Modern Embroidery

Since another World Embroidery Day is just around the corner, I updated this 2018 post and added more information about the embroidery artists and what they’ve been up to lately. Also, since it is World Embroidery Day, I listed what countries they are from and/or living in.
—S

In honor of the upcoming World Embroidery Day (July 30), here are 18 modern embroidery art pieces and patterns!

travel embroidery by Le Kadre — Via My Modern Met.

1. Travel memories.

Charles Henry and Elin Petronella ~~(a.k.a. “Le Kadre”)~~ embroider scenes from places they travel.

Artists: Charles Henry and Elin Petronella

Countries: France and Sweden

Currently…

Still together, but no longer going by Le Kadre, the artistic couple’s new website is simply charlesandelin.com.
They’ve also created the Charles and Elin Academy, where they offer online courses in modern hand embroidery.

Little leaf embroidery — By Brannon Addison via Brown Paper Bag.

2. Intricate blooms.

Brannon Addison of Happy Cactus Designs does spontaneous freehand embroidery of tiny flowers, leaves, and ferns. Doesn’t this piece just look so joyful?! (h/t Brown Paper Bag)

Artist: Brannon Addison

Country: USA

Currently…

Happy Cactus Designs is her line of framed, one-of-a-kind pieces that she has embroidered by hand.
High quality photos of some of her work become the front of cheerful, blank greeting cards.

3. Geometric heart.

Busy Being Jennifer explains how to sew your own “geo style” embroidery art, like the heart she made.

Artist: Jennifer Jayne

Country: Canada

Currently…

Jennifer continues to write about DIY and craft projects, food, health, and a variety of other topics.
She recently posted about what to see during a romantic weekend in Verona, Italy!

Solar system embroidery — By Alice Mitev.

4. Solar system on a string.

Alice of Cut and Rum created this fanciful piece that shows the planets on cat’s cradle strings. She teaches hand embroidery classes on Skillshare.

Artist: Alice Mitev

Countries: from Brazil, living in Germany

Currently… Her Instagram bio includes a link to get 2 free months of Skillshare Premium!

5. Artist trading cards.

iHanna made these sunny embroidered artist trading cards on fabric with painted backgrounds.

Artist: Hanna Andersson

Country: Sweden

Currently…

Hanna created her first short film! It’s called “Winter.”
Other media she has been exploring recently include watercolor, collage, and art journalling.
She continues to share her latest projects on her site, Studio iHanna.

Coffee photo with embroidery. Original listing was at https://www.etsy.com/listing/578242120/you-had-me-at-coffee-coffee-lover-latte — By Emily Lewin Bose.

6. Coffee

Emily Lewin, whose travel photography we featured in a previous post, uses embroidery to embellish her photos with subjects ranging from landscapes to latte art.

Artist: Emily Lewin Bose

Country: USA

Currently…

She got married! Search “Emily Bose” to find her on social media.
While she’s no longer selling on Etsy, you can find links to her book, past podcast episodes, and other projects at EmilyLewin.com.

fable applique - chicken — By MICAO via Brown Paper Bag.

7. Fabled.

Another find via Brown Paper Bag were these fanciful embroidered interpretations of Aesop’s Fables by Mika Hirasa (also known as MICAO).

Artist: Mika Hirasa / MICAO

Country: Japan

Currently…

You can see MICAO’s latest projects on Behance.
She has started writing and illustrating children’s books!
The first book she published, Boring Sunday, uses embroidery in an inventive way that is also key to the story.

8. Stitched paintings.

Marna Lunt used stitches like brushstrokes to create her detailed, one-of-a-kind works.

Artist: Marna Lunt

Country: U.K. (northeast England)

Currently…

Marna Lunt’s focus now is oil painting, often inspired by the North Yorkshire moors where she grew up.
She no longer does embroidery or makes textile art.

Embroidered map. Original image source: http://www.bryningart.co.uk/photo_14379993.html — By Mary Bryning.

9. Embroidered maps.

Mary Bryning makes embroidered maps of places, primarily near her home in northwestern England.

Artist: Mary Bryning

Country: U.K. (Wirral Peninsula)

Currently… She continues creating fiber art maps and nature-inspired pieces.

10. Pineapples.

These pineapples were stitched by Yumiko Higuchi, with help from her cat, Bona. To see more of Bona on Instagram, check out hashtag #樋口ボナ or #BonaHiguchi.

Artist: Yumiko Higuchi

Country: Japan (Tokyo)

Currently…

Yumiko Higuchi’s latest book is Embroidery in Everyday Life. (It’s in Japanese with an English translation is in progress.)
Several of her other books have been translated into English, as well as some into Korean, French, and German.

ASL I love you pattern — By Jess Coppom.

11. I love you.

Make + Do Crew offers this embroidery pattern of the ASL sign for “I love you” free to subscribers of their email list.

Artist: Jess Coppom

Country: USA (Colorado)

Currently…

The Make + Do Crew is made up of Jess Coppom, along with her mother and sisters.
Although this is an embroidery design, their focus is on creating crochet patterns that are easy to follow and make cozy items.

12. Donutotoros!

Phoenix artist IggyStarpup whipped up a dozen donut-shaped Totoros!

Artist: IggyStarpup / Courtney Doom

Country: USA (Arizona)

Currently…

Courtney Doom recently created a new Animal Crossing Collection.
She carries more of her embroidery art, stickers, and pins in her Etsy shop.

Stitched mountain postcard. Original listing: https://www.etsy.com/listing/254842341/mountain-scene-postcard-embroidered — By Alicia Hubbell.

13. Mountain scene postcard.

GrannyAbell upcycles paper grocery bags into postcards with designs embroidered onto them. There’s white cardstock on the back, so your writing will show up clearly!

Artist: Alicia Hubbell (F.K.A. Granny Abell)

Country: USA (from Navajo Nation, living in Illinois)

Currently… Now Alicia Hubbell sells her embroidery, paper, and bead art as Loveabell Studio.

14. Fox.

Helen Richman of The Bluebird Embroidery Company creates original embroidery of lovely, realistic-looking forest animals.

Artist: Helen Richman

Country: U.K. (Somerset, England)

Currently…

In addition to her original embroidered artwork, she sells embroidery kits, greeting cards and prints of her original designs.
She also takes commissions for pet portraits and other subjects.

15. Winged heart.

Constanza created this puffy heart with couched embroidery, ribbon, fibers – and two days’ work.

Artist: Constanza Berger Silva

Countries: Chile / USA / England

Currently… Constanza Berger sells her art, as well as vintage and antique items in her Etsy shop, Peregrine Blue.

16. Swallow galaxy.

There’s a magical quality to this swallow with a tail of stars trailing behind it by Juno Embroidery.

Artist: juno (ユノ)

Country: Japan

Currently…

Earlier this summer, her embroidery art was on display at Hyakuchomori, a children’s book and toy store in Shizuoka, Japan.
She created the poster art for ArtMACHI creators’ conference for 2024, Year of the Dragon.

17. Tiny feather necklaces.

These cute little embroidery hoops by Jenny Vantland might get lost on your wall, but they’re a great size for necklaces!

Artist: Jenny Vantland

Country: USA (coastal Georgia)

Currently…

Jenny Vantland’s personal Instagram (where these necklaces were featured) is now private.
You can follow Goldie, her new brand of embroidered caps celebrating the Golden Isles of Georgia.
To purchase one, DM her via @goldie.merch on Instagram.
In person, you can find her merch at Viola’s Market on St. Simons Island or Makers in Brunswick, Georgia.

we're all human. Original source link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/622540221/were-all-human-pdf-embroidery-pattern-by — By Sarah K. Benning.

18. We’re all human.

Sarah K. Benning designed this pattern with a simple and powerful message. ~~It’s available for purchase, and~~ all proceeds go to RAICES Texas.

Artist: Sarah K. Benning

Country: USA (Maryland)

Currently…

…Donations

This pattern is not online anymore.
You can still donate directly to RAICES to support their work advocating for immigrants and refugees.

…Sarah K. Benning

Sarah K. Benning is taking a break from Etsy and no longer creates or sells DIY embroidery patterns.
You can find her stunning embroidery artwork on her site and at Apartment 528.
She’s the subject of an entire book! Embroidered Life: The Art of Sarah K. Benning by Sara Barnes.

…Sara Barnes

Besides authoring Embroidered Life, Sara Barnes writes about great illustration (which often includes embroidery) on her site, Brown Paper Bag.
Her site is where I learned about two of the artists I featured above, Brannon Addison (#2) and MICAO (#7). (So we’ve kind of come full circle!)

Updated July 2024.
Originally posted July 2018.

Etsy links shops have been converted to affiliate links. Etsy purchases you make after clicking them earns a small commission that helps this site without costing you anything extra!

February 7, 2024February 7, 2024

Color Story: Gems + Jewel Tones (part 2)

l had so much jewel-toned goodness to share with you in part 1 of this color story that it overflowed into this whole separate post!

So you can continue to revel in jewel-toned art, nature, artisan goods, destinations, and DIYs.

Also, I’ve put all the Etsy items from both posts into a Jewel Tones collection, so you can find them more easily. (I’m an Etsy affiliate, so you can click through one of the links on this page, buy something awesome, and you’ll be supporting the site at the same time!)

1. Amethyst-colored feathers cover the heads of male Costa’s hummingbirds, like this striking fella, who was perched in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Hummingbird Aviary. / photo by @reenagiolaphoto (avid photographer of birds + her Australian shepherds) via Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

2. “Crystal Trees” oil painting by Erin Hanson. Its palette was inspired by lush springtime in the Texas hill country. / prints + textured replicas are available to ship worldwide

3. “The Sacred Garden Box” made by gem intarsia artist Nicolai Medvedev from opal, sugilite, lapis-lazuli, turquoise, and malachite. / H/T Western Spirit (“Scottsdale’s museum of the West”), which had an exhibition of his work in 2023. / Photo by Harold + Erica Van Pelt

4. A pack of 24 watercolor birthstone greeting cards (blank inside) by The Ritzy Rose.

5. Fabulous Cheesecake with Blueberry Glaze, a dessert re-discovered on a clipping from a 1975 issue of Southern Living magazine tucked into in a family recipe box. / via Food.com

6. Still life with plums, part of the Endless Summer series of 9 paintings by French illustrator Léa Maupetit. / Endless Summer has been exhibited in the artist’s home city of Paris at Klin d’oeil Boutique + Galerie and as far away as 1905 Re-creative Space in Shenyang, China!

7. LOVE bracelets, part of a project providing artisans worldwide with fair wages. / Pictured are Carolina, Claudia, and Wendy, three sisters from a village near Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, who earned enough money weaving these bracelets to build an extra floor onto their home! / via Love Is Project

8. “Enchanted” soy candle in a tin made by A Bearden Project. / sold via The Bee Hive, a boutique collective of independent makers in Atlanta

9. Phoenix Chile Pepper Festival attendees mingling as the sun goes down. / We went to the festival in 2016. Unfortunately, I don’t think they hold it anymore.

10. “Woodland romance” bouquet made from foliage with a mix of textures and tied with cascading ribbons. The flowers and other decor were inspired by the woodsy outdoor setting of a wedding reception. / flowers by Lace and Lilies + photo by Lori Kennedy Photography via The Perfect Palette

11. “We Are Star Stuff“ acrylic painting by Arizona artist Frank Gonzales, whose art is also featured on a large scale in the terrazzo floor of the 24th Street Sky Tram station at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

12. The Northern Lights in Norway! / The photo comes from one of the Sustainable Susie comic books, where the titular character shares responsible travel tips for seeing the aurora borealis and exploring fjords. The books were created by the nonprofit United States Tour Operators Association. / Photo credit: Hans Petter Sørensen + FarOutFocus/Visit Norway via AFAR Media

13. Teal and blue blown-glass terrarium for succulents, air plants, or fairy gardens. / by Garden Outside the Box / mostly blue version

14. Large malachite gemstone in the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem + Mineral Museum, Tucson. / I took the photo when I visited the museum last fall. It’s one of Tucson’s top spots to see crystals, gems, and minerals all year round!

15. Rainbow Peacock Watercolor Print by Dean Crouser.

16. Guide for making beeswax food wraps, bee-less vegan food wraps, and snack bags, as reusable alternatives to single-use plastic wrap and baggies. / by Mountain Rose Herbs

17. Boozy Gem Jams by Moxie and Sassafras, a Tucson maker of small-batch macarons, alcohol-infused jams, and other treats with unexpected flavors.

18. Super colorful socks knit by the ever talented + creative Kelli Donley Williams!

19. At Sky Bar in Tucson, a video that looks like space plays on the big screen, while we wait for them to wheel out the telescope. They have nightly stargazing on the patio with volunteer astronomers to guide you and answer questions!

20. Fluorite and smoked quartz at the Galerie de Géologie et de Minéralogie in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris. It was found on Mount Blanc by crystal prospector Christophe Péray, who had lost his longtime collaborator Laurent Chatel on the same mountain range the year before. In his memory, Christophe named this specimen “Laurent.” / Photo by F. Farges via Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle

21. Dark Chocolate Detox Bites topped with dried fruit that looks just like the red fluorite in Laurent (from #20)! / The sweets are meant to be a healthier version of a traditional French Christmas candy, called mendiants (medallions). / by The View From Great Island

January 27, 2024January 27, 2024

Color Story: Gems + Jewel Tones (part 1)

Beyond just decoration, color is elemental.

Think of mineral pigments. The way a body of water takes on shades of what it carries – a cloudy blue glacial stream, a teal bay concealing a forest of kelp, a river that turns mud-brown with sediment. The hue of flames shifting from fuel and temperature changes. Or the impact of heat and chemical makeup on the color of lava, of aurora, of stars.

The rich, saturated colors of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, and other gemstones are actually from trace elements within them. It’s those so-called imperfections that create the gorgeous palette we call jewel tones.

With Tucson’s gem show season beginning today, it seemed like the perfect time to explore jewel-toned things to make, places to visit, handmade items to shop, and nature to marvel at.

In fact, I found so many gems to share with you that there will be a Part 2!

1. Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula, as seen through Webb Telescope filters. / public domain composite image via NASA and Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) / in case you’re wondering: “How Are Webb’s Full-Color Images Made?” + “Where Colors in Telescope Images Come From”

2. Mineral from “one of the world’s finest collections of crystals” in the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro, Oregon.

3. Interstellar Collection clay earrings handmade in Tucson by Little Rabbit Jewelry.

4. My photo of the fantastical Gila monster/Quetzalcoatl dragon mural that Jessica Gonzales created for Amazing Discoveries game store in Tucson.

5. Fluorite Obelisk made from natural crystal by Liz Creation Studio.

6. Monarch butterfly mosaic made on sustainable birchwood by Lantern Press Artwork.

7. Tossing Mardi Gras beads from a balcony in New Orleans. / via MardiGrasNewOrleans.com / History of throwing trinkets to Mardi Gras crowds.

8+9. Balsamic goat cheese pasta with roasted beets. / via Half-Baked Harvest

10. Looking up at the cut-gem shape of the ceiling of the Byrd Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. / photo by Florence Womack

11. Fruit and Tonics: Recipe for giant, fruit-infused ice cubes that will give your drink more flavor as they melt instead of watering it down! / Add to gin and tonics, plain sparkling water, lemonade, or a pitcher of sangria. / via A Beautiful Mess

12. Sari Silk Cushion Cover made from vintage fabric in Jaipur, India by TheCraftmanship.

13. Free printable for making watercolor paper gems. / via We Are Scout

14. Prickly pear juice handcrafted by Desert Forager’s John Slattery. / At Tucson Meet Yourself, he was hustling to ring up beverage orders on one side of his booth while selling and signing his book, Southwest Foraging, on the other! / Return the jar your drink is served in for a discounted refill.

15. Traditional Palestinian Costume: Origins and Evolution by Hanan Karaman Munayyer, a beautiful book I borrowed recently.

16. Lanterns to celebrate Buddha’s birthday (Vesak Day) in Seoul, South Korea. / via Huffington Post

17. Hand-cut glass bottle wind chimes made by Bottles Uncorked. / You can order a set of all 10 colors or choose a single bottle.

18. BIRDLOVER Guatemalan Huipil Blouse, handwoven and embroidered by Doña Juana, a Mayan weaver in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. It was a 6-month long project! / via Mayan Artisans on Etsy

Photos link to their sources. This post contains Etsy affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on purchases – at no extra cost to you! Win-win!

November 24, 2023November 25, 2023

“Frybread Face:” a Film about Family, Flocks + Defining Yourself

Imagine that you’re 12.

It’s the beginning of summer 1990, and you’re growing up in San Diego. You’ve got a Walkman, a neon green fanny pack, and annual passes to SeaWorld.

Then your mom effectively cancels all your summer plans when she tells you she’ll be sending you to stay at your grandma’s house on a sheep ranch in rural Arizona instead. [Record scratch.]

That’s the beginning of Benny’s story in the film Frybread Face and Me.

Welcome to the Rez

Benny, portrayed by Keir Tallman, is a sweet, Fleetwood-Mac-loving preteen, who marches to the beat of his own drum.

His Aunt Lucy drops him off at the home of his grandmother (played by Sarah Natani, who is a Navajo master weaver in real life, as well as in the movie).

It’s the first time in years he’s been on the reservation, and it is a bit of culture shock for the city kid. Although he’s Navajo (Diné), he doesn’t speak the language and has grown up away from the traditions that weave their way into the life of many of his relatives.

Grandma Lorraine only speaks Navajo. When it is just the two of them, her words are not subtitled. So unless you speak Navajo, you are as in the dark as Benny is.

His Uncle Marvin, who also lives on the ranch, speaks English but doesn’t have a kind word to say to Benny.

Although Grandma Lorraine’s house is so remote that it doesn’t have running water or electricity, it is actually the hub that connects his extended family. It’s where they always return – especially in times of transition or difficulty.

The City Cousin and the Country Cousin

Things begin to turn around for Benny with the arrival of his 10-year-old cousin (played by Charley Hogan), who everyone calls “Frybread Face.” Not only is she able to translate the Navajo language and culture for him, she can give him the scoop on their relatives, as well. The two cousins bond while working together to take care of sheep, fix fences, and find time to just have fun and be kids.

Throughout the film, Benny is trying to understand who he is and how he fits into his culture and his family. He also learns that the adults don’t have it all figured out either.

Native American Heritage Continues

The film is beautiful with plenty of moments to both make you smile and to tug at your heart strings.

It was written and directed by Billy Luther, who is Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo. While he has made documentaries (including the award-winning Miss Navajo) and television shows, this is his first feature film! It was filmed on location in New Mexico with shots that capture the wide open spaces and stark beauty of the high desert.

Frybread Face and Me is being released on Netflix and in select theaters today (November 24, 2023) in honor of Native American Heritage Day.

Film preview and photos courtesy of ARRAY.

August 22, 2023August 18, 2023

Our Mesa Mini Quilt Shop Hop (Part 2)

When it didn’t work out for my mom and I to make a day trip for the Northern Arizona Quilt Shop Hop (part 1 of this saga), we opted instead to visit a couple of her favorite East Valley quilt shops. Both of them participate in the official Phoenix-area (Valley) shop hop that usually takes place in the fall, so we were hoping to get the scoop on that while we were there.

Quilt Shops

The stores we visited were A Quilter’s Oasis and Mad B’s Quilt and Sew. Afterwards, while we were in the car headed to see Barbie, we recorded a few thoughts about the two shops.

Mom: Both places [A Quilter’s Oasis and Mad B’s] are always very helpful to get you what you need and help you find what you’re looking for! You see the owner’s characteristics in the shop, just like if you go into somebody else’s home. It shows their personality.

A Quilter’s Oasis

Mom: I think they’re exceptionally helpful in A Quilter’s Oasis. They have a really big collection of batiks, so that would be a distinctive for them.

Me: I think A Quilters Oasis also had more “cutesy” fabrics, which is good if that’s what you’re looking for.

Mom: Yeah. And so many quilts displayed, which is really nice!

geometric quilt design in black and white — Carrol’s Garden quilt for an upcoming class with instructor Brittany DeVries (October 28).

They were indeed very helpful at A Quilters Oasis, which was our first stop. I think by the time we’d been there 10 minutes, three different people had asked if we needed anything! We checked out their classroom space, and even the class participants were super friendly.

We ended up in a whole conversation with the staff about our attempted trip to the Northern Arizona Quilt Shop Hop and the upcoming one in the Phoenix area. They shared what they could about shop hop plans that were already in the works.

Colorful quilt called vintage. — Instructor Kathy Reynolds will teach a class on making this “Vintage” quilt on October 3.

For their store specifically, that includes deciding where to get cookies this year, because, apparently, they give away tons of them during the shop hop! The fact that they’re already working on this tells me their priorities are in the right place.

Mad B’s t-shirt collaboration with State Forty-Eight.

Mad B’s Quilt and Sew

We followed that up by visiting another Mesa-based quilt shop, Mad B’s Quilt and Sew.

Me: Maybe the fabrics were a little more modern at Mad B’s.

Mom: Yeah, maybe a little more modern. Mad B’s always has their projects out for you to look at – if you can find them!

She laughed, because we had gone around the whole store trying to find a particular sample project that she wanted to show me. Turns out the teachers make their own demonstration samples for classes and take them home once the class is over, so it actually wasn’t even there anymore.

We turned our attention to gathering supplies for the next class Mom would be taking there. Sales associates helped us locate the right zippers and figure out how much of different types of fabric she’d need for the project.

Mad B’s entrance — The entrance to Mad B’s in Mesa.

She’s been taking extra classes at Mad B’s this summer. They offered this great deal where you’d buy a Class Pass and then could take all the classes you want in July and August without paying additional class fees.

It seems like a nice way to liven up a time of year when the heat is feeling oppressive and not much is going on!

City of Peoria quilt — Quilt in a community center in Peoria.

Shop Hop Around the Valley

Mom: A quilt shop hop is a regional opportunity to see different quilt shops. For us here in the Valley, they’re spread for – I don’t know – 50 miles? So a lot of times people will divide and do the West Valley one time and the East Valley another time. But there’s also groups of quilters who will just rent a bus or a van and go, for the whole day, from one shop to the next!

Shop Hop Map via A Quilter’s Oasis on Facebook.

While many of the details were yet-to-be released, we did find out a few things about this fall’s Phoenix-area shop hop, which is more formally known as…

Hop Around the Valley: Maricopa County Shop Association Shop Hop

Dates: October 6-14, 2023
Passports are $10 and are now available for purchase at any of the shops.
Get passport stamps by visiting all 9 participating shops during the Shop Hop dates to be eligible for the grand prizes!

Cactus pincushions at the Phoenix Area Quilters Association (PAQA) booth at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival.

Each shop in the hop will…

Do a different demonstration.
Give you something to take home with you.
Have prize drawings, including two $50 gift cards for their shop!

October should be a much nicer time of year to be hopping around Phoenix. I think my mom has already bought her passport!