Yvette Stanton |
| Accredited Tutor | Hardanger | Mountmellick |
| Website | www.vettycreations.com.au |
| Blog | www.vettycreations.com.au/white-threads |
Background
Yvette Stanton is an embroidery designer, embroidery teacher and publisher/author of quality step-by-step embroidery books. Her main focuses are historical whitework embroidery, and all manner of embroidery stitches. These interests are reflected in her books, which include three books on whitework, and two stitch dictionaries.
Yvette delights in teaching embroidery, enjoying the fun of sharing her passions with others. She teaches Hardanger embroidery, Merezhka Poltavska (which is Ukrainian drawn thread work), Mountmellick embroidery. She is also working on classes designed to help students creatively explore a wide range of embroidery stitches.
As a left-hander, Yvette finds that left-handed students love having a left-handed teacher who can show them how to stitch in a way that they understand and relate to. She demonstrates right-handed for right-handers as well, so that they too get the learning experience they need for their handedness.
In 2000, Yvette entered a Hardanger embroidery that she had designed and stitched in the Nordic Needle Annual Design Contest, and was fortunate to be one of the 6 winners. Subsequent to this, she wrote "Elegant Hardanger Embroidery" which was first published in 2001 by Kangaroo Press.
Following the publication of this book, Yvette was introduced to Mountmellick embroidery, and found that there was a lack of good information, so that decided what the next book was going to be about. Her twin sister, Prue Scott, an accomplished botanical artist, was enlisted as co-author for "Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature". Yvette travelled to Ireland and England to research this book, meeting Sister Teresa Margaret McCarthy, and seeing many many beautiful examples of Mountmellick in museums. Prue designed the gorgeous patterns for this book, drawing on her knowledge and love of plants. Both Yvette and Prue stitched the projects, and Yvette wrote the stitch and knitting instructions.
After having two books published, Yvette started to wonder whether she could possibly try self-publishing her books. As she trained as a graphic designer at uni and then worked in publishing house as a book designer for a number of years, she felt she had a good understanding of the industry.
Her first foray into self-publishing was with the revision and re-release of "Elegant Hardanger Embroidery" in 2005. It was a steep learning curve, but was successful and encouraged her to continue with Vetty Creations as a publishing venture.
Always searching for more whitework embroidery, Yvette learnt of the Ukrainian drawn thread work technique, Merezhka Poltavska at a beginners class at her local embroiderers guild. She was fascinated by this embroidery and sought to learn more. Instead of travelling to Ukraine, Yvette went to the fabulous Ukrainian Museum in New York because there she could see a wonderful range of historic examples, without the language difficulties! Photos taken at the museum are included in the resultant book "Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery: Merezhka Poltavska", published in 2007 by Vetty Creations.
During 2007 she fully revised and expanded "Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature" into a full colour book, with much more information than the original edition. This 2nd edition was released at the end of 2007/beginning of 2008.
During 2008 Yvette became quite sick with chronic fatigue syndrome. During this time Yvette was too unwell physically and mentally to be working or sewing, but as her health improved she wondered about getting to work on the left-handed stitch dictionary that she felt needed to be written. Because it could be broken up into bite-sized chunks, Yvette was able to work on small amounts when she felt up to it. During the process of writing "The Left-Handed Embroiderer's Companion: a step-by-step stitch dictionary" thankfully Yvette completely recovered. At the end of 2009, "The Left-Handed Embroiderer's Companion" was released to great acclaim. Following its publication, right-handers indicated that they were extremely jealous of this left-handed book, prompting Yvette to release “"The Right-Handed Embroiderer's Companion" in 2010.
Yvette Stanton has contributed to a wide range of needlework projects to Australia's internationally acclaimed embroidery magazines, such as Inspirations, Australian Homespun, Country Threads, Embroidery and Cross Stitch, and Embellish magazine. Yvette has also contributed to PieceWork (USA) and Finelines (USA), Mains et Merveilles (France) and Bordados Faciles (South America).
Yvette writes freelance for Country Bumpkin Publications, contributing articles to both Inspirations magazine and Australian Smocking and Embroidery.
For more information phone the Guild on 02 9743 2501 or email: info@embroiderersguildnsw.org.au
