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 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.
August 6, 2015
I wil tell you this unashamedly:
I am a Messy Stitcher.
And sometimes, just between you and me and the dog, I am a Very Messy Stitcher.
Being a Messy Stitcher can lead to some Problems, especially if you rely on embroidery for your livelihood (which I do).
The biggest problem has to do with Productivity.
As a Messy Stitcher, it’s very easy to lose track of things – from needles and threads to ideas and decisions.
I reconcile my Messy-Stitching-Habits with my Need-to-Be-Productive through one little object that I’m never without. And since it accidentally showed up in a photo, I thought I’d chat about it with you.
August 5, 2015
Please tell me I’m not the only one who has a Bucket List when it comes to embroidery projects!
A Bucket List is a list of accomplishments or experiences that we want to eventually achieve. Often, these are events, projects, plans that we consider luxuries right now, that we work towards as life progresses.
I probably don’t have to tell you that Bucket List items often are not achieved. We think about them a lot, we dream about them often, we pine for them and plan for them – but it isn’t unusual that they don’t happen. Life takes us down one course, then another, and before we know it, the opportunity to experience this or that on our Bucket List is gone forever.
But it doesn’t have to be that way!
If you’ve been nurturing the Cabinet of Curiosities courses offered by Tricia Nguyen on Thistle Threads as part of your Bucket List, I want to encourage you to take the leap and get in on the current openings for this class. I’ll tell you why…
