Friday Folksy Finds - Silks

This finds post was inspired by a conversation with one of my daughters friends who is interested in embroidery.  She was confused by the fact that her embroidery group refer to stranded cotton as silks, it made me wonder if this is just our part of the world or does everyone call stranded cottons 'silks'. So I went looking for silks on Folksy and found some really interesting items.

Lorna Bateman Embroidery

Lorna Bateman makes the most exquisite pieces, if you have never looked at her shop take a moment to enjoy her delicate touch.  She features heavily in this post because there is so much to see.  Silk ribbon embroidery, crazy patchwork and every combination in between, they are all kits but so lovely.

Yarn Yarn

Hand dyed recycled sari silk ribbon, this is wild orchid and the palette is just so pretty.  I can think of so many ways you could use this in a more contemporary embroidery.  The shop is a must for all colours of recycled ribbon - have a peep you will really enjoy.

Lorna Bateman Embroidery

It is number 12 perle cotton that has been hand dyed by Chameleon threads and presented for sale by Lorna Bateman.  These gentle garden colours would be wonderful on a soft linen or worked into a garden sampler, very, very tempted and with such gorgeous colour combinations they are hard to resist.

London Button Company

Silk or velvet covered buttons with a Swarovski crystal  in the centre.  I think they look fantastic together but you can request whatever colour or colours you want.  I have said before I have an unhealthy relationship with buttons and I just cannot resist unusual combinations.  I buy them and never want to use them, just keep and admire them.  I am working hard to overcome this, Becca says I need counselling - haha,  and I have been using buttons of all kinds on my recent cards.  The London Button Company run by Louise Coote has only a few styles to choose from but if you want colour coordinated buttons give them a try.

Lorna Bateman Embroidery

This is my last find from Lorna Bateman, silk ribbons for use in silk ribbon embroidery.  I went on a course last year for an introduction to silk ribbon embroidery and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I find it hard to source silk ribbons and these are a great thickness (4mm) to work and such pretty garden colours. There are ten colours of five metres each, a great addition to any stash.

Very tempted by the Chameleon perle threads, can think of all kinds of sampler uses for them and will probably succumb to temptation before the weekend is out.  Have spent a very pleasant week in the conservatory working on samplers because Becca has completely taken over the cabin.  She is in her last few weeks of her degree and has completely lost the ability to tidy up any area of our tiny house.  The cabin looks like someone has dropped a sack of flour over it there is so much dust and she has migrated into the house and taken over my work table in there so I am working in the conservatory on a cushion.

So proud of her, working so hard and has just been given an unconditional offer to begin her MA starting in October.  For anyone out there thinking of a Contemporary Craft degree, UClan is wonderful and from being a bit sniffy about Preston to start off with they have been utterly fantastic with my girl and she has learnt so much.  Best lecturers in the world and wonderful technicians - a course in a million and the best of luck to them relaunching the degree, they deserve to do so well.