Cattails and Dragonflies
An original design worked on Aurora Flax, the leaves of the cattail plant
are worked in satin stitched in varying shades of green and are then outlined
in stem stitch. The cattails are worked in satin stitch over a padded
foundation in their naturally occurring nutmeg color. The dragonflies
are worked in long and short stitch in varying shades of either blue silk
thread, orange pearl cotton or gold pearl cotton thread beginning with
the deepest shade and fading into the lightest shade. French knots are
worked for the eyes, and for the seeds at the tip of the cattail.
In Japan, dragonflies are regarded as symbols of courage, strength, and
happiness, and are often found in art and literature. In Native American
cultures, dragonflies are considered swift and active. During the Arts
and Crafts movement, dragonflies, like other inserts, were a popular motif.
With a natural geometric shape, their form was often rendered conventionally
and appeared on several decorative objects including jewelry, wallpaper,
stencils and stained glass lamps. Since many artisans of the Arts and
Crafts movement were influenced by Japanese art and architecture, and
by Native American art, it is likely that the positive views of dragonflies
were received from these cultures rather than from European cultures where
the insect was viewed as sinister; the Norwegian name for dragonfly literally
means 'eye poker'. Subsequently, there is even folklore that depicts the
dragonfly as the serpent's helper mending snakes if they become cut whilst
performing their evil bidding. Select from three silk-thread color ways
including: Blue, Red or Gold. Also available in Orange cotton perle thread.
Pillow Size: 21" by 21"
Table Scarf Size: 14" by 52"
Spiderwort Motif
An original design that captures the naturally occurring geometric shape
of the Spiderwort (a beautiful prairie wildflower that blooms in early
summer throughout most of the great-plains). Spiderwort flowers are short-lived
blooming for only a single morning. However each plant produces 20 plus
flowers per stem. The genus of spiderworts is named for John Tradescant,
a gardener for King Charles I of England that grew the plant from seeds
brought back from America. Spiderworts are still a popular flower in English
gardens today. The stems, leaves and flowers of spiderworts are all edible.
Repetition of shapes, and adapting the natural geometric form of the
spiderwort (two fundamental design theories emphasized in Arts and Crafts),
the plant was rendered into a conventionalized design. Balance and repetition
create a simple form. As embroidered, the spiderwort design is worked
using the satin stitch, long and short stitch, stem stitch and French
knots. An excellent project for both the beginner and skilled embroider
the spiderwort design is also available stenciled with outlining in stem
stitch, with French knots worked at the top of the stems, and in the center
of the flowers. Available on Natural Irish Linen, with white pearl cotton
for the petals, yellow for the centers of the flower, and an evergreen
pearl cotton thread for the foliage, and on Pasadena Flax Linen, with
the petals worked in a deep rust color, gold French knots within the center,
and green foliage. The completed project creates an aesthetic contrast,
allowing its placement within many interior color palettes.
Pillow Size: 21" by 21"
Table Scarf Size: 14" by 54"
Carrie's Garden
Carrie's Garden is an original design inspired by the beautiful array
of lilac cornflowers that thrive in my friend's garden. The design is
rendered in full embroidery on Camel Devonshire Art Cloth using satin
stitch, coral stitch and French knots. The natural lilac color of the
flower was retained, and silk thread was employed to mimic the silky feel
of the petals. The head of the cornflower is filled with alternating canary
yellow, sage, and deep brown French knots, while sage green is worked
across the leaves in satin stitch, and deep brown thread worked in the
coral stitch creates the stems. The design is also available in pearl
cotton thread using gold for the flowers, with olive green leaves, brown
stems and flower heads are filled with alternating gold, olive green and
brown French knots. The gold color way also works well using Pasadena
Linen in Flax.
I encourage the intermediate beginner (having completed one project)
to try silk thread. Although cotton thread allows undesired stitches to
be pulled out and re-stitched several times, silk thread will also allow
for re-stitching, but would perhaps snag upon repeated re-work. Ample
thread is supplied in all kits to allow beginners additional strands for
practice or re-work.
Pillow: 18" X 18"
Table Scarf: 13" X 52"
Rose Motif
An original design, roses were often conventionalized and adapted to
a number of handicrafts during the Arts and Crafts movement. Recognizable
stylized rose motifs from the period include a rose designed by Dard Hunter,
which was displayed on the front cover of Little Journeys by Elbert Hubbard,
and the "Glasgow rose" from Scottish designer Charles Rennie
Mackintosh.
This design displays a conventionalized rose inspired by the form of
a bloom that has been opened for a few days. The crescent shapes represent
the elongated tops of the softly bent petals that generally take a few
days to form on the newly open bloom. The petals are stitched close together
to further indicate this "mid" stage of the rose. New buds reveal
little about the overall shape of the petal, while spent blooms reveal
the entire petal shape and most of the interior structure. In contrast
to the relatively circular shape of the Glasgow rose, or the square shape
of the Dard Hunter rose, this rose is asymmetrical, but its placement
is balanced.
In the western culture, roses are given on a number of occasions, and
are marked as a beautiful gift to be received on birthdays, St. Valentines'
Day, anniversaries, and even Christmas. In Greek mythology, the red rose
is a symbol for love and affinity. It is interesting that the red rose
has withstood the test of time as the ultimate symbol of love.
The Rose Pillow is worked entirely in satin stitch over a padded foundation
in hand-dyed silk thread on Aurora Flax. The Rose Pillow is also available
in pearl cotton on Pasadena Flax.
Pillow - 20" x 20"
Table Scarf - 13.5" x 35"
Butterfly Motif
An original design inspired by a period stencil I encountered several
years ago. A playful motif that captures the smooth texture and colorful
appeal of these beautiful insects, which were often used during the Arts
and Crafts movement as decoration on hand-painted ceramics, and were also
used to decorate vases, wallpapers, and textiles.
The diverse patterns and colors displayed across the butterfly's wings
are formed by hundreds of scales that contain a pigment that produces
black and brown, while blues, greens, and reds are created by the scattering
of light within the microstructure of the scales. As told in Kwaidan:
Stories and Studies of Strange Things, by Lafcadio Hearn, the butterfly
is believed to represent the personification of a person's soul, whether
they are living or already deceased.
The Butterfly pillow is worked in hand-dyed silk thread in full embroidery
available in purple or cognac color way on Natural Irish Linen. A pearl
cotton option is also available in a red color way on Aurora Flax. The
design can also be stenciled with embroidery outlining each area in the
stem stitch in corresponding thread color, and smaller areas (circles
and oval shapes) filled with satin stitches. Available complete or in
kits in the following finished size:
Pillow - 18" x 22"
Water Lily
An original design inspired by the continuous joy I receive from my pond.
As an avid water gardener, I am simply amazed by these aqueous beauties.
Like most plants, water-lilies must be rooted in soil, but they also need
to be fully submerged in water. The leaves and buds grow toward the surface
of the water. Unlike lotus or tropical lilies, the flowers of the hardy
lily float on the surface of the water, and the lily pads are generally
circular and include a single pie slice notch that occurs on all species
with the exception of the Victoria water-lily; one of the largest water-lilies
with a pad span of 28 inches (and I was impressed with the plate size
lily pads I get in June)!
The Water Lily motif incorporates soft Art Nouveau lines within a clean
Arts and Crafts layout. The water lily petals are worked in satin stitch
in pearl cotton thread. The stems of the plant are completed in two rows
of stem stitch, and the lily pads are embroidered using the long and short
stitch. This design is also available stenciled and embroidered. Water
Lily comes in Pink Petal and Fire Lily color-way on Pasadena Linen in
Flax; available complete or in a kit in the following finished sizes:
Pillow - 18" x 21"
Water Lily Minor (Short Table Scarf)- 13" x 35"
Water Lily Manor (Long Table Scarf) - 19" x 54"
Bat Motif
A fascinating species, bats made several appearances during the Arts
and Crafts movement. As a distinct object within the hand-carved frieze
on the Gamble House's living room wall, in Pasadena, California, the bat
form also inspired designs for pottery, and is notably recognized in a
stained glass lamp created by Tiffany and Company, and in a tray by Rookwood
Pottery.
As the only mammal in the world naturally capable of flight, Chinese
cultural views the bat as a symbol of longevity and happiness. In Western
Culture, the bat is a symbol of night and the unknown, and has a more
foreboding nature. Based on these two distinct views, the design is rendered
on both a light background, and a blue background. Ivy coupled naturally
with the bat design, repeating similar lines found along the wings of
the bat, and evokes the thought of ivy covered castles and dusk.
The bat motif is an original design worked on Blue Devonshire Art Cloth
or Craftsman Jute with the bats appliquéd in brown and couched
in a complementing thread color. The ivy leaves are worked in satin stitch
using olive green thread, and the vine is worked in the stem stitch using
a nutmeg brown. Whether the bat motif becomes part of your everyday décor
or is brought out during autumn time, it is truly a fun and playful design.
Available complete and in kits in the following finished sizes:
Pillow - 24" x 24"
Table Round - 25" diameter
Bat Minor (Short Table Scarf) - 13" x 35"
Cone Flower
The Cornflower design is an adaptation from a table scarf that was originally
produced by an American company at the beginning of the 20th century.
I adore this design and it is one of the only adapted designs in the collection.
The colors in the design are based on the original piece; however the
scale of design was increased. The design is worked entirely in satin
stitch and is an excellent project for a beginner and for needle crafters'
seeking to practice or improve on this widely used stitch within Arts
and Crafts textiles. Worked on Pasadena, the use of a thick thread creates
a stitch that appears padded and three-dimensional without going through
any extra effort.
Pillow: 20" by 20"
Table Scarf: 14" by 52"
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