Journal

Random Musings on Art and LIfe

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Learn from my Marking Pencil Mistake

June 30, 2021

There are few things more frustrating than mistakes that can be avoided. In this post, I share my mis-adventure with a marking pencil — and how you can avoid this mistake in your fabric art projects.

Beautiful Beaded Stitches for StarFlower 6

April 1, 2021
Beaded stitches on stitched painting by Shelly Stokes

8 Ways to make a Beaded Heavy Chain Stitch

February 4, 2021

I’m dreaming of a Talavera Awning

January 20, 2021

Stitched Paintings by Shelly Stokes

January 6, 2021

6 Steps for No Trace Freezer Paper Stencils

December 17, 2020

How I frame a Stitched Painting

December 4, 2020

Yes! You can Reuse a Vinyl Stencil!

October 20, 2020
Reuse-a-Vinyl-Stencil-FB

StarFlower 5 Complete!

July 30, 2020
StarFlower-5-Complete cover image

Completions are a big deal here at Cedar Canyon, especially when a project stretches out for months. Needless to say, I’m happy to say (shout?) StarFlower 5 Compete!!! Ahem… did I say that loudly enough? When I wrote my last update a few weeks ago, I was chuckling about the value of Ugly Brown Beads…

The Case for Ugly Brown Beads

July 18, 2020
Ugly-Brown-Beads cover image

As much as I love bright colors on dark fabric, there are times when my muse takes me off in an unexpected direction. My current project includes a lot of stitching in warm colors in graduated tones. (Think gold, rust and deep reds). It even provided the case for  — get this — ugly brown…

Are Paintstik Colors Eraser-Proof?

June 18, 2020
Paintstik-Colors-Eraser-Proof Cover Image

One of the things that makes me crazy is adding stitching to a shape and then deciding that it just doesn’t work. After several stops and starts on my current project, I knew I had to give up on lattice-work for this particular shape. But that left me facing a big (and rather scary) question.…

Fill the Hole in a Vintage Guatemalan Huipil

May 18, 2020

On a trip to Guatemala in February, I purchased a number of vintage hupiles (Guatemalan blouses) from Chichicastenango region. I loved the geometric designs in the weaving and knew they would be perfect for an upholstery project. But… when you repurpose these used garments for a project, you have to Fill the Hole. And that…