitting as a very young child. As a 'stay-at-home' Mom I started doing needlepoint and it has been my passion ever since!
I began working in a needlepoint shop part-time when my children were at school . . . and now I am a Grandmother and still working at the same shop. Instead of smaller projects like pillows, I now enjoy much larger pieces."
"Nonna's Garden Chair"
Click on the images to see the chair in detail
"Anyone who knows me knows what a horrible gardener I am, but as my daughter in law Iris was painting the canvas for this chair . . . (she LOVED to garden . . . ) it became my floral garden . . . and now I can see flowers blooming all year round . . . and I never even have to water or weed my garden!
My chair was stitched on 13 gauge canvas using Medici and Paterneyan wool. Because I prefer my chairs to be completely stitched, I worked the back in a Bargello pattern."
"Lee Kimono"
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"This kimono was stitched on 13 gauge canvas using mainly DMC Medici wool with some metallic thread.
The size of this piece is approximately 36" x 40"
"Blue Chair"
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"This project started with a very reasonably priced canvas from England, and became a very pricey chair from Italy . . yet still became one of my favorites!
I have continued doing large pieces, and my advice to anyone wanting to needlepoint chairs is to get the chair first!"
Gloria Ranieri - January 2006
