Here’s a great idea from Angel of Stumbles & Stitches: Use burlap as the ground fabric for a rustic fall hoop. I’m crazy about the sunflower, with its stem on the main canvas and its bloom popping up in … Read More ...
Bead it forward
Bead&Button is now managing Jeanette Shanigan‘s Bead-It-Forward bead-quilt project and invites you to participate. Beaders from around the world stitch 1.5 x 1.5-in. (3.8 x 3.8 cm) beaded squares depicting the year’s theme. The squares are then joined into … Read More ...
Ginkgo pattern from Yarnplayer
Marilee Rockley of Yarnplayer’s Tatting created this gorgeous ginkgo leaf pattern. It has both plain and beaded variations. She says,
… Read More ...I consider it an advanced level pattern, mostly because of the folded rings and the Catherine Wheel joins. But, actually
Eye candy: tinytoadstool’s berets
See a breathtaking survey of the evolution of tinytoadstool‘s gorgeous embroidered felt berets–a mosaic she created as a portfolio for an exhibition. Go to her post.… Read More ...
Pattern and tutorial: Star ornament
Troublet of The Trouble with Crafting shares another Stashbustin’ Ornament: a folk-art star. Go to her post for the pattern and tute.… Read More ...
AAQI grants for Alzheimers’ research
KerryKatieCakes, who is an active proponent of the Alzheimers’ Art Quilt Initiative, shares a bit of information of how the charity spends its money. You’ll want to read this. Go to her blog post.… Read More ...
Invent a collection
Jules of Adventures in Thread had a collection of small embroideries she’d done a couple of years ago. What do you do with little tidbits such as those? She put them together into an Edwardian Nature Scrapbook Page, inspired by … Read More ...
Crafty faves meet up in Texas
Read the story of an epic meet-up! Virtual friends Kristin Roach of Craft Leftovers, Diane Gilleland of CraftyPod, and Rachel Hobson of Average Jane Crafter met in Rachel’s home town for some real-time socializing and crafting. You’ll enjoy … Read More ...
Who is that tattoed man?
Mimi Kirchner‘s broad-chested tattooed men always give me a smile of pleasure. But her description of this gentleman made me laugh out loud with delight: Santa on vacation. Yes! I always suspected that Santa was secretly hot! See more … Read More ...
Inspiration: Threads and Patches
This crazy-quilt block by Marjolein of Threads and Patches is as good as a textbook for creating an interesting and complex yet harmonious design. Each detail deserves attention. Like the drooping grape clusters. Or the tiny silk-ribbon-rosette flowers. Or the … Read More ...
Inspiration: The Relaxolotl
The Relaxolotl gives us a peek at the fabulous steampunk dress she created over the past year. Look closely at the skirt. Some of the stars in those constellations light up! See more at her blog post.… Read More ...
Learn surface design from Shiva King
Cathy Hsiao of the Textile Arts Center previews a surface design class to be offered by Shiva King on Thursdays, November 3 through December 1. Her unusual applications of screen-printing techniques are fascinating. If I lived anywhere near New York … Read More ...
Video tutorials: Needlepoint techniques
Vicky DeAngelis demos a couple of techniques on BeStitched: stitching without a laying tool and lassoing a bead. Check them out.
And many thanks to Janet Perry of Nuts About Needlepoint for sharing this find.… Read More ...
Tutorial: Pretty pinecone ornaments
Knitty Gritty Thoughts shows us how to make these easy, beautiful pinecones. Use a glittery fabric for some sparkle. Or brown cottons to mimic nature. Add a ribbon to hang them in a window, from a chandelier, on your Christmas … Read More ...
Birches in silk Ribbon Embroidery
studio creates the look of birch trees by embroidering different widths of white silk ribbon with brown floss. Whether rustic on burlap (as on the pendant) or refined on dupioni (as on the pillow), the effect is natural modern. … Read More ...