Tagged: embroidery
Craft x
Saw this. And a part of me, deep inside, roared – why hadn’t I thought of this? So simple, so satisfying. How many times have I passed piles of pictures and postcards at jumbles and car boot sales and felt the pang of loss for their former glory, the lure of their nostalgia and potential ignored? No longer my friends – this ship is primed and ready to sale; the perfect combination of new and old, structure and imagination and Netflix plus mindful.
(All pics Pinterest)
Laters, Kate x
Sashiko x
I love this; a functional marriage between the fragility of these crocheted leaves and the darning of these jumpers. The message being that old things can be treasured, worn things aren’t bad and that imagination is precious. These are all examples of Sashiko, a form of decorative reinforcement stitching from Japan, (though it also reminds me of Indian Kantha quilts). Every piece has been given some much needed love, transformed and given new life.
(All pics Pinterest)
It’s the sort of message I like for the start of a decade.
Laters, Kate x
Project x
We spent last week in the far north of Finland, 120 miles within the arctic circle: A fab and magical holiday – proper photos to follow – but it blew my mind to be miles away from anywhere, in a winter wonderland deep with thick, pure white snow, and somebody still had the guts, gall, initiative to guerrilla yarn bomb…that’s not a tree with a strange disease in the picture.
I’m loving the way this Street Art is developing, mutating different yarn crafts, particularly the use of embroidery.
But not only is it a new take on embroidery, it’s the re-imagining of the holding structure: Anything with a grid is fair game.
(All pics Pinterest)
It’s a new way of looking at our black and white world…and seeing potential.
Laters, Kate x
Holy holes x
This post makes me think of gentle waves lapping on sandy shore complete with bucket, spade and cricket bat. It’s old fashioned, timeless and harks back to simpler times in an eat it now sort of way.
Celia Pym is a knitting/embroidery artist and much of her work centres around visible mending – taking something worn, discarded and unloved…
..and adding a new, contrasting layer to marry the piece together.
The finished work takes on a whole new personality – the ghost of the past with the mend of the future. The work is seamless but showy, in the best unshouty kind of way.
It makes me think I would love to do something like this to a much loved cashmere cardigan that’s seen better days. 
Or mend the knees in my jeans like this. Maybe it’s the integrity of the craft that’s so appealing? But I looked up on You Tube to see how to do it..
(All pics Celia Pym)
Even watching this was meditative.
Now where’s my darning mushroom?
Laters, Kate x
Nicely Niche..
I was speaking to a friend yesterday about the appeal of embroidered patches and we were discussing where to buy them. I don’t know the cheapest place to find them (any suggestions gratefully received – I’ll pass them on) but I do know the best:
Hand and Lock has provided the finest hand embroidery since 1767, offering everything from civilian to military regalia to ecclesiastical to couture.
They have the skill to produce intricate delights such as this.
Which can then with their bespoke service and be translated, if you so wish, into…well..the imagination is your limit.
They also offer a range of machine embroidered badges, perfect for every day. You know they know their stuff because the sizes are perfect.
This place is a little slice of living history – it’s even possible to take part in workshops or tour the atelier. This is Britain at it’s best.
Laters, Kate x
Design Hero’s x
Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino are serenely working a rich thread of inspiration which carries through to their Resort 2015 Collection.
I look at their work and wonder what it is that always makes my heart beat so. And every time the answer is the same: The workmanship.
When you read descriptions of dresses from centuries past: delicate silks caught in a web of tulle with stitches made with fairy hands…you think it’s a quality of work that’s been lost forever…until you see Valentino.
It’s also fascinating that these exquisite clothes are not based on the clothes from the Ball room or Drawing room, but are drawn from bohemian and peasant designs. Every-day-wear now elevated to the heavenly.
The incredible embroideries and textiles have a soul of their own, harking back to that time when only the very best would do, when skill named the price and craftsmanship mattered.
And like sorcerers, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli have conjured up and captured that magic.
There’s no pretence..it’s hours and hours of layers of care and dedication.
With a little bit of cool thrown in.
But the truth is, for reasons beyond the concept of modern day sheep-street Brand these clothes are the representation of true luxury…they are literally works of walking Art. And they blow my mind.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 