Book Review + Giveaway: The Gentle Art of Stitching by Jane Brocket

The Gentle Art of Stitching: 40 Projects Inspired by Everyday Beauty by Jane Brocket is one of the most elegant and tranquil books about the art of needlework that I have read in a long time. 

Ms. Brocket's goal in writing The Gentle Art of Stitching was to inspire readers to create beautiful projects in a meditative, easygoing, and non-competitive manner.  Given the hurried pace of our lives we artists and crafters are often so pressed for time and so stressed out that we become numb to the actual creative process while we work on our projects.   Sometimes we become so caught up in having a "perfect" project that we find out that we haven't really enjoyed the time we spent creating our project when we have finished.   What could have been a joyful, relaxing pastime was instead another source of stress!

In order to help us focus on "happy, gentle stitching," and perhaps find an antidote to life's stressors in the process, Ms. Brocket selected forty small and simple projects that don't involve elaborate charts, graphs, or special materials to complete.

via Jane Brocket

Most of the projects use traditional needlework techniques such as embroidery, cross-stitch, quilting, and appliqué:

Ms. Brocket also introduces a few techniques that are common in other parts of the world, such as the delightful projects that incorporate sashiko,  a type of traditional Japanese stitching meaning "little stabs":

Ms. Brocket also included two quilt designs inspired by kantha, a traditional form of handwork from rural India and Bangladesh that encompass a wide range of designs that use only the running stitch:

Of course I also particularly liked the chapter about vintage embroidery that includes instructions to make a Vintage Garden Party Quilt with vintage tablecloths, handkerchiefs, and tray covers:

The only potential challenge some readers may encounter in using this book is the very small typeface; some readers may need to magnify the text.

Ms. Brocket also included a long list of resources that focus upon modern, simple, and colorful  needlework designs and features books, magazines, and inspirational websites and blogs.  The author also includes a list of talented and inspirational artists whose work is taking needlework in new directions.  The resources for fabric, yarn, and sewing notions focus mainly upon shops and websites in the UK but may prove useful for online shopping.

via Jane Brocket

The Gentle Art of Stitching was my first introduction to author Jane Brocket, and it made me want to read more of her books (such as her newly released book, Vintage Cakes!).  I think you will also enjoy visiting her blog, Jane Brocket.

{giveaway}

Dear readers you will certainly want a your own copy of The Gentle Art of Stitching.  Just enter to win below.  The winner will be announced on this post on December 8, 2012.  Best of luck!

EDIT 12/13:  As the first giveaway winner did not respond to multiple attempts to contact her I've had to chose a different winner.  Congratulations!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
I received a copy of this book for review but as always, my opinions are my own! 

My New Obsession

Swedish weaving...a.k.a. huck embroidery....

Can you believe I learned how to do this yesterday?  It is so EASY and yet looks so complex.  I'm copying the design off of a 1940s/1950s era kitchen towel.  Leave some comments if you'd like to see how it's done and I'll devise a tutorial.

Valentine Heart Pins

I have long wanted to make the Valentine heart pins that Molly created over at The Purl Bee. I always thought they were a bit plain, though, so I decided to embellish mine a bit.  I spent the afternoon making these:

I simply glued a smaller felt heart onto the pink heart.  The red heart features french knots and a stitch I've recently learned and love called the rice stitch or crossed corners; it is a cross stitch variation.  My version is a variation on the variation as the corners and the cross bars are not the same length.  I like the effect.

I have quite a few sheets of Eco-fi felt in a different colors, but I used scraps leftover from my felt Christmas trees, making these nice little scrap-busters. 

They make up quickly and Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so have a peek at the tutorial and make a few of your own!

Merry Christmas: Giveaway Winners and Freebies

A gift for everyone today!  Vintage Workbasket embroidery/cross-stitch patterns:

Two giveaway winners get a special gift:

Winner #1

Miss Dollie DeVille at The Rockabilly Socialite

Winner #2

Christiana of Sew a Musing

* * *

I hope that all of you are having a happy and joyous holiday season.  Merry Christmas to all...may your day be merry and bright!

Happy Blogoversary -- With a Little Present For You!

Hooray -- today is Serendipity Handmade's first birthday!  This year has gone by in a flash.  I don't want to get sappy but I do have to thank all of you for being loyal readers and friends; I enjoy all of your comments and I'm tickled pink that you enjoy my blog. 

As such, I have a little freebie for you:

Vintage Workbasket embroidery transfer

Just print out and trace it on to your fabric using tracing paper with a stylus or ink pen.  Happy embroidering!  I have tons of complete and partial Workbasket transfers that have been separated from their magazines, so if I had to guess at a date for this one I'd say it probably hails from the 1940s.

As an extra treat, take 20% off of anything in the Etsy shop with the words "Blogoversary 2010" in the "message to seller" box this week (until August 15th).  Enjoy!

Fortunate Finds: Estate Sale Linens, Books, and More

I've been good about several months of destashing, so I gave myself permission to go to a humongous estate sale over the weekend.  I found some really great vintage stuff, and I need it all, truly!  Ok, I don't need it all, but I was really circumspect about what I bought. I couldn't resist hot pink grosgrain ribbon, and this charming embroidered ribbon that dates to September 1978 whispered "please take me home":

I also found the most gorgeous handmade embroidered linens I have ever seen:

 

A preview of linens needing a bit of restoration

Those I've pictured above are stained in places, or need some crochet restoration work, such as in the photo below:

This picture does not do this sweet crochet trim justice.  It was hand sewn onto the edge of the fabric with tiny, nearly invisible stitches.

Isn't this stitching amazing?

All of the embroidery is nearly perfect, and I am in awe of the skills the woman who did this.  I actually turned the green doily over to look for joins (knots), as the stitching is so even it appears to be machine-made.  I know that I may not be able to get the stains out, but as I bought these pieces for my enjoyment and have a good idea what I'll be using them for, I'm not worrying about.   I also found a few darling, perfect, unstained pieces.  I will put those in the Etsy shop sometime soon.  A find like this is too good not to share!

I also found some things that I was not looking for at all.  I bought a small bag of loose buttons, and apparently I now have a small collection of vintage and antique wooden spools of thread that I probably shouldn't keep.  They might encourage further collecting.  Check out my Flickr photostream if you'd like to see them and a couple of other interesting vintage items.

Finally, I found the strangest button that I've ever seen, molded in plastic with a pretty design,  and a metal corkscrew "shank".  This is a first for me.  Is it an upholstery tack of some kind?  Can anyone help me identify the button below?

What is this?