embellish stitch enrich

Ning Group

2010-08-19T10:40:00.000+08:00

The Ning group I started - Embellish Stitch Enrich - will close on Friday - I haven't the time to expand it. I am going to open up this blog to members of the ning group who may like to continue sharing ideas and pictures etc

Embellish Stitch Enrich online workshop

2010-07-20T15:00:00.000+08:00

The final Embellish Stitch Enrich on-line workshop has just finished. It has now been retired but it will be available as a cd later on in the year.

Watch our for my new on-line workshop - Hot Needles, Cool Stitches - the next level up - coming later in the year.

Embellish Stitch Enrich next online workshop

2010-04-21T10:38:00.004+08:00

Embellish Stitch and Enrich
with Dale Rollerson

Next on-line class will commence Monday 10th May 2010
and will run through to 19th July (allowing two weeks for each lesson)
Enrolments now being taken.
Duration: 6 lessons
Cost: $66.00 ($60.00)

mail@thethreadstudio.com

This is the last time this workshop will run. I shall be retiring it after that - it has been enormously popular.

Later on in the 2010 I will be offering a new course - Hot Needles, Cool Stitches - the next level.

Embellish Stitch Enrich next online workshop

2010-01-04T08:05:00.001+08:00

The latest online class of 6 lessons begins today - 4th January. All these late enrolments just popping in - not too late to start.

Watch this space for Embellish Stitch Enrich some more - coming soon

next on-line workshop

2009-03-22T08:46:00.002+09:00

The next on-line workshop for Embellish Stitch Enrich starts on 16th April - email me if you are interested in booking.

Embellish Stitch Enrich next online workshop

2008-12-25T09:55:00.002+09:00

Tthe next Embellish Stitch Enrich workshop starts on 12th January

Embellish Stitch Enrich Challenge

2008-09-06T09:29:00.001+08:00

Embellish Stitch Enrich Challenge

CONNECTIONS

Announcing the inaugural worldwide embellisher textile challenge.

The Challenge is to create an original art work using the embellishment machine plus optional hand and/or machine embroidery.

The theme of the challenge is CONNECTIONS

Full details and an entry form will be on our website www.thethreadstudio.com in the next few days.

Embellish Stitch Enrich next online workshop

2008-06-15T15:48:00.003+08:00

Embellish Stitch and Enrich

with Dale Rollerson

On-line class commencing Tuesday 12th August 2008

Duration: 6 lessons

Cost: $66.00 ($60.00)

Class Description

The embellishment machine is a wonderful addition to one’s array of other textile equipment; the sewing machine, heat gun, soldering iron and so on. The name implies embellishment and needlefelting but used in conjunction with your sewing machine and hand stitching, there are so many other things you can do with it. You will soon find yourself wondering what you did before you had one.

Obviously you will need a needlefelting/embellishing machine or attachment, a sewing machine and hand sewing needles to take this class plus an awful lot of other stuff you already have in your stash of goodies.

It is my intention for this workshop to be instructional, experimental and fun. We will explore on and

beyond your machine and each lesson will include a challenge.

Lesson 1:

First Things First – lots of sampling with fibres, yarns and fabrics to see what works for you. A time to play.

Lesson 2:

Scrumptious Surfaces – we will look at backgrounds created on the embellisher and build on the surfaces with hand and machine stitch.

Lesson 3:

The Woven Surface – cutting and weaving and putting it all together again

Lesson 4:

Creating Cloth from stitch and surface and a little knitting.

Lesson 5:

Bonding and Burning – how can you do a class with me without fusing and distressing?

Lesson 6:

The Finale – some quick drawings, some design and execute maybe an amulet, a magic carpet, a vessel or wherever your imagination takes you.

Interested? What next?

Email us (mail@thethreadstudio.com) to sign up and pay. We take Visa, Mastercard, PayPal or direct deposit.

Then I will email you the requirements you will need and invite you to join a special Yahoo group set up specifically for this class. The lessons will be available on a weekly basis beginning Tuesday 12th August 2008 for 6 weeks. You will be able to share your questions and experiments with others on the Yahoo group and post pictures of your work. I will be there to answer questions and you can always email me of course.

Lessons for this workshop will be available in .pdf format. I will email you each week with a link to the lesson which you will be able to download to your computer.

The six lessons and Yahoo group will be open to students enrolled for 4 weeks following the final lesson to allow you extra time to further work and interact.

Embellish Stitch and Enrich

2008-05-06T16:48:00.003+08:00

Embellish Stitch and Enrich

with Dale Rollerson

On-line class commencing Wednesday 4^th June 2008

Duration: 6 lessons

Cost: $66.00 ($60.00)

Class Description

It is my intention for this workshop to be instructional, experimental and fun. We will explore on and

beyond your machine and each lesson will include a challenge.

Lesson 1:

First Things First – lots of sampling with fibres, yarns and fabrics to see what works for you. A time to play.

Lesson 2:

Scrumptious Surfaces – we will look at backgrounds created on the embellisher and build on the surfaces with hand and machine stitch.

Lesson 3:

The Woven Surface – cutting and weaving and putting it all together again

Lesson 4:

Creating Cloth from stitch and surface and a little knitting.

Lesson 5:

Bonding and Burning – how can you do a class with me without fusing and distressing?

Lesson 6:

The Finale – some quick drawings, some design and execute maybe an amulet, a magic carpet, a vessel or wherever your imagination takes you.

Interested? What next?

Email us (mail@thethreadstudio.com) to sign up and pay. We take Visa, Mastercard, PayPal or direct deposit.

Then I will email you the requirements you will need and invite you to join a special Yahoo group set up specifically for this class. The lessons will be available on a weekly basis beginning Wednesday 4^th June 2008 for 6 weeks. You will be able to share your questions and experiments with others on the Yahoo group and post pictures of your work. I will be there to answer questions and you can always email me of course.

Lessons for this workshop will be available in .pdf format. I will email you each week with a link to the lesson which you will be able to download to your computer. You must have Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher to be able to open the lessons. Adobe Reader is a free software that you can download here. (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) It is more than likely you already have it on your computer.

The six lessons and Yahoo group will be open to students enrolled for 4 weeks following the final lesson to allow you extra time to further work and interact.

On-line Embellisher Workshop

2008-05-03T23:20:00.003+08:00

Embellish, Stitch and Enrich

I will be running a 6 lesson on-line embellisher workshop starting June 6th. Email me if you are interested and I will send you the info as soon as it is ready. Still working on it right now.

Thanks to everyone who has left messages or emailed me about running an on-line course on the embellisher

Embellisher Workshop 2

2008-04-30T07:16:00.001+08:00

Embellish, Stitch and Enrich

For those who have done some work with the embellisher, this is a chance to link up with stitch and see what wonderful things can be created. You will create lots of samples and some magical little pieces of work.

Venue: The Thread Studio

6 Smith Street

Highgate

9227 1561

Free parking available

Details: Thurs 15^th May 2008

9.30am to 3.30pm

Cost: $90

For more information, or to make a booking:

Ph (08) 9227 1561 Fax (08) 9227 0254

Email mail@thethreadstudio.com

Embellisher Workshop 1

2008-04-29T21:25:00.001+08:00

Let’s Get Started on the Embellisher

Have you bought an embellisher but barely taken it out of the box, or have you had a little play and then wondered what to do next? If so, then this workshop is for you. A day to explore the capabilities of your machine, playing with all manner of fibres and fabrics. You will create samples and have fun doing so.

Venue:The Thread Studio

6 Smith Street

Highgate

9227 1561

Free parking available

Details: Wed 14^th May 2008

9.30am to 3.30pm

Cost: $90

For more information, or to make a booking:

Ph (08) 9227 1561 Fax (08) 9227 0254

Email mail@thethreadstudio.com

Embellishers and airplanes

2008-01-29T15:24:00.000+09:00

If you take your embellisher on a plane with you as hand luggage (and they are light and easy to carry) - make sure you take your needles and screwdrivers out and place them in your luggage. Speaking from experience -there is nothing to get one a little flustered than having to quickly remove the needles and find some way of wrapping them carefully and sending them through the hold as checked-in luggage. The last thing one might think of....

little house book page

2008-01-06T11:46:00.000+09:00

hand dyed scrim worked onto a background of panne velvet with painted Gossamer fuse, foils and words stamped on top and little houses worked on top of that. Finally some hand stitching, sequins and other ephemera.

Embellisher Bundles

2007-12-13T14:28:00.001+09:00

You can buy Embellisher Bundles - beautiful fine Australian Merino wool - loved by the embellisher. Five random colours each approx 35cm x 35cm for $20. They are available from The Thread Studio in the Fab Bits section of the catalogue.
Great base for working onto - and layering- and working on both sides

Merrylock Embellishing Machine

2007-11-22T15:50:00.001+09:00

Kate from Kate's Sewing Centre in Melbourne (03 9467 1244) has sent me a brochure about the Merrylock embellishing machine. I worked on Jacinta's model when I was at Geelong. It has 5 needles, individually changed and did the job well. It look remarkably to me like the Pierrot which seems to have vanished from the scene - well the website has gone at the moment. This model is exclusive to Kate and she is selling it for $399OZ which is extremely good.

Thick surfaces

2007-06-16T09:43:00.000+08:00

Does the Viking embellisher enable you to machine felt a piece that is HIGHER or thicker than a piece you could do on the Babylock Embellisher? The reason I ask is that a friend w/a Babylock says she can't felt a thick piece by machine because of thickness limitations, but I heard the Viking machine has a height adjustment. Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated!

I had this question left from Patsy.

The Huskystar can be raised and lowered. The clear guard has a screw on it which you simply unscrew and raise or lower the guard, giving you more or less room depending on how thick your surface is.
The Babylock has a black dial on the top which you can also turn - right or left - and I have found that I can use quite thick surafces on which to embellish. In fact I find the Babylock easier to use in this way as is it just a matter of winding. With the Huskystar you have to actually unscrew (aren't we all basically lazy?)
I am not sure how thick one would want to go - I have managed as thick as I want without any problems.

Experiment of course.

different machines

2007-05-26T21:46:00.001+08:00

Lots of people email me about the different machines which are now becoming available. At the show in Perth this week I have been working on the Husqvarna (Viking) embellisher - it is easy to use - lighter motor than the Babylock and with 5 needles you need to work a little longer. But I am impressed with it - I have broken a needle on the sample book cover because I drove fast over 2 layers of felt and the cover fabric but easily replaced. It has a needle up which is different from all of the other machines and many people will like this. One thing that means is that when you doing circles and turn rapidly without thinking, you won't break needles as I have on the other machines.

The bottom line is though, that all of the machines I have tried, work well. You will find what suits you and what is available. Which ever you choose - you will have the bestest of fun, believe me.

ps I am not employed by any of the machine companies so my opinions are not biased. I work for myself!

Erica - that was a very interesting question you asked about movement. At home my Babylock is on a wooden table (I use three old school desks for my sewing tables) and when I am whizzing fast the machine does in fact move around. At the show the Huskystar was on a table covered with a cloth and it stayed firmly in one place. I think the secret possibly is to have it on cloth. The one thing about the embellishers is that they are very light and therefore highly suitable for taking to workshops and on holiday! One lady who came to my workshop in Hobart brought her Janome Xpression on the plane easily.

keeping your samples together

2007-05-26T10:04:00.000+08:00

Now that I have a huge collection of samples, I need to keep them somewhere, so I have made a start with a cover for a sample book. This is Indian Splendour wool and yarns.

Watch my book as it grows.

my book is here

2007-05-22T17:13:00.000+08:00

My special thanks to everyone who has preordered my book - it has arrived this afternoon and we managed to send out quite a few - we will get as many as we can away tomorrow. I only hope you find it useful and it helps you to further explore your embellisher.

More playing

2007-05-19T21:03:00.001+08:00

No sample as I am keeping these new ones for the show in Perth next week but think about making brooches with fabrics and bits and pieces or necklaces. Very easy and fun.

plus - thanks to all those who have preordered my book. It will be here on Tuesday and we will be posting them out then.

Don't forget - the special price finishes on Tuesday as well.

Surface Tension

2007-05-14T15:35:00.000+08:00

At last - here is a cover of the book. You can read more about it on our website - see posting below.

Surface Tension Preorders

2007-05-09T13:25:00.000+08:00

I will have a photo of the book shortly but here are the details
Price $29.50 ($26.82 o/seas)
Preorder and special price $25.00 ($22.73 0/s)
plus $3.60 postage in Aust and $5.00 postage for out of Australia until May 22nd 2007.
Books will be sent as soon as we receive them next week from the printer
As soon as we have our copy of the book, it will be on
The Thread Studio website
or you can

Email us

Don't leave a message here as invariably they are no-reply ones and then I can't - reply to you that is.

Surface Tension the book

2007-05-06T17:11:00.000+08:00

We will be taking preorders from Wednesday - just finalising the price.

The book is 62 pages and has sections titled

First Things First
Felting Fun
Scrumptious Backgrounds
Creating Cloth
Knitting and the Embellisher
Tucks Loops and Layers
Beyond the Machine

It is not a project book - it is far more of an ideas book.

Call back on Wednesday if you want to know more

yippee do

2007-04-10T21:29:00.000+08:00

I have to share the fact that we have a manuscript so look out - here we come......
Just hang in there and a book will emerge....

Huskystar Embellisher

2007-04-05T16:51:00.000+08:00

Today I went to my local Husqvarna dealer and tried the Huskystar. It's a nice machine - similar to the Janome Xpression (and the same price) but quieter and you can change individual needles. Plus it has a stop in the needleup position which I really can't see as something important but some people seem to think it is. With my BBL I simply run off the edge or (heaven forbid) stop and raise the needles. The exercise is probably good for my right wrist. Besides that I was very impressed - David opened it up so I could see inside. Always something you should not try at home they say. It doesn't have a lowering lever but it does have 3 pressure positions on the needle thing.

Anyway the bottom line was that it did what I asked it which is all you ever want. The machines themselves are basically similar and the buyers will go for which they like and of course, a dealer they like. Not that most dealers know what to do with the embellishers and believe me, I have seen some dreadful samples round the traps.

I have finished all of my work for the book at last - just the final formatting and stuff and then off she goes to the printer.....

layers

2007-04-04T17:52:00.000+08:00

You can build layers without any stitch. This sample, also on my downunderdale blog, is felt, tissutex, chiffon, scrim, silk fibres, thick wool roving, gossamer fuse, inks and Treasure gold. I am working to achieve the look of ancient walls and arches. Tissutex bonds well if you put something sheer like chiffon scarf on the top. It tends to tear on its own.

Layers

2007-04-04T06:01:00.000+08:00

Try layering different fabrics and se if you like the result. That's what I am working on at present.

edges

2007-03-26T17:41:00.000+08:00

just to keep you thinking - what about different edges? I have been exploring a few different ones - just takes your imagination. No stitch remember.

book with pocket

2007-03-18T18:09:00.000+09:00

Here is a little book of several pages with a knitted pocket for the beads - note the loops as well.

knit and embellish

2007-03-17T15:22:00.000+09:00

knitted slips with silk thread embellished to felt. Makes a wonderful surface. Use up all of your thread scraps for different textures. Use any size needles - a mixture of thick and thin or whatever you have. Paintbrushes if need be (maybe better on some plane services). Knit up squares. I have used the ends to make the circles. Plus here I have used garter stitch which requires little effort. These colours are from our Indian Splendour Collection which is still not on the web but watch the space.....

Knitting and the embellisher

2007-03-12T08:47:00.000+09:00

I lke knitting - have done so for a long long time, but I don't knit garments these days and I simply enjoy knitting up hand threads at present. The little knitted slips are loved by the embellisher - this is one of my threads not yet on the web site - Indian Splendour from our Opulent Collection. The background is hand dyed wool felt, the strips are wool tops blended and embellished onto scrim, cut and reapplied to the surface. Cross stitch with the thick silk and knitted with a medium silk thread. Plus tiny sequins and beads to finish.

Come back and see a little bit of layering with fine silk thread knitted - soon.

the book

2007-03-10T21:57:00.000+09:00

I haven't posted for a while but rest assured that the book is making good progress and we are looking at a release date of 12th April - which just happens to be my birthday. I will post some pics tomorrow. In the meantime, think about knitting and embellishing.

Carded Wool

2007-02-11T10:42:00.000+09:00

Helen asked what carded wool is. When I open up the bag of my lovely merino wool, it is firm and dyed in sprials and I want to blend the colours. I have a hand carding thingy like the one above and I use it to blend the different colours. I have used it in the past mostly to straighten out the fibres before spinning. Of course our hand dyed wool comes all nicely straightened, washed, cleaned, dyed etc, but this is just a quick way to do some blending. I also tease the fibres with my hands just so I can blend different colours. One of the end results of blending the colours is seeing if your putting together of colours has worked or not! Jacinta has dyed these new colours to match our new machine threads which have not yet arrived and I always worry that the colours won't work but I have fallen in love with this new one Arabian Nights - a change from my very brights.

arabian nights 1

2007-02-10T13:22:00.000+09:00

a section from a larger piece - using a new thread and wool tops which we have called Arabian Nights, the carded and blended wool has been embellished on hand dyed scrim, then applied to hand dyed wool felt and rows of running stitch worked all over the piece. Hand stitching alters your surface and worth a try. If you look you can see scrim coming through to the top of the appliqued pieces as I have worked it on both sides. See another piece on my downunderdale blog.

Embellishing on silk fabric

2007-02-09T19:12:00.000+09:00

I asked a few entries ago if you had tried embellishing on silk fabric. If you have you will know it scrunches up nicely. I have also been embellishing silk habotai onto hand made felt with a similar result. The flower journal on downunderdale blog has a strip of habotai down the side of it. When it scrunches, it is not even and gives an interesting line.

Myfanwy has challenged people to try different backgrounds this week and it is great to see what people are trying. The sky is your limit and you won't know until you have given it a go...

Three Flowers

2007-02-08T17:21:00.000+09:00

Three flowers as part of the Flower Journal on my other blog - I work them independently - fibres and stuff on black commercial felt. Use what is in your thread scraps jar.

felted in

2007-01-29T21:26:00.000+09:00

There has been a lot of discussion about how one must felt in the materials one is using. I don't go with this theory as I don't see the embellisher machines as objects to make felt but as embellishers - the ability to create interesting surfaces. Does anyone ask an artist if his/her materials must be embedded and never be removed?

This is pink on yellow - they just happen to be colours I like to work with.

And yes - it is worked on both sides in this instance.

Layers and papers

2007-01-27T18:30:00.000+09:00

These papers are some beautiful silk papers in slightly different thicknesses from Bangladesh which I will be stocking very soon. They embellish onto felt well - some of the fibres break down (the felt is cream and a coloured one would give a different effect) The top one has some kozo paper as well and is partly covered with a fine black silk paper which is a little like covering your work with black chiffon scarf.

papers

2007-01-26T17:54:00.000+09:00

this is a paper napkin - since I have a great collection of these, I like thinking of new ways to use them. Joan has been experimenting with papers and you are correct, Joan - the more fibrousy the paper, the better it works. I will have a few others to show tomorrow - paper will break up but try trapping things between two layers.

Bruce (my photgrapher/son) spent this morning on a photo session so progress is happening. He is coming to do hopefully the last session next weekend and we are starting to get the layout of the book ready to roll. I am only stressing a little and the heat doesn't help (nor does the red wine we drank last night after the rugby.....)

papers

2007-01-24T17:14:00.000+09:00

Pictures coming but have you tried embellishing on papers - or embellishing papers to papers?

Pixie Shoes

2007-01-22T08:17:00.000+09:00

When I first got my Embellisher, these were one of the first things I made - all in one pixie shoes - I have moved on a bit since then but they were fun to do. The dollie in Patti Culea's Doll Coiture book has pixie shoes exactly the same only tinier and more fiddly to make.

Zap Cloth and the Embellisher

2007-01-14T18:09:00.000+09:00

Zap Cloth is the new age nappy liner by the metre. On a background of panne velvet, some 1" x 1" samples for the fabric charm exchange, all worked on the embellisher with hand stitching and some flower buttons I had collected.

Stitching on organzas - try them all - very interesting effects. Easy distressing.

silk fabric pics

2007-01-13T16:31:00.000+09:00

All sorts of silk will rouche up wonderfully under the embellisher needles - I especially like the bottom sample on the shot silk. These were done on the Xpression.

Blogger is driving me nuts on my other blog with dates and here Ringsurf won't admit I am a member of The Embellishment Machine ring even though I started it and when I try to rejoin I cannot. C'est la vie......

silk fabric

2007-01-12T18:34:00.000+09:00

haven't got a pic yet but try running your embellisher over silk fabric - call back tomorrow to see some results......

the fabric from before

2007-01-04T12:00:00.000+09:00

Remember the embellished fabric I showed - I have scanned it and printed it and made a little book and beads. You can go beyond your embellisher fabrics. The pic is one taken by me so it's not as pristine and close as usual but you can see some of my general chaos surrounding.

I wanted to show how you can use the cloth you create.

Waiheke Scroll

2007-01-03T18:11:00.000+09:00

Not the exact piece from the previous post but I made three different and the same (slight change in yarns as some ran out), and for this one I have made a Waiheke Scroll - and I rolled the edges to make two big beads and with the remainder cut it into 3 and plaited it. Effective?

Waiheke Island Background

2007-01-01T16:51:00.000+09:00

A surface for a piece of work based on Waiheke Island. Call back and see how it develops in the next few days.

Embellisher Cloth

2006-12-31T18:16:00.000+09:00

One section in the book is titled Creating Cloth and I am looking at ways to both trap velvet and work it on the top. Two colours of scrim give a good contrast.

Surface Tension

2006-12-31T11:20:00.000+09:00

The other reason for setting up this blog is to promote my book - Surface Tension - which will be out at the end of February. Many of the pieces on my other blog - downunderdale - will be in the book plus other exciting stuff around the topic and with a section on Creating Cloth not just using the embellisher machine.

Watch this space for more details

this blog

2006-12-24T15:45:00.000+09:00

I set up this blog and I apologise to all who have been checking to see if I have posted anything. Promise - I will after Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone - this little tree is on my other blog but it was made all on the embellisher

The Embellisher

2006-11-27T13:59:00.000+08:00

Welcome to my new blog where I hope to showcase some of my work created using an embellisher machine and also a handfelting needle.