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
July 28, 2014
Ok, maybe they aren’t supposed to be scales. In fact, I’m pretty sure they’re supposed to be feathers.
But I made what I think is a bad choice when embroidering the feathers on the hummingbird chest.
I liked the initial colors and stitches I showed you last week, but then I got carried away with the emerald green. Instead of feathers, I ended up with scales.
July 26, 2014
Good morning, friends! And Happy Saturday!
My first task this morning was to sort through the comments on the book give-away I’ve been running this week and to randomly draw the names of two people who will receive brand spankin’ new copies of Yvette Stanton’s latest book, Sardinian Knotted Embroidery.
If you’re just joining us and you missed the give-away, you can read my review of Sardinian Knotted Embroidery here. It’s a lovely little book!
July 25, 2014
The other day, we looked at the hummingbird’s finished head on the Secret Garden embroidery project. Today, I’ll show you how I’m embroidering the scallops on the bird’s chest.
I’m still feeling my way along here, so eventually, I’m sure we’ll run into a few areas that need to be un-embroidered (as in, ripped out!) and re-thought, but for right now, I’m pretty happy with how the little bird body is turning out.
July 24, 2014
Earlier this summer, I went on a road trip.
I almost called it a vacation, but if you understood how we do road trips, you would not want me to cast aspersions on the word Vacation.
Vacation conjures up lingering, enjoying, relaxing.
Our family road trips are None of the Above. They are go, go, go – get there – do what you have to do – leave – drive, drive, drive, drive, drive. Get to the next place – do what you have to do – drive, drive, drive, drive, drive – get to the next place. Stop and sleep. Get up early. Go, go, go, go. Drive, drive, drive, drive. Repeat anywhere from five to ten times. Arrive home.
So, vacation is the wrong word – road trip suffices.
Before venturing out on this particular road trip, I called for photo contributions from readers, so that I could highlight some of your work in articles this summer.
Many of you responded – many more than I expected, actually! And so I’ve been trickling them out on the website ever since, in the hopes that they provide fellow stitchers with embroidery ideas and inspiration.
July 23, 2014
Oh, oh! Finally!! I’ve made some progress on the Secret Garden embroidery project – specifically, on the hummingbirds.
But, as is usually the case with this work-it-out-as-you-go process of completing an embroidery project, there’s been a little un-stitching along the way, too.
So, today, I’ll show you where I am and discuss the circuitous route that got me here.
July 22, 2014
Last week, I reviewed Yvette Stanton’s new whitework book, Sardinian Knotted Embroidery, for you, and this week, I thought I’d follow up with a give-away!
I love giving away at least one copy of a new book after reviewing it, but in this case, I’ll be giving away two copies, courtesy of Vetty Creations.
And that’s just dandy! That means your chance of winning just doubled!
July 21, 2014
Ah, Monday! A perfect day to finish something!
Normally, I procrastinate until Mondays, when I begin things. It’s a bad habit – “I’ll start that on Monday….” – but for some reason, Mondays seem like good days to start things. It’s like the beginning of a new year, in miniature form. And since it happens 52 times a year (give or take), that’s a lot of opportunities for new beginnings!
But, today, we end. We end the Delicate Spray monogram alphabet with the last four letters: W, X, Y, and Z.
Here they are!
