Archive | March 2023

Friday’s Favorites: Linens and Doilies

Mar31

What more can I say? I have a selection of pieces to show you today, from my upcoming book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old With the New, by C&T Publishing. Some of the pieces are gallery examples, some are examples of the projects included in the book. All with wonderful buttons!

Vintage linens like napkins, hand towels, embroidered cotton doilies with lace edges, can be combined with lace doilies and trims to create a collage base that can also include fabrics, ribbons, and trims.

Faded Shades of Rococo Days: This is a Stash Idea Inspiration piece. I pieced a base of a charm packet of Moda prints, and additional printed cotton fabrics. I stitched with a nine patch square for the center, framed this with a strip of a printed cotton fabric, then finished off with a pieced boarder of the remaining charm squares. I placed a lace doily in the center section, and layered cotton flat lace throughout the base. I highlighted the center section with a velvet ribbon. I embroidered and embellished the base with threads, beads, buttons, and ribbonwork flowers and leaves.

Butterfly Fields: This is a Stash Idea Inspiration piece. An old Battenburg lace doily was cut into sections to form the three trees that are stitched to a batik background framed with a strip-pieced border. Embellishments include ribbonwork and lace flowers, beads, sequins, buttons, and charms.

Doily Bunting: This is a Stash Project, that is a great way to use up your collection of embroidery and printed doilies.

Girly Girls: This is a Stash Idea Inspiration piece. This entire collection of doilies, napkins, and small serving placemats was given to me by friends and family members. The kid glove belonged to my grandmother, and my mother stitched the oval floral pieces. The earrings came from my husband’s grandmothers and the jacquard ribbon from his mother. The vintage buttons, jewelry, perfume vials, and glass beads were purchased at thrift stores and online.

Here is a video that I shot at the C&T Publishing Studios, that focuses on the new book, and some of my favorite pieces.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen

Tips and Tea on Tuesdays

Mar28

On Tips and Tea on Tuesdays, I will cover a topic and hopefully provide you with some tips that will be helpful! And just as an afterthought, tea may occasionally be a cup of Joe!

Tea today is green tea, which is brewing in my little two-part cup, a gift from Diane, a friend and student. I am working on the project that is in the background, for a future post, but I wanted to share a preview, because the materials and the embroidery examples are part of today’s tips.

As I am sipping my tea, I was looking at one of my favorite pieces, Sweet Dreams, below. The center section was a gift from Christine, also a friend and student. This piece is featured in the gallery section of my new book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, by C&T Publishing. The focus of the book, is to show you how to use and incorporate the variety of materials that you have in your stash. The projects and gallery pieces feature fabrics, linens, hankies, lace, appliques, ribbons, trims, threads, buttons, beads, and ephemera.

Close-up of Sweet Dreams, even I am amazed sometimes at how much embroidery and embellishments you can fit into one area!

Often my students ask me how do you know what stitch to put where, or what stitch to use. I say to start with the stitches that you like, or are familiar with. Once you get a project under your belt, then branch out and try new stitches, and new ideas. The chapter on Embroidery and Embellishment Stitches, has a great selection of stitches using a variety of threads, ribbons, buttons, notions, and beads.

General Tips: Where to Embroider

Example of embroidered seams
Example of embroidered ribbons and trims
Example of embroidered linens and lace
Example of embroidered rickrack trim
Example of embroidered lace and hankies
Example of embroidered hankies
Examples of where to embroider

This is an excerpt from the chapter Stitching Creatively, which also includes specific tips, and hand-drawn embroidery suggestions for each of the below ideas.

  • Seams: The embroidery stitches can be worked on either side of a seam or straddling the seam. Begin with a continuous border row stitch, then add decorative and detail stitches.
  • Ribbon: The embroidery stitches can be worked over the edge of the ribbon, through the ribbon, or on the outer edges of the ribbon. You can also add decorative and detail stitches.
  • Lace: The embroidery stitches can be worked into the open areas of the lace pattern or along the outer edge of the lace.
  • Rickrack: The embroidery stitches can be worked over the trim or between the curved wave edges of the trim.
  • Hankies: The embroidery stitches can be worked around the outer edge, over the edge, or in the inside portion of the hanky.

Happy tea drinking and stitching to you! ~Christen

PS: If you have any questions or thoughts, just leave a comment! See Tips, Tricks, the Basics, for more helpful ideas.

Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, Book Promotion: And the Winner IS!

Mar27

I have a new book coming out in March 2023, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with The New. The emphasis of the book is to create something new from your vintage and new stash of fabrics, hankies, table linens, doilies, laces, appliqués, trims, ribbons, threads, buttons, beads, notions, and more.

Watch my YouTube introductory video, How to embroider and embellish your stashed treasures.

And the winner of my blog post was Anne Davis!!!! Congratulations to Anne!

Please check out these past posts, to read more about the book.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings

Mar26

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces. This month they are going to be from my new book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, by C&T Publishing.

Don’t forget, there is one more day to leave a comment on Saturday’s post 3-25-2023, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, Book Promotion, Day 6. Your name will be entered into a drawing to win the free ebook.

Denim and Dresden: The Dresden Plate block made from vintage feed sack and cotton prints was purchased at a thrift store for $1.00. It was originally sewn to a piece of muslin and embroidered with black floss, which really didn’t look that great! I removed the embroidery and background, and stitched the pieced block to a square of denim fabric, adding a fun vintage floral cotton fabric to the center of the block. I crazy-pieced each of the border strip sections with vintage feed sack and cotton print fabrics that I found on ebay, adding in a newer piece of fabric here and there. I hand-stitched yo-yo’s from the left-over vintage fabric scraps.

I embroidered each section of the plate block, then hand-quilted the denim fabric square. Because I had created the border strips separately, it made it much easier to embroider these sections. When the center denim square and each of the strips were embroidered I stitched in the yo-yo’s around the center of the block and added vintage buttons for embellishment on both the block, denim square, and the crazy-pieced strips.

Once all of the embroidery and embellishments were completed, I bound the inner edge of each crazy-pieced strip to finish off the raw edges. I stitched the center denim square onto a piece of batting, and then stitched the crazy-pieced border strips in place covering the raw edges of the denim square. Once this was done, I stitched in the yo-yo’s and buttons into the corners of the denim square. I added a backing made from left-over bits of cotton fabric, and bound the outer raw edges with the same vintage floral cotton fabric used in the center of the block.

Embroidery Details

  • Embroidery Stitches: All of the stitches that I used can be found in Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New
  • Hand Quilting: perle cotton #12
  • Border Rows: perle cotton #8, #12, and vintage tatting cotton
  • Decorative and Detail Stitches: perle cotton #8, #12, tatting cotton, and cotton floss
  • Embellishments: Fabric yo-yos (directions can also be found in my book), and vintage buttons

Here is a video that I shot at the C&T Publishing Studios, that focuses on the new book, and some of my favorite pieces.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, Book Promotion: Day 6

Mar25

I have a new book coming out in March 2023, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with The New. The emphasis of the book is to create something new from your vintage and new stash of fabrics, hankies, table linens, doilies, laces, appliqués, trims, ribbons, threads, buttons, beads, notions, and more.

Watch my YouTube introductory video, How to embroider and embellish your stashed treasures.

Book Blog and Social Media Tour Details

The following hosts of the blogs and Facebook pages listed below, are offering a chance to win a free copy of the eBook. Visit each listing on the day of the tour that they are hosts, and enter the drawing for a chance to win!

Today you have a chance to win at Christen’s Creations, right here! Here are the details:

Please leave a comment to enter your name into the drawing to win an ebook of Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New. The contest on the blog will run for 48 hours, beginning today, March 25, 2023 ending on March 26, 2023. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be notified after the contest is over.

Please check out these past posts, to read more about the book.

Round Robin Groups

To help me promote the book, I asked a few good friends to participate in a Round Robin Group block exchange. So, what is a “Round Robin”, and how did this project get started? I asked each artist to create a 10”- 12” pieced square, using any type of fabric and color combination. The construction could also include doilies, laces, or ribbons, and then the embroidery and embellishments stitches included in the book. Once the block was created, they sent the block to the next person in the group, including the threads and embellishments that they wanted to include on their block. Then the block traveled on to the next participant in the group, and then back to the owner.

The participants of the second Round Robin Group, are artist, teacher, and author Diane Herbort, and artist and teacher Chris Vinh of Stitchesnquilts, team with their longtime friend, artist Nancy Karst. Diane and Chris have taught for, and all the ladies shop at their favorite craft store, Artistic Artifacts, where many of the fabulous fibers used in these blocks came from.

Round 1: Diane Herbort
Round 2: Chris Vinh
Round 3: Nancy Karst
Final Round: Diane Herbort
Black and White and Crazy All Over

Here is Diane Herbort’s block. Her block began with a collection of black and white fabrics patterned with dots and stripes. She had a vision of a crazy quilt with bright, colorful flowers. In the center of the block is an appliquĂ©d vase embellished with strips of the tapes used were used to make Battenberg-style lace. She embellished the crazy-pieced sections with vintage lace, rickrack trim, cotton and new rayon trims. Her block traveled to Chris Vinh, then to Nancy Karst.

The block is now back with Diane and she says: “I was really pleased with the stitching and embellishing that Chris and Nancy did and how they used embroidery and beads to add to and elaborate on the prints of the fabrics. It was easy to entrust my vague idea to two talented friends and just see where they would go with it.”

If you would like to read more the details of each block see the original post that I wrote, Creative Embroidery, Round Robin 2, The Virginians, for C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen

PS: Don’t forget to leave a comment, in order for you to be entered in the drawing, Good Luck!

Embroidery Extravaganza

Mar25

VIRTUAL LIVE EVENT: Thursday, May 11th, 2023 at 9 am (Pacific Time)

RECORDING: Available May 14th with no expiration

Embroidery Extravaganza!

The Embroidery Extravaganza is an event where artists come together in a live, virtual event where you choose your own stitchin’ fun adventure. In each session, you get to choose from 3 40-minute workshop options to learn about crewel and free-form embroidery, basic embroidery stitches, getting started with the art of modoko (kogin motifs), machine embroidery tips for success, and so much more! After the event, you get lifetime access to recordings of all workshops — that’s over 8 hours of #howto content!

Embrace all things embroidery with 11 embroidery artists and instructors! Embroidery Extravaganza is a live virtual event with skill-building and lecture-styled workshops to put needle and thread to cloth with confidence and creativity.

I am the keynote speaker, and I have a beginning class on Silk Ribbon Embroidery. If you click on this link, you will save $20.00!

Guided by embroidery experts, you’ll learn how to:
â—Ź Use luxurious silk ribbons and basic stitches to create one-of-a-kind pieces- ME!
â—Ź Discover your personal stitching style and unleash your inner innovative spirit
â—Ź Stitch stunning samplers and motifs using the basics of crewel embroidery and free-form embroidery
â—Ź Hack your sewing machine to play with machine embroidery
â—Ź Choose the best fabrics and colors to make your dream embroidery projects come true
â—Ź Learn the art of modoko (kogin motifs) to create beautiful patterns


Let’s talk extras…

  • Get 8 hours of instruction in 4 hours with the magic of technology!
  • You’ll get lifetime access to the event after it wraps for your viewing pleasure
  • During the live event, you’ll be entered to win a HUGE giveaway
  • Get a virtual swag bag when you attend live
    For more information and to save $20 on the event follow my link.

Happy Stitching to you All, and hope to see you at the Embroidery Extravaganza live event! ~Christen

Upcycle it With Embellishments

Mar25

I am happy to say that I am now a teacher for C&T Publishing online learning platform, Creative Spark! I have a new lecture, Upcycle it with Embellishments.

Upcycle Pre-Loved Clothing and Accessories

With trends like “thrift flipping,” where people find unique ways to repurpose secondhand goods, learning to add embroidery and embellishments to fabric is a key skill in transforming dull or out-of-style finds into unique wardrobe staples. In this online course, I will show you how to give your current wardrobe or thrift store finds a unique look with hand or machine-stitched trims, embroidery, and vintage treasures. I hope to inspire all of you makers to reimagine your preloved and current stash.

Download the handout and follow along with the video and demos. I show you how to take an old tie to create a rose corsage; create new embellishments with unused jewelry parts; add lace, yo-yos, buttons, and pins; and cut a doily to make a lace appliquĂ©. In each demo, you’ll learn essential embroidery and ribbonwork tips and techniques, such as knowing what dyes and glues to use and when to use them.

What you will learn

  • Add embroidery stitches to enhance a design or repair damage.
  • Sew on a collection of buttons or use vintage jewelry to add interest or a theme.
  • Turn an unused item like a tie or lace table runner into something wearable.
  • Hand or machine stitch lace or ribbons to the bottom edge of a vest or jacket to extend the length or to add interest.
  • Hand stitch ribbonwork flowers, doilies, and lace to add a feminine touch, hide a hole or a stain, or add design interest.
  • Your Course includes access to videos, downloads, the Creative Spark private community, and discussion with your instructor. Your course content does not expire.

Bonus

+ This course includes a 9-page handout to refer to throughout the course. The handout includes instructions for a few projects as well.

Sign up for Upcycle it with Embellishments!

Happy Stitching and Thrifting to you! ~Christen

Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, Book Promotion: Day 5

Mar24

I have a new book coming out in March 2023, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with The New. The emphasis of the book is to create something new from your vintage and new stash of fabrics, hankies, table linens, doilies, laces, appliqués, trims, ribbons, threads, buttons, beads, notions, and more.

Book Blog and Social Media Tour Details

The following hosts of the blogs and Facebook pages listed below, are offering a chance to win a free copy of the eBook. Visit each listing on the day of the tour that they are hosts, and enter the drawing for a chance to win!

Today you have a chance to win at Sew Crazy For You and Stitchesnquilts.

Don’t forget to hop on over, and good luck!

Round Robin Groups

To help me promote the book, I asked a few good friends to participate in a Round Robin Group block exchange. So, what is a “Round Robin”, and how did this project get started? I asked each artist to create a 10”- 12” pieced square, using any type of fabric and color combination. The construction could also include doilies, laces, or ribbons, and then the embroidery and embellishments stitches included in the book. Once the block was created, they sent the block to the next person in the group, including the threads and embellishments that they wanted to include on their block. Then the block traveled on to the next participant in the group, and then back to the owner.

The participants of the second Round Robin Group, are artist, teacher, and author Diane Herbort, and artist and teacher Chris Vinh of Stitchesnquilts, team with their longtime friend, artist Nancy Karst. Diane and Chris have taught for, and all the ladies shop at their favorite craft store, Artistic Artifacts, where many of the fabulous fibers used in these blocks came from.

Round 1: Chris Vinh
Round 2: Nancy Karst
Round 3: Diane Herbort
With a Little Help From My Friends

Here is Chris Vinh’s block. She started her block with a fabric bundly of oeverdyed kimono silks, and pieces them with a a Wonky Log Cabin ruler for Jean Ann Wright. She collected a variety of Painters Threads and fibers, along with a rust dyed crochet lace doily and other ephemera from her stash. Her block traveled to Nancy Karst, and then to Diane Herbort.

The block is now back with Chris and she says: “I was thrilled when I received my block back, to see what Nancy and Diane had added! I’m not sure there is anything I could add at this point! I will most likely finish this as a small quilt.”

If you would like to read more the details of each block see the original post that I wrote, Creative Embroidery, Round Robin 2, The Virginians, for C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen

Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, Book Promotion: Day 4

Mar23

I have a new book coming out in March 2023, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with The New. The emphasis of the book is to create something new from your vintage and new stash of fabrics, hankies, table linens, doilies, laces, appliqués, trims, ribbons, threads, buttons, beads, notions, and more.

Book Blog and Social Media Tour Details

The following hosts of the blogs and Facebook pages listed below, are offering a chance to win a free copy of the eBook. Visit each listing on the day of the tour that they are hosts, and enter the drawing for a chance to win!

Today you have a chance to win at Epida Studio.

Don’t forget to hop on over, and good luck!

Round Robin Groups

To help me promote the book, I asked a few good friends to participate in a Round Robin Group block exchange. So, what is a “Round Robin”, and how did this project get started? I asked each artist to create a 10”- 12” pieced square, using any type of fabric and color combination. The construction could also include doilies, laces, or ribbons, and then the embroidery and embellishments stitches included in the book. Once the block was created, they sent the block to the next person in the group, including the threads and embellishments that they wanted to include on their block. Then the block traveled on to the next participant in the group, and then back to the owner.

The participants of the second Round Robin Group, are artist, teacher, and author Diane Herbort, and artist and teacher Chris Vinh of Stitchesnquilts, team with their longtime friend, artist Nancy Karst. Diane and Chris have taught for, and all the ladies shop at their favorite craft store, Artistic Artifacts, where many of the fabulous fibers used in these blocks came from.

Round 1: Nancy Karst
Round 2: Diane Herbort
Round: Chris Vinh
Final Round: Nancy Karst
Indigo Mandala

Here is Nancy Karst’s block. Her block started with a handkerchief that had a delicate crochet edging. She then added an indigo-dyed doily and topped that with a vintage yo-yo and button. The four wool vases in the corners were created from a vase design, from the Embroidery Stencils Darling Motif Collection, by C&T Publishing. She I embellished the block with embroidery stitches, vintage peach and green silk-covered snaps, and rust-colored bird shaped beads. Her block traveled to Diane Herbort, and then to Chris Vinh.

The block is now back with Nancy and she says: Wow! Diane and Chris made the piece zing, adding touches I love. Their beautiful stitching added a gentle swirl to keep the eye moving around the center doily.”

If you would like to read more the details of each block see the original post that I wrote, Creative Embroidery, Round Robin 2, The Virginians, for C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen

Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, Book Promotion: Day 3

Mar22

I have a new book coming out in March 2023, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with The New. The emphasis of the book is to create something new from your vintage and new stash of fabrics, hankies, table linens, doilies, laces, appliqués, trims, ribbons, threads, buttons, beads, notions, and more.

Book Blog and Social Media Tour Details

The following hosts of the blogs and Facebook pages listed below, are offering a chance to win a free copy of the eBook. Visit each listing on the day of the tour that they are hosts, and enter the drawing for a chance to win!

Today’s host, Kitty and Me Designs, had to be canceled, but you still have four more chances this week.

Don’t forget to hop on over, and good luck!

Round Robin Groups

To help me promote the book, I asked a few good friends to participate in a Round Robin Group block exchange. So, what is a “Round Robin”, and how did this project get started? I asked each artist to create a 10”- 12” pieced square, using any type of fabric and color combination. The construction could also include doilies, laces, or ribbons, and then the embroidery and embellishments stitches included in the book. Once the block was created, they sent the block to the next person in the group, including the threads and embellishments that they wanted to include on their block. Then the block traveled on to the next participant in the group, and then back to the owner.

The participants of the first Round Robin Group, Washington to Oregon to Texas were founder, artist, and teacher Lynn Woll of Create Whimsy, and her friend and colleague Chardel Gibson Blaine, an artist, teacher and owner of Flying Goat Studio, who teamed up with my friend of many years,  Patti Medaris Culea, a fiberar and cloth doll artist, teacher and author.

Round 1: Patti Medaris Culea
Round 2: Chardel Blaine
Round 3: Lynn Woll
Final Touches: Patti Medaris Culea
In the Garden

Here is Patti Medaris Culea’s block. Patti loves drawing people, and decided to draw and color a woman gathering flowers in her garden. Using a crazy patch design, she sewed various pieces of silk dupioni, and vintage laces from her stash, one of which was a piece from her great-grandmother’s tablecloths. Her block traveled to Chardel Blaine, and then to Lynn Woll.

The block is now back with Patti and she says: “This was soooooooooo much fun. Loved the work that Chardel and Lynn did on my block.”

If you would like to read more the details of each block see the original post that I wrote, Creative Embroidery, Round Robin 1 Washington to Oregon to Texas, for C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen