I have always loved tassels, and my home is filled with these lovely adornments. Here are a few of the unique tassels that I created for classes or just myself.
This floral tassel definitely belongs in a fairy tale. The top of the tassel is a dyed gourd; the tassel itself is made from wire ribbon formed into gorgeous fuchsias. Wire leaves and silk flowers are also made to enhance the piece. Beads and charms and ribbon worked leaves complete the tassel, adding a silk cord to hang from your fairy garden trellis.
Morning Glory Tassel
The Morning Glory Tassel showcases the many different types of ribbons that I carry in my store. The tassel top was made from a cardboard tube covered with vintage jacquard ribbon. The top was then embellished with hand made flowers and ribbons from the French Wire Ribbon section. The tassel fringes are made from the Hanah Silk Ribbons, 7mm silk ribbon, gauze ribbon and novelty yarns.
A very feminine addition to any space inhabited by a woman, perhaps hung on her boudoir mirror or sewing room. The base of the tassel is covered with a small bit of tapestry fabric that is adorned with velvet ribbons and charms. Jacquard ribbons and silk cords are stitched with beads and more ribbon and dangle from the base. These dangles are encrusted with beads and charms. The stem of the silk cord becomes a very stylized fuchsia made from French wire ribbon.
Ribbons and beads are combined to create a magical, colorful, embroidered and festooned tassel. French jacquard ribbon is stitched onto a base with embroidery and beads, which is used for the tassel top. The fringe is a luscious array of Hanah silk bias ribbons combined with beads.
Floral Pastoral Tassel showcases the many different types of ribbon and their versatility. The tassel top was made from machine stitched cotton paper, reinforced with Timtex, stitched by machine and formed into the shape. The tassel top was then embellished with hand made flowers and ribbons from the Crazy Quilt Ribbon section and our French Wire Ribbon section. The lace and some of the ribbons were hand dyed using the Color Hue dyes. The tassel fringes are made from the Hanah Silk Ribbons. A sprinkling of silk ribbon embroidery and glass beads were added for extra sparkle.
There are 122 realistic flowers, leaves and garden extras included in the book, with experience levels from easy to advanced. The flowers are showcased in six different garden settings, offering you an array of small, medium and large flowers, each paired with a leaf to create a perfect combination.
There are photographed step-by-step instructions for each of the 122 examples. In addition each project has a comprehensive cutting chart, listed with the types of ribbon that are suitable for each flower/leaf combination, included with little extras such as French knots or beads.
Please Note: These are flowers made from ribbon that is cut, folded or pieced and then stitched into shape. This is not ribbon embroidery where the ribbon is threaded into a needle, then stitched into the fabric and embroidered.
Embroidered and Embellished
This richly illustrated reference guide from embroidery expert Christen Brown covers everything you need to make beautiful magic with needle and thread. Learn to sew traditional and silk ribbon embroidery, make raised stitches, and embellish with beads, charms, buttons, and mirrors. Christen shows you how to combine and place stitches to enhance a finished piece and how to work with embroidery threads, ribbons, fabrics, laces, beads, buttons, and other embellishments.
Step-by-step photo instructions show exactly how to sew 85 different stitches and includes 8 complete embroidery projects to stitch and embellish.
Ribbonwork Flowers
Create a floral fantasy
Gather, twist, and stitch an array of flowers from elegant ribbons and lace. Christen Brown, author of best-selling Ribbonwork Gardens, shares 132 flowers, leaves, and garden extras – each with complete instructions and colorful how-to photos. Readers will learn clever twists on vintage ribbonwork construction, plus hand-sewing basics and an overview of techniques. Fashion your own floral arrangements from interchangeable petals and leaves, two never-before-seen stem designs, and swappable centers. A gallery of bouquets will inspire you to craft realistic blooms, embellished with fruit, flourishes, and garden accessories. From single-stem posies to bountiful bouquets, this collection has something for everyone.
Please Note: These are flowers made from ribbon that is cut, folded or pieced and then stitched into shape. This is not ribbon embroidery where the ribbon is threaded into a needle, then stitched into the fabric and embroidered.
The Embroidery Book
Enjoy the tranquility of slow stitching with this step-by-step, visual guide to 149 embroidery stitches, motifs, and extras. Go beyond basic color theory–robust color charts take the guesswork out of choosing thread, silk ribbon, buttons, beads, and trims. Then take your embroidery to the next level with luxurious seam treatments and stunning stand-alone designs! Best-selling author Christen Brown’s traditional and contemporary techniques are showcased in a colorful gallery of crazy-quilted projects.
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Embroidery Stencils The Essential Collection
This is a collection of 4 easy-to-use stitch templates to be used for crazy-quilting and embroidery. Just position the stencil where desired and mark your designs with a quilter’s pencil to get your embroidery off to an accurate start!
The expert instructions and tips in the complete 16-page how-to booklet give you confidence in where and how to make your stitches, while the decorative and inventive designs add an unexpected creative element.
Laser-cut durable, translucent, medium-weight plastic, the stencils are easy to handle and create perfect markings every time. Create an endless number of unique designs to embroider: hearts, flowers, baskets, butterflies, spiderwebs, vines, feather stitches, and more. Perfect for crazy-quilting projects–flexible, see-through templates make it easy to see your fabric and seams and perfectly position your design! 4 compact stencils come with a handy storage pouch and fit nicely into your sewing kit.
Embroidery Stitching Handy Pocket Guide
Keep over thirty essential embroidery stitches at your fingertips
Get the pocket guide to embroidery that everyone’s talking about—a sixty-four page mini book that’s perfect to take on the go! Keep your favorite stitches within reach, with this all-in-one reference for hand stitchers, crazy quilters, and free-form embroiderers. Learn the best stabilizers and thread for embroidery from expert Christen Brown, then branch out with embellishments, beads, and charms. This petite paperback is the perfect size for your purse or sewing kit.
Take it with you anywhere!
Beaded Embroidery Stitching
Add dimension and luster to your sewing projects! Inspired by the magic of beads, buttons, and charms, Christen Brown shares 8 stunning beadwork projects from brooches and bracelets to wallhangings. A handy visual guide to 125 bead embroidered and bead woven stitches categorizes each stitch by style, with a second alphabetical index to keep at your fingertips. A robust project gallery will inspire crafters of all skill levels, from embroiderers and sewists to crazy quilters, mixed media artists, and jewelry makers.
The Darling Motif Collection
Choose from a huge number of delightful designs to embroider: a teapot, pincushion, watering can, ladybug, rose, vase, scissors, key, butterfly, and moreFlexible, see-through templates make it easy to see your fabric and seams and perfectly position your design!Four compact, durable stencils fit nicely into your sewing kit and are built to last5″ x 9″4 plastic 4 x 8 stencils, 16p instruction booklet.
Embellished Art Embroidery Project Planner
This delightful planner is designed especially for embroiderers so that you can track multiple projects throughout the year—because let’s face it, who doesn’t have lots of projects going at once?! Set your project goals, track your progress, and manage your time and works-in-progress (WIPs). Each project has four pages to track and record all the critical details: the name of your project, the layout, the stitches and embellishments, due dates, supply lists and more. Plus, flip to the back of the planner for a reference section and even more handy tools.
Hand Embroidery Dictionary
Everything embroidery bundled into one helpful how-to guide! Expert embroiderer Christen Brown breaks down 500+ stitches from the basics for beginners to more complex designs for advanced stitchers. Stitches range from Lazy Daisy, French Knot, Herringbone, Capped, Chevron, and so much more. Create intricate art like Christen with projects such as psychedelic balloons, mushroom gardens, and flowered embroidered spirals. Bursting with color and beads, designs are perfect for contemporary embroidery art or crazy quilting. Start simple and learn how to choose tools and threads, achieve the perfect stitch, and then start designing your unique embroidery project.
Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New
Create with your stash, vintage and new!
Put all stashed, hoarded, and handed-down bits and pieces to creative use! Popular author Christen Brown walks readers through innovative uses for all kinds of embellishments — like lace, vintage linens and hankies, trims and ribbons, buttons of all sorts, and vintage notions — through techniques and projects. If you want to add more unique stash pieces, she provides tips on finding the good stuff, both in-person and online. Get tips for taking care of your treasures; from cleaning vintage finds to fiber identification.
Embroider your stashed treasures with 19 stash project ideas and a robust gallery to get started
Explore a wide variety of projects from feminine to whimsical, functional to frivolous, and old school to contemporary
Friday’s Favorites is continuing this month with Mother of pearl. This week I want to show you jewelry that I have made with MOP buttons, charms and beads.
Enchanted Butterflies is an adaptation of my “Entwined Treasures” pattern. The base is created by entwining and stitching silk cords, into a base. This base is then embellished with buttons and charms, and the beads are attached with the peyote stitch.
Mother of Pearl Button Bracelets
Button bracelets have been around for many decades. You may have one of those cuff bracelets that your mom made with an elastic crochet or stretchy gimp base that is encrusted with vintage buttons and beads.
These two bracelets here are a take-off on those original bracelets.
I chose to use a ribbon for the base (because I don’t like the elastic), using a button for the closure. The top bracelet, which is a sample of my “Klimpt Kollage Kuff” pattern, is encrusted with buttons, while the buttons are stitched in a design on the bottom bracelet.
Hopscotch
The neck-piece here is made from the tie that my dad wore at his wedding. The buttons are vintage carved Mother of pearl with celluloid discs.
The pin base is a wide ribbon, encrusted with Mother of pearl buttons and buckles, celluloid buttons, and roses that I made from gimp and vintage zippers.
Pearl's Delight
This necklace incorporates small mother of pearl buttons with beads, strung on #10 Soft Flex.. The beads are amethyst, fresh water pearls, mother of pearl and seed beads. This necklace and the bracelets below were created to wear with “Pearl’s Delight” jacket ensemble, that is covered in vintage lace and vintage Mother of pearl buttons.
Mother of Pearl Bracelets
These bracelets are all made from vintage Mother of pearl buttons. The top and bottom bracelets are samples from my “Bohemian Button Bracelet” pattern, these are strung on Soft Flex as the necklace above. The middle bracelet is a sample of my “Button Bracelet” pattern using the peyote stitch.
Vintage at Heart
These are two pins that I made using vintage Mother of pearl buttons. The pin on the left is made from muslin fabric and is covered with buttons. The pin to the right is made from silk fabric with a piece of vintage lace, the buttons are all carved.
Vintage Mother of pearl buttons are still around in some abundance, what will you make with them?
Enjoy what you do, it’s good for you! Christen
“Lothlorien” is where Galadriel lives in J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical world. The cloaks that she and her ladies made, that were given to the “Fellowship of the Ring” were said to have been made with a cloth that reflected the leaf, branch, water and stone of this realm. I felt that the colors that I chose for this piece reflected the same thing. Hopefully the magic will be reflected here too!
embroidered center
The background is a vintage embroidered silk purse, probably from China. The purse itself was too delicate to be used as such, so I have tried to preserve it’s beauty, and add it to my collection of art. Each piece of embroidery is comprised of single “Peking or Chinese Knot”, incredible in itself the work that went into each piece! These were each stitched separately then attached by hand to the brown silk. The rows of gold work that attached each design had come apart so I hand stitched these back in place first before I added in my own embellishments.
Then it was time to add in some of my own work. I beaded three dragonflies that have a dentalium shell body that is beaded and wings that are beaded. I made several sets of brick stitched leaves and interspersed them through the sections of flowers. I also beaded a few vines of brick stitched leaves.
embellished and beaded center
I hand stitched several butterflies from French wire ribbon, and added dentalium shell bodies which are beaded. I also made hand stitched flowers from grosgrain ribbon that I stitched with vintage celluloid button centers. I antiqued both the flowers and butterfly bodies with copper fabric paint.
Several more flowers were made from silk bias ribbon and vintage velvet ribbon. These have beaded centers and are interspersed between the butterflies and larger flowers.
I used many vintage buttons that I have collected over the years including carved Tahiti shell, “tinnies” and celluloid which were used around the outer edges. Several new dragonfly and butterfly buttons and charms were also found to complete the theme.
Full wall hanging
I had a wonderful time collecting all of these treasures, then finding a home for them to reside.
The last item I found at Maureen’s Vintage Acquisitions was the mini quilt hanger with the dragonfly on the top! Perfection!
I hope that you enjoy what you do, have fun today and do take a look at the other entries for this challenge, they are all unique and incredible!
Happy stitching, collecting and treasure what gifts you have! Enjoy! ~Christen
This floral tassel definitely belongs in a fairy tale. The top of the tassel is a dyed gourd; the tassel itself is made from wire ribbon formed into gorgeous fuchsias. Wire leaves and silk flowers are also made to enhance the piece. Beads and charms and ribbon worked leaves complete the tassel, adding a silk cord to hang from your fairy garden trellis.
Christen's Creations 