Well in this case, well organized boxes of junk, collected ephemera: some new, some found in the street, some found in the craft section of my favorite haunts.
And more boxes and containers of the stuff I just can’t seem to discard, and thankfully no one has asked me to yet either!
Junk-Man 1Junk-Man 2Junk-Man 3
Junk-Man Series: All manner of collected ephemera, cast away junk, and fun stuff.
Junk Jewels: Gathered and collected bits, odd singles, old earrings, watches, zipper pulls, and other treasures.
Junk full of GigglesJunky Funky FlowersSteampunk Junk
Junked-Up Mixed Media: Assorted small wall decorations, made from paper, glue, and found treasures.
Happy Stitching, or in this case, searching, gathering, and gluing! ~Christen
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!
Sitting here and listing to Simon and Garfunkel, with my cup of Darjeeling, thinking, hmm everything IS Groovy! Today I want to share some before and after pics of one of my favorite pieces, Bouncing Button Balloons. This piece was featured in my book, The Embroidery Book, by C&T Publishing.
Tip: Take photos before, during, and after.
I always, well almost always, take a picture of the finished base, and then the threads and embellishments I have set aside to use on it. The focus of this piece, was going to be the buttons, which are two fabric, and vintage celluloid. Here you can see all of the different fabrics, and vintage laces that were used to create the base. The embroidery for this piece was worked in three colors of Wildflower Thread, by the Caron Collection, with seed bead embellishments.
Tip: Before you stitch buttons and embellishments in place, audition them on the base. Once you have your design, and the audition is complete, take a photo with your phone, that way when you go to stitch them in place, you will have something to refer to.
7 5/8″ x 16 1/4″
Tip: When embroidering around a button, use stitches that will curve easily, like the blanket and the chain stitches. Here, I embroidered through the buttonholes first, then around the base of each button. I stitched the detail stitches with the lazy daisy, fly, French knot, and single bead stitches Then I embroidered the feather stitch coming out of each balloon, to look like the attached string.
Here is a close-up of the embroidery and embellishment stitches. This was a fun piece to work on, and it gave a new life to some old, funky, buttons!
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.
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, enjoy!
5″ x 5 1/2″
Sweet Caroline
This little purse was created for my book, Beaded Embroidery Stitching, by C&T Publishing. The base was created using my Scrumptious Scraps technique, along with a piece of silk habotai fabric, that I pleated and then dyed. The embroidery was worked in vignettes, vines, and border row sections, with couched cord finishing details. I used glass seed beads in sizes 6°, 8°, 11°, and 15°, and three sizes of flower rondelles.
Embroidery Stitches Used
Vignette stitches: French rose stitch, chain stitch continuous loops, stacked bead stitch (large and medium rondelles)
Decorative stitches: flower with petite petals, lazy daisy stitch with loop, lazy daisy stitch
I love scarves! And with the cold weather still out, I am constantly in search of that little bit of extra warmth and color. Being allergic to wool can sometimes be a challenge to find just the right thing for an outfit, so I am always on the lookout, and often I make my own accessories or re-style or revamp an already made item.
This chiffon scarf was a gift from my husband and daughter, along with a box of Godiva chocolates. How could you go wrong with yummy chocolate and my favorite color purple! I added satin rosettes and posies using the directions from my book Ribbonwork Gardens, by C&T Publishing.
This is a scarf that is entirely made from Hanah Silk bias ribbon. Several different widths were used, and stitched together on the sewing machine. The ruffled roses are hand-stitched, and are also made from silk bias ribbon.
This is a scarf that I knit, using yarn that was made from silk sari borders. It has a lively color combination, lots of colors and fun nubby sections. I made folded edge rosettes from hand-dyed silk velvet ribbon. The centers of the flowers are abalone shell buttons.
This scarf was purchased many years ago at Cost Plus, now it is called World Market. It is incredibly detailed with rickrack ribbon stitched into flowers, sequins, and beads! To top it off I made another flower from my book Ribbonwork Gardens, using ribbon that came off another box of Godiva chocolates.
Straight From the Heart Sampler is a sampler that I created for Joggles, over 10 years ago. I was asked to create a simple pattern with a simple stitch. I used a variegated cotton floss, and the running stitch, pretty simple, and doable! It is my pleasure to offer this as a fee gift to you, from my heart to yours.
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!
While I was sipping my chamomile tea today, I got to thinking about crochet lace gloves and accessories, imagining a ladies’ tea from an era when you actually wore gloves. What a nice thought to have! I was lucky enough to find the gloves and reticule on eBay, for a moderately reasonable price. I was also lucky that they were not discolored in anyway, which I can’t say for other pieces that I have rescued! That brings me to today’s tip, cleaning your vintage laces.
Tip: Cleaning Your Cotton Laces
Clean like colors together in the same wash bath. Use a medium/warm water for light colors, warm/cool water for bright colors, and cold water for dark colors. Use a delicate cleaner such as Restoration Linen Cleaner or Mama’s Miracle Linen Soak.
Fill a tub full of water, add the cleaning product, swish the water.
Place the lace in the water, making sure there is room for the bits and pieces to move around.
Soak the items for 25-30 minutes, then RINSE well.
If the water is still dirty, repeat the wash and soak process.
Once the lace is clean, drape each length over a plastic hanger, or lay out on a cotton bath towel.
If pressing is necessary, use distilled water in the spray bottle with your iron set on the lowest temp.
Press with the wrong side down, and be mindful to not crush any raised pattern.
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.
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, enjoy!
11 1/4″ x 11 1/4″
California Dreamin’
This piece was created for my book, The Embroidery Book, by C&T Publishing. The inspiration for the base were the two hand-dyed marbleized fabrics, and I used every last bit here! I cut them into strips, and pieced the remaining sections with bleached muslin fabric. I used left-over strips of a batik fabric for the binding and back. The center square, and the third row of muslin fabric is where the bulk of the embroidery stitches are worked, I love how only a bit of that fabric shows through the stitches. The stitches are worked in four skeins of perle cotton #5 and nine skeins of cotton floss, using solid and variegated colors. Vintage green glass beads were used for the accents.
Embroidery Stitches Used
Decorative stitches: Gwen’s rose stitch, Jill’s flower stitch, lazy daisy stitch flower, French knot flower, fly stitch side-by-side, buttonhole circle stitch, barnacle stitch, whip-stitch star
Detail stitches: French knot stitch, lazy daisy stitch, fly stitch
Border rows: chain stitch, French knot stitch
Happy Stitching to You! Christen
PS: If you wish to see more of my work, check out the Gallery section.
This a great sampling of corsages, ones that will look great on any jacket form jean to velvet! These also make a great gift, for that special someone, and the bonus is that they are fast to make. The flowers include: Rose ‘N Bud Brooch, Rosette with Leaf, and the Lacey Flower.
Skill Level Beginning: hand-sewing and some ribbonwork skills a must
Class Information
This class can be purchased at any time, there is no set schedule. The class can be ordered by contacting Christen: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com. She will send you an invoice through PayPal.
Once the class is paid for, the supply list and handout/s will be sent out.
A high-speed internet connection is recommended, and you must have basic computer and internet skills. You will need to be able know how to download and save a document to your computer’s hard drive, open it, and print out a copy.
You can contact Christen with any questions pertaining to the class/class information throughout the length of the class.
I love jewelry, and the combination of shells, pearls, and beads, well enough said, drop the mike, I am all on board!
Summer’s By the Seaclose-up view button shells
Summers by the Sea, is a beaded neck-piece that I made, using the free-form peyote stitch technique. I incorporated a variety of treasures using a pallet of soft colors that reflect the sea and shore. I stitched vintage and new glass seed beads and novelty shaped beads with clusters of fresh water pearls, brown muscle shell charms and beads, abalone shells and chips, and my favorite the button shells (they look like small cowrie shells).
Winter Solsticeclose-up
Winter Solstice, is another beaded neck-piece that I made, using the free-form peyote stitch technique. I have incorporated fresh water pearls, vintage shell and glass buttons, and vintage glass sew-throughs with vintage and new seed beads. In the close-up you can see the variety of pearls, glass buttons, glass sew-throughs, and seed beads that I used. The light blue beads (almost gray) are vintage beads found in the Hudson Bay area, they are over 200 years old.
Happy Stitching to you, enjoy what you do and make everyday count. ~Christen
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 going to be Ambrosia Plum, just because the name matches the colors in my mug! Hah! The calendar is an old one, but the colors here too seemed appropriate. And as luck would have it, I am wearing a purple sweatshirt. Styling it here at my desk!
So, let’s talk about color and design. I think that everyone who creates asks this question: what colors should I work with, what design should I use? When my students ask this question, I suggest to start with colors that please them, or match their home decor, because if you start with something you don’t like, it is just that much harder to finish!
Wild Persimmons 13 1/2″ x 13 1/2″
Wild Persimmons
This is a gallery piece featured in my book Beaded Embroidery Stitching, by C&T Publishing. I used it as an example to explain my design process. For me, each project has a story to tell, and all of the parts and pieces you chose to create with, help to tell that story. I chose a crazy-piece base design, because my fabrics were all very small or scraps left over from other projects. Notice how the colors of the base, differ slightly than the embroidery and embellishment materials. In some cases I used both lighter and darker components, allowing these pieces to be seen as well as the pieced fabric base.
Tip: Have a Plan
Once you have gathered all of the components for a project, make a swatch card of fabric, threads, and beads. Then decide how to tell the story, through color, design, and the components you chose.
Theme/title: this may start with the colors that you choose, or the embroidery or embellishments.
Color: the colors of the palette can be traditional, subtle, or complex.
Fabric: this is the most important component, but should not overpower the embroidery and embellishments.
Construction: is determined by the quantity of fabric you have, and the piecing techniques you want to work with.
Embroidery design: the embroidery and embellishments can follow the design of the base, or flow around the design.
Embroidery materials and embellishments: select a variety of threads, beads, and other components to work with.
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.
Christen's Creations 