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Shop owners, access ideas and instructions on how to participate in the Challenge in the 2008 Bookmark Challenge Kit. Also, visit the Retailers' Info page to subscribe to Funk & Weber Notes, our occasional email announcements about new patterns, classes, special events, and the Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy program.

Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy
2008 Bookmark Challenge

March 20 - May 8

It's time! The second annual Bookmark Challenge is upon us. From March 20 through May 8, we invite stitchers across the country to stitch bookmarks and read, celebrating literacy and needlework.

Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy logo

Independent needlework shops will collect the stitched bookmarks and donate them to libraries, schools, and literacy programs during Childrens Book Week, May 12-18, where they will be used as rewards for reading accomplishments.

Visit the Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy Web site and blog for more information and to find participating shops.

Bookmark Make-It/Take-It

Anchorage, AK

Guild member teaching young stitcher

On Sunday, April 13, 2008, Arctic Needle, Funk & Weber Designs, and the Arctic Needleworkers embroidery guild hosted the 2008 Bookmark Make-It-Take-It at the Loussac Public Library.

Participants chose Aida or canvas in a variety of counts and colors then selected 6-strand embroidery floss from The Gentle Art or DMC. Felt from Weeks Dye Works and ribbon donated by guild members completed the bookmarks.

Guild member teaching young stitcher

Participants had a choice of stitching the Read ambigram pattern from last year, or an initial or word from this year's alphabet pattern. A couple of ambitious stitchers began "escape" and "dream" bookmarks. One teen chose to design numbers to go with her letters for a 2-sided bookmark: her initials on one side, her birth year on the other. A mother-daughter team turned the event into a competition. (Hey, I had nothing to do with this. It just goes to show, I'm not alone in my Life's-A-Game and Everything's-A-Competition mentality.) Once again, a kid prevails over an adult. No surprise there, really; however, I think it bears mentioning that the kid's initial has almost twice as many stitches as her mother's. Ahem.

Guild member teaching young stitcher
Anyone who didn't finish his/her bookmark is invited to bring it to Arctic Needle at 4101 Arctic Blvd. in Anchorage whenever the stitching is complete. Karen will help you finish it.

Materials for this program were donated by
Arctic Needle
Funk & Weber Designs
Arctic Needleworkers guild members
The Gentle Art
Norden Crafts
Weeks Dye Works

Participants with completed bookmarks

Event press release

New patterns

Book, Book, Book! bookmark pattern
NT102 Book, Book, Book!

Second in the Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy series, this is the other half of our Tribute to Librarians. It comes from this joke:

A chicken walks into a library and says, "book-book-book," (say that as though you're making a chicken sound), so the librarian gives the chicken a book. The chicken takes the book to a pond and sits next to a frog. The frog says, "Read-it, read-it."

Yes, we released these out of order. No excuses; it just worked out that way.

Ambigrams bookmark pattern
NT103 Ambigrams

This chart contains 2 ambigram patterns that can be finished individually or back-to-back.

The first is an asymmetrical ambigram, which means that it spells one word right-side up and a different (but related!) word up-side-down. This one spells "Story" one way and "Read" the other.

The second pattern is a symmetrical ambigram, which means it spells the same word right-side-up and up-side-down. Either way you look at it, this one spells "Read."

Wild About Reading bookmark pattern
NT104 Wild About Reading

How long did you think it would be before we brought wildlife into this series?

The tiger-skin pattern and couched teeth encourage everyone to Go Wild and Read.

Funk & Weber Designs will donate to libraries, schools, and/or literacy programs a minimum of 10% of profits from the sale of this pattern.

To learn more, visit the Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy Web site and blog.



The April 2008 Needlework Show Puzzle Contest Winners!

Debra, from Edmonton, Alberta
Dee, from Pittsburgh, PA

The answer to the puzzle: Clueless in Alaska



The Needlework Nutshell Puzzle Contest Winners!

April: Becky, from Pikesville, MD

March: Karen from Atlanta, GA

February: Denise from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

January: Crystal, from Germantown, PA

December: Angi, from Peterborough, England

November: Suzanne, from Ottawa, Ontario

October: Becca, from Farmington, NM

September: Katrina and Andrew, from Waco, TX

August: Ellyn, from New York, NY

July: Nancy, from Williamsburg, KY

June: Kathryn, from Chattanooga, TN

May: Denise, from Chicago, IL


For needlework news, musings, tips, contests,
and what's happening now at
Funk & Weber Designs, subscribe to:

The Needlework Nutshell.

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We are needlework designers from Alaska specializing in counted cross stitch. This online catalog contains images of all our patterns. It is always complete, always current.

We have information for stitchers on where to find our patterns, and information for retailers on how to place orders. We will be glad to answer any questions you have and are always happy to hear comments and suggestions from fellow stitchers.

Thank you for your interest in our company and designs. Enjoy your visit.

Updated April 2008

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Mike and Jen Funk Weber
Funk & Weber Designs
35232 W Pinochle Trail
Sutton, AK 99674
(907) 746-5641
mail@funkandweber.com
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To Jen Funk Weber's children's author web site To Mike Weber's nature and wildlife photography web site


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