welovefrenchknots

Lucky Jackson Patterns now Available!

I was hoping this day would come. I featured Lucky Jackson some time back on the WLFK site. So happy she's now started designing embroidery patterns. Woot! Run on over there!

Gotta learn: Crewel

Crewel is something I've been interested in, but not yet tried. I've been eyeing this book for quite some time and might have to break down and get it. The author, Katherine Shaughnessy has an online shop as well as a brick and mortar in Ohio. Having learned crewel as a child, Katherine is also a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago and an accomplished artist and designer who has even created wedding dresses. I'm hoping to interview her for WLFK, but in the meantime, I just had to pass along the info about her work in case you hadn't already discovered it. 

Her new title, The New Crewel: The Motif Collection, is about to be released and can be preordered on Amazon. It apparently has a cd included with it, which I think is really exciting (read: print motifs out on your transfer-eeze and off you go!).

On her site, Wool and Hoop, Katherine also offers kits and many supplies including iron-ons, hoops and of course, wool.

Stitch Video... Learn Pistil Stitch

A pistil stitch is used in smocking, to form borders, flowers, fan shapes and more. It's simply a combination of a French Knot and a straight stitch. It's super easy if you've got your French knots mastered. Watch the French Knot video first for a tutorial if needed.

In this video I teach you the pistil stitch and also talk about a waste-away knot used to start your work and bury your floss on the back. Pretty on the front of the embroidery... pretty on the back.

 

Miniature Embroideries

There are two out of character vintage treasures are on my bucket list: A vintage trailer that I will paint turquoise and a vintage doll house that I will grossly over decorate. 

While browsing through our Flickr group, I came across a photo that made me have to blink a couple times to comprehend what I was looking at. These miniature embroideries by Doll House Miniatures artist K Arthur are swoon-worthy. Thus, my doll house dream has gone into overdrive. Check these out...

They are as small as a fingernail...

There are rugs as well as wall hangings... Part punch needle... part embroidery.

And fabulous bedcoverings.

 

A great idea for kid's stitching projects (or your own)...

Use pics from their coloring books, like Tracey and her daughter did with this Orange Blossom coloring book design. Just trace on the window or using a light box!

Shut up! (and i mean that in the nicest possible of ways)

Just found this awesome idea on the Fossil blog. No, the new perforated Mason bags don't come like this... they just happen to make the perfect canvas for cross stitch. Fossil, I have always loved you, but now you have my complete adoration.

 

i love this

Because when it takes forever to make a hand embroidered work of art ... people should know.

From Sublime Stitching.

What's in Your Hoop?

I love to see what you are stitching, so I asked last week on Twitter for you to show me what's in your hoop? Unless of course, you stitch hoop-free... then just, "What ya' stitchin'?" (I'm looking at you Lynette Anderson). Please send me your hoop (or hoop free stitchin' photos) at Bari at BariJonline dot com and I may feature your work here!

Here are a few of the responses I received this time around:

From @artisania, a free stitched house with bouganvilla vines:

From @aprairiesunrise, a cross stitch:

from @aquiltnutone, pumpkins and stars:

&Stitches... a new eZine!

Give-away and Coupon Code

 

I'm really excited about this new project by Carina Envoldsen-Harris and Nicole Vos van Avezathe. They have created a quarterly eZine all about stitching. It has a strong focus on Embroidery (and yes that includes all kinds of Embroidery!) but other (hand) sewing projects and themes are definitely on the map too.

 

photo courtesy of  3kitchenfairies

Both Carina and Nicole love a bit of stitch-geekery; from discussions about how to organize your embroidery floss to sci-fi patterns. Not shying away from traditional techniques but at the same time embracing new themes and a ‘bend the rules’mentality.

Throw in a bit of their European Nordic style and you have a unique recipe for an awesome e-zine about Stitching!

Each issue has it’s own theme and will hold a couple of patterns (including one by a guest contributor), book reviews, interviews and lots of photos. ‘Colour’ is the theme of our first issue (so it’s ‘Colour &Stitches’) and our guest contributor is Corinne McHie of Septemberhouse.

The first issue of &Stitches is available through the &Stitches website tomorrow! Thursday January 12th. 

And lucky us! &Stitches has offered We Love French Knots readers 15% off the first issue which is usually $7. The offer starts tomorrow, Thursday January 12 and ends on the 16th... so get your hurry on! i.e.: click over there now!  The discount code is SNOWWHITE (which goes nicely with the first theme of the zine). 

ALSO... The gracious ladies have offered one lucky winner a free copy! You have to enter today though, because I'm picking a winner tomorrow! Just leave a comment here before 9am Mountain Time, January 12, and you are entered to win.

 

UPDATE: The winner is...

#6... Ann S.

Comments are now closed. Ann, please email me at bari at barijonline dot come to claim your prize!

New Stitches: Dessert of the Month Club

Amanda and Ashleigh have come up with The. Cutest. Stitching. Club. Ever... Check out their Dessert of the Month club. So dang adorable. And this pattern is $10 until tomorrow. Then it goes up to $16.95