Happy September!
TLDR: This week, we will be discussing the brick stitch, where to find my upcoming needlepoint trunk shows, the audiobook I devoured while doing chores, and a creative activity for children and adults alike!
Let’s dive in!
Stitch of the week! 🤍 The Brick Stitch
The Brick Stitch is a staggered stitch that mimics the appearance of a brick wall and the purl side of a stockinette knit! It is a vertical stitch worked in horizontal rows, with each stitch slightly offset from the previous row. It can also absolutely be worked side to side to create true bricks. (I’ve rotated a photo to show you below).
When working the brick stitch, ensure that the stitches are evenly spaced for consistency. It covers two canvas threads and only one canvas thread when compensating.
This stitch is perfect for adding small-scale texture to backgrounds or for creating architectural elements in your needlepoint designs. The brick stitch can also be worked in different colors to create a multi-toned effect. I think an ombré vibe would be so fun! Or in a variegated thread.
This is the stitch that I used for the white background around my matchbook motif. I am resharing some behind-the-scenes images on my matchbook to show you snips from in-progress to final product!
A sweet fellow stitcher recently reached out to me, searching for one of my matchbook canvases, a kit I created back in my kit-making days! She'd spotted one at her stitch club and was seeking one of her own. While these are now only available as digital charts, her enthusiasm inspired me to photograph and share a finished sample I stitched years ago.
In April 2020, I created this little e-book, hoping to spark inspiration in an accessible way. My family had always been matchbook and matchbox collectors, yet, at that point, I'd never seen one translated into needlepoint.
Inside you'll find three simple alphabets, four matchbook and box designs, and snack-sized projects perfect for creating something special for yourself or someone you love. They’d be a perfect wedding gift!
Here is the link for the e-book. For canvas: an 8x8” square should be plenty for one matchbook, and a 10x10” square for the matchboxes. Here is a link for blank canvas:
For my sample, I used:
🧵Natural by Silk & Ivory
🧵Sand by Silk & Ivory
🧵Ahoy by Silk & Ivory
🧵Admiral Blue by Silk & Ivory
🧵Espresso by Silk & Ivory
🧵FT59 Gold for the Staple. You could use silver, too!
I often get asked if there are any upcoming trunk shows for stitchers to find my work in person or at a discount. I did some sleuthing today with my reps, KCN Designers, and put together a little image for you to save in your phone.
Our plum bathroom desperately needs to be painted, but here’s a little behind-the-scenes on a wrap I made for a friend. I don’t think she reads this newsletter, so I think it’s safe to share! She’s eloping in a few weeks, so I wanted to make her something she can cozy up to the night before the big day, on her honeymoon, or while curled up with a book. Will share more information about the construction at a later date.
Does anyone else find they are more productive and prolific when it comes to dog walks and chores when they’re listening to a good audiobook? This was one of those books for me! I am writing a book that includes a seed bank, so my friend, Cat, recommended this one to me.
I just finished listening to Wild Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, and it was the perfect weekender. In short, after a massive storm results in a woman washing up ashore a remote island, suspicion arises for both the woman and the residents. She has received distressing emails from her now missing husband, a researcher at the island’s seed bank, and the family living on site doesn’t seem to have their story straight.
I will definitely be checking out the author’s other works.
Here is the link via bookshop.org and libro.fm.
Riding bikes! I feel very lucky to live in a city with excellent cycling infrastructure. Our 2006 Subaru hardly gets any love in the summer months, and we chalk it up as a win. Sharing a little glimpse of Ethan on the way to a sushi dinner.
What’s your sushi order?
Dahlias! We are in dahlia season here in Victoria, and the blooms in my friends’ garden are bigger than my face! If you ever have the chance to visit Vancouver Island, be sure to visit Butchart Gardens for their incredible collection. We visited recently with my mother-in-law and it felt like being in Wonderland.
Traveller’s journals are high on my favorites list this month! I was feeling a bit nostalgic for the back-to-school feeling and wanted to treat myself to something bookish. While popping into a local paperie to grab some calligraphy supplies for a local friend’s wedding, I spied one of these traveller’s journals by Creator’s Friend, an Aussie brand. I chose the olive!
The Paper Republic version is stunning, but not in my budget right now, so this was a welcome alternative at $32 CAD. It is an A5 size and I’ve filled it with a calendar, a gridded notebook for to-do lists, a notebook for drafting ideas, and a knitting log. Creator’s Friend has a variety of notebooks for various organization needs, but I chose generic versions from the paper shop.
I am currently going through the ADHD assessment and hopefully treatment process, so habit stacking is a helpful initiative right now. It’s a little bit harder for me to lose my to-do lists if they’re in a big green notebook.
The Going Places lip balm by Ursa Major. I love the push-up pop style, buttery formula, and paper packaging!
While dropping off platters and a cake stand for a friend’s birthday celebration, I saw that one of their neighbors was giving away rosemary from their garden. It was a truly unexpected and joyful surprise. We have a pizza-making and cocktail concocting competition coming up this weekend—will be brainstorming around this sprig!
I love cuddling loved ones’ babies. I don’t have children, but I love every minute I get to spend with the little ones in my life. Grateful for some play time with little Ronan this weekend!
We have had some gorgeous sunsets the last couple of weeks. I have been trying to make an effort to hop on my bike and go enjoy them. Our winters are quite gloomy here, so I know my future self will be grateful I made the most of summer.
One of my friends had a birthday celebration this past weekend, and he is our most generous friend in sending letters and postcards. We had a big feast in their garden, and I brought materials to make DIY postcards that we could all mail to him. While coloring and doodling away, we all remarked on how there isn’t enough “play” in our lives as adults. There were big smiles all around.
Strathmore makes pads of 15 blank postcards. It would be a great activity with kids! Here is a link via Blick Arts!
What you need:
Blank postcards
Colored pencils, markers, watercolors, crayons, any colorful implement that brings you joy
Stamps
Optional: Glue sticks, scissors, and old magazines for collage versions or mixed-media approaches
Et voila!
Our local indie art store happens to be across the street from my favorite coffee shop in town— a win, win!
Thank you for being here!
See you next week!
Each design featured on this site is either (1) the unique and original creation of Brooke Thorn McGowan and owned by Thorn Alexander LLC, or (2) is the unique and original creation of another artist with whom she has collaborated. Visitors to this site are hereby given notice that the copyright and all other intellectual property rights for all designs featured on this site remain the sole and exclusive property of their creator. No reproduction of any kind may be made of any of the designs without specific written permission from the copyright owner.
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