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
March 10, 2016
I know it’s not “officially” spring yet, but my daffodils – which have popped up abundantly all over – are telling a different story!
And so, to celebrate – and to welcome a whole bunch of newcomers who have joined our Needle ‘n Thread community over the past several months – I thought today would be a great day to offer a sale on my favorite e-books, both of which offer springy projects, techniques, and colors that sing Spring!
March 8, 2016
I was going to title today’s article “The Pessimist’s View of Reaching the Half Way Point on a Beloved Embroidery Project.”
I didn’t, for obvious reasons.
Usually, I’m a pretty optimistic sorta gal, but I’ve got seriously conflicting feelings, now that I’ve finished the whole right half of Late Harvest.
Half of me sees the embroidery project half empty; half of me sees it half full. And half of me (yes, there is enough of me to have three halves) can’t decide if it’s half empty or half full.
The only way to settle my thoughts and re-affirm my normal positive state, I’ve decided, is to talk about it. And who better to talk about it with than you?
March 5, 2016
Good morning, and a Happy Saturday all around!
Spring is springing here in Kansas – the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and out amongst the dead grassy remnants of winter, my crocuses are blooming. Now all we need is a little rain!
It’s been a while since I’ve written up any news snips. These are little collections of embroidery-related bits I’ve come across online that are either informative, inspirational, or instructive.
So I thought today would be a good day to compile a list that you can enjoy meandering through over the weekend.
Go pour yourself a cup of something and join me! Let’s explore!
March 2, 2016
I love battlement couching! If you’re not familiar with what it is, you’ll find a tutorial for it right here on Needle ‘n Thread.
While I’d used battlement couching in crewel work with wool threads, it wasn’t until I made use of it in my Lattice Jumble Sampler that I really fell in love with it. It really is a magnificent filling technique for surface embroidery of all types.
Well, needless to say, I was pretty happy that Hazel makes use of battlement couching in Late Harvest. It fills the center of the pomegranate in the middle of the piece, and it shows up on a couple other elements out on the sides of the design.
I’ll show you one of those elements today, and tell you the good (and the bad!) about my work on it.
February 29, 2016
Oh golly! I’ve been wanting to write this book review for Alison Cole’s new book, The Stumpwork Masterclass: Raised and Embossed Embroidery, for a long time!
If you acquire this book – and you must, if you have any interest in stumpwork, historical or contemporary – you’ll understand the delay. It is not your typical book. It is a tome, and I wanted to read it cover to cover before writing about it.
Well, I finished it, and now I’m going to tell you all about it!
February 24, 2016
Today, I’m announcing the winner for the La Serenissima crewel embroidery instructional guide from Talliaferro give-away from last week!
One lucky winner will receive the instructional guide and pattern for this gorgeous design, thanks to Anna at Talliaferro.
And, since I’ve had a lot of inquiries lately on how my personal adventure with cancer is going, I’ve also included a link to a little update at the end of the article, for those who want to read it.
February 22, 2016
Of all the different embroidered elements on Late Harvest, the grapes were the Wow Factor that really sucked me into this project!
Made from bunches of flat back topaz crystals attached to the surface of the project with a clever combination of detached buttonhole cinched with a whip stitch, the grapes add a massive amount of sparkle and texture to the project.
Lately – and I admit it freely! – I’m a sucker for bling, and these grapes definitely feed my growing penchant for adding a bit of blingy brightness to my embroidery projects.
So, needless to say, I was super eager to get on with the grapes. Alas, it wasn’t smooth going at first! Initially, in fact, it was pretty hard going – most of which has to do with the leaf that I showed you last week and the fact that I switched up the recommended order of work.
I’ll explain…
