Things I Love: Wentzler, Florence & Good Deeds
Posted by Zeb in Random on Nov 6th, 2009 | 10 commentsYet another installment of ‘Things I Love’ and a little late, oh well!
Fantasy Sampler Unicorn
Teresa Wentzler – is a needlework designer of much re-known and fame. She’s been around for a long time and has a massive fan base. My own discovery of her happened 6 years ago when I was searching for interesting cross stitch designs. A lot of the designs out back then were, well, crap. Homesy, drab, Americana style designs that didn’t appeal in the least. Then I discovered Teresa’s designs, and it’s been a love affair since. While I love her work, I’ve never felt brave enough to stitch them. Far too complicated, too big and too detailed for me, I’ve only managed to stitch ‘You Were Hatched‘ and the unicorn from ‘Fantasy Sampler‘… but after ‘You Were Hatched’, I felt much braver, far more confident about stitching her work…
Only to have Teresa announce that she was no longer designing, that her charts were now officially out of print and her company would be closing doors come December. This has been a huge blow to the stitching community, and I know many of us are going to miss her work. It has also encouraged me to get pro-active with stitching more of her designs. Once I have a few “must dos” out of the way, I’ll be working my way through her freebie dragons, and then magazine designs.
Florence + the Machine – are a British alternative rock band. It is the recording name of Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice… and oh my, what a voice! Soulful, lyrical, passionate and powerful, and the music just compliments so so beautifully. I very rarely am attracted to a specific artist, but I do believe Florence has forever won a place in my heart. Her debut album, LUNGS, probably has just one song that I don’t like… which says a lot for someone like me.
The lyrics can be dark at times, but like a butterfly emerging into a new world, I’ve changed enough to enjoy them as well as the music. Check em out, you will not regret it!
Favourite songs include: Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up), Howl, Drumming Song, Cosmic Love, Hurricane Drunk, Blinding, You’ve Got the Love.
Good Deeds – as you know, my life hasn’t been great in the last 7 months. It hasn’t been easy for me to be positive, but, I am finding that by helping others, I feel better about myself. I’ve been making it my mission to do something nice atleast once a day, whether for friend or stranger, it doesnt’ matter.
Sounds a tad fluffy, but you know, it doesn’t hurt to just help others un-selfishly, and if I get a satisfaction out of knowing I’ve been able to genuinely help someone, yay me. 
Perhaps a little of that good will come back to me one day.
10 Responses to “ “Things I Love: Wentzler, Florence & Good Deeds”
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I think your mission to do at least one nice thing for someone else each day is wonderful. But, then again, I can be a bit fluffy too.
Your unicorn is beautiful. I hate to admit it, but one good thing did come out of TW’s announcement. It prompted me to look at all her designs again, and reminded me how much I love them. I can see myself stitching a few again in the near future.
Thankyou! I stitched it as a practice piece to blending and fractionals, as well as an intro to TW. I wanted to finish this as a luggage tag, but haven’t figured out how to since it’s too large for commercially made tags.
And yes, you are right, I think you’ll see an influx of folk buying up her designs from stores and places like eBay.
Hehehe I’ve already been called a hippy chick, so am not at all averse to being fluffy too! :*
Agreed, your unicorn looks great!
I was “cross-stitch-curious” for a long time because it looked like something I’d enjoy doing, but none of the designs in the big chain craft shops appealed to me. When I finally found Teresa Wentzler, Just Nan, and other designers it was a big revelation that it was possible to stitch cool things.
I’ve been wanting to take the plunge into a TW project too; maybe after the holidays a SAL is in order?
Thanks Heather!
Half the problem for me is that NZ is still well behind places like the UK and the US as far as being able to source a lot of these awesome designs. I need to rely on fellow stitching bloggers and designers sharing their designs via blogs & newsletter to keep up with everything. Thank god for the age of the internet!
A SAL sounds like a fantastic idea!!!
I’d like to chime in and say I’d love to do a SAL too. I was thinking about one of the Legends designs, or Sewing Seeds. That way we could honour three designers that have gone on to other things. And, as far as I know, these designs are still readily available from Hoffman’s too.
You’re a lovely caring person anyway Zeb, but yay for doing good deeds.
I’m pretty sure I have all the Teresa Wentzler designs I want now, just a pity I’ll probably never be able to get my hands on You Were Hatched. TW’s designs are so gorgeous, there’s nobody out there that does cross stitch designs quite like her.
I reckon you are more than ready for the bigger TW designs.
And I can’t wait to see them. 
NO IM NOT! I’m big n mean and EBIL!!!1!
I am so glad you have confidence in me, cause I sure as hell don’t! I think I might give her petite Peacock Majesty a go first before I try one of the monsters.
As for having all the designs I want, no way, still missing HEAPS. ;_;
I was disappointed to see that she is closing her doors. She is SUCH a talent. Now those lurkers on Ebay are going to jack up her patterns which will be sad.
. I am ashamed to say, I’ve not stitch one of her pieces yet…I started on a small needlecase but haven’t finished it yet!
Don’t feel ashamed Lori, cause I think you’ll find that there are many fans out there who are like that. I’ve always loved her work but never felt confident enough to stitch them.
I am really hoping that this announcement motivates many of us to start stitching, and demanding her designs from our local stores, so they go back and demand more TW from their distributors, and one day, Teresa might come back.
And yeah, been watching eBay and its scary the prices I am seeing.
So glad I only have a few magazine designs left to get.
Philanthropy is good!