Wool Applique Folk Art Blog Tour ~ My turn...

Almost a year ago, my friend Linda introduced me to the folk art of Rebekah L. Smith. I was immediately smitten. Her unique, distinctive style was immediately recognizable. The mark of a true artist is having an iconic style – and Rebekah truly has that. I was drawn to Rebekah’s use of aged and muted jewel tones – colors I didn’t know existed. And her use not only of the oft used whip and blanket stitches, but a larger array of embroidery stitches. Something I hadn’t really thought of in the primitive folk genre.

 Mom and I began following Rebekah’s blog and Facebook page. As soon as pre-orders of her book were announced, our order was placed. In the meantime, as we tried to patiently wait for the book, I had the pleasure of meeting Rebekah and attending one of her classes. She is a kind, gentle, caring soul as you would expect from her art…

Her book arrived and I was eager and apprehensive – could the book live up to all that I hoped that it would? The answer is - Yes, absolutely!

The book is helpful with techniques for processing and preparing your wool through completing your projects. Even more important to me are pictures and stories. I love a book that even when I can’t start another project, I can turn to the book after a long exhausting day and admire the photos and dream…

Whenever I see amazing projects, I wonder… where does the inspiration and ideas come from? I love that Rebekah shares the stories – photos of the antique inspiration and why she created what she did. It certainly feeds my soul, even when I don’t have the energy to stitch…

I’ve completed “For Needles and Thread: Sewing Caddy” and am thrilled with the results. 

I stepped out of my comfort zone with the embroidery and found that I actually enjoy it! I love how Rebekah stuffs some appliqués for dimension and then uses embroidery to accent it even more. The caddy is a beautiful yet useful creation – what more can you ask for…

I keep perusing the book front to back and back to front, trying to pick my next project… “A Patriot’s Rug” keeps catching my eye, but summer is waning and then my eye catches:

“Creatures of Habit: Blackbird”, how perfect for the coming days…

But still I debate… Mom completed one of Rebekah’s book designs as soon as the book was in her hands. She loved “Bird Out of the Bag”, but saw it in a different light… Mom completed the design twice and it became…

A lovely table runner.

Perfect on her entryway table.

And it will be my next project as well.

I’m ready to start stitching!

I'll be sure to blog about it once it is all finished!

I give this book a solid two thumbs up! It’s a book you can turn to time and again to inspire you. Thank you Rebekah for sharing your unique designs with us so that we may fulfill our own desire to create in that distinctive Rebekah style!

Rebekah and CT Publishing have been kind enough to host a giveaway so that one of you may receive a copy of Rebekah’s book.

This giveaway is open to all that live in the U.S. 

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post only 

or if you are not on Blogger, 

simply send an email to me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com 

and enter “Rebekah’s book giveaway” in the subject line so that I can find it.

 I will pick a winner using random.org on the last day of the blog tour, August 29th.

Blessings, Patti