One would think I came across New York embroidery artist Christi Johnson somewhere in the Catskills region we both call home, or maybe through the tight-knit (soft crafts pun anyone?) creative circles of Instagram. Both would be wrong. When traveling to Portland, Oregon for a business event, a colleague and I dipped out of our rigid schedule of sessions to visit Powell’s Books. Powell’s, dubbed the City of Books, is the mecca of all book stores. My work friend is a graphic designer and creates for pleasure as well, so it was no surprise that the large majority of our visit was spent in the section labeled “CRAFTS”. I could’ve stayed all day, but alas, I had to pick one artsy book and get back to the conference.
Sitting face out on the shelf was Mystical Stitches. The colors, the talisman, the energy of this gorgeous embroidery book drew me in. The decision was made in an instant. I tucked the inviting cover under my arm and we browsed the other floors of the book city until checking out with Christi’s book, some trinkets and a copy of Alice in Wonderland adorned with Salvador Dali illustrations for my ever-growing collection.
It wasn’t until I returned to my hotel room that I flipped to the introduction and found that Christi, the artist and author behind this magical book I found in Portland, was located an hour from my home in the Catskills. Kismet?
As you can imagine, the next steps were to follow her and start listening to her podcast. I’d eventually see posts that she would be hosting an in-person embroidery workshop in June, but I wasn’t sure if I could justify the cost or distance at the time. I did – and it was worth it.
I absolutely adore creative workshops. I love the intention behind sitting in a room for a few uninterrupted hours with people seeking the same artistic spark I am. I also enjoy the opportunity to connect with an artist and gain valuable techniques and insights from someone I follow and appreciate, especially in an intimate environment as opposed to online.
Sullivan Public is part studio, part shop and part community art space. It’s tucked along a brook in Eldred, NY, which was about a 90 minute drive for me winding around the reservoir through the wilderness areas then past the Woodstock grounds. Our workshop was small, half a dozen or so women gathered on a beautiful day. Christi began the workshop with drawing exercises, encouraging us to look through books of patterns and inspiration. The idea was for us to draw our own design and use it as a sampler as she gave us specific instructions for trying new stitches.
It was strawberry season. I was deep in it. I was growing strawberries, eating strawberries, painting them, painting with them, and eventually I made a beautiful trifle too. The first book I opened at the workshop was botanical. I paged through other favorites, like sunflowers, then fell onto a page adorned with a line drawing of a strawberry plant. Once again, I was easily convinced. It feels appropriate that things came so intuitively in finding Christi and finding my project inspiration. I don’t like to draw. I say it all the time and it’s at least half true. It wasn’t in my comfort zone to draw my own pattern, but the subject was right.
The stitches Christi taught were mostly familiar to me; however, I’d learned them through instruction on a mobile device screen. While I understood the mechanics of the stitches from my mix of middle school Home Ec. and YouTube tutorials (hugely thanks to Hopebroidery), having in-person instruction transformed my comprehension. Our instructor gave guidance on ways to hold the needle, ways to thread it, how to run through multiple stiches instead of poking one at a time. I hadn’t had the opportunity to communicate in real time, ask questions, get guidance right before my eyes with embroidery until then. I gained tips and tricks, but also felt creative intention.
Even if you know how to do something, I highly recommend taking a class. You don’t know what you don’t know! There is always something to gain, whether it be a style/technique, a new friend beside you, maybe some inspiration or an excuse to get out of the house and focus on something for you. There are endless benefits when we stitch together.
While I hadn’t been comfortable drawing my strawberries, stitching them came more naturally. My confidence in my design and my abilities grew with each leaf and each seed I stitched. I felt enabled to decide which stiches were best suited for each feature of the plant. I did not need someone else’s pattern to follow, I was coming up with it myself. The end result was something I was so incredibly proud of – sweet stitched strawberries. Christi’s instruction was a reminder that perfection is not the goal; instead we strive through beauty and purpose to find our own unique styles.
I am – Grateful for having found Christi’s first book on a shelf across the country. Appreciative of having invested my time and money in myself and in her by taking a class. And eager for my mail to arrive today as her second book, The Art of Embroidery Design, was just released and should be reaching my mailbox!
Christi’s second book promises to bring what I learned in person (and more) to the page with lessons on color and composition, step-by-step instructions, studies into folk traditions behind embroidery and additional creative possibilities. I can’t wait to read it. You can shop local by ordering The Art of Embroidery Design from Wool Worth: here.
Find more on Christi Johnson, her workshops, books, podcast & newsletter on her Website and Instagram.
Check out the studio & upcoming events at Sullivan Public: here
Visit Hopebroidery for additional embroidery tutorials & kits: here
Catskill Craft Corner 