It has been a full year and, as usual, it’s hard to believe it’s nearly over! It’s helpful to look back, take note of accomplishments and challenges, and give thanks for new friends, travels, and creative work. Do you have a ritual for closing out the year? Here are some highlights from an exceptional time teaching, making art, and traveling!

January: The long-form Ukrainian sorochka class taught by Hanna Rohatynska with translation by Mariana K. began! Over 7 months we learned to stitch traditional Ukrainian vyshyvankas! Here are some of the beautiful results!

Sorochkas by Deborah Brunner, Chris Habrowych, Mary Beth Zimmerman, and Alina Warner. The second from the left (yellow, pink, and blue) follows the original colors of the antique model for the class.

Post-workshop call with Hanna on the right and Mariana in Lviv, Ukraine.

April: My partner and I visited Belgium for Easter: Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges!

Bruges at twilight in April.

May: I taught a week-long live version of Drawing With Thread (join me online in January and February for this magical, expressive class!) at The John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina and visited Asheville with friends!

Participant exercises from Drawing With Thread: From Tradition To Contemporary Art at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

June: My mixed media photo-based work and a textile piece were included in a group show at Arti et Amicitiae in Amsterdam.

Some photo-based embroidered art on paper exhibited in Amsterdam this summer.

A full group traveled to Budapest, Hungary, and Transylvania, Romania to stitch, explore medieval towns, enjoy home-cooked food, and delve into the many cultures of Romania! The Parliament building in Budapest below:

July: I traveled solo and also attended a textile tour with friends in Estonia and my article and photos of the traditions of Viana do Castelo was published in Piecework magazine.

The group I traveled with in Estonia in traditional dress from Saaremaa. Are you interested in a textile tour in Estonia? Let me know!

August: My partner and co-Portugal-tour leader António and I visited Spain to research the Madrid- Toledo- Lagartera tour and led the Viana do Castelo and Évora tours with two lovely groups!

The women of the Viana trip with our embroidery instructor, third from the left. Our eco-printing was hanging to dry behind us.

September: I taught a new workshops, Czech and Slovak Eyelets for Tatter.org, which I’m offering again here online in February and Embroidery for a Romanian Blouse at the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, part of the programming for the exhibition Geen Woorden Maar Draaden, Talking Threads with Crafts Council Nederland.

Teaching at the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam atelier. I’m offering another version of this class with Folkwear Patterns on Jan. 20!

November: I taught a new workshop, Holiday Floral Monograms, for the New York Botanical Garden. I love being able to connect with people all over the world and with friends in the US by teaching online. I’m offering this class again online this Sunday, Dec. 10, if you need to embellish a handmade gift or napkins for your holiday meal.

Thank you for reading my posts, connecting on Instagram, taking a workshop, or attending a tour!! It’s such a joy and a privilege to do this work with you.

Happy Holidays!

Reviewing 2023