July 29, 2017

Très Chic Stitchery: Sajou Kit Giveaway!

Sajou Kit Giveaway by Tres Chic Stitchery for Feeling Stitchy

Today we have the treat of showing you some lovely details of this Sajou Embroidery Kit, courtesy of Très Chic Stitchery, who has also sent us 1 additional kit to give away to our readers!

Sajou Kit Giveaway by Tres Chic Stitchery for Feeling Stitchy

I have seen Sajou threads online, but never in person, so it was a real pleasure to take a look at these threads!

This kit comes with a small square of blue evenweave linen, a card with all the Sajou threads for the design, cotton batting, 2 paper strips with the Jouy fabric pattern to line your box, pattern instructions, and the little cardboard box itself, which looks very much like a little biscuit tin. It would be perfect for storing notions or little keepsakes.

Sajou Kit Giveaway by Tres Chic Stitchery for Feeling Stitchy
Sajou Kit Giveaway by Tres Chic Stitchery for Feeling Stitchy
Sajou Kit Giveaway by Tres Chic Stitchery for Feeling Stitchy

I'd like to thank Très Chic Stitchery for sending us this exquisite little kit, and giving us the chance to share one with you! I'd highly recommend a visit to their shop, if you'd like to see more Sajou items, like scissors, threads, patterns, and other kits.

To enter this giveaway - please leave a comment on this post - this giveaway is US-only, I am sorry for that but we wanted to make sure the winner gets their prize quickly! In your comment please tell us - have you ever used Sajou threads or kits before? Or, what is your favorite item in the Très Chic Stitchery store?

I'll leave comments open through next Saturday, August 5, 12PM CST, when I will close the comments and choose one random winner!

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

July 26, 2017

Wonderful Wednesday #44: P.M. Neist

Wonderful Wednesday 44 - P.M. Neist, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

Today I'm featuring an artist named P.M. Neist who is doing a wonderful project called Project 105: Radical Giving in which she very generously gifts her embroidered mixed-media artwork and writing!

Her goal is to gift 105 art pieces in total - here is her statement from the Project 105 page:

I donate art to connect and reach out to people who either do not know me, do not usually purchase art or simply want a piece for no reason at all. The donated pieces are smaller and designed to fit into affordable standard-size frames. All work is signed, executed using archival quality paper and vintage embroidery material and it is shipped for free in the U.S. I will consider shipping abroad on case by case basis. Also, larger pieces and 3-D work will be offered occasionally.

What a wonderful project this is - thank you P.M. Neist for reaching out to us and telling us about your work!

If you'd like to follow P.M. Neist or learn more about her projects and her work, visit:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.m.neist/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PMNeist
Her site: https://www.pmneist.com/

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

July 19, 2017

Wonderful Wednesday #43: Namaste Embroidery

Wonderful Wednesday 43 - Namaste Embroidery, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

We've featured the lovely patterns of Namaste Embroidery before, and I suspect we'll be featuring them again, if this lovely Nevertheless She Persisted kit is any indication.

I love the colors, textures, and sentiments in this gorgeous kit! The kit includes a link to Youtube videos that will walk you through your stitching - sounds super helpful. The kit also includes 10 skeins of DMC embroidery floss, hoop, fabric, needles and design - sounds like everything you'll need.

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

July 18, 2017

Twitter Tuesday #5: Angela Snape

Twitter Tuesday 5 - Angela Snape, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

Isn't this butterfly series by Angela Snape just beautiful? From her Twitter bio, Angela is a stitcher from Liverpool, England, and has a shop on Folksy, if you'd like to check out her crafty wares: https://folksy.com/shops/CoverStory. You can also find Angela on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coverstory_craft/.

Would you like to be featured in our Twitter Tuesday series? Then follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/feelingstitchy and tag your embroidery photos with #embroidery or #feelingstitchy so we can find you!

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

July 12, 2017

Wonderful Wednesday #42: Belinda Marshall Kits

Wonderful Wednesday 42 - Belinda Marshall Kits, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

Well I suppose by now it's fairly obvious what my favorite colors are - and you can see them all in play in this wonderful Printed Fabric Pattern by Belinda Marshall Kits on Etsy. I thoroughly appreciate the creativity in this abstract piece, and how restful it would be to work at such a pleasing form. I can't wait to see more kits in this exciting new Etsy shop!

Belinda in her own words, from her shop description:

"I am a visual artist {abstract painter} and designer {surface, embroidery} living in Melbourne and working from my studio in Brunswick."

Belinda also sells her fine art prints, cushions, and wall hangings on Etsy, don't miss that inspiring shop as well: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/BelindaMarshallArt

You can see more of Belinda's kits on Instagram: @belindamarshallembroideryworks.

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

July 11, 2017

Stitchy Snippets- Unusual Suspects

Embroidered animals by Coral and Tusk, featured by Julia Titchfield on Feeling Stitchy

Check out these charming, embroidered pins by Coral and Tusk! These Merit Badges really appeal to my inner child. They certainly deliver cheer on those rainy days with an array of lovely characters and designs. Which one do you like?

Merit badges by Coral and Tusk, featured by Julia Titchfield on Feeling Stitchy
Pin by Coral and Tusk, featured by Julia Titchfield on Feeling Stitchy
Pin by Coral and Tusk, featured by Julia Titchfield on Feeling Stitchy

Inspired by a love of animals and adventure, Coral and Tusk design a broad range of embroidered home textiles and gifts including endearing, animal pocket dolls!

Embroidered animals by Coral and Tusk, featured by Julia Titchfield on Feeling Stitchy

July 5, 2017

Wonderful Wednesday #41: Quarter Inch Mark

Wonderful Wednesday 41 - Quarter Inch Mark Shop, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

How lovely is this Forest Hill Embroidery Pattern in the Quarter Inch Mark shop on Etsy? I love the attention to detail and the lovely colors that have been used to create this pattern!

Look at the beautiful whitework embroidery on this knit bag, a pattern which is also included:
Forest Hill Embroidery pattern by Quarter Inch Mark shop, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

If you'd like to learn more about this pattern - visit this blog post by their creator, Chase: http://quarterinchmark.blogspot.com/2017/05/forest-hill-embroidery-pattern-knit-bag.html

For more on Chase, visit -
Instagram: @quarterinchmark (https://www.instagram.com/quarterinchmark/)
Twitter: @quarterinchmark (https://twitter.com/quarterinchmark)
http://quarterinchmark.blogspot.com/

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

July 4, 2017

Twitter Tuesday #4: Sparkly Mouse

Twitter Tuesday 4 - Sparkly Mouse, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

Sparkly Mouse is the handle of Louise Marie Jones, who has an Etsy shop of the same name (https://www.etsy.com/shop/sparklymouse) selling embroidered wares.

I first found Louise on Twitter via her the Old Bag Project (#theoldbagproject) which features photos of tons of cute hand-embroidered designs on an old backpack:

The Old Bag Project by Sparkly Mouse, a Feeling Stitchy feature by floresita

If you'd like to see more of what Louise is up to, be sure to follow her on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sparklymouse

Louise is also on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparklymouse/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sparklymouse

Would you like to be featured in our Twitter Tuesday series? You don't have to be an Etsy seller, just someone who enjoys embroidering is fine, too!

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/feelingstitchy and tag your embroidery pictures with #embroidery or #feelingstitchy so we can find you!

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

July 1, 2017

Review: Colour Confident Stitching by Karen Barbé

Colour Confident Stitching by Karen Barbe - a book review by floresita for Feeling Stitchy

It is a pleasure to review this fabulous new book, Colour Confident Stitching: How to Create Beautiful Colour Palettes by textile artist Karen Barbé. If you are at all curious about expanding your use of color and texture in your embroidery, this is the book for you!

Just so you know, the book link above is an Amazon Affiliate link - clicking through the link and buying is one way to support our volunteer reviews - we use funds in our Amazon account for new giveaways and reviews.

When I received this book from the publisher I was in the middle of planning some of my own projects, and I found reading this book and taking in the way Karen approaches color to be very inspiring. I had already started making little color cards of my own to keep track of my embroidery threads from project to project - Karen's approach of lining up colors as inspiration before you begin stitching is marvelous, too!

I find Karen's stitching within the book very inspiring - I am reminded of the loveliness of designers like Yumiko Higuchi, Irona Happa, and one of my favorite embroidery books ever, Handbook of Lettering for Stitchers by Elsie Svennas (read a wonderful overview of it on Pintangle).

Color Theory - The majority of the book is about color theory - and I love the way Karen writes about color. Her analysis of different color palettes, and how to develop them, is very inspiring. In particular, I love that she talks about how having a different color background can change the entire mood of the piece.

Color Palettes - I really enjoyed this section - there are 9 example color palettes drawn from a variety of different sources - fabric, collections, images, home, and places, just to name a few. They are all quite beautiful and could be a wonderful springboard for anyone who is intimidated by choosing a palette of colors for a new project.

Colour Confident Stitching by Karen Barbe - a book review by floresita for Feeling Stitchy

Patterns - there are 5 projects in this book, so it is light on patterns. But I will say the patterns are versatile and they inspire you to think deeply about color.

Here are the patterns included and the stitch you will learn / practice with it:
  • Sleeping Mask: Laid stitch, couched cross stitch, sewing, embroidery floss
  • Embellished Knitted Sleeves: Duplicate stitch, crewel or tapestry wool
  • Tea Towel with Woven Patches: Weave stitch, pearl cotton
  • Framed Embroidery: Chain stitch, satin stitch, embroidery floss
  • Cross Stitch Tea Party: Cross stitch on cardboard, embroidery floss

My favorite project was the framed embroidery, because it included 2 types of stitching I've been wanting to practice: densely packed chain stitches as outlines and geometric satin stitches.

Colour Confident Stitching by Karen Barbe - a book review by floresita for Feeling Stitchy

Following along with the pattern was tricky for me since the pattern is quite small and thus requires for absolute precision in drawing and stitching.

Colour Confident Stitching by Karen Barbe - a book review by floresita for Feeling Stitchy

Beginners, take note that you will feel less frustration if you enlarge the pattern on a copier and practice the intricate chain stitch. Tiny details are key in this project.

I broke up the large design into two parts, first a few chain-stitched motifs:

Colour Confident Stitching a book review by floresita for Feeling Stitchy

I would have loved to have a larger image of the stitching so I could decide how to tackle the project.

Second, I tried the satin-stitched circle, and practiced making woven patches:
Book review on Feeling Stitchy: Colour Confident Stitching by Karen Barbe

My satin stitching is very far from perfect - but this small project was a great way to practice it! I used 4 strands of floss for the woven patches. You can see more of my process photos on my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nyfloresita/)

One of my takeaways after reading through this book and trying out the projects is just how detailed, meditative, and slow Karen's creative process is - it makes sense that she is a textile artist, because you can see how she is willing to take a time-consuming task and make it into an art piece.

Crafters who would love to add new stitches to their repertoire, learn to think about color in a new way, and appreciate detailed patterns and projects will love this book.

I highly recommend this book for all levels of stitchers, with a caveat for beginners - the stitches and processes in this book are not simple, but if you approach your work slowly and meditatively, you will be rewarded for your time.

To see more of the inside of this glorious book - visit Karen's blog for some lovely images:
http://www.karenbarbe.com/blog/colour-confident-stitching-book-is-here/

I also highly recommend a visit to Karen's blog - I spent hours happily scrolling through her gorgeous posts: http://www.karenbarbe.com/blog/. You can also find Karen on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/karenbarbe/

Hi, I'm floresita, editor of Feeling Stitchy. I'm an avid stitcher, knitter, and crafter. You can see more of my stitching on Instagram and my blog. My vintage transfer collection is on Vintage Transfer Finds.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for the blog!

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