Hand Stitching in Quilting

The color explosion continues. As more hand embroidery is added, this quilt is becoming more cohesive. It's about half way done, which still leaves lots of hours to keep my stitchy hands busy.
The piece combines couching, quilting and hand embroidery.

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Update: Find two of my art quilts using creative hand embroidery in the new book 350 Quilting Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets: How to be better at what you do
This book is an all-in-one resource for quilters and stitchers of all levels. It covers everything from tools and supplies to color confidence and finishing techniques. Two quilts I made, another Hand Embroidery Quilt like this one and a folksy Brown Bird Collage Quilt are featured. So happy to be a contributor to such an amazing resource book!

I also find lots of stitch inspiration for hand embroidery from The Stitch Bible by Kate Haxell.
It's such a modern and up to date book yet it wonderfully covers many types of traditional stitch from Blackwork, Hardanger, Crewel, and Goldwork to Freestyle Embroidery. It also has projects.  Beautifully presented and easy to follow. A great book for beginners.

Hand embroidery is so rewarding and creative. It really is an adventure I recommend everyone try!

In the Embroidery Hoop

My work in progress. Currently adding freestyle hand embroidery stitches to hand painted fabric. I added colorful machine stitch, now it's time for the hand work!

Primary School


Primary School is a stitched collage featuring a free-motion machine sketch of a school girl. The number four looms large as the young girl contemplates moving up to the next grade, or level, in school.
 At about 7 X 7 inches, this small art quilt combines fabric, paint and stitch. The edges of the piece are raw and threads are left attached adding to the unknown and uncertainty of this girl's story. 

Is the story of this schoolgirl happy, peaceful, melancholy, worrisome, fun, joyful, confusing, exciting, all of the above or something else?

Hand Embroidery Birds: Periwinkle and Mulberry

Two new birds have joined the flock! This plump bird is named Periwinkle. She is hand embroidery stitched in periwinkle blue, turquoise and rich plum.
She has latticework stitching on her belly and a variety of stitches on her body and tail including seed stitch, blanket stitch & french knots.

Still Life Sunday

Another tube of Cadmium Red gives it's very last drop.

Painting Imperfect

New in the typography series, this painting, titled 246, is 6 X 8 inches in shades of grey with black and red. Like the other pieces in the series it celebrates age and wear with it's weathered appearance. 
 Painted in successive layers with a palette knife, the painting is in acrylic on wood. My typography series of paintings are also inspired by a graffiti vibe that sees beauty in decay.

Imperfect is beautiful!

Robin's Debut

Robin is officially ready be talked about.

Busy hunting & pecking all day, Robin is a bit shy when asked to sit still for a visit. But once she takes a deep breath and settles down, she's happy to sit quietly and listen to a story or two.
Made of reclaimed fabrics, Robin is a fan of recycling. With hand embroidery and stitch details, Robin is a softie proud to be all handmade.

Stitch in Progress

Working on a little robin, embroidery stitching feather details on a textile base of recycled fabrics. 

The eyes always seem to bring the bird to life, intensifying it's expression and personality. I like adding eyes early in the process. Their sparkle gives me hints and ideas about just which details and embellishments will bring out the bird's unique persona.
Raven Rain Mixed Media Painting, 5 X 5 inches
 Whether in paint or hand stitch, expressive eyes always tell a story.