Basic Embroidery Class at Gather Goods Co


This past Monday and Tuesday night’s I taught a beginner embroidery class at Gather Goods Co. Students got to pick one of four of my designs that I assembled into kits for them. I assembled 26 kits over a few days. Kits included a #5 embroidery needle, a 3″ wooden hoop, a pre-printed piece of fabric with the design of their choice on it (either a hydrangea, zinnia or butterfly bush flower), the accompanying embroidery floss in the colors they would need for their design and a card with the corresponding embroidery floss numbers on them in case they need more – though they shouldn’t. I also included a take home guide with instructions and a picture guide with illustrations of a few additional stitches beyond the basic ones we learned in class: the satin and running stitches.


For all the classes I teach I am for them to be laid-back and accessible, relaxing and conversational but still walking away with a new project to grow into. What’s cool about embroidery is you can keep it as simple or make it as complicated as you want learning a myriad of complicated stitches if you chose to. I just enjoy it as a relaxing craft that keeps me off my phone in the evenings and allows my brain to relax and get into a flow state.


Because the gift shop is small and the front room that is usually merchandised with gift products also functions as the classroom I have to take down all the merchandise on the front table and bring in folding chairs and additional tables for the class. For each class I provide light snacks and drinks. At the beginning of each class we go around and share recommended books, shows and podcasts as an icebreaker and to get to know one another better. It feels wonderful to connect with others and have authentic conversations around a variety of topics, plus everyone leaves with new things to discover as well. At the end of the class everyone is able to shop the gift shop and they get 10% off items in the store if they purchase them at that time.


Here are some additional stitches that are good to know and practice for embroidery, though again, it doesn’t have to be complicated:


And some additional items I recommend for embroidery projects:

A needle minder which is essentially a magnet that helps you to not lose your needle
Embroidery scissors to help you trim your thread ends
A pouch to keep your projects nearby
A clip on light for making things easier on your eyes
Extra needles because they are easy to lose
An embroidery floss kit and case with so many colors


Sign up for a class

If you’re local and live in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, North Carolina areas you can sign up for another class at Gather Goods Co on the website here including this Beginner Embroidery Class but also other craft and flower arranging, business and photography classes here. If you’re not local you can sign up for the free beginner embroidery guide PDF that I created for the class and get added to the waitlist for the online class at the bottom of this post.


Last but not least, I’ll leave you with this pretty embroidery by Cristin Morgan. I love the organic squiggle shapes and the colors in this piece. It’s a perfect illustration of how a simple pattern with bold color can really make a stunning statement.

Galentine’s Day Maker’s Market, Tues Feb 13 6-8pm at The Mayton in Downtown Cary, NC

On Tuesday February 13th I am hosting a small maker’s market inside The Mayton Inn from 6-8pm in downtown Cary, North Carolina. You’ll be able to meet and shop from local makers selling their wares. There will be jewelry (including permanent jewelry), art, ceramics, leather bags, candles, gifts and more. Below are the Triangle area local makers that will be there:

Daniella Cho of Bezalel and Company who makes jewelry from a variety of materials and also will be doing permanent jewelry at this event (think dainty bracelets that are forged together so it stays on).

KangJiahn Studio is the creative art studio from artist Jiahn Kang. She will have nature inspired fine art.

Ware Ware is the whimsical and functional line of ceramics made by Katy Petrisin in her Raleigh studio.

Weather and Story is a line of handcrafted leather bags made by Lainey Wright a newcomer to the area.

Jessie Jellicorse is a Raleigh based fine artist whose work is often created with frayed textile edges.

I met Melissa of postmodernform when she attended a Vision Board class at Gather Goods Co a few weeks ago. At the end of the class she casually dropped that she also made candles and left me some samples. I was impressed by the packaing and the depth of scent profile in her candles. She recently moved to Durham from San Francisco.

While You’re Up is a sourdough based micro bakery from Oona O’Toole. Her baked goods are outstanding and a must have. My husband may have bought out all her liege waffles at the last pop event she participated in with us. Oona moved here during the pandemic from L.A.

Lastly, I’ll have a table with my nature-inspired art and cards as well as gift goods from the shop.

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The Mayton Inn is located at 301 S Academy Street in downtown Cary, NC. The Galentine’s Maker’s Market will be held on Tuesday February 13th from 6-8pm. Hope to see you there!

Holiday Maker Market At Gather, Fri Dec 2, 6:30-9:30pm

Gather Maker Market

If you are in the Raleigh, North Carolina area tomorrow night (or tonight, depending on when you read this), I hope you will join us for our Holiday Maker Market in the parking lot at Gather from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. We’ll have over nine local makers selling their wares: peppermint bark, textiles, jewelry, kids items, letterpress greeting cards, leather accessories, hand carved wooden spoons, and more.

DIY Paper Doll Ornaments

In addition we’ll have cider and inside the shop local artist Jordan Grace Owens will have a DIY paper doll ornaments making station. You can register for the ornament portion here. Also in the shop we’ve received a lot of new merchandise and ceramics, perfect for gift giving. Everything inside the shop (not including products from the makers market) will be 20% off.

Gather Maker Market

Vendors include:

Cat Call Collective – Beautiful, simple and whimsical letterpress greeting cards and holiday cards
The Apothecary’s Kitchen – small batch peppermint bark made with dark and white chocolate and organic candy canes. Made by my husband here in Raleigh.
Ask The Trees – hand carved wooden kitchen utensils and implements
Shop Windblown – modern and minimal jewelry

Gather Maker Market

Vendors continued:

Redden Goods – hand dyed textiles, pillows and rugs
Freshly Given – handmade leather clutches and accessories made from recycled leather
Bird & Beau – sweet and colorful jewelry and sparkly accessories
Tyger Alexis – custom kids clothing and accessories made from original patterns and and hand cut and sewn here In Raleigh.

Holiday Maker Market

And finally, in addition to our event, our neighbors in the N. Person St. area will also be hosting small events at their shops as well and there will be carolers. So bundle up and bring your friends, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

Participating neighbors: Edge of Urge, local salon, lumina clothing, oak city cycling, Pelagic Beer, Person Street Bar, Raleigh City Farm, so & so books, Standard Foods, William & Co, Wine Authorities & Yellow Dog Bread.

Upcoming Classes, Fall

We’ve just listed the first half of our Fall classes online and it’s a great lineup.

Make Your Own Moccosins | Gather Goods Co

Leather Moccasin Workshop
Tuesday September 20th, 6:30-9:30pm
$45, includes all materials

In this class, you’ll design and construct a pair of moccasins, perfectly made to fit you.  Beginning with a pattern, you’ll chose the style of shoe, the color of leather or suede and will piece your materials together by hand.  We’re ready to trade in our sandals for something a bit cozier, what about you? Click here to purchase directly.

Create Your Own Perfume | Gather Goods Co
Intro to Perfumery Workshop
Saturday, October 1st
2:00pm – 4:00pm
$ 60.00, includes all materials

Smell is the most elusive and misunderstood of the senses, yet extremely powerful and built into our lives in more ways than we can count. A smell can trigger deep-seated emotions, warn us of danger, entice us to a lover, and enhance our dining experiences, to name a few of it’s many effects. In this intro to perfumery, we’ll delve into the history of scent, discuss how perfumes are built, do side-by-side comparisons of synthetic versus natural fragrances, and top off the workshop with scentfully crafted cocktails by sommelier Nikki Pletcher.  After the workshop, each guest will have the opportunity to have a custom perfume designed by Liz Hull. Each session takes about 20 minutes and is first come, first served. Click here to purchase directly.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:Liz Hull likes to smell stuff. Good stuff, bad stuff, all the stuff. Despite studying art history and working in the contemporary art world for the past 15 years with artists like Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami, Liz grew to love perfume and knew it was her calling. Liz’s approach to perfume is less of the Sephora counter variety and is more of an all-encompassing approach to smell. She links the fine arts with the scented arts, relating the conceptual nature of perfume to our basic human instincts. She’s worked in two perfumeries over the past few years, Persephenie and Sarah Horowitz Parfums, both based in Los Angeles, where she designed custom perfumes for a range of clients. 

 

Indigo Shibori Textiles Class | Gather Goods Co
Indigo Shibori Dyeing
Saturday, October 15th
10:30am – 1:30pm
$ 50.00, includes all materials

Shibori is a Japanese technique of binding, stitching, and clamping fabric to create pattern when dye is applied. Loosely, you could call it “Japanese Tie-dye”.  Join artist Kimberly Kirchstein in this hands-on class in which you’ll learn the basics of this unique method of printing.  No experience is necessary, just come ready to learn and get your hands dirty!  At the end of class, you’ll take home this new skill and your dyed fabrics that could be used as tea towels, place mats or made into beautiful pillows for your home.

Make A Stylish Felt Hat | Gather Goods Co

DIY Felt Hat
Tuesday, October 25th
6:30pm – 9:30pm
$ 55.00, includes all materials

In this class, you’ll shape and form felt to create your own wide brimmed hat, perfect for Fall weather.  All work will be done by hand and no experience is necessary.  Join us!

Click here to purchase directly.

Cameras & Cocktails Class | Gather Goods Co
Cameras and Cocktails
Sunday, November 20th
1:00pm – 4:00pm
$ 70.00

Digital photography is fun and hugely rewarding, but can also be pretty darn frustrating if you don’t know how to take control of your camera. Cameras & Cocktails with local portrait photographer Annemie Tonken is a no-pressure, no-techno-speak, (but no fluff!) class designed to improve your understanding of both the technical and artistic elements of digital photography without making you crazy. Come to Gather for three hours of hands-on instruction on topics ranging from camera settings and equipment to exposure, lighting, and composition. You don’t need to bring anything other than your camera and an interest in photography…we’ll go through each topic step by step, and you’ll receive a .pdf download of the annotated presentation at the end of the class.  And just in case words like aperture and shutter speed give you hives, no worries: there will be cocktails. See Annemie’s work here.

Click here to purchase directly.

A note about the classes: All of our classes are limited in size to 8 students. Many of our classes sell out so we encourage you to sign up asap or in tandem with a friend if you both want to attend together. Alternatively, we can teach these classes privately at your location or ours on a date that is more convenient for you if you can pull together a group of three or more. Just email us if you are interested in hosting a private class.

DIY Tea & Spice Blending at Gather, First Friday Sept 2, 6:30-9:30pm

We have some fun First Friday events planned now through December, the first kicks off on Friday September 2nd from 6:3o-9:30pm.

Tea Blending at Gather Goods Co in Raleigh, North Carolina

We’ve partnered with Tin Roof Teas here in Raleigh to offer a DIY chai tea & spice blending bar. We’ll have drinks and of course you get to make your own blend to take home with you.

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Walk-ins are welcome but if you want to ensure a slot (if say you are headed to dinner before or after) you can pre-register at our website here.

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This is going to be a fun night and in addition to making your blend you will learn the history and origin, flavors and properties of the tea.

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Mark your calendar and see you there!

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