There's a new use for the transfers you may not have tried yet, and I don't just mean stitching on paper. You can stamp the patterns directly on the paper! And, you can WIN THIS JOURNAL (shown above) I stitched up. Check it out!

PROJECT: Embroidered End-Papers

 

Last night, I was browsing books in a shop, and I picked up a copy of a solemn-looking little tome called The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior. Of course, my fingers opened it, without leafing first, right smack to the entry "Embroidery" (why does this always happen to me?). I read the entry with great fascination, amusement and a little bit of shock (it was first published in 1954, after all). Quoth Monsieur Dior:

Embroidery

One of the most beautiful things done by the hand of woman. But one of the most dangerous to use with elegance. I don't like embroidery on day clothes-unless it is very, very simple.

If used discreetly it is good for cocktail dresses and in a more elaborate fashion it is wonderful for evening clothes. For a dinner party a short embroidered dress may be very nice, but you must only wear embroidery on suitable occasions, otherwise it is pretentious.

-Christian Dior, from The Little Dictionary of Fashion (HNA Books)

Well! What do you think of that? Embroidery "dangerous"? "Pretentious"? I love that it inspires such extreme concerns! I can't help it. >Devilish grin< I think I'm going to have a leetle bit of fun with this quote. Ahem:

Embroidery re-visited (with all due respect and apologies to M. Dior)

One of the most beautiful things done by the hand of man, woman or child. Plain or elaborate, embroidery is always a symbol of elegance. I love insane embroidery on everything, everywhere, any time day or night, for any occasion. The simpler, the sweeter. The crazier, the better. J'adore embroidery! Gimme more embroidery! There is never a wrong time to be embroidered.

How's that? Better? I think so!

 

 

 

 

 

Evelin Kasikov was invited as part of a group of artists to "have some graphic fun" for a project to support the St. Bride Library in London, and she was inspired to stitch on the cards. I love the colors she chose and the way her cross-stitches run over one another.

Link

Inspired? Well, let's do something with that inspiration!
Howsabout: Sublime Stitching Stitchable Stationery

 

 

 

 

Now this is a bag that will get people interested in embroidery. Or, get people interested in watching you do the stitching! I mean, Doe-c-doe's tote design definitely grabbed my attention.

Link

 

 

Just look at what Sublime Stitcher friend Amanda Panda Pants has been working on! I absolutely love this Shiva. The colors are candy-like and gorgeous. 

Link (I also blogged this on Feeling Stitchy)

Inspired? Well, you might just want you some Om Sweet Om patterns, then!

 

 

This was a wonderful surprise to my week. Look at what Veroka in Argentina made from the Free Kokeshi pattern I put on Flickr! She made a really beautiful rubber stamp from it. Looks like a Japanese woodcut. I love how she hand-embellished the kimono with flowers. *Deep satisfied, happy sigh*. Link

 

 

I also want to blab excitedly about the addition of Carson Ellis to the Artist Series! Carson's work is recognizable to any fan of The Decemberists, who asked me to create custom patterns and kits for them to sell exclusively on tour a few years ago. Demand was so high to bring those designs back, we asked Carson if she'd like to bring those designs our stitchers! She said yes, thank goodness. Be sure to visit Carson's website.

Also, this lovely example was stitched up by our helper stitcher, Amy Bindel of Early Bird Special and she posted some pretty detail photos on her blog!

I am geekily proud and very excited to introduce Jim Woodring as one of the two newest additions to the Sublime Stitching Artist Series! Read about Jim's work and let out your inner comic nerd. Even if you're not familiar with Jim's work, I bet the dreamy, candy-colored imagery will find it's way to your stitches.... Jim Woodring Embroidery Patterns

 This entry was originally written by Jenny for WhipUp.net

Richard Saja

Man-broidery. Boy-broidery. Guy-stitching. Bro-broidery. Whatever you call it, guys are (and always have been) doing it. You know, embroidering! Wielding the needle! Marking the muslin! Poking the pillowcase! Splitting the stitch! Which is fantastically awesome. I say: there needs to be more men embroidering. And it seems that there are.

After all, needlework tends to be seen as belonging to the ‘gentler arts’ related to home and fashion, executed by women in a domestic setting. And, no matter how spectacular the results, no matter how many hours of patience and work, it seems to be appreciated by the few. Until men do it! Then we’re extra happy about it. And that’s okay, because traditionally in this country, men are not found quietly working over their hoops.

One of the best-known, living legends of embroidery is Monsieur François LeSage, whose work has playfully and beautifully adorned haute couture for decades. LeSage still presides today over Ecole LeSage in Paris where anyone (for a price) can enroll and learn some of the finest techniques of embroidery.

But don’t take my word for it, men are stitching it for themselves and here are some fine examples of men-who-stitch:

Ray Materson

 

Marc Dombrosky

 

Christopher Niver

 

Kent Henricksen

 

Michael Aaron McAllister

 

Takashi Iwasaki

 

 

 

This entry was originally written by Jenny for WhipUp.net

 

Join me and friends from the Austin craft community at the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) for a Sublime Stitching evening of "CommuniCrafting" (and cupcakes). We invited local teachers and designers to be on hand to let you jump in and try your hand at sewing, knitting, embroidery and more! I will also be there introducing my latest releases from independent publisher Chronicle Books in the AMOA bookstore. Craft lessons from: Rachel Hobson of Craft: & Average Jane Crafter, Leslie Bonnell of Stitch Lab, Kathie Sever of Ramonster and Austin Fiber Artists. Yay! Some of our favorite people.