with cunning needle...

here's the beautiful catalog from the exhibit...

Last weekend we took a trip over to Winterthur Museum and Gardens to see With Cunning Needle: Four Centuries of  Embroidery.  It was such a well organized exhibit with demos, unique pieces and a really insightful look at embroidery in history, as an artform and as lovely embellishment for everyday life.  The featured piece in the exhibit was the Plimoth Jacket inspired by a combination of two jackets in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, a heavenly destination in itself. The jacket's incredible design and construction took over 300 talented hands and 3,700 hours to complete.  Much of the work was accomplished at the Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts and other locations from 2006-2009,  and is made with silk, gold, silver on linen.  The young and young at heart were invited to stitch on the piece which really inspired me. I get excited just thinking about the how and why of this project.  The exhibit is on loan and will be at Winterthur until Jan. 8,2012.  Defintely Go if you can!

Needlwork (of any kind) continues to live in our hearts, minds, and spirit.  Now go have a great Wed!

The continuing saga of sock knitting fever....

One sock made, one more to go.

Stay festive!
Margaret

Some handy places to follow along ...

Twitter, CreatingTheHive and Facebook!  Grab my free patterns on knit1fortheroad.com and visit me on Etsy at margknittinaround.

©Margaret Nock, Knit1fortheroad.com™ 2008-2011. 
All rights reserved.

Nifty needle arts & super knitting connections

It's events central this year...and yes I just posted about events yesterday, but I can't help myself.  Please indulge me...

Rocky Mountain Sew Expo - Feb 3-5 in Denver, CO
Near Denver?  Many of you knit and sew, quilt, embroider, etc.  If you're like me, you just really love all the new fabrics and needlearts. Do you drool over lush threads, colors, fabrics and accessories? This event is definitely for you.

Now I know you're thinking...did she say sewing?  That's not knitting!  Would I disappoint the knitters? - naaah

Knitter's Connection is back in 2011 with all the delicious fibers, vendors, classes and soooo much more.  Get the scoop and start making plans to visit Columbus, OH June 15-18, 2011.  It's air-conditioned, roomy and always well organized. Great classes and the market is to die for.  Did I just say that?  Wow, I must be super excited.

I just love needlearts.
Margaret (wonder, dream, and anticipate- all good)



Needle Arts Featuring Shay Pendray


Complete Guide to Quilting


No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting

Create-Inspire-Enjoy! Creating The Hive is waiting for your creativity...join in the fun here.

Crochet, Fashion & Embroidery at PMA

Yesterday, we spent the day at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and I came back home inspired and energized.   The daydreams exhibition by Marcel Wanders and the Bermise Kantha exhibit were high on the list of must sees, as well as the Inspiring Fashion exhibit of some well known designers.

I was unable to take a picture of the crochet chair and topiery in the daydreams exhibit, but there is a link for you to view Marcel Wanders: Daydreams that will give you an idea of the astounding chair.  If you are in the area, it's a must see.

Get your fashion fix for the day by visiting Inspiring Fashion: Gifts from Designers Honoring Tom Marotta.  Teeny tiny modelkins with teeny tiny waists, but still we drool over the gowns because, for most of us, this is as close as we will ever get to Haute couture.  Fashionistas, Tim Gunn would be proud of you for trekking to the museum in your Jimmy Choos, but you may want to opt for more comfortable shoes.

Kantha: The Embroidered Quilts of Bengal from the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz and the Stella Kramrisch Collections  and Embroidered Quilt image.

They also have very manly man exhibts like Horse and Man Armors which I found to be an amazing and extensive collection.  There's fabric and mesh included with the armor and is a reminder of the origins of textile and the influence and importance of needlework and  fabric in history. This is an ongoing exhibit.

There's a lot to see at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I hope you will put it on your list of museums to visit.  Take a visit to your local museum and reconnect with the past.  You may be surprised at what you discover.  There could be something knitty that you overlooked.   A blast from the past could inspire you.

Marg (taking one step back to the past, and two steps toward the future)

The Art of Kantha Embroidery


Handbook of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Eco-Baby Alert!

This is my modified Rainforest Wrapper from

AwareKnits by VickieHowell and AdrienneArmstrong

Last week I was able to finish knitting and prepping a few baby projects for a friend.  It's a girl!!!  The picture above is the cute Rainforest Wrapper that I modified with a leaf motif and velcro dots on the straps instead of buttons which I secured with a basic sewing stitch. I am currently making the original pattern which is in the book, and is basically the same except the pattern on the bodice is different.  There are so many fun and eco-friendly projects in Aware Knits that you'll just have to make them all.

Puffalump Hat on VickieHowell.com and Ravelry.com

I also included the Puffalump hat from Vickie Howell  

and Owl embroidered baby bib from Jenny Hart.

Owl Bib from Jenny Hart

Everything is wrapped and ready to go to the new eco-friendly baby.  Name to be determined.  I included care instructions, info of why the wrap is a great and safe way for new baby to sleep (info from the book), extra yarn and thread for any repairs for the new mommy. 

Have a productive week!

Marg (waiting for the next wave of snow)

You may also enjoy reading:

Monday Free Pattern Mania

I SPY A QUICKIE KNITTY

 

Owl-licious Baby Bib

Today it's all about this adorable bib from Jenny Hart's  Baby Bib EmbroideryKit:Tools and Techniques for Uttterly Adorable Projects. 

 

A friend of mine is having her first baby and this seemed to be the perfect time for an embroidery project.  The kit includes all the fixin's (except for the embroidery hoop which is optional)  There are several adorable transfers, thread, needle, and two bibs.  Soooo cute!  Instructions are included - do read them before starting the project.  Jenny includes expert advice to help you get excellent results.

This is a wonderful project to try, and a way to break away from your usual type of needlework.  We all love our knitting, but after making so many handmade knit and crochet presents this year, I needed a change.

Check out more Jenny Hart books below and consider the possiblities.

Marg (enjoying every stitch)

What's in my library holiday book roundup!

Quick post for you today...

Knit, Crochet, Embroider and Laugh your year away with these crafty books.  All of these books are in my library and I reach for them constantly for inspiration and great patterns. I thought I would share some of my favorites with you. These are also wonderful holiday picks for yourself or a friend.  Love yourself, love your friends and stay crafty in 2010.

Keeping it crafty!  Hope you are too.

Marg

IT'S ALL NEEDLEART OVER HERE!

One of my embroidery pillowcase projects.

Embroidery seems to be popping up everywhere and is becomming more and more popular. It's a wonderful warm weather project for home and family, lightweight and colorful. I know my faithful knitty readers are going ack! Hang on there - I'm not suggesting tossing out the knitting here - just taking a crafty stroll down another (or for some) new path.

Afterall, it was my love for embroidery that led me to try knitting and crochet. Childhood summers were spent reading, embroidering borders on my pillowcases and going to the beach.

To get you started, I found a great series of videos from stitchingcow that go over all the basics for you.

A couple of sites that I visit for free resources, links and patterns ...

Needlecrafter.com

Mary Corbet's Needle n' Thread.com

And for those who love embroidered items but don't want to make projects...try fabulous Etsy.com and help support the handmade revolution.

Not a traditional guy or gal? No problem, designs don't have to be traditional. Go for designs that inspire you and fit into your lifestyle and you will discover your own needleart style!

If you've been sitting on the fence about learning to embroider, or if you used to love making embroidered projects, I hope this will encourage you to give it a try this summer.

Knit-Share-Go create something wonderful.

Marg (embracing butterflies, bees and all needlearts)