Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Silk Ribbon Embroidery is one of my favorite forms of handwork, I truly feel so much a part of history every time I pick up a needle and create a bouquet of silk flowers!

I have created a few classes and patterns using this technique. These projects are focused primarily on silk ribbon embroidery.
(If you click the link it will take you to the page, where you will find information on the class or pattern for the instructions.)

Climbing Wisteria Vines: Purse
When you wear this elegant embroidered purse out you will be the envy of all your friends, and they will probably ask you to make one for them! The fabric is pieced first, in a simple striped fashion of silk, moire, or tapestry. The front and back pieced sections are then embroidered with feather stitch vines and silk ribbon-embroidered lazy daisy leaves. Beads and buttons provide flash and style, probably just like that favorite aunt would have done.

Covent Gardens Collar
Silk ribbon berries and blooms cascade in a gentle curve around this peter-pan styled collar with adjustable ties and decorative buttons. I display this collar with my collection of embroidered handbags and pillows. It is very feminine and beautiful.

Ellen Matilda's Rose Garden: Purse
This project was named after my grandmother and aunt with the same first name. They both loved roses and gardens. The purse (or pillow if you like) starts with a velvet or silk fabric as the base, which is embroidered with silk ribbon roses and other flowers and leaves. Beads and charms add a magical glimmer to the design.

Fleur de France: Purse
The graceful curves of this purse complement the enchanting arcs of silk ribbon embroidery and ribbon work rosettes that adorn the curved seams. The embroidery stitches used are woven rose, lazy daisy, French knots and more. The fabrics that you chose for your project can be anything from silk, velvet, moire, cotton and tapestry.


Garden Brooches
This pattern includes three different shapes and three different garden designs. Five of the basic embroidery stitches will be covered: woven rose, feather stitch, chain stitch, lazy daisy, French knot. The project is easy, and works up quite quickly, so it is a great gift idea!

Quelque Fleur
The body of the vest is curved pieced, with cotton, silk and tapestry fabrics. Each seam of the curved sections are embellished with either silk ribbon embroidery, stitched handmade trim, or bouquets of ribbon worked flowers. The ribbon worked sections are made from satin and novelty ribbons. These can be enhanced with lace trims, buttons and bead embroidery.

Renaissance of Ribbon Embroidery
This pattern encourages you to spend a day or two with the finer things in life: silk ribbon embroidery, tapestry fabrics, and (of course) some beads. The stitches that you will learn are embroidered on a piece of muslin so you can use for reference later. You will also learn to make a few flowers from satin ribbon to further enhance your creation. There will be a few beading tips as well.

Happy stitching, enjoy the time that you have to do these marvelous things!

Machine Embroidery w/ Hand and Bead Embroidery

Machine embroidery for me is always free-form, really I let the muse take me where she wants to go.... I usually start a project with a cotton or silk base, machine quilt or embroider the canvas and add by hand the embellishments which can be thread or bead embroidery, and sometimes both. Here are the classes that I teach, and the patterns that I have to offer.
(Just click on the link and it will take you to the website.)

Crazy Man
In this class the technique for crazy piecing is quite different than traditional piecing. Strips of precious and luscious fabrics are laid amongst sections of prairie points, and each section is stitched with it's own binding, so the piecing will never make you "crazy". Buttons, charms and beads can be added for pizazz, and can give you a great theme.

Currents
The base fabric is machine quilted with a double needle in some sections and free form stipple quilted in others. Machine embroidered sections of covered yarn resemble branches or vines, and provide an anchor for the additional embellishment of hand applied rayon cords.
Hand embroidered shisha mirrors are sewn amongst needle lace embroidery. Beads and buttons are used along with metal charm embellishments to compliment the sea theme.

Magic Web: Pin
This is a great technique project. I call it "Metallic Threads 101". It introduces the sewer to metallic threads which are used both in the eye of the needle and the bobbin. The lace fabric is made from scraps of fabric and trims, layered in "Solvy" which is a water soluble product. The lace is cut into a shape when dry, embellished with embroidery and beads and made into a pin.

Mardi Gras
The background fabric is machine quilted in metallic threads. Both hand and machine cords are applied to add interest; "Magic Web" appliques are made from precious scraps and machine stitched in place.
Further embellishment comes from the embroidered shisha mirrors, glass beads, metal charms and your wonderful stash of vintage buttons.

Medallion Treasures
Pieced strips of precious and luscious fabrics are laid amongst precious handwork sections. The center piece can be a lovely embroidered section, or other hand work these are pieces with strips of fabric with additional sections of prairie points and "moc" prairie points. Machine quilting ties all of these pieces together. Stitches of traditional hand embroidery are embellished with beads and charms. Shisha mirrors and buttons are added to for embellishment to make this truly a treasure!

Happy Stitching, enjoy all that you do!

Embroidery with Beads

I love working with beads, whether they be used in jewelry making or by adding them to garments or accessories. I have developed a few classes that focus primarily on embellishing with beads using traditional embroidery stitches as well as traditional beaded jewelry stitches. The classes are listed below, if you click on the link it will take you to the page that lists the class fees, as well as the pattern that can be purchased if you would like to learn the techniques for yourself.

Beadazzled is a class that I teach using traditional embroidery stitches such as: continuous beading, single seed and bugle stitching, chain stitch, feather stitch, looped stitch, woven stitch, single hole bead, beaded cascade.
The project that you work on can be a vest, purse, wall hanging, pillow, or something of your own creation. Once you start embroidering with beads you will not want to stop, and warning your bead stash will grow to wondrous proportions!

Beadazzled Somemore: Purse This is a class that includes the stitching techniques and the pattern for the purse. The stitches that are included are: free form peyote on fabric, free form bead embroidery, multi-bead embroidery, stitching on trinkets, buttons & charms
and more! The freedom of this stitch allows for a creativity without the constrictions that a pre-set design would have.


Beaded Ribbon Bracelet
This contemporary bracelet is a quick and easy project for any skill level. The buttons and beads add a bit of glamour to your project and enhance the already gorgeous ribbon to make a bracelet that you will wear forever.

Garden at Versailles: Bracelet
This lightweight bracelet is created with a base of vintage French jacquard ribbon from the '40's. The pattern on the ribbon will determine where the buttons will be placed, then they will be encrusted with embroidered glass seed beads and charms. The designs are added in with bead embroidery techniques similar to the Beadazzled class.

Happy Stitching, be thankful for your creative spirit, enjoy!