Marnie Ritter

Marnie Ritter has taught for many years at seminars of ANG, EGA, NAN, The Council of American Embroiderers (CAE), and Callaway Gardens as well as for national and international guilds. Marnie's forte is to continuously discover new and innovative techniques that combine many facets of needleart. Marnie's certification in Surface Stitchery from CAE, as well as experience in television and publishing, offers a teacher who is well versed in the subject of needlework. She has been a juried member of EGA's Fiber Forum and has served as president of Colorado Chapter, EGA. Marnie was recently invited to teach needleart as ART to students at Kent State University.

Pieces

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Imari Plate

While at market in 1977 I was asked by Carol LaBranche of Needlepoint News to choose a painted canvas to embellish beyond the traditional basketweave concept. That introduced the beginning of open canvas use, using different threads and stitch concepts.  The Imari Plate, painted by Creative Needle, became the beginning of my “plate” series done for the cover of Needlepoint News, Needlepoint Plus and the current Needlepoint Now of which there are twenty designs with more to come.

Tapestry III

This is the third in a contemporary sampler concept series that offers composite canvas patterns using varied silk, overdyes, lace, beads, braid and the important use of open canvas as part of the design. The other artistic inclusion is that of color choices and their importance.

Adapting Museum Embroideries

This particular 17th C. gentleman’s French waistcoat embroidery pattern is part of a series of surface embroidery done on varied fabric backgrounds. This particular design is worked on men’s wool worsted suit fabric.

It is stitched with Zwicky silks and metal threads. The pin prick method of transferring was used for these embroideries.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Each student paints their background. They are given the elements such as gazebo, fountain, tree shapes, etc. to create their own garden designs using their individual painted canvases as inspiration.

This is one of four stitched garden pieces done in this concept.

Each student accomplishment has been the reward of having created this design.

Butterfly Collage

Iron-on transfer painting was the beginning of this design concept. Layered Japanese rice paper and gilding create the contemporary background for the traditional shaded butterfly pattern. The combination of contemporary and traditional concepts are one of my favorite art forms. There are several other designs done using these techniques.

Fleur de Lis

Shading – one of my favorite embroidery techniques. This iris is stitched over silver grey glimmer organdy placed over grey congress cloth which allows the design more depth. Sophisticated shading and open space when working the fishbone stitch is the statement of this design.

With Love

1993 was the plate cover done for Needlepoint Plus titled “With Love” dedicated to my father, Fred Beck. His flower shop, design sense and artistic talent influenced my appreciation of art in many ways. Dad taught floral design across the country. This surface embroidery worked on canvas was dedicated to him and the gifts he gave me. Flowers are my favorite. The innumerable facets of design they offer a needleartist are never ending.

Aurora Borealis Revisited

The first Aurora Borealis plate was so popular I was asked to design another.

This one was featured on the cover of Needlepoint Now in 2001. Varied design patterns and varied thread and color choices create the colored columns that are fractured at the top to loosen up the overall design concept.

Patterns from the Past

These patterns are part of an antique Mexican cross-stitch sampler that resides at the Denver Art Museum. In the early 80’s I was asked to take patterns from their permanent textile collection and create kits for their museum store. Since that time I have used these adapted patterns in many ways. This sampler was done for the ANG workshop by Mail. It is worked in diagonal tent stitches using one strand of silk.

Curved Intrigue

While visiting China in 1994 I took photographs of many different designs featured in the temples and various ancient buildings. This lotus is one of many that I have used. It was stitched with silks with the teaching concept of how to stitch curves, one of the most difficult embroidery techniques that frustrate many of us. Again, color, color, color.

Winter Solstice

Crewel embroidery shapes taken a step further. Using crewel (wool), silks and metals, this updated design offers all of the glory that reside in these beloved shapes worked with traditional embroidery stitches. Color placement, another important feature.

Mirror and Sofa

Unfortunately we could not bring these two upholstered pieces to you but wanted you to enjoy the accomplishment. To encourage everyone to create something that is enjoyed each day as it resides in a special place in your home.

Embroidery Calendar for 2006

A new adventure – that of creating twelve different embroidery designs for an Internationally published wall calendar. 2006 is the first year of many to come – a joy to design small designs that entertain.