Carolyn Mitchell
[Photo by Celine Schaad] Carolyn Mitchell
has devoted the past forty years to sharing
her love of textiles, thread and creative
stitchery with all those she meets.
A National Standard Council of American
Embroiderers (NSCAE) certified teacher
since 1987, and talented designer, Carolyn
owned and ran a very popular needlework
store, "Mrs Twitchett's Eye", opening in
1988 in Whitehorse, Yukon, then moving to
Fort St John, BC and then in Winnipeg, MB
until her retirement in May 2008.
As an active member of the Embroidery
Association of Canada (EAC) since 1977,
Carolyn has become a well-known educator
and advocate of her favourite forms of
needlework. Because she travels frequently
and teaches by invitation in many
communities across Canada, Carolyn is
much in demand and often designs pieces
based on colours and textures that she sees
on her travels.
Carolyn is equally at home with
Canvaswork, Hardanger, Blackwork,
Florentine and Counted Thread as well as
Smocking and Pulled Thread Work. She
frequently uses stitches and techniques
from the different forms of needlework
to achieve the exact ‘look' for her current
project. As well as being a keen observer of
the world around her, Carolyn welcomes
ideas and input from those she teaches and
meets. Carolyn Mitchell Designs are also
requested by telephone and e-mail and her
experience teaching correspondence
courses for EAC, and Cyber courses for
ANG, stands her in good stead when
helping her clients over long distances.
One of Carolyn's greatest talents is her
encyclopaedic knowledge of threads – their
uses and colour ranges. She continues to
amaze her students with alternate
suggestions when the colour combination in
a pattern does not appeal to them. She also
encourages all needle workers to broaden
their horizons by attempting new challenges
and Carolyn is always ready with a helping
hand when needed.
Knowing Carolyn is to be included in a warm
and encouraging environment where the
emphasis is not only on imparting
knowledge but also on sharing ideas and
enjoying the company of other like-minded
people. One of Carolyn's greatest strengths
is awakening the adventurous in even the
most timid stitcher. As Carolyn uses the
world around her as inspiration, she teaches
her students and guests to broaden their
horizons as far as they can and then she
initiates the ‘little push' that amazes the
students to find they have reached further
out of their comfort zone – be it with colour
experiments, stitches previously considered
too hard, or attempting a new form of
needlework.
Carolyn is the mother of two daughters, both
of whom are school teachers, who obviously
inherited their mother's “teaching gene” and
love of sharing knowledge. Carolyn is
the proud grandparents of
Alexandre, Abigayle, and Ava Kathryn.
They are all proud possessors of Grandma's
needlework! Each receive at least one
Christmas ornament every year in their
special Christmas box.
If only Ava does not have to touch and hide
all the red ones that she adores from the
others!!
Even Grannie cannot find everything!!
