Ribbonwork Gardens

I’m a big fan of ribbon embroidery. I’m use to a traditional soft and pliable silk ribbon that is fixed in some way to fabric and then manipulated into shapes to become a flower or leaf. The book Ribbonwork Gardens is so far beyond those techniques of yesterday. Christen uses all types of ribbon, including double edged silk ribbon which I had always heard was a no no in silk ribbon embroidery. All of her creations are individual flowers, not affixed to fabric, but free standing and once crafted they’re affixed to the project of your choice. This allows for a freedom that the old silk ribbon embroidery never had. Now silk ribbon flowers can be added to all kinds of projects, clothing and home dec like never before. Christen provides step by step directions on how to achieve a realistic looking flower. She even includes instructions on how to add stamens and other embellishments. Truly, you are only limited by your imagination. It doesn’t stop there. Christen shows you how to create a variety of leaves, berries, buds, butterflies and dragonflies, etc. to really give your creations a realistic feeling of abundance. If you’ve tried ribbon embroidery in the past or you’ve never tried creating with ribbon, this book opens up a whole host of opportunities for creating with this inexpensive, readily available product. I know I’m going to have to make a few of these flowers myself. Now where do I start . . . — Lydia Lowe ― Creative Troupe

Ribbonwork Gardens by Christen Brown is a masterpiece publication that will inspire even the least crafty folks to try their hand at making their own ribbon garden. The beauty of her book comes as no surprise since Christen’s work has always been breathtaking. The photographs in the book do her work justice. You feel as if you could just reach out and pick one of her flowers. Her directions are clear and easy to read. This would make a great project book for craft groups to use! ― swellsknits.blogspot.com

I was not sure what I was expecting from this book….certainly not what I found. Christen Brown’s Ribbonwork Gardens is a stroll down a beautiful pathway of flowers. The pages are not wasted on projects I will never create, but my imagination was stirred with all the possibilites of future creations. Yes there are a few photos of useful items Christen has created sparking your interest, but this book is a straightforward floral instruction manual. The directions for each flower are written in a clear easy to understand way, with photos sprinkled throughout. This is a great reference book, full of inspiration, for anyone wanting to add florals to their work. Thank you,Christen for a job well done! — Debbie Hembree ― Creative Troupe

It’s a beautiful book of flowers made with lengths of ribbon, needle and thread. It’s not ribbon embroidery, which Christen also does, but actual flowers made with ribbon. There are 122 different flowers, leaves and extras like butterflies and dragonflies to name a few. The book is lovely visually. Christen dyes a lot of her ribbon and so the photographs of the ribbons and completed flowers are beautiful. The directions are very clear and easy to follow. Christen’s a wonderful teacher and that shows in her written directions. ― Zingalas Workshop

If the opulent pincushion by Helen Dafter in last month’s issue of Homespun whetted your appetite for ribbon embroidery, you’ll want to add Christen Brown’s primer on creating ribbonwork flowers to your bookshelf. Using just seven different knots annd stitches, Christen provides detailed instructions, generously illustrated with photographs, to make more than 120 different flowers from ribbon. As the examples on the front cover demonstrate, they are absolutely exquisite. She’s include a guide to choosing and caring for ribbons, basic stitches and some tips for designing your own flowers. The inspirational gallery of her own pieces will illustrate the many ways in which you’ll be able to incorporate your creations in craft projects, wearable art and jewelry. ― Australian Homespun Magazine

With her new book “Ribbonwork Gardens” Christen Brown presents a visual guide to 122 flowers, leaves and embellishment extras all created with ribbon and using just 7 basic knots and stitches. Christen says the book was written “as a reference guide for you, the creative reader who wishes to expand your artistic horizons.” Do not confuse Ribbonwork with Ribbon Embroidery. Ribbonwork involves stitching a length of ribbon with needle and thread to form a flower, leaf or other design as a separate, individual unit (off block so to speak). These units can then be applied to all sorts of projects. You will find a great discussion on ribbons, types and sizes, in the book. This leads the reader into information on construction techniques, basic elements, tools and stabilizers. The reader is asked to refer back to the techniques demonstrated in the “basic elements” chapter throughout the book. The photos are clear and very detailed and instructions are easy to follow. “Ribbonwork Gardens” is a complete compendium with ribbon styles, selection and care, cutting charts and troubleshooting tips. This book is for all skill levels and covers easy to advanced projects. ― The Applique Society Newsletter