EGA Certified Teacher: Canvas Embroidery
Carole Holmes Lake died January 5, 2024, in Austin Texas following surgery. Born September 14, 1949, Carole was an Austin native who lived a life of great diversity and accomplishment.
Carole was known by many as a “fierce lady and a force to be reckoned with.” She wielded her snappy wit and razor-sharp tongue to stand up for a diverse group of people who were lucky enough to be her friends. She showed her love and generosity with a tireless devotion. She was known for reaching out to anyone who might not have a place to go for a holiday and welcoming them into her home and life as if they had always been there. No matter how she found her friends, when she engaged them, she became a second home.
Carole graduated from Rice University in 1971. Among her great loves and talents was her passion for stitchwork, in which her aptitude was legendary. She generously shared her love of needlework with friends and students. She was a prolific designer, inspirational teacher, and wrote several books with Michael Boren with whom she founded Stitchplay Designs.
She was a much sought after teacher and taught at multiple regional and national seminars for the Embroidery Guild of America (EGA), the American Needlework Guild (ANG), Callaway, and the National Academy of Needlearts (NAN). In addition to teaching her own brilliant designs, she also conceived of and taught color work theory, needlework design and helped countless people with stitch guides to bring their own needlework to life. Her students describe her as a “phenomenal, warm and generous teacher…Smart and witty with a razor-sharp tongue, a great teacher designer, friend, mentor, and an incredibly talented artist.”
Carole gave generously of her time during her career, serving on National and International Needlework Associations, Teaching Certification Committees and as Chair of the EGA South Central Region Seminars in 1991, 2001 and 2011. In 2017, she received the National Academy of Needlearts Lifetime Achievement Award.
Married to her husband, Larry Lake for 48 years, together they created a cherished family in their children, Leslie and Jeffrey, who shared in the joys of her love, sense of humor, generosity, and uncanny ability to make the most unlikely of strangers a devoted friend with ease. The pride and comfort she found in her children and grandchildren cannot be overstated. Her delight in being with her grandchildren was as clear as it was reciprocated.
Pictured at right is Carole receiving her Lifetime Achievement Award from NAN in 2017.
More info may be found at the NAN website here.
Areas of Specialization:
Counted canvas techniques •Internet classes
Multi-fiber effects on canvas •Color and design applications
Painted canvas embellishment •Teaching teachers of needlework
Experience in the Needlework Field:
National seminars: ANG National 2000-2007, EGA National, 2003-2008; Callaway 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009; scheduled for ANG, EGA in 2009 and EGA, ANG, Callaway and NAN in 2010
EGA regionals: over 40 since 1989 including South Central, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Carolinas, Rocky Mountain, Greater Pacific and Sun Regions
CyberWorkshops for the American Needlepoint Guild, as well as an extensive range of private CyberClasses offered via Shining Needle Society.
Workshops and programs for chapters and groups, as well as private and shop classes.
Author of nationally distributed published charts and designs.
Author of “How to Teach a Two-Hour Class” (EGA Guideline Series).
EGA Designer Across America, March 1998
South Central Region EGA Educator’s Award of Excellence 1995
Co-author of “The Art of Teaching Needlework”, an individual correspondence course for EGA
Author of five needlework books with Michael Boren.
National Academy of Needlearts Lifetime Achievement Award 2017
Education:
In the field of needlearts:
EGA Teacher Certification in Canvas Embroidery
EGA School for Advanced Studies and EGA and ANG national teachers’ forums
Numerous workshops and courses, most recently with Barbara Smith, Michele Roberts, Tony Minieri, Charlotte Miller, Joan Thomasson, Debbie Stiehler, Wilcke Smith and Elizabeth Elvin
In general:
BA in foreign languages, 1971, Rice University, Houston
Affiliations:
Life Member of EGA and ANG; Member of the National Embroidery Teachers’ Association and the National Academy of Needlearts.
Designer member of TNNA.
Friend of The Royal School of Needlework.
Service:
Austin Stitchery Guild, EGA, Board of Directors, 1984 – present.
Bluebonnet Chapter, ANG, Board of Directors, 1994-1995, 1999-present.
National Embroidery Teachers’ Association, on the board 2003-2006, Past President.
American Needlepoint Guild, National Board of Directors, 1996 – 1999.
International Council of Needlework Associations, Chairman, 2000-2002.
Chairman, EGA Master Craftsman Program in Design, 2003 – 2010.
Evaluator: EGA Teacher Certification Committee, 1993 – present.
Chairman: South Central Region EGA: Seminar 1991, 2001, 2011.
Author of articles in Needle Pointers, Needlepoint Now, The Best of Apprize and in Needle Arts.
info@stitchplay.com