While I was in South Africa visiting my parents, I was approached by a wonderfully talented designer, Bev Theobald who designs the MAGIC EMBROIDERY LINE. I thought I would share with you some of the background and uniqueness of the Magic Embroidery designs from South Africa . Here are extracts from an interview with Bev Theobald.
Why is the Magic Embroidery Training System so special?
It started off as a project to help unemployed women in south Africa (South Africa has an unemployment rate of thirty percent) to learn a new skill that would enable them to support their families. It was developed over a four- year period, using only beginners who had never done embroidery before.
Each beginner was given the level 1 training kit which includes a practice piece as well as a sampler. They were also given our stitch glossary and the kit instructions which were computer printouts, and had to follow the material. Our training material had to be very easy to understand, because many of these ladies were not well educated. They were not allowed to ask for help, except from us. As each student found something too difficult, we adjusted our material, until new students had no queries.
Each student completed all 6 training levels, which took them from traditional embroidery (levels 1-3), border stitches (level 4), Brazilian embroidery (level 5) to stump work (level 6). This practical proving of our system gives us every confidence in our training material. Our book has been very well accepted.
What else is unique about Magic Embroidery?
Our Training and decor kit levels are integrated. If a student has completed trainer 1, she may then choose from a variety of décor kits in level 1 and be assured that she will be able to do all the stitches correctly. Our beautiful décor kits are unusual and suit all tastes from traditional to modern and have many applications including quilting. They include all the necessary threads, beads or other materials required, together with our easy to use instructions.
We expose the students to a great variety of materials to develop an understanding of the relationship between needle types and sizes related to the fabric being worked on, and the thread being used. Many skilled embroiderers find our kits challenging, especially at level 5 and 6 and love doing them.
What can a student gain from doing the course?
Well, apart from the tremendous satisfaction of having done a really interesting course, she is in a position to take on any embroidery project on her own. She can also have her work certified. In this process her work will be approved as being of a standard good enough for her to teach. If she then wishes to teach Magic Embroidery and start her own Magic Embroidery school, she can do so, earning money from teaching as well as from the mark-up on the kit designs all while having a great time.
Our training material makes it very easy for any teacher to teach the students in a structured way which will take them from beginner to proficient, with all the training materials she could ever wish for – ones with which she is already familiar.
We have also found that guilds have used our materials for their new students. If she is a retailer, she can add embroidery courses to her offerings. So many crafts today are bringing in embroidery as a texture or detail embellishment, as in quilting and smocking.
(If you are interested in teaching or stocking Magic Embroidery Designs, please call Leora at (818) 999-6094 or email info@aflembroidery.com)
You can now purchase wholesale and retail all the Magic Embroidery designs at our online store by calling (818) 999-6094. While the designs do include instructions you may want to take a class from experienced and talented embroidery and fiber artist,
Lia Smith. Lia teaches Magic Embroidery Designs from levels 1 through level 6. You can email Lia for a private class - bdazled1@aol.com.
We also have in stock the COMPREHENSIVE MAGIC EMBROIDERY BOOK with over 100 stitches and variations easily explained and illustrated. YOU can purchase the book from African Folklore Embroidery @ $42.00 includes shipping. Mail check to African Folklore Embroidery , 7258 Pondera Circle, West Hills, CA 91037
