Let's Hang Out with Tanya

I've followed Tanya Bentham's blog for years now.  She's an expert in the English Medieval style of embroidery called Opus Angelicanum which she teaches and publishes about.

https://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/

Why is someone who does needlepoint read about early Medieval needlework?  Because it's our heritage and because Tanya's hilarious!  I don't know anyone else who combines historical research, hand dyed wools, and Medieval humor to create both satiric and bawdy pieces that are a delight to explore.

https://www.textileartist.org/tanya-bentham-a-modern-twist-on-medieval-embroidery/

Who can resist a saint with a can of cat food, monsters, or a rat eating French fries, anyway?  

Besides, Tanya always gives me ideas, like using light to create a shape instead of various shades of color.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 26, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tanya Goes Picasso

Tanya Bentham has posted a fascinating face on her blog.  Tanya's an expert tutor on Opus Anglicanum, which is the medieval style of embroidery.  The face is done in split stitch I think.  The fascinating part is she used different colors to emphasize how the various parts of the face are stitched in different ways.  I found it absolutely fascinating.  I particularly loved how she rendered the eyes.

https://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/2022/04/11/funny-face-2/

It will come in handy if I ever stitch a needlepoint face all in split stitch, which is something I'd like to try. I might not use lime, purple, sky blue, peach and pale yellow, though!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 11, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Handmade Brass Spangles

Tanya Bentham over at Opus Anglicanum's Etsy shop is currently offering handmade brass spangles, which might be the perfect embellishment for your current project.

https://www.opusanglicanumembroidery.com/product/handmade-brass-spangles/72?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=6

These are based on Medieval English embroidery embellishments but that doesn't mean they can't be perfect for 21st Century embroidery projects!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 16, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Making A Pearl Flower

Ever wanted to make a pearl flower?  Tanya has a lovely video on her website.

https://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/2021/04/23/pearl-flower/

She is a specialist in Opus Angelicanum, which is Medieval embroidery essentially.  She's working on velvet (I think) but the process is the same if you are working on needlepoint canvas and couching Kreinik instead of the very stiff metallic British twist.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 24, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Opus Angelicanum Asks the Eternal Question

Opus Angelicanum asks the eternal question--Does stash breed?
http://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/aargh/

(Also known as, "Where the heck did THAT come from?!?) 

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 21, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Bit of Background on Opus Anglicanum

Opus Angelicanum (or English work if my high school Latin hasn't totally failed me) is medieval ecclesiastical embroidery, highly prized at the time.  This brief article was written to promote a tv program on the embroidery on BBC4.  If you live in Britain, you might be able to play it on their website (second link).
http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts/arts-feature/9033391/english-embroidery-the-forgotten-wonder-of-hte-medieval-world/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03c2766/Fabric_of_Britain_The_Wonder_of_Embroidery/

By the way, there is an organization devoted to ecclesiastical embroidery education.  They apparently hold embroidery classes in the mountains of North Carolina.
http://www.hexaemeron.org

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How To Dye Threads

I think everyone who has stitched more than one or two projects has run into problems with thread dye lots being different, with not being able to find just the color of thread you need, or had a thread you like discontinued (usually within days of finishing a stitch guide for a project that uses a LOT of that particular thread).   The life of a thread manufacturer is full of these problems, many of which are out of their control.

I ran across an article on Opus Anglicanum about dyeing one's own threads that I thought you'd enjoy because it illustrates the complexity of dyeing threads.  Tanya is creating a large series of panels of reproduction 14th Century Icelandic embroidery and ran out of the red wool that frames each panel.  Hence the dye lecture since she hand dyed all the 2 ply wool for the project originally and now has to make more of the red.   I found it fascinating, and I think you will, too.  I appreciate the commercial thread companies a lot more after reading this, even though their processes are much different than the small batch of hand dyeing Tanya is doing.
http://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/dye/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Interesting Techniques from Japan Etc.

Most needlepointers aren't exclusively stitching with tapestry needles on NP canvas. Most of us know how to embroidery, occasionally do a bit of crewel, are studying Japanese embroidery, know how to knit, etc.   Even if we don't know much about other forms of needlework, we appreciate it and like to know more about how it is done. After all, lots of knitting yarns, stumpwork techniques, etc. have made their way from other types of needle work into the World of Needlepoint.  In the spirit of such curiosity, here is a story about an online eBook about icon embroidery, which involves the fascinating use of split stitch to create faces.  You can read the review and see if there's anything interesting to you and then follow the links to see more.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/07/icon-embroidery-book-free-online.html

Not everyone loves DMC colors in just the same way.  Are you familiar with Stephen Beal and his DMC inspired poems?  He does lovely embroidery as well but the only image I found online is the second piece in the second link below, from the Wall Street Journal.
http://dmc-threads.com/interview-stephen-beal/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120293280493666095.html#slide/1

Are you intrigued by Japanese Embroidery?  Then this brief description of a trip to a embroidery studio in Japan is right up your alley.
http://enbrouderie.com/2011/02/08/kyoto-adventure-japanese-embroidery/

Ever heard of kumihimo braiding?  This is a Japanese technique for making braids.  Recently Bedecked and Beadazzaled had a class about kumihimo.  There's even a video here if you are curious about the Top Right Down/Bottom Left Up/Turn technique Ruth describes.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/07/what-to-do-on-gray-saturday.html

I'm not sure this is actually a technique, but you will enjoy the special finishing that Quail Run arranged for this Nativity set.
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/08/finishing-for-you.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com