Embroidery Inspiration

This month's Craft Jam being Embroidery, I thought it prudent to write a little blog about it.   The furthest I have come to embroidery is a cross stitch made when I was pregnant. It is a gentle art,  taking great concentration and skill to make things by hand.  Nowadays there are amazing (and expensive) machines which embroider intricate designs at the push of a button.  Craft Jam this month we will be learning how to do it the simple way,  using a number of simple stitches to create lovely keepsakes and to get a little taste of this fantastic craft.  I have been trawling the internet for inspiration and have found some really gorgeous embroidered pieces. 



This notebook I found on Folksy by Handmade by Edwina,  I love her use of colour and folk art appeal.  Applique,  embroidery stitches and beading have been used to give this real character.  

Frutejuce on Folksy have this fabulous pattern for a Mexican Day of the Dead style embroidered skull.  This is fantastic perfect gift done on an embroidery hoop to hang on the wall.  

This is a great idea and a great tutorial by Little Birdie Secrets blog.  It shows how to turn your kid's doodles and drawings into embroidered art.  A fabulous idea and a great keepsake.  There are loads of tutorials online for this and if you don't fancy doing it yourself there are a few craft businesses out there who specialise in creating gifts doing just this.  

One of my favourite embroidery artists, based here in Devon is Three Red Apples.  Annabelle Ozanne is the creative force behind Three Red Apples and as well as creating fantastic embroidery,  I love that she creates her pieces with no fancy sewing machines.  Just a simple machine,  drawing her embroidery straight onto the material.  She even has two old Singer sewing machines to keep it rustic and real.  Annabelle has a fabulous blog, do take a peek.  You can buy her goodies on Etsy  and her website.  

 Finally,  I cannot do a piece on embroidery without mentioning Dottie Angel.  The lady behind this Tif, is a british girl living in the US.  She has a huge online following through her blog and a perfect brand of eclectic charm selling embroidered pieces as well as hand sewing and crochet.  Is there any craft this dynamo cannot do.  Dottie's blog is fantastic and whimsical.  And with a seaview,  two airstream caravans in her garden, chickens and 8 kids,  she certainly lives the crafty life.  

'I do love all that you are'  Dottie Angel