Friday Instagram Finds No. 92 with Sam Eldridge

Hello Stitchy Friends! Well - I tried something new with Feeling Stitchy Fridays, but I just don't think it quite worked out, so let's go back to something that works - Friday Instagram Finds!

Today we're taking a look at Sam Eldridge whose Instagram feed is a colorful and visually appealing treat for your eyes. Sam's botanicals are intricate and beautiful thread paintings. She also paints and creates embroidered patches. You can also find her on Etsy at SamEldridgeArt and she's competing in the Etsy Small Business Contest. Here are a couple of my favorites from her feed.

A post shared by Sam (@smeldridge) on Mar 12, 2017 at 12:03pm PDT

A post shared by Sam (@smeldridge) on Mar 28, 2017 at 12:31pm PDT

Wonderful Wednesday #32: Threadfolk

How beautiful are the colors and textures in this gorgeous negative space embroidery pattern by Threadfolk on Etsy? This gorgeous design, designed by Lauren Merrick and stitched by Threadfolk is part of an artist series of patterns in her shop.

I feel like this is the perfect message for today, and describes exactly where I am. We are all dealing with a fair amount of negative space in our world, and this is the mantra I feel we need to come back to, again and again. We are continually dealing with people of all kinds, people with different views from our own - and when we interact with others, I feel very strongly that it is kindness that makes the difference. You may never be able to change another person's point of view, but when that person is part of your family, or part of your world, what can you do with them? I think, you can be kind to them.

I'm so glad our stitching community is so warm and welcoming and I hope that it will always stay that way. We may come from every point in the ideological spectrum, but we all find a comfort and source of inspiration in stitching and in each other. Living in community with each other is never easy. But even if it isn't easy, we can always be kind.

Feeling Stitchy Friday with Regena Florenti

Regena Florenti @the_daily_stitcher

Regena Florenti @the_daily_stitcher on Instagram is participating in 1 Year of Stitches, a project started by Hannah Claire Somerville. Regena has been stitching this 14" hoop since the first of the year, and I love what's she's done. The miniature motifs she's stitched will be a keepsake for her for years to come. You can also find her on her blog, The Distracted Domestic.

And now a message from Amy...
"The best laid plans of mice and men" as the (modified) line from Robert Burns goes. I had grand plans for Feeling Stitchy Fridays where I would tease you throughout the week with snippets of that week's featured needle artist all to a big buildup on Friday. The only thing missing from that plan was time. So until I can figure out how to get more time in the day :) I'll continue to post our featured needle artist on Fridays.

March 20th was my two year anniversary writing for Feeling Stitchy! I have met so many lovely people from around the world, discovered needle artists I might not have otherwise seen, had the opportunity to sample great products, and made a lovely friend in the Feeling Stitchy Editor, Floresita.

Stitchy Snippets - Blossom

Dancing in a soft breeze, Laurence Aguerre's incredibly delicate flowers are hand embroidered, woven, braided and shaped into form. The process is lengthy as well as a journey of exploration for Aguerre. 'Sometimes I have in mind the idea of a specific flower, sometimes I create very freely, and let myself be guided by the materials and techniques.'

These beautiful floral displays perfectly encapsulate fleeting moments in time and appear to preserve the fragility of nature. To find out more about Laurence Aguerre's stunning work check out her website here.

Feeling Stitchy Friday with Deroui Safaes

Deroui Safaes is a self-taught embroidery artist who creates beautifully detailed and often thought-provoking pieces of embroidery. In looking through her Instagram feed at @d_safae, she shares with us a bit of her process - an image on a computer screen or picture from a book. Take a look at some of my favorites!

" There are women who make things better ... simply by showing up. There are women who make things happen. There are women who make their way. There are women who make a difference. And women who make us smile. There are women of wit and wisdom who - throught strenght and courage - make it through. There are women who change the world everyday ... Women like you. " 💙 - Ashley Rice #internationalwomensday

A post shared by DEROUI SAFAE (@d_safae) on Mar 8, 2017 at 3:29pm PST

"Then I heard the enormous infinite scream of nature" - Edvard much

A post shared by DEROUI SAFAE (@d_safae) on Mar 12, 2017 at 4:29pm PDT

Don't let it consume you 📺 ! #artupon

A post shared by DEROUI SAFAE (@d_safae) on Jan 28, 2017 at 3:31pm PST

Friday Instagram Finds No. 91 with Sheryl Kessler

Happy Friday! I know I said that last week was the last Friday Instagram Finds, but life got away from me, and I didn't have time to do what I wanted to this week. Do you ever feel like maybe you've bitten off more than you can chew? That's me right now :)

Let's take a look at Sheryl Kessler from the Instagram account @fairisle37 ! Sheryl creates beautiful hand stitched fabric collage art. Sheryl tags her pieces with #slowstitching, which according to the website The Slow Stitching Movement is:

The Slow Stitching Movement is an illuminating revolution within the stitching and fiber art  industry, launched by international quilting personality Mark Lipinski. Modeled after the international Slow Food movement, The Slow Stitching Movement is open to all fiber and needle artists and will prepare you for a higher form of creativity and important work in the needle and fiber arts, be it quilting, knitting, crochet, tatting, embroidery, rug hooking, weaving, needlepoint, cross stitch, etc. 

I love this movement, and love what Sheryl has done because of it! The variety of stitches and layers of fabrics that Sheryl uses create textured pieces with depth. Here are some of my favorites from Sheryl's Instagram.

A post shared by Sheryl Kessler (@fairisle37) on Feb 24, 2017 at 1:24pm PST

A post shared by Sheryl Kessler (@fairisle37) on Feb 28, 2017 at 6:38pm PST

A post shared by Sheryl Kessler (@fairisle37) on Mar 1, 2017 at 6:21pm PST

Stitchy Snippets - Animated Embroidery

Now for something a bit different. Irish artist Logan McLain has fused his love and skill of digital art with his passion for textiles by creating animated gifs of his embroidery. Sometimes a message or word appears amidst a whirling background but this textile animation of a lone deer is my personal favourite.

Friday Instagram Finds No. 90 with Tweet and Hoot

Photos by @tweetandhoot

Hi my stitchy friends! Well...today is the last Friday Instagram Finds. But don't be sad! I have something SO FUN in store for you! Buuuttt....you'll have to wait until next week to read the details :)

Let's take a look at @tweetandhoot. Katie creates the best pop culture-inspired hand embroidery! While I thoroughly enjoy her work, some of our more sensitive readers might be offended by some of the phrases in her Instagram feed. One of the things I really like about Katie's feed is that she shows us her works in progress. I think it's so cool when artists show us their work from beginning to end. You can buy Katie's embroidery in her Etsy shop Tweet and Hoot. Let's take a look at some of my favorite pictures from her Instagram feed.

You already know.  Unicorn hoop now available on the shop!  Link in profile!  #unicorn #iggyazalea #raplyrics #imsofancy #embroidery #etsy #tweetandhoot #hoopart #feelingstitchyig

A photo posted by Katie (@tweetandhoot) on Jan 25, 2017 at 11:54am PST

Sassy wolf has made it to my Etsy shop.  Shop link in profile if you can't live without her.  #ilikebigbutts #sirmixalot #babygotback #ohmygodbecky #etsy #embroidery #hoopart #inappropriateanimals #tweetandhoot #feelingstitchyig

A photo posted by Katie (@tweetandhoot) on Jan 18, 2017 at 11:19am PST

All done!  Hipster giraffe is so hipster. #giraffe #hoopart #feelingstitchyig #etsy #tweetandhoot #embroidery

A photo posted by Katie (@tweetandhoot) on Jan 10, 2017 at 2:17pm PST

Wedding Wednesday: Tutorial roundup

Well, my goal to give you a new free wedding-themed pattern each month was challenged by the actual wedding process. :)

Up above is a small wedding project I fit in - a simple ribbon belt, made (with some alterations) from this Martha Stewart Weddings tutorial.

I made my belt smaller, using 5/8 inch ivory ribbon, so I also made my loops daintier and smaller. I may try another in a thicker ribbon, once I get my dress - which currently is - too small! Ack! I had it taken in and it was taken in too much. Breathing is important, so I'm hoping they can fix it on my next visit.

Adding Cap Sleeves to a Strapless Dress
 
My dress is strapless, which had me scouring tutorials for adding sleeves. We're getting married in a church, and I wanted to be as respectful as possible, plus, I think my bare shoulders are not the most attractive, let's face it.

If alterations can't fix the unsightly armpit fat-bulge caused by my too-tight bodice, this will be a helpful camouflage. :)

Here are two nice tutorials I found for adding simple cap sleeves:

That's all for now - how about you? Did you do any last-minute alterations to your wedding dresses? Are there any tutorials you can recommend, or something you'd like to see here? Just leave a comment below! :)