What more can I say? I have a selection of pieces to show you today, from my upcoming book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old With the New, by C&T Publishing. Some of the pieces are gallery examples, some are examples of the projects included in the book.
Vintage hand- or machine- made laces can be used as a focal point, or for embellishments.
Framed Lace Collar: is a Stash Project that displays a beautiful vintage lace collar. You could substitute a nightcap, handbag, or vintage pair of gloves. I embroidered vignettes of silk embroidered roses and leaves, and added vintage buttons and glass beads for the embellishments.
Scrap PinsLace Collage Brooch or Needle Keep
Scrap Pins and Lace Collage Brooch or Needle Keep: These are two of the Stash Projects, that use very little materials, and time to make. They are a perfect way to preserve and use up small bits of this and that, and to give them purpose again.
My Fair LadyLace and Rose Finery
My Fair Lady (gallery piece): I took a reproduction silk print, and framed it with a printed cotton upholstery fabric. I decorated the base of the frame with vintage and new ribbons, laces, and trims. I added in floral bridal appliqués, vintage glass buttons and beads, vintage shell buttons and buckles. I embroidered silk roses at her neckline, and added buttons down the front of her blouse and on her bonnet. If you would like to make a similar frame, I have written a free handout for C&T Publishing.
Lace and Rose Finery (gallery piece): The base of this piece started with a vintage upholstery linen. I collage-pieced my precious stash of beautiful, fine, lovely bits of lace given to me by my sister-in-laws mother’s husband, a collection that belonged to his mother Evonne. I added in sections of crochet lace for the baskets, and filled these with silk ribbon embroidered flowers and leaves. The embellishments include vintage glass and metal buttons, glass beads and charms.
Heart Felt Wishes to you all! I love hearts, I love the shape, I love to decorate the house at Valentine’s Day, and I have a lot of hearts… so I decided to post A Heart a Day for the entire month of February.
Garland of Hearts
Heart OrnamentsSerendipityHeart Pillow Ornament
Love means that you can enjoy the space you share with another, and that becomes your “happy place”.
Happiest of heartfelt wishes for a wondrous day! ~Christen
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. February is National Embroidery Month, and I would like to share the pieces from some of my books, enjoy!
Week 1 of National Embroidery Month, 2023
For the Love of Embroidery! I love to embroider, which is no secret to all of you that follow this blog, or have taken a class from me, or even purchased one of my books. Thank you for that by the way, and thank you for your trust in letting me teach you, and thank you for letting me share this passion with you.
Embroidered and Embellished Small Projects
The first book that I wrote on the subject was called Embroidered and Embellished, by C&T Publishing. I chose to categorize the stitches into groups, that I named Traditional Embroidery, Silk Ribbon Embroidery, Raised and Textured Embroidery, and Bead Embroidery.
Each of these groups includes 20 related stitches. I photographed the steps of the stitches for this book, like I did for my two ribbonwork books. My daughter pitched in and offered here lovely hands in a few of the how-to-directions.
I created a sampler and two projects for each of the four categories included in the book. The projects have detailed directions with diagrams of the assembly steps and stitches that I used.
Traditional Embroidery Stitch SamplerVintage Redressed Wallhanging Project
Traditional Embroidery: the stitches in this chapter include: chain stitch, zigzag chain stitch, chain stitch vine, straight stitch, outline stitch, outline stitch vine, blanket stitch, short-long-short blanket stitch, buttonhole circle, heart, lazy daisy stitch, lazy knot tip, lazy daisy flowers, looped tendril, tulip, sunflower, button flowers, fly stitch, wisteria, wild ginger, French knot, French knot flowers, and couched stitch.
All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked in Finca perle cotton # 8 and Finca Mouline cotton floss by Presencia.
All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked with silk ribbon or buttonhole twist from YLI; Wildflowers thread from the Caron Collection; or Silk Mori floss from Kreinik.
Raised and Textured Stitch SamplerFramed Lace Wallhanging Project
Raised and Textured Embroidery: the stitches in this chapter include: open chain stitch, couched Japan thread, fly stitch leaf, feather fan, whip-stitch rose, whip-stitch rose variation 1, whip-stitch rose variation 2, spiderweb rose, petite twisted rose, bullion stitch, bullion posy, cast-on buttonhole stitch, buttonhole rose, cherry blossoms, tatted stitch, tatted posy, spiral tatted stitch, tatted rose, Chinese knot, and Christen’s shisha mirror.
All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked in Finca perle cotton # 8 or Finca Mouline cotton floss by Presencia; buttonhole twist from YLI; Silk Mori floss or fine braid from Kreinik; or rayon floss from DMC.
Bead Embroidery: the stitches in this chapter include: continuous bead stitch, beaded vine, lazy daisy stitch, lazy daisy variation, lazy daisy loop, lazy daisy flowers, beaded stamen, sunflower, button rose, French rose, sequin rose, sequin rose variation, flat leaf, lazy daisy leaf, stacked bead center. picot tip, bead cascade, single bead, bead combinations, and charms.
All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked in size 6°, 8°, 11°, or 15° size seed beads; or larger beads in a variety of sizes; or sequins.
If you would like to stitch each of these samplers, you can find the template here.
You can see all of the books and products that I have created here. I wish you all the happiness and hope that you enjoy creating with this beautiful craft and art form.
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!
8 1/4″ x 8 1/4″
Sweet Roses and Posies
I created this piece for my book, The Embroidery Book, by C&T Publishing. I used two different colors of Hoffman Batiks for the the strip-pieced base. I added in hand-dyed vintage cotton lace and dyed mother-of-pearl buttons for the details. The embroidery was first worked around the center square, with a row of stitches mirroring the square. Vignettes were worked into the center, and corners of the middle section. The embroidery was worked in Wildflower thread by the Caron Collection, and 6 colors of silk embroidery ribbon and silk floss.
Embroidery Stitches Used
Border row and vines: blanket stitch, feather stitch
Here we are gathered together for mother’s day, 12 years ago.
Day 28 of HEARTS!
Many of you know that I love hearts! I love the shapes and all of the possibilities. Here is an example of three generations who love hearts. The first image is of an embroidered greeting card that my mom made. The second is an image of the beginnings of my class Embroidered from the Heart. The third is my most favorite valentine, from our daughter Gwen.
Happy February to you, and thank you for letting me share my love of hearts!
Many of you know that I love hearts! I love the shapes and all of the possibilities. These two wall hangings begin with a jean fabric base and one of my favorite fabrics, the 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.
Christen's Creations 