Get Creative with Christmas!  Everyone is probably busily having fun working on some Christmas crafts in your spare time.  Try swapping out traditional colors but still stay in the seasonal color pallet.  For example, instead of using white thread for your snowman, use gold thread.  Or, instead of using red for the hollies, use a gold metalic thread.  Tip - ensure that the colors you are changing stay in harmony with the rest of the thread colors that you are using in the same project. 

Enjoy one of your favorite embroidery designs but want to give it a fresh new look?  Try using variegated thread.  They come in a variety of different colors and are fun to use!

Looking for a way to add trends to your embroidery work?  Use plaid fabrics for your applique embroideries.  Plaid is in trend this season and it is a fun way to add some interest to a garment.  In our online shop you can view appliques in the 'For Every Season' tab.  There are scrolls and pedals that would make excellent elbow paids with plaid fabric!

When embroidering on clothes consider the colors that you will be using.  Do you want your design to stand out more?   Than use a contrasting color such as a wine red thread on a cream colored fabric.  If you would like your design to be more subtle use a monochrome approach, such as a cream or ivory thread on a cream colored fabric. Have fun with your colors and enjoy the process of selecting just the right color for your project.

A fun way to add uniqueness to your clothing is by adding embroidery to one part of it.  For example, the cuffs can be embroidered to add variety and draw attention to the garment.  See our Photo Gallery for examples of this. 

You can do this with a new garment that you are sewing by embroidering the fabric before adding it to the garment or on an old garment to give it a new flair.  With an older garment you may need to remove the piece first, depending on whether or not it is lined or how easy it is for your machine to get to that particular part of the garment.

There are some wonderful designs in on our online shop that would make beautiful accents for any garment.

Welcome to the Christiana Design Blog, please check back on a regular basis as we add more information.

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to quickly say good bye. I am off to NY tomorrow morning but I will be back to blogging within a week. Have a wonderful week - happy creating! Hugs!

Hi Everyone!

It is so good to be writing again and I am back from my trip to NYC! My apologies for not writing while I was away but I tend to not have access to the internet during that time. Also, it is usually so busy, it is difficult to find time for everything.

How was your week while I was away? What have you been up to? Any new interesting projects you are working on that you would like to share?

The trip was incredibly inspiring for so many different reasons and in so many different ways. I meet some incredible people, and when I mean incredible, I do mean incredible.

Traveling is so important to be exposed to new things. To also find yourself with new thoughts, emotions, reactions to things, new people, re-connect with people and to be inspired. The trip was all that and more. Have you ever had any trips like that? If so, what made them stand out for you?

Until tomorrow...

Good Evening Everyone,

One of my learnings from NY was that I absolutely love to teach. So lets do more of it! What is that you would like to learn about it, anything in particular that you love about taking classes, etc.? Feel free to share all and any random thoughts that you might have. When I teach, it is all about my students, so let me know what is best for you.

Alright, I have to say it, if I never see my snow shovel again - I would be a very happy camper!!!! Holy heavens we have had so much snow. What has the weather been like for you?

Until Tomorrow.... Sweet Dreams!

Good Evening Everyone,

Did I mention my cat is pregnant? Oh I am so excited!! Having fuzzy little fur balls of kittens running around is such a magical thing. They all have their own character. I will have to include photos of them. My computer is set back from the edge of the table by about a foot or so and she loves to curl up in my between my two arms as I am typing away. She is actually doing that right now and purring away.

Today there were a lot of distractions and still a fair bit of admin since my trip but I look forward to creating again tomorrow. So look forward to some tips coming your way.

Sweet Dreams!

The Threads Magazine hit the shelves this past week.  In this October/November 2012 issue some of my work has been published in it. 
Check it out!!

threadsmagazine.com