Tag: needlepoint

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Fiber Talk with Tess and Thorn

Tess and Thorn are talented needlepoint designers/painters with a unique approach to the hobby.

This week we have the pleasure of talking with Brooke Thorn McGowan and Tess Nagle, the talented needlepoint designers who make up Tess and Thorn. Tess and Brooke describe themselves as “young bloods on a stitching mission.” We had a riveting conversation about how they got started, their approach to stitching, inspirations and deeper meaning behind their canvases, and their ongoing efforts to introduce younger people to needlepointing. We also got to learn about their design and canvas-painting process and how they work together from two locations.These are two talented and enthusiastic ladies who are definitely injecting young blood into the hobby.–Christine and Gary

Brooke and Tess have a unique approach to needlepoint.

Listen to the podcast:

We hope you enjoy this week’s Fiber Talk show. You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Endangered animals are a part of the Tess and Thorn design concept.

Follow Tess and Brooke and communicate with them through their online channels:

Tess and Thorn canvases are available through your local needlework shop. Stores that currently carry their designs are listed on their website shop page.

One of their recommendations is the book Hygge: The Art of Getting Cozy.

Tess and Thorn Recommendations
At the end of the show, Brooke and Tess offered several recommendations. Below are links to those items:

Brooke and Tess are always looking for unique ways to use their finished designs.

We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Tess and Brooke. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.–Gary and Christine


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Fiber Talk with Toni Gerdes

Fire & Ice by Toni Gerdes

Our Fiber Talk guest this week is needle-art designer and teacher Toni Gerdes. Toni holds Level II Teacher certification from the National Academy of Needlearts, specializing in canvas embroidery. She currently serves on the Board of NAN as the Director of Education and on the Board of Directors for Mile High ANG chapter as President. Toni is currently the President of NETA. She has received numerous awards for her designs and has taught at NAN, EGA, and ANG events, as well as guilds & shops. Toni has been published in Needlepointers, Needlepoint Now, and in Needle Arts as the Artist Across America. She enjoys all types of stitching and especially sharing her knowledge with others. We covered a variety of topics in our conversation, including the stories behind Toni’s Under a Copper Moon, Fire and Ice, and Geometric Butterfly designs.
–Christine and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

We hope you enjoy this week’s Fiber Talk show. You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Under a Copper Moon by Toni Gerdes.

Connect with Toni at her website tonigerdes.com

We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Toni Gerdes. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.–Gary and Christine


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Fiber Talk with Jennifer Riefenberg

Jennifer Riefenberg’s popular Carrots design.
Our guest this week is the multi-talented Jennifer Riefenberg. In the needlework world she is known for her creative designs, extensive knowledge of color, and teaching skills. She is also an accomplished and award-winning painter and a highly-skilled photographer, specializing in fine-art photographs, especially nature and black & white photos. Jennifer is a National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) Certified Teacher/Designer and NAN-Certified Judge. She has taught at National Seminars for ANG and NAN and won numerous awards for her needleart and other artwork. Jennifer is also the photographer for NAN and EGA Seminars. Riefenberg is a fourth-generation Colorado native and has degrees in engineering and mathematics.
Jennifer is a board member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado (PAAC) and member of the American Impressionist Society, Women Artists of the West, and Oil Painters of America. She is currently exhibiting her work at the Framed Image in Denver. We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Jennifer Riefenberg.
–Christine and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

We hope you enjoy this week’s Fiber Talk show. You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Jennifer Riefenberg’s Colorplay design.

Follow Jennifer and communicate with her through her online channels:

Jennifer Riefenberg’s Apples design.

We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Jennifer Riefenberg. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.–Gary and Christine


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Fiber Talk with Elizabeth Bozievich

Poppies and Lavender, stitched by Elizabeth Bozievich.
This week’s guest is Elizabeth Bozievich, owner, publisher, and editor of Needlepoint Now magazine. Join us as we learn about the magazine, how Elizabeth came to own the publication, her stitching interests, the annual tour she hosts, and trends she’s seeing in the hobby. We also talk about Gary’s obsession with having stretcher bars and canvas square and a variety of other topics. We had a terrific conversation with Elizabeth and are confident you’ll enjoy the show. Below are several links to help you follow Elizabeth and Needlepoint Now. We also appreciate it if you share our podcasts with your stitching friends.–Christine and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

We hope you enjoy this week’s Fiber Talk show. You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Tudor Lady, stitched by Elizabeth Bozievich.

Follow Elizabeth and communicate with her through her online channels:

Here are links to other items we talked about in the show:

We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Elizabeth Bozievich. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.–Gary and Christine


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Fiber Talk with Susan Hoekstra

Instructor and designer Susan Hoekstra.
Joining us this week is designer and ANG Certified Master Teacher Susan Hoekstra. Our discussion covers how Susan got started with the needlepoint hobby, the Master Teacher program, the ANG 2016 Stitch of the Month project, her approach to design, teaching efforts, painted vs. charted designs, and several tips. We hope you enjoy the show and encourage you to participate in one of Susan’s classes. Below are several links so you can follow Susan and her needlepoint efforts. We also appreciate it if you share our podcasts with your stitching friends.–Christine and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

Susan is teaching Birds on a Limb at the ANG Seminar in Anaheim.

We hope you enjoy this week’s Fiber Talk show. You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Follow Susan and communicate with her through her online channels:

Waiting for the Chickens, a multi-dimensional Susan Hoekstra design.
Here is a link to the bread-baking book Susan is using:

We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Susan Hoekstra. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.–Gary and Christine