Voilà -bumper stickers so zee whole world will know what a needle nerd you are! Hey, I don't judge. I have wanted to make these silly stickers forever. Want one? They're free with any order of $30 or more (not including shipping). And you're in luck! If you're wondering what  $30 will get you you'll want to know about ch-ch-changes coming...

>Looking around and talking out of the side of my mouth< Soon, we will be launching a new website (less than two weeks). I am super, duper, uper excited about it. While you don't yet know all the changes that will take place I'll just say: you should get excited now. I don't usually blab about such things until they're finished, but I thought you'd want to know that the Ultimate Embroidery Kit will no longer be available with every single combination of patterns / textile / floss palette. It will be the same kit, and still be customizable -just not with quiiite as many choices. Why not? Oh, it has to do with coding limitations and infinite permutations of skus and zzzzz. The kit isn't going away! Are you crazy? Not at all -just if you want an Ultimate Embroidery Kit with your very own custom choice of pattern, textile and floss -get one now. And get a bumper sticker in the process. Mais oui mes chéris!

Wanna know why your order reaches you so fast? This gal. I've been noticing more and more customer comments like "Dang, do you teleport these deliveries?!" and "Wow, you guys have crazy fast shipping! I don't even get stuff from major online stores this fast!". Meet your Sublime Stitching Shipping Goddess, Stephanie. Hewwo!

Stephanie came along last summer during the move and made my life soooo much easier. I'm really grateful to have her around, always cheerful, always on top of it, always listening to death metal. Or Leonard Cohen. Or "Take the Skinheads Bowling" like she is right now. She's also an embroiderer and has been a long-time Sublime Stitcher (not required for the job, but considered a bonus)! When I asked if I could take her picture for the site, she showed up wearing this shirt she stitched up with the Michael Sieben patterns! Black on pink and white checks. She is one of us, people. (I asked her if she wanted to do a mini interview for this she just got kinda bashful and said "Oh, you can just write something.") Done!

A treasure trove of Needlecraft covers! A few weeks ago, I received an incredibly kind note from Carolyn Agner about my interest in Georgiana Brown Harbeson's work. She had come across a stack of vintage Needlecraft magazines in an antique shop -all with covers by Harbeson. She so kindly scanned them all for me to see and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing the link with you!

Thank you, Carolyn!

Previously: Georgiana Brown Harbeson - Needle Painting on Stitch Island 

Bummed that you missed the pattern sale? Don't cry little stitcher- console yourself with a shiny new tool case! (I say it's okay.) Yes! These have magnets inside just like the dotted ones and will fit a pair of embroidery scissors. "Limited supply" is no lie. I have been warned that I won't be able to get more of these (especially the silver ones), so get 'em while I got 'em! I don't want you to miss out a second time. That would bum me out.

Tool Case - Blue Jewels // Tool Case - Silver Checks

My inner 10-year old is alive and well. I just had to take the Made With Love Japanese labels and run them through about a million instagram filters, including some Japanese ones. Then, just add some hearts >tap< some more hearts >tap tap< and a bow. With stripes. >tap<

What?

Flipping through my photos on instagram this morning, this lovely one from user ooztas popped up like a sunrise of embroidery floss. Hello!

It only comes buy twice a year, dears! My humongo, ginormo...

Remember her? She's back now. She'll be glad to see you...

PDF Pattern // Sad Valentine

Yesterday I posted about miniature, embroidered shrines and one had some funny-looking French knots. I promised to tell you how they were made, and I am keeping that promise. It's not hard at all. In fact, it's so easy, this tute only has two images. First, you need to know how to work a French knot.

Good with that? Right on. Okay: to make a pistil stitch, all you do is enter (return) your needle at a longer distance away from the exit point when completing the French knot. (As I'm doing in the photo above.)

Um, that's it. 

Now, start firing yer pistils!

image via Ask Sister Mary Martha

Not having been raised Catholic, I only recently discovered these traditional miniature shrines called "détentes" ("relaxation" or "release" in French). Pockets shrines, hand-held objects of devotion with extremely delicate embroidery in gold and silver threads. They are like tiny jewels.

image via Altar Ardor

Would you like to know how the long French knots extending fromt the heart were made? I can show you!

First, you'll need to know how to work a French knot, so get good at that and check back next entry for the trick! (Hint: it's not just an extra stitch, but it's almost as easy as that.)

Check back for the tute!

x - x - x - x

Related: My Love Is True PDF pattern (registered stitchers)