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 (76) 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)
 

Merry Christmas! And Reticello Winners!

 

Amazon Books

Well, well. Wednesday has finally arrived without too much mishap! I hope you’re hanging in there, too!

It’s a little early yet for Christmas wishes, but Anna and I are both going to take some time off until next Wednesday, December 28th so that we can do Family Things.

At first, we were planning to work through Friday afternoon, but we’re expecting a fairly unusual large winter storm and some wickedly cold temperatures starting this evening. I took the executive decision that we’re better off staying at home, where we can get other things done!

Merry Christmas!
Continue reading “Merry Christmas! And Reticello Winners!”

The Tables We Chose and Why

 

After the tour of the new studio a couple weeks ago, I received a flood of questions about our furniture – specifically about the tables in the work & classroom space.

My intention all along was to tell you about them in a little more detail because, truth be told, they are already a source of work-related joy for us. They’re probably the best investment I’ve ever made in furnishings. And they’re one of the only larger purchases I’ve ever made in my life where I have not suffered one iota of the dreaded Buyer’s Remorse.

So I’ll tell you about them, what they are, what they do, and why we got them. There’s no affiliation with anything here. I hope that some of you find the information useful, especially if you’re setting up your own sewing or craft room.

Uplift tables for sewing & crafts
Continue reading “The Tables We Chose and Why”

Buon Natale! Reticello Kits & a Give-Away

 

Good morning from a cold and crisp and winterly Kansas. No snow – just grey. And cold! Rumor has it the sun will make a showing today, though. Ho ho ho. I can’t wait!

Speaking of ho ho ho, today we’re going to do another pre-Christmas give-away featuring new kits that I’m bringing in from Italy, to accompany the reticello books by Giuliana Buonpadre that we started offering this year.

I’m excited about these kits! I’ve brought in just a few at this point, to test the waters. My reasoning for bringing them into the US is that we don’t really have a wide array reticello kits on the market in the US (if any). And yet, I know there are many embroiderers who love reticello and traditional Italian needlework. There are many who want to learn it or to learn it better. The kits provide a structure for learning and all the supplies necessary for a project.

So today, I’ll show you some of the kits close-up and I’ll give away one of them, along with two of Giuliana Buonpadre’s beautiful reticello books, Il Reticello and Herbarium, so that you can learn the techniques and then take them further.

Reticello Kits
Continue reading “Buon Natale! Reticello Kits & a Give-Away”

Christmas Tree, Part 3: Finishing the Ornament + Giveaway Winners

 

Well, here we are, December 13, behind schedule, but catching up! It was a recuperative weekend, but I’ll tell you what – the old rusty-not-trusty laptop from home just doesn’t cut it. I knew I should have kept up my North Pole connections!

Today, we’re going to finish up the Christmas Tree Ornament series, and I’ll also announce the give-away winners for this beautiful silk ribbon give-away from Di van Niekerk.

Without further ado – because it’s going to be a long one! – let’s go!

Christmas Tree Ornament: Finishing Process
Continue reading “Christmas Tree, Part 3: Finishing the Ornament + Giveaway Winners”

All New Studio: A Photo Tour!

 

Before we start today with a tour, I have a quick announcement! For those waiting, I do have a limited number of Christmas Tree Ornament kits ready to go right now! I wish we could have gotten more together, but we’ve done our best, and I hope you are able to get one if you’ve been waiting. I’ve also restocked Christmas Flowers and Snowy Cabin, two 4″ kits that sold out quickly.

On to today’s topic!

I sorely wanted to use video to walk you through my new studio space where all things Needle ‘n Thread now happen. Alas, video wasn’t in the stars.

Instead, I’m going to take you on a little photo tour, where we can walk through the space together and I can tell you about it.

Be not alarmed! We didn’t clean up before this! We’ve been working hard and we have stuff out. Shock, horror! It’s inevitable. We’re a workshop more than anything else, and some days, we just don’t have a chance to do a thorough put-away at the end of the day. So things might look somewhat cluttered here and there.

Enough excuses, right? Let’s go for a stroll.

New Needle 'n Thread Studio space, 2022
Continue reading “All New Studio: A Photo Tour!”