17" x 12"
The story of "Jake's Ark"
I don't often buy a needlepoint kit, especially one where the design is stamped onto brown Penelope canvas and tapestry wool is the only fiber packaged with the kit. I prefer "stitch painted"canvases, trendy designer fibers and white mono canvas. Yet I loved the design of this piece, so playful and colorful and I needed to have an easy piece to stitch while traveling on vacation from Toronto to Vancouver with my Grandson Arin.
I stitched the ark and the background with the tapestry wool provided and then to make the piece more personal I added some of my own ideas to the design. The animals were stitched in four strands of DMC floss. I "split the Penelope canvas" to create them, meaning that I "separated" the canvas weave (at the intersection for each stitch) and thereby stitched four stitches for every one stitch that was indicated, creating a petit point effect. The background surrounding each animal was then also stitched in petit point by dividing the tapestry wool. I had to use short strands of wool so they wouldn't fray too quickly. Gold animal charms were added as a finish, giving a wonderful warm glow to the piece.
How did Noah's Ark transform into Jake's Ark?
When I left the needlepoint shop with my new canvas in hand (most of you know how exciting this feels), I joined in with the throngs of busy people on the sidewalk. I heard a voice call "Mom" and I turned. It must be the universal maternal instinct, a voice calls "Mom" and the right mother turns. Amazing how this works!
My daughter Wendy was driving past, saw me leaving the shop and pulled over to the curb to get my attention. There just happened to be an available parking spot. When it works, it works! "I have some good news to tell you but you can't tell anyone yet", she said and I loved being trusted this way. Then I found out that I was going to be blessed with another grandchild! After hugging and congratulating her, I replied excitedly, "Now I know why I bought this needlepoint canvas! Look! Do you like it?" Wendy was thrilled and wanted this piece for the baby.
Jake Satch Mandelbaum was born in April 2000 and Jakes Ark was titled, signed and dated in July 2000. Jake loved to look at this needlepoint from his changing table and would coo and point to the animals. Wendy says that he always knows that his Grandma Roz stitched this piece for him.
>Click within the stitchings to see the detail images:
