September 3, 2010 | Posted in: Crewel, Projects
Am I alone in disliking samplers? I don’t dislike the idea of a sampler – in the end a lot of what I stitch is just because I’d like to try some new techniques out. But most of the samplers out there… well historical stitching has never been my thing. I’m really glad there are people who love examining, preserving and recreating historical embroideries, but it’s not what flips my switch.
And just doing the alphabet again? I can already count to nine thanks.
But the concept of a sampler – using it as a way of gathering and practising techniques – [...]
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August 30, 2010 | Posted in: Events, Featured, Stumpwork
I love Wonder Cabinets. I love the original Victorian ones, full of fossils and bones and other curiosities. The things that kind of freak you out with the horrid fascination of someones toenail collection or dried umbilical cord. Why, just, why would you store that?
Now Berlin is getting one of its own – but this is of a more handmade nature. Curated by Leah Buckareff of Cold Snap Bindery and hosted by La Bastellerie, you can come admire, goggle at and even buy the curiosities on display.
I’m taking part with one of the first pieces of stumpwork I [...]
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August 20, 2010 | Posted in: Featured, Projects, Stumpwork
How’s that for alliteration?
This spider was a fun little thing I did while playing around with knots. As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been on a big knot thing recently – so large that I’m wondering if macrame is going to be appearing in my near future.
In this case I mainly wanted another excuse to do some Ghiordes Knots (because god knows it’s not like I haven’t already been putting them in everything I’ve stitched for the last year or so) and I had a vague curiousity about what would happen if I used two differently coloured threads in a Bullion [...]
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August 16, 2010 | Posted in: Crewel, Projects
So who’s had experience with wool before? I must admit I’ve avoided it for years, I think mainly because it reminded me of those orange and brown 1970s tapestries which were somewhat dominant in my childhood.
Sure they’re retro cool now, but that didn’t stop my aversion. I’ve never been known as a trend-setter after all.
So the last time I made it to a well-stocked embroidery shop (xxx in sydney – and why I have to travel halfway around the world to find decent supplies is a topic for another time) I grabbed a few dozen wools, including the Appletons I’m [...]
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August 13, 2010 | Posted in: Crewel, Projects
Have you ever tried crewel? I’ve done little bits and pieces over the years, worked some crewel stitches into other pieces – mainly just in normal stranded floss. In fact, those Pekin knots I complained about previously was me dabbling a little.
However it just wasn’t working in floss and so that particular WIP went back into the drawer. Now, though, I’ve finally dared to broach the whole wool theme and I’ve grabbed that design again and restarted.
So this is where it was: I was working on floss on a thick red fabric and those knots, not to put too fine a [...]
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February 2, 2010 | Posted in: Miscellaneous, Projects
I’ve been hammering away slowly at the string Or Nué project I started last year. I’d run into a bit of a problem in that I started the whole thing with a ball of string we happened to have in our kitchen drawer… and after about ten hours of stitching was done it seemed pretty clear that thi s wasn’t going to last for the full portrait. So then I spent months hunting around Berlin for string that wasn’t horrible, plastic-coated stuff so that I could continue.
I found a few likely candidates a few weeks ago and started of again. [...]
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January 27, 2010 | Posted in: Courses, Events
If there’s anyone who’s going to be in Berlin next week, why not come along to my embroidery class at La Bastellerie? Thursday Feb 4th I’ll be doing a 3-hour basic introduction for anyone who has never picked up a needle, or who would just like a bit of help with the simple stuff. One month later, Thursday March 4th will be a slightly more advanced class, including transferring designs, stitching onto clothing and how to do some of the more complex stitches (French knots anyone?). You can do each independantly of each other and the price is 20€ without [...]
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November 16, 2009 | Posted in: Events
Hey! Tara from City of Craft has put up the first of a series of interviews with the installation artists taking part this year. And this one is mine! Go and check it out, and make sure you go back to see what other amazing artists crafters are going to be exhibiting soon.
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November 6, 2009 | Posted in: Featured, Projects
A while back I tweeted that I was accepted into the City of Craft festival in Toronto in December, so I figured I’d give you a quick shot of the work-in-progress. I had a very definate idea in mind for this, wanting to emulate stencil graffiti in stitch and so I figured I could probably use blackwork for that. What do you think, has it worked out? There’s still a few more pieces to stitch to complete it, but they’re simpler than this so – come hell or high water – I will get this finished this weekend!
Overall pic. [...]
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October 31, 2009 | Posted in: Miscellaneous
Swapping is one of those internet craft phenomena that I previously never really had time for. Plus I know exactly how bad a pen-pal I am (Hello 6th grade Japanese penpal who received exactly one letter from me). So, until recently, I had never signed up for one.
But with the Phat Quarter group on Flickr I decided to give it a shot. And I had so much fun with that one that when it came ’round again I signed up once more. This time with the theme NSFW… ie. don’t be shocked by anything that you receive.
Now I’m waay behind [...]
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