The town of Slutsak became famous for making the most expensive and luxurious piece of garment of the Shlachta, the privileged noble class of medieval Belarus. Today, the Slutsak Belts are widely known as a Belarusan national relic Download pattern. … Continued
Several years ago, while working as a smocking teacher at a knitting shop in Aurora, ON. I spent quiet store hours browsing knitting books and magazines for ideas for my smocking designs. This is where inspiration came to me for … Continued
I have always been fascinated by Fractals… things like those childhood kaleidoscopes, or Spirograph, would keep me entertained for hours! So, when I was considering ideas for an elemental series, the natural fractals found in nature were irresistible. Though I’ve … Continued
Do you believe in superstitions? In the days when water was drawn from a well and carried back to the house in buckets on shoulder poles, there was a superstition about it in Belarus. If one came across a girl … Continued
Simon the Musician is one of the first designs I created when I moved to Canada. I wanted to create a Belarusan archetypal image. Simon the Musician is a popular character from the poem of the same name written by … Continued
This piece was a happy combination of the theme for this issue and an art project our youngest did while in University! Katie created this large castle wall full of windows, and when you opened each window, you could see … Continued
A little history… The Mir Castle. In medieval times, Belarus (the former Grand Principality of Litva) was considered a ‘country of palaces and castles’. Unfortunately, there are very few ‘old’ things left after the numerous wars and 200 years under … Continued
One day, when having a conversation with a mom who had recently had an exasperating chat with one of her children, I said, “You know, there should be a certification for moms – a “B. Mom,” or something – so … Continued
In this feature, I also provide several tips for those who have never worked on perforated paper before, and even those who have may discover something useful. By the way, if the stitching on one of the cards looks slightly … Continued
This design was inspired both by the celebration of our newest family member, Ember Anne, and from cross stitch samplers common to my province in the mid 1800s. Ember’s birth provided the perfect opportunity to pull motifs from antique samplers … Continued