Better Know A Crafter: Calarri Cox

Calarri dropped by the store and was looking quite snazzy in a totally handmade ensemble! We are inspired by her Aurelia Cardigan which she made with soft organic jersey and a Joel Dewberry print--we will certainly be adding this Sew Liberated pattern to our must-sew for spring list.

Calarri Cox

 
Tell us about your crafty self.
I am a high school teacher. I love to be creative and make beautiful and fun things for my family. I like to make clothing for my daughter and myself.

Tell us about the handmade-ness you are wearing.
I made the Barcelona Skirt by Amy Butler with a few embellishments and the Aurelia Cardigan by Sew Liberated. I sew on my Bernina and I love it. I used an embroidery pattern from the book, Sublime Stitching: Embroidered Effects for the peacocks.

How did you learn to sew?
My grandmothers both sew (one professionally) and I learned what I know from my mother.

What is your favorite animal?
Dogs who like to cuddle.

Thanks Calarri! Happy stitchin'!

Better Know A Crafter: Sophia Sokolowski

Sophia is a darling, dear friend and has been crafting with us at our Tuesday night craft night since the early days. She is a whiz at knitting, sewing, embroidery and just about anything crafty that she picks up. Within a few days of each other she finished these two sweet shirts!

Sophia Sokolowski

1) What inspires your crafty nature?

I work at a thrift store, so there is always something at work to inspire me--from awesome vintage clothing to handmade objects that people have donated.

2) Tell us about the two projects you've made.
The first is the Liverpool Tunic pattern by Amy Butler. I made it in an Echino fabric. This tunic took me three days to sew over the course of a few weeks--one day to cut out the pattern and mark the fabric, another to sew up the main panels and collar and a final day to finish. When I bought the pattern I thought the darts would be the hardest part, but they turned out to be the easiest. The sleeves and collar turned out to be the most challenging bits, but after a lot of pinning and sewing and ripping I finally got everything to work. This was my first attempt at sewing a shirt and I am so excited to wear it to work tomorrow!

For my embroidered deer shirt I got a simple blouse from the thrift store and used a Sublime Stitching pattern to improve it by 150%! I feel like the two colors keep it simple and quick--this project only took me one craft night!

3) How did you learn to be so crafty?
My mom taught me to embroider when I was very small, but I've not worked with it much until recently. My mom is awesome with embroidery, she is always making little gifts for people with it.

4) What is your favorite animal?
Kittens! And Queen Victoria!!

Thanks Sophia! Happy sewing!

New! Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart!

Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching has just published a new book chock-full of exciting embroidery inspiration. Included are tons of ideas for fashion embellishment and home decorating projects, as well as iron-on transfers to get you stitching away.


Embroidered effects has all the basic stitch instructions and tips for beginners, but also includes great instructions for combining basic stitches for amazing borders and decorations. Sweet.


Hand stitched goodies make great gifts so it's time to get started on your holiday gift crafting, ladies and gents!

Better Know A Crafter: Morgan Miller

Morgan dropped in to Fancy Tiger Crafts the other day with the most adorable tote embroidered with a Sublime Stitching chihuahua pattern. We loved it and asked her to be one of our featured crafters. She brought in an armload of totally sweet embroidered goodies that she has been stitching away on. I'm loving the vampire-werewolf-mummy dishcloth, lady!

Morgan Miller

1) Tell us a little about yourself.
I am 26 and a commercial photographer here in Denver. I have always loved DIY projects and my parents did lots of crafts when I was growing up. It is just a wonderful, rewarding creative outlet. I love to embroider! I am really into embroidering canvas bags, dish towels and aprons or pretty much anything that I can get my hands on.


2) Tell us about your projects.
I've made some embroidered bags for myself and friends. I have also embroidered some dish towels and an apron my mom made me. It was so simple, I just found some plain canvas bags and some flour sack dish towels, ironed on some Sublime Stitching patterns, put the fabric in an embroidery hoop and started stitching away. You need an embroidery needle and some embroidery floss (you know the stuff you used to make friendship bracelets with.) Once you've got those you can get started. The hardest part is picking the colors of floss to use.


3) How did you learn to embroider?
I started about a month ago and I have been self taught for the most part. I learned a few stitches off of Sublime Stitching's website. I am excited to learn more stitches--there are so many!

4) What is your favorite animal?
That is a tough one because I have so many...probably my dog Pax. He is my best friend.

Thanks Morgan! Happy stitching!

New! Sublime Stitching Kits and Journal!

New from Sublime Stitching--two kits and one adorable journal by Jenny Hart.

Embroider your own set of crafty greeting cards with the Sublime Stitching Stitchable Stationary kit. It includes embroidery needles, colorful floss, and six cards preprinted with greetings, birds, nesting dolls and more. Everything you need for extra special handcrafted greetings.


The new Sublime Stitching Baby Bib Embroidery Kit has everything you need to make two super adorable bibs for the cutest baby in town, including six reusable iron on patterns, two bibs, an embroidery needle and colorful embroidery floss, plus easy to follow illustrated instructions.


Also new from Jenny Hart--this cute journal for crafty folks. Or the horse lovers out there. We happen to be both, as you may know, so we think it is the bees knees. Or the knobby foals knees.