Links... I hope that you enjoy these sites as much as I do...

LINKS THAT NOURISH THE SOUL....

We all know that, unfortunately, there's no shortage of worthy causes that need our help. Here are a just a handful that I know are doing excellent work and which have been created and supported by our stitching community.

Little Mr. Cole was only with us for 27 months, but his memory and legacy will live on forever. Cole' Quilts was created to provide beautiful cross-stitched quilts for children who, like Cole, are stricken with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). Coles' devoted mother, Kristin, also created a touching journal of his life, Cole's Journal.

After overcoming the shock and despair that accompanied the news that her 5 year old son, Michael, had Leukemia, Hazel Green took action. She created Operation Teddy Bear, a group that stitches needlework squares that will be sewn into quilts for children suffering from cancer. She also ran the 2004 National Capital Marathon in Ottawa (raising funds for Camp Trillium) and created Michael's site.

The members of the Angel Quilt Project also generously donate their skills and talent. They stitch needlework squares for quilts which are sent to sick children all over the world.

FAVOURITE ART SITES...

Sandra Betts is a remarkable quilt artist who lives in Saint John, NB. She's creating the most amazing mixed media pieces using quilting techniques.

The gorgeous work of a large number of quilt artists may be accessed through this site, Quilt Artists links (quilting's come a long way from using scraps to make warm bed-covers!)

Altered Books, a relatively new passion, have recently captured the hearts of crafters. Some beautiful examples of this type of work may be seen at this site.

Art Dolls... displays some of the most incredible one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted dolls you've probably ever seen. From faeries to movie stars; new-born babies to firemen this site is awfully difficult to leave. The imagination, skill and talent of these artists is truly awesome! If you'd like to try the craft yourself, you can get excellent direction from Jack Johnson , the owner of this amazing site.

Cynscribe... although my own writing is a shameful, barely legible scribble, I love looking at beautiful hand-writing. 'Down-time' visits to this calligraphy links site, are always refreshing and inspirational.

The World of Watercolor... Over the past few years, I've become very interested in watercolours and am always looking for any little 'tricks of the trade' that will help make me a better painter. I pick up several printed art magazines from our local book shop and also discovered this wonderful online magazine.

Nick Bantock... the creator of the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy and one of my favourite artists, has a simply gorgeous web-site.

NEEDLEWORK LINKS...

Rainbow Gallery's wonderful and unusual fibres offer stitchers the opportunity to add texture and extra expressiveness to their needlework.

The EAC (Embroiderers' Association of Canada) offers many wonderful programs to stitchers... including a very interesting and worthwhile YOUTH EMBROIDERERS' GROUP. For a nominal fee, membership in this group provides young people (between the ages of 9 and 17) with generous enrollment gifts, eligibility for the Eleanor Thomas Youth Bursary and their own newsletter (which contains free charts, projects, puzzles and samples).

"Embroider Now" is the brain-child of one of our stitching community's greatest assets... Dianne Lewandowski. The levels of her needlework knowledge and experience are so great that if it's needlework-related, and Dianne doesn't know about it, chances are no one else does either. A frequent contributor to the rec.crafts.textiles.needlework forum, she's developed a very tasteful and informative e-zine, 'Embroider Now'.

"Following the Thread" is an Internet Radio station that has been set up for the enjoyment of all stitchers by a talented designer who wears many hats, Tink Boord-Dill. I've enjoyed listening to all the programs on her Needlework Channel (there's also a Quilting Channel). In fact, her fascinating interview with Andrew Kreinik of Kreinik Manufacturing (the people who bring us those beautiful metallic threads) has kept me company several times when I've sat stitching.

De Quervain's Tendinitis was a condition that I'd never heard of until November 2003. If you're experiencing wrist or thumb pain, you might like to check out this page and then consider getting a proper diagnosis of your injury.

The DMC Corporation has a message centre; lots of free projects, colour name lists and floss conversion charts to print out; tips on taming Rayon floss and great links.

Mill Hill Beads... tips, kits, leaflets and more from the people who add a special touch to so many needlework designs.

Wichelt... along with a broad range of lovely stitching items, has a very helpful feature in their "Products" area - their fabric swatches are cross-referenced to DMC colours.

Zweigart... Did you know they have a Needlework Trivia Quiz? Just click on 'Interact with Us' at their home page.

The Kreinik web-site... is always evolving. They now offer a range of scrapbooking products and projects; an online newsletter; freebies and stitch instructions in their 'Stitch Journal'.

Stitcher's Habit... Canadian needlework designer, Carol Scott Higeli's web-site contains a wide-ranging and very interesting collection of links... including one of my favourite musicians, Loreena McKennitt. Be sure to visit her Chinese Silk Embroidery link... there are some beautiful photos of double-sided embroidery pieces.

Kathy Dyer's Counted Cross-stitch, Needlework and Stitchery Page... contains a very large selection of needlework links... including a handy, on-line "How Much Fabric" calculator and the 'Rec.crafts.textiles.needlework' link (a needlework discussion group).

The Webstitcher's Sourcebook is an amazingly inspirational site. So many beautiful and informative sites are amassed here that it takes quite some time to see everything. Don't miss Albert G. Richard's 'Secret Garden' of floral radiographs in the 'Sources for Design' section... they're gorgeous!

Cross Stitch Pals Bulletin Boards... a friendly, supportive gathering of stitchers who share their needlework triumphs, tribulations and wisdom.

The Cross Stitch Corner... contains an incredible collection of links. There's bulletin boards for many designers, magazines, stitching information, the list goes on...

OTHER INTERESTS...

Uncle Tom's Cabin... in both its virtual and tangible forms offers a wealth of information. At the web-site, you'll find how to get there; biographical details about Josiah Henson and a reading list for more intensive study. As part of the Underground Railroad Network, it also offers links to other sites on the African Canadian Heritage Tour.

The Herbal Touch... Marilyn Edmison-Driedger's web-site has very effectively captured the magic that makes her Otterville, Ontario shop such a beautiful place to visit. It also contains excellent planting instructions for a charming Faerie Chair and delicious herbal recipes (Lavender Lemonade and Herbal Sun Tea, for instance).

Richter's... carries such an enormous variety of herbs that it's quite likely every herb garden in Ontario contains some stock they propagated. Their site contains a wonderfully comprehensive Q & A section and an online' HerbLetter' newsletter.

Bolerama... is dedicated to Bolers and their sister trailers, the Trillium. We bought an old Trillium in the summer of 2000 and found a wealth of information about vintage RV's at this site.

Keep on Truckin'... Has an amazing collection of Hippy-related links - 60's graphics, Mother Earth News, the Grateful Dead and Santana home pages, Native American Flute Makers, an "Are You a Hippy" Quiz and so much more.

USEFUL LINKS...

Bartlett's Quotations... comes is so handy when you've got a quote rattling around in your head and you just can't remember where it came from.

Coffee Cup software... although I've never designed a web-site before (and am unusually gifted at wrecking computers!), the task was quite simple using this software.

Ghost Stitchers... offer a solution to some all-to-familiar problems - "Grandmother left unfinished pieces and you would like to pass them on to the family, but don't know how to stitch... You're in a Round Robin that just isn't you... "