Welcome & Thanks for Stopping By!

Oct5

silk ribbon flowersWelcome friends,

I am an artist, a writer, a mom and a wife. I have lived, loved and laughed as often as life has allowed. I have created most of my life, not all of it I would call art, but all of it came from my heart.  I promise to endeavor to bring you one of a kind, unique creative expressions from my hands to your eyes.  May you enjoy perusing through these entries, and if you are interested you can find more of my work here:
Bead Work • Ribbon Work • Embroidery • Fiber Art • Wearable Art • Accessories • Dolls of Distinction • Digital Endeavors • The Occasional Poem and Short Story .

If you would like to contact me or put your name on my mailing list, please click here.

Happy day to you, and come back again real soon! Christen J. Brown

Shabby Chic Valentine

Dec23

Shabby Chic Valentine Ornament

shabby chic valentine

Well it is no secret that hearts are my favorite shape, and now I have a new one to offer you! This is a fun, fast and easy project to make for your home, or someone you love! The base of the heart is made from felt, some lace scraps, and a few buttons. The stitches used are straight and blanket (which you should know ahead of time). These hearts can be accessorized with purchased flowers (ribbonwork will not be covered in class); other items like charms or sequins can also be added in for extra details.

Details:

Class Fee: $15.00/2 hour class

*Please note that this class does not include any of the materials, supplies or tools; these must be provided by the student.

Class Requirements: you must know how to hand sew, and work the straight and blanket stitches before class.

Date and time: January 27, 2017 12:30 – 2:30.

Location: Beverly’s Fabrics, 6185 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92111

Specifics:

This class fee is paid directly to Christen. This can be paid by a PayPal invoice, or by cash or check the day of class. Please email Christen:[email protected] to inquire about the availability of space for the date listed above.

Happy Stitching ~Christen

Fabulous Flora!

Dec23

Fabulous Flora! with Christen Brown

ribbonwork flower garden

**Beginning January, 2017**

Do you love flowers, leaves and those little garden extras? This is a perfect class for you then! In this series of classes, you will be introduced to the art of ribbonwork. I will teach you how to make flowers, leaves and other objects with all types of ribbon; other materials such as lace and fabric will also be explored. My two books on ribbonwork: Ribbonwork Gardens and Ribbonwork Flowers will be used for instruction and inspiration, and therefore are a necessary requirement.

Here is a list of the techniques and types of flowers and the dates that they will be covered:

  1. Rosette: January 9, 2017
  2. Rosette with Details: January 16, 2017
  3. Posy: January 23, 2017
  4. Posy with Details: January 30, 2017
  5. U-gather Petals: February 6, 2017
  6. Folded Petals: February 13, 2017
  7. Star Point Petals: February 20, 2017
  8. Ruched Petals: February 27, 2017
  9. Individual Petals 1: March 6, 2017
  10. Individual Petals 2: March 13, 2017
  11. Flower Centers: March 20, 2017
  12. Flower with Petals: March 27, 2017
  13. Roses 1: April 3, 2017
  14. Roses 2: April 10, 2017
  15. Vintage Flowers: April 17, 2017
  16. Bugs and More!: April 24, 2017

Class Details:

You can take one, several or all of the classes. Hand-sewing skills are a must. Each class is $20.00, to paid the day of the class. My books Ribbonwork Gardens and Ribbonwork Flowers are a mandatory supply. No other ribbonwork book will be used or covered.

The classes are held on Monday’s from 10:00 – 12:00 at this location:

Beverly’s Fabrics
6185 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92111

For information on the series, and if you are interested in attending a class, please contact me Christen:

[email protected]

The above class fees reflect the content of the handouts for each specific class. You will receive a handout in an email for each week, which will need to be printed and brought to class.

Until then, Happy Stitching! ~Christen

The Embroidery Corner Stitch Library

Dec12

The Embroidery Corner Stitch Library

with Christen Brown

strip piece embroidery
crazy piece embroidery

 **Beginning January, 2017**

This is a great class to learn how to use the stitches that you learned in the Embroidery Corner. Each session teaches you how to combine a border row stitch and its variations with decorative and detail stitches. These combinations are then drawn onto a strip pieced and crazy pieced design worksheet. You will have homework to complete these stitches on a muslin square.

PLEASE NOTE: No embroidery stitches will be taught in this class, it is assumed that you know the embroidery stitches that are covered. You must either know embroidery, or have taken the Embroidery Corner. Also note that the project or work that will be done in class will not be finished in class, you will have homework that MUST be completed before the following week’s class.

This is a technique class only and is meant to help you build your use of the stitches and your own stitch library. It is required that you buy my embroidery book, The Embroidery Book. This will be used as a reference guide for the actual stitches that will be covered.

Session Details: $30.00/3 weeks

Each 3-week session covers a border row stitch and its variations, combining these with decorative and detail stitches. The stitches are explored on both strip pieced and crazy pieced design worksheets. Class homework will be to work the stitches on a muslin sampler.

Week 1: The border row and its variations are drawn onto graph paper, working the stitch in straight lines and drawn images using templates (not provided). Instructions and examples on how to use the stitches will be provided with both drawn and finished examples of work. Class homework will be to work the stitches on a muslin sampler.

Week 2: The variety of decorative and detail stitches are explored and drawn onto each border row stitch drawn in Week 1. Instructions and examples on how to use the stitches will be provided with both drawn and finished examples of work. Class homework will be to work the stitches on a muslin sampler.

Week 3:  The combination of stitches from Weeks 1 – 2 will be drawn onto a worksheet provided in class. This worksheet has two designs to work from, a strip pieced and crazy pieced design. Instructions on how to use the stitches and combinations according to the size and shapes of the drawn designs will be provided with both drawn and finished examples of work.

Here is a list of the border row stitches and the dates that they will be covered:

  1. Outline, Back-stitch, and Coral Stitches and their Variations: January 10, 17 and 24, 2017
  2. Chain Stitch and Variations: January 31, February 7, and 14, 2017
  3. Blanket Stitch and Variations: February 21, 28, and March 7, 2017
  4. Feather Stitch and Variations: March 14, 21 and 28, 2017
  5. Cretan, Herringbone and Chevron Stitches and their Variations: April 4, 11, and 18, 2017

Class Details:

One three-week session of classes is $30.00, paid on the first day of the session. By agreeing and paying for the class, you will be making the commitment to attend all three classes. The classes are held on Tuesday’s from 1:00 – 2:00 at this location:

Beverly’s Fabrics
6185 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92111

For information on the series, and if you are interested in attending, please contact me Christen:

[email protected]

The above class fees reflect the content of the handouts for each specific class. You will receive a handout in an email for each week, which will need to be printed and brought to class.

Until then, Happy Stitching! ~Christen

Stitch Along Sampler: Student’s Work

Dec4

I have a treat to share with you today. This project was created by one of my students Misa Turnage. She has taken a block from my class The Stitch Along Sampler, and turned it into an unexpected surprise.

misaturnage1stitchalongsamplerblock

The block became a focal point for a tote bag. Misa used block #7/Embroidered Chorus. She added in her own touches by embroidering the four sweet little flowers in the corners.

misaturnage2stitchalongsampler

To assemble the bag she used a grouping of related floral prints, added in some lace here and there and voila! What a cute bag, it just turned out so wonderful!

Happy Stitching, and thank you Misa for sharing! ~Christen

The right needle

Oct19

needlehouse

I was fortunate enough to be asked by Barbara, the owner of Joggles, to stitch a few of her wool houses for a video. She was generous and gave me extra pieces to use for my own designs. Here is an example of one of the houses that I turned into an etui or needle case.

As a teacher of embroidery everyone, I mean everyone asks me if the needle makes a difference. YES is the correct answer!

needles

The purpose of the needle is to make a hole big enough in the fabric, or to be inserted into the canvas so that the thread can follow with ease. If the hole is too small, the thread will eventually fray, if the hole is to big then the thread will not cover the hole. So again YES!

tomato pincushion

Many students get confused once the needle is out of the package, so I suggest dedicating a pincushion to your embroidery needles. I take each section and write down the type of needles that I use with a permanent marker. For instance, embroidery, sharps, milliners, cotton darners, beading and chenille needles are all in my tool box, therefore there is a wedge on the pincushion with their name on it!

needles and thread

Another good idea is to dedicate a piece of fabric or even an index card for the types of needles that you may be using. Then thread the needle with the type of thread or ribbon that you would use for embroidering your project. Insert the needle into the fabric or card, then tape the thread down. Write the name of the needle on the fabric or card. Voila, no more confusion!

Happy Stitching, and enjoy~ Christen

Crazy Pieced Etui

Oct19

I will be teaching again in Houston this year at Quilt Festival, 2016. One of my classes is all about Flowers for CQ Embroidery.

crazy pieced etui

I just finished this example of a crazy pieced project, in this case an etui or needle case.

crazy pieced etui

Here is is opened to reveal a page of felt to place the pins and needles into, and a small pocket to hold scissors.

example of crazy pieced embroidery

Here is the full piece, before I stitched it into the etui.

sampler of ribbonwork and silk ribbon embroidery

Here is the sampler for the pieces that we will be covering in the class.

I am really looking forward to meeting all of my students, and sharing this wonderful information.

Happy Stitching, and enjoy~ Christen