About

Mary Corbet

writer and founder

 

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

Connect with Mary

     

Archives

2025 (86) 2024 (135) 2023 (125) 2022 (136) 2021 (130) 2020 (132) 2019 (147) 2018 (146) 2017 (169) 2016 (147) 2015 (246) 2014 (294) 2013 (294) 2012 (305) 2011 (306) 2010 (316) 2009 (367) 2008 (352) 2007 (225) 2006 (139)
 

Packages – Wrapped up in String

 

Amazon Books

Brown paper packages wrapped up in string, These are a few of my Favorite Things…

Do you ever wonder why that song – My Favorite Things (of Sound of Music fame) – makes it into the Christmas music line-up every year? It wafts through the air in shops and on radio stations, nestled cozily between Jingle Bells and Sleigh Ride. Is it just the mention of brown paper packages wrapped up in string? Surely it’s not the dog biting or the bee stinging that gives it rank among Christmas favorites. Perhaps it’s those snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes? Or the silver-white winters that melt into springs? If they’re melting into spring, why isn’t it an Easter song? After all, there’s that mention of girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, which sounds much more like a spring wardrobe than a winter one!

This is something that baffles me.

12 Days of Christmas Needlework Give-Away
Continue reading “Packages – Wrapped up in String”

Erica Wilson

 

When Erica Wilson died last week at the age of 83, I thought about writing a tribute to her. She was, after all, the most influential lady in the needlework industry in the last half century here in America.

But I was a little daunted at the prospect of writing about her. I cannot say that I ever met her, because I never did. I cannot say that I ever spoke with her, because I never did. I cannot say that I ever attended class with her, because I never did. What do I know about Erica Wilson, and who am I to write anything about her? How could I pay even a remote tribute to her and to her impact on the needle arts?

From Erica Wilson's Embroidery Book
Continue reading “Erica Wilson”

Silver Thread, Silver Thread…

 

This is a little update on the Silver, Silk, and Suede Embroidered Snowflake project.

There’s a little bit of silver on the snowflake, finally! With out-of-town company and Christmas preparations, I haven’t had a chance to do much stitching this week, but I did want to at least try the silver threads on this pseudo-suede fabric stuff. As it turns out, this is a tough kind of fabric for sinking real metal threads into, so I had a bit of a time with it! The outcome isn’t too reprehensible, but I’ll do things a bit differently in the next section and hopefully smooth out some of the rough spots.

Silver Metal Threads for Hand Embroidery
Continue reading “Silver Thread, Silver Thread…”

The Necessaire Floor Stand – The Millenium Frame’s Best Friend

 

Back in November, I reviewed the Millenium needlework frame, and about a week later, wrote a follow-up article on the Millenium frame to answer some questions about it.

Needle Needs, the company that produces the Millenium frame, also makes a floor stand that accommodates the Millenium frame well. It’s called the Necessaire floor stand.

Necessaire Floor Stand
Continue reading “The Necessaire Floor Stand – The Millenium Frame’s Best Friend”