Tag Archive | fiber art

Friday’s Favorites: Numbers and Measures

Dec30
Measuring Up
Measuring Up Montage

The montage has a collection of a few of my favorite things. The jewelry pieces are just fun, with both new and old typewriter keys, and charms. The dog tags belonged to my mom’s dog when she was growing up, my dad won the medal in a model airplane contest for one of his own designs. Other images are my dad’s actual dog tags from WWII, coins (from my grandpa), a wooden nickel I got a Knot’s Berry Farm as a kid and more buttons.

Shown here is the bracelet close-up. I started with a very well loved, tape measure that belonged to my Grandmother. I paired it with grosgrain ribbon and a few buttons that I found at the thrift store. The small button at the right has my mom’s initials on it. When I found it I thought must save this for just the right project, I think that I did!

The first bracelet was found on eBay, it was made with vintage typewriter keys. The necklace is made from new two-hole beads, with typewriter symbols, that have been strung on a rayon cord. The last bracelet, is made from new charms, that are attached to a vintage chain bracelet.

Favorite collection of measuring devices

Numbers can be viewed differently by the way you present them, such as “I HAVE 5 weeds!”, or “I only have five weeds…”; vice versa: “I only have five roses…” or “I HAVE 5 roses!”… you get the point. Numbers can also relate to how much money you have, or how wide you are by the inches on the tape measure, or the accumulation of years that equal your life.

Measuring up can mean quite a few things as well. With New Year’s Eve looming, and resolution lists waiting to be written, for me it means gauging my accomplishments, successes and triumphs. Did I spend my time wisely, did I make a difference, did I contribute?

Whatever your answers are to these questions, I hope that you enjoy the days, hours, and minutes to come! Be happy creating or be happy creatively! Enjoy- Christen

Tide Pools Nature’s Treasures

Oct30

Tide Pools Natures Treasures

Tide Pools Nature’s Treasures

Being a native of Southern CA., a shell lover from early child hood, and an avid collector I am drawn to the ocean, the sand, the waves, the tide-pools and all of the treasures that you can find.

beach sand

I started my project with birch bark collected many years ago from our cabin outside of Toronto, Ontario Canada. This I used for the sand, and the inside of the bowls.

I then crumpled up pieces of cotton paper to create the waves, and rocks. I stitched these together with cotton and rayon threads on my sewing machine. I placed this on an old wooden tray, that had seen better days.

The next step was to create the actual tide pool rock formations that capture the sea life and shells.

I started with Timtex and more cotton paper. I cut round shapes in three different sizes. I layered cotton paper over these, and cut out round pieces of birch bark for the center of the bowls.

I stitched the layers together on the sewing machine. I then cut darts into the circles, and over lapped these to form the bowl shape. The last step was to cut the edges of each bowl and then machine stitch over these edges.

shells, sea life and kelp

shells, sea life and kelp

I had an abundance of real shells that I had collected over the many years of beach combing. I had a great time selecting which of these would be included into my beach scene.

I also had some old celluloid buttons that were somewhat grungy, but the colors matched and the patterning looked like sea urchins to me, these are interspersed amongst the bowls.

I thought that it would be cool to include shells and sea life that I had made from ribbons, crochet and embroidery. I started to play and this is what I came up with:

  • A crochet length of kelp with cord and pearl cotton, and grape shells at each leaf (these have a florist wire glued in the center to attach to the kelp)
  • Crochet and embroidered snail shells
  • Embroidered sea urchins, sea anemones and limpet shells
  • Embroidered and gathered ribbon coral
  • Ric-rac coral and star fish
  • Plumes of something made from rayon cord (I am not sure what these are but I liked them)

close-up view of three sizes of bowls

close-up view of three sizes of bowls

Happy beach combing and treasure hunting, enjoy- Christen!

Recycled Blue Jeans and Denim Fabric

Oct30

JEANS, when did you get your first pair? I grew up wanting to be the “ballerina” in Elton John’s song “Blue Jean Baby”. I can hear you singing, “can’t you see her, tiny dancer in the sand”.

In high school I embroidered jeans and work-shirts for friends and family. In fact the reason that I now wear a thimble while stitching is from being poked so much by working on the heavy jean fabric. I have recycled a pair or two (that did not fit anymore), and used them in various projects. I also like to work with denim fabric (sold by the yard), because it provides a nice firm base to work on.

Blue Jean Baby

“Blue Jean Baby” is stitched onto a pant leg, from a pair of old jeans. I removed the pocket first, and used it and the pocket from the other leg in the examples below. I appliqued a lace heart, and many hand made flowers into the heart vase. I added vintage and new beads into the centers of the flowers. I embroidered ribbon down the side edges using traditional embroidery stitches. The little cat (made from a quilt from 1880’s) was a gift that came along with an eBay purchase, and Marcia Marcantonio is the creator. Thank you Marcia, I think that your gift is quite at home here.

Butterflies and Snapdragons
Flower Child

“Butterflies and Snapdragons” (a pocket from the pants), was featured in my book Ribbonwork Gardens, by C&T Publishing. The middle embroidery was worked on another portion of the jeans. “Flower Child” (a pocket from the pants), was featured in my book Ribbonwork Flowers, by C&T Publishing.

Country Hearts 1
Country Hearts 2

These two pieces begin with the same pair of jeans (cut from the other pant leg), and one of my favorite fabrics, the vintage floral print that the hearts are cut from. The heart shapes are bordered by a dyed leaf trim, and are surrounded by silk ribbonwork flowers and leaves, and silk ribbon embroidery.

Country Hearts Wall Hanging
Denim and Dresden

“Country Hearts” Wall Hanging was featured in my book, The Embroidery Book, by C&T Publishing. Each square was cut from the same pair of jeans, and I used the vintage rickrack trim to cover the raw seams. The embroidery stitches are worked in perle cotton threads. The embellishments include vintage tatted lace, ribbonwork flowers, vintage buttons, and glass beads.

“Denim and Dresden” is featured in my book, Creative Stitching, Mixing the Old with the New, by C&T Publishing. I used jean fabric for the base of the piece, and I think that it compliments the vintage feed sack fabric so nicely. The embroidery is worked in perle cotton, cotton floss, and vintage tatting threads. The embellishments include yo-yo’s and vintage buttons.

Happy Stitching to you! ~Christen

PS: If you are looking for inspiration or ideas, check out my PDF Classes and books.

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

Hankies and Lace Wall Hanging

Oct10

Hankies and Lace Wall Hanging with Christen Brown

This project combines vintage handkerchiefs, ribbons, lace and cotton fabrics. The hankies will be your focal point, with ribbon, lace and appliques used as useful camouflage. Both traditional and silk ribbon embroidery stitches will be used to embellish the edges and inner sections of the hankies. Free standing elements and embellishments that will be added are appliques, yo-yo’s and flowers all made from bits of fabric. Vignettes with silk ribbon embroidery and ribbonwork flowers will be embroidered throughout the hanky base. Buttons, charms and beads will be added in here and there to finish the project.

The finished project can be turned into a pillow or a wall hanging. My book Embroidered and Embellished is a required supply. Student must be familiar with all forms of embroidery stitches before class, as no stitches will be demonstrated during class time. Student must also have both machine and hand-sewing skills.

Week 1: Creating The Base $20.00

be my valentine hanky wall hangingThe base of the project is created with hankies, linens, fabric and ribbon. Several different examples of hanky designs will be explored. Machine and hand sewing will necessary to finish the base, and will be need to completed at home before the next class.

Week 2: Fabric and Lace Embellishments $20.00

samplesLearn to make free standing elements and embellishments: appliques, yo-yo’s and flowers, bird’s nests and more all made from bits of scrap fabrics and lace.

Week 3: Ribbonwork Components $20.00

ribbonwork flowers

The ribbonwork flowers that will be covered are: the rosette, posy, ruched petal flower, U-gather petal flower, rickrack flower and 3 petal fan.  Student must be familiar with hand sewing skills before class.

Week 4: Lace, Appliques and Embroidered Rows $20.00

embroidery sample

Lace and small appliques will be stitched here and there, and embroidered rows of stitches will encrust the edges of the hankies. Student must be familiar with embroidery stitches before class.

Week 5: Floral Vignettes $20.00

hanky base with vignettes

Arrange and design fabric and ribbon components from Weeks 2 and 3. Stitch in additional elements and designs with silk ribbon embroidery. Student must be familiar with ribbonwork and silk ribbon embroidery stitches before class.

Week 6: Silk Ribbon Embroidered Roses, Buds and Flowers $20.00

Embroider smaller vignettes of roses, buds and other flowers around the larger vignettes and within the hanky sections. Student must be familiar with silk ribbon and traditional embroidery stitches before class.

Week 7: Decorative and Detail Stitches $20.00

Embroider decorative and detail stitches along the border rows, and within the hanky sections. Student must be familiar with traditional embroidery stitches before class.

Week 8: Bugs, Buttons, Charms and More $20.00

Embroider small detail stitches like spiders, butterflies, and dragonflies. Add in buttons charms and a few beaded stitches to complete the vignettes and border rows.

Week 9: Finishing Touches $20.00

Variety of bindings, stabilizers, and additional finishing touches will be covered.

Class Details:

These classes are listed with the price per visit.

Date and time: This class is not currently on the schedule.

For information on the series, please contact me: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com

The above class fees reflect the content, the handout and any supplies noted in the description of each specific class. Once the fee of a class is paid for, you will receive a handout in an email, which will need to be printed and brought to class.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen

Jacket full of Ribbonwork Gardens and Flowers

Mar23

I also just finished embellishing this jean jacket that I found at a thrift store. The front and back panels are embellished with the leftover ribbon flowers that I have made over the past three years for my two ribbonwork books: Ribbonwork Gardens and Ribbonwork Flowers, by C&T Publishing. Here is a complete list of all my books.

jean jacket with ribbonwork flowersI included a variety of flowers and leaves from my books, in additions to some prototypes that I just liked, but didn’t get into either book.

jean jacket embellished with ribbonwork flowersHere is a closeup of the front, and then the back.

ribbonwork jean jacket

ribbonwork jean's jacketHappy Stitching my friends, and may your gardens always bloom! ~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

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: Silk Ribbon Embroidery with Ribbon Worked Flowers

Nov20

Friday’s Favorites (and every day for me) are silk ribbon embroidery projects that include ribbon worked flowers and leaves. This type of work incorporates two different techniques, embroidery with silk ribbon and flower or leaves stitched from ribbon. If you are unfamiliar with these techniques it can be confusing to identify one technique over the other.

scrumptious scraps
Scrumptious Scraps

In the above image I have used both silk ribbon embroidery and ribbon worked flowers made from silk habotai and silk satin ribbons. The base of this particular piece is composed of precious bits and pieces of lace that are stitched to a base of silk fabric, then dyed along with a few of the ribbons used for the flowers. The silk ribbon embroidery was stitched with 2mm, 4mm, and 7mm silk ribbon.

silk ribbon embroidery
Marie’s Boudoir Pillow

This pillow is an example of silk ribbon embroidery. In this technique a needle (chenille) is threaded with silk ribbon, and is then stitched through the fabric to create the embroidered designs. All of the stitches were stitched with silk embroidery ribbon, in sizes 2mm, 4mm, 7mm, and 13mm, and silk buttonhole twist and stranded floss.

ribbon worked flowers and leaves
Violet Gardens

This brooch is an example of flowers and leaves made from ribbon. These ribbonworked flowers are stitched from ribbon in sizes 1/4″ to 5/8″, in a variety of styles and fiber content. Ribbonwork differs from embroidery because the individually stitched flowers are created by threading a needle with sewing thread, cutting the ribbon the exact length for each flower, then stitching the ribbon to form the flower. Each flower or leaf  is then stitched in place with a needle and thread.

silk ribbon embroidered brooch
Elizabeth’s Garden

This is an example of a brooch that is embroidered with silk ribbon and silk threads, with a few ribbon worked flowers and leaves added to the top outside portion of the brooch. I have also incorporated a rococo trim around the outer edge of the brooch.

silk fabric with silk ribbon embroidery
Summer Blossoms Purse

This purse is an example of silk ribbon embroidery on an embroidered silk fabric with silk dupioni fabric on the outer edges. One of the wonderful qualities of silk is that it takes the dye so beautifully, and is very vibrant, yet still feminine. What makes silk embroidery ribbon so lovely is that it is beautiful even when worked in the most basic stitches such as lazy daisy, straight, and French knot stitches.

silk ribbon worked flowers and leaves
Silk Gardens Purse

This purse appeared in the March/ April 2007 issue of PieceWork Magazine. I wrote an article on silk fabrics, and this piece was included as a project. Here I have combined both ribbonworked flowers and a few silk ribbon embroidered stitches.

Happy Stitching to you! ~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