Quilting

Embroidery: A New Embroidered Face

If you follow me on instagram, you've probably seen some photos of my current embroidery project.  After finishing that huge embroidered face last year, I decided to start a new one.

I've been working on it in hotel rooms:

Hotelroomtable-wm
Hotelroomtable-wm
And on airplanes:

AirplaneWindow-wm
AirplaneWindow-wm
Here are a few detail photos:

Detail1-wm
Detail1-wm
Detail1-wm
To answer a few frequently asked questions:

  • I am stitching on plain muslin.  No interfacing.  No batting.  Just a piece of fabric.
  • I'm using DMC floss — I divide the 6-strands of floss and only work with 2 strands at a time.
  • I am not a trained stitcher.  I use simple intuitive stitches as I work.
  • I draw directly on the fabric with a pencil, as I go, marking what I want to stitch next.

Detail4-wm

  • My stitching kit includes: DMC floss, a needle, a plastic hoop, a clip-on book lamp, a pencil, scissors, and finger thimbles.
  • Yes, you can bring scissors and needles onto an airplane.  TSA allows most scissors with blades under 4 inches long.  More info here.
  • I'm not sure what the finished piece will look like — I haven't worked it out that far.
  • When it's done, I'll probably stretch it over Canvas Stretcher Bars, as I did with the previous one.
  • This process of stitching takes a loooong time. I can't even guess how long I've been working on this one.  But I really enjoy it and find it passes the time quite quickly!

Let me know if you have other questions!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

42 thoughts on “Embroidery: A New Embroidered Face

  • Julie, I too, find needlework very relaxing….it’s a different type of art !!
    Love how your piece looks like a “Pieced Quilt” rambling along in a myriad of textures and colors and directions !! Glorious indeed…….I have a piece that is sitting in a basket — I’m getting it out, you’ve inspired me 🙂
    As always, thanks for sharing…..hugs J.

    Reply
  • Julie, I too, find needlework very relaxing….it’s a different type of art !!
    Love how your piece looks like a “Pieced Quilt” rambling along in a myriad of textures and colors and directions !! Glorious indeed…….I have a piece that is sitting in a basket — I’m getting it out, you’ve inspired me 🙂
    As always, thanks for sharing…..hugs J.

    Reply
  • Julie, I too, find needlework very relaxing….it’s a different type of art !!
    Love how your piece looks like a “Pieced Quilt” rambling along in a myriad of textures and colors and directions !! Glorious indeed…….I have a piece that is sitting in a basket — I’m getting it out, you’ve inspired me 🙂
    As always, thanks for sharing…..hugs J.

    Reply
  • Julie, I too, find needlework very relaxing….it’s a different type of art !!
    Love how your piece looks like a “Pieced Quilt” rambling along in a myriad of textures and colors and directions !! Glorious indeed…….I have a piece that is sitting in a basket — I’m getting it out, you’ve inspired me 🙂
    As always, thanks for sharing…..hugs J.

    Reply
  • Julie, I too, find needlework very relaxing….it’s a different type of art !!
    Love how your piece looks like a “Pieced Quilt” rambling along in a myriad of textures and colors and directions !! Glorious indeed…….I have a piece that is sitting in a basket — I’m getting it out, you’ve inspired me 🙂
    As always, thanks for sharing…..hugs J.

    Reply
  • Julie, I too, find needlework very relaxing….it’s a different type of art !!
    Love how your piece looks like a “Pieced Quilt” rambling along in a myriad of textures and colors and directions !! Glorious indeed…….I have a piece that is sitting in a basket — I’m getting it out, you’ve inspired me 🙂
    As always, thanks for sharing…..hugs J.

    Reply
  • Wow! Wow! Wow! Just love the TEXTURE and COLOR in this piece!! I have fond memories of doing needlepoint, bargello and cross-stitch in third and fourth grades during recess. Several girls in my class would sit along the wall around the playground and stitch. Years later I worked at Leisure Arts, but didn’t do any stitching then, despite the fact that I went home each month with every pattern book we published.
    Keep up the inspiration!
    Oh, also, two things: Can’t wait for more TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOKS and ARTFUL APRONS!!Will you be posting either of these soon? 🙂

    Reply
  • Wow! Wow! Wow! Just love the TEXTURE and COLOR in this piece!! I have fond memories of doing needlepoint, bargello and cross-stitch in third and fourth grades during recess. Several girls in my class would sit along the wall around the playground and stitch. Years later I worked at Leisure Arts, but didn’t do any stitching then, despite the fact that I went home each month with every pattern book we published.
    Keep up the inspiration!
    Oh, also, two things: Can’t wait for more TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOKS and ARTFUL APRONS!!Will you be posting either of these soon? 🙂

    Reply
  • Wow! Wow! Wow! Just love the TEXTURE and COLOR in this piece!! I have fond memories of doing needlepoint, bargello and cross-stitch in third and fourth grades during recess. Several girls in my class would sit along the wall around the playground and stitch. Years later I worked at Leisure Arts, but didn’t do any stitching then, despite the fact that I went home each month with every pattern book we published.
    Keep up the inspiration!
    Oh, also, two things: Can’t wait for more TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOKS and ARTFUL APRONS!!Will you be posting either of these soon? 🙂

    Reply
  • Wow! Wow! Wow! Just love the TEXTURE and COLOR in this piece!! I have fond memories of doing needlepoint, bargello and cross-stitch in third and fourth grades during recess. Several girls in my class would sit along the wall around the playground and stitch. Years later I worked at Leisure Arts, but didn’t do any stitching then, despite the fact that I went home each month with every pattern book we published.
    Keep up the inspiration!
    Oh, also, two things: Can’t wait for more TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOKS and ARTFUL APRONS!!Will you be posting either of these soon? 🙂

    Reply
  • Wow! Wow! Wow! Just love the TEXTURE and COLOR in this piece!! I have fond memories of doing needlepoint, bargello and cross-stitch in third and fourth grades during recess. Several girls in my class would sit along the wall around the playground and stitch. Years later I worked at Leisure Arts, but didn’t do any stitching then, despite the fact that I went home each month with every pattern book we published.
    Keep up the inspiration!
    Oh, also, two things: Can’t wait for more TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOKS and ARTFUL APRONS!!Will you be posting either of these soon? 🙂

    Reply
  • Wow! Wow! Wow! Just love the TEXTURE and COLOR in this piece!! I have fond memories of doing needlepoint, bargello and cross-stitch in third and fourth grades during recess. Several girls in my class would sit along the wall around the playground and stitch. Years later I worked at Leisure Arts, but didn’t do any stitching then, despite the fact that I went home each month with every pattern book we published.
    Keep up the inspiration!
    Oh, also, two things: Can’t wait for more TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOKS and ARTFUL APRONS!!Will you be posting either of these soon? 🙂

    Reply
  • You are awesome. This is so your style in thread.

    Reply
  • You are awesome. This is so your style in thread.

    Reply
  • You are awesome. This is so your style in thread.

    Reply
  • You are awesome. This is so your style in thread.

    Reply
  • You are awesome. This is so your style in thread.

    Reply
  • You are awesome. This is so your style in thread.

    Reply
  • You are such an inspiration, I love your needle work, fantastic!!

    Reply
  • You are such an inspiration, I love your needle work, fantastic!!

    Reply
  • You are such an inspiration, I love your needle work, fantastic!!

    Reply
  • You are such an inspiration, I love your needle work, fantastic!!

    Reply
  • You are such an inspiration, I love your needle work, fantastic!!

    Reply
  • You are such an inspiration, I love your needle work, fantastic!!

    Reply
  • Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Julie!! I LOVED your first piece so much I couldn’t stand it and this one is just as awe-inspiring!! Simply amazing!! 🙂 And p.s. I was SHOCKED when i read your post about TN! I was shocked that you hadn’t fallen down that particular rabbit hole thus far!! Lol! Welcome to the ever-growing, expansive world of traveler’s notebooks!!May your mind continue to be blown and your world become ever more efficient because of it, dear!;)

    Reply
  • Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Julie!! I LOVED your first piece so much I couldn’t stand it and this one is just as awe-inspiring!! Simply amazing!! 🙂 And p.s. I was SHOCKED when i read your post about TN! I was shocked that you hadn’t fallen down that particular rabbit hole thus far!! Lol! Welcome to the ever-growing, expansive world of traveler’s notebooks!!May your mind continue to be blown and your world become ever more efficient because of it, dear!;)

    Reply
  • Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Julie!! I LOVED your first piece so much I couldn’t stand it and this one is just as awe-inspiring!! Simply amazing!! 🙂 And p.s. I was SHOCKED when i read your post about TN! I was shocked that you hadn’t fallen down that particular rabbit hole thus far!! Lol! Welcome to the ever-growing, expansive world of traveler’s notebooks!!May your mind continue to be blown and your world become ever more efficient because of it, dear!;)

    Reply
  • Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Julie!! I LOVED your first piece so much I couldn’t stand it and this one is just as awe-inspiring!! Simply amazing!! 🙂 And p.s. I was SHOCKED when i read your post about TN! I was shocked that you hadn’t fallen down that particular rabbit hole thus far!! Lol! Welcome to the ever-growing, expansive world of traveler’s notebooks!!May your mind continue to be blown and your world become ever more efficient because of it, dear!;)

    Reply
  • Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Julie!! I LOVED your first piece so much I couldn’t stand it and this one is just as awe-inspiring!! Simply amazing!! 🙂 And p.s. I was SHOCKED when i read your post about TN! I was shocked that you hadn’t fallen down that particular rabbit hole thus far!! Lol! Welcome to the ever-growing, expansive world of traveler’s notebooks!!May your mind continue to be blown and your world become ever more efficient because of it, dear!;)

    Reply
  • Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Julie!! I LOVED your first piece so much I couldn’t stand it and this one is just as awe-inspiring!! Simply amazing!! 🙂 And p.s. I was SHOCKED when i read your post about TN! I was shocked that you hadn’t fallen down that particular rabbit hole thus far!! Lol! Welcome to the ever-growing, expansive world of traveler’s notebooks!!May your mind continue to be blown and your world become ever more efficient because of it, dear!;)

    Reply
  • Julie this is AMAZING!

    Reply
  • Julie this is AMAZING!

    Reply
  • Julie this is AMAZING!

    Reply
  • Julie this is AMAZING!

    Reply
  • Julie this is AMAZING!

    Reply
  • Julie this is AMAZING!

    Reply

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