Yellow Rose EGA

In the spring of 1999 Yellow Rose EGA sponsored its first Japanese Embroidery Study Group. Classes are now held each spring and fall. The group has grown over the past 8 years and students come from all over Texas and from across the US. Yellow Rose is proud to have JEC certified instructors Diane Horschak of Pinckney, MI and Mary Alice Sinton of Houston, TX. Both instructors have studied at Kurenai-Kai school in Togane City, Japan and at the Japanese Embroidery Center (JEC) in Dunwoody, GA.

Diane Horschak began her study of Japanese Embroidery in the early 1980's under instruction from Master Iwao Saito. She continued her instruction under Shay Pendray and Shuji & Masa Tamura and has assisted teaching with Shay Pendray many years. Diane Horschak was awarded the 2003 Needleworker of the Year Grand Prize from the National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) with her outstanding Noshi piece. Mary Alice Sinton began her study of Japanese Embroidery under the late Mary-Dick Digges in 1990 and with Shuji & Masa Tamura in Atlanta. She also taught the Young Students class at the JEC from 1995-2005 and has been teaching for Yellow Rose since the fall of 1999.

Instruction in the basic techniques of traditional Japanese Embroidery is an orderly progression of ten phases that should be taken in turn. Each phase builds new skills with some phases covering several techniques and others focusing on only one. The Yellow Rose JE Study Group offers four-day workshops each spring and fall. Each workshop has students in all levels of study, from beginners to seasoned veterans. Advanced students reinforce their knowledge while listening to beginners being instructed. The Yellow Rose JE Study Group meets from 9am to 3:30pm in the East Room at the Chapelwood United Methodist Church (11140 Greenbay Road, Houston, TX 77024, PH 713-465-3467). Dates for 2007 are:

April 18-21, 2007
October 10-13, 2007

Along with instruction in stitching techniques students are introduced to the symbolism and color usage that are part of the tradition of traditional Japanese Embroidery. For additional information on Japanese Embroidery visit the Japanese Embroidery Center website at www.japaneseembroidery.com. Click on ‘study & instruction’ to see some examples of the individual phases. Instructors who have studied these techniques and are now teaching in the Kurenai-Kai tradition have some leeway in the selection of the pieces they use to make up their own curriculum, but the overall accomplishment remains the same. Diane and Mary Alice like to start their students on PHASE I - Hanazume, Flower Circle (© JEC design). When a student completes the first nine phases they are encouraged to attend a Phase X class at the JEC in Dunwoody, GA. Phase X is a review of all forty-six techniques. In the fall of 2004, the Yellow Rose JE Study Group had a Mother-Daughter pair (Hildegard Metzsching and Audrey Ponce de Leon) attended the Phase X class at the JEC. Yellow Rose is fortunate to have a JE Study Group and looks forward to continued growth. Please consider joining the group by contacting YellowRoseEGA.workshops@gmail.com.