This wallhanging started with several handkerchiefs that belonged to my mother and grandmother. The hankies are collage-pieced together with small bits of fabric, ribbons, laces, and trims. Special mementos include a few tatted and crochet flowers that my mom made, along with glass ladybugs, which is the symbol for our daughter. It is featured in my book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, by C&T Publishing.
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 Watermelon and Lime Zinger, an unexpected blend of hibiscus with notes of watermelon and lime, well just like the name I guess it is a “Zinger”. I paired it with some oatmeal and fruit today.
Today’s Tip: Is one that I think is worth repeating, keep those you love, close to your heart, treasure and treat any gift given to you as one coming straight from their heart.
Lady RoseLizbeth’s’ Dress for FebruaryRose MarieLast of the Red Hot Lovers!
Lady Rose
Is an art doll that I made from a variety of components. The base of the body is made from felt, with two heart-shaped crochet doilies, and one embroidered heart shape pin, all made by my mom. I painted her face, and added ballerina shoe and hand-shape charms to the body, as well as crochet roses with leaves, also made by my mom. She is embellished with satin ribbons in a variety of widths and colors; vintage rickrack trim and rickrack roses; and vintage and new buttons.
Lizbeth’s Dress for February
Lizbeth is an art doll that I designed, several years ago, for a monthly challenge called Dress UP. The goal was to create a mixed media dress each month. I decided that I wanted to make a mannequin form first, and then create an ensemble for her each month. Her dress for February is primarily made from French wire ribbon; the accents are made from silk bias, velvet, and satin ribbons; with a bit of pink lace, and a heart-shaped button (from my guy).
Rose Marie
This is an art doll that I have made using a paint brush, this one was actually our basting brush from the kitchen. I soaked it too long in the dish pan and all the bristles came out. OOPS! No worries, I knew that I could make something from this fiasco. I painted the brush-base, the wooden heart-shaped body, and the cardboard backdrop with acrylic paints. I painted her face, and added in the “Carmen Miranda”-like tiara made from some crochet flowers made by my mom, and some ribbonwork leaves. On the backdrop, I added in a vine and leaf trim, additional plastic flowers, florist wire leaves, and lady bugs. Why? read on!
Happy 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.
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.
Color, color, color and more colors. I love them all. When I work, I let the fabrics and other components tell me what they want to be when they grow up. Today, I am going to share two pieces from my cream and beige collection.
9″ x 10 1/2″
Creme de la Creme
This piece was featured in my book The Embroidery Book, by C&T Publishing. It was an example of a monochromatic color palette. There are shades of cream, off-white, candlelight, beige, and pearl. The base of this piece is a doupioni silk, layered with many treasured bits of lace, that I had collected over the years. The embroidery was worked in silk ribbons and perle cotton threads. The embellishments include, beads, mother of pearl buttons and charms, and fresh water pearls. The frame is comprised of carved bone purse handles.
13″ x 13″
Splattered Scattered Tatters
This piece is from my new book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New. I crazy pieced the base using odd scraps of muslin, added batting to the back and quilted a random pattern with perle cotton #12. I gathered small bits of machine made lace, tatted and crochet lace, and appliques. Some of the tatted and crochet pieces were made by my mom and myself. I also found a home for a collection of crochet and thread woven buttons, mother of pearl buttons, and bone underwear buttons. The embroidery is very minimal, so that the lovely components could speak for themselves. To bring all of the shades of cream together, I spatter dyed the base with Colorhue dyes.
I hope that your day is colorful! Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen
I am so honored to announce that I was accepted as a teacher for the upcoming Fall International Quilt Festival held in Houston Texas, October Wednesday 31 2012 – Sunday November 4, 2012. Please click on the link for further information.
The first class that I will be teaching is called “Ribbonwork Flower Gardens”, Wednesday October 31, 2012, to support my new book Ribbonwork Gardens. This is a 6 hour class that will cover twelve of the basic techniques covered in my book.
I will be giving a lecture Thursday November 1, 2012 on “Ribbonwork Gardens”, showing the gallery examples included in the book, as well as others from my collection. A small sampling of these examples can be seen on C&T’s flickr page.
I will be participating in the Mixed Media Miscellany, Thursday November 1, 2012, with my presentation: “Successfully Playing with Color”. This demonstration will open your world to the possibilities of COLOR. Teaching you how to easily create your own colors and dye baths with successful results every time.
I will be participating in the Friday Sampler, November 2, 2012, with my presentation on “Designing with Color”. Color and where to use it has always been a question asked by my students. I will give you insight on my own color theory, and how I use this in my work.
I will be teaching “Bohemian Button Bracelets”, November 2, 2012. This is a three hour class, where you can bring your treasured stash of buttons, beads and charms to create a one of a kind bracelet reminiscent of the Bohemian Gypsy in all of us.
I will be participating in the Saturday Sampler, November 3, 2012, with presentation on “What’s in Your Button Box?” Everyone has a button stash and it may include buttons passed down through the years. I will give you some tips on identifying these treasures, along with showing you samples of my own collection.
I will be teaching a three hour class called “Tandletons”, on Saturday November 3, 2012. These little threaded works of art are made from a stuffed silk bias ribbon button, and stitched with dyed cotton embroidery thread and a few embroidery stitches.
Christen's Creations 