About

Mary Corbet

writer and founder

 

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

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Home Sweet Home Winner & the Popularity of Books

 

Amazon Books

Happy Weekend!

Today, someone out there is going to be a very happy winner of a copy of the recently re-printed Home Sweet Home, a very popular needlework book featuring an embroidered workbox and all its accessories, offered by the kind folks at Wooly Thread.

In fact, speaking of book popularity, we’ll talk a little bit about that below, too – what makes the book so popular, and its previous and subsequent appearance, disappearance, reappearance, disappearance, reappearance…and disappearance!

Home Sweet Home Embroidered Workbox
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My Love – Hate Relationship: A Wooly Tale

 

Whenever I talk about embroidery, I use the term love a lot.

But “hate” rarely comes into my embroidery conversation.

Hate is a strong word. When I was growing up, it was one of those words that garnered a quick reprimand from the Powers that Were.

“Don’t say hate. Say dislike.”

But there are certain areas of embroidery where I find myself courting a love-hate relationship.

As I ventured into this crewel embroidery project, I remembered that crewelwork is one of those areas.

Now, before you write me off, hear me out!

I love the project. And there are many aspects of crewel embroidery in general that I love.

But no matter how much my heart overflows with love for crewel work and this project in particular, there are some aspects that I dislike. Strongly.

Today, I’m going to share with you the deep, dark secrets of this love-hate relationship.

Mellerstain Firescreen - Crewel Embroidery Project - Acorns & Leaves
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A Passion for Needlework: Book Review

 

Prepare yourself for Something Stunning.

I’m telling you, this book is all about beauty and presentation! If you want a needlework book to drool over, to sigh over, to practically cry over – this is it.

A Passion for Needlework, published this year by Inspirations, features a drop-dead-gorgeous collection of needlework projects that will woo you into a dreamy world of dazzling, delightful, sumptuous embroidery.

Whether you buy this book for inspiration, for instruction, or just for decoration, you’re definitely going to want it in your library (or, more likely, on your coffee table!). Put it on your Christmas wish list!

A Passion for Needlework
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Leafy Stitching – Because it’s Fall, After All

 

I’ve been doing a bit of autumn-esque stitching this weekend!

This is one of Those Projects I’ve had drawn up for a while, but I’ve just gotten around to the embroidery.

Perfect timing, though – it’s still very much autumn here in Kansas. We’ve had gorgeous sunny days, perfect for sitting on the porch in bright sunlight, which is my favorite type of lighting for embroidery!

Little Leaves - Autumn Embroidery
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Home Sweet Home – A Give-Away!

 

Back in 2011, a lovely needlework book called Home Sweet Home hit the market.

The book featured step-by-step instructions for stitching a charming, fun, and rather vast embroidery project – an embroidered workbox with all the accessories.

Understandably, it wasn’t long before the book was sold up and out of print.

And people have been pining for it ever since.

Well, there’s good news! Home Sweet Home is back in print, better than ever, and ready to assist you to create your own workbox masterpiece!

Today, I’m going to chat a little bit about resources, supplies, and availability, share some ideas with you about the book (especially if you’re dying to create your own Home Sweet Home workbox), and then – thanks to the kind folk at Wooly Thread – have a give-away!

Home Sweet Home by Carolyn Pearce
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Vintage Cotton Candy

 

Picture the scene:

It’s the dawn of the 20th century. You’re a kid at a fair.

But not just any fair, mind you! It’s the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis!

There, all your sugar-coated, sweet-tooth dreams just came true. You plunked down 25 cents – which was a lot of money! – and bought yourself a box of “fairy floss.”

And someone captured you in a photograph delighting in what we now know as cotton candy.

About ten or so years later, your doting mother took that photo to a photography artist and had it hand-painted, because by about 1915, hand painted photographs were all the rage.

And your family has treasured the keepsake ever since, each generation contending that the newest edition – little Fred or sweet Sally – looks just like Great (Great) (Great) Uncle Charlie or Aunt Dahlia in that old photo of the Kid at the Fair with the Cotton Candy.

All I can think of when I pick up my latest monogram-embroidering endeavor is Vintage Cotton Candy. I’m pretty sure it looks just like the cotton candy you were reveling in, back in 1904.

And I’ll be honest: though it seems like a sweet thought, I’m not all that sweet on the current outcome!

Monogram Embroidered with Coloris - Vintage Cotton Candy
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