Traditionally, cross-stitch was used to embellish items like household linens, tablecloths, dishcloths, and doilies, but has lately become increasingly popular in making greeting cards, pillow tops, coasters and trivets as well as for decorative purposes by hanging them on the wall.
The common types of thread for cross-stitching are cotton floss, pearl cotton, Danish flower thread, silk and rayon. Different wool threads, metallic threads or other novelty threads are also used, often for accents and embellishments.
]]>Crochet craft, on the other hand, developed most directly from Chinese needlework, a very ancient form of embroidery known in Turkey, India, Persia and North Africa, which reached Europe in the 1700s. During the 18th century the craft became highly popular among millions of women with the publication of many pattern books.
Although crochet underwent a subsequent decline in popularity during the 20th century, the early 21st century has seen a revival of interest in handcrafts, as well as great strides in improvement of the quality and varieties of yarn.
Crochet needles, sometimes called Shepherds' hooks, traditionally are made of steel, ivory, bone or box-wood. Additionally, at our times, bamboo, aluminum and plastic are also used. They have a hook at one end similar in shape to a fish-hook, by which the wool or silk is caught and drawn through the work.
There are various types of crocheted Jewellery, Accessories and Wellbeing Sets on Verna Artisan Works. Discover more...
]]>It has always been a sign of high social status; a hobby practiced by the wives and daughters in the courts or palaces of the sovereigns.
Disregarding computerised embroidery, during the last few years, handcrafted embroidery has grown rapidly in popularity both as a hobby and as collector’s items. Still with the needle, canvas, and silk, wool or linen yarns...
Discover embroidered Well Beings Sets and Accessories on Verna Artisan Works.
]]>There are many different hand weaving traditions and techniques in the world originating from many different cultures. Some of the most basic elements of hand weaving involve threads/yarns. While traditional yarns made from animal and plant fibers are often used, there are also art projects that use unique materials to create woven works of art. By changing how the warp and weft threads interact in terms of going over and under one another, a weaver can create textiles with different properties.
]]>(Photo: A local artisan in South West Turkey creates woven designs made from natural grown rushes. But before the crafting process, they first need to harvests rushes from a local lake and prepare them for the craft process.)
Rush is a perfect weaving material. Today in South West Turkey, local artisans still weaves with local rush to make beautiful and unique bags, floor mats and table ware. The local people also use rush mats at the lowlands and highlands to sit on or for shade.
Although it’s very ancient and elegant crafting process, rush weaving is still an easy and accessible handcraft and top crafters and also designers always admires its purity and simplicity.
Discover this Rattan Straw Bag with colorful ribbon details, made by artisans using rush weaving technique.
]]>The earliest evidence of patchwork dates back to 3,200 BCE, used by ancient Egyptians for their clothes, wall decorations, draperies and furniture. The art also appears in China and Japan around 300 – 400 CE. But is does not appear in Europe befor the Middle Ages.
Fun to have a couple of cushions with different quilted patchwork pictures on your sofa. Very decorative...
Handcrafted, beautiful patchwork cushion covers are available at our store. Discover more...
]]>The art travelled to Egypt and Syria during the second wave of the Great Migrations west from Asia between 700 – 900 AD, then to Anatolia with the Turks, and passed on to Byzantium. By then the technique had found its way to paper with the art of carving getting finer and finer.
It was already the 15th Century when the Europeans started to use block printing to print books (religious texts) whereas "Diamond Sutra," the earliest dated printed book known was printed in China in 868 AD.
Block printing on cloth or other soft materials such as soap is a traditional art form in Turkey with fine examples dating back to the 16th Century.
We as Verna Artisan Works offer handmade block printed clutches and also lavender soaps for our valued customers.
]]>Delicate, stylish, refined, colourful, “oya” is an expression of finesse. A broad-spectrum of this needlework appears on napkins, hankies, scarves, towels, pillow covers, table cloths, and also on jewellery, usually in three-dimensional form. Such items are offered to our valued customers of Verna Artisan Works.
While items embroidered with “oya”, especially those made for the Ottoman Court, have become collectibles for the Turkish elite, “oya” is still crafted and used widely in rural areas. Not only that, it is also known to be a unique language among women depending on their age, marital status, etc.
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The two traditional methods of wet or dry felting has lately been evolving with different techniques adapted to different geographical regions, climates, cultures and uses as forms of art and fashion.
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