Wednesday, September 25

Stitched Blooms Blog Tour & Giveaway



My embroidery friend Carina has a book out soon (early October) called Stitched Blooms and I'm very happy to take part in the Stitched Blooms blog tour!* Stitched Blooms has 300 floral motifs to embroider: floral borders and corners, folk art flowers, leaves, nature's blooms etc etc. all in Carina's admirable signature style. A lovely alliance of pretty colour combinations and Scandinavian folk design.



In addition to the motifs, the book also features 20 projects, some require (easy) sewing and in other cases store bought items were embellished with Carina's lovely designs. These will give you lots of ideas of how to use the motifs.



One of my favourite projects is this embroidered duvet cover, so simple and elegant!


And who can resist a Dala horse?

The 'basics' part of the book covers everything you need to start stitching; from information about scissors, hoops and ways to transfer a pattern to an overview of different types of knots to start your embroidery. The stitch glossary includes the basic stitches but also a few others like the Maidenhair stitch (which I happen to like a lot).

Carina shares some great content about the use of colour in this book, with tips on how to explore use of colour in your own embroidery work. For example by getting out of your colour 'comfort zone'. Something I should do more often too!



Stitched Blooms comes with a cd with all the project templates and motifs featured in the book. You can import motifs into an image manipulating program (such as GIMP) change their size, flip them and combine the motifs to make your unique design. The possibilities are endless. I added my daughter's name (lettering is from the program not the cd) and I think this would make a lovely design for a hand stitched personalized gym bag!

I think this book is a great resource of 'scandi' floral motifs for stitchers of all skill levels. The informative 'basics' part of the book makes it an excellent starting point for beginning embroiderers and many stitchers can benefit from the wonderful pages about the use of colour. Find more information about the book, the blog tour, reviews and places to get your copy here.



I'm very happy to be able to share a copy of Stitched Blooms and 7 skeins of fabulous embroidery floss with one of my readers in my Stitched Blooms Giveaway! Leave a comment on this post before the 1st of October 2013 and tell me what item you would love to embellish with Carina's motifs.  Comments are closed, winner will be announced later today 2/10/13 Be sure to leave a 'trail' (e-mail, link to profile with e-mail etc) or check back here on the 2nd of October so I can get in contact with you should you be the lucky winner.

The floss colours the lucky winner receives could be different from those on the photo above but will definitely be among Carina's favourites.  Good luck everyone!




*The publisher 
Lark Crafts sent me a copy for review and lets me share the book and floss with you. 

57 comments:

  1. Well looka that! I am the first to comment!! I am thinking that a bed pillow would be the perfect project to embellish. Thanks for the chance!!

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  2. I'd like to do an apron and tea towel set my my dad's wife for her Christmas present. Lovely giveaway - lovely book!!!!

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  3. A hand towel for the kitchen or some embellishment on a sweater would be my choices. :o) It looks like a pretty book!

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  5. I would like to stitch some custom labels for my quilts. The stitching would add a nice final touch. The book looks lovely. Mary

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  6. I love to stitch on everything! Thinking about a pair of canvas tennies...

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  7. I'd like to embroider some cushions for my sofa, they are boringly plain at the moment.

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  8. Oh, I do love that Dala horse! I've got little animals all over my house and I think the Dala horse would fit in nicely ~ I'd definitely stitch him up!

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  9. I would love this book! I think I would make that Dala horse and some pillow cases. Thanks!

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  10. I would love to embellish pillow cases and maybe some hand towels for the bathroom. :)

    Gayle (gayle at gayletrent dot com)

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  11. I think it is about time I decorate a t-shirt or two. I never get to show off my embroidery skills unless people come to my house, this would make me walking art! :)

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  12. I love the colour choices in this book. I would love to embroider some flower motives on a quilt I am making, which could do with an extra flowery touch!

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  13. I'd love a hoop in my sewing space, my bedroom, kitchen, etc!

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  14. Oohh, that book looks fantastic! I have a little Swedish colorful wooden Dala horse in my office and it would be fun to make one like it. I also need a new small craft bag - some of these stiched blooms would be so cute to embroider on the front! Love the colors :)

    eva@littlecooltoys.com

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  15. I've got some pillowcases in need of sprucing up!

    (lisa jean dot mcneil at gmail dot com)

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  16. I would love to embellish a tote bag. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of a great book.

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  17. Thanks for the giveaway! I'm really into just putting hoops around embroidery for my daughter's wall! She loves watching me sew, and I want to make sure she loves crafty stuff as she grows up! :)

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  18. I have a comfy cardi that could do with some embellishment...

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  19. Oh what a beautiful book! I love Carina's work. I would definitely embellish some cozy fleece earmuffs for my winter bike riding (to go over my helmet straps). Thank you for sharing!

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  20. Only have one grandgirl amidst 6 grandboyz, so would love to embellish everything for her with happy flowers etc.
    cynthiaregan@comcast.net

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  21. I gotta say I just might have to stitch the horse! He is really cute. I think the motifs in this book are just adorable! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  22. This looks like such a wonderful book to have in your library. I would love to make some cushions for my lovely red sofa. Thank you so much for this great giveaway!

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  23. The book looks great! I would embellish a tote bag. Thank you for the give away.
    my email queestastramando (at) gmail (dot) com

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  24. Thanks for chance to win Carina's book -- I'm looking forward to diving into it. My email is cabnet_33@yahoo.com

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  25. I have a plain tote bag that would fabulous with these designs

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  26. Totally awesome! I can't wait to see the book in person. I would probably use a design for the center of a table mat.

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  27. Don't know yet but would love to win it , thanks

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  28. I have a white linen blouse that would be the perfect project!

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  29. I would like to embellish a couple baby bibs I need to make for gifts.

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  30. I definitively need this book for more inspiration ! Dala horse is a must for me and also thinking about embroidery a little curtain for my kitchen

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  31. Seeing the duvet idea has me thinking about the plain one I have on my bed. It would be great to embellish it!

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  32. hmmmm.. There are so many projects to choose from... I'm going to say tea towells, because its nice to embellish something you use all the time.

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  33. I would love to embroider a pillow. Not a throw pillow for the couch but one for my bed, because even though i wouldn´t be able to see it while i sleep :-) it would be such a luxurious thing to have a carefully handcrafted item in a place like that. I like the idea..

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  34. So many uses for her beautiful embroidery patterns :D I would like to embroider on some bath towels and pillow cases! I love the embroidery pattern she has in her book for a blouse!

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  35. I love Carina's embroidery patterns! I made a good job with her "tree of joy", it is lovely!
    So I will be very happy to have a whole book of Carina's ideas to be inspired by!!! :)
    I'd like to embroidery something for the kitchen. Or bags! Yes, bags, pouches and pencil cases. Why not?
    Thank you for this giveaway!!!
    Silvia
    silviatriv @ g m a i l (dot) come

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  36. I would like to embellish a skirt.

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  37. My embroidery skills are limited so I'd start by making and embellishing a lace handkerchief.

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  38. I wonder if I could do a canvas tote bag! jamielovesweeping@gmail.com

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  39. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book! I bought both of Carina's previous PDF publications and they are wonderful. What a treasure to have it all in a book! Congratulations Carina, wishing you the best of success with it! xx

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  40. I have a new grandbaby coming so I would work on embroidering patches to put together a quilt. My mom had made me one when she was pregnant with me that I still have.

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  41. I always love to embellish quilts with embroidery - makes them extra special and personal :-)

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  42. I love the Dala horse and I would also like to embroider a skirt and top. I love this book!

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  43. I would practice on some pillowcases first but when I get more confident I want to add embroidery to the toy animals I make for Children's Hospital
    Great looking book!

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  44. 300 designs! Wow - for a start I would like to embelish a few dala horses for the holidays for my nieces and daughter! We are Finnish and Swedish and they would love them! thank you!

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  45. I would definitely love to win this giveaway!

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  46. I am in love with this book and the colours of floss you're giving away!! I would love to embellish my pillowcases, a couple t-shirts and sweaters!! Would live to use Carina's designs. Thank you so much for the chance!!

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  47. I think i would start with lavender bags and go from there.

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  48. I love the designs in this book and would like to embroider a tote bag! Thank you for the giveaway!!

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  49. Oh my goodness, there are so many things that can be done, love it!
    smjohns63 at yahoo dot com

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  50. I want to embellish some clothing in bright colors. The book looks lovely and I love Carina's color choices

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  51. I have a denim skirt and an old denim jacket that would look lovely with some of these motifs on them. I love Carina's work,

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  52. I love to embellish clothes.....shirts, skirts, sweaters, dresses. It makes them uniquely mine. I love Carina's work. Thank you for the chance.
    lovebirdmom at gmail dot com

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  53. I would like to embroider some hoops to hang and some peasant blouses. Thanks for the give away!!

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  54. Item that I would love to embellish with Carina's motifs are my table topper and pillow covers:) Thanks for the chance to win! shaza.zain(at)gmail(dot)com

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  55. I wouldn't mind trying to stitch on some clothing! Fingers crossed for a win

    Alyce

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  56. So many choices! I have a tablecloth I'd like to embellish. Thanks for the chance to win.
    Debbie
    harleygram@gmail.com

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  57. I would love to embellish my quilts and my felt projects with Carina's motifs. I'm new at embroidery so this book would be very helpful!

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