Dimensional Embroidery Workshop

I’m busy behind-the-scenes working on my newest spring/summer virtual embroidery workshop and until I have it ready to release, I thought I would bring out my fall/winter 2022 class out of the vault of my computer in case you are getting the urge to stitch!

Dimensional Embroidery with wildboho is a self-paced and virtual class where you will learn how to make a dimensional embroidery sampler…picture loads of texture, embroidery, beads and sequins! I absolutely love this class, which is meant for all levels of embroiderers, because the skills you learn will allow you to create from start to finish a gorgeous piece of embroidery, perfect for gifting or hanging on your gallery wall!

This class will be available for purchase until April 14 when it gets shuttered back into the vault! How’s that for motivating you to check it out?!

I’ve also been uploading lots of videos to my YouTube channel, from visits to my in-home studio, to embroidery tutorials. Subscribe to my channel and you’ll get the newest videos as I upload them (usually twice a week!)

Don’t forget that I also have lots of new stickers in my Etsy shop…perfect for adding to your water bottles or crafting supplies!

I’ll be back here when my new class is up and ready and until then, Happy Spring!

Get those needles out and boho your stitches!

xx Nichole

Self-Paced Embroidery workshop available now!

If you happened to miss my sold-out dimensional embroidery sampler workshop last month, then have no fear: another opportunity to start stitching awaits!!

My self-paced dimensional embroidery sampler workshop is available now!

This is a 2-1/2 hour video class that you can pause and rewind and replay as much as you want! When you purchase a ticket, you will shortly thereafter receive an email from yours truly with all of the links and info that you’ll need to get started. I touch on creating a color palette and pulling together all of your supplies from there. I review my favorite threads and beads and the embroidery basics to get you started.

You will learn 17 different stitches in 4 categories: Basic, Isolated, Decorative Line and Woven. You can create a sampler that looks just like mine or you can create your own unique design.

After watching the class, if you have any further questions, you can always email me and I will be there to answer what I can!!

And if you would like to purchase this class as a gift, just send me an email before or after you purchase it and I can take care of that as well!

(P.S. If you signed up for my class in November, don’t sign up for this one because it won’t have any new information!!)

Thank you for reading (and stitching) along with me!

Happy stitching!

xx Nichole

Fiber Talk Podcast

Happy Sunday!

I’m just popping in to share that I was recently a guest on the Fiber Talk podcast and you can listen to it here. It was just lovely chatting with Gary and Beth and I hope that you enjoy the conversation!

And a huge thank you to everyone who signed up for my new dimensional embroidery sampler class…it sold out in just one day! I hope to add new workshops down the road and when I do, you will be the first to know!

Have a great day and get those needles out!

Virtual Embroidery Workshop & Needles Out

If you have been following along on Instagram, you are probably here for the link to purchase a spot in my newest embroidery workshop: Dimensional Embroidery Sampler, so click on the link below to register (**registration opens at noon EST on Monday, September 12**)

Dimensional Embroidery Sampler Workshop

In other news, I’m excited to share that I’ve written a new book and it available for preorder now!

A companion to my first book, Boho Embroidery: Modern Projects from Traditional Stitches and my second book, Boho Embroidery: The Pattern Collection, Needles Out: Mixed Media Techniques delves even further into the world of dimensional embroidery. You will learn how to mix embroidery with appliqué, beading, stumpwork, needle felting and fabric painting.

I am incredibly proud of this book mostly because of the projects and techniques included, but also because it is the book that feels the most me! Photographed in a beautifully restored Victorian townhouse in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, I was able to be part of the process even more than in my previous books and I feel like that really comes through in this book!

I’m looking forward to sharing more once the book has been released!

Until then, get those needles out and happy stitching…I hope to see you in one of my virtual embroidery classes!

Collaboration with John Bead and a new (FREE!) pattern!

It’s no secret to all of you lovely followers that I am a huge fan of beaded embroidery! And that makes it all the more exciting to share with you my second collaboration with John Bead Company!

Before I share the details of the project, it’s important for me to tell you where you can find these beads. They are easy to find at your local JoAnn Fabrics or Michael’s craft stores! Both places have a great selection of to help you get started embroidering with beads!

In case you missed our first collaboration, all of the details can be found here. Made with fabric from JoAnn, this was a project using just one fabric as the base of an embroidery design. This project would be great for beginners to embroidery and is just as suitable for intermediate – advanced embroiderers. The beauty of a project like this, is it can be as simple or as detailed as you like and everyone will have a project that is completely unique to them!

And now, moving onto this most recent collaboration!

All of the details for the most recent project can be found here. This project includes a FREE botanical pattern that was inspired by my love of and collection of vintage floral tins.

Whenever I stumble on a new (old!) floral tin, the intricacy of the designs always catch my eye and I wanted to replicate that same design inspiration in a new floral project. I was also challenged to use beads of different shapes, such as the Link and Pip beads, both of which I loved adding to the border.

For a list of all the supplies that I used and the free botanical pattern, visit the Beaded Floral Hoop at the John Bead blog.

And remember, as with all of my patterns, I encourage you to follow them as loosely as you like! Feel free to mix up the colors and beads that you use. And if you create a project from this pattern, I would love if you would tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #wildboho so I can see what you create!

Enjoy and happy stitching!

Purr-fect Patchwork Tour

I’d like to think that Pamela Morgan asked me to participate in the Purr-fect Patchwork Tour because she knows that I am not the best at following rules or patterns and I kind of go my own way when it comes to all things stitchy! At least, that is what I told myself as I stitched up one of the patterns from her brand new book, Purr-fect Patchwork by CT Publishing!

We first met each other a few years back when Pamela signed up to take one of my embroidery classes at QuiltCon in Pasadena, CA. She had such a zest for creating and was so much fun to have in my class!

When she told me a later on that she had been writing a book combining cats and quilting, I was privileged to have the opportunity to look through her early draft copy. I’m so happy that her book is finally in print (read about her journey to publication on her website!) She wore both the writing cap and the photography cap for this project and the photography is really what stands out to me. Such beautiful pictures of beautiful projects!

(P.S. What would a blog tour be without a giveaway?! This is probably a good time to mention that there will be a giveaway…be sure to read all the way to the end for details!!!)

And now on to my project! She picked out a project from her book for me to work on: the Cat Nap Pillow #2 and I took her pattern, mixed it all up and did something completely different with it! To me, that is the fun of a pattern like this: it’s interchangeability (that’s a word, right?!)

You can stitch up the pattern into a pillow (like you’re supposed to!) or you can come to the dark side with me, put a flower here, a cat here, throw another flower here and there and come up with something that is uniquely you!

Here is what the adorable Cat Nap Pillow pattern is supposed to look like:

Cat Nap Pillow #2

And there here is my mixed-up, stitched-up hoop-y version of it!

Cat Nap – the mixed up version
Kitty Butt!

If you aren’t sure where to start with embroidery, I have a Craftsy class that will help you create a piece of hoop art with embroidery and beads (like this Cat Nap hoop project!) from start to finish!

I also have lots of embroidery videos on my YouTube channel!

And if books are your thing, check out both of my Boho Embroidery books!

And be sure to check out all of the other stops along the tour!

And let’s have one more look at that gorgeous photography I was talking about!

PURR-FECT PATCHWORK TOUR SCHEDULE

Fri. August 20:

C&T Publishing | http://www.ctpub.com/blog/ | IG: @ctpublishing     

Pamela Jane Morgan | pammiejane.com/blog | IG: @pammiejane

 

Sat. August 21:

Sherri Noel | https://www.rebeccamaedesigns.com/ | IG: @rebeccamaedesigns (Chasing Dreams Quilt)

Shannon Fraser | https://shannonfraserdesigns.com/ | IG: @shannonfraserdesigns (Stabby Tabby Pincushion)

 

Sun. August 22:

Lorna McMahon | https://sewfreshquilts.com/blog | IG: @sewfreshquilts (Get Your Paws Off the Tablerunner)

Tracy Brittain Loyek | https://www.purplekatzquilting.com/blogs/news | IG: @purplekatzquilting (Purr-fect Pocket Tote)

 

Mon. August 23:

Natalie Santini | https://sewhungryhippie.com/blogs/tutorials | IG: @sewhungryhippie (Hiss and Make Up Bag)

Kaitlyn Howell | https://knotandthreaddesign.com/blog/ | IG: @knotandthread (Ziggy Kitty Quilt)

 

Tue. August 24:

Audrey Mann | https://www.theclothparcel.com/blog/ | IG: @theclothparcel (Just Kitten Around Pillow)

Charisma Horton | https://charismascorner.com/ | IG: @charismahorton (Feline Floral Quilt)

 

Wed. August 25:

Mollie Johanson | http://blog.molliejohanson.com/ | IG: @molliejohanson (Tale of Two Kitties Needle Book)

Corinne Sovey | https://www.corinnesovey.com/home/blog/ | IG: @corinne.sovey (Tuxedo Cat Wristlet)

 

Thu. August 26:

Melissa Averinos | https://yummygoods.com/blogs/yummy-goods-blog | IG: @melissaaverinos (Blooming Curiosity Quilt)

Jeni Gaston | https://woolenwillowdesigns.com/blogs/jeni-s-blog-at-woolen-willow-designs| IG: @jenifergaston (Whisker Away Quilt)

 

Fri. August 27:

Tonya Alexander  | http://stashlabquilts.com | IG: @stashlabquilts (Cat Nap Pillow #1)

Nichole Vogelsinger | https://wildboho.com/ | IG: @wildboho (Cat Nap Pillow #2) ←You are here

 

Sat. August 28:

Stacey Day | http://www.staceyinstitches.com | IG: @staceyinstitches (Laser Cat Quilt)

Amanda Niederhauser | http://www.jedicraftgirl.com | IG: @jedicraftgirl (Self Pawtrait Softie)


And what would a blog tour be without a GIVEAWAY?!

I am giving away an eBook version of this brand new book to one of my readers/commenters! Be sure to comment here on this post and I will randomly choose a winner! And for the Grand, Grand prize, which includes a signed copy of the book and lots of other goodies, comment on every post for this blog tour!

Happy stitching!

**Note: some of these are affiliate links, which means that I receive a small commission if you choose to buy from the link!

Embroidery as Home Decor

I was recently asked by Redfin for tips for including embroidery art in personal spaces. I was excited to submit my tip, because I love including handmade pieces into my decor! Read further to find my tip (Hint: It’s number 20) and click this link to access all of the other makers who were highlighted!

Showcase Embroidery in Your Home: 23 Unique Embroidery Ideas to Elevate Your Space


The appearance of needlework in home decor is a definite sign that embroidery is making a comeback. While it’s often thought of as a pastime reserved for your grandparents, we’re here to tell you that needlepoint is enjoying its resurgence as a newfound hobby and collector’s item. With a needle, thread, and a little creativity, embroidery can quickly transform your space and allow your personality and imagination to shine through. 
If you’re ready to get crafty and want some ideas to add a homey touch to your loft in New York, NY, or decor inspiration for your cozy home in Toronto, ON, we’ve got you covered. We reached out to embroidery experts to get their unique embroidery ideas to reinvigorate your space. So bust out your embroidery hoops and colorful threads to add some flair to your home. 

1) Give fabric a trendy makeover
Warm, comforting colors with bright accents are trending for 2021, as seen with the Pantone colors of the year, Ultimate Gray with Illuminating (vibrant yellow). To create this trending style in your home décor, without spending a fortune on redecorating, add embroidery to pillows, kitchen towels, wall hangings, and table runners for an impressive appearance. -Blue Bunny Hollow

2) Use embroidery in your home decor to add texture to your space
Take your embroidered items to the next level by adding texture with your threads and materials. You can do this by couching threads for a 3D effect or embroidering on textured fabrics like velvet, linen, and woven home dec fabrics. The texture will add depth, interest, and a homey feeling to your home decor. -Tough Kitten Crafts

3) Create small pieces that incorporate textures and colors you love
If you have no wall space, no worries. Many modern embroidery artists create small pieces perfect for tucking into spaces in your gallery wall or on a bookshelf nestled between your favorite novels. Embroidery is like any other art medium – it must speak to you and pull you in when you see it. Look for pieces that inspire awe or conjure up fond memories, as well as have colors you enjoy and great texture and movement (successful embroidery pieces have all three). -Jennifer Smith Studios

4) Play with seasonal colors
Usher in the fall season with some needle and thread. Go nuts with your Autumn decor with this free acorn and oak leaves embroidery pattern. Your seasonal throw pillows and the napkins in your Thanksgiving tablescape will really pop with this embroidered touch. -Devin McSherry Design

5) Frame embroidery pieces and create your own gallery wall
Original art can be expensive; original needle art doesn’t have to be. Transform a bland wall in your home with framed needlepoint or embroidery. Use eclectic frames sourced from flea markets, frame a sassy or subversive saying in an elegant gold frame to nestle among your more traditional pieces, frame a tiny stitched piece within a large mat board, go bold with color or bargello patterns, or use fiber you find almost anywhere to create unique needle art. Then, mix it all up into a curated gallery wall that will evolve with your stitching collection – meaningful art that only you own. -Poppy Monk Needlepoint

6) Make an embroidered statement piece and display it right in your entryway
Show off your creative side to anyone who enters your home and you’ll immediately be recognized as an artistic and capable person. Your guests will feel compelled to explore more of your beautiful house and hunt for similar tokens of your enchanting artistry. Choose a color palette and a design that represents you, be it a modest, monochrome mandala or a vibrant and energizing floral bouquet. -Stitch Palettes

7) Add embroidery hoop-art into styled vignettes 
Themed embroidery designs finished off in round hoops are a charming addition to styled vignettes on a sideboard or bookshelf. Display the embroidery hoop on a plate stand or mini-art easel for hand-crafted charm. It’s easy to change out seasonally. -Stitched Stories

8) Create a focal point in your meditation space 
Embroidery is a wonderful craft to pick up if you’re a spiritually inclined crafter. An embroidered piece to hang as a focal point for your altar, your meditation space, or even a shrine to a beloved ancestor is a beautiful and powerful way to imbue that space with your focused and intentional energy for your practice in that space. It also works great for visualizing your intentions and manifestations. -Deidre Dreams

9) Incorporate texture and color with embroidered pillowcases
Embroidered pillows are an easy and expensive way to add embroidered decor to your home. They’re perfect to add a pop of color and personality to sofas, chairs, and beds throughout your home. -Pickle Pie Designs

10) Add personal touches to your home decor with embroidery
Whether it be embroidered bed covers, cushion covers, curtains, etc, embroidery adds an entirely new level of style and colors to your simple home decor and gives it that extra pep, just like an expensive painting on the wall would. Give your home a new look with a range of Threads & Décor. -Angad Creations

11) Accent your space with framed embroidery art
Artists are exploring distinctive ways to create art, and embroidery is resurfacing throughout the art world. A wonderful way to bring embroidery into your home is by incorporating framed unique embroidered art pieces that spark conversation, complement your décor, and bring beauty to your home. -Sew Unique Art
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12) Make an embroidered book pillow for a kid’s room
Set your kid’s room up as a place of comfort as well as learning. A book pillow is an easy and fast craft for even a novice sewist. You’ll need an embroidery machine to stitch out the adorable design and a sewing machine to craft the easy, square pillowcase. -Designs by Little Bee

13) Use punch needle embroidery to upgrade your decor
You can add a beautiful, tufted texture to anything that’s made with cotton fabric, like curtains, throw blankets, and pillow cases. If you want to go bigger and bolder, try punch needle rug hooking and create beautiful throw rugs and chunky textured throw pillows with yarn. -Marching North

14) Personalize your bathroom with monogrammed pieces
Take your bathroom personalization to the next level. We have all seen towels monogrammed with a last name initial or a couple’s initials, but what about making an even greater statement piece by monogramming a shower curtain? Adding a monogram to the center of a shower curtain with applique initials or just embroidery can give a real “wow” factor to a place that might not have much character. Adding that extra touch of personalization can really help make your house into a home. -Creative Appliques Embroidery

15) Use embroidered wall decor to add shape variety to your walls
Most of us hang square and rectangular art and photos on our walls, but when a piece of hand embroidery is finished and left in the hoop, it gives us the opportunity to incorporate round art. Hoops that are used by embroidery artists come in a variety of circular and oval sizes and it is possible to hang these directly on your wall. Give your gallery walls more interest by mixing in a uniquely shaped piece of embroidery. -Heather Clara Designs

16) Dress up a dreary corner with some bright textiles or embroidery 
For areas in the home that don’t receive as much natural light, a light-colored weaving or handicraft can help elevate the mood and bring brightness to the space. Add a piece with predominantly red, orange, or yellow-colored threads if the color of the wall is neutral or cool, or choose something with rich greens and blues if it’s hanging on a warm beige or yellow wall. -Boo Forever

17) Create a home space that highlights your creative side 
Whether you crave natural materials, vintage pieces, or the comfort of traditional surroundings, there is nothing like owning a touch of “hand-made”. Accessories made with your personal touch like an embroidered pillow, or framed wall hanging will become a focal piece, and add unique character to your home. When creating that “special piece,” I suggest that you work with colors that you like and ones that compliment your style. -Christen Brown

18) Give any space a refresh with machine embroidery applique
Refresh any living space with easy-to-make pillows featuring machine embroidery applique. Quickly change the feel and mood of a space with beautiful machine embroidery applique designs that can be chosen and customized with fabric and thread to fit any décor. -Meaning of Life Designs

19) Plants and embroidery hoops make perfect pairs
Plants and embroidery hoops make perfect pairs. Prop up your finished embroidery hoop next to your favorite houseplant to add interest to your plant shelf. -Rikrack

20) Create a gallery wall of embroidered pieces
Embrace the maximalism of cottage core design with a gallery wall incorporating a hand-stitched embroidery piece. Find a vintage floral fabric (hint: repurpose a garment or linen with a design you love), place it in a hoop, and embroider key lines or favorite color blocks of the design. Hang your finished piece with a velvet ribbon and mix it with modern pieces to create an eclectic look on your wall. -wildboho

21) Use embroidery to create personal pieces of home decor
I would say that it is so much fun to make your own art. You never have to worry about it matching or coordinating with what you already have in your home because you control that when you choose your threads. You can dress it up or dress it down, depending on how you choose to display it (stretched on a canvas, hung with a cord, applied to wood, or sealed in a frame). And, you feel such a sense of accomplishment when you can say, “Thank you! I made it myself!” -Another By Anita

22) Relax in your home with an embroidery project
The benefits of embroidery go beyond beautiful décor. Sure, making your own embroidery projects allows you to add your own unique palette and style to your home – but it’s also really good for you. Study after study shows that creative hobbies like hand embroidery reduce stress and promote the growth of new neurons in your brain. So if you’ve been wanting to get healthier, hand embroidery may be something that you want to add to your daily routine. -Jacquelynne Steves

23) Enhance existing decor by incorporating unique embroidered accents
An easy, simple way to add unique accents to your home décor with embroidery is to begin with everyday items you already own. A touch of embroidery on pillowcases, cushion covers, napkins, or tablecloths is sure to bring new life to them and is easily customizable to suit your own style. -The Diary of a Northern Belle

Originally published by Redfin

Summer Perler Bead Fun!

This crazy school year has ended and we are finally getting into our summer groove. After a year of virtual school (with some really amazing teachers!), the kids and are I ready to step away from scheduled zoom meetings and computers and just have some fun creating at our own pace.

Perler Beads are always my go-to craft because they never get old, we never outgrow crafting with them, and they are an easy activity to just jump into. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I’m ready to try a new craft and expand our overflowing craft supply stash (can you ever have enough crafting supplies?!), but sometimes my summer brain just needs something easy and comfortable!

My boys usually have their own ideas for projects, which leaves me to play around with my own ideas. As a fiber artist who embroiders on printed fabric, I always have scraps of fabric that I can’t part with. I decided to pick one of those scraps to use as a base for my Perler Bead project.

Now, a small disclaimer before I show you what I created from my fabric and beads…a project like this is just for fun and not something that I would sell. Always be aware of copyrighted designs and do not sell projects that are direct copies of a fabric designed by an artist. I like to turn my projects into magnets to give as gifts or to put on our refrigerator!

So here we go!

I chose a fabric designed by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics. I love Alison’s colorful, floral-inspired designs! When choosing your fabric, look for a larger print that can translate well into a Perler Bead pattern. Remember that it will not look exactly like the fabric…it is a jumping off point for a fun beaded pattern.

Once you select your fabric, iron it to get any wrinkles out. I love to use my Oliso Mini Project Iron for Perler Bead projects because it is small enough to keep by my side as I craft.

Place a clear Perler pegboard on top of the fabric design, or multiple pegboards if you are creating a larger project.

Once you have decided on the placement of the pegboard, it’s time to start beading! I like the variety bucket of beads so that I have lots of colors on hand! Follow the fabric design to choose your bead colors and feel free to change colors as you go…that’s the fun of a project like this! Your finished design does not need to look like the design you started following.

Remember that because you are not using a pattern designed to be used with Perler Beads, you may have to make small changes to make the design work for beads. But this is a project for you to have fun with, so don’t feel pressured to get the design exact!

When you are finished with the Perler Beads, place the wax paper on top of the design and slowly iron it into place. I like to place a small ironing board under my Perler Bead board so that I protect my workspace. Continue ironing until the beads have melted. Be sure to follow the Perler Bead instructions for ironing the beads!

Let your project cool. I always place my project on a flat surface and place a stack of books on top of it so that it cools and flattens at the same time. Once cool, add a magnet to the back and start your next project!

If you’re looking for another fun project that includes both kids and Perler Beads, check out this fun Mixed-Media Sunshine project that I created a step-by-step tutorial for!

And, as always, if you create a project from this idea, be sure to tag me on social media so that I can see what you created!

Happy beading!

Embellishing Yazzii Craft Bags

I am an organizer. And I am always looking for better ways to organize my embroidery supplies. I like my organizers to be portable and roomy for lots of my threads and beads. A zipper is good, just in case my beads spill. Something that can sit on my lap is great, especially for travel.

Enter Yazzii bags! The ultimate organizing solution to so many of my hand embroidery needs!

Two of my current favorite are the Craft Box-Fabric Top and the Oval Sewing Box.

A bonus with these bags, besides being really well-designed (in Australia) and hand-sewn (in India), is that the fabric design allows for you to personalize them with your own appliqué and embroidery!

I’ve embellished my bags and I even made a video for you to see how I used a slightly different method for each one!

And while you’re on YouTube, check out the “Inspired By” segment that I recorded with Free Spirit Fabrics yesterday!

Happy watching (and stitching!)