Thank you ladies - you are a treasure of wonderful information. This is exactly the type of thing I am looking for. I learn so much by seeing what others do, by reading their tutorials, by finding inspiration in their finished pieces. I learned to hand embroider during the seventies when one could still buy emrboidery kits in the States. Since then, crewel & similar styles have fallen into neglect here; other styles were only marginally popular to begin with. Cross stitching only seems to remain. The Europeans and Australians have not lost their rich embroidery tradition yet, and they continue to publish monthly magazines and many instructional books in this art form. I have no access to any of these, except through the Internet, as I live in a small, beach community, pretty much "in the middle of nowhere". I do, however, have a number of wonderful instructional/inspirational books that I refer to over and over again: the ones by Helene Stevens and by Trish Burr [
formatting link
] - and a few good websites and blogs where kindredspirits share their information and talent. One of my favorite these days isthe website for the Italian publication Ricamo Italiano which also offersfree patterns in PDF format. Luckily I know a little Italian .... Here is thelink:
formatting link
any of you know of others like this? I am only an amateur and what I make is purely for my own use, or as smallpresents for friends on special occasions - mostly little pillows, veryornate, and small quilts, likewise heavily embelished with beads, cording,fringes and more . I also print on fabric using my computer, I color myribbon & laces using fabric paints, and I have been known to use acrylics andwatercolors on fabric as well, when necessary. Because of the lack ofpatterns for my type of embroidery ( and because I cant even draw a stickfigure) I have had to employ many different methods to come up with what Ineed. Lately I started using coloring book and rubber stamp images that Ienlarge/reduce and combine as necessary using Photoshop (as I'm also aPhotoshop addict, but I think that's a story for another Board).Let's continue sharing information about other artists and their websites sowe can enlarge our knowledge and base for inspiration!Thank you - and forgive the long-windedness ... Vianna