Wow! It didn’t take long for April to fly by, did it?

I’ve gathered up a few embroidery-related links for you to explore this weekend. It’s a short list this weekend – just enough for your morning coffee break! Let’s spend it browsing together, shall we?

Today’s short list of collected links include some inspiration, some instruction, and an embroidery supply resource you won’t want to miss!

Stumpwork Videos

I first came across this stumpwork video on Facebook. It features a project that finishes as a magnificent spray of three-dimensional embroidered roses. The video is in Russian, but there are English subtitles. You can even turn the sound on mute and just watch the video to glean the instructional points easily.

But, better yet, visit the YouTube page of the embroiderer – you’ll find all kinds of stumpwork videos!

Careful – it’s kind of like falling down the rabbit hole.

Inspiration: Embroidery & Quilting

I just have to point out once again Kelly Cline’s long arm quilting over embroidery pieces. Her latest two pieces are stunning! One of these days, I swear I’m going to send her some defunct vintage embroidery to see what kind of magic she can work on them. I think what she does is pretty darned incredible! It’s a great way to re-purpose otherwise un-used vintage embroidery and the like, to make it usable and displayable again.

In any case, check out these two pieces: This Flower Dancer in Brazilian Embroidery and this framed quilted hankie. Gorgeous!

For me, Kelly’s website is definitely a rabbit hole. I love browsing through it! And I don’t even quilt!

Embroidery Thread?

Oh dear. I apologize in advance.

This past week, a reader sent me a link to Threads Be Gone.

Have you heard of it? People! It totally feeds the addiction! Yes, it’s all about embroidery threads! Think: Stash Building! Think: Stash Building at a Discount!

What you have here is a small business based on a big idea. Dale and David Miller have discovered what to do with overabundant stash that people want to get rid of. They organize it, package it, sell it. It’s not used stuff – they’re full skeins. You can find packets of 20 skeins of DMC or Anchor floss for only $4. That works out to 20 cents a skein! (That’s a great price, especially for Anchor.) While you can’t pick and choose individual colors, you can see photos of the color collections you’re purchasing, and pick color groupings that you like.

They have all kinds of other threads, too – perle cottons, some Caron threads, Anchor Marlitt, DMC floss, DMC Medici, Rainbow Gallery threads, Kreinik, Needle Necessities, Treenway silks – the list goes on and on!

For crazy quilters especially, the grab bags would be of interest. There are Watercolor grab bags, Rainbow Gallery grab bags. And they have something on there called Mystery Bags, too, which sound…mysterious.

Speaking of rabbit holes… have fun!

Learn Embroidery on the West Coast

And, finally, for your viewing and planning pleasure, if you don’t know it already, the San Francisco School of Needlework & Design is up and running. This is the endeavor of Lucy Barter, formerly the Royal School of Needlework’s instructor in San Francisco.

Now she has her own full blown school of needlework, working in conjunction with several instructors at all different levels.

I’m so impressed with what Lucy has done and what she continues to do for needlework in the US. I hope the SF School of Needlework & Design really takes off and flies – for a long, long time!

If you plan on visiting San Francisco in the near future, why not plan your trip around a class at the San Francisco School of Needlework & Design?

The End

And that, my friends, is your short little weekend list. Enjoy it – and then go spend some quality time with your needle and thread!

See you next week!