Stitching Silk: Where It Begins

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My collection of hand-dyed silk is so enticing! I’ve been hoarding boxes of this beautiful fabric for years. And now it’s time to set the beauties free. Many of my silks are 14 momme silk jacquards like these purchased as white fabric from Exotic Silks and then dyed with Procion MX Fiber Reactive dyes.

Other silks are prints from thrift stores that I’ve over-dyed like this green print for the tree trunks. Behind each fabric is Misty Fuse a lightweight fusible web ideal for silk. After I free-cut shapes for the design, I assemble them on wool batting, iron or fuse them into place, and steam set the quilt top to the batting.

Here you see the first hand embroidery stitches applied using my hand-dyed threads. The silk is so easy to stitch with Sizes 12 and 8 pearl cotton threads.

Have you been hoarding silk fabrics too? Maybe it’s time to set them free and create new art. Let them shine!

The Cheer is Here!

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Time to create gifts, decor, and more with holiday flair! Join other instructors and me in a virtual extravaganza of crafting workshops on November 12. In the Handmade Holiday Bazaar on Creative Spark, you’ll learn how to make festive, unique handmade gifts. And remember to use this coupon code, laurahhb22 and save $20 on your purchase.

You ask what festive gifts am I’m presenting? I’ll show you how to create 3 tiny homes quilts like the Poinsetta House above. Make them as a gift or, like me, keep them for yourself.

The 3 fused quilts are easy to make and measure about 12″ x12″. Watch as I create the quilt and then download the instructions and patterns to make your own.

The good part about joining the Handmade Holiday Bazaar is that when you sign up, you can watch live and chat with me. Or watch recorded sessions of my presentation and the other presenters later. There is no expiration to your access.

Besides the Poinsettia House, I’ll show you how to make the Star of David House, and the Snowflake House. Oh! I’m feeling so festive!

Remember to click here and SAVE $20 when you use this coupon code: laurahhb22

So join me on November 12 from 9am to 1:30 pm Pacific time. Sign up and you can watch live then or later in the recorded version with no expiration. Handmade Holiday Bazaar has over 10 hours of instruction, 12+ projects with pattern downloads to keep, giveaways, and a festive virtual swag bag. 

Embroider Your Fortune!

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Who needs a palm reader? After all, with free-form embroidery, you can stitch your own fortune! That’s why I’ve developed a new online class for you called Hand of Fortune.

Here’s how the class works:

Using a background fabric attached to batting, you design your embroidery as you stitch, creating texture, color, and pattern.

And as you enjoy this slow, meditative art form, you learn 14 hand embroidery stitches and how to combine stitches to create lively patterns.

I’ll also show you examples to inspire your next stitch project.

Fill your life and your palm with good fortune. Good fortune, like getting a free download of my ebook Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts and access to my Hand Embroidery Stitch Library with how-to videos for the right or left-handed stitcher. So please join me in Hand of Fortune today!