I may never be able to afford to travel to distant places, but the study of Ethnic Needlework techniques has given me a window into learning about many other cultures, and a glimpse of other times. In this lecture, I hope to be able to share with you some of the lessons I have learned over my 25 year career, working with Ethnic textiles.

This power point presentation will bring together a variety of Common Threads in needlework. The pictures included in the presentation cover a wide disparity of times and places. The following topics will be discussed in this presentation:

• Characteristics common in ethnic needlework
• Forms of Ethnic textiles
• Common Myths shared by cultures
• Shared design motifs
• Cultural significance of color
• Textiles used to show status (marriage, religious,class)
• Studying folkart textiles and common misconceptions

Following the lecture, a display containing a variety of ethnic and historic textiles will be available for viewing.