Stitched Textiles: Animals Review & GIVEAWAY

New 6th title in popular textile series just released - Stitched Textiles: Animals by Mrs Bertimus! From inspiration to final design the UK artist shows how she creates her wonderful animal-themed stitched textiles using freestyle machine embroidery and a little bit of hand stitching. She says the thread becomes the pencil and the fabric becomes the paint. Her book is divided into 5 main parts - Where to start, Composition, Going further, Telling a story and Projects. It's packed with insight into her creative process - from the materials she uses to step-by-step demonstrations of a whole range of techniques. There are 3 stitched textile projects - Sausage Dog, Midnight Fox and Acrobat Mouse. Templates are included. Delightful examples of the author's work are featured throughout. As well as machine embroidery you'll find collage, printing, drawing and some of the authors stories plus the methods she used in the work. An amended table of contents is shown below. I have individually listed every topic. You won't find this anywhere else. Publisher Search Press released the 128 page paperback on May 28, 2021. Get your copy below!

CONTENTS

Introduction

Materials

Fabrics, Embroidery, Art

Where to start 

Core techniques

Inspiration

Engaging with your subject

Choosing colors: my palette

Making your drawing

Tonal value maps

Fabric collage

Freestyle machine embroidery

Sheep skull

Composition

It's all about balance

Orientation - the horizontal and the vertical

Composing: Whitby Sheep

Identifying tones

Planning the stitches

Composition challenges

Refining the fabric collage

Letting the character emerge

Backgrounds

Composition of the fabric collage

Composing with sticky notes

Into abstraction

Going further

Advanced techniques

Paper collage

Paper and stitch

Gel-plate printing

Using gel-plate printing alongside other techniques

Making your own printing plates

Printing fabrics

Using the printed fabrics

Masks and stencils

Layering prints and combining techniques

Reserving areas

Creating texture

Telling a story

Starting points

Stories, sketches and photographs

Acrobat Mice

Story and colour

Story and style: old photographs

Sausage Dog

Step-by-step project

Midnight Fox

Step-by-step project

Acrobat Mouse

Step-by-step project

Afterword

Templates

Index

Sausage Dog - Project #1.

Midnight Fox  - Project #2.

Acrobat Mouse - Project #3.

This layout is from the chapter on composition. It's a look at backgrounds. If you read the text under the images then look closely at the image you'll be able to see exactly what Mrs. Bertimus means.

Sticky notes technique.

Freestyle machine embroidery technique.

Charming examples of Mrs Bertimus's work.

Owl

Queen of Sheba

Minuet and Mouse in a Spotty Teacup. 

How to set up your machine for freestyle machine embroidery, page 24.

Party Lurcher from page 43.

Stitched Textiles: Animals ISBN-13 : 978-1782218227 is available worldwide at Search Press. Search Press is an independent, multi award-winning, family owned art and craft book publisher. Check out their unique catalog at Search Press. Search Press has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until July 6, 2021. Canada & USA only. Good luck!

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Lace Reimagined Review

Interested in lace? Lace Reimagined by Elizabeth Healey features 30 Inspiring Projects for Making and Using Lace Creatively. Her new book is divided into 3 main parts - The Basics, Found & Made and Reimagined. The Basics looks at lace-making techniques including bobbin lace, tatting and needle lace stitches. It also includes how to assemble a basic sewing kit. In Found & Made try out the skills you learned from the first section and acquire others in a range of lace projects. If you like lace but don't want to make it, there are projects for using lace you may have saved, vintage or store bought. Reimagined explores the use of non-traditional media like - metal, paper and concrete lace projects. The complete table of contents listed below. While I didn't try any of the techniques or projects, they are meticulously laid out with clearly illustrated, step-by-step instructions that include large color photos and diagrams. Dotted throughout are lace anecdotes, quotes and tips. Will give you the confidence to work with lace. Search Press released this 128 page paperback on October 27, 2020. It is also available in e-book format. Get your copy below!

Table of Contents

Introduction

THE BASICS

A basic sewing kit

Tools for making lace grounds

Bobbin lace basics

Preparing bobbins

Cross and twist braid

Cloth stitch

Whole stitch lace

Double whole stitch lace

Tatting basics

How to hold the needle

Making a double stitch

Picots

Rings

Chains

Joining picots

Joining in new threads

Split rings

Net darning

Embroidery basics

Needle lace stitches

Drawn and pulled stitches

Freestyle embroidery

FOUND & MADE

Something old, something new

Visible mending

Fish motif

Little green fingers

Peggy-Sue

Shirtwaist buttons

On the button

Teneriffe lace

Wall hanging

Torchon headband

Tatiana

Floating cloud

Fairy wings

REIMAGINED

Paper lace bowl

Low-sew lace bowls

Gold leaves

Moths to a flame

Twisted lace

Shadow boxers

Shadow play

Red queen

Skeleton leaf fan

Lace impressions

Sailor boy

Printed ephemera

Templates

Further reading

Back cover.

Shirtwaist buttons.

Torchon headband.

Red queen.

Printed ephemera.

She's Tatiana - from page 72. A wonderful way to use up tiny pieces of lace. Photo I took of my copy.

Lace Reimagined ISBN-13 : 978-1782217428 is available worldwide at Search Press. Search Press is an independent, multi award-winning, family owned art and craft book publisher. Check out their unique catalog at Search Press.

Elizabeth Healey's highly rated first book Stitch, Fabric & Thread.

Sewing Animal Dolls Review & GIVEAWAY

Sew some new friends with Sewing Animal Dolls: Heirloom patterns to make for Daisy and her friends by Tina O'Rourke. Meet and learn how to make Daisy Dog and her best friends Mimi Puppy, Rosie Rabbit and Ben and Betty Bear. These beloved animal characters like to play dress up, have fun sleepovers and take magical weekend walks. They have their own clothing - basic outfits, fairy dress up costumes (completely hand-sewn) and pajamas. An array of accessories like hats, scarves, bags, slippers and more, complement each dolls look. There are patterns for making the dolls as well as their clothing and accessories. All pattern pieces are full size and include a 1/2 cm seam allowance. Standard information on pattern level (advanced beginner to intermediate), finished size, materials, hand sewing stitches used and cutting out the pattern are included. These are followed by step-by-step sewing instructions - both photo and text. Tutorials demonstrate finishing touches like basic crochet, hand stitching (whip stitch applique, whip, ladder, running, tacking, daisy, satin, back and blanket stitches) how to sew on a button and snap fastener. This beautiful collection of handmade dolls is sure to be cherished for years to come! Casemate IPM released this 128 page paperback on June 24, 2020. It is also available in e-book format. Get your copy below! 

contents

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE - THE BASICS

Materials

Essential tools & equipment

Hints & Tips

CHAPTER TWO

Daisy Dog & Mimi Puppy

CHAPTER THREE

Rosie Rabbit

CHAPTER FOUR

Ben and Betty Bear

CHAPTER FIVE

Fairy Dress-up

CHAPTER SIX

Sleepover

CHAPTER SEVEN - TUTORIALS

Crochet Stitches

Sample Stitches

FULL SIZE PATTERNS

Daisy Dog, Mimi Puppy, Rosie Rabbit, Ben and Betty Bear Pattern Templates

About the author

Daisy Dog and Mimi Puppy

Rosie Rabbit

Twins Betty and Ben Bear

There's even a very simple pattern for a mini teddy that can be sewn for each doll. 

Sewing Animal Dolls is available in Canada and the USA at Casemate IPM and in the UK and Europe at Pen and Sword Books. It is published by White Owl an imprint of Pen & Sword Books, a publisher based in the UK. Casemate IPM has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until October 5, 2020. Canada & USA only. Good luck!

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Seasonal Plant Dyes Review & GIVEAWAY

Learn how easy it is to make color from plants with Seasonal Plant Dyes by Alicia Hall. In her gorgeous debut book the English plant dyer and owner of Botanical Threads shares her passion for dyeing. It's a general guide to the process of plant dyeing and contains dye recipes for 19 botanical specimens such as herbs, flowers, roots, leaves, berries and cones, etc. Learn about harvesting plants, choosing fabrics, tools, soya milk, dyeing basics and modifiers as they relate to plant dyeing. Almost all of the recipes are straightforward and uncomplicated. They are organized seasonally and contain short sections on color, what you need, making the dye and dyeing the fabric. Along side each recipe is very useful plant information. No expensive equipment is required - you just need a few old pots and pans, wooden spoons, a sieve/colander and a place to forage. Four projects are included - a linen cushion cover, embroidered picnic blanket, hot water bottle cozy and quilt. The complete table of contents is listed below. It's everything you need to know to start making colorful and environmentally friendly plant dyes at home! Also check out Alicia's inspiring web-site. You'll find the special recipe for soya milk she uses as an alternative to harmful chemicals. Casemate IPM released this 104 page paperback on May 27, 2020. It is also available in e-book format. Get your copy below!

contents 

INTRODUCTION 

CHAPTER ONE 

Harvesting Plants

CHAPTER TWO 

Choosing Fabrics 

CHAPTER THREE 

Tools 

CHAPTER FOUR 

Soya Milk 

CHAPTER FIVE 

Dyeing Basics 

CHAPTER SIX 

Modifiers 

CHAPTER SEVEN 

SPRING 

Mint leaves 

Madder roots

Bay leaves

Nettle tops

Forsythia flowers

Spring Project

Linen Cushion Cover 

CHAPTER EIGHT

SUMMER

Buddleja flowers

Lavender leaves

Woad leaves

St John's wort flowers

Summer Project

Embroidered Picnic Blanket

CHAPTER NINE

AUTUMN

Dahlia flowers

Walnut shells

Elderberries

Dyers chamomile flowers

Yarrow flowers

Autumn Project

Hot Water Bottle Cozy

CHAPTER TEN 

WINTER

Rosemary leaves

Ivy leaves

Eucalyptus leaves

Alder cones

Dyers alkanet roots

Winter Project

Patchwork quilt

chapter one: harvesting plants, pages 12/13

chapter one: harvesting plants, pages 16/17

chapter two: choosing fabrics, pages 24/25

chapter three: tools, pages 26/27

 

A botanically dyed rainbow from Alicia 's Instagram feed.

My copy of the book open to page 41 - the mint leaf dye recipe. Beside it a bowl of freshly picked chocolate and apple mint I have growing in abundance.

Seasonal Plant Dyes is available in Canada and the USA at Casemate IPM and in the UK and Europe at Pen and Sword Books. It is published by White Owl an imprint of Pen & Sword Books, a publisher based in the UK. Casemate IPM has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until August 23, 2020. Canada & USA only. Good luck!

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nugoo, Japan Cherry Blossom Tenugui Review & GIVEAWAY

Cherry blossom season is coming! In Japan, the arrival of cherry blossoms, known as sakura, signals the beginning of spring. Widely celebrated in Japanese culture because of their ephemeral beauty these pretty pink flowers blanket the country from south to north. The blossoming of sakura is truly a spectacular sight and viewing parties called hanami are very popular. nugoo captures the allure of the sakura in their gorgeous cherry blossom tenugui collection. This multi-purpose cotton towel has so many practical everyday uses such as wiping, wearing, wrapping and can even be hung as wall art! Tenugui are made of 100% cotton and measure approximately 32 x 92 cm (12.6 x 36.2 inches). nugoo specializes in authentic tenugui hand dyed by skilled craftsmen using the chusen method - making them highly desirable. Get yours below! Buy 5 tenugui and receive one from their cherry blossom collection.

 

Tenugui from nugoo's Cherry Blossom Collection. The blossoms & bird and shining blossoms tenugui. Photo credit Ohira-san, owner of nugoo.

nugoo's weeping cherry, blossom walkway and shining blossoms tenugui.

Wrap a tenugui around your favorite things (like soap, candles, flowers or foodie items) to create a unique gift. The tenugui becomes a special part of the gift. Shown above is the weeping cherry tenugui paired with a lavender soap I love.

Win this gorgeous pair of tenugui (blossoms & bird and weeping cherry) from nugoo. Both are shown in full above, draped on cherry tree branches.

nugoo Japan's on-line products include - tenugui, bento® lunch wraps, square cloth scarves, tea, accessories and greeting cards. Their online shop is in English, with prices in US dollars and worldwide shipping. nugoo has generously offered to giveaway a pair of tenugui! One winner will be selected at random. Open until March 22, 2020. Canada & the US only. Good luck!

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nugoo's Christmas Tenugui Review

Christmas in a small town

Looking for an alternative to disposable gift wrap? nugoo has some beautiful Christmas tenugui - the original reusable fabric wrap! Why buy any cloth wrap when you can have authentic tenugui made in Japan by skilled craftsmen using the prized chusen method. nugoo's online shop has over 300 designs suitable for a variety of tastes. Their classic and contemporary designs reflect both the change of seasons and holidays. Tenugui may be used to wrap anything from books to bottles, even plants! They add a special touch to any gift, require no scissors or tape and are great for unusual shapes. Just wrap and knot. Recipients can then re-use their tenugui in an infinite number of ways. Tenugui are made of lightweight 100% cotton and measure about 32 x 92 cm (1 x 3 feet). Wrap your gifts in tenugui this holiday season and beyond! It's a stylish alternative perfect for all occasions. The designs in the post are exclusive to nugoo. Tenugui retail starting at USD$10.80 or CAD$15 each. Free STANDARD or EXPRESS shipping for all orders over $100 USD with coupon code: FREESHIPNOV. This offer closes on Friday, December 6th. Get yours below!

Photos (above and below) of my Christmas tenugui spread out on the dining room table and on top of a piece of denim fabric. I love the vivid colors and detailed design. Note that the sides of tenugui are selvage, while the top and bottom edges are cut. This allows for a fringe to develop with use.

Busy, busy Santa Claus

Uroko (green)

Santa Claus and reindeer

nugoo Japan's on-line products include - tenugui, bento® lunch wraps, square cloth scarves, tea, accessories and greeting cards. Their online shop is in English, with prices in US dollars and worldwide shipping. You may also check prices in 14 different currencies including the Canadian dollar, British pound and Euro. Founded in 2006 nugoo also has five retail stores and a cafe in and around Tokyo.

nugoo has assembled some of their favorite things into a variety of deluxe Christmas gift sets. For unique, high quality gifts click here to open!