Tag Archive | beading

Beaded Embroidery Stitching Blog Tour: My Turn!

Apr14

Next stop on the blog turn is ME!

Here is my new book, Beaded Embroidery Stitching, which includes 125 bead embroidery and bead woven stitches, using beads, buttons, charms and more. Once you practice the basic stitches, there are 8+projects for you to work your magic on!

I have included a section on the types of beads and embellishments that you will be using for the stitches, and the other items that can be included in your creations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of the stitches included in the book are interpreted from traditional thread embroidery stitches.

I have included a look into my Design Process, and how a project will start.

I have included several versions of a design in different color ways so that the reader could see the possibilities.

Champagne and Pearls

Welcome Home

Spider Webs

Along Came a Spider

There are loads of inspiration for you to look at, with examples ranging from wall hangings, sewing caddies, pillows, bracelets, brooches and more.

I want to thank all of the magnificent participants that were kind enough to leave a post on the blogs. You can read the past posts here, and see what they thought about the book.

If you would like to win a free ebook version of my book, just leave a comment below, you will need to check in tomorrow to see if you have won. Good Luck!

Happy Stitching and Enjoy~ Christen

The Embroidery Book by Christen Brown

Feb22

The Embroidery Book

theembroiderybook

Here is the cover of my newest book, which came out in November of 2016. The book includes step-by-step, visual guide to 149 embroidery stitches, motifs and extras. The book takes you beyond basic color theory– with robust color charts take the guesswork out of choosing thread, silk ribbon, buttons, beads, and trims. Then I show you how take your embroidery to the next level with luxurious seam treatments and stunning stand-alone designs! I include both traditional and contemporary techniques in the projects and gallery pieces that are showcased throughout the book.

book of stitches cover

I have included a detailed project in the book which is called the “Embroidery Journal”. I think that every stitcher should have a log of stitches, one to refer to when working out an embroidered design. There are 12 sections of embroidery stitches, which are listed by category in the book.

book of stitches

There are two examples of for each category, one at the beginning of the book in the table of contents, and then one in the section with the embroidery stitch techniques. Here is an example of the stitched samplers for the blanket stitch and variations and the chain and looped stitches.

Happy Stitching, ~ Christen

Embroidered With Love

Nov22

Embroidered With Love

embroideredwithloveDo you love hearts and embroidery as I do? These lovely little ornaments are perfect for any holiday or gift from the heart! Whether you are an experienced embroiderer or a beginner this class is for you. There are five basic heart shapes with to choose from. All you need to create these lovely ornaments are a few basic embroidery stitches and a little bit of imagination.

Details:

Class Fee: $30.00/the customer must also have a copy of Embroidered and Embellished by Christen Brown.

*Please note that this class does not include any of the materials, supplies or tools; these must be purchased by the student.

Class Requirements: Hand embroidery skills a must.

Date and time: Not currently scheduled/4 hour class

Specifics:

This class fee is paid directly to Christen. This can be paid by a PayPal invoice, or by check and sent to Christen. Please email Christen: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com with your inquiries. Once the class is paid for the handout will be sent to the customer’s email address. The customer must print a copy of the handout to bring to the day of class.

Happy Stitching ~ Christen

Treated and Textured Reticule: class/tutorial

Dec8

Treated and Textured Reticule: 3 lessons/$40.00

textured and treated reticuleThis class is full of cool techniques; it will be hard to decide which one is your favorite! First you will stitch your fabric, shrinking it and manipulating it into a textural base. Next you will create a mesh of specialty threads and covered tendrils or branches. Embellishments and embroidery will include hand applied rayon cord, needlelace, shisha mirrors, and beading. Directions will be given to make a four-sided purse; however you could use your own pattern to make a pillow or wall hanging the choice is yours.

Skill Level Intermediate: sewing machine, embroidery and beading knowledge needed.

Lesson 1: This class is all about the textures! You will learn how to create crinkled and crunched portions into your fabric sections. Next you will create textures in other areas with single and twin needle stitching.

Lesson 2: This class is all about specialty threads and yarns. First you will make a mesh that can be cut and used as appliquéd sections. Then you will turn ordinary yarn into a tendril or vine. These will be assembled onto the textured fabric sections from Lesson 1 with additional bits of rayon cording and bobbin stitching.

Lesson 3: This class is all about the embellishments. Needle lace embroidery, raised and textured stitches, shisha mirrors and bead embellishments will be combined with the previous techniques to create a unique reticule.

Class Information

These classes 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 will be sent out. The lessons will begin one week after the purchase of the class, unless otherwise stated. You will receive an email with the lesson attached. The following lesson/s will arrive one week after the previous lesson.

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.

Class fees will not be refunded.

Happy Stitching,

~Christen

 

View From The Red Planet….

May5

I found time to clean up the work room, and came across several small projects that have been waiting to be completed. So I hope to dedicate the next few months to completing some of these.

This is the first project, made from left-overs bits of this and that from a class that I teach, “Embellished Silk Treasures”.

The base is made from split silk cocoons, which were adhered to Lutrador, then machine embellished with gold threads. This was then embellished further with bits of painted vilene, fabric circles. A few embroidery and beading stitches enhance the components.

view from the redplanet

Happy Stitching to all! ~Christen

International Quilt Festival Houston 2013

Aug14

FQF13WebButtonTeachersI am lucky enough to be teaching again this year at the International Quilt Festival Houston 2013. This is an exciting and creative even, that people from all over the world attend! Here are the classes that I will be teaching:

creativeconcoctionssmall

Mixed Media Miscellany October 31, 2013: Creatively Collaged Concoctions

I will demonstrate how to create your own fabric base and appliqués using Solvy, bits of this and that, your sewing machine and your imagination. There are three demos, the Solvy Sandwich, Fabric and Solvy Sandwich, and Lace and Ultra Solvy Sandwich.

ribbonClass The Silk Experience Friday November 1, 2013: Ribbons to Dye For

This is a great class for the beginner, or intermediate student who wants to add dyeing and over-dyeing techniques to her repertoire. Nine simple tying, folding, pinning and stitching techniques are combined with several simple dyeing techniques to create interesting and unique patterns. Once you work with these self-setting dyes, nothing white will ever be safe again!

embroideredwithloveClass Embroidered with Love Saturday November 2, 2013

These lovely little ornaments are perfect for any holiday or gift from the heart! There are five designs made from felt using a few basic embroidery stitches from my book Embroidered and Embellished.

beadedtandletonssmallClass Sunday November 3, 2013: Beaded Tandletons

These little beaded beauties are just fun to make. They start with a form made from silk ribbon that is tightly stuffed. Then beads, and more beads are stitched in rows around the form. They can be made into a pin or a button.

I will also be demonstrating a few of my Decorative Trims at the Friday Morning Sampler.

Can’t wait! Hope to see you all there!

Happy Stitching~ Christen

Embellished Silk Treasures

Apr8

silk hankies, silk cocoons, silk threads, silk ribbons

Embellished Silk Treasures is a wall hanging made from two different Silk Painter’s Hankies, 1 package of Painter’s Potpourri Thread Embellishment Packs. The base is made from split silk cocoons, which were adhered to Lutrador, then machine embellished with gold threads. This was then embellished further with bits of painted vilene, fabric circles, fiber beads, and ribbon pods. A few embroidery and beading stitches enhance the components.

Happy Stitching~ Christen

Friday’s Favorites: Mother of Pearl part 2

Feb5
necklace made from vintage and new mother of pearl buttons

Enchanted Butterflies

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.

ribbon bracelets stitched with vintage mother of pearl buttons

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.

vintage tie neckpiece

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.

necklace strand made from amethyst and mother of pearl buttons

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.

bracelets made from 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.

mother of pearl buttons

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

Friday’s Favorites: Free-Form Peyote Stitch

Jan8

free-form peyote stitch

Free-form Peyote Stitch

Friday’s Favorites is all about the free-form peyote stitch. The peyote stitch is a traditional stitch used by Native Americans in a ceremonial ritual. There is some controversy in using the name of this stitch in beadwork today, but because I have no alternative word, I use it here with care.

The stitch is formed after a row of stitches are added onto the needle and thread; the stitching is then reversed with one bead added onto the needle and passed through a bead in the original row; additional beads are added in this manner. In the free-form stitch beads are added at random in singles or quantities creating a flowing organic form. The beads used are seed beads of all sizes (4-15 in my case), square, triangles, Czech glass beads, buttons, pearls, semi precious beads and basically anything with a hole in it.

free-form peyote stitch

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice was created using the free-form stitch adding and lengthening as needed. Here I have incorporated fresh water pearls, vintage shell and glass buttons, and vintage glass sew-throughs with vintage and new seed beads.

free-form peyote

close-up

Here is a close-up of the center, showing you the variety of pearls, glass buttons, glass sew-throughs and seed beads. The light blue beads (almost gray) are vintage beads found in the Hudson Bay area, they are over 200 years old.

free-form peyote neck-piece

Summer's By the Sea

Summer’s By the Sea was created using the same techniques as above, incorporating shells that I had found on Catalina Island as well as on the beaches of Southern California. Here I have incorporated vintage glass beads, vintage glass charms, abalone beads and chips, fresh water pearls along with the vintage and new glass seed beads.

close-up view of free-form peyote stitch

close-up view of free-form peyote stitch

Here is a close-up of the wonderful button shells that I found on Catalina Island.

free-form peyote stitch

Jeweled Pi

This is a close-up view of the Jeweled Pi bracelets, which is one of the patterns that I teach and sell. I have incorporated large Pi or shell discs, along with buttons, jade pieces, fresh water pearls, semi precious stones, and seed beads of different sizes.

free-form peyote with ribbon worked flowers

Tatiana's Enchantment

This necklace is from my Entwined Roses class, which incorporates ribbon worked flowers and leaves and the free-form peyote stitch. This class and the Entwined Treasures class both use silk cord and rayon cords as a base for the neck-piece. The flowers, buttons and beads are stitched on and around the base of cords which give a certain amount of stability and help to defray any tension problems that can arise when stitching without a base.

free- form peyote stitch with ribbon worked flowers

close-up view

This is a close-up view of the center, showing you the ribbon worked flowers that lay amongst the bead-work and buttons.

free-form peyote stitch with ribbon worked flowers

Woodland Elf

This is a close-up of my Woodland Elf necklace, which uses the Entwined Roses pattern. This is a wonderful collection of treasures: tiny sea urchins, vintage troca shell whistle buttons, fresh water pearls, jade charms, ra ku buttons, bronze charms from Big Sur, a dyed gourd, shell flowers….. and more.

close-up view of free-form peyote stitch

Beadazzled Somemore

This is a close-up view of the Beadazzled Somemore class and pattern that I teach. The free-form stitch is attached to the fabric at intervals, and then stitched using the same techniques as a regular peyote stitch.

free- form peyote stitch on ribbon

Ocean River's Bracelet

The Ocean River’s Bracelet uses the same concept as the Beadazzled Somemore, using a ribbon base to work the free-form stitch onto. This is a class that is on the current Winter Schedule for Joggles.com.

When all is said and done I enjoy using this stitch both in the structured and unstructured forms, both having their merits in history and style. Happy day to you, enjoy what you do and make everyday count. Christen

Cameos and Lace

Nov17

cameos and lace

Cameos and Lace

The vintage sleeve was found at an antique store, I don’t know who wore it, but she must have looked very lovely if the lace and embroidery on her sleeve are any indication. I added in cameos because I always thought that they represented the best of a proper ladies jewelry. One set that was a brooch and a pair of earrings that had belonged to my husband’s grandmother; the other pieces are shell and resin that I gathered from here and there.

The lace around the picture was a gift from my husband’s brother’s wife’s mother’s husband (whew!), and there is a lot more where that came from and will be used in many projects to come. The Mother of Pearl buttons are all vintage; the tiniest of them are whistle buttons, the larger have a pink and green shimmer. The glass flowers add just the right amount of color here picking up some of the rose color of the cameos. The velvet milliner’s leaves are from an old hat and the ribbon flower is of my own design.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen