This month we are pleased to present...
Teresa Wentzler"My designs are inspired by things mythical, mystical and magical, and I hope you will enjoy stitching them as much as I have enjoyed creating them!" says Teresa Wentzler. And joy is exactly what is engendered by Teresa's designs as they provide a virtual porthole back to childhood and a time filled magic, wonder and innocence.
Fantasy Sampler
Design Owned, Published, and Distributed by Leisure Arts
Teresa Wentzler was born and grew up in rural north-central Pennsylvania. She has always been interested in art, stating, "My first memories are of drawing." Other interests included ornithology (study of birds), cooking (possibly becoming a pastry chef!), reading, music (she played tenor saxophone and bassoon). Teresa continues, "Most of my interests were solitary and I preferred to stay indoors: had allergies, and hated bugs!" Teresa's attended Penn State for a year; then worked for a few years and met her husband-to-be. She enrolled at Kutztown State College, but soon withdrew again to return home, take a job at a sewing factory and get married. Ultimately, Teresa decided that completing school was essential; she completed her studies at a local community college, receiving her Associates Degree in Advertising Art.
Heart Sampler
Design Owned, Published, and Distributed by Leisure ArtsTeresa's mother taught her to sew and cook, while her grandmother taught her to knit and crochet. Her mother is artistically inclined, engaging in drawing, painting and throwing pottery. Teresa adds, "Mom always encouraged us to be creative and severely limited our TV viewing, preferring that we spend our time more productively." Teresa thinks her dad should have been an inventor as he enjoys figuring out how things work, delights in puzzles and games and can fix "anything." Teresa confirms, "I have two very talented parents!"
Christmas Sampler
Design Owned, Published, and Distributed by Leisure ArtsTeresa's sister Pam is a year younger. She relates, "When we were old enough to decide which household chores we liked, I picked the cooking, cleaning, etc. She chose the outdoor work like mowing the grass, working in the garden, painting the house, etc., so it worked out great." Teresa also has a brother, Andrew, 12 years her junior, "Andrew kind of grew up with 3 moms...with 2 sisters so much older than him, he always had a female telling him what to do!" Teresa concludes, "Thank goodness, it didn't scar him: he turned out great!" Andrew is also the creator of the TW Designworks website and keeps things running smoothly for Teresa. She adds playfully, "He's single, by the way!"
Rose Tree in Bloom Teresa initially took up stitching to make gifts for friends, but couldn't find any designs that excited her. This prompted her to attempt some graphing and stitching on her own She had already done some surface embroidery before learning to cross-stitch at a Creative Circle party. The designing just naturally grew out of necessity.
Fantasy Triptych
Design Owned, Published, and Distributed by Leisure ArtsWhat inspires Teresa? She doesn't hesitate to reply, "Anything 'fantasy' anything imaginary, anything that takes reality and gives it a twist of unreality. Music of all kinds, science fiction, other artists' work (especially those who paint from their imaginations or use legend, mythology, etc. as their inspiration.) I'm especially partial to the work of Maxfield Parrish, Edward Burne-Jones, J.W. Waterhouse, NC Wyeth; I could go on and on! I love the music of Loreena McKennitt, Clannad, Enya, October Project, David Arkenstone, Oberon."
Autumn Faerie Winter Faerie Designs Owned, Published, and Distributed by Leisure Arts Requests from stitchers also provide a source of inspiration. Teresa elaborates, "It keeps me grounded in the 'reality' of providing the designs stitchers actually want, instead of where my imagination would take me, which might not be prudent from a necessarily 'marketable' viewpoint."
Legends of the Dragons
Published with Black Swan Designs, and Dragon Dreams, Inc.
Her artistic style encompasses "realistic" motifs, but her subjects are often quite un-real: dragons, fantastic castles, faeries... or situations that would never happen in reality. Even when depicting real objects, such as flowers or fruit, she attempts to add "more" to them, so they aren't merely representative. By employing unexpected colors or techniques, she takes them out of the ordinary. She says, "I guess I would also say my style is narrative rather than purely representational. Most of my designs invite the viewer to make up a story to go along with what is on the paper, canvas or cloth."
Flowers Pillow Fruit Quartet Teresa's style has matured over the course of time, reflecting her audience's increasing technical abilities and changing tastes. She began with fairly simple designs and gradually became more adept at working within the limitations of the "grid" and the "X." Her skill at manipulating color increased and she continues to push the edge a bit by utilizing the opportunities presented by various fibers and fabrics. Teresa adds, "I choose to do what's necessary to preserve integrity of design...not what's easier or faster to stitch. And I'll be the first to admit, my designs aren't for everybody...you've gotta really 'want' to stitch some of my designs: they are veritable marathons!"
Magical Night
Design Owned, Published, and Distributed by Leisure ArtsIt's not lack of interest but rather, of time that keeps Teresa from pursuing other hobbies, She explains, "I do try to read as much as I can and I listen to music as I design. I am interested in lace making, and have had a couple of basic lessons in bobbin from a dear friend who has taught it for many years. I'd love to find time to work on itmaybe someday when I retire!"
Teresa readily admits to having "drooled" over Caron Collection fibers for years. She expands, "As a designer, I first saw them at trade shows. They are simply gorgeous. The colors are so spectacular...they just melt into each other within the skeins. Now that I am on my own as a self-published designer, I hope to use more of the wonderful specialty threads available to today's stitchers, including the Caron Collection threads."
Peacock Tapestry
Design Owned, Published, and Distributed by Leisure ArtsOn occasion Teresa attends consumer shows, where various vendors carry her designs. She teaches rarely, admitting, "Most of my students wind up being much more proficient technique-wise than I am! I've never thought emphasis on technique was that important to cross-stitch. There are a few basic rules and putting pressure on (especially new) stitchers to stitch with perfect technique can discourage people. Now, I realize there are folks who want perfection, and who love competition stitching, etc, and that's fine! But don't take a class from me expecting to be taught technique: you'll be disappointed! I emphasize enjoyment, creativity, and making a piece 'your own.'"
Celtic Inspiration Band Sampler
Class to be taught at the 14th Annual Creative Sewing and Needlework FestivalTeresa will be teaching an exclusive new design, Celtic Inspiration Band Sampler, at the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival in Toronto from October 19 - 22. Other than that, her future plans include concentrating on designing and fleshing out her line. She adds optimistically, "And maybe getting some drawing and painting squeezed in there too!"
Holly and Ivy Sampler Teresa does not sell retail directly, working instead mostly through wholesale distributors. She does however self-distribute her Wool-Cross designs within the US. To purchase her designs, see your favorite needlework retailer.
Teresa Wentzler
TW Designworks
PO Box 176 Montoursville, PA 17754
Phone: 570-433-9979
Fax: 570-433-9979
E mail: tlw@microserve.net
Website: http://www.twdesignworks.comRegarding designs owned, published and distributed by Leisure Arts: If you cannot find the TW design you're looking for at your local needlework store, you can also order directly from Leisure Arts. From inside the US, call Leisure Arts' toll free order line at: 1-800-526-5111. From outside the US, call: (501)-868-8800 or fax: (501) 868- 8937.
Website: www.LeisureArts.com
DESIGNER ARCHIVES Click below if you missed our previous Designer Spotlights and FREE patterns Lani Silver, Founder of Lani Enterprises & Lani's Needlepoint
Mary Hickmott
Cynthia Zittel of The Drawn Thread
Barbara Elmore of Barbara Elmore Designs
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
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