Making your own sewn and bound books is so much fun – I’ve made quite a few over the years!

Check out this great two-part tutorial for sewing your own Japanese-style handmade books:

I think handmade books make great little gifts as well.  You can give them as blank notebooks, tuck photos or artwork into them or even turn them into scrapbooks.

Post from: Blisstree

You can sew more than just fabric?

You can browse by decade, pattern company or even size – it’s a great resource if you’re looking for one of those unique patterns.

Post from: Blisstree

looking for vintage patterns?

Needlework has long been a necessary, yet relaxing activity, generally for women although some men have expertise in this area.  Women have engaged in sewing, quiltmaking, crocheting, knitting, tatting and embroidery to provide clothing, bedding, and other household items throughout the ages.  Even when they can purchase what they need, women still sew and quilt and do other needlework for enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment.

Looking back over my family’s activities, I see I have a heritage of needlework.

Nanny made quilts by hand, sitting by the woodstove in her kitchen throughout the winter days and evenings.  She also sewed doll clothes for my sister and me.  I recall learning to piece quilts with her.  I have memories, too, of sitting on the porch of our farmhouse, when she visited, and having her teach me to stitch clothes for my dolls.

Mother made dresses for Sister and me by using the treadle sewing machine set up in her bedroom.  Even though my sister and I were 15 months apart in age, Mother sometimes made us matching dresses, or dresses of the same fabric design but in different colors.

Auntie, who lived with Nanny, helped with the quilting when it came time to put the quilt together and tie it.  They spread it on the dining table, laying out a the backing, flannel sheet filling, and the pieced top in 4-patch design.

Aunt Freda crocheted delicate lace borders around her handkerchiefs. (Ladies used hankies in those days, not facial tissue.)  She amazed me how quickly she could do this and add decoration to an otherwise plain accessory.  My aunt also gave us crocheted hankies as gifts.

Cousin Virgilia mentioned making quilts and learning to sew when she was six-years old.  She wrote a letter to my mom, that I still have, about this activity.

I learned to sew at six-years old,too,  making an apron, then a drawstring skirt, from feed sack fabric.  These were 4-H projects under the tutelage of our neighbor, Aunt Mary.  I discovered I still have the skirt.

What is your needlework heritage?  Why not share with Chloe and me?  At least write down some of these memories for yourself and your family.  They’re priceless!

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Mary Emma Allen blogs at Quilting and Patchwork (www.quiltingandpatchwork.com) and One Book Two Book (www.onebooktwobook.com ) in the Lifestyles Channel.  She also writes at Home Biz Notes (www.homebiznotes.com) and Alzheimer’s Notes (www.alzheimersnotes.com ).

Post from: Blisstree

Do you have a heritage of needlework?

And then, if that wasn’t enough – Kim from Indie Style File (she did an interview with me not too long ago) posted this wonderful creation!

I may have to re-think my feelings  about making decorative aprons, I’m sure I can be less messy in the kitchen…

Post from: Blisstree

are you a fan of aprons?

Which got me thinking – if there’s one company doing tours specifically for fiber artists, there’s got to be more, right?

Oh yes

Fiberarts Magazine has compiled a list of fantastic tours available.  There are trips to Japan,  (hand-embroidered kimonos!) Peru (hand-woven Inca artifacts!) or India (where do I start?)

Yes, I apologize.

I’ve added more things to your must do/see/spend money on list

Post from: Blisstree

fiber art inspiration from traveling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-NNyM8o

Post from: Blisstree

The Bayeux Tapestry

I did however find a fantastic site for treadle machines called “The Sewing Machine Shop“.  They have a ton of links to other treadle sites, instructions on servicing machines and even tutorials on how to clean a grungy old machine

I’ve heard fantastic things about treadle machines – let’s hope I can get mine up and running!

Post from: Blisstree

tuning up an old treadle machine

http://www.blisstree.com/precious-heirlooms/ 

It’s now up to me to take care of it for the next generation.  So what are you working on, not just for yourself, but for someone else special?

Post from: Blisstree

heirloom crafts

I love the feeling & closeness of an object that was made and handled by a member of my family.  It’s almost like I can feel their presence when I hold it.  There’s a powerful connection when handwork is passed down through families – especially for me things that have been used & treasured.

You can also create your own heirlooms if you don’t have family mementos that will be passed to you.  Create something with love & care and it can become a treasure.

So what’s your treasured heirloom or heirloom to be?

Post from: Blisstree

precious heirlooms

One book in my library is What Life Was Like In the Realm of Elizabeth, a Time Life publication. It has a lot of nice overviews covering many aspects of life in England from AD 1533-1603. What is fun about this book from a needlework point-of-view, is that it contains many color images of clothing and sundry, heavily decorated with needlework. Embroidery, beading, blackwork, some lace, and probably more that I’m forgetting.

I’ve put together a list of web sites devoted to stitchery from the Middle Ages, so if you are interested in deeper exploration and some quality scholarly work, be sure to check them out.
katherine kerr of the Hermitage
In Prayse of the Needle
ANG – Blackwork, an introduction
Patterns for Needlework, embroidery, 1859-1913

And if you just want to read about the life of Queen Elizabeth I, then the book below might be of interest.

Post from: Blisstree

Elizabethan Needlework