Ann Strite-Kurz
BIOGRAPHICAL RESUMÉ
FORMAL EDUCATION
The Madeira School, Greenway, Va. Graduated 1959.
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Va. Graduated 1963. B.A. in American Studies.
CREDENTIALS
Certified in Canvas Embroidery, Levels I and II, by the Valentine Museum, 1982, now the National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) program.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Taught decorative bookbinding from 1974-1980 in Connecticut and New York.
Taught canvas classes at the Yarn Palette, Springfield, Va. from 1980-1983.
3 Group Correspondence Courses for the Embroiderers' Guild of America (EGA) - Diaper Patterns, Canvas Borders and Exposed Canvas Patterns.
National Seminars:
Thirty years of teaching for ANG and EGA needlework guilds, providing classes and lectures for chapter workshops and regional seminars in both the USA and Canada.
NOTEWORTHY NEEDLEWORK ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Feature Writer for Needlepoint Now since 2010. Topic: Using Common Stitches in Uncommon Ways.
Recipient of the ANG 2010 Literary Award.
A founder and president of the Fairfield County Chapter of EGA.
Master Craftsman in Canvas Embroidery through the parallel program of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter of EGA. Earned in 1980; granted reciprocity by EGA in 2008.
Administrator of the CRVC Master Craftsman program, 1984-1986.
Ribbon winner at ANG exhibits in 1983, '85, '88, '96, 2002 and ’10, at Callaway Gardens in 1989, '90-'94 and 2011 and at NAN in 2002, ‘03, ‘05 and ‘07.
Author of articles for Needle Arts, Needlepointers, NANthology, Open Chain, NETA and Apprize.
Selected as an exhibitor for "A Celebration of Michigan Needleartists - Bridging the Past with the Future," 1992, and again for a similar exhibit at the Plymouth Arts Center in 2001.
Featured Artist at the Healing Arts Gallery of the MidMichigan Regional Hospital for the Month of November, 2006. Featured again in July, 2012.
Author of six books — The Heart of Blackwork - 1992, Potpourri of Pattern - 1995, Backgrounds: The Finishing Touch - 2003, Creative Canvas Couching - 2005, Diaper Patterns and Other Related Composite Fillings - 2007 and Potpourri of Pattern Encore - 2010.
Faculty Chairman of the Great Lakes Regional in 2003 in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Designer Selected for ANG’s Stitch of the Month Program for 2004.
EMBROIDERY EDUCATION
Canvas foundation established with Darlene Reed, ongoing classes from 1974-1978.
Additional canvas classes from at least 40 teachers including several from Shay Pendray and Jane Zimmerman. More recent classes with Dorothy Lesher, Tony Minieri, Kay Stanis, Sandy Rodgers, Gail Sirna, Deborah Forney, Caela Conn Tyler, Tanya Berlin and Jane Nicholson.
Ongoing classes in Counted Thread Embroidery with Ilse Altherr. Multiple classes from Marion Scoular, Eleanor Bockheim and Mary Fry.
Ongoing classes in Silk and Metal Embroidery with Elsa Cose and Mr. Tamura - completed 9 phases of Japanese Embroidery.
At least 7 classes in Crewel Embroidery with Audrey Francini and with Betsy Leiper.
Multiple classes in Surface Embroidery with Lynn Payette.
Color and Design classes with Constance Howard, Pat Lambert, Ann Harris, Peg LaFlam, Debbie Deem, Wilcke Smith, Barbara Smith, Wilanna Bristow, Pam Godderis, and Katherine Colwell.
Judging Workshops with Kathleen Mackie and Muriel Baker and 4 Winning Ways sessions at EGA seminars.
AREA OF SPECIALIZATION IN TEACHING
MEMBERSHIP IN EMBROIDERY ORGANIZATIONS
EGA member since 1975. Current home chapter - White Pine EGA.
Member of NAN, ANG (Local chapter - Magnificent Obsession ANG) and NETA (National Education Teachers Association).
BIOGRAPHICAL RESUMÉ
FORMAL EDUCATION
The Madeira School, Greenway, Va. Graduated 1959.
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Va. Graduated 1963. B.A. in American Studies.
CREDENTIALS
Certified in Canvas Embroidery, Levels I and II, by the Valentine Museum, 1982, now the National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) program.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Taught decorative bookbinding from 1974-1980 in Connecticut and New York.
Taught canvas classes at the Yarn Palette, Springfield, Va. from 1980-1983.
3 Group Correspondence Courses for the Embroiderers' Guild of America (EGA) - Diaper Patterns, Canvas Borders and Exposed Canvas Patterns.
National Seminars:
- EGA 1982, '85, '86, '89, '90, '95, '97, '98, 2001, '04, '06, '12. and '13.
- ANG 1985, '86, '87, '90, '91, '93, '94, '95, 2000, '02 ,'06, '07, '08, '12 and '13.
- Callaway Gardens 1984, '86, '94 and 2001.
- NAN Assembly 1990, '91, '95 and 2009.
Thirty years of teaching for ANG and EGA needlework guilds, providing classes and lectures for chapter workshops and regional seminars in both the USA and Canada.
NOTEWORTHY NEEDLEWORK ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Feature Writer for Needlepoint Now since 2010. Topic: Using Common Stitches in Uncommon Ways.
Recipient of the ANG 2010 Literary Award.
A founder and president of the Fairfield County Chapter of EGA.
Master Craftsman in Canvas Embroidery through the parallel program of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter of EGA. Earned in 1980; granted reciprocity by EGA in 2008.
Administrator of the CRVC Master Craftsman program, 1984-1986.
Ribbon winner at ANG exhibits in 1983, '85, '88, '96, 2002 and ’10, at Callaway Gardens in 1989, '90-'94 and 2011 and at NAN in 2002, ‘03, ‘05 and ‘07.
Author of articles for Needle Arts, Needlepointers, NANthology, Open Chain, NETA and Apprize.
Selected as an exhibitor for "A Celebration of Michigan Needleartists - Bridging the Past with the Future," 1992, and again for a similar exhibit at the Plymouth Arts Center in 2001.
Featured Artist at the Healing Arts Gallery of the MidMichigan Regional Hospital for the Month of November, 2006. Featured again in July, 2012.
Author of six books — The Heart of Blackwork - 1992, Potpourri of Pattern - 1995, Backgrounds: The Finishing Touch - 2003, Creative Canvas Couching - 2005, Diaper Patterns and Other Related Composite Fillings - 2007 and Potpourri of Pattern Encore - 2010.
Faculty Chairman of the Great Lakes Regional in 2003 in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Designer Selected for ANG’s Stitch of the Month Program for 2004.
EMBROIDERY EDUCATION
Canvas foundation established with Darlene Reed, ongoing classes from 1974-1978.
Additional canvas classes from at least 40 teachers including several from Shay Pendray and Jane Zimmerman. More recent classes with Dorothy Lesher, Tony Minieri, Kay Stanis, Sandy Rodgers, Gail Sirna, Deborah Forney, Caela Conn Tyler, Tanya Berlin and Jane Nicholson.
Ongoing classes in Counted Thread Embroidery with Ilse Altherr. Multiple classes from Marion Scoular, Eleanor Bockheim and Mary Fry.
Ongoing classes in Silk and Metal Embroidery with Elsa Cose and Mr. Tamura - completed 9 phases of Japanese Embroidery.
At least 7 classes in Crewel Embroidery with Audrey Francini and with Betsy Leiper.
Multiple classes in Surface Embroidery with Lynn Payette.
Color and Design classes with Constance Howard, Pat Lambert, Ann Harris, Peg LaFlam, Debbie Deem, Wilcke Smith, Barbara Smith, Wilanna Bristow, Pam Godderis, and Katherine Colwell.
Judging Workshops with Kathleen Mackie and Muriel Baker and 4 Winning Ways sessions at EGA seminars.
AREA OF SPECIALIZATION IN TEACHING
- Most projects are mixed media canvas designs that include counted thread techniques with canvas treatments in fresh, innovative ways.
- Noted for notebooks and publications that deal with stitch refinement, stitch variations, pattern design and Master Craftsman topics such as Diaper Patterns and Canvas Appliqué.
- Recognized for unique patterning on canvas and unusual approaches to designing efficient stitch sequences.
MEMBERSHIP IN EMBROIDERY ORGANIZATIONS
EGA member since 1975. Current home chapter - White Pine EGA.
Member of NAN, ANG (Local chapter - Magnificent Obsession ANG) and NETA (National Education Teachers Association).