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 19, 2025
It was a week ago this past Monday that I mentioned I wanted to finish “in” last week, on the embroidered maniturgium that I’m working on.
I finished it.
And this week, during some snatched stitching time, I started “Altum.”
September 17, 2025
I’m afraid the title of this article might be promising you too much.
This is really just an article about a piece of fabric, a book, and an idea – and not necessarily in that order.
It’s an idea that’s percolated on The Back Burner for a long time. I’ve never done anything with it, though I have collected little bits and bobs related to it – a piece of fabric, some fonts and glyphs, some ideas here and there, hither and yon.
I must say hither and yon, because aye, matey, I’m talking about a map.
I’ll warn you in advance that this might take you down a Rabbit Hole if you’re an explorer.
September 15, 2025
Hurray! Volume 5 of Inspirations Studios The Handpicked Collection series is here at Last!
I love this series of books from Inspirations Studios. The projects in each book are exquisite, they cover a wide array of needlework techniques, they range from simpler to more complex, they’re beautifully photographed, the instructions are clear and precise, and there’s something in them for everyone.
If you started collecting these volumes from the beginning of their publication, then you’ll want to add Volume 5 to your library. There are some really fun and beautiful projects in here!
Let’s take a look at the book up close, shall we? And then, at the end of this article, there’s some exciting news about needlework stands!
September 12, 2025
I’m popping in today to advocate for project organization.
I’ll explain what has prompted this article, and how a couple easy solutions have simplified my stitching process and made it much more efficient – and precise!
September 10, 2025
We haven’t had a lot of time in the studio lately for “casual” stitching, where we meander more slowly through projects that don’t have a definite deadline.
Occasionally, on afternoons when we’re caught up with work-work, though, we can take a couple hours just to stitch quietly and move some of our slower developing projects ahead.
This type of break is good for the project, but it’s also good for me and Anna. It gives us time to think; it gives us time to relax while we’re still working; and it helps us both to remember that stitching is meant to be enjoyable.
And if it happens to be a rainy afternoon to boot, gosh! Studio Life could hardly get better than that!
September 8, 2025
When time allows, I’ve been working on this embroidered maniturgium project, which involves embroidered lettering.
My plan, goal, hope, intention was to embroider the letters so that they impart the notion of deepening water, and I think it’s working out!
Little secret: I can’t look at this project right now without developing a Gene Chandler ear worm for Duke of Earl. This is problematic, especially for Anna, as there’s simply no escape when we’re both working in the studio. I tend to spontaneously burst into song – and any song that’s in my head pops out unannounced. I haven’t been able to get Duke of Earl out of my head for weeks.
September 5, 2025
I love it when a plan comes together.
But even better than that, I love it when something that wasn’t planned comes together.
For example, when I first started fiddling about with voided monograms ten years ago, did I know that these round floral voided monograms would fit so perfectly into the lids of these decorative boxes that I brought in for Garden Swirl?
No. I didn’t.
But they do! And I’m so glad, because I have several samples of these monograms floating around here. They had no place to land before now.
Now, they will have homes.
