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
May 14, 2015
Yesterday, I showed you the finished second hummingbird on the Secret Garden Hummingbirds embroidery project.
I eked out the final stitches yesterday, so today, I’ll show you those and share a final parting shot of the complete project. It’ll be a while before it’s framed, so for now, we can say bye-bye to the birdies!
May 13, 2015
There’s nothing quite so satisfying as chipping away steadily at a To-Do List!
Here’s one more embroidery project I’m crossing off this week:
May 12, 2015
These little hand embroidered ducks were So Much Fun to stitch, and they took a total of about thirty whole minutes – which makes them highly delectable in just about every way!
May 11, 2015
Today, a bit of tool talk! Are you familiar with half cone sticks and trumpet cones used in dimensional embroidery and needle lace making?
Today, we’ll look at these curious little tools, which are also called “embroidery shoes,” and later on, we’ll explore how they’re used. We’ll also take a look at trumpet cones, which are used in a similar way to half cone sticks.
May 9, 2015
Good morning and a Happy Saturday all around!
I’ve been fiddling about, setting up a photo sharing area for projects based on my new ebook, Stitch Sampler Alphabet.
I’m hoping that many of you are enjoying the stitches and instructions in the book, and that you’re already engrossed in the addictive practice of combining embroidery stitches in colorful, fun, and unique ways!
And if you are, then I thought it would be nice if we could all share photos, to inspire each other.
May 8, 2015
Remember that to-do list of embroidery projects we chatted about the other day? Well, I’ve crossed one off – it’s this embroidered quote project for an upcoming article on Craftsy.
Here’s the finished quote and some reflections on it. I’ll tell you right off the bat that it’s not my Favorite Project that I’ve ever worked. I’ll tell you why!
May 7, 2015
Earlier this year, we explored various embroidered tapestries from all over the world, focusing on how embroidery is used to tell stories.
We began by looking at the Prestonpans Tapestry in Scotland, and from there we explored tapestries of the World Wars and Heritage Tapestries.
Just as narrative poetry can relate the great epics of mythology and history, narrative embroidery can relate visually – in vivid, captivating detail – similar epics.
If you’ve ever contemplating starting a narrative tapestry, whether on a small scale (relating, for example, the story of your own family), or on a larger scale, perhaps relating the history of your city or town or region, then you definitely will be interested in The Art of Narrative Embroidery by Rosemary Farmer and Maggie Ferguson.
And heck, even if you never dream of creating a narrative piece of embroidery, if you love embroidery, history, bustling activity, people, places, animals, ships, incredible vistas – all worked with needle and thread – you’ll love this book!
