I just returned from my annual trip last week.  It was a whirlwind of visiting the women at the Unitarcoop in Targu Mures and in the Kalotaszeg region, attending the annual market in Negrin, plus a few days elsewhere in Europe.

Being in Transylvania inspired me all over again to finish the new kits and bags, to teach more, and keep practicing my írásos!  Again, I'm ever grateful to Antal Ildikó for taking time in her full schedule to arrange sewing time with the women and to Sara Meaker, for facilitating wonderful visits in Kalotaszeg-- this time we visited Balint Katalin in Huedin who showed us her embroidery and old photos including a portrait of her in a jacket on which she sewed a design in the written stitch (very unusual!).  Meeting people, hearing stories from their lives and that of their families makes the craft and history tangible in a vital way.  

On the heels of my trip, this past Sunday I gave a presentation for the de Young Museum's Textile Arts Council, sharing a brief history of Hungarian written embroidery, many images, and actual textiles from Transylvania.  My love and enthusiasm for the textiles and the beautiful women who make them has suddenly turned me into a public speaker and instructor in ways I never thought possible.  I look forward to sharing more of that enthusiasm with you!