Here's a snapshot of our new products for this week. Click an image to see more details and scroll through the entire update. Or click the "What's New" link to the left to view in list format.

Man A Month 3-Mother's Day May by Amy Bruecken Designs Item: 12-1773	Man A Month 4-Fathers Day June by Amy Bruecken Designs Item: 12-1774	Man A Month 5-4th Of July by Amy Bruecken Designs Item: 12-1775
Man A Month 6-August Melonman by Amy Bruecken Designs Item: 12-1776	Man A Month 7-Acornboy September by Amy Bruecken Designs Item: 12-1777	Man A Month 8-October Snow Witch by Amy Bruecken Designs Item: 12-1778

Amy Bruecken Designs presents...

The "Man A Month" series of snowmen! Collect each month to complete the design below. Begin with the base chart, which includes charms, and complete the whole chilly family!

Read more Q & A sessions with other top designers!

Turquoise Graphics & Designs Designer: Gunay Uyan Location: Vancouver, WA

 

How long have you been a cross-stitcher and how did you first learn about stitching?
Thanks to my mother and grandmothers, I learned how to knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch and needlepoint before I even started school! As you can imagine, I am ever so grateful for this as I have been enjoying these skills ever since. My mother is a seamstress by training, so that helped introduce me to different fibers and stitching techniques at an early age. The only thing I was not allowed to go near was my mother’s sewing machine (because of my age), but learned how to use that later in life.

Members of my family and my most of my mother’s friends enjoyed knitting, crocheting and embroidery. When I was growing up, they would get together several times a week for tea bringing their projects along. Naturally the younger generation got interested and patient members of the group passed on the knowledge.

When did you begin designing your own patterns and how did that turn into a business?
I began designing in my teens, back then it was mostly knitting patterns (generally Fair Isle style but with an ever increasing number of colors per row); I used to challenge myself constantly. Also even as far back as then, I remember changing cross stitch patterns as I stitched them (colors and design elements), and came up with a few simple cross stitch designs of my own for album covers, place mat borders etc.

It was in the late 90s that I decided to turn my passion for cross stitch into a business. That’s how Turquoise Graphics & Designs came into existence. Another area of interest of mine is Computer Graphics, so I started Turquoise to work on Computer Graphics and Cross Stitch Designs. My earlier work was geared more towards Computer Graphics and Web Design. Then for a few years Turquoise took a back seat as life got really busy. But about six years ago, I started to focus primarily on the cross stitch design part of the business. Shortly after that opportunities began to emerge and things started to come together, for which I am extremely grateful.

What are a few of your favorite themes when designing a pattern?
I have always been interested in ancient history, art and architecture! So, whenever I can, I try to incorporate something of the old and antique into my patterns, either as a design element or even just a suggestion in a title of an abstract design. Symmetry in a design is also very pleasing to me. So, perhaps for that reason, I really enjoy designing geometric, mandala style designs.

Also, recently my sister introduced me to the fun art of stamping and scrapbooking, which is turning out to be a great hobby. So, you probably see the influence of that in some of my later designs.

How do you incorporate beads and specialty threads into your designs and how do you feel they make the design better?
I have always been drawn to beads, and silk, metallic and textured fibers. I believe they add a very nice texture, almost another dimension to the finished work. There are so many beautiful fibers around nowadays, that it is a pleasure to design with them in mind.

Quite often I start off with a few specialty threads and several colors of beads, then choose the other fibers and colors to complement them as the design emerges. Sometimes I choose a thread for its color (like variegated silk) and sometimes I choose a thread for its texture, like the wool or mohair. For example, if I am designing a piece of knitted work, such as a vest or a scarf, then I prefer to use wool or mohair, a texture that comes close to the actual work itself.

The beads, in my opinion, really bring out a project. The ways in which different beads reflect the light add a lot of interest to the finished work. Beads also add a certain weight to the finished fabric and a nice texture which may be desirable if you are going to finish the work as a belt or a coin purse, for example.

Love Sampler Here's a new release from Turquoise Graphics & Designs called "Love Sampler". This pretty and unique design has a stitch count of 134w x 85h. See more designs in our Online Reference Catalogue.

Would you describe some of the steps you must take when creating a design?
I got into the habit of keeping a design book by my bedside every evening. I constantly sketch and write my notes in my “current” design book. I take it with me on trips (particularly to the coast!) Whenever an idea comes to mind, I draw it in my book (generally a rough sketch) and make notes on colors, specialty fibers etc. This is particularly useful since my mind is faster at designing than my hands can catch up with the stitching and it is important to preserve as much of the original idea as possible.

When I decide to work on a particular design from my design book, I choose the fabric and try to have a large sample of colors of threads, beads etc. to choose from as I finalize the design. Depending on how complete my sketch was, I either start by scanning my design in to use as a guideline, or start from scratch in a design software. The software is particularly useful for trying out different color schemes and is easy to “undo” and start again if I need to.

Depending on the complexity of the design I may go through several iterations on the computer, especially as I finalize the colors. Then it is time to start stitching!

Besides stitching and designing, what are a few things you enjoy in your free time?
I enjoy sitting in a comfortable chair and reading, usually with a hot beverage (preferably cocoa) by my side; or again sitting in a comfortable chair (yes, there is a pattern!), knitting and simultaneously watching a mystery show (and usually end up wondering some time later how I ended up knitting the wrong colors in the pattern). I also enjoy beading, bead weaving, bead stringing, making jewelry etc. pretty much anything to do with beads and stones.

And whenever I can, I like spending time at the coast, listening to the waves and just walking along the beach.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?
Holidays are always a source great fun and joy for me. But if I have to choose a favorite, it would have to be Halloween. It gives me great pleasure to see the kids of all ages (even those trapped in teenage bodies) having so much fun, regardless of the cold or wet weather. So many great memories are packed into those few hours every year.

What are your three favorite books?
This turned out to be one of the hardest questions to answer! I never realized I liked so many books that it was so hard to choose just three. I generally enjoy reading non-fiction books on archeology, ancient languages etc. and have a few favorite authors who write fiction whose works I really enjoy (and try to read everything they publish!)

One of my favorite books is “Last Camel Died at Noon” by Elizabeth Peters (this is one of the books in Peters’ Amelia Peabody series – all of which are great in my opinion). My second favorite is “The Maltese Goddess” by Lyn Hamilton (again, I really enjoy all of Lyn Hamilton’s books too). My third favorite book is “Death on the Nile” by Agatha Christie (this has been a favorite of mine for many, many years now along with many others of her works!)

What would you say to a young person in order to get them to try cross-stitching for fun?
Depends a lot on the age and the interests of the young person, but if they like playing with dolls I would probably say the same thing that my elders would say to me: “Let’s do a fun project for your dollhouse!” Then we would start with something small and quick but that I would enjoy using over and over again. Projects like cross stitched table runners, pillow cases or bed linens for my dolls.

Nowadays with so many beautiful ways to display your finished work, I think something like a stitched key chain, mp3 player cover, or even a stitched birthday card for a friend might be interesting and fun to try for a young person.

Where do you see Turquoise Graphics & Designs in 5 years?
In addition to continuing to design and stitch, I hope to have some classes (perhaps online) for beginners and for specialty stitches. And, hopefully an annual retreat for all those who love to stitch!

Enjoy our past Q & A sessions with dozens of the top designers in our industry!

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