embroideries

So many beautiful, unique, imaginative, and lovingly made embroideries have already arrived.

I was once again thrilled to receive four new contributions to the Global Schwalm Sampler last week.

See for yourself.

#36
Fumie Suzuki from Japan designed a gorgeous piece. She runs an exclusive embroidery studio in Shinagawa, Tokyo. I enjoyed visiting her website very much. It was fun to look at the many interesting pictures of her perfect embroideries and to take my time clicking from one subject to the next.

She wrote: “I usually don’t use heart motif when I design for Schwalm embroidery. Because I don’t like my piece being too sweet. However, in the work for this project, I wanted to express the gathering of hearts from many countries and the gathering of love from many countries. So I decided to make a piece only with the heart motif. This was a challenge for me. Many hearts are hidden, please look for them! 
I sincerely hope that the world will be full of love and return to a calm. 
Thank you so much for participating in this project.”

私は普段シュバルム刺繍の図案をデザインするとき、ハートのモチーフを沢山使うことはありません。作品が可愛くなり過ぎてしまうのは自分らしくないと思っているからです。しかし、今回のプロジェクトに参加するにあたって、私は世界中の人々の心、そして世界中の人々の愛が集まることを表現したいと思い、ハートのモチーフだけで作品を作ることを決めました。これは私にとって新たな挑戦でした。作品の中に沢山のハートが隠れているので探してくださいね。
世界中が相手を想う愛に溢れて、穏やかな毎日が戻ることを心から願って。
このプロジェクトに参加できることを感謝します。

#37
Marina Pastushenko from Turkey also contributed a very special and fine embroidery. Of course her tulip will make a nice addition to all the beautiful pieces in the Global Schwalm Sampler.

She wrote: “Since I currently live in Turkey, I took my inspiration from Iznik pottery, traditional Turkish ceramics named after the town Iznik in western Anatolia. I chose the tulip as it is a classic shape in Schwalm embroidery as well as an iconic symbol of Turkey.

I always wanted to stitch an Iznik-style tulip for its beautiful shape and cobalt blue colour. May be one day I will do it in traditional blue but this time I decided to do it white on white. I really enjoyed choosing different patterns from the endless varieties of filling stitches.”

#38
Joy Hakanson from Queensland pictured a koala – next to the kangaroo it is the most widespread symbol of her home country, Australia.

She wrote: “2020 has been a year with a difference. I have spent the time of isolation in my garden and embroidery.
It is with pleasure that I have joined your Covid19 project, I have chosen our Koala, tree living mammal, native to Australia. I have not done a great deal in Schwalm, as you can tell by my stitches. However, I have enjoyed the challenge.”

#39
Marlene Lambert from Australia was inspired to embroider an emblem of New South Wales – a Waratah.

She wrote: “During the lockdown I have walked, talked, gardened, read, cleaned and stitched. I also took time to enjoy my environment and was grateful for more time to embroider and am happy to contribute to your project. I have stitched a small waratah flower. The Waratah ia a native of parts of South Eastern Australia (Telopea Speciosissima). It produces spectacular cones of vivid usually red flowers the leaves are leathery dark green. It is the emblem of the State of New South Wales of Australia. Waratah is an aboriginal word meaning „beautiful“. The botanical name Telopea is derived from the Greek word Telopos meaning “seen from a distance” hence the red colour of the flower stood out in the bush.
Looking forward to seeing the end result if this wonderful idea.”

You can see more contributions in Update 12.

Global Schwalm Sampler – Update (12)

After receiving so many beautiful large pieces, I was pleased when a couple of somewhat smaller embroideries recently arrived. I desperately need them to fill the developing gaps between.

So far I have received contributions from Germany, Sweden, France, Japan, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and the United States. Announced are additional pieces from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and Turkey – actually enough contributions to create a large sampler.

But what about the remaining – especially the European – countries? Is there no one from these nations willing to contribute? Representation from Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, and all the other missing countries would be most welcome. And a small piece with a simple motif would be quite sufficient.

Today I can present seven new contributions to the Global Schwalm Sampler.

#29
Karin Shaw from the United States designed a very special and unique piece. Born in Germany and now living in Texas, she wanted bring a part of both in her embroidery.

She wrote – roughly translated: “With my piece I wanted to show the merging of two cultures: First, the typical symbols of the state in which I live (the Texas star and the prickly pear with flower), coupled with part of my original home, namely a traditional embroidery from Germany.”

#30
From Siegrid Heidenreich of Germany, a nice butterfly fluttered into my house. She is one of my earliest customers, and I was delighted to get her contribution after a long time of not having heard from her. Her embroidery speaks for itself.

She learned of the Global Schwalm Sampler from her daughter Grit and wanted to be part immediately. Grit is the one who promised professional help in finishing the sampler. She also makes advertising for the sampler project. Thank you, Grit!

#31 – #35
Hedwig Clausmeyer from Germany already contributed piece #7.
She saw the note on my blog and decided to send five more small nice embroideries that I can use very well – leaves, pretty fantasy flowers, and a cute little snail.

Thank you for the support with these additional gifts!

You can see more contributions in Update 11.

I am happy to report that many more embroiderers have announced their contributions to the Global Schwalm Sampler. I hope that they will arrive by the end of July. So, if you would like to take part in this global project, it is not too late! Small embroideries with single motifs such as flowers, stars, or stars as openwork patterns, birds, and other natural motifs are welcome.

Global Schwalm Sampler – Update (11)

Three more contributions to the Global Sampler have arrived.

#26
Nancy Tozer from Canada used a design from my website and filled the tulip blossom with a beautiful and perfect stitched pattern – we call it Röserich.

She wrote: “I am not experienced in Schwalm technique. I have stitched one previous item in the Schwalm style. But I decided to accept the challenge and to participate in the global pandemic project.
I chose to stitch a tulip. After a long Canadian winter, the design brings memories of spring, the return of warmer weather, new growth, new beginnings, new hope.”

#27
Judy Chen from Taiwan is an experienced embroiderer. Her design is typical for Schwalm, and her stitches are excellent.

She wrote: “The design concept is simple and the patterns are traditional.
The centre of the design represents our community, closely knit together and connecting us with one another. The surrounding flower and heart symbolizes hope and love, which keeps us together throughout the challenges of current times safely.”

#28
Susanne Nüsse from Germany created a pretty squirrel. The long-time teacher used different Limet filling patterns and worked a needle lace medallion for the focal point of her elaborate piece.

She wrote – roughly translated: “I chose the squirrel as the motif for my contribution to the Global Sampler. I have always admired squirrels with my children and made it our heraldic animal in reference to our name – Nüsse = nuts.
It is located on our doorstep sign, on my business card and now also in the embroidery for the Global Schwalm Sampler.
Since I am currently dealing with needle lace, it was immediately clear to me that I also have to incorporate one into my squirrel motif.”

You can see more contributions in Update 10.

Global Schwalm Sampler – Update (10)

Today I can present four new contributions to the global sampler.

#22
Ann Clare from United Kingdom has designed a nice squared floral motif.

She wrote: “I´ve enjoyed doing it, even if its schwalmness is questionable!”

May be it is not typical Schwalm, but she used a variety of different early Schwalm filling patterns. In addition, she added leaves, tendrils, eyelets, small flowers, and a small heart. So she established a wonderful contribution to the Global Sampler project.

#23
Jacqueline Blanot from France submitted already two different embroidery designs to the Global Sampler project. Jacqueline places high demands on herself when it comes to embroidery. She wants to always stitch perfect pieces. She was not 100% satisfied with her first two contributions – although both are beautiful and well done. This is good for the sampler project, because she decided to embroider a third piece! This time she succeeded in an absolute masterpiece – a beautiful classic Schwalm design filled with perfect stitches!

She wrote: “My third piece is very traditional, purely Schwalm. I hope you will enjoy it. You do not have to send back the other ones, my pleasure is to make them, rather than to keep them.”

#24
Margaret Morgan lives in Queensland, Australia. She designed a pretty regional flower. Margaret has filled the not-so-easy-to-embroider design with a variety of patterns from fine stitches.

She wrote: “I have stitched a Cooktown Orchid which is the floral emblem for the State of Queensland in Australia. I chose the Cooktown Orchid because it lent itself to the Schwalm technique.”

#25
Carol Stacey, an embroidery teacher from Australia, also chose a typical regional plant for her embroidery – leaves and blossoms of a gum tree. With contrasting filling patterns and fine stitches, the teacher made a very individual and impressive contribution, too.

She wrote: “Social isolation during the Covid 19 epidemic has enabled me to spend time admiring the majestic Australian eucalypt trees (or gum trees as we call them) around our home. I love their variety of leaves and blossoms and it is a pleasure to highlight them in Schwalm technique.”

You can see more contributions in Update 9.