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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Beginner’s Guides – The Needlework Books that Keep on Giving

 

Amazon Books

Are you a budding embroidery artist who has recently discovered that you like this whole Embroidery Thing, but you don’t know exactly what’s out there to help you learn?

Are you an intermediate embroiderer who yearns to branch out into new techniques?

Are you a seasoned embroiderer looking for new inspiration, ideas, and approaches to bring to your masterpieces?

No matter where you are in your embroidery journey, eventually you will face the need – or entertain the desire – to purchase a needlework book.

There are three collections of needlework books out there that are excellent additions to the well-rounded needlework library and that will help you in your embroidery pursuits, no matter what your skill level.

Today, I want to talk about one of those series, called Beginner’s Guides, and three reasons I think you need them on your bookshelf.

Beginner's Guides Needlework Books
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A Unique Technique Sampler!

 

Earlier this year, I had the pleasant opportunity to examine, up close, a really unique embroidery sampler worked by Sheila Iskin, who lives in Sunny California.

Now, this isn’t just any sampler. It’s not a band sampler. It’s not an alphabet sampler. It’s not a spot sampler.

It might not even be recognizable at first as a sampler, but that is indeed what it is – and I think it’s a very clever idea!

This sampler goes way beyond the standard approach to sampling stitches and techniques. It will open up a whole world of ideas for you!

Hand Embroidered Bunting - Beadwork
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Floral Script Monograms M, N, O, P

 

I call this decorative alphabet for embroidered monograms Floral Script.

When it comes to naming things, I have very little pizzazz. I’m afraid I’m the type of person who would name a dog “Spot” without any qualms of conscience!

Still, in my defense, Floral Script tells you pretty much what you can expect from this alphabet: script-like letters with a little floral element for decoration. (Incidentally, the name could be equally applied to hundreds of decorative alphabets out there!)

Floral Script Alphabet M N O P
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Needlework News Snips & a Winner!

 

Brrrrrrrrrrr…… It’s finally chilly in Kansas! I love autumn. I could live in autumn for my whole life!

I say that now. But when spring comes, you’ll hear me saying the same thing about spring.

But I promise I’ll never say it about summer in Kansas!

Summer being officially over, it’s time to move on to fallish stuff, and often, that includes fall and winter craft pursuits. In today’s needlework news snips, I’ve included a few links to some fun fall embroidery stuff, in case you want a seasonal stitching fix!

I’m also happy to announce the winner of Early Hardanger Embroidery today!

So, join me in a cup of your favorite brew, and let’s browse a bit!

Needlework News Snips for October, 2016
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Messing About with Colors

 

You know, I love embroidery thread. But there are times – there are many times – when sitting down with the stuff can be rather frustrating.

For me, selecting colors for my own projects is usually more frustrating than not.

The other day, I sat down under a good, true spectrum light with a Whole Heap of Embroidery Floss on the table in front of me. My goal was to select a range of colors from that Whole Heap – a range that would impart a certain impression or idea that I have in mind.

Do you know, it took me forever to finally say “That’s it. For better or for worse, I’m done.” I sat there picking through floss for more than two hours!

At the end of that ridiculous amount of time, this is the range of colors I came up with:

Selecting Embroidery Floss Colors
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Early Style Hardanger – A Give-Away!

 

It’s Tuesday, and since we’re past the halfway point in October, I think it’s a perfect day for a give-away!

If you love whitework, if you love open work embroidery, delicate embroidery, geometric design and drawn thread work – you’re going to love Yvette Stanton’s newest embroidery book, Early Style Hardanger! And if you don’t have a copy of it yet, here’s your opportunity to win a nice addition to your needlework library!

Early Style Hardanger by Yvette Stanton
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