Brace yourself: needlepoint artist Patti Mann’s son is going to be on The Voice this Sunday, right after the Super Bowl. If you don’t know about this singing competition on NBC, go here. It is totally addictive! Patti’s website is here. Patti is FABULOUS and I am so excited for her and her (totally adorable) son. You MUST tune in this Sunday! The word is that Chris will be performing about one hour into the show.
Happy stitching…happy singing to Chris,
Susan
This is an amazing story…please read! Thank you to Point of It All customer Susanne Villemarette for sharing it with me.
The tapestry
Major Alexis Casdagli
Tony with his father’s embroidery
Prisoner of War needled the Nazis with hidden messages
Brit’s ‘God Save the King’ in Morse code
By MATT QUINTON, The Sun (January 11, 2012)
A PATRIOTIC British Prisoner of War played a trick on his German captors by giving them a piece of needlework with “God Save the King” and “F*** Hitler” embroidered into it.
But the Nazis never spotted the cunning soldier’s blast — because it was crafted in MORSE CODE.
And they were so pleased with the needlework that they put it on public display at the castle where the brave Brit was locked up.
Clever Major Alexis Casdagli was imprisoned by the Germans for four years during World War Two, and passed the long hours by sewing.
The main message on his gift to the Nazis reads: “This work was done by Major A. Casdagli. No 3311. While in captivity at Dossel-Warbung Germany December 1941″.
But outside the border of swastikas, Imperial Eagles and hammer and sickles, Casdagli hid a dig at the fascists with a patriotic message disguised as an innocent pattern of dots.
Resources were so scarce that the design had to be created using red and blue thread from a Cretan general’s sweater.
The embroidery was recently reunited with Casdagli’s son Tony after being displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Tony, 79, explained: “My father always said that the Red Cross packages he received kept him alive, but the sewing kept him sane.
“He was captured at the Battle of Crete and marched up Greece for six weeks before being flown to north Germany.
“Having run a textiles company before the war he knew a little about sewing, so when he was given a canvas by another prisoner he started stitching for something to do.”
Casdagli even sent Tony, then 11, a stitched letter through the post, saying: “It is 1,581 days since I saw you last but it will not be long now.
“Do you remember when I fell down the well? Look after Mummy till I get home again.”
And while Union Jack flags were forbidden in the camp, Casdagli simply sewed one with a flap over it to get around the German rules.
Retired Royal Navy officer Tony explained: “Each week the same officer would open the flap and say, ‘This is illegal,’ and Pa said, ‘You’re showing it, I’m not showing it.’”
After the war Casdagli joined a British mission to Greece during the civil war, and later started a perspex factory in London.
He kept up his sewing until his death in 1990, aged 90.
08 Jan
Another year, another purse
Posted in beyond pillows, featured artist, fibers, hand-painted canvas on 08.01.12
Welcome 2012! Welcome two more purses to Susan’s needlepoint purse wardrobe!
Two new purses from the Elizabeth Turner Collection: one in my tried-and-true satchel style and one in the new opera bag style. You can see the finished version here It’s soft-sided with a shoulder strap..a petite thing for an evening on the town. I think I will change the dark red to black and possibly some of the metallic silver to metallic gold so the purse goes with more outfits. You can change the colors, you know! Don’t be limited to what’s painted on the canvas…be imaginative and creative!
As for the fun summer colors on the satchel bag, what color shall I do the background? On Point readers and Facebook followers, please vote! Things to keep in mind: this will be my everyday bag in the summer so I don’t want it to get dirty (so probably not white). I don’t mind stitching it black because black over white canvas will not be the nightmare that black on black is. I tried a bit of yellow and I think it looks snappy. I am using Silk & Ivory for the bright colors and Appleton for the background. Please also give ideas for a background stitch. I AM OPEN TO YOUR IDEAS!
Happy stitching!
Susan
29 Dec
SIT!
Posted in featured artist, fibers, hand-painted canvas, Susan Battle Needlepoint, Uncategorized on 29.12.11
A new canvas from the *inspired* Susan Battle Needlepoint line! I think these two dogs are absolutely charming…I love the folk art feel to the canvas. I actually finished stitching it recently and it should be back from the finisher soon. (No pressure, Debby!)
I used Appleton Tapestry wool for the background and Silk & Ivory for the dogs and the border. Once it’s back from the finisher, I’ll post a picture and let you know what stitches I used. (How bad is it that I can’t remember???)
The SIT canvas is available through The Point of It All (202 966 9898)…the cost is $104…it is on 13 mesh…and measures 12″x12.”
Happy new year; happy stitching!
Susan
12 Dec
Stunning Peacock
Posted in featured artist, hand-painted canvas, Susan Battle Needlepoint on 12.12.11
I am working with an artist to develop my own line of canvases, Susan Battle Needlepoint. Terribly clever name, don’t you think?! I’ll highlight these canvases in future posts. First up is a stunning peacock. This regal bird is stitch-painted on 18 mesh. The price is $250 and the painted size is 16″ x 16″. Right now these designs are available exclusively through The Point of It All. Email me if you would like to order one. I am stitching this canvas in Splendor silk…I will take a picture once he’s stitched and “pillowed”!
Happy stitching,
Susan
Are you in the mood for Christmas?! Well who cares if you are in the mood…it’s coming! I am listening to Christmas music as I type.
I love this canvas from Amanda Lawford and isn’t our finishing adorable? It stitched it in a flash…love that skip tent stitch! (All you do is stitch every other stitch…goes so fast!)
A note about dyelots…THEY ARE IMPORTANT! Check out the green area under the left reindeer…I very clearly used a different dyelot! I confess: I thought I had enough Silk + Ivory to finish the piece if I was really, really frugal but no. So do as I say not as I do…
Happy stitching,
Susan
29 Nov
Associated Talents trunk show
Posted in featured artist, hand-painted canvas, Trunk Show on 29.11.11
Holy smokes! We are having an enormous trunk show from Associated Talents! And by enormous, I mean they sent 675 canvases. That was NOT a typo. They sent us almost 700 canvases! Mind boggling. Cruise the AT website and shop like you mean it. All canvases in the trunk show are 20% off. The show will be here until December 24th.
Happy stitching, Susan
14 Nov
Blue Bird of Happiness
Posted in beyond pillows, Christmas, fabulous finishing, featured artist, Uncategorized on 14.11.11
Check out my finished Blue Bird of Happiness! Actually it’s a Blue Jay but let’s not get technical. Labors of Love (check out their website) makes these wonderful three dimensional birds. Each bird comes with two canvases (front and back) and feathers and a clip. It didn’t take long to stitch. I used all basket weave and mostly metallics.
We will be doing a Labors of Love trunk show in May 2012.
Happy stitching,
Susan
24 Oct
Jenny Henry Trunk Show
Posted in featured artist, hand-painted canvas, Trunk Show on 24.10.11
Back by popular demand: a Jenny Henry Trunk Show at The Point of It All! All canvases 20% off !
Jenny’s creates hip, geometric canvases that are a blast to stitch. I’ve done several (quel suprise).
* Passport covers (look stylish for that TSA agent)
* Coin purses (jingle your change in a hot carrying case)
* Picture frames (show off your gorgeous family in an equally fab frame)
*Lots more!
Through November 12th.
Check out her canvases online at Jenny Henry Designs.
Happy stitching,
Susan