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#1
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Meet Matilda Mallstomper
Largish file alert: http://home.comcast.net/~frugalfingers/recent.html
I need to buy a lottery ticket or two to win enough $$ to get a better digital camera sigh -- another Anne, add ingers to frugalf to reply |
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#2
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anne wrote:
Largish file alert: http://home.comcast.net/~frugalfingers/recent.html I need to buy a lottery ticket or two to win enough $$ to get a better digital camera sigh Love her!!! Marg |
#3
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Anne,
I loved seeing Maltilda Mallstomper your "original" embroidery......it looks really good. This was an excellent, creative solution to your embroidery wishes. You did a wonderful embroidered adaptation of the chart! I especially love the embellishments you added to the stitching.....that really set off and enhanced the whole design!! Now you've got me thinking about the subject of embroidery designs in the needlework market........I've been in the needlework business full time for over 20 years, first as a manager of a full service needlework shop and then my own design business, that I opened in1985.......the following comments are my own observations on the subject of embroidery. I've always noticed there have been embroidery kits for sale through the years and that embroidery was quite popular at one time in the past and since then has always been around. But I don't really know if embroidery has ever been as popular or as commercially successful as the cross stitch craze in the last 20 years. There have always been kits for "crewel" embroidery using wool yarns, such as the well known ones from Elsa Williams, Erica Wilson and many others through the years.......embroidery kits always seemed to be a perennial commodity in needlework shops. Erica Wilson is well known to have revived crewel embroidery and needlework overall in the US.......it was because of Erica's whimsical crewel designs that got me interested in stitching......I have several of her crewel kits still unfinished among other embroidery kits..... However, I've not noticed designers to strictly focus on producing embroidery "charts" to sell, such as a line drawing with instructions for embroidery stitches. What I have noticed are designers doing charts with stitch guides using various needlepoint and some embroidery stitches. Designers like Libby Sturdy and Kimberly Crum come to mind but to be specific, these charts fall under counted work more than actual embroidery. Some other sources one might use for the purpose of embroidery is to use "serious" coloring books, the well done series featuring historical costumes, theater, botanicals, historical subjects and so on........designs for Redwork, iron-on templates among many other sources for line drawings. Has anyone else noticed any designers or companies doing charts only for embroidery? --- Lula http://www.woolydream.com Needlework Adventures anne wrote: Largish file alert: http://home.comcast.net/~frugalfingers/recent.html I need to buy a lottery ticket or two to win enough $$ to get a better digital camera sigh -- another Anne, add ingers to frugalf to reply |
#4
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I've always noticed there have been embroidery kits for sale through the
years and that embroidery was quite popular at one time in the past and since then has always been around. But I don't really know if embroidery has ever been as popular or as commercially successful as the cross stitch craze in the last 20 years. My mother taught me crewel work embroidery when I was about 9 or 10. At the time (early 1970's) it was pretty much the only embroidery you saw in stores. If there was cross stitch it was the stamped sort, not the counted cross stitch which is so popular today. Personally, I don't enjoy crewel all that much, it's as much a textile thing as anything else. I don't like the way the threads feel in my fingers. I didn't mind the speciality stitches, I was actually pretty good at most of them. However, I enjoy doing counted cross stitch a lot more, which is why I design for counted cross stitch. It's not because I don't think people who do crewel work don't deserve nice patterns to stitch, but because it's not the format I prefer myself. Anne, I wish you luck finding patterns that suit you, your adaptation of Matilda was wonderful! Caryn Blue Wizard Designs http://hometown.aol.com/crzy4xst/index.html Updated: 7/7/03 -- now available Dragon of the Stars View WIPs at: http://community.webshots.com/user/carynlws (Caryn's UFO's) |
#5
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lula said
I've always noticed there have been embroidery kits for sale through the years and that embroidery was quite popular at one time in the past and since then has always been around. But I don't really know if embroidery has ever been as popular or as commercially successful as the cross stitch craze in the last 20 years. When I did my first stitchings about 30 years ago (gawd, that makes me feel old!), there seemed to be a lot of wool (crewel) and embroidery kits on the market for more than just flowers and Jacobean designs. As a matter of fact, one of my bedrooms is a 'shrine' to projects done during that period -- scenes of Olde Williamsburg, Boston, Philadelphia, Salem, children riding bikes, etc., etc. About 2 years ago, I found that I was too antsy to sit and just read for extended periods. Being a confirmed couch potato, I still wanted to sit but wasn't sure my eyesight was good enough or fingers were nimble enough to do any stitching. I knew that counted cross stitch wasn't for me and was appalled that there wasn't much of a selection in pure, fill in all the spaces, as opposed to merely embellishing artwork, floss or wool embroidery kits in the local stores. There were more designs in the needlepoint section but the flat and somewhat 'jaggy' look of needlepoint has never appealed to me. I ended up with a Jannlynn kit for 4 small pieces. Being frugal, the fact that the kit included frames appealed to me ;-) I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to fill in the blanks with little trouble and then went back for more. Next, I tried my hand at long stitch --the ever popular, balloon and seascape kits. I enjoyed doing them but felt a bit constrained by the similarity of the stitching. I picked up quite a few 'vintage' kits (Hummels, candlewicking, etc) on Ebay. Even though I've got a drawer that's overflowing with Ebay finds, I went into whimsy mode which got me started on modifying cross stitch charts. My sister has spent a fortune on handpainted needlepoint canvases, some of which I actually like eg but as I said before, the look doesn't 'talk' to me. Cutting to the chase, I don't have a clue as to whether there's a market for non-traditional 'regular' embroidery but I know that I'd at least look at the stuff ;-) Some other sources one might use for the purpose of embroidery is to use "serious" coloring books, the well done series featuring historical costumes, theater, botanicals, historical subjects and so on........designs for Redwork, iron-on templates among many other sources for line drawings. I've picked up a few of those at an art supply store and did one of a Japanese vase and one of these days, I'll do a fan picture. -- another Anne, add ingers to frugalf to reply |
#6
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I love Matilda!
As to Lula's post, no, I haven't seen any charts only, other than Aunt Martha's iron on transfers. I do what Anne did and Lula has done - trace and embellish as desired. I've used the coloring book method (Dover Publications is great for this) and have traced some "real" art (Manet and Monet, specifically). I wish there were more out there! That said, I do think that kits might be more popular as many people are not confident of their ability to choose the right thread/colors/stitches. And it would be *wonderful* to see something like Matilda in a kit. I am tired of tame subjects, flowers and "embellish" kits where you just add a few stitches to a preprinted background. There are many of us out there who do not decorate in eternal spring! Hmm - maybe we should all send our requests to DMC/Janlynn/Bucilla and the other mainline makers, along with Wal-Mart, Michael's, Jo-Anns, etc. Maybe if more stuff like this was available in the stores, there would be more demand for it. . . . In the meantime, there's no supply. Until there is a supply, there can't be demand. Sort of like the chicken and the egg, isn't it? I hope someone takes the leap! Lula, as I've said before, if you *do* decide to put any of your beautiful, fun drawings into kits, put me down to buy the first one! Linda in Columbia, MO |
#7
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Anne,
An embroidered fan design would be very elegant! I've seen some gorgeous painted fans in a variey of subjects......so many ideas to choose from! I agree, there's a limit to creative stitching from designs based on grids.....charted designs and canvas mesh don't allow for natural curves and spacing........this limits how figures, faces and such small details can be rendered or drawn. In some cases, details have to be sacrificed or simplified and the design reduced to a "shorthand" style of art. Basic dots and slashes for eyes and noses for example. Unfortunately, pesky jaggies are a fact of life in gridded designs......a skilled artist can minimize jaggies up to a point where it wouldn't be as noticeable but gridded designs will always have an angular look. Similare to you, I've been drawn more and more towards embroidery as a means of being able to draw more expressive designs, where I can stitch more details and make real curved lines! Embroidery is definitely a more artistic way to stitch......lots of variety in stitches too without worry of compensating stitches as in needlepoint or half and quarter stitches in XS. Even more exciting is using embroidery as part of a bigger "picture".....as you've done with Matilda with the addition of other fun details using embellishments, decorative fonts or text and using all sorts of threads. You were very clever in how you adapted a chart to embroidery! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your embroideries! --- Lula http://www.woolydream.com Needlework Adventures anne wrote: lula said I've always noticed there have been embroidery kits for sale through the years and that embroidery was quite popular at one time in the past and since then has always been around. But I don't really know if embroidery has ever been as popular or as commercially successful as the cross stitch craze in the last 20 years. When I did my first stitchings about 30 years ago (gawd, that makes me feel old!), there seemed to be a lot of wool (crewel) and embroidery kits on the market for more than just flowers and Jacobean designs. As a matter of fact, one of my bedrooms is a 'shrine' to projects done during that period -- scenes of Olde Williamsburg, Boston, Philadelphia, Salem, children riding bikes, etc., etc. About 2 years ago, I found that I was too antsy to sit and just read for extended periods. Being a confirmed couch potato, I still wanted to sit but wasn't sure my eyesight was good enough or fingers were nimble enough to do any stitching. I knew that counted cross stitch wasn't for me and was appalled that there wasn't much of a selection in pure, fill in all the spaces, as opposed to merely embellishing artwork, floss or wool embroidery kits in the local stores. There were more designs in the needlepoint section but the flat and somewhat 'jaggy' look of needlepoint has never appealed to me. I ended up with a Jannlynn kit for 4 small pieces. Being frugal, the fact that the kit included frames appealed to me ;-) I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to fill in the blanks with little trouble and then went back for more. Next, I tried my hand at long stitch --the ever popular, balloon and seascape kits. I enjoyed doing them but felt a bit constrained by the similarity of the stitching. I picked up quite a few 'vintage' kits (Hummels, candlewicking, etc) on Ebay. Even though I've got a drawer that's overflowing with Ebay finds, I went into whimsy mode which got me started on modifying cross stitch charts. My sister has spent a fortune on handpainted needlepoint canvases, some of which I actually like eg but as I said before, the look doesn't 'talk' to me. Cutting to the chase, I don't have a clue as to whether there's a market for non-traditional 'regular' embroidery but I know that I'd at least look at the stuff ;-) Some other sources one might use for the purpose of embroidery is to use "serious" coloring books, the well done series featuring historical costumes, theater, botanicals, historical subjects and so on........designs for Redwork, iron-on templates among many other sources for line drawings. I've picked up a few of those at an art supply store and did one of a Japanese vase and one of these days, I'll do a fan picture. -- another Anne, add ingers to frugalf to reply |
#8
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Linda,
That's a good idea to write to the kit companies and let them know the type of needlework you'd like to see developed. If enough requests were made, the art directors or whoever makes the design decisions would probably consider adding more embroidery kits to their lines. I also agree that kits serve a useful purpose. That's how I started stitching by trying out different needlework techniques in kits. My favorites were the Erica Wilson kits because her designs were atypical of the majority florals and "still life" embroideries featured in the late 70's. Erica's designs were charming, colorful and whimsical.......she had a variety of subjects from medieval scenes to Beatrix Potter illustrations. Except for this past period, I don't know of any current designers doing only embroidery designs as a business. Kit companies either have in house designers or license art from artists to develop into kits. In fact, one of my illustrations (snowman family) was licensed last year by Jan Lyn and will appear as a cross stitch kit later this year. Linda, I'm honored by your vote of confidence........as you know, I'm about to experiment with embroidering some of my illustrations to see what they'll look like "painted" with stitches that can curve and move in the directions I want them to not limited to what the ground fabric dictates. BTW, Linda, I liked your embroidered adaptations of Matisse paintings, were both by Matisse? And your embroidered pink flamingoes were fun to see wading in the lagoon in their tropical paradise! --- Lula http://www.woolydream.com Needlework Adventures Linda Wright wrote: I love Matilda! As to Lula's post, no, I haven't seen any charts only, other than Aunt Martha's iron on transfers. I do what Anne did and Lula has done - trace and embellish as desired. I've used the coloring book method (Dover Publications is great for this) and have traced some "real" art (Manet and Monet, specifically). I wish there were more out there! That said, I do think that kits might be more popular as many people are not confident of their ability to choose the right thread/colors/stitches. And it would be *wonderful* to see something like Matilda in a kit. I am tired of tame subjects, flowers and "embellish" kits where you just add a few stitches to a preprinted background. There are many of us out there who do not decorate in eternal spring! Hmm - maybe we should all send our requests to DMC/Janlynn/Bucilla and the other mainline makers, along with Wal-Mart, Michael's, Jo-Anns, etc. Maybe if more stuff like this was available in the stores, there would be more demand for it. . . . In the meantime, there's no supply. Until there is a supply, there can't be demand. Sort of like the chicken and the egg, isn't it? I hope someone takes the leap! Lula, as I've said before, if you *do* decide to put any of your beautiful, fun drawings into kits, put me down to buy the first one! Linda in Columbia, MO |
#9
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lula said
An embroidered fan design would be very elegant! LOL -- not the way I'd do it unless I bite the bullet and buy some fancy threads. Similare to you, I've been drawn more and more towards embroidery as a means of being able to draw more expressive designs, where I can stitch more details and make real curved lines! Kits do a better job with details than I do. They also provide the thread or wool, usually 3 colors, to provide what I call 'richness' When I modify a cross stitch design or use a coloring book or transfer pattern, I can't 'see' the colors like an artist would that could be used to add depth of field or shading. To compensate and add visual interest, I tend to use a lot of what might be unrelated colors when filling in the 'blanks.' I'm also not very good at figuring out the direction for stitching pieces/parts sigh. -- another Anne, add ingers to frugalf to reply |
#10
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Hi Anne,
Hmmmm, where did I get this feeling you weren't exactly going for the ladylike, elegant look for your fan design? Could be because of Matilda.....hahaha, thanks to you, I decided to let my imagination go and have some real fun creating my next embroidery. Stop saying you can't because by so cleverly adapting Matilda Mallstomper to embroidery, this proved you can do an excellent interpretation of a design into another form! Yes, it's true kits do a good job in providing a roadmap for you to follow but you might want to take a side trip at some point and here are a few creative ideas I use........ One doesn't need to use shading to add depth to a design........you can use pattern to add depth, for example doing a check border in an area, in another, do some stripes, then add some dots, these patterns can be in bright colors or subdued by using more pastel and close colors . Many artists will use pattern instead of just shading their artwork to add depth to their work. Great results can be achieved by stitching pattern in some areas of the needlework instead of just shading. In stitching, you can also vary your design with the use of specialty stitches and also the use of textured threads.......these techniques will create the depth you're looking for too and in the end, these methods will probably give your embroidery even more exciting results! --- Lula http://www.woolydream.com Needlework Adventures anne anne wrote: lula said An embroidered fan design would be very elegant! LOL -- not the way I'd do it unless I bite the bullet and buy some fancy threads. Similare to you, I've been drawn more and more towards embroidery as a means of being able to draw more expressive designs, where I can stitch more details and make real curved lines! Kits do a better job with details than I do. They also provide the thread or wool, usually 3 colors, to provide what I call 'richness' When I modify a cross stitch design or use a coloring book or transfer pattern, I can't 'see' the colors like an artist would that could be used to add depth of field or shading. To compensate and add visual interest, I tend to use a lot of what might be unrelated colors when filling in the 'blanks.' I'm also not very good at figuring out the direction for stitching pieces/parts sigh. -- another Anne, add ingers to frugalf to reply |
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