You might remember that last year, I was working on a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning. Well, the writing is done, everything is edited, and Embroidered Life is now a real book coming to you this September. In celebration…
You might remember that last year, I was working on a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning. Well, the writing is done, everything is edited, and Embroidered Life is now a real book coming to you this September. In celebration…
Color is the name of the game for Jen Smith, aka Jen Ann Handmade. The Los Angeles-based creative stitches hoop art of plants on pink backgrounds (reminds me of the @plantsonpink photo Instagram) as well as patterns on Hawaiian shirts.…
As I write this post, I am sipping coffee from my Two Hold Studios mug. I first fell in love with their Pondering Planters last year and have followed the husband-wife duo ever since. After a brief hiatus in which…
Combining the playful with the bizarre, Penny Min Ferguson of the label Min Pin crafts ceramics that are both useful and decorative. They revolve around creatures that might ordinarily be menacing but are softened thanks to Penny’s illustration style. Leopards,…
Having gone through art school, there were a lot of media and techniques I had the opportunity to try. But punch needle embroidery? It wasn’t one of them. And to be honest, it’s a bit daunting—where do I start? What…
Few things are prettier than a vase of fresh-cut blooms… unless those flowers are in a handcrafted ceramic vase! Esther Sandler of Togetherness has crafted a series of vases that are themselves adorned with beautiful blossoms. It’s a flower overload—in…
If you’ve read Brown Paper Bag for any length of time, you probably know that I love daily art projects. In particular, I love what you can learn about yourself and your artistic practice by having to create something every single…
Last month, I shared something new in my studio: Cat Collars! The initial response was overwhelming (in a good way) so I’ve crafted a couple more that are now available in my Etsy shop. The latest designs are stitched onto…
What brings you joy? Is it a plant? That tattoo on your arm? A cozy sweater? Embroidery artist Giselle Quinto highlights the happiness of individuality in her hand-stitched hoop art portraits. Comprising elegant black lines that have the fluidity of…
Inspired by tattoos, artist Natalie Sedgewick translates this influence into her embroidered hoop art. The eye-catching designs feature a smattering of subjects crafted in bold hues. They are reminiscent of traditional-style body art; one example is the way she stitches…