Tuesday 11 September 2012

SMALL AND BIG EMBROIDERIES


When Dag got his name he was wearing the same frock Eddi and his family has received theirs in. The tradition is also to embroider the name of the new family member into the frock. A very nice tradition yes, although the embroidery part has given me a wrinkle or two between he eyes. Not my favorite thing to do, as I hate to have to be so precise.  Which is something that works fine for me when drawing on the computer, but less fine with anything by hand. Although, I did do some nice butterflies in different coloured yarn with pearl applications on some of my dresses and pockets back in the days when I was 17 and an art school hippie girl. But that was then and back then was a long time ago.


Quite suitably, I received a present - an embroidery inspiration book by Karin, crafting glady extraodinaire. I remember visiting her blog earlier and being impressed by her cute and pretty embroderies applied to all sorts of things. "Små och Stora Broderier" is her second book, and as the name says, it consists of ideas and how-to's for both small and bigger embroideries.
This was sent as a personal gift to me but I was later contacted by her publisher with a copy and asked to review it.



 (Bonus baby feet)



 The book features decorating traditionals items like cushions as well as more modern and funny items too.

 If you do not want to draw the patterns yourself everything featured in the book is available for copying.


And also explanation to how the stitching is done. (See, this is what I need! I only ever knew how to make those loop-stitches. And had sort of forgotten about them too. Not that this will help me get those name letters any more precise or neat, but at least now I have more ways to try out now:).

I mainly thought the book would be enjoyable from an aesthetic point of view for me with nice pictures and so (which it is and it has, with a clean and pretty layout) but it actually made me want to try and do some embroidery too...that also is one of the ideas of the book; to serve as ideas and inspiration both for those who have never touched a needle and a thread, and those who already know their way around decorating items with those, but mostly to awake the lust to start doing something with your hands.

So, to share the joy I have another copy to give away for one of you!
I will ship the book anywhere to whoever wins, but note that the book is in Swedish, being of most use for Scandinavians. However, the pictures and instructional drawings also take you quite a long way even if you would not understand the text.

To enter, it's the usual : leave me a comment on this post. (You don't have to be a follower of this blog, but then again, isn't it a little, well, embarrassing just wandering around the internet participating in giveaways?) I will draw the winner randomly so please leave me only one comment. Really, one. It will screw things up otherwise. And, make sure you are reachable to me trough that comment, as in trough a blog or (working!) link, contactable profile and so on, or leave me your email. 
If you share this you can get another entry by commenting again and leaving me the link to your post.

You can enter until next Tuesday; September 18! I will draw the winner shortly thereafter.




45 comments:

Matilda said...

I really like the idea of embroidery, but I have a hard time getting started with it. Maybe this book would help me ;)

Embroidered shoes is such a great idea, I need to try that!

Anushka said...

It looks interesting, please enter me in :) byanushka@gmail.com

inkeri. said...

Wow, it's been years since the last time I tried embroidering... But it's a skil I'd love to learn! So yeah, I'm in aswell! saija.kankaanpaa [at] hotmail.com!

Tiina said...

Ooh, i want to make those Pacmans! I'm so in!

A said...

Ooh, I just thought I HAVE TO check her blog, but now that there's a giveaway as well, I'm definitely in!

Ylva said...

Åh, jag har hennes första bok och den är ju toppfin! Skulle gärna vinna den nya också... Ha det gott!

Katja said...

And, did you succeed? ;) Love those outfits with socks on it, since it's otherwise to easy to kick them off :) -not in for the competition, since I'm not that creative, just wanted to comment.

Myrull said...

Perfect! I'm trying out some kind of writing on headbands these days anyway!

thelowqualityblog.blogspot.no

Liz said...

Great book! I love embroidering things. My last project is this poodle: http://howling-liz.blogspot.nl/2012/08/yesterday-ifound-adorable-poodle.html
And at the moment I'm cross stitching a sugar skull. Straight stitches and cross stitches is all I know, so I can sure use a book like yours!
Great Give Away!

Liz

La Mome Neant said...

I've started embroider recently when offered a stitching kit. It's simpler than I thought and a great way to craft nice things for yourself ad loved one.

Polly said...

This book looks wonderful and inspiring! Please enter me into the giveaway. And good luck with the letters! pollyfenoble at gmail dot com

o said...

Å, den vill jag ha, jag planerar att brodera en monogram-kudde till min pojkvän till jul(och en till mig om jag hinner:P). Jag har lånat hennes första bok på biblioteket men hade gärna haft ett eget ex då det känns som det behövs för mitt projekt, jag har aldrig broderat innan!

Anonymous said...

Me me me! I love embroidery! :)

Katje said...

Oh great! I love the idea of embroidery, but I would definately need this kind of book to get me started. The frock idea is great btw!

anu said...

Just embroidered a jacket. It is full of printed flowers, just gave them a special touch with stitching.
Like to see fresh and cute ideas and hope to find them in this book! Maybe I´m the lucky girl this time?


anu.kaelussoo@gmail.com

Janice said...

I definitely want to try out some embroidery!

Kitten von Kat said...

Mer handarbete åt världen!! Jag vinner gärna denna bok, skulle vara trevligt med lite inspiration till annat än maskinsömnad :)

Tina said...

Vore roligt att få en chans till bokvinst.

Unknown said...

A book full of Karin's imaginative drawings and a good reason to do some embroidery? Yes, please!

Marilyn said...

Hey, I could learn Swedish while making embroidery?
That's definitely for me.
Anyway, the book I read once was soooo complicated, it could have been written in sanskrit and be easier to understand! :D

rosedelima@ hotmail.com

Sarah (aka OldeSarah) said...

I love the embroidery!
But, oh! The pressure of creating/contributing to an heirloom! But it does sound like a wonderful idea though!
Embroidery sounds so simple, but when you look up-close those things are so intricate!
Like knitting and crocheting, embroidering is something I think I should learn. You know, "one day"...
I do like the cat on the shoes though, really cute.
Good luck!
Sarah
(aka OldeSarah)

Simply Glamorous said...

Into fashion and beauty? Then check out my awesome blog!
http://simplyxglamorous.blogspot.ca/

TV said...

Ja tack, jag vinner gärna denna bok och är med i tävlingen.

Jag vill också ha Mary Jane-skor med katten...

Krrgah said...

oh, yey! i've been really wanting that book!

Anonymous said...

Very nice book! Doesn't everyone want a copy...

Have a nice day! // anette

vaxthuset@yahoo.se

Calla said...

I want to participate! :)

Ika said...

Vi har också en dopkläning som går i släkten på farmors sida och som postats runt i landet och världsdelen. Tyvärr finns namnen på barnen inte broderade på den, men min famrors syster för än så länge bok över alla som döpts i den. lite fint är det ju att veta att jag har döpts i samma dopklänning som min farmor och min pappa.

(Och förstås skulle jag bli jätteglad om jag vann boken - tyckte så mycket om hennes första broderibok!)

Liz said...

I shared your give away here: http://howling-liz.blogspot.nl/2012/09/little-skulls.html

Lotte said...

Just missed the book back at Karins page. Keeping my fingers crossed this time... Best regards Lotte

Malin said...

Hej hej! Jag skulle gärna vilja vara med i utlottningen. Har Karins förra bok och tycker att hon är en helt fantastisk inspirerade slöjderska. :)

Jane S said...

Hej, jag vill också vara med på utlottningen!

Rebeccak said...

This looks fabulous!

Ansku said...

Vilken härlig bok, den skulle jag gärna vinna =)

Och ett stort grattis till dig för en söt son!

-Ansku (som jobbat med dig på bilplan på Silja i ur och skur)

Anonymous said...

Jag vill gärna vinna Karins fina bok! Den förra var underbart inspirerande, denna är förhoppningsvis minst lika bra.

Mrs J said...

I'm in! This book and my new book from Gertie can live happily ever after! And I'll be SO skilled just owning those two ;-)

Krickelina said...

Yes please! I would love to win the book!
krickelina_johansson@hotmail.com

Maria i Falkenberg said...

I have the first book and would love to win a copy!

Anonymous said...

Tack för chansen att vinna den fina boken! :)


beatricebring at gmail dot com

Gen (genkitten) said...

Aaaah, jag vill ha den! Jag hade tänkte mig att jag skulle lärs mig att göra broderie. Vilken gullig bok.

Anonymous said...

Tack vare att jag så gärna vill ha boken, så hittade jag denna blogg :) Hoppas lott-gudarna är med mig

jknoe@hotmail.com

Stitchybritt said...

Oh I really need this! Friends of mine are getting married, and as a gift I want to embroider a picture for them that has their faces surrounded by things they love (guitars, cactuses, their cat). This book would be very helpful!

satu said...

I'm planning new lavender pouches in the linen closet, the book would come in handy with the embroideries for the pouches.

Lina W said...

Jag skulle ockå gärna vara med, verkar vara en trevlig bok.

scaredy-cat said...

I could really use a book like this! I'd love to learn embroidery, but have been limited to cross stitch until I finally figured out how to make stem stitches last summer...



paivi.kouki(at)uta.fi

Anonymous said...

I am glad embroidery is coming back for young women. Do you know some special hormone is being released into your bloodstream as you begin, which not only enables you to be absolutely precise, but gives you a feeling of physical wellbeing that no drug can replicate. That,according to a woman doctor I once read of, is the reason why women are physically more suited to become surgeons! (Only because surgery has such a heroic aura, it had been usurped by men and is historically their almost exclusive domain!) So much for such a lowly domestic pursuit!