While we haven't done many, Ryan and I really like collaborating on embroidery projects. Our tried and true blog followers [hi our moms!] might remember our Kenny from a show last year. I like to compare our process to comic book pencilers and inkers. Ryan does the initial sketch on fabric and then I get to whoop it up with stitches and colors.
We just never seem to have time for to do a project on our own, so we're super thankful to our pal Pamela for "forcing" it upon us in a new group show opening tonight in Portland at Redux. The show is called "Lovesick" so we used this opportunity to feature our loving cardinal pair in stitches - something I've wanted to do for a while.
We're looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with. It's always so interesting to see the differences in the way people do their stitches.
You probably already saw our other exciting embroidery news if you follow us our Facebook or Twitter pages, but it's definitely worth mentioning again. We are extra thrilled to have a new pattern available through Sublime Stitching!
[Please note that while the packaging proclaims, "This ain't your gramma's embroidery", we would be quite pleased if any gramma, or great-gramma for that matter, wanted to use one of these patterns. If you and your gramma do work on some patterns together, will you send us a photo?]
Jenny Hart, proprietress of Sublime Stitching and all around fantastic human being, did the translating of Ryan's drawings to embroidery ready patterns and we think she did a brilliant job. You can even get a little tutorial on floss-blending technique over at her blog here. *Hot insider tip* I used some floss-blending on the lady cardinal in the above!
***HERE IS THE CONTEST PART***
We're feeling like game show hosts today, so we're throwing a giveaway contest to celebrate all this animal stitchery! Just leave a rhyming comment on this post and we'll pick a winner at random to receive one of the Sublime Stitching patterns as well as a 5x7 print of each of the animals in the kit for a little inspiration. Those whole deal looks something like this:
Actually, it looks exactly like that. This is exactly what you'll get. Sound fun? We'll pick a winner next Friday, February 11th.
These illustrations are awesome,
Have you done an opossum?
Posted by: Amanda | February 04, 2011 at 03:49 PM
I would like to stitch, so I don't have to bitch!
Posted by: Rachel Ann | February 04, 2011 at 04:00 PM
i love me some Berkleys and
i love me some thread.
send me a pattern and
it'll hang over my bed.
the end.
Posted by: erinroles | February 04, 2011 at 04:12 PM
I really have an itch to sew and stitch.
Posted by: Emily | February 04, 2011 at 04:16 PM
Nothing beats animals in attire, especially those with a little fire! I'm no liar! :)
Posted by: Erin R. | February 04, 2011 at 04:18 PM
Do I want these? Yes. Yes...please.
Posted by: Kitchikitchy | February 04, 2011 at 04:27 PM
A fox, on a box
Of stitches, bitches.
I must have these,
To please,
My knees.
Posted by: Mandelicious | February 04, 2011 at 04:49 PM
A rabbit, a bird, a cat and a fox
Go together like stitching in socks.
Posted by: Orrin | February 04, 2011 at 04:51 PM
Thimbles, needles, yarn, and bobbins,
All to sew up Mr. Robin.
A daytime, nighttime, all-times habit,
Making portraits of Mrs. Rabbit.
With brooch in place of pillbox hat,
The ever-lovely, Miss Black Cat.
And finally, without much shock,
Your friend and mine, it's Mr. Fox.
A bit of play, a bit of work, see?
The new designs of Mr. Berkley.
Posted by: Zack | February 04, 2011 at 05:00 PM
A fox with a tie—oh my!
A hare in a sweater—even better!
A cat with a brooch—nice approach!
A bird in a suit—what a hoot!
Posted by: Mary Page | February 04, 2011 at 05:12 PM
I want to win!
Is that a sin?
Posted by: Erin | February 04, 2011 at 05:26 PM
Embroidery patterns? Hazzah, how sublime!
I'd really love to make these all mine.
So please do choose me to win this great prize,
And my wife will stitch you a goat with green eyes!
Posted by: Matthew Kravitz | February 04, 2011 at 05:35 PM
We love your work,
your sketches are fab,
thanks to your prints,
our pad isn't drab!
Posted by: Brandy Danielsen | February 04, 2011 at 05:56 PM
I don't have time
to write a rhyme,
though stitches sublime
hang — — —
in the dreadful balance.
Posted by: lisa h. | February 04, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Here's my ditty:
I WANT that kitty!
The others are quite amazing as well.
Posted by: KeddyJo Quesada | February 04, 2011 at 06:13 PM
Your animal friends look so darn spiffy
I'd plaster my walls with them in a jiffy!
Posted by: Jen | February 04, 2011 at 06:18 PM
I gave your squirrels for Christmas
And now I am a kissed miss!
:)
Posted by: Nancy | February 04, 2011 at 06:24 PM
How do you get the animals to stay so still,
while you paint them with your quill?
Posted by: lisa johnston-smith | February 04, 2011 at 07:49 PM
I really hope I win, just in time to sin.
Posted by: rebecca | February 05, 2011 at 12:42 AM
I find these smart dearlings astounding
As embroidery's clearly abounding!
I hope they'll be minesies
To give for Valentinesies!
So I find that my heart is pounding,
With great anticipation,
And much fixation,
It's the rhyming I find so confounding.
So I hope you don't think that I'm hounding.
Though I know that it has started sounding
Like I'm being coy
In a desperate ploy
So that gifts in my lap will be mounding.
But really I just keep expounding
For the wonderful prize is compounding
From not just stitching
But for the prints we are itching,
The unanimous vote is resounding!
-K
singthebody.blogspot.com
Posted by: -K | February 05, 2011 at 01:17 AM
If I had this brand new Sublime Stitching pattern to embroider,
Then my idle hands would stay busy instead of committing moider!
And who could forget Birdy, Foxy, Bunny, and Kitty?
I would welcome them into my super-secret sub-committee (in which we plan diabolical things like cookie parties and nature walks)
Posted by: Megan P.I. | February 05, 2011 at 10:18 AM
These dapper young guys
would make such a great prize.
We'd display them with ease,
so enter us, please. :-)
Posted by: Ashley | February 05, 2011 at 01:44 PM
I'd like this in part, because I can't stitch a fart.
Posted by: kristen | February 05, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Bird and Cat
Rabbit and Fox.
If I win,
Will they come in a box?
Posted by: Janet | February 05, 2011 at 04:26 PM
So many rhymes from commenters clever
Makes my rhyme a hopeless endeavor,
But what I lack in rhyming ability
I make up in stitching virility.
Posted by: Corvus | February 05, 2011 at 04:52 PM