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#1
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Surface Embroidery Kits - Designs Influenced by Wm Morris
Some of us have been lamenting the lack of surface embroidery kit
options. To add to the list of available embroidery kits for surface embroidery, I offer you the following link. By Ann Chaves, of Inglenook Textiles in California. I just found this today, I had been to a website (this website?) previously which listed some interesting William Morris embroidery workshops at a library in California, but had not seen noted that Ann Chaves offered kits. These kits MAY be brand new offerings, because I really think I was at this site previously and she didn't have kits available. Perhaps I just overlooked the kits previously, but I don't think so... http://www.typeandstitch.com (go to the site and click on "kits", obviously) Another place to look for pillow kits is www.annwallace.com Ann Wallace, author of the book "Arts & Crafts Textiles" offers kits influenced by American Arts & Crafts Era (mission style) motifs. If you do a search for Dianne Ayres and "Arts & Crafts Period Textiles" in oakland california, you'll find even more kits in this genre. ENJOY THE EYE CANDY!! Susan |
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#3
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Susan,
thanks for posting that information, my husband and I have been purchasing mission-style furniture (Oh, if only we could afford Stickley!) and I was thinking about some new textiles to go with! Those kits are lovely!! Julie |
#4
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Better yet, I'm enjoying having someone else do the preliminary research for
this month's EGA column. I still have to review the sites myself, but you saved me having to think of a topic and search for sites. Cool! You will send me a copy of the article?? :-) I had an email exchange with Ann Chaves this AM and she told me that she is moving her studio from her home to a commercial space with a small needlework store. It should be ready to open it's doors in August. She has also tracked down sources for silk embroidery thread which is very similiar to that which was in the Arts & Crafts Period embroidery kits. Here new kits for next fall will include silk threads. Lastly, she will continue to offer a series of classes/workshops on embroidery in the Arts & Crafts Period, including designing classes and Wm Morris Embroidery Classes. After she moves to her new site she will be holding the classes in her studio space. If you email Ann with your snail mail address she will send you a schedule of her workshops and a catalog of her kits. She has the only "Arts & Crafts Period" kits for dresser scarfs and table runners, that I know of. Plus, she will switch out the cotton perle thread for silk on her existing kits, for an additional charge. Karen - Where in CA do you live? How close is it to Pascedina? (I know I spelled that wrong!) I talked to my friend Lisa this afternoon, and we are seriously considering a trip to California next fall to visit Ann's studio and attend her workshops. My friend will use any excuse for a trip out to CA and her husband does plenty of flying for work, so she has extra frequent flyer miles to burn. In the mean time I will order one of Ann's kits, but have her switch out the threads with silk - because I feel silks are more "special" ;-) Blessings, Susan Davis |
#5
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Could you repost the link, please? I've been watching this thread with
interest. :-) Dianne sewingsusan wrote: I had an email exchange with Ann Chaves this AM and she told me that she is moving her studio from her home to a commercial space with a small needlework store. It should be ready to open it's doors in August. She has also tracked down sources for silk embroidery thread which is very similiar to that which was in the Arts & Crafts Period embroidery kits. Here new kits for next fall will include silk threads. Lastly, she will continue to offer a series of classes/workshops on embroidery in the Arts & Crafts Period, including designing classes and Wm Morris Embroidery Classes. After she moves to her new site she will be holding the classes in her studio space. [snip] |
#6
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In article ,
(sewingsusan) writes: Karen - Where in CA do you live? How close is it to Pascedina? (I know I spelled that wrong!) To quote from an old quiz show "That's right! You're wrong!!!!" Pasadena is near L.A. (Hey, Darla, give a wave!) Sacramento is ~400 miles north of there. It's straight freeway driving, so once you escape the parking lot known as L.A., you'll do 65-75 the whole way up the 5. -- Finished 5/21/04 - Fireman's Wife WIP: Fireman's Prayer (#2), Amid Amish Life, Angel of Autumn, Calif Sampler, Holiday Snowglobe Paralegal - Writer - Editor - Researcher http://hometown.aol.com/kmc528/KMC.html |
#7
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Susan,
thanks for posting that information, my husband and I have been purchasing mission-style furniture (Oh, if only we could afford Stickley!) and I was thinking about some new textiles to go with! Those kits are lovely!! Julie Susan he Sorry, I got busy and didn't have a chance to answer these questions right away. Julie, Congrads on your new Stickly furniture! I'm jealous! You may want to check out two Vogue Pillow Patterns for Embroidered Pillows in the Mission-Style. One of the patterns numbers is 7462 - I don't have the other pattern number handy, but it's on the facing page in the pattern book at your local fabric store. (Check out the page before these patterns, for a pattern of beaded Art Noveau pillows.) I also saw on Ebay this an Ann Wallace table runner kit for $19.95, the seller had 7 availble, plus three completed, handcrafted, pillows from "Ann Wallace & Friends". Judging from the other items this seller had available, I would say he is a retail seller of arts & crafts period items, both antiques and reproductions. He said these Ann Wallace items are overstocks. Search under "Ann Wallace" on ebay and you should find them. The Vogue patterns call for DMC floss, which is okay, but it's not what they used most often a century ago for this type of embroidery work. I have been doing quite a bit of research. Cotton perle #5 is a closer historical match in cotton threads, but embroiders at that time really loved to use silk threads. Silk was popular because the silk industry promoted patterns and kits in women's magazines. As far as I can tell, from my research thusfar, they prefered twisted reeled or filament silk (similiar to cotton perle)- often referred to as rope silk. When the silk industry hit hard times in the mid-1920s replaced silk threads, the rayon was known as "art silk". I have been searching for similiar modern threads, and am in the process of ordering samples and testing them. FYI - There are two types of silk threads. Reeled or filament threads are unwound from the silk cacoon in one LONG strand and then (because they are so thin) twisted with other strands. Spun silk is made just as wool or cotton is made, from the "waste product" of the cacoons. Did you know that spun silk was considered inferior and banned through much of history?? Spun silk is not as shiny as reeled/filament silk, but it is easier to work with than reeled silk. Dianne - the website for Ann Chava's site is; www.typeandstitch.com She will have a new website with a new address in August when she opens her new retail store. This fall Ann will be adding additional kits for arts & crafts inspired textiles - and these will include silk threads. She is converting one of her current kits to silk threads for me, because I so wanted to experience working designs like this in silk. You may also want to check out these sites, Ann Wallace and Dianne Ayres have both written books about American Arts & Crafts Texitles. They use Cotton Perle (probably #5, that's what Ann Chaves said she uses) in their kits. I am going to order my first kit from Ann Chaves, because I want the silk threads. :-) www.annwallace.com www.textilestudio.com I am oalso rdering some spun silk threads from Vikki Clayton for the butterfly (view B) pillow on Vogue Pattern 7462. These threads aren't exactly reproduction silks, but they are very nice and will help me decide if I want to go with reeled silk or the easier to manipulate spun silk. I am also getting some reeled silk from Vikki, although she is discontinuing her line of reeled silk :-(. Vikki has been wonderful in helping me figure out the type of silks which were used in the Arts & Crafts period, she pointed me to reeled silk and I think she may be correct in her assesment that reeled silk is more authentic. She even sent me some samples so I could figure out which weight I wanted to go with, I decided I preferred #8. I will let you know as I further decide on which silk threads to use for the reproduction-style Arts & Crafts Textiles I am planning. Ann Wallace reminded me in an email exchange that the Arts & Crafts Movement is a living movement, so I can decide, as a modern textile artist, to go with materials which aren't exact what was used "way back when". Although I joking talked about designing patterns or kits, my real thoughts at this time is to make Arts & Crafts Style pillows and runners for reproduction furniture showrooms. There are many craftmen in this area who specialize in making quality, handcrafted, reproduction Mission/Stickley Furniture. I think I could perhaps make a dime or two selling pillows at these outlets, if I can get my foot in the door. I first need to decide on the materials I will use and also plan my own designs - my designs would be inspired by arts & crafts era designers, but not exact duplicates. Although I have learned that some of the designs from a century ago are no longer under copyright (Stickly's designs, for one.) (I wouldn't want to do anything someone else is doing, where's the artistry in that?) Well, that's the gameplan... lot's of planning and practice is needed before I kick off this little business idea. I like Ann's workshops and designs, she's doing what I was talking about; providing modern designs for the "Pottery Barn" generation (for lack of a better description.) These are simple, clean, stylized designs. They evoke feelings of peace and tranquility. I believe they reflect the design-style of the post-baby boomer generation. Although they are inspired by an earlier era in design, they are still refreshing and modern. Inspired by nature, as was the arts & crafts era designs, and at times so abstract that it's difficult to identify the item being depicted (another trait of the Arts & Crafts era designs). While looking at designs of this style I find myself getting almost almost mesmorized as my eyes slide over, up & down the curves and lines of the design. I feel they are soothing and comforting in a complex and complicated world. Julie - I personally am not big into owning "the actual antiques" of the arts & crafts era. The real gift that period gave us was the design style which is still (or again) recognized for it's simplistic beauty. I would have no problem with owning reproduction furniture, as long as it is well-built - because it was the quality of workmanship which was of supreme importance to designers of that time. And as I stated, Stickley's designs are no longer under copyright restriction, so you likely got the "real deal" - only crafted a century later! Blessings, Susan |
#8
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Thanks for the web site info (Ann Chava).
Have you tried Kanagawa silk? I believe this might be the "rope" silk you are referring to. Lacis has it. I've used it. It looks like a rope, is filament (shiny) and is extraordinarily beautiful when stitched. Pearl threads are modestly twisted. Isn't Sirica a pearl? My head is swimming with other stuff today, and I simply can't remember. Dianne |
#9
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Have you tried Kanagawa silk? I believe this might be the "rope" silk
you are referring to. Lacis has it. I've used it. It looks like a rope, is filament (shiny) and is extraordinarily beautiful when stitched. Pearl threads are modestly twisted. Isn't Sirica a pearl? My head is swimming with other stuff today, and I simply can't remember. Funny you should mention it - I think I will be getting some Kanagawa silk to play with in a week or two. I have been emailing a woman who primarily does needlepoint and no longer can see well enough to do petit point. She sold me some appleton crewel threads, and when I asked her about silk threads which she may have for sale she told me she had some Kanagawa. I am waiting her reply regarding colors, quantity and pricing. She also has some Au Voir (the stuff you sell, Dianne) but I don't think that's what I am looking for so I passed on it. This woman designs her own needlepoint and sent me some photos of her work - beautiful!!! I had considered needlepoint to be uncreative (sorry, surface embroideress snobishness rearing it's ugly head) - but not if you are working your own designs as this woman does. This woman also told me that she took classes from Elsa Williams years ago (Elsa is now deceased.) I have not run across "Sirica" - or is that from Krenik?? Krenik has one line of twisted silk "Sori Perlee", I think (??) which is being discontinued. It'a available on the "yard sale" portion of their site, for cheap. I have discovered that there are only a few manufacturers of silk - most dyers have the same "base thread" and the difference is only in the dying skill and color selection. Pricing is largely dependant on the company's marketing strategy. Vikki Clayton's product is very affordable because her only outlet is her online retail store - no middleman. But her product is virtually the same as other manufacturers who distribute to your LNS. The only difference being the color selection, not at all the quality of the silk thread - in most cases. At least, this is what my research is telling me - I got that tidbit from the Caron Collection site. I will have to see if Kanagawa has a different "twist" than perle-style silk threads. I am itching to get samples in my hands (and needle!) Admittedly, I am ordering Ann Chave's kit with silk threads to see what she is using for silk threads. She said she did a lot of searching to find the correct silk threads. I could, I suppose, simply ask her what brand of silk she is using, she MIGHT tell me. But i thought it would be kind (and fun) to support her research by purchasing a kit from her. But it is pricey when converted to silks! I had to put off purchasing it until next month, but I am getting an extra (big) check next month - so that works out well. Although I need to do more than simply have with this check (love using that acrynom! It is filtered out of my computer if I type the letters together, my computer is my daughter's loaner computer from her online charter school and they have hidden software on it which is does an incredible job filtering. Good for parental peace of mind, but I can't even reach some of the discussions on this list!) BTW, Pearsells in England has a ton of surface embroidery kits. A lot of birds and such, but as you page through them you will find some non-traditional designs. Their silk is the stranded variety, which I am not interested in for my reproduction plans, but I thought I should mention their kits. I was at their site several weeks ago and it seems to me that they didn't have as much available then as they did a couple of days ago when I visited the site again. But maybe it's like when you are driving a new car - after our discussions here these past few weeks! Regardless, I don't think anyone has mentioned their kits here. Do a search for silk and Pearsell's and you should find it no problem. Blessings, Susan |
#10
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YLI makes a stranded variety which I detest - it's spun silk and very
fine strands. However, re the Kanagawa, if you will email me your snail mail, I'll send you a sample. The Kanagawa comes in 2 sizes, I believe. I have the smallest. Kreinik has a 3-ply filament sold as Serica. I'm not fond of Au ver a Soie - it's spun silk and rather fuzzy. I sell Madiera, which is not what you want, either. I was unaware of the Pearsell's kits. That's the beauty of RCTN - we get people like you hunting all this stuff up for us. Actually, a LOT of canvas embroidery is extraordinary these days. But I prefer to do what I'm doing. Dianne |
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