Needlework News

Inspiration: Cathy K

Denise Felton — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:06:15 +0000

What I think is going on in this block by Cathy K of Utah is embroidery with colored floss over black lace. I love the drama of this unique approach. And those yo-yo blooms up in the corner are so sweet I could eat them. Go to the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 post for an image you can click to enlarge.

Help and win

Denise Felton — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:59:39 +0000

Jodie of Ric Rac is helping her mother raise $2,600 to send two children to Camp Phoenix, a fun break for burn survivors and their families. Jodie’s mom is a volunteer at this Australian facility. For every $5 you donate through her mom’s Everyday Hero page, she’ll enter your name in a drawing for one of her fabulous Red Riding Hood dolls–dress, cape, basket of veggies included. Go to her blog post for the entry details. She says she’ll close the drawing “Thursday or Friday,” so be safe and enter now.

Eye-eye

Denise Felton — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:45:08 +0000

Jaw. Dropping. Detail. This thread sketch by Mrs. Gibson (Mrs. Gibson’s Atelier) in linen and silk on cotton gets a standing ovation from me. Scroll back through her blog to see a bit of the work in progress.

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Inspiration: Karen Ruane

Denise Felton — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:34:13 +0000

Karen Ruane never fails to take my breath away. See more gorgeous photos of her exquisite embroidery at her blog post.

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Embroidered elegance

Denise Felton — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:22:34 +0000

Mary Corbet‘s silk and goldwork embroidered medallion is finished. And–as we all expected–it is spectacular. She says the completed work will now be appliqued to the back of a chasuble, which she will demo for us later. For now, just enjoy the beauty. See more views at Mary’s Needle ‘n’ Thread blog post.

Giveaway: Vintage and new

Denise Felton — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:07:34 +0000

This week’s Mondo Monday Giveaway on Tatting Tales blog is a 1953 issue of the craft-classic magazine Workbasket. It includes tatting projects, which you can try out with the other prize in this giveaway: a skein of Lady Shuttlemaker’s hand-dyed thread! Go to her blog post to enter before May 28.

Luke wants you

Denise Felton — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:36:30 +0000

Quilt artist and innovator Luke Haynes makes a blazer to wear to each of his major shows. The recent opening of his solo show, The American Context, in New York City merited the creation of this I Want You blazer, which combines his likeness with Uncle Sam’s. He developed the image with his signature applique techniques, and then he applied it to the back of the blazer with a long-arm machine. Brilliant! Find out more about Luke, the show, and his blazer at his blog.

As ye sew…

Denise Felton — Sun, 13 May 2012 06:23:23 +0000

This block created by Debra Spincic of Debra’s Design Studio for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 is captivating not only for its design, colors, and stitchery but also for its sentiment: “As ye sew, so shall ye rip.” Love it! See more views at Debra’s blog post.

Dangling ninjas, strongmen, and ballerina sheep

Denise Felton — Sun, 13 May 2012 06:18:04 +0000

Nichol Brinkman‘s series of mobiles makes me wish there were a baby in my family–or at least a wee one–to share one with. Maybe I’ll just hang one over my bed! Go to Nichol’s Pink Cheeks Studios blog or Etsy shop to see more.

Make a stone for Jude

Denise Felton — Sun, 13 May 2012 06:07:34 +0000

If you enjoyed contributing to Jude Hill‘s Magic Feather Project–or even if you haven’t participated yet–you’ll want to know about Jude’s new call for assistance. She’s beginning the assembly of the quilts that incorporate her readers’ embroidered feathers, and she says,

To balance the lightness of sky and feather, I will need some stones…I am looking for something tiny and simple. Like the one picture above. Just a 1- 2″ square of cloth, natural fibers only. With a stone ( never a perfect circle) applique in the center. Please keep the colours stone-like in feel and the background undyed or neutral or blue. Soft or old cloth that is easy to stitch through would be nice. You might make one or more . Email me for an address if you don’t have it already. There is no rush and no deadline.

Jude has included a video tute showing how to create the needleturned-applique stones. Go to her blog post for more details about the project.

Technique: Dimensional fabric flowers

Denise Felton — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:47:31 +0000

I’m crazy about this art quilt, Hollyhocks, created by Nellie of Nellie’s Needles. Especially interesting is the technique she used to create the blooms. She says,

The blossoms are made from cut apart and reshaped silk flower parts. It is detailed with pastel oil sticks and paint. Many of the leaves are reshaped from the silk plants. The small ones are shapes cut from interior decorator fabric samples.

Gotta try that! Go to Nellie’s blog post.

Where to find free embroidery patterns

Denise Felton — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:33:19 +0000

Kim of A Dork with a Needle shares a roundup of sites that offer free copies of vintage embroidery patterns, including some of our faves such as doe-c-doe and Faster, Kittykill! Blog! Blog! Check it out.

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Inspiration: Flying Haystacks

Denise Felton — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:21:35 +0000

Flying Haystacks (who remains anonymous on Blogger and Etsy) produced this amazing work of embroidery for an upcoming show. This is a larger format than usual for this artist, and it incorporates brilliant solutions to the design challenges inherent in a larger work. Only the central image is shown here. Go to the blog post for photos of more views that you can click to enlarge.

Giveaway: Beading book

Denise Felton — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:09:36 +0000

Kathy Shaw (Shawkl) says,

I’m in love with beading rivoli’s now! And, I’ve decided to change my idea for the Beaded Journal Project this year to a beaded rivoli project each month.

She learned this beautiful technique from a book, Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski by Laura McCabe, that she and her friend Eileene have both enjoyed. Eileene has decided to donate her copy for a giveaway on Kathy’s blog! Go to the blog post to enter the drawing before May 16.

A stitchy logo

Denise Felton — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:25:36 +0000

Meri of Agulhas da Meri needed a new logo for her stitchy blog. Her daughter drew up several design options, and Meri chose this one to embroider. Great idea! See more at Meri’s post.

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