News and views from Cross Stitcher readers around the world

Ever wondered what stitchers like us are up to in different parts of the globe? We’ve asked readers from near and far to become correspondents for us and share with us their cross stitch news…

Alesya Tyshkevich, Moscow, Russia

When I was a pupil I adored St. Valentine’s Day, because of the Cupid mail and thrilling expectations of getting a heart-shaped postcard. When I became a teacher I asked my students to make Valentine cards as a small part of our studying process. Paper hearts were written not only to me, but also to cheer each other up. Last week I found a box with these greetings and felt the warmth in heart. As for me, love letters should be written on paper, that’s why there are no typical pink hearts in my stitching. On the contrary, I want to show you one of my favourite projects based on the popular Lady Bug and Cat Noir from Miraculous. I love everything about this x-stitched job, but mostly, its romantic mood. My husband is not a huge fan of emotional response, but even he truly respects this. When I take a brief look at the picture, I get a feeling of the Valentine’s Day every day, because the stitched couple looks so adorable to me and brings warm memories. The design was started a while ago, but on 14 February I decided to complete it, as it was my ‘love at first sight’. Miraculous. The chart was based on the fan art, the designer is Nika Elrik 1 My collection of Valentine’s cards from the pupils 2 Alesya is 29 years old, married and has recently had her first child, a baby daughter. She works in a school and has been stitching for four years. Find her YouTube channel at www.youtube. com/ricamatrice.

Heather Gibson, Fort William, Scotland

The Scottish Highlands have long been associated with tales of romance, the wild rugged landscape, stunning coastline castles and images of kilt-wearing menfolk known for making many a lady’s heart flutter. Misty lochside shores hold the secrets to many liaisons, Scottish music, dance, and traditions that date back to our Celtic and pagan roots. A traditional Scottish wedding consists of a hand-fasting ceremony where the bride and grooms hands are entwined together with coloured ribbon in a figure of eight, each representing a promise/vow with the exchanging of the rings, often of Celtic design, which are also used widely in art and embroidery designs.

Glenfinnen church is built on the banks of Loch Sheil next to the Glenfinnen monument which commemorates the exact spot where Prince Edward Stuart raised his standard at the Jacobite rebellion and remembers all who died in the cause .

The remoteness and folklore is brought alive each year by the Gaelic Mod. A festival of traditional Gaelic music and verse, Gaelic being the traditional language of the Highlands which is still widely used and taught in schools. Like other traditional languages of the UK, it has a very musical tone and is again linked to our Celtic ancestors like the traditional Welsh language. In the immortal words

of the Baird Robert Burns “oh my love is like a red red rose that’s nearly sprung in June. Oh my love is like a Melodie that’s sweetly played in tune.”

No wonder embroidery, art, and music continue to flourish in this most romantic place of God’s creation. Castle Stalker is situated in the middle of a Loch 3 Glenfinnen church 4 Heather is 33 years old, and is a professional watercolour artist. She lives near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands on a beautiful stalking estate on the banks of Loch Eil, with her partner and stepson, where she also trains gun dogs. www.hgartist.com

Vicky Cole, Nairobi, Kenya

Jambo, dear cross stitchers.

I’ve just been back to the UK for a quick visit, and found three issues of CrossStitcher waiting for me. I’m feeling quite smug as I have stitched the cute Santa ornament designed by Susan from the November issue. We are always looking for new ideas for the Embroiderers’ Guild, and I was intrigued by this quarter circle that turns into a cone! I got playing with the idea, and have made a sort of chain stitch sampler that will be this shape – I thought Guild members could use it to make a decoration or a paperweight. I tried stitching it with stranded cotton but it didn’t come out so well. Then I tried with cotton perlé no. 8, which was easier and looks better but still needs a bit of silver sparkle. I didn’t realise there were quite so many variations of chain stitch – I’ve found loads online at Thread The Needle.

I have also been stitching up samples for some masterclasses in February. We are so lucky – Liz Almond, who designed the huge blackwork project Save The Stitches, is coming to visit and she will be teaching us blackwork, whitework, pulled thread work and Kogin. Can’t wait!

I am determined to get down to a proper cross stitch project soon, as I haven’t done one for ages. Having said that, my mother-in-law has been dropping some heavy hints about a table runner, and I found a kit for a beautiful hardanger runner… oh dear, too many wonderful things to stitch, too little time! I’ll keep you posted.

Well, that’s all for now, ‘Til next time, Kwaheri. My Santa ornament 5 Perlé cotton chain stitch 6 Kogin – we’ll be doing this at Liz Almond’s masterclass in February 7 Vicky is vice-chair of the Kenya Embroiderers’ Guild and is married with two children.

Anuradha Jain, New Delhi, India

India has many indigenous forms of embroidery – Kantha, phulkari, sheesha work, chikenkari – and while I have tried my hand at most of them, most recently at Kantha, my first love remains cross stitch. I always have a couple of projects on the go, and many more in my to-do list! Over the years, I have made several things from both

CrossStitcher and Collection, often adapting them to suit my purpose.

India has a very vibrant embroidery culture, but sadly most of it is confined to professional dress designers, who employ skilled craftsmen to make gorgeous embroidered Sarees and Lehengas (long skirts). Embroidery as a hobby is gradually dying down, so it’s difficult to procure embroidery and cross stitch material locally, and I have to get all my stuff from abroad. However, stitching is all about creativity, and what can be more satisfying than making do and improvising, and coming up with something beautiful in the process! I made some beautiful kitchen shelves into a very useful blackboard 8 I also love patchwork and appliqué, and have made all of the quilts and most of the cushions at home 9 I made the card from issue 213 of

Collection into a cushion for a friend 10 Anu is a married mum of two, and lives with her family in New Delhi. She completed her PhD in Geography after her daughter was born and has a passion for all things creative.

AnneMarie Zeltenrijch, St.Ulrich am Pillersee, Austria

Gruss Gott, dear Crossstitcher

readers, Winter is great in Austria, mountains are covered with snow and a lot of people enjoy being outside cross country skiing or downhill skiing. In February, I have got a small problem which is related to my wedding anniversary on the 14th. Correct, that’s also Valentine’s Day! When I lived in Holland, it was easy peasy and plenty of lovely cards and presents to buy. But in Austria, this tradition is not common. I cannot find an anniversary or Valentine’s cards, so this year I will make my own.

Austria has a tradition of making embroidery. In churches I have found some very old samplers from the 19th century. Another stunning piece of art is the stitching they make on belts (see pictures) or ornaments for the cows. These ‘ranzen’ are made of brown or black leather and have lovely homemade white stitching. When a Tyrolian boy comes of age, he is given a ranzen with his initials embroidered on it and also with a decorative motive such as an eagle or flower. It is worn on special occasions with the traditional ‘lederhosen’. Austrians also decorate their houses with elaborate embroidery for example ‘Ein herzliches Gruss Gott’ which is a small prayer that hangs above the door. Wishing you a cosy time with your stitching! Traditional cow belts 11 Sampler above a door 12 AnneMarie Zeltenrijch is Dutch but lives in Austria, with her husband and three cats, Bhumi, Ole and Ully. She retired last year.