Quilts have a very long history in America—their creation preceded the establishment of the country. More than just a way to keep warm, these coverings are a vessel for passing down history. One of my favorite examples of this is…
Quilts have a very long history in America—their creation preceded the establishment of the country. More than just a way to keep warm, these coverings are a vessel for passing down history. One of my favorite examples of this is…
Last year, I chronicled the most popular posts on Brown Paper Bag—and it was a lot of fun to look back on the incredible things created throughout the course of 2016. In keeping with this tradition, I’ve crunched the numbers…
If you’ve ever picked up an embroidery book, you know that there are a ton stitch possibilities. From utilitarian to complex stitches meant to dazzle, they together create visually stunning pieces. Theresa Lawson of The Monsters Lounge combines the likes of woven…
Embroiderers, have you ever heard of a punchneedle? Simply put, it’s an approach that uses a hollow needle to create loops of thread on fabric. If you’ve ever tried making a hooked rug, the results look similar. It caught my eye…
Since graduating in 2012 with a degree in illustration, Lucy Kirk has developed her ceramic practice. Akin to a drawing, she adorns the edges of her figures and animals with thick, black outlines that are wonky and imperfect. This visually…
Contemporary abstract embroidery focuses on non-representational shapes that cover the fabric and dazzle us with their stitches and color. Embroiderer Shea Goitia creates amorphous forms that do just that—impress us with their candy-coated palette and attention to detail.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared the work of Tuija Heikkinen, an artist who creates small crochet pieces and arranges them like a collage. The results are charming compositions that tell stories. Ingela Arrhenius is an illustrator who operates…
Etsy software engineer Vesha Parker first began embroidery the way that many people do—through one of Sarah K. Benning’s famous patterns! From there, she started to create her own hoop art. “I definitely love learning embroidery,” she writes. “After the…
Continuing with my gift guides this week is one for people who love plants. Whether you love a good Philodendron or can only keep a cactus alive, you need a planter for it. And while you can go with plain terracotta pots,…
It’s that time of year when we’re all clamoring for gifts for our favorite people. With online shopping, the possibilities are endless—so where do you begin? All this week I’ll be sharing some gifts to get you started on your…