Poppy and Fern

I am just in love with PoppyandFern's miniature hand embroidery, based out of Texas. Such cuteness in a tiny package. Check out the shop on etsy to see more of her work!

Oktak

Trees in snow coin purse
"Oktak was founded by Aki, a Tokyoite living in the heart of Manhattan, NYC. Aki studied handbag design & construction at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) from 2003 to 2004, and has been making colorful bags and frame pouches since."
mini-bio written by Aki via the etsy profile
FACEBOOK * TWITTER * FEATURED SELLER * ETSY * FLICKR * BLOG

Moxiedoll

Hand Embroidery Hoop - The Green Gang
"MOXIEDOLL - An attractive woman with aggressive energy, spirit and know-how.
A little background...
I was born and raised in the small, rural town of Salem, OH. Growing up I spent my days fashioning Barbie dolls and choreographing dance routines with my neighborhood friends in the backyard. A bibliophile from inception, I was also notorious for carrying books everywhere I went and even co-authored an illustrated chapter book with my best friend in the sixth grade. In high school I developed a passion for taking pictures and eventually merged my love of writing and photography by working on the school newspaper and yearbook. I left for college with lofty dreams of one day becoming a photojournalist for National Geographic, but ended up graduating with a B.A. in English and aspirations of librarianship.
After pursuing my MLIS at Kent State, I landed my first professional position as Fiction and Audiovisual Librarian in the artsy community of Oak Park, IL. A move to the city to get paid to talk about books and movies with people? It seemed like a dream come true for this country mouse! Shortly after my move in 2002, I discovered the emerging DIY scene in Chicago and decided I wanted to become a part of it. So I ordered some Sublime Stitching patterns, taught myself how to embroider and quickly began selling my creations at craft fairs.
My love of variety and desire to try new things led me to explore many crafts over the next several years - everything from screenprinting to jewelry making. And I simultaneously began to work my way up at the library, taking on more advanced job titles. Ultimately though I returned to the craft I know and love best - hand embroidery. In 2009 I began stitching primarily retro inspired designs using vintage materials and almost immediately began receiving continuous positive feedback from customers and the crafting community.
After finding the library ladder climbing to be more tiring and less rewarding than I had hoped, I decided to leave library land in July 2010 in order to pursue my crafting business and find my next professional path. I am still searching and settling into my new working life, but I am much happier and looking forward to what the future will bring!"
bio written by Mandy via the etsy profile

Lyla accessories

Embroidery Hoop Art - Pomegranate Wall Hanging
"I was born in the UK and moved to Turkey 11 years ago after meeting my Turkish husband. Now we live in a lovely sunny resort called Didim and we have a very active 8 year old little boy. I studied a variety of 3D art and design courses before moving to Turkey but it wasn't until a few years ago that I decided to use my talents again to produce my unique one off designs.
Jewelry should be unique and eye catching and thats whay I use a mixed range of medias like silk, natural stones and Polymer clay. Polymer clay is extra special to me because each and every creation is never the same as the other. I'm forever making interesting and new designs so please pop by again soon.
I have previous internet sales experience selling on a very well known Turkish site quite similar to Esty. So if you haven’t quite found what you’re looking for please contact me and I’m sure I can make something to suit your special requirements.
Every client is very special to me, I love to hear when and where they’ve worn my lovelies and the compliments they receive. So feel free to convo me anytime even if it's just for a chat."
bio written by Louise Demirbas via the etsy profile
FACEBOOK * BLOG * ETSY

Moxiedoll

Typewriter Transcription
"MOXIEDOLL - An attractive woman with aggressive energy, spirit and know-how.
A little background...
I was born and raised in the small, rural town of Salem, OH. Growing up I spent my days fashioning Barbie dolls and choreographing dance routines with my neighborhood friends in the backyard. A bibliophile from inception, I was also notorious for carrying books everywhere I went and even co-authored an illustrated chapter book with my best friend in the sixth grade. In high school I developed a passion for taking pictures and eventually merged my love of writing and photography by working on the school newspaper and yearbook. I left for college with lofty dreams of one day becoming a photojournalist for National Geographic, but ended up graduating with a B.A. in English and aspirations of librarianship.
After pursuing my MLIS at Kent State, I landed my first professional position as Fiction and Audiovisual Librarian in the artsy community of Oak Park, IL. A move to the city to get paid to talk about books and movies with people? It seemed like a dream come true for this country mouse! Shortly after my move in 2002, I discovered the emerging DIY scene in Chicago and decided I wanted to become a part of it. So I ordered some Sublime Stitching patterns, taught myself how to embroider and quickly began selling my creations at craft fairs.
My love of variety and desire to try new things led me to explore many crafts over the next several years - everything from screenprinting to jewelry making. And I simultaneously began to work my way up at the library, taking on more advanced job titles. Ultimately though I returned to the craft I know and love best - hand embroidery. In 2009 I began stitching primarily retro inspired designs using vintage materials and almost immediately began receiving continuous positive feedback from customers and the crafting community.
After finding the library ladder climbing to be more tiring and less rewarding than I had hoped, I decided to leave library land in July 2010 in order to pursue my crafting business and find my next professional path. I am still searching and settling into my new working life, but I am much happier and looking forward to what the future will bring!"
bio written by moxiedoll via the etsy profile
BLOG * TWITTER * PINTREST * FACEBOOK * ETSY * FLICKR

Sidereal

Red Poppies Hand Embroidered Wall Art
"Hi! My name is Lynn. I live in a cute little tourist town in NW Washington with my husband and young son.
I have been making things by hand for as long as I can remember. My mom is an artist and taught me how to paint and sew at a very early age.
Mostly I make freehand embroidered items (fussing with patterns gives me a headache) and I paint, but I reserve the right to veer off and make something completely different if i want to."
bio written by Lynn via her etsy profile
BLOG * TWITTER * ETSY * FACEBOOK * FLICKR

LynwoodCrafts

Rose Garden Bracelet
"Lynwoodcrafts specialises in hand embroidered accessories, including applique and the embroidery of patchwork items. Items of embroidered jewellery are particularly popular and distinctive, worked on hand made backgounds, produced by applique, felting, knitting etc. Other items include purses, cases, bags, hair accessories, needlebooks, pincushions....
Why not visit/follow my blog, http://lynwoodcrafts.blogspot.com - its great knowing that I'm 'talking' to real people! Examples of my work can be found on the gallery pages of my blog and at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynwoodcrafts . Customers are often kind enough to send feedback, but not always through Folksy. Feedback which has been received is also available on my blog.
Many of my items are embellished with buttons, sequins, beads etc and are not suitable for young children since these would present a choking hazard. If an item is particularly suitable for a child I will say so in the description, all other items should be considered unsuitable."
bio written by Sue via her folksy profile.

water rose

Retro Christmas Hand Embroidery Ornament
"My creativity was influenced and inspired by my mother and grandmother. My mother was an embroidery artisan and with patience and love she taught me many of the stitches that you see in my creations. My paternal grandmother was an extraordinary quilter and she spent time with me cutting pieces, sewing and then making a quilt. I was embraced in traditional arts growing up. I collect textiles, vintage and new, to make many of my creations. With the loving knowledge given to me by these special women I create items that will bring joy to your life. These creations are heirloom pieces that will be enjoyed by future generations."
bio written by Water-rose via the etsy profile
BLOG * ETSY

crewelwhorled

madonna shrine, hand embroidered wall art
"I've been a student of needlework for longer than I can remember. My mother still has the 4"x12" sampler she helped me to make when I was six or so. She got a scrap of carpet canvas and some of that thick acrylic yarn girls used to tie their pigtails with, and I went to town. I've been working with a needle ever since.
In my early twenties, I took a job as a studio assistant to a fiber artist. My boss, a nationally known rug maker, opened a world of color and texture to me that I had no idea had been hiding just behind the Precious Moments samplers I had made as a kid.
My work for her, along with nearly ten years of writing about the art and business of fine craft, did wonders for my aesthetic and fed my interest in the value of the handmade.
The story of my own work is the typical beginning to a story of "women's work." I started making embroidered jewelry shortly after I left the rug studio to move to the Midwest and marry a (no joke) rocket scientist. Suddenly confronted with an extremely domestic life, missing the studio and most of my writing gigs, I needed a form of creative expression. I did what women have done for centuries before me—I picked up a needle.
In my work I marry traditional processes with a modern sensibility. Just between you and me, I think most of my designs are about how the sacred intersects with the mundane--but I don't mind if you don't see anything more than something to make your world a little prettier. It can be a cruel world out here, and a little beauty goes a long way to make it better.
One of the most common questions people ask about my work is, "How long did it take you to make this?" In our overly scheduled lives, time is a premium commodity. I think of my pins as little totems of time: a reminder that slowing down to create beauty has always fed our souls."
bio written by crewelwhorled via the etsy profile
FACEBOOK * ETSY

cherie wheeler

embroidered pin cushion with embroidered rabbit
"I like to make my creative ideas come to life in unique ways with basic materials and techniques. I often find inspiration for my work from the 17th and 18th century needlearts and the folk artists of these eras."
bio written by Cherie via her etsy profile
NET16 * ETSY * BLOG

the home centric

Blossoms Blown - Throw Pillow Covers - 16x16 Inches Silk Pillow Cover with Mother Of Pearl
"Hello, I am Urvi from India, the land of high skilled hand work and craftsmanship. I have been designing for the last 5 yrs. Prior to taking up full time designing for my own label of soft home furnishings, I was designing for some of the finest fashion garment houses from Europe namely Etam, Zara, Esprit, Bershka, Debehams, etc.I am a qualified Fashion and Textile designer from the leading fashion Institute of India - The Pearl Academy of Fashion and Technology, Delhi Designing is not only my profession but also my soul passion. I design my products keeping three principles in mind - Offer Finest Designs of Great Quality at the Right Price."
bio written by Urvi via the etsy profile

little pink house

Little City Hoop--Tiniest Garden
"I am a poet, fiber artist, and stay-at-home mom. Last year, I gave up a full-time, tenure track position teaching writing and literature at a public university in the middle of Maine's North Woods and moved to a lovely little city on the ocean. Lately I'm spending my days with needle and thread, wondering when I will wake up from this good, good dream."
bio written by Little Pink House via etsy profile
BLOG * ETSY

how to embroider words onto fabric

it is, really, a simple process to embroider text or words onto fabric. You could do this on anything from children's clothes, a tote bag, towels, bed linen, etc. Today, I have decided to embroider on a quilt I am making.

supplies needed:
- fabric
- embroidery hoop (wooden or nylon)
- ruler (optional)
- pencil (optional)
- embroidery floss
- sewing needle
- paper & printer
- tweezers (optional)

1. Find the spot on the fabric where you want your words to be & get your embroidery hoop ready. If your fabric does not already have lines on it, it may be helpful to lightly draw a line in pencil with a ruler.
2. add the embroidery loop,
3. loosen the clasp, slightly, and pull the fabric so that it's tight in the loop, re-tighten the clasp. The fabric should be almost "springy" when you tap on it.
4. be sure that the line(s) is as straight as possible
5. go onto a document program on your computer, such as Word, and find a font that you like & print out the word(s) you want to embroider. remember: the more fancy the font, the more you'll have to stitch. a thinner font is better than a wide, or bolded one. trim the paper, leaving a little room around the words.
6. using lots of straight pins, pin the paper onto the fabric, using your line as a guide
7. choose your embroidery floss in the color you want to use. if stitching on light fabric, use a darker color and vise verse. i chose a yummy grass green.
8. cut the floss to length (approx 15 inches), and split in half. you will be using 3 threads to embroider with. be careful to take your time so that the string does not end up in a knot
9. thread the needle and knot the end with 2 or 3 knots, cut the tail
10. start stitching using small stitches and working from one end of the letter to the other, then working your way back to where you started to complete the letter. while embroidering, you are perforating the paper to make things easier later on
11. when stitching on a light colored fabric and using darker floss, i like to tie off each letter, when finished, so that a "line" does not show through the front where you went to your next letter. you can skip this step, if you are using dark fabric and light thread
12. when you are finally finished all of your letters, remove the straight pins

13. very carefully, tear away the paper. be sure to get all the little pieces in between the letters. if you don't have small fingers, sometimes tweezers will also be helpful to get those little pieces out

14. remove the embroidery hoop and you are finished!

My first ragdoll!

This is my first ragdoll that I've ever made. It's for a woman's grandaughter, Lilith, to grow up with. Lilith is 8 months old and lives in England. I made this from my own pattern and from some online help.

I'm willing to make another for commission or for a swap/trade.

About a foot in length.