Our studio will close for the holidays on 13 December.  The last day to place orders for processing this year is the 09 December.  However, you are still welcome to place your order any time and we will process it as soon as we return on 8 Jan 2025. This way you will be ahead of the queue next year. Happy Holidays! ♡♡♡

PS: Our popular gift cards are available at any time.

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Welcome to my Blog. This a place to share and learn all things embroidery. Here I post inspirational stories and free lessons in the form of tutorials and guides. I also share tips, tricks and teach stitches and techniques.

You will also find free patterns and designs for you to unlock your creativity. It is a great place for any creative looking to learn or find inspiration in this art form.

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Blog > Di van Niekerk

Turkey stitch

  Turkey stitch       Stitch diagrams are © 2012 Metz Press www.metzpress.co.za and Di van Niekerk www.dicraft.co.za     Turkey stitch is a wonderful versatile stitch when you want to add a fluffy texture in your design. A long looped thread is anchored to the fabric with tiny stay stitches. See diagram above.   Make stitches close together when filling in shapes for a dog or cat and make...

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Long and short stitch

  Long and short stitch   This is a good filling stitch. Work with one strand of thread for the best results. When working large areas with two strands, separate the threads before inserting them in the needle. This way, the threads are smooth and untwisted.   Click on the images to enlarge       Stitch diagrams are © 2012 Metz Press www.metzpress.co.za and Di van Niekerk www.dicraft.co.za    ...

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Wishful thinking

  Don't you wish you could be lying under the African sun like this beauty?   Sending you some African sunshine to brighten up your week ♥   Click on the image to enlarge        

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Little birds

  The sweetest little birds in ribbon embroidery...   Good morning everybody… are you ready for the week? To brighten up your day, I thought you would like to see the cutest birds by Svetlana Gerasimova (Светлана Герасимова) who lives in Pskov, Russia — a city south-southwest of St. Petersburg, on the Velikaya River.   Click on the images to enlarge.     Can you see how she has used ribbon instead of...

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Beauties from Malaysia

  It’s Friday ♫♬♪♫♬   Today I thought I would show you a lovely piece by Siti Salmiah Othman from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Many of you saw her beautiful cushions on my Facebook page (scroll down till you see her cushions) and the response was overwhelming! So here is more of her lovely work.   Click on the images to enlarge       In her letter Salmi wrote...

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Roses au ruban et en relief

  Oh la la la Mais c'est magnifique!   Good morning and Good news... my Roses book is now available in French ♥           Do visit the website of my esteemed French publisher: Tutti Frutti Editions for more details about the French book :)     The original artwork in the book. Click on the image to enlarge.       ... and the embroidered...

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More Roses to inspire

  ◕‿◕ Good morning to you...   I hope you had a good weekend...it is very hot here - 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) is HOT and humid at the coast, so I am sending everyone who has snow around them some African Sunshine to warm you up :))   I have more beautiful roses to brighten up your Monday!           From Valentina Ilkova who lives in...

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Beautiful Cape Town

  Good morning  ♬♫♬♪♫♬     Sending you some African Sunshine... Kirstenbosch Gardens, a few minutes' walk away from my studio :))     Click on the image to enlarge..     Have a lovely weekend... remember to take some time off for you too!   Love   Di  ♥  

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Roses and Lace

  Good morning ♫♬♪♫♬♪♫♬♪   It’s a beautiful, sunny day in Cape Town and to brighten up your day…I have some gorgeous roses by Irina Kruts (ирина круц) from Kiev in the Ukraine         Don’t you think this cushion is a masterpiece? I love her colours and the way she has used the lacy flowers. It truly is a work of art!       Her Roses...

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A new day

  HAPPY Monday, stitching world ♫♬♪♫♬♪♫♬♪   We are all back at work, and I am sure most of you are too. So, to brighten up your day, I have a lovely piece to show you by  Denise Ciodaro Dos Santos from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.   Click on the image to enlarge...         Denise wrote to me "I've been so busy with my work but finally...

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