Archives for May 2022

Hello Stitchers.

Today, I am a day late.  Inspirations, All Stitched Up! is a newsletter, as distinct to their Magazine, is published every Friday.  This makes it always current.  This week, among many items, are frogs playing musical instruments, making and decorating lampshades, a stitching of a large fossil stitchasaurous in a wonderful textured green background and the usual sweetness of items for children.

And that is just the tip of the stitching iceberg.

Inspirations publishes items sent in for sharing. Their phography is excellent.  Embroiderers are a world wide community with many different ideas and abilities. I always find something of interest to see in this weekly email publication.  Today, the musical trio of frogs was it, especially the one playing the banjo. (or was that a different instrument.)

There is a new book publication. Bonnie the Cow and Friends by

Claire Gelder

Inspirations are a source for Kits and fabrics as well.  Australia has many Embroidery Guilds and a lot of very active members.  There is lots of activities going now leading into their winter months.

Inspirations Newsletter <news@inspirationsstudios.com>

Published by ZINIO App

Dr Jessica Grimm <info@jessicagrimm.com>

Please contact her via her email and say Hello from me.

Last Monday was embarressing for me.  Despite my saying that Jessica Grimm publishes every Monday without fail, she did mot publish last Monday.  So be it, she is/was somewhere other that at home.  Her website is always interesting and it gives us a peek into the life of a classical stitcher.

You have two totally different publications to peruse.  They both feature stitching that is totally different to each other  They both publish weekly; one on a Monday and the other, from the opposite side of the world, on a Friday.

Enjoy the weekend.  It is a long weekend in Canada when we celebrate Queen Victoria’s Birthday.  As many people as can, go to their cottage. They reinstall their water supply and electricity, clean up the cobwebs and dust, launch their boats, have a celebratory barbecue and drink beer.

Summer has begun.  Makes a nice change from winter.

Just as regular as Monday happening at the beginning of every week, it’s impact is softened by the arrival of the Newsletter by Dr Jessica Grimm.  She is based in southern Germany, I think, and lives a very different life with resources that are different to ours.  This is a neat portrait of her

Jessica specializes in Medieval Gold Work.  She researches, uses genuine designs, works out the methodology and has produced many beautiful pieces you would not see unless you visited special collections the way she does.  She teaches in class and online.  She also stocks and sells specialist gold thread and many other threads.  Jessica is a great resource and on this Monday in May, I wanted you to know about her.

Dr Jessica Grimm <info@jessicagrimm.com>

Please contact her via her email and say Hello from me.

My computer is being ornery and will not put the pictures where I want them!

Mary Corbet of Needle’nThread runs a great website that includes videos on how to do stitches, reviews of books, equipment, lighting and stitching products.  She will start a large and glamorous project and you can stitch along with her.  She is starting a new one right now.

The project is a tool holder for stitching tools,  So far, she has prepared the fabric and sewn on some beads.  She has kits available from her website.  But, even if you do not wish to make a tool holder, you can stitch along at home on your own fabric and learn all sorts of information and techniques that will be in your knowledge basket forever.  Mary is an excellent and thorough teacher.  Her writing style is clear and complete.  If you are a beginning stitcher or someone who would like to add to their knowledge base, Mary is a good resource.  You will find a lot of interest on her website.  I watch it regularly and always find it interesting.

This is her last project.  A Bee-Jewelled Pin cushion.

Enjoy browsing her website and stitching along with her.

https://www.needlenthread.com

My last letter to you did not transmit properly.  The lovely site from Hand and Lock went into the draft as usual but did not transmit from there to you.

Frustrating for all of us.

They are a company of gifted professional embroiderers who do remarkable work.  It is always a pleasure to see what they are creating and what they publish.

You can make better contact with them at the links below.

https://handembroidery.com

Hand & Lock
86, Margaret Street,
London, W1W 8TE
TEL: 0207 580 7488

Get in touch

Founded in 1767, Hand and Lock specializes in creating for the luxury fashion houses, Saville Row tailors and European Royalty.

A feast for your eyes.  I do hope that you will be able to attend.

LONDON CRAFT WEEK 9 – 15 May 2022 Once again, Britain’s oldest embroidery house will open its doors to provide a glimpse into the history of embroidery as well as host a Goldwork Taster class, working with precious metal bullions. Since 1767, producing breathtaking embroideries for luxury fashion houses, Savile Row tailors, and European royalty. As the esteemed holders of the Royal Warrant combine ancient embroidery skills with modern design, we continue to champion hand embroidery while embracing modern digital machine embroidery. EVENT DETAIL  Guided Tour9 May 2022 – 13 May 2022, 11:30 – 13:00 14 May 2022, 12:00 – 13:30 Open house   :00 – 17:00 12 May 2022, 14:00 – 17:00 Guests are free to talk to their expert staff about the long history of the company and the many famous projects they have worked on for celebrities and the royal family. Visitors can also enjoy examples of ancient and modern embroidery. Rarely seen items from Hand & Lock’s 250-year-old archive are displayed alongside contemporary award-winning embroidered garments and works of art from the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery. London Craft Week Guided Tour Our expert guided tours get you exclusive access to parts of the studio that are not open to the public. During the tour you will be guided around the newly refurbished studio, learning about the history of Hand & Lock and the ancient techniques we still use today. You will see key pieces held in our on-site archive as well as seeing live embroidery demonstrations. Book Your Tour » Goldwork Taster Class EVENT DETAILS  Guided Tour 9 May 2022 – 13 May 2022, 11:30 – 13:00 14 May 2022, 12:00 – 13:30 Open house 9 May 2022 – 14 May 2022, 10:00 – 16:00 15 May 2022, 11:00 – 16:00 Goldwork Taster Class Workshop 10 May 2022, 14:00 – 17:00 12 May 2022, 14:00 – 17:00 Hand & Lock, Goldwork specialists since 1767, bring you a taster class for complete beginners, providing an insight into the possibilities of working with gold metal bullions. Goldwork is the art of embroidery using metal threads. Historically associated with ceremonial and military uniform the technique is now also popular in customisation, couture and interior design. Using threads that are imitation gold, silver, copper, or coloured allows embroiderers to create metallic surface designs that reflect light and create dazzling effects. In this special 3 hour class, during London Craft Week, you will learn the basic stitches involved in goldwork. I have tried to copy the information from Hand and Lock accurately but computers can create problems.   Please phone or email them for information and for booking a tour or class.  Enjoy. handembroidery.us16.list-manage.com/…/click CLICK HERE FOR MORE

SNAD.  If you have not already heard of SNAD, you are now formally introduced.

Founded about 10 or more years ago by graduates from RSN, it is taking on a life and purpose of its own.  Recently moved to new accommodation, its program now features embroidery courses on site but also, on line.  In the interest of us all becoming motivated to stitch again after the gap caused by Covid19, I thought that you should know about SNAD.  This may not apply to you, the reader,  but I think it may be appropriate for some members of the embroidery community, including myself.  It has been a long and boring intermission in our lives but we are now ready to stitch again and a brand new project is always exciting.

These are just two of the several On Line Courses ad there are more  on their Marvellous May Newsletters. They have an excellent Library, are a resource for teachers and supplies plus lots of enthusiasm.  Enjoy browsing and I hope you find a course that will interest you.

San Francisco School of Needlework & Design <info@sfsnad.org>