THE PEARL THIMBLE · SELECTED WORK
A world of possibility, in stitches.
Explore embroidered art and bespoke embellishment for fashion, accessories, and the home. Select a photograph to see the details.
This sample is created on hand dyed lace. Sequins in several different sizes, finishes, and colors were layered to create the effect of petals. I created additional interest and texture through creative use of metal bouillon and glass beads. This was kept as a sample and can be affixed to anything for interiors or fashion.
This pansy brooch is fully wired so you can adjust the leaves and petals to be as open or closed as you want. Each sequin color is placed individually to create life-like shading.
I used an unusual technique to make this flower out of only thread and beads. There is no fabric holding this art piece together, yet it remains pliable enough to stay in a cupped shape.
To capture the love of a childhood stuffy, I padded the belly and feet of this chicken. This world is designed with the wonder and joy of childhood best friends in mind. Techniques explored various textures like the soft belly and the tactile beads on the beak. This will be added to a background of childhood blanket and framed.
There’s a certain language in which fashion embroidery designs speak to one another. This brooch may seem like a simple heart, but it’s in direct reference to a 1980’s Patou Christian LaCroix design inspired by the joy of Texas, designed and created right here in Texas.
Working with a fashion designer before a beautiful boucle coat was sewn, allowed us to collaborate on a custom goldwork sacred heart to make this coat truly one of a kind.
This design was inspired by patchwork and created to feel like it was from an old church through color and texture of the metal threads used.
Wedding gifts don’t have to be honeymoon funds or gadgets. Custom cotton dinner napkins add approachable elegance to every family dinner.
The feeling of your first view of beautifully blue ocean waves from an airplane window is hard to beat, but you can see it on your wall. Creating texture through fabric manipulation and unique sequin stitches adds an irresistible interest to the artwork.
Layers upon layers of materials are built up to create the movement and texture of the open ocean.
Unconventional materials are the heart of experimental modern embroidery. This couture design includes the use of several unusual elements like mylar to bring shine without weight.
Serious embroidery skills doesn’t have to mean serious embroidery. This personal project features irreverent couture-style takes on horror movie icons.
Creating a stained glass effect on fabric out of metallic threads can be tricky. I achieved this effect through a mix of paint, metallic threads and transparent sequins. The figure is stitched in silk with dripping red jewelry adding movement.
Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. It isn’t enough to create the look of drops. The layers, multiple finishes and dangling jewels create a dripping effect that shimmers as the jacket is worn.
Combining tapestry shading and luneville techniques creates a luxurious look to a fun and irreverent design.
These custom designer pants were hand embellished using lace. This might seem simple, but the lace was cut and places to seamlessly hug the body without visible cuts, stitches or breaks. A beautiful wardrobe deserves better than visible machine stitched lace. Zoom in and see if you can spot any stitches.
Hand placed lace all the way down the leg of a completed and flared pair of pants requires hundreds of pins and slow work. The finished product is unmatched in any store.
Sometimes visible stitches just aren’t the vibe. Each piece of this lace was hand cut and sewn to accommodate for the client’s curves and movement.
These beautiful custom silk shirts were feeling stale. Rather than throw them out, the client had me embellish them with tone on tone embroidery in matching silk thread. They feature matching designs added to the collars. We can add interest without adding visually distracting elements.
A first birthday deserves a celebration. This custom kokoshnik inspired birthday crown and goose dress were both completely handmade right here at our atelier.
No hoops here. Some fabrics can’t be put into embroidery hoops and still look smooth. This goose sits on an applique pond with a 3-D poseable wing.
Sometimes commissions require a bit of engineering and creativity. Underneath this goldwork is a lot of wire and foundations. Each cutout is supported by hand shaped wire so the heavy embroidery can keep its shape.
Tiny accessories can make a big impact. These little coin purses display embossed leather, layered sequin and beadwork, hammered goldwork and custom tassels.
Art this beautiful shouldn’t be tucked away in a jewelry box. This intricately shaded poseable shrimp brooch is meant to be displayed on an embroidered china plate so you can enjoy its beauty even when it’s not being worn.
Monograms come in all shapes and styles. This fashionable take on a traditional design, hands proudly on the wall.
You almost can’t help but pet this bird’s cute fuzzy belly. The padded soft belly and moveable wings add realistic details to the cutest little bird brooch.
Historical embroidery doesn’t have to be dull. This Jacobean inspired Tree of Life design is embroidered on pure linen twill using 100% wool and traditional embroidery techniques featuring bright colors and a whimsical design.
Mixing textiles can give rich results without adding tons of sparkle. This sample is inspired by the work on Chanel Haute Couture 2016.
Sometimes all it takes is a simple line embroidery to freshen up an old garment. You can prolong the lifespan of your clothes by refreshing their look even with fast fashion.
Breathe new life into old clothes by embroidering small designs. I can embroider matching designs for a group of friends or even cover a small stain or tear.
Birthday crowns have become an adorable trend. This crown was made using elements from a child’s favorite shirt and colors. The reverse features a birthday wish in exact handwriting.
This highly textured patch is appliqued to the back of a jean jacket. The little arms are poseable and both sides are embroidered to give the wearer options.
Not every gown has a matching veil. We can work together to create a beautifully complimentary and totally custom piece for your big day. This makes an amazing heirloom rather than saving your entire dress.
I embroidered this custom birth chart on linen robes as a Christmas gift for new parents from their mom. I was able to capture small details by using metallic sewing thread in addition to several other gold materials.
The start of any family deserves to be celebrated and commemorated. This custom piece hangs proudly in a couple’s house and will go with them through life and moves. This one is done in crewel wool and linen twill in a traditional Jacobean style incorporating many of the flora and fauna from their first home together.
Inspired by vintage linoleum tiles, this art piece hangs framed without glass so the viewer can touch the fabric.
This completely custom suit was created for a specific client in coordination with a local designer. I was able to add extensive embroidery by working on an unfinished garment. We were inspired by the work of Nudie Cohn and incorporated favorite flowers and colors to the design. The embroidery motif is featured on the collar, pockets and pant legs.
You can be as involved in the embroidery and design process as you want to be with me. This client wanted an exact placement of jewels on her design. That’s no problem when my studio is right here in DFW. No communicating overseas or going through order forms to make changes.
This suit was from an unusual and delicate fabric that simply wouldn’t do for hotfix rhinestones or glue. These are individually sewn one by one to create this design. This fabric was also way too fragile to go through a cornelli machine so the look was mimicked by hand using several surface stitches and perle threads.
It’s nearly impossible to capture the sparkle and plush stitches on embroidery in photos alone.
Raised goldwork on velvet makes a beautiful gift for Christmas. These can be hung on a tree or as artwork all year round.
There’s nothing quite like a hand monogrammed linen. Monogrammed linens were once ubiquitous and now elevate even the most mundane item. Two small hand embroidered letters bring luxury you can’t quite match any other way.
Take any piece of clothing to the next level by adding a small embroidered monogram detail. This dress shirt maintains decorum and professionalism by matching colors, but shows a bit of personality by peeking out from underneath a jacket while shaking hands. Small details matter.
The birth of a child deserves to be commemorated with artwork they’ll love their entire lives. This monogram features the child’s monogram in metal threads on silk velvet.
This suit was one of two I worked on and was worn onstage at SXSW by an artist. Specially designed to catch the stage lights and highlight meaningful designs for the singer.
Professional results require professional tools. In order to create a continuous design to be appliqued to suit pants and sleeves, I needed to use an extremely long embroidery frame. This makes me one of the few studios in Dallas with the ability to create floor length fully embellished designs for you.
Goldwork doesn’t have to be gold. Different color metal bullion and techniques come together to make this charming design by Hand and Lock London.
Before we start work on a large project, we’ll start with a small sample like this one. You can feel and see the embroidery before you commit to an entire garment.
Design inspiration can come from anywhere. This cute brooch was a cross between a sunflower and a microbe growing at a museum in Amsterdam. Lots of different materials and techniques come together to make this incredible texture.
Straight lines can create just the right amount of interest in a large piece.
No need to ask “is that too much sparkle?”
This intricate clutch design features raffia, freshwater pearls, glass pearls, rhinestones and russian braid.
I created this custom pin to match an outfit for a client’s special occasion. This design features real gold and hand dyed silk ribbon to create a simple yet luxurious depiction of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Consulting with clients as the artwork is in progress allows us to collaborate and change directions or make edits in real time.
This bridal sash uses hand dyed, painted and cut silk flowers to create lush texture. As the wearer moves, the flowers appear to be gently swaying in the breeze.
Sometimes embroidering on silk organza and applying the design to a delicate or difficult material is the best choice. This design was later appliqued to a knitted scarf.
Floral applique ready to be added to a purse, blazer or simply framed. The options are endless.
These beautiful bows were originally meant to be stacked on top of one another, but the designs were simply too stunning to cover up. We ended up using them on three separate projects. The detail and texture in these coordinating elements are showstoppers on any outfit.
These intricate details and textures were simply too beautiful to be covered up and layered.
Each bow features a different combination of techniques and materials to go together without matching completely.
Childhood deserves to be commemorated in beauty. Elevate your kid’s interests or drawings with gorgeous pieces that will fit in perfectly with the rest of your art. This is the first in a set of three framed art pieces that will live on long after the boy’s interest in dinosaurs has moved on.
Historical techniques often merge beautifully with modern subjects. Here I’ve done an image of the planet Mars in an ancient goldwork technique in copper tones to reflect and celebrate the red planet.
Simple designs become extraordinary when quality fibers and textures enter the picture