Explore personal transformation through the stitching of dreams and intentions. Anything but ordinary, Mystical Stitches combines the beloved and accessible craft of embroidery with a spiritual element, introducing a rich treasury of 200 magical symbols you can use to set an intention and create personal icons to wear or embellish items in the home. Christi Johnson offers unique patterns inspired by botanicals, animals, numbers, the cosmos, earth elements, zodiac signs, and mythical beasts, for novice or well-practiced crafters to combine into talismans with personal meaning. Johnson’s folk art style is vibrant and unintimidating and provides a framework for bringing spiritual elements into physical form.
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9781635863345
Media Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Storey Publishing LLC
Publication Date: 06-22-2021
Pages: 208
Product Dimensions: 8.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.70(d)
About the Author
Christi Johnson creates mystical garments that blend elements of botanical dyes with handcrafted stitches. The resulting textile talismans honor the body, its boundaries, its extensions, and its relations to the world and cosmos around us. She works from the belief that through self-expression, we discover our power to transform our worlds. Raised in tropical Florida, Johnson studied Fashion Design at Otis College of Art and Design. She worked in the fashion industry in Los Angeles for nearly a decade, most notably designing “cosmically crafted” limited-edition embroideries for boutique brand Coast-Wide’s denim workwear, and now lives in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. As a teacher, Johnson also offers workshops in natural dyeing and embroidery and has created kits and booklets for students and DIYers. Her garments, booklets, kits, and embroidered artwork have sold at maker studios and boutiques across the nation.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The Discovery of Creative Liberation 1 Intention The Magic in the Creative Act The Power of Symbols What Is a Talisman? The Science of Slowness Transformative Qualities of the Creative Process Tools for Accessing Creativity 2 Materials Fabric Needles Thread Setting Up Your Hoop Marking Tools Transfer Paper Tracing Methods Getting Started with Thread 3 Stitch Methods Anatomy of a Stitch Illustration Traditional vs. Quick Methods of Stitching Tips as You Begin Foundational Stitches 4 Treasury of Symbols Geometric Forms Platonic Solids Numbers Planetary Magic Moon Phases The Zodiac Animalia Mythical Beasts Botanica Forces of Nature Human Forms Our Tools 5 Creating Your Talisman Color Harmony The Color Globe Choosing Colors Mystical Color Tips and Tricks Exploring Composition Transcendent Talisman Enliven Your Closet 6 The Art of Ritual Setting Your Intention Building an Altar Preparing for Ritual Charging Your Talisman Closing Your Space Developing Your Creative Ritual Ritual in a Bag Be Kind to Your Body 7 Stitch Key Resources for Final Exploration Acknowledgments