Coral Stitch just the start

This 2010 has been quite the year of creativity in our studio.

The courses throughout this year were wonderful with new faces and wonderful stories along the way.  Unfortunately I have not been able to spend much time on my computer as our business designed a new website.  Now that it is complete, I will have more time to share our moments in Atelier Gwendolyne this year.



For now here's one of my favourite stitches I like using when creating bold embroidery lines with wool 4 ply yarns. Here in the photo I stitched with Anchor's cotton Embroidery Floss on thick natural linen.

Life's Energies

This photo collage I put together of THE ELEMENTS course, celebrates our time together throughout this 2010 in Atelier Gwendolyne.

In creating this I discovered we were totally inspired from life's energies and their forms. Beings that could fly like birds, butterflies and even mythological dragons, those that could swim, like fish those that stood in one place, like trees and Mother Nature as a sprite, to remind us all to care for the preciousness of life.



Our time together was rich with texture and our unfolding days of the week brought many an discussion. Thanks everyone for enriching this studio in 2010!

Endless Possibilites

When the linen canvas is prepared the journey begins. I encourage everyone to think about the canvas space within the frame.  Basting the outer periphery is the first step to ensure the artwork is balanced. Our canvas size is small and the initial planning is important.

Elizabeth created a exquisite design for her Water element.  The movement found in the swimming Koi fish can be appreciated in each stitch.  I love the perspective of her artwork. She used the Short and Long stitches for her colour filling.

Many times Elizabeth spoke of her snail like pace of stitching. For me it was pure joy seeing someone carefully create her artwork. Watching her stitch was a calming experience and I could feel the vibe throughout each class session.  To bring a shimmering effect of water to her art she used metallic thread throughout her stitches.

It was such a lovely addition I inspired to use some in my winter tree to give it an icy appearance.

I encourage people to doodle or sketch out ideas.  It allows us to reflect our direction and it records our process at the time of creating.  Nancy was filled with so many great ideas it was challenging at times for her to choose which one to go with.  Here she created a silk dress for her Goddess figure separately.

I do encourage everyone to do some work on their canvas outside of class time.  In our busy lives some are not able to manage it.  When that happens they come to the next scheduled series.

Elizabeth finished this artwork in the second Atelier Gwendolyne series.

Some of my students who have stitched for many years in their life move more quickly on their artwork.

What is most important in my workshop class series is working in the present. To enjoy the process is a important part, the other is putting yourself in the moment stitch by stitch. This calming energy enriches both our our lives and creation.

Here is Nancy's finished artwork. Her Mother Nature Goddess representing the Earth element makes my feel like dancing. I love her choice of  canvas. She used a hand dyed linen fabric.  The effect makes her Goddess figure float in the aether clouds.

Because of my own work with Gwendolyne Hats my resources of books, fine fabrics, threads, beads, buttons, art supplies, tools and more allows my students to create their artwork with great support and endless possibilities.

Creative Hub

Nancy's Earth element was a layered artwork.  The face was embroidered with chain and running stitches, as the outreached arms were couched with golden threads. She embroidered a silk dress of wheat sheafs, then stitched it with beads. When finished the outfit was appliqued onto the embroidered legs and feet.

Douglas planned all four element to be a series and the first is his Air.  The imagery for all of his sequences will be most exciting when completed.  As a Graphic designer finding that extra time in his year can be challenging. I look forward to seeing him soon again.

The Air Element can be so many things. "What is invisible to the eye is essential" is a quote from the Little Prince written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery in 1943. One can bring concepts, symbols, philosophy and more with this elements.  Louise is working on the Butterfly for her Medicine Garden.

I enjoy how each of us bring new additions to our artworks. Sharing our daily stories of the week with our life's adventures can bring new ideas to our own artworks. Collaboration is a great addition that community brings to our workshops and I just love it.

The two ingredients that make Atelier Gwendolyne a very unique experience for many is that the studio houses the tools of my daily work, add the community energy of like minded people and one has a socially intimate, creative hub of productivity.