I’m teaching at Sew & Stitch Expo in Puyallup, WA. I’m so excited! I’ve always wanted to go the Sew & Stitch Expo. I’ll be teaching 4 classes: Chinese Knots, Bodacious Braids, Corded Quilting/Boutis Provencal and Fabulous Feathers. I hope you can join there for a class or 2 or 3.
February 27-March 1, 2026 www.sewexpo.com
Chinese Knots
Braids!
Fabulous Feathers
Corded Quilting/ Boutis Provencal
Corded Quilting/
Boutis provencal
The cinnamon flounce bodice.
Kits are finally here!
I finally have kits to sell! It’s taken a while to translate some of techniques in Creating Couture Embellishment (aka CCE, The Book) into kits. After refining a technique into a great project, I had to source quality fabrics, cords and tools, create the “enhanced” directions and photos, figure out packaging & shipping and calculate the cost per kit, but I’ve done it. I’ve also tested the kits on fellow ASDP members (Association of Sewing & Design Professionals), ASG (American Sewing Guild) and MVC-EGA members (Merrimack Valley Chapter of Embroiderers’ Guild of America).
In February, I taught three workshops, via Zoom, to some of the members of the Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan using the kits: Fanciful Feathers, Chinese Knots, Corded Quilting. We had a great time together. Each workshop was three hours long. The Feathers and Chinese Knots workshops produced completed samples. The Corded Quilting workshop established the process of corded quilting, but everyone had more sewing to do to complete their samples.
There are currently 7 kits in my “store.” The photos below are taken from The Book to illustrate which technique the kit will feature. Kit specific photos are coming soon.
Bodacious Braids
Ten strand Braids
Choice Chinese Knots
Figure of Eight button & loop set
Clarifying Corded Quilting/Boutis Provencal- by hand sewing
Clarifying Corded Quilting/Boutis Provencal- by machine sewing
An example of Corded Quilted
Fanciful Feathers*
Incomparable Carnations
Versatile Reverse Applique
I am working on the descriptions for these kits. The descriptions need to be written with a tempting tone, which is new for me. When I teach I speak in a casual, chatty style, “ Smooch this over…” When writing Creating Couture Embellishment I learned to write in precise, academic style, “Ease this in 1/8” (.125cm)…” Now I am learning a new voice: fun, engaging, “Of course you want this…”. Happily, I do believe you want this kit. I do believe that the kits are fun and engaging.
In each kit you will find:
The kits are skill builders; by working through the kit you will learn a couture embellishment technique. Each kit takes about 3 hours to complete, except Corded Quilting, which takes longer.
Each kit costs $35.00 including taxes and shipping.
*Fanciful Feathers kits are only available as a bulk purchase, minimum order 8 kits.
My next couple of posts will have specifics about each kit; what’s in it, what you need from your workroom, etc.
If you want a kit email me directly @ coutureellen5@gmail.com.
Hi!
Because I am computer challenged I am posting a two part blog-post. Part I was the previous post, Workshops with Needlework & Textile Guild of Michigan (NTGM). Part II is this post, which explains the previous post!
I am teaching three workshops for the NTGM on February 8 & 9, 2022, via Zoom. NTGM has a few open spaces for in the workshops, so you are invited to join us! There are information and sign-up sheets in the Part I post.
Feathers will be taught on the afternoon of February 8th.
Chinese Knots will be taught on the morning of February 9th.
Corded Quilting/ Boutis Provencal will be taught on the afternoon of February 9th.
You can email me questions: coutureellen5@gmail.com
To learn more about NTGM, go to their FaceBook page here.
I hope you can join us! Ellen
Hi! Once again I’m a day late and maybe a dollar short but….
At 7 pm EDT on June 28, 2021 I will be talking with Joanne Banko on her series: Sew Tell Me…I am very excited about the show; we are going to talk about sewing, some of the samples from Creating Couture Embellishment, maintaining your sewing mojo and lots more. I hope you’ll join us on Zoom live here:
The recorded interview can be found here.
Hi everyone!
I will be teaching some new classes, some on Zoom and some In Person! If you’re interested in any of these classes send me an email: Contact Me
October 2, 2021 10-12n with Atlanta ASG (American Sewing Guild) in Atlanta, GA:The Bodices from Creating Couture Embellishment
October 2, 2021 2-4 pm with Atlanta ASG (American Sewing Guild) in Atlanta, GA:Carnations & Leaves from Ribbon Flowers
October 30, 2021 9-12n with ASDP (Association of Sewing and Design Professionals) Conference in Boise ID: Writing About Sewing
February 8-9, 2022 with the NTGM (Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan) on Zoom, 3 classes: Feathers, Chinese Knots and Channel Quilting (Boutis Provencal)
I am making KITS for some of the techniques in Creating Couture Embellishment. So far, I have great Reverse Applique Kit. The Reverse Applique Kit has 2 new design to try: one in paper and one if fabric. The kit has all the materials you will need to complete the designs and more detailed instructions and photos than shown in The Book. Still churning about in brain is a Carnation Kit and more…
Coming soon: a blog post about the Reverse Applique Kit and directions on how to get one!
Long ago, in June 2019, I promised to post instructions for Sashiko. Six months later I am finally posting the instructions. I took the instruction and photos directly from Creating Couture Embellishment, which means the text is quite small; I’m sorry.
In Step 1 of the text below it says to “see box, right” to learn about adjusting the tension of the bobbin case but those instructions have been moved to the bottom of this post. Enjoy!
