Orts: Threads of Creativity
Orts is newsletter collecting small snippets of creativity: embroiderers, textile artists, illustrators, DIY projects, and how we can make time for our creative endeavors. Published every Friday.
Craft your own cat tarot 🐈 🪡
Hello again! I’ve been gone for the last couple of weeks, some of which was spent in Minneapolis producing ICON12 The Illustration Conference. I was the Board President for this conference, and after two years of work, it all came together! It was a deeply satisfying—and fun experience—but I am glad to be back and focused on Orts and my embroidery. So, without further ado, let's get to 5/5: five creatively inspiring things and five ways to DIY. Craft your own cat tarot ✨ 5 creatively...
How one fiber artist embraced mistakes to 'spotlight' her embroidery
Deanna Skow I’m a day late with the newsletter this week. (Maybe you noticed, maybe you didn’t!) But, better late than never—especially because I'm thrilled to share with you an interview with Deanna Skow of Six Eyes Stitches. I discovered Deanna's work through her Spotlight embroidery series. As the name suggests, the pieces have a spotlight effect and illuminate a portion of the composition. In Deanna’s case, this is often achieved as a clever hoop-within-a-hoop design. I spoke with Deanna...
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Fantastic fungi and faux fish loaves 🍄 🐟
Laura Dalla Vecchia Hi! This email is coming to you later than I would’ve liked. I am prepping for my busiest week of 2024—The Illustration Conference (ICON), where I’m the Board President. It’s been two years in the making, and it happens in less than two weeks. All that to say—thank you for your patience and thank you for supporting Orts. Now, let’s get onto 5/5! Fantastic Fungi and Faux Fish Loaves ✨ 5 creatively inspiring things Taylor Swift recently stepped out in a granny square-style...
Poisonous plants (faux), embroidered leaves (real)
Happy Friday! It's a 5/5 week, and you know what that means—five creatively inspiring projects and five ways for you to DIY. Scroll down for an embroidery-heavy list. There's stitching on real leaves, a faux poisonous plant crown, and a DIY project with (at least) a five-year lifespan. 👉 ICYMI, this cat holding the Moon was the most-clicked link in the last 5/5. See You in Five Years ✨ 5 creatively inspiring things Hillary Waters Fayle stitches on real leaves without using glue or tape. Her...
How I fly with my embroidery
How I fly with my embroidery Flights are my favorite time to embroider, for a couple of reasons. First, I am pathological about sitting at the window. This has the advantage of having nice, bright light to aid me in my stitching. Second, I rarely pay for wi-fi on planes, so I am blissfully disconnected for a couple of hours (usually). All there is to do is embroider! I like my creature comforts, and I want to have all of my embroidery supplies with me when I travel. Over the years, I’ve...
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My brain hurts thinking about double-sided embroideries
Selina Ben Thank you for being a paid subscriber to Orts! Next Wednesday, I'll have Orts Lab in your inbox. In the meantime, enjoy 5/5! Double-Sided Embroideries, Carving Clubs, and the Purrfect Sashiko Stitch ✨ 5 creatively inspiring things I had no clue double-sided embroideries were a thing, but they look so cool! Kseniia Guseva of @faimyxsttich showed off her double-sided portrait of a cat. From one side you see the front of the kitty, and on the backside, you see the tail. I love...
I'm bowled over by these embroideries
I'm back with 5/5: five creatively inspiring things and five ways for you to DIY. An incredible beaded spiderweb, a cat "guarding" the Moon, and a great way to use your cut fabric stash. So, let's get scrolling! 👉 Last week's edition of Orts was for anyone who likes to try something new. Bowled over by these embroideries ✨ 5 creatively inspiring things Is this a spiderweb? No! It’s a delicate embroidery by Ale of Thread Handed Jill. This particular piece is 19 x 15 inches and includes...
No experience necessary
No Experience Necessary This edition of Orts is for anyone who likes to try something new. Beginning a craft can be intimidating, but it’s a little less daunting thanks to the internet. If you can’t learn it in person, someone online can probably help! Today, I’m focusing on resources and patterns to help you improve your embroidery and other stitching, from samplers to projects geared toward anyone with limited experience. Thank you for reading Orts. If you enjoy my newsletters, consider a...
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Sewing seashells and woven cows
Thank you for being a paid subscriber to Orts! I had fun collecting the links for this newsletter. I hope you enjoy, and please let me know if there's something you'd like to see more of. Tiny Irons, Silly Gooses, and Crafting a Better World ✨ 5 creatively inspiring things If you’ve ever wanted to try block printing (especially onto clothing), Allison McKeen is great inspiration. I love how illustrative her designs are. I like this kitchen-inspired one, complete with strawberry jam and a...
Stitch your way through this embroidery board game
Thank you for reading Orts. If you enjoy my 5/5 format, consider a paid subscription! As a paid subscriber, you’ll receive this email each week plus quarterly subscriber-only exclusives like a tutorial, pattern, special interview, or something else. (Think of it like Orts Labs.) You'll also receive access to my full archive and paid subscriber-only posts. Stitch your way through a board game Happy Friday! It's that magical time on Friday when I share my 5/5—five creatively inspiring things...
Orts is newsletter collecting small snippets of creativity: embroiderers, textile artists, illustrators, DIY projects, and how we can make time for our creative endeavors. Published every Friday.