It’s a company dedicated to fiber art and all the fun things we can use to enhance & embellish!  They have free patterns, an inspiration gallery and a great link list

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fiber art source of the day – Embellishment Village

I decided to try making my own framed fabric art, using small (5 X 7″), inexpensive wooden frames.  I hunted through my stash and found three prints that worked well together.  I ironed them, trimmed them to fit – and voila!

The glass wasn’t cooperating with the photographs – but I love how they turned out.  It’s a great way to display those “special” fabrics you can’t bear to use up

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framing fabric

Fairfield (the company that makes Poly-fil) is now producing a bamboo and organic cotton batting. Bamboo is a great enviromentally-friendly fiber – and it’s lovely to work with. It can grow as much as one yard per day and doesn’t require as many pesticides as cotton does, or the use of petrochemicals – like polyester batting does.

I haven’t personally had a chance to use the bamboo batting, but I’ve heard from several textile artists who are very happy with the way it handles. There’s even a gallery of fiber art made with the batting!

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eco-friendly quilt batting batting

Now go make it work!

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Project Runway fabric

Is that not a luscious photo?  Those are some of the colors that The Silk Tree in British Columbia carries.   You can also buy it at The Silk Weaving Studio if you’re going to be in Granville Island (Vancouver) BC.

They do mail orders in Canada & the USA… I’m sorry – I’m such a bad influence

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silk floss

There are Finca Perle Cotton in solids & variegated.   El Molino rayon floss & La Paleta machine embroidery rayon thread.

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yummy threads on sale

I’ve been thinking about taking up igolochkoy again.  It’s also known as Russian punch-needle embroidery and I used to love doing it as a child & teenager.  It’s a technique of embroidery, using a fine needle to push floss or thread through fabric, leaving a little loop on the right side.  When it’s finished the surface almost feels like velvet or carpet.

These are the original punches I learned with – unfortunately I’ve lost mine!

I’ve been browsing and have found some charming patterns that would be perfect for getting back into igolochkoy:

These Christmas ornaments are from Designs from the Pep’r Pot.

This bird was designed by Full Circle.

So there’s my “lost” technique that I’d like to get back into – what’s yours?

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Igolochkoy or Russian punch-needle embroidery

It’s a little gadget (5.25″ X 3.5″ X 3″ high) that allows you to wind bobbins in the middle of a project without having to stop & unthread your machine.

I must admit, I got spoiled by my first sewing machine – it had a nifty little bobbin winder that you could use while you sewed! My current machine isn’t so lucky.  The Sidewinder could definitely make your life easier – no more threading & unthreading in the middle of a seam

Anita’s Arts is offering a special deal for my lucky Tangled Thread readers! Readers from the USA can enter the discount code “TTdiscount” to get 10% off at the checkout. Readers from Canada or Europe should email them directly to get the discounted rate.

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Sidewinder bobbin winder from Wrights

Nordic Needle carries an amazing variety of supplies & tools for handwork. I believe they have something like 19,000 different products? Definitely worth exploring!

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links for hand-embroidery

Of course, you know that you need a frame for most needlework projects but this is it! This frame sits on the floor leaving both hands free. First – no cramps from holding the frame and second, you can easily work on the back to make it as neat as the front. Oh yes – you can talk on the phone without having to put your work aside!
I love my frame and hope you love yours too.

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Needle Work Helpers