Militaria Collectibles Original Period Items

Hand Embroidered

Hand Embroidered

Handmade Bags, Embroidered Antique Fabric & Bohemian-Chic Style

Handmade bags are all the hype these days. Designer is great, don't get me wrong, but there is nothing like a one-of-a-kind handmade bag with hand-stitched leather and patches of colorful embroidery. No two handmade bags are the same and their designs are often inspired by the craftsmen who make them. So if you're looking for a chic conversation piece you can carry around with you, try making your own handmade bag or buying one from a talented craftsman. Your handmade bag will be sure to have a one-of-a-kind story you can wear on your arm on your next night out.

Many of these handmade bags incorporate colorful antique fabrics into their designs. This is a clever and creative way to reuse old fabrics, many of which are magnificent works of art. Antique fabrics were handmade by women weavers long before machines were around to do the work for them. Textiles were hand-dyed, hand-woven and hand-embroidered by the women in the families and often passed down from mothers to daughters for generations.

Antique Japanese kimono and Hmong tribal costumes from mountainous regions of Asia are some of the most exquisite embroidered fabrics being incorporated into today's trendy, bohemian-chic handmade bags.

In Japanese culture, traditional kimono designs were rich in cultural, political, social and religious symbolism. The colors, patterns and particular motifs of a kimono were carefully selected to articulate the wearer's status in society as well as his/her personal virtues and desired attributes. In wedding ceremonies and other celebrated festivals kimono symbolism was used to confer blessings, well-wishes and good fortune.

Today, Hmong costumes are still a very important part of Hmong culture. At a very early age, young girls begin learning the elaborate needlework and traditional designs needed to create each Hmong costume. This skill is valued so highly in Hmong culture that a woman's desirability to a suitor is measured by the beauty and intricacy of her needlework. A different costume is made for each milestone event in Hmong culture. The finest, most ornate work is reserved for marriage and death. The celebration of the New Year is also a significant event, and fresh new costumes must be worn as an auspicious welcoming of the new year.

Patches of these colorful, hand-woven and hand-embroidered intricate works of antique art create a chic contrast when hand-stitched onto leather and hemp fabric contemporary handbags and purses. These works of art are traditionally passed down from generation to generation, making them rare finds in the fashion world. You certainly won't find many of these handmade embroidered bags on a department store rack, if any at all.

Handmade bags with unique, antique embroidery are truly one-of-a-kind. Within each patch of antique fabric are generations of family, culture and tradition. How's that for a conversation piece?

About the Author

Incredibly Handmade is a one of a kind shopping site with unique handmade bags, embroidered bags and other handmade accessories from around the world. Feel free to visit our online store at http://www.incrediblyhandmade.com/

is there a website that can teach you how to embroider by hand?

im making a fleece tie blanket for my boyfriend and i want to put his basketball number and name on it. i don't have access to a sewing machine and i want it to mean more by doing it by hand.

Sewing websites:

http://www.heritageshoppe.com/heritage/s... - a execellent website for learning sewing stitches

http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/10/vid... - a execellent website for learning sewing stitches

www.needlenthread.com/2006/10/video-library-of-hand-embroidery.html

www.craftsitedirectory.com/embroidery/index.html

http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/html/el...

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/...

http://learnhowtosew.com/

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/...

http://www.tomfarrell.org/textiles/sewin...

http://www.sewing.org/

http://www.sew-it-yourself.com/

http://www.simplesewingprojects.com/arti...

www.wikihow.com/Sew-Using-Patterns

www.ezstitchsampler.com/

blog.worldvillage.com/arts/how_to_lear...

www.youcanmakeit.com/comments.asp

www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a3758-ho...

www.ezstitchsampler.com/

www.eveningstardesigns.citymax.com/f/Entire_Right_Version.pdf

www.craftandfabriclinks.com/stitches/free_embroidery_stitches.html

craftydaisies.com/2007/08/14/embroidery-lesson-1/

Books:

- All books are available at any library or bookstore -

Sew Fast Sew Easy : All You Need to Know When You Start to Sew
by Elissa K. Meyrich
ISBN-13: 9780312269098

Sewing for Dummies
by Janice Maresh, Janice S. Saunders, N. Graf (Editor)
ISBN-13: 9780764568473

Sew U : The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe
by Wendy Mullin, Eviana Hartman, Beci Orpin (Illustrator) , Agnieszka Gasparska (Illustrator) , Beci Orpin (Illustrator) - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780821257401

S.E.W. : Sew Everything Workshop
by Diana Rupp, Lena Corwin (Illustrator) , Andrea Chu (Photographer)
ISBN-13: 9780761139737

Sewing 101 : A Beginner's Guide to Sewing
by Creative Publishing International (Editor)
ISBN-13: 9781589230699

The Complete Book of Sewing : A Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Every Technique
by Betsy Hosegood (Editor) , DK Publishing
ISBN-13: 9780789496584

Survival Sewing : Emergency Fixes for the Rips, Snags and Tears of Everyday Life
by Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader, Nathalie Mornu
ISBN-13: 9781600591228

The Embroidery Stitch Bible
by Betty Barnden, Debbie Bradley (Editor) - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780873495103

Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible
by Joan Gordon - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780896891692

Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches
by Mary Thomas, Jan Eaton - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9781570761188

Embroidery Stitches : Over 400 Contemporary and Traditional Stitch Patterns
by Mary Webb (Editor) - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9781554072118

Elegant Stitches : An Illustrated Stitch Guide and Source Book of Inspiration
by Judith Baker Montano, Barbara Konzak-Kuhn (Editor) , Micaela Carr (Illustrator)
ISBN-13: 9780914881858

Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches, Including Crewel
by Marion Nichols - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780486229294

The Encyclopedia of Stitches
by Karen Hemingway (Editor) , Steve Dew (Illustrator) , Shona Wood (Photographer) - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780641905285

The Embroiderer's Handbook : The Essential Step-by-Step Guide to Creative Stitches and Versatile Techniques
by Margie Bauer - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780715320372

Royal School of Needlework Embroidery Techniques
by Sally Saunders, Debra Barrett (Designed by) , Sally Saunders - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780713488173

Stitch Sampler
by Lucinda Ganderton, Lucinda Ganderton- a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9780756619008

Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Needlework : Needlepoint, Embroidery, Counted Thread
by Donna Kooler - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9781574861846

The Complete Illustrated Stitch Encyclopedia
by Crafter's Choice, Crafter's Choice (Compiler) - a execellent book on the subject
ISBN-13: 9781402713804

Embroidery Stitches
by M. E. Wilkinson
ISBN-13: 9781406793512

Embroidery (Quamut)
by Quamut
Downloadable Quamut Chart - Electronic edition
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Available for Download
ISBN-13: 9781411405721

Embroidery (Quamut)
by Quamut
ISBN-13: 9781411497276 - same thing as the download above expect it is in paper back

Start to Sew : All the Basics Plus Learn-to-Sew Projects
by Creative Publishing International, Creative Publishing International (Manufactured by)
ISBN-13: 9781589232068

Lotta Jansdotter Simple Sewing : Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects
by Lotta Jansdotter, Meiko Arquillos (Photographer)
ISBN-13: 9780811852579

Simplicity's Simply the Best Sewing Book
by Anne Marie Soto (Editor) , Simplicity Pattern Company (Editor) , Martha Vaughan (Illustrator)
ISBN-13: 9780739421000

Home Decor Sewing 101 : A Beginner's Guide to Sewing for the Home
by Creative Publishing international Incorporated, Creative Publishing Internation

Chinese Hand Embroidered Painted Silk Umbrella Embroidery Umbrellas