May I Suggest ...Monday?

Every Monday I want to promote blog reading. The names of blogs I like have been written on pieces of paper and today I picked two slips at random from my box.

Click on the title for a link to the website.

Pintangle

I guess most of my readers are well familiar with Sharon Boggon and her stylish website Pintangle. If not, let me tell you why you should pay a visit.

Sharon is a real advocate for hand embroidery and crazy quilting. 

She is most knowledgeable, she has created an extensive online Stitch Dictionary with clear and easy to follow photo instructions, she has led both in-person and online workshops. 

For many years she has been running TAST (Take A Stitch Tuesday) which is a GREAT online project to promote embroidery stitches. At TAST she introduces one stitch a week, gives examples of how to use and alter it, then encourage the participants to give it a try,  make use of it and share the effort on their blog or social media like Facebook etc. For those who have already learned the stitches and want to dwell further into the potential of the them, Sharon offers Beyond TAST. 

The best thing you can do is read all about TAST here. 

Sharon has written several tutorials, some as printable worksheets, others as all-free on the website. For example you can learn how to store crease free silk ribbons or how to make a Fargo Rose.

Her two excellent books, one on Crazy Quilting, the other on embroidery stitches, are for sale at her online shop. There you can also order smart templates for CQ stitch lines and beautiful tools.

 

Sharon = Crazy Quilting! You really have to look at her most beautiful blocks, how she blends stitches, ribbons, lace, buttons, beads and what-knots on top of a foundation of fabulous fabric.

Sharon also makes fantastic free form embroidery. I would say she 'spills the stitches' all over the place in a most artistic way.

Finally I would like to mention that Sharon is most kind and generous. She always gives credit to others, she always has some advice to give if you turn to her with a problem and for those of you who are left handed, here is a real friend: Sharon is herself a left hand user, and knows first hand, how difficult it is to follow stitch instructions made for right hand people. In her latest book she has included two sets of pictures, left and right handed. So if your dilemma is that embroidery instructions are too hard to follow, here is help for you.

............

Stitching Lady

Many years ago I met Anneliese online in the comments section of TAST, then started following her blog.

Oh, Stitching Lady is so creative! At this blogspot you will find great examples of how she has used the TAST stitches, e.g. she has draped stitched fabric over pebbles, she has made baubles and other hanging ornaments, textile chocolates and fabric books.

Talking of books, she once added textile objects  to the illustrations of a children's book, Rapunzel, if I remember correctly, with the long braid of hair coming down the tower...

Anneliese also stitch by machine and has made a smart cover for her piano keyboard, hilarious machine appliqué and quilting designs, fabric boxes and masses of bags (which she shares the tutorials for).

For a while she had a weekly post called WOYWW = What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, with a photo of her latest work in progress - in progress, so to speak, messy or tidy, always colourful and vibrant.

On this blog you will also find knitting and cooking/baking, as well as photographs of beautiful landscapes around Europe.