New and fabulous books!

Art Cloth, A Guide to Surface Design for Fabric by Jane Dunnewold


The Art of Felt, Inspirational Designs, Textures and Surfaces by Francoise Tellier-Loumagne

Also, restocks on many Stef Francis items, including the Texture Selection, Dyed Cotton Scrim, Dyed Mulberry Bark, Rayon Ribbon, Mercerized Cotton, Dyed Gimp, and embroidery kits. See the whole line HERE.

Tags: Stef Francis, Art Cloth, Art of Felt

Just a quickie note to say that thr3fold Journal has arrived. We have several issues available in our Magazines, etc section. They are absolutely fabulous!

Tags: Thr3Fold Journal

We're happy to announce we will be stocking Thr3Fold Journal very soon! Be on the lookout!

Also new is Down Under Textiles, an exciting new Australian magazine dedicated to textile arts. The latest techniques, tools and products; color, design and composition theory; galleries, profiles and much more.

Tags: Thr3Fold, Journal, Down Under, Textiles

Have Photoshop Elements (or Photoshop/CS)? Not sure what to do with the layers, filters, textures, etc? Me too! Susan Tuttle's new book, Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements helps to solve that problem. I'm so excited to dive into this one! It takes you step by step through the techniques used to use many of the wonderful tools available in the software. It comes with a bonus CD that includes assorted brushes, photos and textures. In addition to using existing photos, brushes and textures, she shows how to create your own. The results can then be used in mixed media pieces, textiles, etc.

Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements

Tags: Digital Expressions, Susan Tuttle, Photoshop Elements

We recently received a nice shipment of new and restock items from Oliver Twists:


Thick Rayon Ribbon
This is a thicker rayon chainette. It's fabulous for tassels, hand stitching, couching, fringe making... and it's so easy to work with!


Dyed Silk Tops
High quality long fiber mulberry silk dyed in classic Oliver Twists style.


Dyed Felt Squares
Hand dyed wool (70% wool 30% rayon) for use in surface decoration, textile art, mixed media, etc. Squares are 42cm x 42cm.


Dyed Abaca Tissue (in two weights)
Dyed sheets of abaca tissue (Tissutex) dyed by Oliver Twists. 76 cm x 48 cm, two thicknesses: 9gsm and 21gsm. We're having trouble keeping this one in stock!


Dyed Scrim Twist


Experimental Pack #1
Hand dyed, color coordinated pack of materials used in embroidery, surface decoration, textile art, mixed media, cardmaking and scrapbooking. Contents: 1 sheet (380mm x 240mm) Abaca Tissue, Silk Throwsters Waste, Silk Carrier Rods (2), a selection of cotton and rayon threads (10 threads x 1 meter of each), 1 coil of colored wire.


Degummed Cocoons
Soft degummed silk cocoons - no worm inside! Great texture, and they dyed up beautifully.

And, we received a fabulous new book:

The Art of Stitching on Metal by Ann Parr

Tags: Oliver Twists, metal

You read it right - we now have Brusho!!!!

Brusho sets
We're stocking it in sets of 5, 12 and 24 colors. The 5 color set also includes a packet of thickener and and instruction leaflet. In addition to having a really cool name, Brusho is a watercolor powder with fabulously concentrated, vibrant colors. It can be used as a dry sprinkle, regular watercolor, stain...a multitude of techniques. Used extensively in England's City & Guilds program and is very popular with many fabric and mixed media artists. A color chart for the various sets can be found HERE

Also new this week is Lesley Riley's wonderful Transfer Artist Paper

It transfers to almost any surface, works with crayons, colored pencils, markers and bubble jet printers. The transfer has no hand - you can't feel it. I am just itching to try it with some of my photographs.

Tags: Brusho, TaP, Transfer, Lesley Riley

Probably not the Bark Cloth you may be thinking of - this one is made from pieces of actual bark from the African fig tree. It's soaked and beaten to a thin(ish) sheet. It's a renewable product!

It may have small holes, or even patches sewn over larger holes, it all adds to the character of the cloth. It can be used by textile and mixed media artists in many ways. We're offering it in sheets of A4 size and small sampler packs.

Tags: Bark Cloth, Mixed Media

Once again we have TissuTex back in stock! It's available in two weights, 9 gsm (grams per square meter) and 21 gsm.

9 gsm is the sheer one pictured above, and the 21 gsm is layered over it with a single thickness corner showing. The great thing about TissuTex is its wet strength - it acts more like a fabric than paper so it is very easy to dye and manipulate. Both weights are stocked in large sheets of 20" x 29.5".

Tags: TissuTex, Abaca Tisue

Yes! Chiffon scarves are back in stock! Right now we have them in nine colors plus black, white and silver grey. The white scarves take dye beautifully.

Sari stuff:

Sari Ribbon

Sari Strips

Sari Yarn

It's all so very lovely and beautiful and luscious, I don't know what my favorite is... but I know there are sari tassels in my future.

We are also in the process of restocking our Treenway silk fibers: Creative Silk Pack, Dyed Silk Rods, Dyed Silk Cocoons, Dyed Hankie Packets, Dyed Degummed Throwsters Silk, and Dyed Cocoon Strippings. The products are listed but not all photos are done yet.

Tags: Chiffon scarves, sari, silk fibers

I'm very excited to say we now stock the line of books & DVDs published by Committed to Cloth! All are on special introductory pricing for a limited time.

Screen Printing: Layering textiles with colour, texture & imagery, book & DVD by Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan


Paper & Metal Leaf Lamination: A mixed media approach with cloth, book & DVD by Claire Benn, Jane Dunnewold & Leslie Morgan


Finding Your Own Visual Language: A practical guide to design & composition by Jane Dunnewold, Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan


Breakdown Printing: New dimensions for texture & colour by Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan


Tray Dyeing: Exploring colour, texture & special effects, book & DVD by Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan

Tags: Committed to Cloth, Claire Benn, Leslie Morgan, Jane Dunnewold, printing, Dyeing, screen, metal leaf, Lamination

Today's spotlight is on the two new books by the Double Trouble team of Jan Beaney & Jean Littlejohn.

Fragile Fabrics

This is very much a continuation of where Vanishing Act left off, in that it works with soluble film. But it also brings in other materials, such as sheers and even felt to make the fragile, etherial fabrics. Materials referenced include Lutradur, chiffon scarves, scrim, soluble stabilizers and fusible web. There's a nice question and answer section, too.

Constructions

Constructions is about structure, pattern, detail, texture...About how to see a composition in a photo or through a cardboard frame or a window, or.... I'm really liking this one! Materials and techniques include foils, Lutradur, embellisher machine, fusible web, chiffon scarves, scrim, soluble film, pintucks, heat distressing, discharge.

Tags: Fragile Fabrics, constructions, Jan Beaney, Jean Littlejohn, Double Trouble

Today we have five new books!
Two from Jan Beaney and jean Littlejohn: Fragile Fabrics and Constructions
One from Maggie Grey: Stitches, Straps & Layers
Contrasting Elements by Jae Maries, and Stitching the Textured Surface Lynda Monk & Carol McFee

I'll have an upcoming post with photos soon, but wanted to get the word out as I know there are a few of you waiting for these titles.

Also, most of the Stef Francis fibers and threads have been restocked - yay!

Tags: Stef Francis, Double Trouble, Beaney, Littlejohn, Maggie Grey, Jae Maries, Lynda Monk, Carol McFee, Straps, contrasting, Fragile, constructions

Now that fall is here (and how did THAT happen so quickly?) it means NEW BOOKS! Here are a couple goodies:



Experimental Textiles by Kim Thittichai
This book focuses on various extremely talented fiber artists, their inspiration and techniques. Not a how-to or project recipe book! The pieces shown include 2D, sculpture and even tassels.



Connecting Art To Stitch by Sandra Meech
Sandra Meech's books always take my breath away. So much color, technique and inspiration packed into 128 pages. Connecting Art to Stitch covers short exercises in different media and techniques, and also fifteen "Art Classes" which explore some of the subjects in more depth, such as sketching, working with acrylics, mixed-media approaches, painting on fabric, photography and image transfer.


Texture Magic
This is so easy to use:
1. Mark your stitching lines on the Texture Magic.
2. Pin the Texture Magic to the wrong side of your fabric.
3. Sew along marked lines.
4. Thoroughly steam with the Texure Magic side up (you can use your steam iron).
Done!

Tags: Sandra Meech, Texture Magic, Experimental Textiles, Kim Thittichai

Just a quickie to say we've been adding a bunch of new and restocked fibers, such as:
Hankies
Silk Rods
Dyed Hankie Packets
Dyed Lincoln Locks
Dyed Romney locks
Gummy Silk Filament Hanks
Degummed Throwsters Waste

Tags: Fibers, romney locks, hankies, throwsters waste, silk rods, silk filament, gummy

We finally Lutradur! The first to arrive is the 100 gram weight (heavier), available to ship on May 27.
What to do with it? Take a look at Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur by Leslie Riley:

The book really is fabulous, it comes with 2 sheets (approx. 8"x10.5") of Lutradur in 2 weights, one of each weight. It's chock full of great ideas and jumping off points for your own projects. I'm really drawn toward the 3-d box project - very cool.

We have a couple new dyed fibers from Treenway Silks:

Dyed Cocoons in a potluck mix of colors, 10 whole cocoons per package.


Dyed Silk Rods These are a bit softer than the Stef Francis Rods and are perfect for layering on flatter projects. They are easy tp peel apart and stretch out.

One very astute customer asked about all the "out of stock" items in our Fibers category. We've been a bit slow in re-stocking that area, but happily, we will have more by the end of May or beginning of June. Yes - even hankies!!!

Tags: Lutradur, silk rods, cocoons

Brand new: hand dyed gimp in three colorways:

This cord is suitable for wrapping tassel forms and is fabulous for embroidery techniques (my favorite - couching).

Tags: gimp, cord, rayon, Tassel forms

Yay - we got some tassel forms today!

Tags: Tassel forms

Just a quickie note on new items and restocks just in today:

New: Paper and Beyond by Maggie Grey & Jane Wild
A CD format book cocked full of mixed media ideas and techniques.

New: Jenny Haskins Magic Tassel Maker
This tool makes it easy to make tassels, fringing and twisted cords with threads, yarn, cords, etc. and you sewing machine with beading foot.

Restocks: too many to list, but popular notables include Oliver Twists machine thread packs and One-offs, Sadi and Shisha Variety Packs, Extravorganza, Tatools, Pressing Sheets and the impossible to keep in stock “Inspired to Stitch”.

Tags: Paper and Beyond, Jane Wild, Maggie Grey, Extravorganza, Oliver Twists, sadi, Tassel maker, shisha

We just received some fabulous fibers from Oliver Twists:


Experimental Pack 1 - A sampler pack containing silk fibers, threads, silk rods, abaca tissue and a coil of copper wire. All hand dyed (except for the wire) and perfect for a small project. We have it in several colorways.


Strata Pack - A coordinated collection of 5 silk fibers in a great clear pillow pack. Makes a nice gift, especially for yourself!



Tidbits are small one meter lengths of hand dyed threads - perfect for samplers or just to try out something new (and they’re very affordable).


Silk Paper String - 50 meters of hand made rough silk string, extremely strong.


Dyed Silk Laps - great color!


Abaca Tissue - the paper that feels and acts like fabric.

Tags: Oliver Twists

Just in: Three new books from the UK!

Textile Translations: Mixed Media by Maggie Grey. Maggie brings textiles and mixed media together in typical wonderful fashion. Her explanations are easy to follow and give lots of room for your own creativity to blossom.
**Bonus** Free online classes are available to owners of this book. They cover a variety of mixed media topics and projects, along with a discussion forum. Details can be found in the book.


Exploring Colour by Julia Caprara. The vibrant color in this book will wow you! It’s definitely not for neural lovers, it’s bright and happy and inspiring, especially after a long cold winter.


Embellish and Stitch by Valerie Campbell-Harding & Maggie Grey. Not just for Embellisher Stitchers only! Pretty much everything in this book is meant for hand felters only (I was most pleasantly surprised at that, in typical fashion by two of the top fiber arts authors.

Tags: Maggie Grey, Textile Translations, Mixed Media, Valerie Campbell-Harding, Julia Caprara, Online Classes

Yes we finally have the new Beaney/Littlejohn books! For some reason I was behind on ordering these or time got away from or...oh well, they’re here now and as fab as always:


Location, Location, Book 21



Seeing Double, Book 22


Also new is:


Inspired to Stitch by Diana Springall


Stitch, Cloth, Paper & Paint by Angie Hughes


To celebrate their arrival they are on super-super sale price - Yay!

Tags: Beaney, Littlejohn, Double Trouble, Books

Yes - we have restocked many of the popular Stef Francis fibers and have added a couple new ones.

Restocked items:
Dyed Mulberry Bark
Bleached Mulberry Bark
Natural Mulberry Bark
Prepared Cocoons
Prepared Rods
Dyed Cocoons
Mulberry Bark Experimental Pack
Harlequin Necklace Kit (great gift item!)
Texture Selection Threads

New:

Dyed Silk Rod Theme Packs
Sushi Necklace Kit (great gift item!)

Tags: Stef Francis, mulberry bark, cocoons, Kit, texture selection, silk rods

Yay - it’s a great week for deliveries! We have received our new stock of Fibrefusion books:
Beyond Boundaries
Encrustation
Evolutions
On Form
Raise a toast, the long-sought-after Softsculpt is here!
Last but not least we also have a new and nifty Felting Pen, which just happens to go very well with our currently on sale Spiral Dyed Merino Wool.

Tags: Fibrefusion, Felting, Beyond Boundaries, Encrustaion, Evolutions, On Form, merino wool, softsculpt

Just a quick note to let everyone know we now have Maggie Grey’s newest book: FROM IMAGE TO STITCH. Right now we have it sale priced at $21.95.

Also, Grilon Shrinking Thread is back in stock!

Tags: Maggie Grey, Image to Stitch

Oy, it's been a busy (and long and cold) winter here! Just a quick note as we're getting many inquiries about 'this Lustr'ed Cloth'. We are expecting another shipment within the next (hopefully) couple weeks. We are not taking orders just yet as with the changing value of the US dollar we don't know yet what our price is (it may change, or it may not).

Also, we're in the process of adding new dyed silk goodies to the online catalog. They are vibrant single fibers and fiber play packs, along with a restock of undyed hankies and cocoon strippings. Photos soon.

Tags: this Lustr'ed Cloth, silk, hand dyed

Just a quick to note to let everyone know that the Fibrefusion books arrived on my doorstep (on a Sunday morning no less!). I'll get photos and a description of the new ON FORM later. Also in the shipment are BEYOND BOUNDARIES, ENCRUSTATION and EVOLUTIONS.

Tags: Fibrefusion

I've had quite a few requests for the new Fibrefusion book "On Form". I have an order in for the book and hopefully it will be here shortly (I can't wait!) along with more of their previous publications "Beyond Boundaries" "Encrustation" and "Evolutions". Watch this space for details...

Tags: Fibrefusion

Just when I thought it had been abducted for an alien autopsy my shipment of this Lustr'ed Cloth by Alyson Mydgelow Marsden showed up. This is a fabulous book if you're into combining metals and metal effects into textiles - very cool! This is the latest book by Marsden, following on the heels of Between the Sheets with Angelina.

Also new - digging around in my office I came across some forgotten packages of Rachel Meek's vibrant spiral dyed merino wool. Yum, I love surprises like this!

Tags: lust'red cloth, merino wool

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MooMarks!

Is anyone else as crazy as I am about moo cards? I couldn't resist, so i had some made up in snazzy stitchy phrases and made them into bookmarks. We're including the moomarks with book purchases while supplies last.


One more note - we're expecting a shipment any day now of this Lustr'ed Cloth by Alyson Mydgelow Marsden, the latest by the author of Between the Sheets with Angelina. This one is all about using metals in your textile art.

Tags: moo, lust'red cloth

We've been stocking up on our books and have quite a few new ones:
The Painted Quilt by Linda and Laura Kemshall
Plush-o-Rama Curious Creatures for Immature Adults by Linda Kopp
How We Felt by Carol Huber Cypher
Little Season Ornaments by Japan Publications
Contemporary Knitting for textile artists by Ruth Lee
Print Pattern & Color by Ruth Issett
M.Joan Lintault Connecting Quilts, Art & Textiles

And an instructional DVD:
Paintstik Inspirations DVD by Laura Murray

Tags: DVD, books

Have a spooky Halloween today! I'm trying very hard to avoid those good lookin' bags of candy over there in the corner...

We have many new books, and I don't have time to list them now (getting ready for tricks & treats), so take a look at the NEW category for a complete listing.

The office help wanted to show off their costumes...
Here is (ready ladies?) Tom Jones:



And his security guard:

Tags: corgi, office help, Halloween, Tom Jones, Welsh Crooner

Just a quickie note to let everyone know that we once again have Tyvek! We are stocking it in packs of 10, 8 1/2 x 11" sheets. This is the hard structure Tyvek, it is stiff enough to pass through a bubble jet printer (never put it through a laser printer!).

Tags: Tyvek

We have new silk rods and cocoons, both are very CLEAN, ready for dyeing or to use in their natural state.


clean, prepared silk cocoons



clean, prepared silk rods



natural mulberry bark with skeleton leaves




bleached mulberry bark with skeleton leaves

Tags: cocoons, rods, silk, mulberry, bark

Just a couple more goodies, just because it's Friday...


4mm wide silk ribbon


silk throwsters waste (this is just one color, more are available)

Tags: Stef Francis, hand dyed, fibers, ribbon, silk

All of the new and restocked Stef Francis items are up - lots of glorious color!
We are still working on adding the undyed items, like natural cocoons, rods, bleached and natural mulberry bark.


NEW 35/3 linen and medium braided silk


rayon ribbon and chainette


7200 rayon and texture selection



tuscot (tussah silk/cotton)



dyed mulberry bark



hand dyed cocoons and silk rods

Tags: Stef Francis, hand dyed, fibers, threads, silk, thread, mulberry bark, tuscot, cocoons, tussah, rods

I'm working on updating the cart with LOTS of new and restocked things from Stef Francis, Japanese books and more...check back here for updates or if you can't wait just keep an eye on the NEW category.

Tags: Japanese books, Stef Francis, new