NEW THIS WEEK - February 21st, 2007:
Legendary Blue Willow
Free Project Instructions!
A mini folding screen makes a charming buffet table backdrop. Click here for project instructions.
Cherished by generations, Blue Willow tableware sets have graced dining tables for more than two centuries. And, the Chinese legend depicted in the familiar blue and white designs is more than 2,000 years old.
The charm of this timeless china pattern inspires the designs this week. Excellent for embroidering exquisite dining room decor, the intricate storied scenes, borders, and individual designs will also be dashing on garments, quilts, and other accessories as well.
Plain white dishes will be so enchanting set off by the cobalt Blue Willow scenes on placemats, napkins, and tablecloths. Designs in shapely ovals, circles, square, rectangle, sprays and borders are superb on table linens, chair-back covers, seat cushions, pillows, and more.
Enjoy a new look at a legendary design!
The First Blue Willow
The Willow pattern was designed by Thomas Minton in 1770 for the Coalport Pottery Works in Staffordshire, England. European artisans, influenced by imports of Eastern art, were busy creating many oriental designs for home decoration. Minton's popular blue and white patterns inspired many copies. Variations are oft in the details, like the number of apples, figures on the bridge, and fencing.
Blue Willow Oval
The apple tree, bridge, and Chinese boat, all elements of the ancient stories, are beautifully captured in this delicate oval border with its artful horizontal orientation.
Blue Willow Rhyme Ever fascinated by the intricate designs on each piece of their popular dinnerware, generations of British children have sung this familiar rhyme, passed down to them from grandparents and parents, as they helped set the family dinner table together. Two birds flying high, a Chinese vessel, sailing by. A bridge with three men, sometimes four, a willow tree, hanging o'er. A Chinese temple, there it stands, built upon the river sands,
An apple tree, with apples on, a crooked fence to end my song.
Blue Willow Story Oval
Willow in Cobalt Blue Willow patterns of old can be found in other colors -- shades of lighter blue, or even brown -- but the most popular, down through the ages, remained the same -- an exquisite cobalt blue.
Blue Willow Circle A dashing border of flowers and leaves encircle the symbolic willow, apple tree, temple, and doves in flight. Perfect for a trivet or dining table accessory.
Blue Willow Rectangle
A tranquil scene, perhaps reflective of an island get-away, where life is at its simplest, in the very best sense of the word. The rectangular shape of this design will lend itself to table runners, framed pieces, and even totes.
Blue Willow Square Doves from the legend, symbols of eternal love, are framed together in flight. A shapely square for table linens, chair back covers, decorator pillow, or quilt block.
Blue Willow Bridge and Willow Tree The willow from which the original pottery pattern takes its name, bends over the river by the bridge.
Blue Willow Boat A seaworthy boat for a life of adventure.
Blue Willow Island The peaceful scene of an island retreat.
Eternal Happiness The next morning, the spirits of the pair rise, phoenix-like from the ashes, in the form of two doves. With outstretched wings, they fly off into other realms to find eternal happiness together.
Blue Willow Doves Captured in flight, the Blue Willow doves are graceful and serene.
Delicate Blue Willow Sprays A whisper of flowers and vines, mirrored, will beautifully frame any of the scenes or designs above.
Blue Willow Floral Spray
Blue Willow Floral and Dove Border Doves flit among the vines and flowers of this graceful border. This border coordinates beautifully with the divinely delicate spray of vines and flowers above.
Bold Blue Willow Sprays
Boldly expressive, these graceful spray designs will frame a scene or a monogram, or lay horizontally giving beauty to a hemline, perhaps along the hem of a tablecloth or placemat.
Blue Willow Spray
Blue Willow Arch and Border A bold and expressively regal border, perfect for tea towel or table runner.
Blue Willow Corner
Pristine dove on the branch of apple tree. Use singly or team it with a mirror image to accent the corners of a placemat.
Blue Willow Accessory Designs Handy little individual designs echoing the scenes above can be used to create your own scenes or add a little pizzazz to another principal project, such as napkins or napkin rings to match a set of Blue Willow placemats or tablecloth.
Blue Willow Boat accessory
Blue Willow Apple Tree accessory
Blue Willow Bridge accessory
Blue Willow Doves accessory
Blue Willow Tree and Fence accessory
Dollar Delight Drum Kit - only $1.00
Dollar Delight Bass Guitar - only $1.00
Dollar Delight Harmonica - only $1.00
Special Request of the Week Embroidery Library is always inspired by your design suggestions, and we thank you for sending us tons of terrific ideas, which we regularly incorporate into the weekly design themes. As a way to expand on designs for specific quests, this space is dedicated to the "Request of the Week." Here is this week's request:
Autism Awareness A note from Rose enrolled our assistance for the work she wants to do for autism awareness. "Autism is a tragic disease," she said. "My grandson suffers from it, and it is heartbreaking. At four he is just walking and is still non-verbal, yet he is so smart."
Rosie asked for a freestanding lace design depicting a jigsaw puzzle piece, the symbol for this complex malady that is affecting so many youngsters today. "I would be able to make them for the Center of Learning in Colorado," she explained. "They could sell them to raise money for research."
We are happy to help with both a freestanding lace as well as a design for garments and accessories.
Want to see more? Click here to see designs released in previous weeks!