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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Deer & Tree Christmas Stitching Pattern

 

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Remember the little stitching projects I was setting up several weeks ago, in order to have some relaxing, mindless handwork to do?

First, I shared this snowflake corner pattern with you, and chatted about doing cross stitch on plain weave fabric. And then we talked more in-depth about cross stitching on plain weave fabric, and I suggested this option for working a gridded pattern. And then, for the fun of it, I posted this second snowflake pattern for you to stitch, too.

Today, I want to add to your collection a little bit, with a folky combination of leaping deer and a tree, replete with snowflakes and a lacy border.

This is the design, gridded:

Deer and Tree Christmas cross stitch pattern
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When You Care Enough – Embroider Your Cards!

 

When I was in high school, I made my first hand-made greeting cards.

On the back of them, I drew a little hairy guy with long fangs, and I wrote under him, “Because I care enough to send the hairy beast.” I’m sure it wasn’t an original idea, but, with my sick sense of humor, I thought it was funny.

You know the Hallmark card slogan? “When you care enough to send the very best”? It’s a great slogan – those are pretty powerful words that have worked well for years in the marketing of greeting cards.

But a long time ago, I realized that I could show that I cared enough to send the very best (or the hairy beast), a different way – and that’s by making my own cards.

If you embroider even just a little bit, your stitching skill is a terrific medium for creating cards that are personal, pretty, festive, and a gift in themselves.

The only real investment you have to make when you want to embroider cards – assuming you have even just a little bit of embroidery stash and some card stock – is the investment of time. And that’s when you demonstrate that you real do care enough to send the very best, because you’re sending a piece of yourself!

Hand Embroidered Christmas Cards - embroidery on paper
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You Know that Whole Cyber Monday Thing?

 

So, today is “Cyber Monday.” Call me late to the party, but I never really got into that kind of thing – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Terrestrial Tuesday…

I avoid shopping on Thanksgiving weekend like the plague. I’d rather stay home and fluff my carpet or something.

Now, if you told me that shopping consisted of a small town atmosphere, with main street shops bedecked in Christmas lights, with carolers in Victorian garb dotting the street corners, with toys in the shop windows – something rather Norman Rockwellian or Charles Dickensian – ok, sure. I’d be on board.

But…shopping centers? Crowded parking lots? Oh golly. No. But I admire the tenacity of those who can not only handle it, but who really have a blast doing it!

Still, when it comes to Cyber Monday, I don’t mind joining in a bit and getting somewhat gimmicky … I’ll tell you why.

Needle 'n Thread shop sale
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Needlework News Snips – November, 2015

 

A happy Saturday to you all!

This is a pre-published article on Needle ‘n Thread, and just a reminder that I’m not available for email or for comment moderation on the website until next week some time. (Details here, if you want them.)

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, winter is steadily approaching. And what could be better on a nippy-cold morning, than to fix your favorite hot beverage – ahhhhh, like a nice steamy cup of cocoa! – and go for a bit of a browse?

To help you indulge in a leisurely morning, here’s a list of embroidery-related articles I’ve come across lately, that are either inspiring, informative, fun, or … enticing!

Needlework News Snips for November, 2015
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