Sister Diane at CraftyPod is offering a little lesson in tolerance: Her clickable podcast gives us a bit of history, some handy tips, and lots of ideas for using the much-disparaged plastic canvas. So get out your headphones and a … Read More...
Tutorial: Basic hardanger
Overcome your fear of hardanger with a clear, simple tutorial from Kathryn Rocha of Cross Eyed Kat web site and Kat Gets Cross Eyed blog. You can cut through the background cloth to create lace-like results. Try it!
Looking for … Read More...
Embroidery in 3D
Paula Hewitt of The Beauty of Life blog has posted a great list of online stump work resources. You’ll find links to general information about this dimensional embroidery technique, lots of free patterns and tutorials, and web sites with … Read More...
Giveaway: Christmas sampler pattern
Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches is giving away three copies of her newest sampler pattern, Twelve Red Robins. To get into the running for the random drawing, comment on the post on Natalie’s blog by Wednesday, July 30.
Looking for … Read More...
Embroidery that makes you laugh
Average Jane Crafter often makes me smile and sometimes makes me laugh right out loud. This time, she caught me off guard with her observation about the cover of The Cure’s latest single, Sleep When I’m Dead. I’m not telling … Read More...
Etsy find: Mimi Kirchner
Mimi Kirchner has an Etsy shop! Yea! Did everyone but me already know that?
Mimi is a doll-making goddess. While I love every single thing she makes, I’m especially in love with her grandmother and fairy-grandmother dolls, like the … Read More...
Etsy find: bstudio
bstudio on Etsy incorporates silk-ribbon embroidery into greeting cards, framed pieces, and pillows that are elegant and deceptively simple. Her favorite background appears to be dupioni silk, which is the ideal complement to the ribbon embroidery. Wouldn’t this ring-bearer pillow … Read More...
Tutorial: Stumpwork embroidery
Stumpwork sounds like something sweaty done outside with a grinder. But in the needlework world, it’s a dimensional style of embroidery that can produce lifelike results. The Needlework Tips and Techniques site has posted a stumpwork tutorial that is appropriate … Read More...
Christmas in July at Heartstrings Embroidery
Heartstrings Embroidery is having a big Christmas in July sale. New designs are being released each day through July 25, and all new releases are 25% off through that date. There are lots of other freebies, sales, and specials, … Read More...
Great idea: bottlecap ornaments
Emily of The Floss Box produces exquisite stump work. In a recent blog post, she shares how she makes small embroidery works into bottlecap ornaments. While these would be lovely hanging anywhere in a home or office, I think they … Read More...
Etsy find: LadyShuttleMaker
LadyShuttleMaker on Etsy.com has a tatting shop unlike any I’ve seen before. She offers beautiful completed projects of handmade lace, such as the grapevine necklace shown here. And her hand-dyed threads are to die for. But, most interesting of all, … Read More...
Good advice: Making your embroidery thread behave
How you thread your needle makes a big difference in how your embroidery thread behaves, whether you’re stitching by hand or by machine. Jennifer Stern at Craftstylish gives the lowdown on how to avoid tangles, breaks, and frustration. See her … Read More...
Get punchy with Marilyn Bohn
I love the look of punchneedle embroidery. That snuggly, tiny-rug-like texture is so touchable and inviting. I somehow imagined that the technique would be difficult, but Marilyn Bohn has shown me just how wrong I was. Her video tutorial … Read More...
Free fireworks pattern
With Independence Day coming up in the U.S. on Friday, patriotic patterns seem to be on everyone’s minds. Here’s a great free cross-stitch pattern with a seasonal flair. Thanks to designer Erica Michaels and Rainbow Gallery web site.… Read More...
Great idea: Filigree + embroidery
I’ve just discovered Guyot Brothers, a manufacturer of filigree jewelry findings. The Guyot Brothers site notes a use for these metal bits and baubles that never before occurred to me: They can be used as miniature needlepoint or … Read More...
Video tutes: silk-ribbon embroidery
If you’re attracted to silk ribbon embroidery, but you don’t have a clue how to get started, check out the new video tutorials by Melissa of Honey Bee’s Bliss. The first three videos in this series show how … Read More...
Inspiration: embroidered softies
I’m fascinated and charmed by Day of the Dead paraphernalia, so I was totally arrested in my blog-hopping by this image of sugar-skull softies designed and embroidered by Alicia Traveria. If you’re not content to enjoy her images and … Read More...