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
August 14, 2015
For your weekend reading, you might enjoy an old book, published in 1911, about Art Embroidery. But it’s an old book with a twist.
I think it’s an interesting twist, and I think you might find it interesting, too!
August 13, 2015
For many, many, many years, there’s been a subject that’s circulated in the embroidery world that I’ve never bothered to write about here on Needle ‘n Thread (on the blog), because it is a debate that I don’t want to have.
It’s not that I’m wishy-washy; it’s not that I won’t stand up for my beliefs. It’s just one of those topics that I figure isn’t worth debating over. It’s not a matter of principle; it’s not a matter of life-or-death, right-or-wrong, just-or-unjust. In life, you pick your fights. And arguments over embroidery thread, when there are much greater issues to occupy one’s mental energy with, just don’t seem that important to me.
Still, I’ve been recently barraged with the question because the topic came up on a couple embroidery websites recently, and I’ve been asked about it off and on over the years because it comes up in classes, guild groups, books and conversations now and then. I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve written on the subject!
And so, this morning, once and for all, I’m going to write about the question here on Needle ‘n Thread: you’ll know exactly what I think of the subject and finally, I’ll be able to reply to inquiries about it with a direct link to this article. (Saves the fingers, you know…)
August 12, 2015
Several weeks ago, I mentioned that Shakespeare’s Flowers in Stumpwork by Jane Nicholas was ready for pre-order, and you’ll be happy to know that it’s now out in several places.
Thanks to Jane, my copy came a couple weeks ago, and now that I’ve had a chance to peruse it thoroughly, I’ll review it for you!
August 11, 2015
I’ve been fuddling about with a little bit of shisha embroidery lately. Remember this project that I showed you recently, featuring shisha and beads?
Well, one of my biggest beefs with working shisha is that it’s difficult to acquire tiny shisha mirrors that are affordable and relatively easy to work with. Not sequins, mind you (they have a hole in the middle), but little flat mirrors.
The smallest sized mirrors that are commonly available for shisha embroidery are about 1/2″ round and larger. If you’re embroidering something small, or if you just want a little bit of the sparkle, flash and zing that comes with shisha work, you have to get inventive.
As I pondered the question of small mirrors and surveyed my supplies, an idea struck me. It resulted in a nicely tiny little shisha blob. Oh, I was so happy!
August 10, 2015
Monday, Monday! To give you something bright and cheery to look at, to start the week out right, here’s some development on a little bit of stitching.
I’m working up this sample of an embroidered tree to demonstrate what can be done with the thread I’m using. I really didn’t intend for it to be a major project. It’s not – it’s pretty simple, fairly relaxing stitchery, and not toooooooo time consuming, but more time consuming than I originally intended.
I am an absolute inveterate optimist when it comes to judging time and how long it will take to complete even the smallest project.
Oh, I can whip that up in a couple hours, the Time Optimist in me says…
August 8, 2015
Good morning, and happy Saturday all around!
Today, just a quick blurb to let you know who won last week’s give-away for Tanja Berlin’s goldwork pendant and brooch kits, which you can read about here, and to tell you (er, maybe warn you?) what’s coming up on Needle ‘n Thread!
August 7, 2015
I’m very excited that Search Press’s new edition of A-Z of Goldwork with Silk Embroidery is out now in the UK, and coming very soon (by September, I believe) to the US.
The re-printing of the A-Z series of needlework books (which I wrote about here) is a great thing for the embroidery world. The books, printed and distributed by Search Press, are now available more affordably, and hopefully, they’ll be available for a good long time.
Getting my little paws on the new edition of A-Z of Goldwork reminded me why I love this book. It prompted me to put together a short list of goldwork reference and instructional books that are definitely worth having on your needlework book shelf.
