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
September 24, 2012
Sometimes, we run into those stitchy situations where we need a wee bit of sparkle in our embroidery – whether it’s because we like sparkle in general (I’m kind of like a crow that way) or we’re creating something that normally has a bit of iridescence to it (like bugs’ wings, for example).
September 21, 2012
Recently, I caught myself embroidering with two things I never stitch with, and it set me thinking.
September 20, 2012
Remember that piece of old goldwork on velvet we were looking at several weeks ago? There’s much more to look at and to learn from the piece! Today, I’ll show you some stuff on the front and talk a little bit about what the back shows us, too.
First, let’s look at some bumps.
September 19, 2012
Around this time of year, my stitching thoughts wander off to the world of ornaments, cards, gift tags, and the like. It’s inevitable. It happens every year! Though my thoughts turn that way, this doesn’t necessarily mean I have the time or opportunity to indulge in making elaborate ornaments or gifts. And so, perforated paper comes to mind.
September 18, 2012
After last week’s free hand embroidery pattern and the online resource for the old book it came from, I received a slew of email with several questions pertaining to that article. They were mostly pertinent enough to combine into an article on Old Embroidery Books Online, which, as today’s title suggests, is exactly what I’m doing.
If you’re not into old books, I won’t hold it against you! But I am a Strangely Passionate Old Book Fiend (“old” modifying “book” in that phrase, please). Ok, come to think of it, I’m a Strangely Passionate Book Fiend, whether old or new.
But, like I said, if you’re not into books, feel free to pass by me today, because that’s what I’m going to talk about. We can resume our relationship tomorrow, right where we left off!
September 17, 2012
Here are some thoughts to chew on – six points that I think are worth considering about hand embroidery.
September 14, 2012
One of my treasured old books in my needlework library is Art Needlework for Decorative Embroidery. It’s the second edition of the book, which was published in 1879 by S.W. Tilton Publishers of Boston. I love this little volume! And fortunately, you can love it, too, because it’s available online.
