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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Bead Embroidery Funky Mushroom and a Deadline

 

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No one has ever claimed that hand embroidery is a wicked-fast enterprise. When you do something by hand, it just takes time.

But golly, sometimes, progress is much slower than we think it should be. Sometimes, it’s hard to get back into the groove of a project, and this can slow us down.

Last week, that’s how I felt about Late Harvest. I should be farther along than I am. But I couldn’t seem to make myself sit still and stitch. And it seemed like a chore to pick it up and get going again. And so I purposely avoided it. I worked on other things and took a Late Harvest hiatus.

After a little break from the project, picking it up again was easier. And by selecting one element to stitch and focusing just on it, my excitement was rejuvenated. Sometimes, a break is a good thing!

Over the weekend, I tackled this one small element – which I call The Funky Mushroom.

Mushroom embroidered with beads and floss
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Weekend Stitching: A Wee Tiny Bird in Bead Embroidery

 

I have not been a very good girl! This past weekend, I fell behind on my List of a Great Many Things to Do.

Falling behind – it can be such a Frustrating Thing.

But in this case, you know what? I had a lot of fun falling behind! You see, I had a distraction…

Last week, I received in the mail a very kind anonymous gift from a very kind reader. Inside the box were two charming kits from Ann’s Orchard, the website of Emma Pavier, who designs very delicate, pretty, fun bead embroidery kits. One of those kits, I’ll review in depth later, once I get started on it.

The other, this little Blue Tit mini bead kit, I’ll show you now, in the interest of justifying why I fell behind this weekend. I think you’ll understand!

Blue Tit Bird Mini Bead Embroidery Kit
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Online Embroidery Class Sale – Get ’em While You Can!

 

This morning, just a quick little shout out about some Really Good online hand embroidery classes that are on sale on Craftsy right now, and in fact, the sale ends at midnight tonight.

Whoops. I should have told you sooner – I apologize! But if you have been hankering to further your embroidery skills, this is a great (and super affordable) way to do that!

Below, I’ve included a list of the hand embroidery classes on sale today and also some general notes about Craftsy classes, with links to some of the class reviews I’ve written, in case you’re curious. Yes, I do enroll in Craftsy classes, and I’ve learned some really good things from them!

Craftsy April Online Embroidery Class Sale
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Frostings Club Specialty Embroidery Threads – Unboxed!

 

Today, I’m going to ramble on about embroidery thread. Once in a while, I just have to. It’s like releasing a pressure valve. I have to talk about thread, because I love thread.

Those of you interested in 17th century embroidery, in embroidered caskets, and similar exquisite items in the needlework field are probably not new to Thistle Threads.

If you’ve scoured the internet for information about 17th century embroidery or making your own embroidered casket (i.e. decorative, intricate cabinet with drawers and little compartments), then you’ve probably run across Thistle Threads – or maybe you’ve even enrolled in their casket class.

The casket class – called the Cabinet of Curiosities – is a two-part course, a fascinating multi-year journey towards creating your own embroidered table-top cabinet that tells whatever story you want it to tell. It includes the history of the embroidered casket, techniques, materials, side journeys for small treasures for inside the cabinet, and all the information you need to be well-informed while you create your magnum opus – your own embroidery heirloom that should last centuries.

Thistle Threads Online University
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The Stumpwork is Finished & Some Tips

 

Finally – a finish of sorts!

The stumpwork elements for Late Harvest are all stitched up and ready to go! Not that they have anywhere to go yet – I still have to finish the left half of the main part of the project.

But it’s always nice to accomplish a minor goal, isn’t it?

Today, I’ll show you the stumpwork pieces and share a couple handy tips that might help you on your own embroidery projects.

Stumpwork Embroidery Elements for Late Harvest
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