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Archive: Needlearts
November 5, 2009
Over And Under Embroidered Art Show in Austin
I can't wait for the opening of Over and Under, an embroidered art show curated by Jenny Hart, this weekend here in Austin at Yard Dog Art Gallery. Jenny has been featuring some of the artists' work on her blog, and I'm really looking forward to be able to see it in person. Featured artists include Annie Aube, Deborah Baker, Kate Bingaman Burt, Dana Carlson, Diem Chau, Orly Cogan, Emily Eibel, Veronica Fuentes, Takashi Iwasaki, Joetta Maue, Michael Aaron McAllister, Johnny Murder, Christopher Niver, Jennifer Porter, Shannon Rankin, Richard Saja, Kate Westerholt and Kathie Sever. The show opens with a reception Friday from 7 - 9 pm and runs through December 6.
Over and Under Art Show Opening
Friday, November 6 from 7-9 pm
Yard Dog Art Gallery
1510 S. Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 5, 2009 06:00 AM
Arts, Events, Needlearts |
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November 3, 2009
A Christmas Story Embroidery
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is watching A Christmas Story and laughing hysterically (even after all these years!) This embroidery from Flickr user glazedangel101 immediately caught my attention. I love all the details from the movie, like the soap, the bunny costume and - of course - the very awesome leg lamp.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 3, 2009 08:00 AM
Holiday projects, Needlearts |
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November 2, 2009
How-To: Lace-up Embroidery
June at Noon had a great tutorial for mounting your embroidery or other needlework project to a solid backing board. [via the CRAFT Flickr pool]
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 2, 2009 04:00 PM
Needlearts |
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October 26, 2009
Embroidery Framed by Vinyl Record
I love seeing new ways to display embroidery, and this example from Flickr user, moesewco, fits that bill.
I drew this face one afternoon, and decided that it would look good in black floss on a dark background. When the question of framing came up, I was looking for options that did not include simply putting the pieces inside a wooden embroidery hoop. I decided that this face would look good framed by an LP record. You might notice that it's also backed with a record, and that I drilled holes and stitched the records together to complete the frame.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 26, 2009 10:00 AM
Needlearts |
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Heart Embroidery
Andrea Dezso is an artist in a wide variety of media (animation, sculpture, book design, fibers), and while her heart embroidery from 2004 isn't new, it is certainly impressive.
More:
Posted by Becky Stern |
Oct 26, 2009 09:00 AM
Arts, Fiber Art, Needlearts |
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October 25, 2009
Completed Fiber Book
I'm in awe of the detail in this newly completed fiber book from Million Little Stitches. She's included pages for each month, and the intricate stitching, gorgeous design and meticulous attention to detail is stunning. Be sure to click through to see each month's page - they are all beautiful and have fascinating stories behind them. [via Beefranck at Mr. X Stitch]
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 25, 2009 03:00 PM
Arts, Needlearts |
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October 20, 2009
How-To: Vintage Embroidered Ribbon Needlecase
Last month, Melissa of tiny happy shared an adorable needlecase she made after being inspired by a project she saw in a 1970s craft book. She's just posted instructions on how to make your own needlecase using wide vintage embroidered ribbon.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 20, 2009 08:00 AM
Needlearts, Sewing |
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October 19, 2009
Plush Breast Cancer Cells Sculpture
Amy of Glitter, Vinyl and Thread came up with this fascinating entry for the Craftster Good Cause Challenge. Inspired by the vibrant and "deceptively beautiful" images of breast cancer cells she found while researching the subject, she designed this plush version of breast cancer cells. She created the piece with stretch velvet, reclaimed pillow filling and wool embroidery floss. Read more about its construction and the picture that inspired the piece over on her blog.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 19, 2009 10:00 AM
Arts, Needlearts |
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October 17, 2009
Stunning Needle Felted Dragon
This needle felted dragon is awfully life-like for being a mythical beast! The work is quite impressive! From the artist, tallydragon, on deviantart.com:
He is made out of natural wools from the Iron Horse Farm, a local fiber farm, and the Flying Ewe, a fiber arts website. He has a wire understructure through most of his body that makes his wings, legs, and tail moderately poseable--the tail is extra long so that it can curl around the finger its sitting on. He's got glass eyes held in by glue and wires, and his horns are made out of wire covered in apoxie sculpt, topped with acrylic paint and matte varnish.
[Thanks, Eric Russell!]
Posted by Brookelynn |
Oct 17, 2009 06:00 PM
Felting, Fiber Art, Needlearts |
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October 14, 2009
How-To: Felt Mushroom Business Card Holder
The only downside to having a business card holder as adorable as this one from Wee Folk Art is that folks might be so overwhelmed by its cuteness that they might forget to look at your business card. Learn how to make your own, and be sure you make some cards cute enough to match! [via @sallysetforth on Twitter]
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 14, 2009 08:00 AM
Needlearts |
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October 13, 2009
How-To: Embroidered Corner Bookmark
Here's a brilliant way to incorporate a little embroidery into your reading routine. Kirsty of Kootoyoo shares how to make a corner bookmark from scrap cardboard and muslin. I love this alternative to the standard rectangle bookmark, and even more clever is the way she's used the "X Marks The Spot" motif! [via @SisterDiane]
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 13, 2009 08:00 AM
Needlearts |
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October 12, 2009
How-To: Yarn Scrap Embroidery
Fall is in the air, and I'm feeling a need to embroider. If you're like me, you have an enormous pile of yarn left over from other projects. In my case, it sits in my needlework bag and taunts me, daring me to dig into it and make something pretty. So, one early fall afternoon with Vivaldi's Autumn Allegro playing on iTunes, I took the challenge. Using one of the butcher linen placemats from my Felix Populi product line, I set about laying down some fall foliage in yarn.
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Posted by Shawn Connally |
Oct 12, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Fiber Art, Needlearts, Sewing, Yarn |
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October 9, 2009
CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Mah Jong Embroidery Pattern
Jenny Hart's newly-released book, Embroidered Effects, takes the easy-to-follow stitching instructions Jenny's know for and pulls in new and more advanced stitches and design elements to help move stitchers to a new level. Where Jenny's book Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To introduces basic stitches and provides dozens of very simple patterns, Embroidered Effects ups the ante by sharing more complicated stitches and ideas and inspiration for combining those stitches for a new, more stylized effect.
Jenny's fun and friendly voice is strong throughout Embroidered Effects, and the projects are reflective of her unique sense of style and ability to translate centuries-old stitching techniques into new, engaging designs.
Today's CRAFT Pattern Podcast holds special meaning for me on a few levels. I was lucky enough to be one of four women who helped stitch the sample projects that were photographed for Embroidered Effects. Last summer, Amy of Early Bird Special, Floresita of Things I've Made, Ginger of Ginger's Needlearts in Austin and I were each assigned three to four projects to stitch for Jenny's book.
I was over the moon excited to learn that one of my projects would be a Mah Jong table cloth. My mom has played Mah Jong forever, and nine years ago, she finally convinced me to sit down and learn to play. (this is the traditional game of Mah Jong, not the computer matching game *) My first game lasted five hours, and I had to be pulled away from the table - I was hooked in a big way. Since then, my mom has gifted me with my own Mah Jong set, and I keep trying to find friends my age who know how to play or are willing to take a little time to learn.
It turns out that Jenny is also an avid Mah Jong player, and she designed this gorgeous table cloth that I was able to stitch up for the book. The Mah Jong embroidery pattern offers a selection of tiles and gorgeous Asian-inspired ornaments, including Jenny's own stitch, the Lazy Lotus.
I had such a blast stitching the table cloth, and I'm so excited that we get to share the Mah Jong pattern with you. If you aren't up for tackling an entire table cloth, you could whip of a snazzy set of napkins, tea towels or even a Mah Jong case cover. Aside from stitching, I hope this also inspires you to check out the game of Mah Jong if you haven't played it before. Grab some friends and settle in for a fun, thoughtful and beautiful game! And be sure to check out Embroidered Effects for more gorgeous, fun and inspiring designs!
* Sadly, the photo stylist must have not been familiar with traditional Mah Jong, and set the table like a computer tile matching game.
Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 9, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Patterns, CRAFT Podcast, Needlearts |
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October 8, 2009
Halloween Doodle Embroidery
Halloween Doodle Embroidery
by Vickie Howell
If you're like me, you pretty much start celebrating Halloween by about September 15th. Skulls, witches, bats, and ghosts make me smile like a kid at Christmas (no disrespect). Instead of keeping the visions of pumpkins dancing in my head, though, I prefer to sew them onto cloth. Join me won'tcha, by downloading my doodles and partaking in a little stitch witchery of your own. Happy Halloween!
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 8, 2009 12:00 PM
Babies, CRAFT Patterns, CRAFT Projects, Halloween, Kids, Needlearts |
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Subversive Cross Stitch Halloween Patterns
Get the new Subversive Cross Stitch Halloween Patterns Kit that comes with 4 patterns, instructions, black material, orange floss, needle, and glow in the dark floss! (Disclaimer: The other 2 patterns not pictured above contain profanity.)
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 8, 2009 11:00 AM
Halloween, Needlearts |
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October 7, 2009
Ask CRAFT: The Back of the Embroidery
Merrill Melideo in New York, NY writes in:
Recently I embroidered some baby snap suits for my dear friend who was expecting her first baby. She loved them so much that she's purchasing more, and I'm feeling inspired to start making a whole bunch and trying to sell them! However I do have a concern about the backside of the embroidery work with all of the knots. I'm worried that perhaps it may be irritating to a baby's skin. Is this a valid concern? I've seen that iron-on fabric that goes on the backside of some needlework and I was wondering if that might be a good idea.
Well, one approach, if you're worried about the knots, is to just not use them when creating your stitches. I often just leave a long (non-knotted) tail when I start, and wrap my stitches around the tail, working it into the design. This makes the back smooth and knot-free. I'm not sure if the knots would irritate a baby's skin, and I consulted our resident embroidery expert, Contributing Writer Rachel Hobson. She writes:
Generally the knots are small enough that it isn't an issue. Regarding the stabilizer material, most of those are meant to be removed after stitching, and since they don't cover the stitching, just support it. I don't know that it would help much, and may cause more discomfort because of the stiffness.
One option would be to stitch on a separate piece of fabric (like a soft cotton) and then applique that piece to the onesie using wonder under or some kind of fusible webbing. Or, you could cut a rectangle of cotton large enough to cover the back of the design and then use the strips of fusible webbing along the edges to adhere it to the back of the design.
The best advice I can give is to ask the babies' parents if they notice any irritation, and then take steps to correct it when you gather some more information!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Oct 7, 2009 09:00 AM
Ask CRAFT, Needlearts |
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October 6, 2009
Hand Embroidered Wedding Dress Circa 1914
Mary of Needle 'N Thread shares pictures of this stunning hand embroidered wedding gown from 1914 that belonged to a friend's great-grandmother.
Made from a gorgeous silk Crepe de Chine, the dress and "court train" are completely hand embroidered in silk perle with a pattern of chrysanthemums, ribbons, and shamrocks. The shoulders and sleeves of the dress are made of embroidered tulle, and the waste is accented with a rhinestone and bead bow.
The detail is simply amazing, and the condition of the embroidery is highly impressive. One of my favorite details is this cluster of French knots in the middle of a perfectly satin stitched flower. They are breathtaking, and look as though they could have been stitched just yesterday. The dress is a true treasure.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 6, 2009 03:00 PM
Needlearts, Weddings |
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Free Halloween Embroidery Patterns
Create some cute Halloween embroideries with these free patterns by Melissa at Elemental Stitches.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 6, 2009 10:00 AM
Halloween, Needlearts |
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October 5, 2009
Breakbeats Sampler
Artist Andrew Salomone writes:
It occurred to me that needleworkers used to have to make patterns and images to decorate fabric in the same way that contemporary music producers make beats and musical compositions by repeating and layering audio samples in digital sound editing programs. So the files created using digital editing programs today basically function in the same way that needlework samplers did in the days when all embroidery had to be done by hand.
So he made this Breakbeats Sampler, featuring waveforms for some common breakbeats, lovingly stitched on fabric. I'm guessing the natural next step would be to make each breakbeat playable with a soft switch.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Oct 5, 2009 07:00 AM
Arts, Fiber Art, Needlearts |
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New Hand Embroidery Patterns From Craft Leftovers
I am thrilled to see that our pal, Kristin, of Craft Leftovers has created a set of hand embroidery patterns, of which the first installment is now available in her shop. Her drawings are always so lovely, and beg to be stitched. Now, she's created some for that express purpose. Her Crafty Buddies designs are adorable, and she's even offering up a freebie pattern of a cute-as-all-get-out thimble.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Oct 5, 2009 06:00 AM
Bazaar, Needlearts |
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