I made a short video! And I hope to do many more.

I'm busy revamping this website to make it less cluttered and easier to use. And I'm planning on using more videos for tutorials. These are much easier and faster to make than written instructions.

So keep checking back from time to time or you can subscribe to my Dimensional Embroidery channel.

Here is another Kokopelli made with ThreadWorx Overdyed Cotton Floss #01156.

​I'm having a good time using the Tucker Star embroidery stitch as you can see.

Enjoy this embroidering this Kokopelli.

Kokopelli is a 3000 year old Anasazi glyph that can be found on desert rocks. The hunchback flute player is said to bring in the Spring. He is a source of celebration and joy for anyone who takes him into their home or heart.

This design is a good way to practice the Stem stitch, the Tucker Star and the Circle Satin stitch.

Make a fabric postcard, add him to a crazy quilt block or simply enjoy him in a small frame.

I've just completed instructions of how to deal with those tangles that form sometimes when you pull your thread through your fabric.

I was struggling with a project that called for 'Nova' Dimensional Embroidery thread and having the hardest time with it. I tried all the Easy Fixes without success. This Knitting Needle Method did the trick.

I'm writing instructions on how to frame Dimensional Embroidery so I figured I should look up when and where this practice began.

I found this picture in a book by Margaret Jourdain called the History of Secular Embroidery. Aha! Finally! Here was a framed embroidery.

And then I read the caption.... I was stunned! I'd heard of embroidery with human hair but did not know that it was made in England. Actually, I didn't know much about it at all.

I looked up more about this kind of embroidery and found this interesting YouTube video.

​http://youtu.be/bdIyeZPJAZM

My attention was completely derailed and I do have to get back to the framing instructions. I just had to share.

I need to boast about my Studio! This is the sum total of months of planning, rearranging, nails, hammers, a trusty level and repurposing everything that I had already, plus, of course, scouring craft stores and Pinterest for ideas. If you are going to organize your own craftroom the very first change you should make is to rename it "My Studio." Believe me when you use these terms everyone will be afraid to stop you. No more sighs. No more interruptions.

"Shhhh... She is in her 'Studio' we better not disturb her," and hours later when you emerge all eyes will be on you wide with wonder.

Do this if nothing else! And also don't forget to close your door.

So come on in.... Photo 1

Photo 2: A jewelry closet organizer helps to find all those little things that have been lost for years.

Photo 3: Baskets hung on the wall! Before all those baskets were project graveyards. I can actually see everything now. And I have yet to fill them.

I used heavy duty hooks so that they can take some weight. I love the elephant basket that I bought 20 years ago. Great for knitting needles.

Photo 4: This shelf is actually a wooden storage shelf on its side. I topped it with a pull-out shelf from a broken computer desk. I glued it on and it serves as a sturdy area to arrange my I projects when I work on each one and then I do something very unique (for me) I put each project away in one of the boxes below.

Shelves are made with black signage board (you know that material used by realtors to advertise homes for sale.) It comes in big sheets that are about the same price as foam core board. I considered using foam core but it wasn't strong enough. I thought that I was going to have to use plywood so I was delighted when I came across this stuff.

I chose the wooden boxes for their narrow depth. I'm determined not to bury things ever again. These are boxes that I bought at Craft Warehouse. I put cardboard on the bottoms to cover up the open slats. I have little chalk board gift labels dangling from strings but at some point I'm going to glue them on.

I was also thinking about painting those boxes black but I've decided not to because I just can't be that color coordinated. I mean really who can stand complete order in a creative space. Not me.

I left one area open on this shelf so that it can hold my bolts of fabric and anything else that is long. Tip: Don't buy a bolt of fabric that is on sale - after you use some of it to back a quilt the rest will sit around for years mocking you.

Photo 5: I love this corner. I made the square ironing board years ago from a discarded kitchen cabinet shelf. I covered it with a couple of layers of batting and a square ironing board cover. The only real expense what that cover but it was worth it since I have been warned by the family that I better not burn down the house. I also had to fold it over and snug it tight with tacks because it was big.

I also set my lamp over it because that corner is pretty dark. The blue round things are repurposed lace pillows. One is used as a giant pin cushion and the other is a bulletin board.

As you can see there is another shelf tipped on its side that forms this corner and extends along the other wall.

Photo 6: The desk at the window is an art table sold 'as is' from an art store. It was the demonstration table. A bit wobbly until I added a few more screws and nails. I have covered up a couple of projects to keep them from the sun.

Photo 7: MY FAVORITE: a comfortable chair. Wow! Who knew that if you clean up that corner with the cardboard boxes stacked to the ceiling that there would be room for this? I am sitting there right now typing this blog.

Okay, it was another of the bigger expenses. But so worth it. I now live in this chair. I bought this at IKEA where everything is miniature. It is small but comfortable and big enough for me.

Photo 8: My photo studio. This is a three-sided box that works to diffuse the light for excellent photos. The blue bottom helps to make the object stand out when you photograph it. I also have half of the table covered with blue cloth for the same reason when I don't want to photo something in the box.

I bought this before Pinterest - a long, long time ago - these days you can find how-to instructions to build one of your own. I wish I'd known. An expense but since I've had this from the distant past does it really count as an expense?

Photo 9: This table is that broken computer table that I spoke of earlier. I tacked it back together with giant clips. Though it still wiggles it does the job.

Photo 10: A kitchen wood block cutting table - perfect to cut just about anything - I cover it with a cutting mat. And the shelves underneath are for my bigger projects. I have to pull out this table into the middle of the room to use it. With all the heavy projects underneath it takes a bit of strength to pull it out but I figure this will inspire me to get those things done.

Photo 11: My scissor garage made from an office desk wire caddy tipped on its side. Also good for stashing my rotary cutters.

Photo 12: Rose colored book slings were mounted under the wire shelves. It holds my sewing machine instruction books, coloring books and picture frames that I want to use for my embroidery. I saw this idea on Pinterest, too.

Photo 13: Wire wall mounted shelves. These are great for all the heavy stuff.

Photo 14: Sewing machine and office chair. I roll this chair back and forth to my other tables. You really only need one and it opens up a lot of space. This area faces away from the windows so the light isn't that good. I added a small lamp this helps quite a bit. Also, you can't see it but there is an old drawing board on the table that extends the table. So there is lots more room for my sewing machine feet and other tools.

Photo 15: I saw this set up on Pinterest: cutting mats hung from clip clothes hangers, except for the largest one that hangs from two screws in the wall.

Photo 16: A studio animal: this can be a cat, dog, bird or ferret (thought ferrets tend to take shiny things to hide away.)

So that is it. Hope you enjoyed your tour. Okay - so now I'm going to shut the door. Photo 17

Last month I was lucky enough to come across this remarkable Fabric Art. Kathleen Klein began her work with a love of Crazy Quilting. She is self-taught in Brazilian Embroidery and Ribbon Embroidery. And, as I'm sure you will agree, her work is stunning.

Kathleen uses thread, ribbon, beads, gears (found at craft stores), yarn and wool. Her backgrounds are batik fabrics.

She is a grandmother of four, a mother of two sons and a Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

Her work space sounds comfy: in her bedroom on an adjustable bed with the TV on the dresser and a 5' magnifier floor lamp.

In the morning she lays out her fabric blocks and gathers 'stuff' from her scrapbook containers to take to what her husband calls her 'studio' - the bedroom, of course!

When I asked her where she got her inspiration she said, "Nature, magazines, Pinterest, other people's work and most importantly her imagination.

If you would like to check in with Kathleen and follow her work you can find her on Facebook.

I know that it's still a bit early but I can't help showing off my cover page and introduction to my Mystery Embroidery called 'A Tradition Very Old'.

The publishing date is the end of May, 2016 - just in time for the Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Guild's seminar in June. I do plan to sell patterns there so look for me upstairs at one of the shops.

I am also going to offer it online either through a store on this website or on Amazon. At this point I'm not sure what is easier to do. I'll be doing my research and asking others in the embroidery community what they do and how.


The next step in the design process is to choose the colors and embroider the piece. I'm sure that a detail here or there in Section 1 will change so don't get ahead of yourself and trace the pattern in this sneak peek. I wish I could get it to you sooner! Enjoy the Peek! Maybe I will share another glimpse so check in every once in a while.

I think I have finally figured out the best way to design a 'mystery embroidery'. After many, many, many experiments I think this one is a keeper. I'm ready to embroider it. This will be the last test to see if it works out as planned.

If I put this design under my pillow will an elf sew it for me? Do you think maybe I should add a gold coin as well? Bribery always works in the fairy realms.

Okay. My bad. The sunshine was too tempting. So my penance is to write "What I Did Over My Summer Vacation."

The Brazilian Embroidery Seminar was wonderful. I took two classes: An Open Work class and a computer class on how to use various programs for designing your patterns. As always the food was...let's say 'hardy.' 

Besides bathing in the sun I did work on instructions on how to frame a dimensional embroidery behind glass. Usually because of the raised stitches framing without glass is chosen as the best way to display the work. This is a perfectly acceptable practice but I wanted a bit more protection for some of my pieces. 

I was inspired by the Fig Pith sculptures I bought on the Azores. Each frame had been expanded backwards about 1/4 - 1/2 an inch. This created a shadow box. The following is the description that I will use for a class on the subject: