I thought since it was my 6 years and one month mark I would release a treat for my readers. That is right, if you check the archives I have been sitting at my key board happily tapping away, most days for 6 years! It does not feel that long but here is the traditional link to my first ever post. I guess I am no longer a baby blogger…

A free gift … 

I have put together a free stitch guide! 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners is the 12 basic stitches that new hands to surface embroidery need to know. These same stitches, are also the basic stitches that crazy quilters use and build on. So anyone new to crazy quilting should find the file handy too.

I have edited down the instructions so that the stitches fit 2 to a page. This means a small print out which is easy to carry around or keep with you.

I have also taught all these stitches to children. So if ever you need to organise an activity for children you might find this file handy. So thanks for being a reader, download, stitch and enjoy. 

Note: 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners is a PDF file which means you will need Acrobat Reader to open and read these files. You can download  a free reader on the Acrobat site

What is going on recently …

There are quite a few things cooking at the moment so it is worth doing a bit of a round up. So make a cuppa and if you have not touched base here for a while its worth scanning over what is going on as there is a lot!  

I started a newsletter as too many people who swing by only occasionally emailed me about it. Sharon B's Stitching News is an announcement only newsletter used to let people know about challenges, community events, classes and special bibs and bobs such as when stuff gets given away 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners.

 An Adventure in Crazy Quilting - I am teaching there!

The really BIG news is that Maureen Greeson is organising  An Adventure in Crazy Quilting  in Glastonbury, Connecticut, of the United States.  I am teaching there!  People have oodles and oodles of time to save their pennies as it will be in April, 2011 but if you are interested do drop Maureen a line. Other teachers that will be there are Allison Aller and Betty Pillsbury ... this is going to be a really good event. 

At the moment Maureen needs to know who is interested. So contact her if you are thinking of joining us. 

TAST 2

TAST 2 is fast approaching as the first TAST stitch for 2010 will be announced Tuesday March 2nd. There will be a new stitch every week until the end of the year. These stitches are all surface embroidery stitches. To make that clear they are not canvas, evenweave,  pulled or drawn thread stitches. This means many crazy quilters will be interested in these stitches. 

All skill levels are welcome  but I will be working under the assumption that people know at least the basic stitches. Those that did not do TAST 1 check out 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners and the first series of TAST  stitches to get an idea how people explore stitches see the stitchin fingers group and the flickr TAST site 

The fact that I have found enough new stitches to run another challenge like TAST has me quite thrilled. I am sure many will prove to be new and interesting and a little different for people. 

The Challenge:

Each week I will take  a stitch and suggest people experiment with it, push it a little and see what possibilities the stitch holds.

If working a challenge stitch every week scares the daylights out of you. Take a deep breath ...That is OK we understand... Last time some people simply worked the stitches that interested them. From my point of view I am happy to see people stitching and sharing what they learn. So if you want to swing in and out of the challenge as life dictates that is fine.  

How to join:

To sign on leave a comment here with your name, and blog or flickr account.

If you don’t yet have a site to post images to you will need to set up one. You will need at least a flickr account or somewhere to have your images on the web. If you don’t have one go to http://flickr.com and join it is free and not difficult to use. The point is the share what you do so other stitchers can see what you have done. 

The way it will work is when you have experimented with stitch you come back here, and leave a comment to say where you can see what you have done. 

The start date:

Tuesday March 2nd 

Skill level: 

All skill levels are welcome but see what I have said above. 

Spread the Word

If you have a blog, if you enjoyed TAST or simply reading about TAST, spread the word and a list of those who are participating and guidelines page up soon I promise! 

The stitchin fingers community 

First up Stichin fingers grew to a huge online community of fibre folks. As I write we have just over 2,700 members!   If you are a member but only occasionally swing by do take a look as the community is bubbling along and every morning  enjoyable hour coffee cup beside me, browsing the photos. Stay tuned too as I am looking to add a few resources to this site. 

Another freebie from me

My personal mini design challenge this year is to produce a free desktop wallpaper with a calendar each month. You will find a new free desktop wallpaper for February here 

Online classes coming up

I do not quite believe people might have missed this but every time a class starts I get an email from someone saying they did! Classes often run just once in the year so it is worth thinking about them when they do come up. I have two classes currently on offer which you may be interested in. The first is  Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse which will commence on February 24th.

 Sumptuous Surfaces  which will commence on March 11th. If you have not taken an online class before this is how online classes work.

Wipes brow...That is it!

I think that is all … wanders off to make  another cuppa … you can bet I forgot something! 

The detail:

Stitches:

A foundation row of chevron stitch, was worked then further decorated with straight stitches and brass flower beads. 

Thread:

Perle 5 and perle 8 

Placement on block: 

This runs along the side of piece 4 on block 21

The back story:

This seam is a detail on a crazy quilt called “I dropped the Button box”. The article is part of a series documenting all the detail on the quilt blocks. They appear every second day, on this blog.

Information about this series of articles and the quilt can be found here and all articles in the series are categorised under Crazy Quilt details

Links to the crazy quilt blocks covered so far are, block 1,  2,  3,   4,  5,  6 , 7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17 , 18, 19, 20 and 21

Learn a new skill with one of my online classes 

Are you enjoying this series? If so, you might like an online class.  I have two classes currently on offer 

 Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse which will commence on February 24th 

 Sumptuous Surfaces  which will commence on March 11th

If you have not taken an online class before this is how online classes work.

If you want to know when new classes  will run sign up for my newsletter Sharon B's Stitching News 

This is another variation on basic buttonhole stitch which slants.

Fabric and Thread:

The sample is worked on Aida fabric using a hand dyed cotton thread which is about the same weight and thickness as perle 8

Size:

The sampler is 15 cm (6 inches) wide and all sections are stitched together in one long band sampler.

The sampler is currently 44 ft 5 inches or 533 inches (1353.83 centimetres) or 14.8 yards  (13.53 metres) long and still being added to.

Date:

This section of the sampler was finished in December 2005.

The back story:

This series is documenting a long hand embroidered band sampler, which is still growing as I still stitch it. More about the band sampler are in the category For the Love of Stitching band sampler  

Other related posts

Introductory Post - how and why this sampler came to be made 

A few questions answered about fabric choice and width

Extending and backing the sampler

For the Love of Stitching Sampler Sections 1 and 2, 3 and 4, Section 5 ,  Section 6 ,  Section 7 ,  Section 8,  Section 9, Section 10, Section 11  and  Section 12

Learn a new skill with one of my online classes 

Are you enjoying this series? If so, you might like an online class.  I have two classes currently on offer 

 Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse which will commence on February 24th 

 Sumptuous Surfaces  which will commence on March 11th

If you have not taken an online class before this is how online classes work.

If you want to know when new classes  will run sign up for my newsletter Sharon B's Stitching News 

The detail:

Stitches:

This Silk ribbon embroidery floral spray includes  detached chain stitch,  feather stitch,  fly stitch,     French knots,   the rose buds are made using twisted chain stitch, and the roses are made using  woven spiders wheel stitch

Thread:

2mm and 4mm silk ribbon, hand dyed silk and  rayon ribbon floss

Placement on block: 

This spray sits on piece 1 and spills over into piece 6 on block 21.

Dyes: 

Procion cold water dyes for the silk thread 

Charms:

2 brass charms. One is of a butterfly the other a heart. 

The back story:

This seam is a detail on a crazy quilt called “I dropped the Button box”. The article is part of a series documenting all the detail on the quilt blocks. They appear every second day, on this blog.

Information about this series of articles and the quilt can be found here and all articles in the series are categorised under Crazy Quilt details

Links to the crazy quilt blocks covered so far are, block 1,  2,  3,   4,  5,  6 , 7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17 , 18, 19, 20 and 21

This is another variation on basic buttonhole stitch which is set in pairs that step and swing from side to side.

Fabric and Thread:

The sample is worked on Aida fabric using a hand dyed cotton thread which is about the same weight and thickness as perle 8

Size:

The sampler is 15 cm (6 inches) wide and all sections are stitched together in one long band sampler.

The sampler is currently 44 ft 5 inches or 533 inches (1353.83 centimetres) or 14.8 yards  (13.53 metres) long and still being added to.

Date:

This section of the sampler was finished in December 2005.

The back story:

This series is documenting a long hand embroidered band sampler, which is still growing as I still stitch it. More about the band sampler are in the category For the Love of Stitching band sampler  

Other related posts

Introductory Post - how and why this sampler came to be made 

A few questions answered about fabric choice and width

Extending and backing the sampler

For the Love of Stitching Sampler Sections 1 and 2, 3 and 4, Section 5 ,  Section 6 ,  Section 7 ,  Section 8,  Section 9, Section 10, Section 11  and  Section 12

If you want to know when new classes  will run sign up for my newsletter Sharon B's Stitching News 

Continuing my practice of listing interesting blogs by alphabetical order  I hope readers will enjoy my list for today.  

What is my criteria? I choose blogs that stay on topic at least 80% of the time, written frequently, by textile practitioners and designers who do such things as quilt, stitch, dye, sew, embellish fabric, and bead or  are kept by people who are interested in art, design or paper related crafts, such as bookbinding, altered books, visual journals or studio journals. By 80% of the time I mean 8 in 10 posts are on topic. If a blog has not been updated in the last 6 weeks or so I don’t included it as I think readers enjoy current and active blogs.

For the rest of the alphabet here is the letter A , B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I , J , K , L  and now I would like to present the letter M 

I often find blogs that are not in English and translate them via Google Translate 

Here are the next in the series:  

• M Lee Fine Art  the blog of a woodblock printmaker who keeps a blog of her current print projects.
• Madame Bogg's  is a greeting card illustrator in her day job and her blog is full of illustrations, many are designed to be embroidered. She also makes softies.
• Maddie Can Fly List owner of CQ for Newbies writes about embroidery and crazy quilting
• Made by Joanne  is a blog about crochet, knitting, ATCs, inchies and papercrafts such as cards
• Madelinetosh is a knitting blog that often has free patterns
• Magic of Light, Mystery of Shadows  Joan blogs photographs, techniques, and recipes about indigo dye, natural dyes, and textile resist techniques.
• MagicXstitch covers cross stitch projects and samplers while also exploring various other  crafts 
• Magpie and Cake is a craft blog 
• Magpies Collectables  Maggie is a fiber artist and contemprary doll maker who blogs about her interests in beading quilting and doll making.
• Magpies Envy  Dianne is interested in paper mixed media and collage
• Magpies Mumblings   Mary Anne crafts, sews and knits
• Mags Ramsay  is interested in contemporary textile, quilting and stitch techniques and is stating a slow cloth
• Magstitch  is a blog kept by author and stitcher Maggie Grey. For anyone interested in contemporary textiles this blog is worth checking out and following
• Mahar Dry Goods Robert Mahar makes and sources of vintage and artisan crafted items made for children. I have it on my ‘interesting craft blog’ list
• Make something is a contemporary craft and sewing blog that houses a number of tutorials and patterns
• Making a Mark  Katherine Tyrrell provides links to resources for artists and writes about drawing with with pastels, pencils and pen and ink.
• Making Ends Meet is a quilter and sewer with an excellent tutorial on making a cathedral window tutorial to be found in her side bar
• Making things  Christelle covers both craft and contemporary  textiles in her blog
• Mantua Maker  is the blog of designer/maker Ruth Singer who works with eco and recycled fabrics
• Manxgirl  blogs about quilting, sewing, knitting and cross stitch
• Margas Crafts Margarita Korioth describes herself as creating “wearable art as well as contemporary decorative quilts, using dyes and paints”
• Marjie's Dye Studio Marjie is a fabric designer and focuses on dyeing and surface design on fabrics.
• Mary Richmond Design Mary crafts, writes, draws, paints and freelances her work
• Maryse Les grid is a cross stitch and counted needlework blog which is in French. Google Translate  will help you out if needed. 

• Material Magic by Shar Sharon in New Zealand blogs about her crafts
• Material Obsession is a quilting blog 
• Materialistic  Kelly Fletcher is a designer who embroiders, quilts and sews. Often Kelly gives out free designs and tutorials so her blog is worth visiting. 
• Mati Rose  is an illustrator and textile designer who writes about her designs and creative process 
• Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions blog Maureen Greeson's is a well known crazy quilter who does some really lovely work so don't miss it!
• Maureen's Mixture Maureen explores paper crafts, all sorts of contemporary fiber techniques and formats and is also interested in crazy quilting,
• Maya  is a painting, drawing and sketching blog.
• Medieval Silkwork  is a great blog on historical textiles. Braiding, passementerie and embroidery are  areas of focus and all with great eye candy.
• Mermaid's Purse  is kept by a British Embroiderer who has done City and Guilds and has an interest in Crazy quilting.
• MG Quilts  Maggie is an Aussie quilter who blogs about quilting, links to resources and documents what she is making.
• Mi Casita de Pájaros  is written by Maria a Spanish blogger interested in craft, quilting, embroidery and Google Translate  will help you to read it 
• Miami Threads  is collaborative blog of art quilters who share information, techniques, and images of work.
• Michelle Ward Owner of Green Pepper Press and host of creative challenges on GPP Street Team writes about rubber stamping, art journals and mixed media
• Michelle's Stitch and Paint Spot  Michelle is a textile practitioner interested in mixed media and surface design
• Million Little Stitches  Maya lists her interests as embroidery, knitting, crochet, beadwork, journaling and mixed media.
• Millions of Happy People Michelle makes collage pieces, draws, and crafts
• Mint Basil Leeann writes about sewing 
• Minuit Citrouille a craft blog written in French but  Google Translate  will help you to read it
• Mish Mash  Linda keeps a blog mainly about weaving, knitting, crochet and spining but some other craft interests sneak in too.
• Miss Frugality  Julia saves money by crafting, sewing, and recycling and shares her tips
• Misses Stitches is a craft, quilting, sewing and paper craft blog which documents work in progress 
• Mixed Media  Julie is a painter who tracks her interests in contemporary mxed media fiber techniques, beading, fabric postcards.
• Mixed Media Textile Art Carolyn Saxby experiments with mixed media and fabric techniques.    
• Modish Jena writes about hand made goodies, contemporary craft and design 
• Mogwaii Sarah Campbell does contemporary machine embroidery on wool
• Moleskinerie  is a site devoted to Moleskine notebooks and how they are used.
• Molly Lee Cards If you like pop up books/cards and enjoy paper crafts dont miss checking out this blog as there are tutorials, tips and designs to enjoy. 
• Momfetti I discovered Momfetti as Tuppence wrote an excellent tutorial on how to make fabric postcards but I went on to discover a great contemporary craft blog. 
• Monster Crochet Lady Linoleum is interested in weaving, crochet, sewing, knitting and spinning.
• Moon River tracks artists that inspire and intrigue the author
• Moonsilk Stitches  Marjorie tracks her needlework interests, inspiration and achievements. 
• More Whiffs, Glimmers and Left Oeuvres  Deb has recently covered such topics as sewing, rug hooking, weaving, dyeing  and  art quilts . As you can see her fiber interests range across many areas.
• Moving Hands focuses on Japanese quilting and has loads of eye candy not to be missed 
• Moyou  is written by Amy Kerr is a young textile designer based in Canberra. Moyou is described as a unique blend of Australian design and Japanese aesthetic.
• Muddy Red Sketchbook Sarah Wimperis  is a professional illustrator and  shares some of my sketchbooks
• Musings of a Textile Itinerant  Dijanne Cevaal is a textile artist who designs, teaches, and travels.
• My Creative Works Rose Anne enjoys crazy quilting, fabric postcards and craft work. 
• My Cuppa Charms is a craft blog
• My Handbound Books  is the blog of a bookbinder which covers artists books, book structures and many aspects of the book arts.
• My Little Mochi patterns, and Japanese influenced tiny hand made toys
• My Marrakesh Maryam is a human rights and democracy specialist who lives in Marrakech and writes about her travels. Since she loves textiles and carpets fiber folks will always find something of interest on her site.
• My Minutia Teresa McFaden writes about paper crafts and art journals
• My Paper Crane a craft blog by Heidi Kenney
• My Patchwork life  is kept by Sherry Wade who writes about interest in crazy quilting and sewing
• My Sanctuary contemporary doll making, crafting and creative endeavours are tracked and shared. 
• My Tiny Robot Heart Is a contemporary craft blog which tracks projects. 
• Mystical Entities Kimberley is a contemporary doll maker

The detail:

This is a cluster of buttons is sitting over a velvet ribbon that covers the join between piece 3 and piece 5 on block 21.

The back story:

This seam is a detail on a crazy quilt called “I dropped the Button box”. The article is part of a series documenting all the detail on the quilt blocks. They appear every second day, on this blog.

Information about this series of articles and the quilt can be found here and all articles in the series are categorised under Crazy Quilt details

Links to the crazy quilt blocks covered so far are, block 1,  2,  3,   4,  5,  6 , 7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17 , 18, 19, 20 and 21

Kirsty has illustrated the article step by step and I am sure many embroiderers will find it useful. So run over there ...

This is another variation on basic buttonhole stitch which swings from side to side.

Fabric and Thread:

The sample is worked on Aida fabric using a hand dyed cotton thread which is about the same weight and thickness as perle 8

Size:

The sampler is 15 cm (6 inches) wide and all sections are stitched together in one long band sampler.

The sampler is currently 44 ft 5 inches or 533 inches (1353.83 centimetres) or 14.8 yards  (13.53 metres) long and still being added to.

Date:

This section of the sampler was finished in December 2005.

The back story:

This series is documenting a long hand embroidered band sampler, which is still growing as I still stitch it. More about the band sampler are in the category For the Love of Stitching band sampler  

Other related posts

Introductory Post - how and why this sampler came to be made 

A few questions answered about fabric choice and width

Extending and backing the sampler

For the Love of Stitching Sampler Sections 1 and 2, 3 and 4, Section 5 ,  Section 6 ,  Section 7 ,  Section 8,  Section 9, Section 10, Section 11  and  Section 12

Learn a new skill with one of my online classes 

Are you enjoying this series? If so, you might like an online class.  I have two classes currently on offer 

 Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse which will commence on February 24th 

 Sumptuous Surfaces  which will commence on March 11th

If you have not taken an online class before this is how online classes work.

If you want to know when new classes  will run sign up for my newsletter Sharon B's Stitching News