I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more
Contact Mary
I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more
Contact Mary
September 11, 2024
Right before we launch any kit, fun things happen here in the Studio.
I’ll walk you through some of the excitement, and we’ll talk about how things are a little different for the upcoming Harvest Hues stitch-along kit, compared to previous kits we’ve recently released.
September 9, 2024
My favorite aspect of beginning any embroidery project is the consideration of color.
Even if I end up not using a variety of colors, or even if I end up using no color at all, considering the potential of colors is always exciting to me!
In our next Stitch Snippet stitch-along, called Harvest Hues, color played a big role in the preparation of the project. The greatest color challenge was finding a good quality felt that we could use for finishing.
While there are a lot of wool felts and wool blend felts on the market, pinning down just the right colors that will work well together is harder than you might think!
September 6, 2024
If you’re looking for a nice little rabbit hole to fall down for the weekend, here are some needlework bits that I’ve come across lately on Antique Pattern Library.
Just a little plug for APL here: they’re doing a fundraising drive to help support this free resource. It is an awesome online resource for anyone interested in the needle arts. But like any website, it costs to keep it going. So while you’re exploring all the treasures on Antique Pattern Library, please take a second or two to consider assisting if you can!
Here’s a quick highlight of a few publications on Antique Pattern Library that I’ve come across lately. I hope you enjoy them!
September 4, 2024
I hope all my State-side friends had a wonderful holiday weekend – welcome to September!
This autumn, we thought we’d do something a little different for a stitch-along. It’s one project, but it’s made up of multiple small projects – and it could easily morph into many projects, depending on you! It’s adaptable to any season, but we’re making it particularly fall.
Today, I’ll tell you a little bit about it in general and share some sneak peaks of the project up close.
As we approach the launch date for the stitch-along, I’ll tell you all the all the juicy details, but for now, just a little overview and a glimpse of what we’re going to do together for those who want to join in!
August 30, 2024
I’m still working on this hand embroidered linen table runner, with an autumn theme.
I don’t really have any dedicated, absolute, structured plan for the thing, aside from embroidering a decorative runner for my table, to use during autumn. That’s a good enough plan, isn’t it?
Sometimes, that’s all a plan needs to be.
But since I’m not going at this with a dedicated, absolute, structured plan, I find myself not thinking about normally important things like colors and stitches (though admittedly, I’m not going all-out berserk on stitch variety on this piece), and instead just doing whatever occurs to me as it occurs to me.
Is this a good thing? Or a bad thing? I don’t know. I’ll make that judgement a bit later – probably when it’s too late for the Lazy Mary to want to do anything about it.
August 28, 2024
Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm.
Red scissors!!!
Today, I’m plugging a new product that we’ve gotten in, because I don’t want you to miss them! They’re Gorgeous!
August 26, 2024
Two years ago, my studio landlord and I struck an agreement for the building space that Needle ‘n Thread now occupies.
I wrote about that auspicious occasion here. I was very excited!
It took several months before the inside of the building was empty and available. In November of 2022 – unbeknownst to me at the time, a mere month before I had to move out of my house due to a remodeling project that turned into unavoidable demolition (!) – Anna and I moved the studio from this residential duplex, where I had been operating Needle ‘n Thread for about four years, to our new downtown space.
You can see photos of how we set up our new space in this article.
