Message from the Editor

Greetings fellow crafters and welcome to the June edition of Crafty Yarns Online!

This issue we take a little time out to stop and smell the coffee... and listen to the guy play the piano in that jazz bar with the gorgeous brunette sipping her martini in peace without hordes of children bugging her to make butterfly cards with her fancy new stamper that she happened to pick up and now wishes she had hidden from the little blighters before they got home from school... but I digress. What was I saying again? Oh yes, that’s right. We spend a little time meeting the artist behind the successful new cross stitch designs from Vervaco.

We also get to have a play with a wonderful new paper crafting tool and take a quick peek at some great sewing accessories.

As usual, we hear from one of our lovely readers. Roslyn from WA has sent us her crafting story which I am sure you will enjoy reading as much as we did!

I hope you enjoy this issue of Crafty Yarns. Remember, we love to hear your stories and to find out what crafting projects you are working on – so send us an email, with photos, and win yourself a great prize!

And until next time, keep crafting...

Small Stitch Projects!

When you see ‘The Piano Player’ (code 29381) for the first time you can almost hear the soft tinkle of the ivories as the handsome young pianist plays for the pleasure of the lone brunette. This timeless bar scene cross stitch design from Vervaco has proven a real hit with ‘Foxy’ stitchers. Drawn perhaps to the timeless nature of the subject matter - or perhaps to the limited yet dramatic palette of colours - we have taken to both this design and its sister, ‘The Cafe Scene’ (code 29380), with gusto. So we thought we would take a little sneak ‘behind the stitches’ to see the talent behind these lovely works.

Canadian artist Brent Heighton almost chose a life of cars over painting.

I grew up on a hobby farm in rural British Columbia and while I did spend some time drawing and sketching, my father was quite adamant that there was no future for me ‘drawing cartoons’.  It wasn’t until I was in my 20’s that we sold up and moved back to the city. I took a job in the suspension division of a factory that made springs for cars and trucks and it was only by chance that I re-discovered my love for colour and drawing. They had these paint sticks lying around and within weeks I had the entire factory looking like Disneyland had collided with a paint factory! I lost my job but rediscovered my love of art. Soon after this I enrolled in art school and I’ve not looked back!”

Vervaco approached Brent and a solid partnership was founded. With his dramatic use of colour and insightful understanding of human emotion, Brent has captured that timeless quality in these two paintings that we have perhaps all felt at some stage or another. Although I must admit to hosting a few more kilos than the svelte young thing gazing romantically out the cafe window, I can relate to how she might feel. That wonderful moment when your thoughts are your own (and someone else is in charge of doing the washing up)...

It probably comes as no surprise to learn that Brent Heighton has paintings in galleries and collections all around the world.

"Painting for me is not about awards and prizes, though. It’s about making a connection with the people looking at your work. If the person observing feels the joy I had when painting that particular scene, then this is what makes me feel great inside. When I’m painting I am at my happiest,” Brent says“

Well, I'd say from the number of Vervaco ‘Cafe Scene’ and ‘Piano Player’ counted cross stitch kits that have been snatched up by Fox Collection stitchers, Brent must be feelin’ the love right now – even way over there in Canada!

Our Readers' Write...

Crafter of the Issue

Roslyn from Ravenswood W.A., writes:

Last year I received my first copy of your magazine. I’m not a ‘spring chicken’ anymore and for many, many years I have been looking for a collection of books and craft gear such as you have available in your catalogue so I was very pleased to find it!

“I have multiple sclerosis but I still do a lot of work for charity – knitting cardigans for AIDS babies amongst other things. Knitting and crochet are my main passion and would like to do a big cross stitch rug with flowers made out of ribbons. I just don’t seem to have enough time! I just hope I can stay healthy enough to do all the craft things I plan to do in the future.

“I loved seeing the choice of multi-coloured wool you had available last winter and how delightful they looked when knitted up. In fact, all the items offered by you are incredible and keep getting better by the day!

“Thank you for your wonderful magazine!”

And thank you, Roslyn, for sharing your story with us! If you would like to meet up with scores of other like-minded stitchers, why don’t you visit our new community website where you can make new friends, add photos of all your favourite projects, join craft groups and chat to other crafters all around the world? Go to www.chatterfox.com.au and let us know what you think!

Step-by-step: ‘3D Butterfly Filigree Stamp’ (code 29250)

'3D Butterfly Filligree Stamp' (code 29250)
The ‘3D Butterfly Filigree Punch’ (code 29250) has proven enormously popular – and for good reason. It is an incredibly simple idea for a tool and yet it allows crafters with a little imagination to have loads and loads of fun!

I wonder if you’ve ever seen a ten-year-old hyperventilate with excitement. It’s actually quite a funny sight! ‘Miss 10’ was initially a little underwhelmed when I showed her the 4 x 5 cm punch. She may even have muttered something along the lines of, “Wow. Pretty exciting... not!”

Comments I chose not to hear.

It didn’t take long, however, to convince her of the merits of the 3D stamper. With no other paper immediately to hand, I grabbed some old sheets of newspaper to show her what the stamp could do. Cutting through two pieces at the same time, I produced the most amazing filigree butterfly with fine, lacy wings. It was really quite startling! We both sort of looked at it in amazement – and then her tune changed alright!

“Oh, you are so clever. What a great tool! Do you want me to test it out for you? I really don’t mind, you know...”

The ‘3D Butterfly Filigree Punch’ is a great example of what crafters can achieve with a simple, good quality tool and little imagination. We made cards and invitations, embellished letters to all of ‘Miss 10’s’ friends, decorated pages in her textbooks – in fact any paper that was lying around now has lovely butterfly motifs along each edge. Mmmm.

Well, with any luck, the person that processes payments at our local RTA will appreciate the love and attention that has gone into enhancing this year’s rego papers – and not send me home with a flea in my ear instead!

I think any crafter interested in the amazing versatility of paper will get a lot of use and enjoyment from this top quality crafting tool. The 3D effect is particularly nice and if you get nearly as much enjoyment from this punch as we did then it will be money well spent indeed.

Other Great Products

‘Stash Fat Quarters’ (page 49 catalogue)

Aren’t these fat quarters great fun? With five lovely quilting themes to choose from you could have lots of stitching fun with these sets. The designs available are ‘Sewing Room’ (F1857), ‘Cotton Reels’ (F1859), ‘Fabric Stack’ (F1856), ‘Stitching’ (F1858) and ‘Buttons’ (F1855). Each fat quarter is 55 x 50 cm.

How to Stitch Book' (code 29186)
Learn how to sew the easy way with these 10 great little books that teach you all the sewing basics. The set comes in a lovely printed slip case and each of the 24-page books cover a separate topic such as appliqué, bead embroidery, embellishments, decorative sewing, felt fabric sewing, hand sewing, machine sewing and Sashiko. With a set like this on hand you will have all the essential sewing tips you could need at your fingertips. It would also make a lovely gift for a friend or family member who has perhaps asked a few too many times now for help in taking up trouser legs...