Jul 12, 2016 | News, Workshops
Embroiderer’s Guild of America: International Teacher Tour
Arizona and Minnesota Sector
USA October 2016
It is a great thrill that I have been invited to teach workshops in both of these States before I go to Virginia to teach at the EGA National Seminar, then complete the ITT in Florida.
There are a few spaces left in these classes, to book please go to the EGA web site, in the Events Tab, click on ITT workshops. – I would love to have you in one of these classes, there are a few spaces left.
Pumpkin Patch and Camellia Biscornu have a counted needlepoint background embellished with wonderful, flexible forgiving silk ribbon. No previous experience with silk ribbon is required.
Not Santa’s Beard uses a collection of ‘fun threads’.
Tucson Chapter of EGA: location for workshop Tucson
Subject: Pumpkin Patch
Dates: Monday 24th Oct and Tuesday 25th October 2016
St Paul Needleworkers Fridley Minnesota: location of workshop in Fridley
Subject Not Santa’s Beard
Date: Friday 28th October 2016
Subject: Camellia Biscornu
Date: Saturday 29th October and Sunday 30th October 2016
Happy Stitching Merrilyn
Feb 16, 2016 | News
A belated Happy New Year to everyone.
I do not know where the 1st month of the year went?
For us it has been very hot, so it was so easy to stitch away the days in a cool room watching Tennis or Cricket on TV.
What does the remainder of 2016 bring?
My focus is on the wonderful trip I will have to the USA in October and November.
I will be teaching at the EGA National Seminar at Alexandra, Virginia and have been invited to join the International Teachers Tour. Your EGA Chapter has the opportunity to request me as a Tutor .
To see the full range of the subjects on offer go the EGA web site, then the drop down Events tab and click on International Teachers Tour.
This photo shares with you some of the pieces on offer.
From top going clockwise, Tudor Garden, Pumpkin Patch, Elodie (dolls blanket), Camellia Biscornu and Zinnia Box Pin Cushion which is featured in the current issue of Needlepoint Now. For the other four designs on offer visit the EGA web site.
Jan 18, 2016 | News, Workshops
An unsuccessful (USA Government issue) application for a temporary work visa to teach at ANG resulted in classes being conducted via webcam with wonderful ‘in class room’ help from Susan and Becky.
With my passport ‘back in my hand’ I was able to be a late registration as a delegate and student at EGA in San Antonio.
This quick trip to the US was wonderful, new acquaintances and friendships made also allowed me to add to my thread collection. New designs are formatting, some on canvas and some in my mind.
2015 has been full of many ups and down, the sudden death of my father, the joy of teaching on the Needlework Cruise, the stress of wondering if the temporary work visa would be granted in time for ANG, then the quick trip to EGA.
2016 is shaping up to be a full and rewarding year.
Workshops are planned for various Guilds in Tasmania, subject and dates still to be finalized.
October and November I will be returning to the USA teaching for EGA, at the Seminar 2-6th Nov and also taking an International Teachers Tour around the Seminar. When details are finalized they will be listed on the EGA and my web site.
I am delighted that I have been selected again to teach on the Australian based Needlework Cruise 2017, subjects and details will be share with you soon.
Jun 1, 2015 | Uncategorized
Camellias in silk ribbon adorn a small purse and Biscornu.
The background of needlepoint is repeated on both items. The small purse is stitched on 13 count canvas. The Biscornu (pincushion) is worked on 18 count interlocked canvas.
These two pieces are featured in the current issue of the ANG Needle Pointers Magazine USA.
Beads and Kreinik threads add sparkle to these two pieces.
The photo was taken with the late afternoon winter sun streaming thru the window. I am preparing to enjoy and evening out with friends, the Camellia purse will be used for the 1st time.
May 21, 2015 | News
On the 1st of April I was in Freemantle Western Australia, onboard the Voyager of the Seas preparing for our Needlework Cruise.
We had six days of wonderful stitching. My students were amazing. I was very pleased with the amount of stitching they accomplished and the quality of their work.
Many friendships were made during this time. Cruising and stitching is a wonderful combination, especially when sailing on smooth seas.
For fourteen days we sailed along the long coast of Western Australia and into Asia, with the Cruise finishing in Singapore.
May 20, 2015 | News, Workshops
In mid March I had a wonderful weekend of teaching Needlepoint at All Threads in Brisbane The students stitched Fifi’s Fuchsias, my counted needlepoint design.
I also shared with them some of my other Fuchsia pieces.
May 19, 2015 | News
I would now like to share with you a little of what I have been doing over the past few months, I hope this explains why my newsletters have been absent.
Over summer I wrote a children’s book about my two pet lambs, Molly and Polly.
This is a true story about my lambs. I have made it educational and informative for children of all ages.
I also put all the class instructions for the Needlework Cruise into a book.
May 19, 2015 | News, Workshops
Today I have started ordering threads and canvas for the kits that I will be teaching at American Needlepoint Guild USA Seminar at the end of September this year . ‘Splendor and Sparkle’ is one of my counted needlepoint projects I am teaching at the Seminar.
May 18, 2015 | News
This year is flying past so quickly, it is now mid May.
On a very cold day with snow well down our mountains it is an ideal time for writing a much needed Newsletter as I have many things to share with you.
‘Hens in the Garden’ is on the back cover of the current issue of Needlepoint Now Magazine.
A range of ThreadworX threads have been used in this design.
For my USA friends, I have set the piece of needlepoint into a wonderful Lee Tote Bag (#26)
I keep a few hens, for their eggs and most days I let them out for a scratch around. They amuse me as they scratch and run to get their share of worms and bugs. I hope I have captured their busy
sessions of freedom in this design.
Nov 20, 2014 | News, Workshops
2015 Workshops
Saturday Group
Roses 4
3rd Saturday of February, March and April
The Saturday ladies will work this design over 3 months. Silk ribbon in 4mm, 7mm and 13mm will be used to create these realistic Roses.
Thursday Group
Merrilyn’s Flowers, a Needleworker’s Companion Bag. 
Tuesday 7th,14th and 21st July
This class was so popular with the Saturday Ladies that the Thursday group would now like to make their own Companion Bag.
Students will select the flowers they want to stitch from An Encyclopedia of Wool Embroidery Book and use threads from their own stash. Great fun, great flexibility with great results.
All Threads – Brisbane
Fifi’s Fuchsias
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March 
Fifi’s Fuchsias was designed in a ‘light bulb’ moment while teaching for All Threads earlier this year.
It will be a pleasure to teach this for the 1st time at All Threads.
To book for this class contact www.allthreads.com
Needlework Cruise
1st to 15th April
Crazy Roses is a freestyle embroidery project stitched with wool.
Each student will create their own special design, by choosing their own colours from the range provided in the kit and the placement of the Crazy paths and Roses.
Tudor Garden and Garden Gates are both counted canvas (needlepoint). These delightful pieces are easy to work.
A Stitch in Time – Hobart Tasmania
21st to 24th May
I will be teaching these two pieces at the ANG Seminar USA 2015. These classes at A Stitch in Time are the prerequisite pilot classes for each design.
To book contact www.astitchintime.net.au
American Needlepoint Guild
2015 Seminar Myrtle Beach SC
24th September to 4th October
I have been selected to teach at American Needlepoint Guild Seminar 25th September 2015 to 2nd October 2015.
For details please contact ANG: www.needlepoint.org
Weekly Class
Every Monday afternoon a group of enthusiastic ladies meet to stitch and learn about embroidery.
This class started as a ‘learn embroidery stitches’ class and three years later we are all still learning (including the teacher). Threaded into a class of friendship and chatter the students work on projects of their own choice, stitching original freestyle embroidery, hardanger, crewel and counted needlepoint.
Finished items completed by the class have included dolls blankets, carry bag, foot stools, framed pieces, cushions/pillows, lids of trinket boxes, small table cloths and needle books.
