Friday Instagram Finds No. 89 with Errant Hart

Anna Hart Turner is a mixed media embroidery artist whose art is intricate and bright - I love it! You can find her on Instagram @errant_hart and her Etsy shop Errant Hart. Her use of color and texture make me want to reach through my computer screen to feel the fabrics and stitches she uses. Check out some of my favorites below, and then head over to Anna's Instagram account @errant_hart.

March 20, 2017 is the two year anniversary of Friday Instagram Finds - woo hoo! I'm going to switch things up a little bit, so you might want to start tagging your photos with #feelingstitchyfridays  :)

Day 35 #1yearofstitches building up this area some more

A photo posted by Anna Hart Turner (@errant_hart) on Feb 5, 2017 at 4:48pm PST

Finally finished my portrait of @florence ! Check it out in the shop : http://etsy.me/2k7Mrxr Who else do you want to see a portrait of?

A photo posted by Anna Hart Turner (@errant_hart) on Feb 4, 2017 at 10:12am PST

This cute pup arrived in her home this week! Definitely one of my fave pet portraits I've done so far. You can order your own ! Check out the link in my profile 🐶😻http://etsy.me/2kbdKJC

A photo posted by Anna Hart Turner (@errant_hart) on Feb 3, 2017 at 4:01pm PST

Stitchy Snippets - On The Button

A real master of buttons, artist Ran Hwang, constructs awesome art works made up of hundreds of buttons, pins and yards of threads. Hwang takes something so ordinary and turns it into something extraordinary by manipulating and arranging these common household items into stunning, colossal images.

Ran Hwang likens her artistic process to meditation as she labors for many hours with intricate precision which requires focus, calm and fluidity. Each button is accurately attached to the flat surface with a pin, also many of these buttons are handmade from paper.

Subtle meanings are key to Hwang's work which she explains: "pins hold buttons that remain free to move between the surface of the wall and the pinhead. The constricted movement of the button, an everyday object as numerous and “ordinary” as people, as it is caught within the confines imposed by the wall and the pinhead, suggests the tension between the human desire for freedom and the limitations imposed by society."
Hwang's incredible collection of work is displayed worldwide and can be seen in many international museums. See more of her work here.

Friday Instagram Finds No. 88 with Maryke Dolls

I was looking through our #feelingstitchyig hashtag when I came across the beautiful dolls that Robyn Maryke creates. You can find her on Instagram at @marykedolls and her online shop Maryke Dolls. Robyn's handmade dolls feature recycled wool, and they are beautiful! I don't have a daughter (unless you count my three female dogs :) ), but I want one of these for myself! The Frida, in particular, is my favorite. Take a look at some of my favorite pictures, and then go check out her Instagram feed @marykedolls.

On March 20, 2017 we have our two year Friday Instagram Finds anniversary - woo hoo! I'm switching things up a bit, so you might want to start using #feelingstitchyfridays on your best needle art photos on Instagram  :)

This 70s icon doll has needle-felted eyes and lip colour for a softer look. What do you think? Can't reveal her in entirety just yet; she's part of something really cool coming up in about a month from now. See #beboldmakedolls for more sneak peeks from other makers. 🙈

A photo posted by Maryke Dolls (@marykedolls) on Feb 3, 2017 at 1:43pm PST

Perched and looking delightfully defiant 🙅🏻😉💐

A photo posted by Maryke Dolls (@marykedolls) on Jan 22, 2017 at 1:09pm PST

Warm enough to get outside and snap some photos today. Love outdoor dolly pics! We go on some thrilling adventures 😉 #inthebackyard #wearallthebabies #magicofchildhood #motherhoodrising #gnomesweetgnome #gnomes #kinfolk #adventureisoutthere #exploremore #littleredridinghood #dollmaker #babylove #oureverydaymoments #bigcartel #fibreart #handmadecanada

A photo posted by Maryke Dolls (@marykedolls) on Jan 25, 2017 at 8:50am PST

Wonderful Wednesday #31: What She Said Stitches

Absolutely. This free pattern by What She Said Stitches is perfectly inspiring to me. There are so many wonderful quote patterns in this shop, I highly recommend a visit!

MooshieStitch Monday: Valentine's Stitching Project Ideas

I love searching the Feeling Stitchy archives to find inspiration and project ideas.

Recently I searched the blog for Valentine's Day and found some really great tutorials I thought I would share!

But first - here are a few photos of the heart I stitched.

I traced a heart, worked the outline in stem stitch and added detached chain stitches around it for leaves.

Then added a red flower in the center and french knots around the leaves.

Now here are those tutorials I found...

Up first - this Valentine's Day treat bag with a cool negative space heart.

Tutorial Here

Make your self a Cupid's Arrow pin!

Tutorial Here

I love this silly skunk pattern  - stitch it up with your own personalized Valentine's Day message!

Find It Here

How about stitching a Valentine's Day coffee cup cozy?

Tutorial Here

Or try experimenting with wire! This "All you need is Love" project looks quick and easy - especially if you already know the couching stitch - and could be also be personalized with your own message.

Tutorial Here

Happy Valentine's Stitching!!

Friday Instagram Finds No. 87 with Forest Fibers

Today we feature the hand embroidery of Jackie of @forestfibers. I love how she fills the space in the fabric with paint and lots of little stitches like those in the examples above. She goes outside the hoop with wall hangings that have beautiful meaning. Jackie is 21 years old, but definitely has an old soul. Check out some of my favorite piece below, and then check out her Instagram feed @forestfibers.

You can also purchase Jackie's art on her Etsy shop Forest Fibers Studios.

March 20, 2017 is the two year anniversary of Friday Instagram Finds - woo hoo!! I'm going to do something to switch it up a little bit, so you might want to start tagging your photos with #feelinstitchyfridays  :)

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible." - T.E. Lawrence

A photo posted by Jackie | Forest Fibers (@forestfibers) on Jan 31, 2017 at 7:42pm PST

I have a number of things to finish up in the next week. This warm mountain scene is one of them. ✨🌲

A photo posted by Jackie | Forest Fibers (@forestfibers) on Jan 28, 2017 at 6:44am PST

I've been trying to work on like five different things at once to get more work out. But now my desk is really messy and I'm feeling a little scattered so I think I'll just commit to finishing this first. 😂

A photo posted by Jackie | Forest Fibers (@forestfibers) on Jan 25, 2017 at 9:59am PST

Here's a close-up/better photo of my sunflowers you saw the other day. 🌻✨💛 . . . . . #embroidery #contemporaryembroidery #modernembroidery #handembroidery #embroideryart #embroideryinstaguild #embroideryartist #stitchersofinstagram #feelingstitchyig #sunflowers #wildflowers #dmcthreads #makersgonnamake #handmade #supporthandmade #creativelifehappylife #creativityfound #visualsoflife #fiberarts

A photo posted by Jackie | Forest Fibers (@forestfibers) on Jan 16, 2017 at 9:52am PST

Wedding Wednesday: Bride and Groom Hoops

Just a quick post to update you on the Bride and Groom hoops I shared with you as a free pattern!

I just happened to be working on a veil project (more on that later, I hope) and had some scraps of pretty ivory Chantilly lace and tulle leftover, so I used them to embellish my Bride hoop. I also used ivory bias tape to wrap the hoop (I originally used light gray in my first post).

On to the Groom hoop - I wanted to embellish it, but not too much and not too flowery, so I stitched some very delicate branches on each side in DMC 822 and white sewing thread. I used the original light gray bias tape, and DMC 822 for the lettering.

The difference in color on the bias tape and stitching is very subtle, but I think it works well:

Here are the links to the free Bride and Groom patterns, by the way:

Would you like a pattern version of the very simple branches design I added to the Groom hoop? Leave a comment here, I'll be happy to draw it up later!

Friday Instagram Finds No. 86 with Justyna

Hello Stitchy Friends! On today's Friday Instagram Finds we feature Justyna of @nibyniebo_.  Justyna has a fun and bright style that uses hand embroidery AND polymer clay! I've never seen anyone else do this, and the results are stunning. Her clocks are so much fun.  I just love how she describes her work as "slowly crafted." In this rush around world, it's great to see someone who revels in taking her time to produce beautiful pieces of art.

You can purchase Justyna's works of art in her Etsy shop here. Take a look at some of my favorite pieces from her Instagram feed.

Polymer clay wall clock with anntenas. Life is beautiful. New ideas are chasing me. I'm so happy.

A photo posted by Justyna (@nibyniebo_) on Jan 16, 2017 at 9:47am PST

Wall clock made of huge dose of patience. And polymer clay. I've made it a few months ago but didn't post it on IG. Anyway it's here now starving for your hearts 😚. #wallclock #polymerclay #sculpture #time #interiordesign #slowcraft #slowliving #patience #meticulous #contemporaryart #etsyshop #ABMlifeiscolorful #makersgonnamake #dstexture #interiordecor #MadeToCreate #nibyniebopuppet #inspirationindeed

A photo posted by Justyna (@nibyniebo_) on Jan 9, 2017 at 12:32pm PST

Here is the thing. A few weeks ago I had that brilliant idea. For the last few weeks I've been putting it into effect. The idea is to put together polymer clay sculptures and embroidery. I literally stich polymer clay onto hoop. ☺ #slowliving #slowcraft #shoutout #contemporaryart #embroidery #embroiderymademodern #etsyshop #ABMlifeiscolorful #dscolor #makersgonnamake #madetocreate #dstexture #lifecolorfully #modernart #polymerclay #studio #interiordesign #interiordecor #newidea #artofinstagram

A photo posted by Justyna (@nibyniebo_) on Feb 2, 2017 at 6:17am PST

Wonderful Wednesday #30: February Flowers

How lovely are these February Flowers - the monthly PDF pattern by Sarah K. Benning, available in her Etsy shop? And even lovelier still, Sarah has pledged to donate from her pattern sales this month to the ACLU - bravo Sarah!