Always with a needle in hand…

Lisa Kampel

I’ve been stitching for most of my life – primarily cross stitch when I was younger and then exploring many other embroidery styles as the years have gone by.  We started to travel abroad as a family when my children were in their early teenage years.  Our family travelled all over the UK and Europe and were lucky to see many exciting things!  I was immediately struck by the tapestries and textiles in the castles, cathedrals, museums and abbeys we toured. On one of our early tours of the UK, we visited Hampton Court.  I purchased the Mellerstain Firescreen kit from the Crewelwork Company.  While on the train going back to London, I opened the kit and started reading the instructions… and well…. I had absolutely no idea what to do!  My embroidery journey began while sitting on that train.  Upon our return to Canada, I immediately sought out and joined our local embroidery guild and I’ve been embroidering and creating like a wild woman ever since!

Since joining the local EAC guild (Calgary Guild of Needle and Fibre Arts) I have been able to expand the breathe of my stitching repertoire to include Japanese Sashiko/Kogin, surface embroidery, crewelwork, goldwork, blackwork, canvas work and needlepoint, just to name a few. The very first course I signed up for was the Basic Crewelwork (a correspondence course offered by the Embroidery Association of Canada). I attend as many EAC Seminars, online courses and workshops as time will allow. I am keen on attending guild organized workshops and courses. Most recently, I was a student of Natalie Dupuis (Sew by Hand) in her Humbly Magnificent Couching Stitch (Fall 2020).

I continue my journey by stitching many things, dabbling in writing, designing and teaching.

courses and workshops

  • 2015 – EAC Basic Crewel Embroidery Technique Study Course
  • 2015 – Blackwork Butterfly, Tanja Berlin (Level 1 blackwork); Online Course
  • 2015 – Purple Pansy, Tanja Berlin (level 1 needlepainting); Online Course
  • 2015 – EAC Seminar 2015 (Calgary, Alberta)
    • Mardi Gras, Lorene Salt (Canvaswork); 2 day workshop
    • An Introduction to Sashiko, Barbara Gilbert (sashiko); 2 day workshop
    • Sock it to Me, Freda Murfin (Canvaswork); 1 day workshop
  • 2016 – Bateau Bayeux, Kathy Andrews, The Unbroken Thread (bayeux stitch/tapestry); Online Course
  • 2017 – EAC – Seminar 2017 (St. John’s, Newfoundland)
    • Flight from Tuscany, Alison Cole (stump work/goldwork); 2 day workshop
    • Serendipidy, Lorene Salt (canvaswork); 2 day workshop
    • Knapweed Roundel, Jane Nicholas (goldwork/stumpwork); 1 day workshop
  • 2016 – Shockwave, Lorene Salt (canvaswork); EAC Project Course
  • 2017 – Jimmy the Hamster, Tanja Berlin (level 3 needlepainting); Online Course
  • 2018 – Canvas Candy Bowl, Carol Storie, Heartfelt Designs (canvaswork); EAC Project Course
  • 2018 – Blackwork Smalls, Maureen Spira (beginner counted thread); EAC Project Course
  • 2018 Vineyard Wall; Carol Storie, Heartfelt Designs (hardanger/blackwork); 2 day workshop
  • 2019 – Heart Pillow, Barbara Kershaw (schwalm whitework); 2 day workshop
  • 2019 – Rosewood Cottage Fairy Door, Kathryn Drummond, Gingerbread Girl Designs (casalguidi); EAC Cyberclass
  • 2019 – EAC – Seminar 2019 (Victoria, BC)
    • Dipped in Gold, Natalie Dupuis (English and Japanese goldwork, or nue); 4 day workshop
    • Beaded Pendant, Naomi Smith, Black Tulip Designs (woodland saddle-style beadwork); 1 day workshop
  • 2019 Fibre Potpourri (Red Deer, AB) – Colourful Creatures, Holly Boone (needle felting); 2 day workshop
  • 2019 – Metalwork Pendant; Tanja Berlin (Level 1 metalwork); 1 day workshop
  • 2020 – “The Humbly Magnificent Couching Stitch” – Natalie Dupuis, Sew by Hand (goldwork/couching techniques/or nue/italian shading); 10 week online course
  • 2021 – “A” is for Apple, Natalie Dupuis, Sew by Hand; EAC Project Course (couching/goldwork)
  • 2021 – EAC – Seminar 2021 (Virtual)
    • Creative Embroidery, Janet Scruggs; 2 day workshop (design)
    • Daisy Biscornu, Hazel Blomkamp; (1 day workshop (needle lace/bead embroidery)
  • 2021 – Lady Anne’s Retreat
    • Phoenix from the Flames; Deborah Wilding (goldwork/silkwork/raised embroidery); 3 day workshop
    • Fennel; Jo Butcher (surface embroidery); 1 day workshop
  • 2021 – Glitter & Gogh Workshop, Natalie Dupuis, Sew by Hand (goldwork/couching); 2 day workshop

Memberships

Calgary Guild of Needle and Fibre Arts (CGNFA) – member since 2013

Embroiderer’s Association of Canada (EAC) – member since 2013