This month we are pleased to present...Barbara Elmore
of Barbara Elmore Designs
and originator of the "Color Stitching" TechniqueOn a ranch in southern Arizona, next to thousands of acres of the Coronado National Forest is where you'll find Barbara Elmore, her husband, Ron Milo, a retired Philosophy / Ethics professor, 2 persnickety cats, 5 goofy dogs, and 3 arrogant Arabian horses today. Sound idyllic? It is, but life was not always such a bed of roses for Barbara... Far from it!
Barbara and daughter, Aunna Barbara Elmore was born and raised in Tucson, AZ, the eldest of 5 daughters and 2 sons to Ernest and Sine Post. Ernest was in the ranch feed and supply business, and later worked as an insurance agent. Sine was a full time nurse who still managed to bake 9 loaves of bread each week, sew all their clothes and tirelessly take meals to the homebound long before there was such a thing as "meals on wheels." Her energy level astounded Barbara even as a child. She adds, "Yet today, in her late 70's and blind with Macular Degeneration, my mom rarely slows down. She has long been my inspiration!"
Violets TeacupFrom an early age, Barbara was taught that her primary purpose in life was to become a wife and mother. Though an artistic, introspective and rather serious child, it never occurred to her that she could pursue a career of her own. Much later in life, Barbara's mother confessed to her that going to work each day as an RN saved her sanity! Barbara states, "I came upon the feminist movement about 20 years late. Better late than never however!"
During childhood Barbara expressed her creativity through drawing, painting, sewing and embroidering. By Junior HS, she was sewing her own clothes and designing the fabric with silk-screened patterns. Sewing is a skill Barbara has used constantly since to decorate her home, outfit her children and to express her creativity.
Funky FlowersAfter Barbara graduated from HS, she attended university on a scholarship and majored in Fine Arts. Yet as much as she loved art, she could not envision earning a living with it. Her father begged her to switch her major to something more pragmatic that would give her something to "fall back on." Barbara was too passionate a spirit to accede, but she wound up marrying after her junior year, thus acquiring what she jokingly refers to as her "MRS" degree!
Tiny Doll ClothesBarbara continues, "I became the consummate wife and mother... raised 4 children... sewed, canned, cleaned, washed, cooked, gardened, chauffeured, and did all the things I was taught to do. However, my marriage ended disastrously after 24 years in 1990, leaving me financially devastated and bereft." Barbara was faced with a difficult situation, as her ex-husband was not able to contribute any financial support for the family. Barbara elaborates, "Several years before the marriage ended I had run into Joy Juarez, a beautiful artist and designer in the needlework industry. She asked me to help her produce her designs, which were entirely hand painted. She told me that this would be a perfect medium for me and that she knew that I would eventually be able to produce my own line of designs as well. So, I did go to work for Joy."
Mexican HutchBarbara was soon designing and selling her own work to local shops. She also provided finishing services, a natural fit with her sewing skills. Initially, she pursued designing only part time, but after the divorce she plunged into it "whole hog!" When she participated in her first TNNA trade show in 1990 in Anaheim, CA, it changed her life for good!
Rose Arbor ProjectAt each show Barbara took enough orders to support her family for a year. Her children turned out to be as resourceful as their mother. Barbara states proudly, "We got by, far better than I would have ever realized. Each trade show gave me great hope and encouragement... Being able to design, paint, and support myself was a dream come true."
Barbara's first motifs were nostalgic portrayals of children at play, which she classifies as "pretty." She designed stockings and large wall-hanging type canvases depicting children giving tea parties, playing in the backyard, on the porch or climbing trees. A series of designs featuring antique porcelain dolls was also created. Barbara adds, "I loved painting faces. Perhaps I was best known for my faces."
Garden HutchDuring the next few years, Barbara's daughter, Aunna, joined the business, also painting needlepoint designs. Aunna had previously worked for Sundance Designs, to put herself through the college. With Barbara's support, Aunna developed her own design line and mother and daughter teamed up at trade shows. Barbara reveals, "This has been one of my greatest joys--spending lots of time and sharing a business with my daughter. Aunna's designs were incredibly detailed and beautiful."
It was not until 1994, that Barbara actually began stitching her own designs. But succumb to the lure, she eventually did, taking her first lesson with acclaimed teacher, Brenda Hart. In no time, Barbara was stitching almost as avidly as painting and adds, "Indeed, it was true--becoming a stitcher changed the way I designed and painted. People always told me that this would happen."
"Mama said tough cookies rarely crumble"
From the Real Nancy Drew SeriesOnce she was stitching her own models, Barbara's approach to designing changed. It was inspiring to discover the variety and enormity of fibers available. She developed many designs with overdyed silk ribbons, incorporating them into needlepoint. Another discovery helped her create a new look: miniature embellishments. Barbara is known today for her Hutch Series - designs that incorporate stitched pieces of furniture, with shelves filled with miniature china (Country Hutch) or tiny metal garden tools, seed packets and mini terra cotta clay pots (Garden Hutch). Her Topiary Trees are "planted" in miniature clay pots, each tree stitched with a different silk ribbon technique. The Topiary Trees design features 5 trees in a row, but each topiary is available as an individual design as well.
Topiary Trees Stitching her own models brought Barbara other opportunities. Shops began inviting her to teach classes. She elaborates, "I taught my first class in Hawaii in 1995. Since then, I have taught all over the country, from New York City to LA. Teaching is one of my primary concerns and enjoyments. I spend hours... designing the projects... some of which use techniques that I have developed."
The Tea Party
Barbara Elmore Design
(Available from Lani's Needlepoint)Barbara's latest and most exciting technique yet is "Color Stitching." This evolved from stitching some china teacup designs. When framed she hung them above her computer. However, instead of enjoying them, they began to irritate her, because the shading on the rim of the cups did not meet her standards. She pondered, "If I could just touch up the curve of that cup with a spot of paint... I decided to try it. After all...the Victorians did watercolor painting on silk fabric, why not apply paint to silk thread? So I tried it, and liked the results. This experiment opened my mind to the artistic possibilities of painting threads." Color Stitching is currently Barbara's ongoing passion and she uses it in each new project. What is so alluring about it is that the paint flows and bleeds onto the surrounding canvas from the stitched subject.
Oak Leaves
Painted Tile
When introducing "Color Stitching" to a new class, students can be a bit intimidated, especially if they have not painted before, but Barbara's reassures them in no time, proclaiming, "It is sheer delight for me to take a class of scared students show them how to do something they have never done before... share the thrill of discovery with them, when they realize that they are creating a beautiful and unique piece of art that is entirely their own!"
Strawberry Girls
Barbara Elmore Design
(Available from Lani's Needlepoint)Barbara gave up hand painting canvases for the trade in 1998 when she remarried. Her designs are now entirely produced via computer, many with complete stitch guides. Barbara has designed windows and doors, wineries, playful pieces such as the Nancy Drew series, (by the Real Nancy Drew--a cartoonist and women's advocate from Niles, MI), hanging bunches of dried flowers, doll clothes, teacups, and many other subjects. Barbara emphatically states, "Needlepoint is a fabulous art medium, and I now have the time and freedom now to pursue it to my greatest pleasure."
In 2000 Barbara licensed Lani Enterprises in Studio City, CA to produce her line of hand painted canvases. She is delighted that they are available to those who want them and that she, herself, can concentrate on her own priorities of stitching and teaching. Barbara continues to market her computer generated canvas designs to the trade, providing a wholesale catalog on a CD-ROM to qualified shops. Interested stitchers can view Barbara's designs on her website.
"For crying out loud GET OVER IT doll face"
From the Real Nancy Drew SeriesBarbara's children have been equally prosperous since reaching adulthood. Aunna, the eldest, gave up the needlework business after marrying and moving to England. Since returning to the U.S., Aunna has been working as a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation and is also developing a "Safe Routes to School" program with the Tuscon-Pima County Advisory Committee. Son, David, who is a natural born teacher, works for a software company, conducting seminars and educating businesses on how to use their products. Rebekah, the third child, is a very talented artist, who designs jewelry and works with porcelain. She has a knack for seeing design possibilities in unusual objects, such as old fan parts or the insides of a piano. Youngest daughter, Leah, has just graduated from the University with a degree in Habilitive Services and Special Education. She plans to work with deaf children as a sign language interpreter.
Barbara's husband, Ron, was actually introduced to her by Aunna and her husband. They had decided that it was high time for "Mom" to meet a nice man. Barbara quips, "All older, divorced women with no common sense when it comes to men, should be so lucky to have children who decide to get their mother's love life under control!"
Wreath with Nest Barbara's children visit her and Ron often at the ranch. They hike, explore the forest, breathe the fresh air, gaze at the landscape and marvel at how all their lives have changed. Barbara knows one thing for sure, "I owe my life to the needlepoint industry. It gave me a purpose and a way to enrich and sustain the lives of children and myself. I have gained many wonderful friendsand have been able to take myself out of a rather limited and sheltered life."
Barbara Elmore Designs
P.O. Box 127
Sonoita, AZ 85637
Phone: (520) 455- 5639
Fax: 520) 455- 0038
E-Mail : npdesign@theriver.com
Website: http://www.barbaradesigns.comBarbara's hand painted design line is available to the trade from:
Lani Enterprises
Phone: (818) 789-7602
E-Mail: idzynm@aol.com
All of Barbara's canvases are available to the public through:
Lani's Needlepoint
E-Mail: idzynm@aol.com
Website: http://www.lanisneedlepoint.com and, throughout the U.S., from their local needlework retailer.
DESIGNER ARCHIVES Click below if you missed our previous Designer Spotlights and FREE patterns Judith Baker Montano
Anthony Minieri
Vickie Tobin
Alan Greenstein
Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose
Jennifer L. Aikman-Smith
Jeanne Manley of Quail Run Designs
Thread Technique Team (T3)Ann Caswell, Beth Robertson and Suzanne Howren
Rosemary Drysdale
Too Sisters
David McCaskill (revisited)
Carmen Wyant
Janet Fenton
Carolyn Hook
Thea Dueck
Deborah Wilson
Karen Buell
Orna Willis
Linda Wyszynski
Jean Smith
Libby Sturdy
Emie Bishop
Stephanie Novatski
Rosalyn Watnemo
Linda Reeves
Carol Tinson
Julie Pischke
Catherine Reurs
Charland Garvin
Martina Weber
Cassandra Prescott
Mary Duckworth
Claudia Dutcher
Leslie Levison
Judi Kauffman
Linda Connors
Sue Kerndt
Dawn Lewis
David McCaskill
Linda Barry
Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
Pam Davenport
Sue Stehle, of Sekas & Co.
Diane Evans, of Something Different
CARON email: mail@caron-net.com / Webmaster nika@optonline.net
