13" x 16"

The story of "Mother of Perle"

Mother of Perle, designed by Jean Hilton, represented everything that I didn't know about needlepoint and lots of what I wanted to learn. From the time that I first saw this piece on display at the needlepoint shop, I just couldn't wait to begin the workshop. The charted needlepoint design supplemented with written instructions was about to challenge my expectations of needlepoint.

The first thing that I learned in this course is how to read! Every word and chart was vital to the successful result of each stitch.

Lesson two came when my teacher yelled, "Don't you know how to count!?" The outline of sections within the design was cruitial to the later placement of the stitches. One wrong count and another stitch wouldn't fit in...a bit of a domino effect.

Lesson three was one that I devised for myself: If the count is wrong, (after trying again and again to correct it) just consider it a happy accident and improvise or compensate. Although this may sound like I am giving up, I have actually created some fascinating solutions. It's not always good for canvas or threads to keep "reverse stitching".

Lesson four was that I really have a problem following instructions. There are stitchers who are excellent masters of charted designs and there am I, one who is a rebel and who must forge along on a separate path! Having said all that, at this time I hadn't yet discovered that trait in myself so I just dutifully followed the instructions the best that I could. I defy you to find the one stitch that threatened to throw off this whole piece! It was very cleverly concealed by my teacher so I could get on with the piece. What a relief!

Lesson five was the exhilarating part, touching all of those amazing new fibres. This course began my ongoing love affair with overdyes and the fun of watching diverse colours and textures blend together.

Lesson six was the joy of completing the motif in the center. This was the highlight of the course for me because I was encouraged to complete this focal point in my own creative way, allowing the colours of the motif to unify and focus the meaning of the piece. I loved watching that part come to life and complete the symbolic story.

One of my happy memories is shopping for the threads for this piece. The colours were literally visioned in a very vividly coloured dream. Only one change of colour happened, peach substituted for brown due to colour availability. After all, peach is still a variation of brown.

Many of the stitches and threads have become part of my creative repertoire. Mother of Perle is one of my early pieces that has encouraged me to freely experiment on canvas.

>Click within the stitchings to see the detail images: