I’m setting down my needles and thread for just a moment to share where I'll be heading next. There are several new dates here for both online and in-person workshops and retreats and I really hope you can join me for one (or more!) of them.

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I am heading to Paris next month for a retreat at Chateau Dumas and cannot wait to explore the world of Parisian textiles and ribbons and threads as well as meet all of the lovely students who I’ll be spending a week with!

After that, these are all of the spots where I'll be next:

Making Zen Online Retreat (Sept 28-Oct 2, 2026) *Online and FREE!

Frenchtown Bookshop, Frenchtown, NJ (Oct 7 2026, 6:30pm) *In-store event!

MISA, Santa Fe, NM (April 26-30, 2027) *Brand New, Just Announced!

Woodland Ridge Retreat, Menomonie, WI (Sept 28-Oct 7, 2027) *Only 4 spots left!

I promised you time with your coffee, and so I'll leave you with just that for now! Enjoy the last sun-drenched days of August and I hope to see you soon!

nichole

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If you haven’t experienced Making Zen before, it is such a joyful week! Nearly 40 textile artists come together to share five days of workshops and every single class is completely free to watch for 24 hours! It’s the ultimate dose of creative inspiration, a chance to connect with an incredible community and a wonderful way to stretch your stitching skills.

For my main workshop, Unpatterned Pleats: Improv Smocking for Rich Textures, we are throwing rigid grids and patterns right out the window. I’ll show you how to intuitively fold, gather and stitch your fabric to build gorgeous, touchable dimension. It’s loose, expressive and all about letting the fabric (and not a pattern!) guide your needle!

And if you decide to grab the VIP Pass for lifetime access to the retreat, I put together a fun bonus feature: Pleating Machines, Fabrics & Improv Smocking. I bring out my collection of antique fluters and pleating machines to show how these historic tools work, how different fabric weights react and how you can layer freeform stitches over machine-pleated folds to create incredible depth.

You can sign-up for your free spot at this retreat right here: Zen Stitching Fall 2026

Head over to check out the schedule and grab your seat and I can’t wait to stitch with you soon!

Looking to explore even more texture and stitch possibilities? You can find endless layering inspiration inside my books Needles Out: Boho Embroidery: Mixed Media Techniques, Boho Embroidery: Modern Projects from Traditional Stitches and Boho Embroidery: The Pattern Collection: Over 30 Modern Motifs & 20 Traditional Stitches

Happy stitching and remember to rock those hoop guts!

-nichole

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Because transparency matters: a few links here are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra, but they help support my stitching, beading, filming and all the tiny magic behind the scenes!

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Before August slips away to a moment of time, I wanted to share some notes from my Big Sky class at Quilt Gallery in Montana and leave you with two video workshops to get your hands messy with texture and hue!

Firstly, I couldn’t have asked for a better venue to spend time teaching (and shopping!) than Quilt Gallery. If this is your local shop, then I have to tell you how jealous I am of you…I will just have to satisfy myself with shopping from afar! Spending time at the shop in-person with Ashlee and Marianne and Sammy is the real deal!

During this multi-day class, we pulled together palettes based on our chosen patterns and fabrics and from there it was just a matter of gathering inspiration from the available supplies.

And let’s talk supplies for a minute….

I fell in love with Trailhead Company’s “Acorn Cache” of bobbin boxes (which are available at Quilt Gallery!) These are hand-dyed threads in the most beautiful array of colors. This thread is 100% tercel and is so lovely to work with. I couldn’t stop raving about this during class and am still loving the collection I picked up to work with!

I also love to find supplies that are made locally when I visit somewhere new. These buttons are stunning…the picture does not do these justice! They are handmade in Montana and add so much texture and shine to whatever it is you’re working on! These are available in-person at QuiltGallery or online here.

You see those little bird cages, right?!!

I just love looking back at pictures from class and seeing the creativity of each person. Check out this gallery of projects from our class:

If you weren’t able to make it in person, but would still love to dip your toes into the salty waters of creativity this summer, then I have a few summer themed projects that you can do from the comfort of your own space!

Fresh & Fruity Bead Embroidery

Driftwood Treasures

Couture Cap with Pretty Back

And now I'll leave you to the salt air and rust on your door. Enjoy these golden summer days and I hope you can savor some creative time!

Until September!

xxx Nichole

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The piles are growing though…

Are you someone who organizes by putting things in piles? A pile for this…a pile for that….? Well, then you will understand when I say that my piles are at the point of teetering. They are organized, but still wobbling just a bit. Why don’t I take you through each pile now…

The studio pile is one that changes by season and project. This is the season of gardens: bold colors, delicate lacework and experimental stitches.

My most recent class for Michaels is here and it’s a departure from the embroidery hoop. Watercolor Meets Beads and Thread is a mixed-media embroidery class that dabbles in watercolor and improvisational cross stitch. It comes with a pattern that you can work from, or you can take inspiration from a favorite flower and instead use all of the techniques that I guide you through to create an even more personalized project.

There are so many other piles in my studio. The smocking pile…the in-progress hoops pile…the new classes pile (ahem, if you are a fan of Artistic Artifacts and MISA, keep an eye out for upcoming classes at both places…that’s all I have to say right now….)

So then let’s head outside to the garden pile…

With summer’s very recent arrival (Hello June 21st!), I’m of course feeling the subtle pressure to soak in every moment before the season ends. The pressure to take one day at a time, relax and yet not miss a moment, all while trying to tiptoe into the analog life! I’m slowing down a little by appreciating the bounty of the garden in a different way this year.

My newest purchase is a microwave flower press. I am very new to this, so new, in fact, that I didn’t even know this existed two weeks ago! Here is the Microfleur Flower Press that I have been obsessively using every day since I purchased it.

I cannot even tell you how much I am enjoying the preservation of my favorite flowers one by one. It has slowed me down to look at the blooms carefully as they are on the flower before cutting them. I’m paying attention to how the flower is formed and looking at the delicate stems and blooms in an entirely new way.

It is quite possibly the coolest hobby!

I bought the smaller version of the flower press but I’m already thinking about what I could do with the much larger version. Do you have this? And is it worth the extra money? Leave a comment and persuade me to buy it!!

Here are my roses and Queen Anne’s Lace:

I’m even planning an embroidery project around this, so if it even mildly interests you, then start pressing your favorite blooms so you will be ready to stitch with me!

Since we’re already outside, lets move on to the travel pile…

Next month I will be heading to Quilt Gallery in Montana for a multi-day workshop. I’m so looking forward to being in a stunning location and working with a fabulous group of stitchers!

You can find all of the details here: July 17-19: Quilt Gallery, Kalispell, Montana

After that, I will be heading to teach at Chateau Dumas in Southern France. While that is still several months away, registration officially closes on July 15 and there are only 3 spots left!

If you’d like one of the remaining seats, here are all of the details (and a coupon code!): September 13-19: Sew & Sew Retreats, Chateau Dumas, France (Use code boho2026 to save 10% on your registration!)

And finally, next September (2027), I will be teaching at the Woodland Ridge Retreat in Wisconsin and there are only 4 seats left there! If you’d love to join me there, you can find all of the information here: September 28-October (2027): Woodland Ridge Retreat, Wisconsin

I have a few other classes in the works that I will have details on later!

If you are going to be at one of the multi-day classes, then you will be receiving a kit to make your own textile journal! And if you won’t be able to join me in person, then I’ve put together this tutorial for you to make your own.

If you are having an analog summer, then might I suggest making one of these so that you can enjoy some low-key-off-screen time?!

Well, I’m off to go steady these wobbling stacks and get back to prepping textile journal kits! If you want to claim one of those final three chairs in France before the July deadline hits, or join the big sky magic in Montana, then go…sign-up…and I’ll see you in-person soon!

Now, let’s all take a deep breath, find a bloom to press, and enjoy the summer ahead!

xx nichole

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Because transparency matters: a few links here are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra, but they help support my stitching, beading, filming and all the tiny magic behind the scenes!

Hopefully you have been properly caffeinated as you open the latest from the desk of wildboho. And yes, I do have my ticket to see what is happening in the Runway world!

I’ve been channeling my inner Miranda Priestly (minus the dramatic coat flinging) this week and stitching up all manner of fashion-related wares for you to enjoy!

“…that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact you're wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.”

To celebrate this dive into the world of high-fashion hues, I have a brand new class centered around all things cerulean! Perhaps I should warn you that there are no lumpy blue sweaters to be seen in this tutorial!

Make your own Cerulean Beaded Brooch with my latest tutorial for Michaels and John Bead! I have been excitedly been waiting for the release of this class and I hope you’ll find it is a study in texture and color and is even something that you can pin to your own sweater (even it it’s not from the Runway closet!)

"Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking."

I know, I know…I’m not breaking any ground with this one. However, I need to share it with you because it really is one of my most popular tutorials.

Are you looking for the perfect gift for someone special? Maybe a gift for a favorite teacher that can be personalized? Well then, have I got the tutorial for you!

Paint a floral bouquet with this tutorial!

This video is an excellent place to begin painting on fabric and then embroidering your design. It can be easily personalized and is a quick project from start to finish. Did I mention it is a truly personal gift?!

“I don't understand why it's so difficult to confirm an appointment.”

Well, let’s look at those calendars then as I remind you where I will be stopping by and spending time during the next few months!

July 17-19: Quilt Gallery, Kalispell, Montana

September 13-19: Sew & Sew Retreats, Chateau Dumas, France (Use code boho2026 to save 10% on your registration!)

September 28-October (2027): Woodland Ridge Retreat, Wisconsin

I would absolutely love to have you spend time stitching, making, creating and laughing (there’s always lots of laughing!) with me in-person at one of these retreats! Please note: just a few spots left for both France and Wisconsin!

“I need 10 or 15 skirts from Calvin Klein.”

Scratch that, forget the skirts. How about finding me another pleating machine? Oh what’s that? I have plenty of pleating machines? Yes, but…do I have a rolling pleater? No I don’t. I need a rolling pleater.

Mission accomplished!

Yes, I might have a little bit of a problem. I may or may not have recently acquired another vintage pleating tool. I should probably stay off of eBay. Let’s just say the rolling pleater will be here soon, along with my updates on how I’m going to use it in my work!

So now go grab your coffee, pick up your needle and for heaven's sake, “if I see freesias anywhere I will be very disappointed.”

“That’s all.”

xx nichole

This year, the sifting of projects coincided with this article from Martha Stewart about the New Trend Crafters Are Embracing for Creative Growth which then collided with scrolling through years of photos of my work and adding up my own creative skill stacks.

This article really hit home by putting a label on the trend that I have embraced in my work for years. As makers and crafters and artists, this probably will hit home for many of us!

This passage from the article felt like it was written about my own journey as wildboho:

Skill stacking can also help you find your own distinctive artistic voice. For example, combining two or three techniques (like embroidery, sewing, and beadwork) can evolve into a new process that feels unique to you.

When I look at pictures of my earliest work in the early 2010s, you can see that it is simple and contains just a hint of wildboho. The collage is simple and the stitches simpler still.

When I speak about my journey as a stitcher, I remind my students as I teach them basic stitches, that my early work focused on just one or two stitches. Narrowing my focus really allowed me to gain confidence in my work. I was not rushing to add in textures and dimension like you see in my work now. It was simple and I loved what I was creating.

To be successful at building your own skill stack, take your time and do not rush your work. It might be tempting to look ahead at what you’ll be doing in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, but doing that blurs your focus. Whatever you are doing now, do it to the best of your ability and continue to grow in those abilities. With growth comes confidence in yourself.

Just a few years after stitching the above piece, another piece of mine, also featuring Cori Dantini fabric, was published with an article in Mary Jane’s Farm magazine. You can see that in just a few years time with my focus on embroidery, my stitches grew, while the style remained mine.

When I look back through these pictures, I’m reminded of the doubt that I had in my work at the time. I would post pictures of my process and projects on Instagram and would be met with comments like “why do you keep these in the hoop?” and “what do you do with these hoops?” Hoop art was not popular at the time and so I found myself repeatedly explaining what hoop art was and how it could be mixed into gallery walls or displayed on shelves with other trinkets.

Today, hoop art is instantly recognized as an art form and I am rarely, if ever, asked about how I display my pieces or what the intended use of a piece is. So my advice here is: lean into your instincts! It can be too easy to let doubt overtake your work and let imposter syndrome creep in. There is not room for second-guessing when you are building something original!

As I became confident in my embroidery and appliqué skills, I added in other techniques like:

FABRIC WEAVING

NEEDLEPOINT

FABRIC PAINTING

NEEDLE FELTING

STUMPWORK

FABRIC MANIPULATION

PLEATING

Taking a quick scroll through these pictures reminds me how many skills I've slowly added into my creative stack. Slowly is the key word here. It has been nearly two decades of working on my processes and adding them to my work. Ignoring comments like “it’s just embroidery, you haven’t invented

anything new.”

The truth is, it might just be embroidery. For you , it might just be just painting…just cooking…just beading…just woodworking…

The “new” isn’t just in the single-stitch or the brand new medium. It is in the stack. It is in the years of trial and error, frustrations, wins, curiosities and constant work that have created the layers of the voice that is entirely my own (that is entirely your own!) It is the paint under the threads, the beads stitched onto the felt, the intuition that tells me where they belong.

It takes time to build a signature style and possibly even longer to trust your gut!

So cheers to the slow build, the inner Martha in all of us and the complex stacks that we are always creating!

xx nichole

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I want to hear from you! What are your creative stacks? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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Because transparency matters: a few links here are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra, but they help support my stitching, beading, filming and all the tiny magic behind the scenes!

The weeks leading up to teaching at QuiltCon in NC were chaotic to say the least. Between finishing projects for each of the classes, prepping presentations and printouts, designing stickers to gift to my students and packaging custom bead palettes, my mind was a kaleidoscope of stitching, writing and packing.

Coming home and settling back into the quiet of my studio space, even though it was cluttered with what I left scattered about in my wake, felt like the perfect ending to my time at QuiltCon.

I’ve settled back into my semblance of a schedule and I’m excitedly looking ahead to new places and projects!

About those new places…I’m happy to share that I’ll be teaching in-person at the following spots (click on the location for all of the details):

Kalispell, Montana (July, 2026) Quilt Gallery

Chateau Dumas, France (September, 2026) Sew & Sew Retreats

Sante Fe, New Mexico (April, 2027) *more info coming soon

Menomonie, Wisconsin (September, 2027) Woodland Ridge Retreat

If you’re interested in hearing me talk about what I’ll be teaching in France, Linda of Sew & Sew Retreats, hosted a webinar with me yesterday and you can watch the recording here.

While preparing for the webinar this past week, I also finished up both sample projects that I started months ago for this workshop! You can see them in much more detail in the above link, but check out the finished pieces below.

Here is the my La Galerie Dior inspired piece, which is on a 12x12 canvas. My inspiration behind this was a designer’s mood board with all of the fabric scraps, buttons textures meant to inspire a new garment or project:

And here is my piece inspired by the lavender fields of France:

Both pieces contain all of the techniques that I’ll be teaching in France, including needle felting, fabric painting, appliqué and my new love, smocking.

I have several pieces of pleated fabric that I have been working on smocking behind-the-scenes of everything else that I have going on and I’ve been loving adding this new texture to my embroidery. Expect to see plenty of that in the future, especially since I won the auction of an antique cast-iron collar fluter. More about that once I receive it, clean it up and start experimenting with it!

If you’re curious, check out how I created the portion of smocked lavender fields here.

And now I’m going to let you get back to your weekend with two brand-new, just-released tutorials to help maybe usher in some springtime vibes!

This is my Beaded Witch Hazel tutorial for John Bead:

And this is my Elegant Beaded Bow tutorial for Michaels:

Today would be the perfect day to set aside time to preview the tutorials, gather your supplies and then prepare to stitch up a brand-new project, don’t you think?

I hope you enjoy a bit from the kaleidoscope of my headspace/workspace and maybe I’ll see you at one of my upcoming workshops!

Until then,

Boho those stitches!

xx nichole

I watched QuiltCon wake up and then I watched it wind down.

Every class started the same way: a little hesitation, a lot of possibility. And by the end? Bold choices. Layered stitching. Students beginning to trust their instincts, their hands and their color palettes…in ways that surprised even them!

That part never gets old.

I’m still in Raleigh as I write this. A blizzard in Philadelphia has grounded our flight home and so instead of unpacking, I’m lingering, decompressing. All of my supplies packed up: scissors tucked in my suitcase, bags much lighter as I ready myself to head home.

Looking through photos of your work and revisiting the progress that you made…that is my favorite part.

By the time you read this, I’ll be home. But I’m carrying all of it with me…the conversations, the risk-taking, the threads on the floor…and on the tables….and all over our clothes!

If you were in one of my classes: keep going. Don’t pack your hoop away yet. Remember to have fun with your embroidery…it is not meant to be stressful, it’s meant to be a relaxing way to settle into your own creativity.

And here is the promised wrap-up, the little details that I shared with each class. If you weren’t able to make it into one of my classes, or you weren’t at QuiltCon, consider this a bonus…a sneak peak into some of the things we chatted about during class.

Here is the link to the supplies that I used at QuiltCon….everything from Liquid Vinyl to the awesome travel lamp that got me stopped at the airport security! (By the way, absolutely worth it and this is my new favorite travel light!)

I mentioned the Needles Out Embroidery Challenge at the end of every class and here is the link to the (very friendly!) companion Facebook group.

Remember those brand new classes I was talking about? Here are the links for you!

Quilt Gallery in Montana (near Glacier National Park) in July, 2026

Sew & Sew Retreat in France (held at Chateau Dumas in Southern France) in September, 2026

These are both brand new, multi-day classes (in gorgeous locations!!) which allow for a much more relaxed pace as we work together. A nice change after the fast-pace of a QuiltCon class!

One look through QuiltCon hashtags will take you through all of the incredible handmade fashions that were worn throughout the four days and my class was no exception! Check out this amazing jacket and gorgeous skirts!

QuiltCon really is about making connections and seeing people in real life that maybe you only see one time a year!

Sarah Hibbert is a fellow author and teacher that I connect with every time we teach in the same spaces. Check out her beautiful book and new thread pack from Aurifil.

Claudia, owner of Snuggly Monkey , is the owner of one of my favorite embroidery shops and I was very excited to shop in person at QuiltCon!

I was also delighted to spend some time signing books and stitching in the Brimfield Awakening booth. If you stopped by to chat, thank you so much! Despite the crowds in this booth (yay for the crowds!) I was able to have some one-on-one convos with several people!

And there you have it, a whirlwind wrap-up of a whirlwind few days!

Finally, here is the promised subscriber bonus pattern (that might look familiar to you if you were in my Inspired Stitchcraft class)!

Quiltcon Bonus

129KB ∙ PDF file

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And, one more finally…I have a brand new (free!) class out with John Bead! This is a great one to welcome in spring: Beaded Witch Hazel. Maybe if we all start stitching some springtime plants, it will hold any additional snow at bay?? It’s worth a try!

Thank you thank you thank you for continuing to show up and stitch with me…for reading and following along…and for your support of my small business!

xx Nichole

Because transparency matters: a few links here are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra, but they help support my stitching, beading, filming and all the tiny magic behind the scenes!

I am so very sorry.

I believe this storm might be my fault.

You see, I sit in my studio thinking up patterns, stitching all of the stitches, spilling tiny trays of beads, knotting and cutting loose threads, dropping silent needles (into the carpet, beneath my bare toes)…I do all of this without thinking too deeply about the impact that just one pattern can have in the meteorological world.

Releasing that pattern (in this case, the Snowflake Embroidery Sampler) can have profound repercussions, and I’m afraid (and deeply apologetic) that we’re going to see the effects of that pattern this weekend, where in my area, they (they, meaning Bill Henley, NBC Philadelphia) are calling for anywhere from 0-24” of snow on Sunday.

I hope you’re wrong, Bill, but I fear you are always too accurate in your weather predictions.

It’s too late now. I can’t un-release the video. I can’t un-stitch the snowflakes. I can’t go back in time and reverse what I’ve done. And so there’s nothing more for me to do than leave you with this Snowflake Embroidery Sampler and hope that when you are done shoveling yourself out, you have energy left for a few snowy stitches.

My apologies in advance.

And then when you’ve defrosted and just want to scroll on your phone, why don’t you head over to the brand-new (but not by choice) instagram page of Amy Friend and give her a follow as she tries to completely rebuild her textile-filled IG presence after being ruthlessly deleted from the platform earlier this month.

And after you’re done that, maybe you want to dream about stitching somewhere warmer, in a beautiful chateau in rural France, with me, at the Sew & Sew Retreat in September. I can pretty much guarantee that it will be a snow-free stitching zone.

As a peace offering (and as a promise that I won’t be creating any new snowflake patterns in the next few months), I would like to offer up my final Needles Out Embroidery Challenge video for you. It will be premiering tonight at 8pm EST. This will be my hoop reveal and wrap-up for the current challenge. I’ll be painting hoops, showing off my stitches and chatting about what’s up next for the challenge. I hope you’ll join me then!

In conclusion, I would like to once again reiterate my apologies. I’ll be with you in spirit as we shovel out later this weekend. And I’ll (hopefully, if the power stays on) be stitching by my studio space heater and thinking ahead to warmer embroidery patterns!

xx Nichole

For a bird’s-eye view of 2025 at wildboho, I’ve stitched together a highlights video. If you’d like to pull up a chair at my studio table, then read on for the textures, turns and tiny details that shaped this year!

One of the biggest shifts this year happened quietly, somewhere between packing up bins of beads and thread and realizing I could finally take a slightly wider step back from my worktable without bumping into a wall. I moved wildboho into a larger studio space and with it came a little breathing room, both physically and creatively!

I have grown used to working and living in small spaces! Living in a 121 year old Philadelphia-style row home makes you think about what you bring into your space and what you keep around. It is a constant shuffle of bringing something in and then moving something out to make room. As a maker, that can be an incredibly hard process…we love to gather and store for our someday projects!

My studio has always been in the teeniest tiniest room of that very old house. Lacking closet space and storage space, I have had to become clever with how I contain things, keeping in mind that I am also using the space for zoom meetings and virtual classes and online video creation! My studio works very hard!

This past summer, I was able to upgrade my space just a bit. But that also meant that I had to completely pack up and move my studio, while also keeping my schedule of creating and filming (and making dinner and doing laundry and shuffling kids to and from places and…and…and…..) Once I set my mind to a project though, I don’t like to delay and I just start moving. And so that’s what happened.

Here’s a behind-the-desk peek at my old studio space (and, yes, my chair really did touch the wall all the time!):

Shelves were unpacked, moved, repacked. I reconsidered how I stored my supplies and I came to the realization that I really need to see what I have, rather than hide it away. I located things I forgot I had, and wished that I remembered that I had, and put them aside to use right away. I bought more clear bins than I ever knew I needed and reorganized my threads and ribbons and laces, color coding things as I went.

Here’s a peek at what my storage currently looks like:

Being able to see my threads, which are currently organized by type of thread, helps me so much when I’m choosing threads for a project. When I had my supplies in boxes or bins that I couldn’t see through, I ended up forgetting about them and then not using them.

And here’s another peek at my display shelves of Yazzii bags and hoops and also my thread wall (I love my thread wall of Eleganza threads!):

I have lots of In My Studio videos that you can check out, but I haven’t done a completely new studio tour video, so that is on my list of videos to create in 2026!

P.S. if you subscribe to my YouTube channel, you’ll get notified whenever I post a new video and you won’t miss that studio tour when it comes out!

Needles Out! has been out for over a year now and the most recent Needles Out embroidery challenge has really brought together a fun group of stitchers! You can find the Facebook group here.

I created this low-key embroidery challenge to highlight the embroidery stitches that I wrote about in my book and by using all of those stitches, I’m showing you how to create a beautiful work of art on a favorite piece of fabric! Each stitch has a dedicated video and you can start this challenge at any time…perhaps in the new year?!

If you’ve purchased or read Needles Out!, I have a small favor to ask. Reviews truly mean the world to authors, and if you’re able to leave one on Amazon or Goodreads, it would be such a gift. I’d also be so grateful if you requested the book at your local library, bookshop or quilt shop. Any of these little acts of support make a bigger difference than you might realize and I appreciate them more than I can say!

I also want to thank you if you took a class with me in person this year, whether in my local Philadelphia area or at QuiltCon in Phoenix, Arizona or even on the shores of Lake Michigan on the very chilly Mackinac Island! At each of those classes, I treasured the time that we spent together stitching and I thank you for choosing to travel and take one of my classes. If you weren’t able to travel, then I hope you enjoyed my classes online for Michaels and John Bead. There are links to all of the online classes in my 2025 wrap-up video!

Looking ahead to 2026, I will be at QuiltCon in Raleigh, North Carolina for five (sold-out!) classes. I’ll be heading to the West Coast this summer (more details on that soon!) And in September, I’ll be teaching for the first time at a Chateau in France (and there are still openings if you would love to join me!)

If you know of somewhere else that I should be traveling to teach (or if I haven’t been to your area!), leave a comment here or send me a message!

There’s so much more I’m hoping to share in the new year…embroidery, smocking and whatever other fiber adventures make their way onto my worktable! Until then, thank you, thank you, thank you for following along, supporting my work and tolerating my abundant exclamation marks!!!

xx Nichole

Because transparency matters: a few links in this post are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra, but they help support my stitching, beading, filming and all the tiny magic behind the scenes!

This pattern and video series was originally only available to my Patreon subscribers back-in-the-day. In rewatching it and blending these videos into one, I realized that when I originally recorded this series, it was 10 degrees F, which is the same temperature outside as I sit here typing this next to my studio heater!

Before I go any further, I’d like to share the Vibrant Winter pattern with you here:

Vibrant Winter Pattern

938KB ∙ PDF file

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Along with the pattern, please enjoy the Vibrant Winter video series which takes you on a tour through my project and will also teach you how I transfer an embroidery pattern. I incorporate a wide variety of mixed media materials in this project and if you watch until the end, you’ll find out what those materials are and how I use them!

If you enjoy going behind-the-scenes, then I hope you’ve caught my newest YouTube series: wildboho’s worktable weekly! Every week (or so!) I will answer questions that come up (feel free to comment on any of my videos with questions and I will see them and add them to my list!) as I take you on a tour of my worktable, which is basically anything I’m working on for the week.

In this week’s video, I shared more about my mom’s smocking machine that I am working on rehabilitating. I ordered supplies for the machine and they just arrived, so I’m hoping to get that up and running soon.

My pleating machine is by Read Pleaters, a company in South Africa. It is a 21-needle pleater, which in my digging around, seems to be fairly uncommon. If you have any knowledge of pleating machines, I’d love any information that you can pass along to me!

This video was recently shared with me and shows how to use a rocking fluter (a pre-cursor to pleating machines?) It is such a fun watch and makes my brain start working on how I can incorporate pleated materials in my projects!

I actually do have a plan for incorporating pleated fabric, and it’s one that I’m excited about. This project is for my upcoming workshop in France and is inspired by Dior. For more on the inspiration, you’re just going to have to watch me talk all about it here:

And speaking of France, I’m really looking forward to stitching with lovers of all things making and textiles at Chateau Dumas in September. This class will focus on incorporating mixed media techniques like needle felting, appliqué, painting, and beadwork into your embroidery.

If you would like to learn more and be part of this small group of makers in a gorgeous French chateau, then check out all of the details here: Sew & Sew Retreats

Getting back to my Dior-inspired project, below is how I started. This a an above view of my current worktable situation.

If you watch my worktable video (above), this fabric will look familiar to you. I have it stretched in a 16x16 Q-Snap frame. I’m linking these frames here because they are great for larger projects, especially square ones that will not end up in an embroidery hoop. The one that I am using for this project is a 14x14.

I’m going to be attaching my finished piece to a 12x12 canvas and so the blue lines are my guide lines as I begin working on this.

From here, I needed to visualize the swatch sizes that I’ll be creating. You can see below that I used an old magazine to tear strips and create a representation of the various techniques that I’ll be using on this. I realize this might not make a lot of sense right now, but I have an amazing project in my head and this is how I am getting started!

Each of these sections will be one of the techniques that I’ll be sharing in France and again, you can get a better sense of that if you watch my weekly worktable video from this week!

Thanks for sticking with me to the end today! I hope you enjoy your reader-exclusive pattern and the accompanying video! If you create something from this pattern, I would love to see it! Feel free to tag me on IG or FB with your makes!

Next time, I’ll be wrapping up my year of favorite things: anything related to stitchery, fibers, making….I’m going to share my favorites with you!

Until then, stay warm (or cool, depending on where you are!) and happy reading and creating!

xx Nichole

Because transparency matters: a few links in this post are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra, but they help support my stitching, beading, filming and all the tiny magic behind the scenes!

First things first, I’m excited to let you know that registration for the retreat that I’m teaching at in France just opened this week! If you haven’t heard of Sew & Sew Retreats, they are creative textile retreats, many of them being held in France. You can read all about the class I’m teaching: Stitched Botanicals & Textured Landscapes: A Mixed Media Embroidery Experience with wildboho.

The above picture is just one of the new samples that I’m working on for upcoming classes and this is being stitched especially for my students at Chateau Dumas. You can see that it includes a little bit of everything from fabric painting and needle felting to embroidery and beadwork. This one is inspired by the French countryside.

Speaking of feeling inspired by the French countryside, check out the setting for my week in September!

With travel plans and stitchwork weaving together these days, if you are located on the West Coast of the United States, specifically Montana, then stay tuned for more details on my upcoming summer workshop near Glacier National Park! (This may or may not be a sample that I’m stitching for that class!)

Going back to my sample for the retreat in France, I wanted to share one of the threads that I’ve been using and loving!

These are Tentakulum Painters Threads and I originally found them when I stumbled upon a quilt shop in San Antonio during this past summer. I picked up two of the colors and I am just in love with how well they stitch up and how gorgeous they are! You can find them at one of my favorite online stitch supply shops, Snuggly Monkey. (Not an affiliate link, just a small business that I frequent maybe a little too much!!)

Speaking of stitching supplies, how familiar are you with Pleating Machines?

My mom recently passed away and I can definitely credit her with passing on to me my love of textiles, threads, buttons, collections and all other manner of shiny things.

This was her pleating machine and on this machine, she pleated countless dresses for me when I was little. I have wanted to learn pleating for years and have just unearthed her precious pleating machine. It needs some love after sitting unused for years, but I am just overwhelmed with the thought of cleaning this up, getting fresh needles and taking on a craft that she found so much joy in learning. I hope that soon enough you’ll find bits of pleating in my work!

I welcome any and all pleating tips. I am definitely regretting not picking this skill up and learning from her, so please send your tips my way!

Moving on and speaking of tips, my one final ask of you is that you also send your embroidery, beading, crafting questions my way. When I finish up my current YouTube series in a few weeks (find the Needles Out! Embroidery Challenge here!), I’m going to be enlisting your help in a new series: ask wildboho (the name of the series is up in the air for now!!)

Do you have organizing questions? Questions about the supplies I use? Do you want me to teach techniques? Talk fabrics? Do you just really want to know what is in all of my bins of color?!

Let me know what you want me to talk about and stay tuned for that new series!

And with that, I’ll wrap up this little swirl of wildboho mayhem before something else shiny distracts me! Thanks for wandering through the creative tangle with me and be sure to check out my in-person retreats/classes!

Until the next joyful mess,

-nichole

For me, it is always stitching. Or beading. Or just making in general. But whatever I do, it always involves my hands being busy.

This week, I released a brand-new class with John Bead for Michaels: the Beaded Dimensional Mushroom and it is free to watch! (At this time, the class is only available in the US and Canada)

I really don’t play favorites with my projects. I try to pour the same joy into all of them. However, this little mushroom has completely stolen my heart! I hope you’ll enjoy the tutorial and maybe stitch up a tiny, beaded mushroom of your own!

And if the mushroom pulls you in (as mushrooms tend to do!), you might also enjoy exploring a few more bead-embroidery projects. Not everything I create is tied to a specific retailer, and I love having resources that anyone, anywhere, can dive into.

So if you’re outside the US or Canada, I have several bead-embroidery classes available for free internationally, with no location limits. These are some of my favorite ways to introduce people to texture, color, and that slow, meditative rhythm of beading.

You can check out all of my recent bead embroidery projects for John Bead!

And while I love being able to offer free resources that anyone can access from anywhere in the world, I also have something much bigger on the horizon! This September, I’ll be teaching at a chateau in southern France.

It feels so exciting to type that and it’s shaping up to be one of the most inspiring, slow-paced, creativity-soaked retreats I’ve ever been part of. Think: the quiet of the French countryside and days filled with stitching, color and texture, along with conversations that only happen when makers gather in a beautiful place.

Here is the link where you can find all of the details for this retreat: Join me in France! Registration for this opens in just a few days on November 20th so have a peek and see if a few days of stitching with a small group of creative souls might be exactly what you need.

In other stitching news, I picked up this box of Needlepoint cards that I’m currently loving. I have a weak spot for anything cute and compact and this box of 50 cards with stitches fits that bill perfectly!

It is pictured with a piece of needlepoint that I just finished stitching and now I’m adding beads to it before adding it into another project. It’s one of those projects that keeps being pushed to the side while I work through my desk pile of stitching, but I always love coming back to it!

If you’re new here, especially those of you coming from Zen Stitching, hello and welcome! I’m delighted you found your way here!

I can’t wait to stitch through the darker months together! And if you’re looking for one final bit of inspiration, pop over to my Needles Out series on YouTube! It is a current series based on all of the stitches from my newest book, Needles Out!

And join us on the Needles Out Challenge embroidery group on Facebook as well! We’d love to have you there!

Until next time, keep on stitching and rocking those hoop guts!

-nichole

Because transparency matters: a few links in this post are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra, but they help support my stitching, beading, filming and all the tiny magic behind the scenes!

I was delighted to have a virtual sit-down with Kate Ward of Zen Stitching where we talked all things wildboho and embroidery. I’ll be one of the artists presenting NEXT WEEK and you can sign up for FREE! You can also purchase a VIP pass which allows you to watch all of the artists and their presentations over and over again plus you will receive bonus videos, patterns and etc from each artist (including me!)

My presentation is entitled: Feeling Stabby, Finding Calm and will include The Gentle Gourd pattern as well as my presentation of incorporating needle felting with your embroidery!

So, watch my interview with Kate and then head on over and sign up to watch my presentation and stab your way to calm!

I might as well keep the thread going with some self-promotion and let you know that I was also honored to be a spotlighted artist at Create Whimsy and you can read even more about me.

When you have finished watching the Zen Stitching interview and reading the Create Whimsy interview, you will know more that you ever thought you would want to know about me! And by that point, you will probably need a break…

…what better place to take a break then in southern France at the Celebrate French Textiles Sew and Sew retreat in September! (I mean, that segue came a little too easily to me and I should probably lay off the coffee for the rest of the day!)

I will have more details about this one soon, but for now, you can check out where I will be teaching (Chateau Dumas) and when (September 13-19) and you can sign up for more information as soon as it is released! This will be a small retreat (less than 15 people) and I’m so excited to have the chance spend the week embroidering with everyone in this gorgeous chateau!

So, stab your way to inner calm with me next week and hopefully I will see you at an in-person class before too long!

Happy stitching (and stabbing!)

-nichole

When you read the title of this post, I’m mostly sure that you know the stabby-ness that I’m referring to are the gentle stabs of needle felting, right? Ok, good, so we’re on the same page now!

I’m excited to share that I’m one of the artists presenting at the Making Zen Online Retreat this month!

What is Making Zen? Well, it includes stabby-ness, obviously. But it is also a textile-arts focused virtual retreat that includes nearly 30 artists who will each be hosting a workshop over the course of five days. These workshops are COMPLETELY FREE! Yup, you read that right. They are totally free for anyone to watch for 24 hours. This is a great opportunity to dabble in all sorts of textile-art projects.

Here are the artists you can take workshops from:

Amanda Trought, Amy Maricle, Brooke ‘BB’ Henry, Clarissa Grandi, Cynthia Hauk, Darcy Hunter, Deanne Fitzpatrick, Deborah Fisher, Donna Davies, Ellie Fisher, Heidi Iverson, Helen Hiebert, Isabel Wilder, Karen Lewis, Kasia Jacquot, Kate Ward, Kelli Anderson, Kiala Givehand, Kira McCoy, Kristin Peterson, Lauren Weber, Madge Evers, Michelle Hamill, String Theories Fiber Designs, Nichole Vogelsinger (ahem, that’s me), Paula Hartmann, Rakefet Hadar, Rebekah Johnston, Shannon Fraser and Skye Pennant

I will be getting stabby and finding some calm and you can watch along with me as I needle felt and stitch the Gentle Gourd. This is a brand new pattern that you will also receive for free!

Speaking of patterns, and on a personal note, did you know that my patterns are now being created by my son?! He is a high school student of the arts and loves helping me with my patterns! You can see his work on IG at @thefellowmakes and check out his latest oil paintings/colored pencil pieces there!

Ok, back to Making Zen….

Here is my affiliate link to all of the details for the Making Zen retreat where you can sign up for your free spot and read more about the event, including specifics for each workshop.

Alright, I’ll let you get back to whatever it was that you were doing before this enthralling post showed up in your mailbox (or on your computer or on your phone or on your iPad).

I really hope that you’ll join me later this month at Making Zen!

-nichole

Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you decide to shop through them, I earn a tiny commission that helps keep my stitching (and coffee supply) going!

My fingers don’t have many words for you today, mostly because they are busy stitching 3-ish different projects. I know that sounds crazy, but I also know that I am not alone in my working simultaneously on multiple projects. Right?? I know there are some out you out there nodding your head along with me and saying something like “I’m so glad it’s not just me!” or “Three projects? You call that multiple projects?!” (as you look at your crafting surface covered with various stages of works-in-progress!

We are not alone!

To share in our not-aloneness and in collaboration with my latest YouTube series: Needles Out! An Embroidery Challenge, I have created a Facebook group just for you (and for me!)

Here it is: it is the Needles Out Embroidery Challenge with wildboho

I’ve just been blown away by the excitement that I’ve seen with this challenge and I’ve been asked where can you share your pictures? Where can you share your progress? Where can you show us your fabric choices?

Well, this FB group is my answer to that!

No matter where you are in the challenge, whether you are in the just-thinking-about-getting-started phase or you are in the what-challenge-are-you-talking-about phase or maybe you are in the where-is-the-next-video-because-i-can’t-stop-stitching phase, this group is the place for you!

Share where you are stitching from! Show us the fabric you are embellishing! Ask your questions and get friendly, not-snarky, answers! I’d love to welcome you in as you stitch (or just watch!) along with us!

All embroidery levels are welcome!

Join us and happy stitching!

-nichole

It has been one year since my book, Needles Out!, has been out and about in the world and to mark the occasion, I decided to crack open the book for you and begin a new challenge!

The Needles Out embroidery challenge is now going and I’d love to invite you to stitch along with me!

Here are the first 3 videos (let’s just say I was extra inspired by the excitement about this challenge from you, my lovely followers!) and I quickly released these to get you started:

Challenge video 1 can be found here

Challenge video 2 can be found here

Challenge video 3 can be found here

I should preface these videos by saying that this is probably one of the most lowkey challenges ever…in typical wildboho fashion! We don’t need any more stress or pressure in our lives and so this challenge is meant to help you to settle down into a project with a fabric that you love.

Stitching is meant to be enjoyable and that is what this challenge will help you to embrace…joy! By choosing a fabric that you love, whether it’s a fabric you’ve had your eyes on but you weren’t sure what to use it for, or it’s a fabric that has been sitting in your stash for way too long, CHOOSE THAT FABRIC, and then get ready to stitch!

I’m keeping this update short and sweet because you’re probably thinking about fabric right now. And you’re probably hoping that I'll talk about my favorite threads and embroidery supplies and beads and sequins during this challenge, amiright? Well, great minds think alike! I definitely will be doing that!

Spoiler alert: this is my favorite embroidery stand that you’ll definitely hear me wax poetic about!

I’ve given you a lot to mull over here! Check out those three videos to get started. Then find a fabric that makes you happy. And check back every few days (or subscribe to my YouTube channel for updates when I post!) for the new challenge video!

And if you are stitching with me, I would LOVE if you shared your progress pics with me. Tag me on Instagram or Facebook. I will share them and we can all inspire each other!

Now, get those needles out and let’s get stitching!

p.s. some of the links in this letter are affiliate links, which help to support your favorite embroidery artist! So thank you in advance if you shop through them!

It has been a whirlwind few months since I returned from sunny Phoenix where I taught 5 classes at QuiltCon. (Shameless plug #1, I’m teaching at QuiltCon in Raleigh next year!)

I went from the deserts of Arizona to the chilly beauty of Mackinac Island for the Quilting Arts Seminar.

If you are looking to travel and quilt/sew/embroider, then you need to check out this retreat (next year’s dates were just announced here!) I mean, this is the view you get so see every day!

This is truly a special place and I spent time with the nicest group of makers. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the island and it should be on your radar for an event to attend in the future!

Moving on to even warmer times…let’s talk July! I’m beyond excited to be a part of the online Embroidery Extravaganza on July 17! (Shameless plug #2: use this link to save $20 off of your ticket purchase!)

Here is the amazing lineup, with Sue Spargo being the keynote presenter:

I will be presenting Flora & Fiber: Mixed Media Embroidery. Your ticket purchase allows you to watch all of the presenters! Over and over again! So, check this link for more info and once you add it to your cart, you’ll see the coupon code is automatically applied!

I really hope that you’ll be there!

So did I previously mention chaos? My studio space has been in a state of upheaval as I am moving it to a new location. You know the craft rooms where you stash years and years worth of supplies and projects and basically everything? Yes, I just moved that. I’m still sorting and organizing, but if you follow along on Instagram, you’ll get to see the bits and pieces that I’m sharing! What you’ll only see here is the floor view that I’m not sharing on IG!!

Aren’t you glad you read far enough to get to this point?!

And for Shameless Plug #3, while I was at QuiltCon in February, I was interviewed by the lovely Lilo Bowman for the Quilt Show and the video just went live yesterday!

Moving on to the final Shameless Plug, my latest class with Michaels for John Bead went live this month! You can watch the class here for free! I created an embroidered hanging basket and I hope you stitch one and share it with me! If you are on FB or IG, just tag #wildboho and I'll take a look!

So, to recap, here are my shameless plugs:

#1: QuiltCon 2026 (registration opens August 20)

#2: Embroidery Extravaganza 2025 (tickets go on sale today!!)

#3: Watch Needles Out with Nichole Vogelsinger

#4: Check out my latest Michaels class!

Now, I’m off to continue getting hoops off of the floor! When I check in next, I hope that my studio move will be finished. And that maybe it will be a little sunnier. Until then…

Happy stitching friends!

xoxo Nichole

Attending a fabric/sewing/quilting/stitching-focused event, like QuiltCon, where you are met with so many people that you may or may not recognize, who all have many of the same creative interests as you, can feel like a jolt to the senses. So much to take in…sights, sounds and….stitching!

Let’s talk about the sights first. At QuiltCon, I taught 5 classes and so I did not get the chance to really, really take in the amazing display of quilts at the show. I did get a very fast hour to speed walk/run the show (a very belated sorry if you spotted me and I was a blur!)

Let’s start with the Best in Show winner, by Veruschka Zarate (@prideandjoyqulting), which was just breathtaking. This one just stopped me in my tracks at the entrance to the show.

And then a few other favorites:

“Splitting Seams” by Stephanie Jurgensen ( I loved how this looked like a deconstructed pair of well-loved corduroys)

“Dripping with Memories” by Gail Sevilla (This shape of this, several large drips, is just fabulous)

“Mama is Tired” by Emily Watts (I mean, the title alone!)

“Quattro” by Simone Symonds (I loved the handwork on this one…all those cross stitches!)

A white-gloved volunteer, happily sharing the back of this gorgeously textured quilt:

And then a non-quilt that I adored…how amazing is this?

And how about the sounds? It was a joy for me to meet so many people who have either already read or are about to read Needles Out! This is the first QuiltCon for this book and it was even more special because I was able to share this with my family too!

They were able to be there for the book signing of my newest book, Needles Out!, at the Lucky Spool booth. My kids have seen the prep and craziness that goes on behind-the-scenes when I attend one of these events, and so to have them see it in person was just really cool

!

Now, let’s talk stitching!

I taught 3 classes (2 of them twice): Inspired Stitchcraft, Boho Fusion and Botanical Stitches and they were just a delight.

I had the opportunity to meet so many stitchers (both brand new and seasoned!) and one of my favorite parts is teaching a class to 25 people but then seeing every single person produce something completely unique!

If you took one of my classes, THANK YOU! I loved feeling the energy in each room as everyone took out their threads and their beads as we began each class!

P.S. If you missed out on QuiltCon but are looking for a retreat to attend, I’ll be teaching next at the Quilting Art Seminar and have some spots left in my classes!

And if you aren’t able to travel but still want to be creative and learn from me, my latest class with John Bead is up now for free: Dark Opulence: A Study in Monochrome

I hope you enjoyed this peek into QuiltCon and I’d love to hear your take if you were there! Comment away!

Happy stitching!

xoxo Nichole

If you have been following along with me here on Substack or on IG, FB or YouTube, you’ll probably have noticed that 2024 was a year filled with stitches! Sprinkle in some beads and sequins with those threads and that could recap my year.

But I can do better than that!

Before I recap the past year, I’d like to thank you all for connecting with me: whether you watched one of my online classes or took the time to connect in-person, whether you requested my newest book from the library, or shared a post with your friends. I am appreciative of all of the love you have given my stitches!

Here are a few of my highlights (with links in case you missed anything!)

2024 Highlights:

• If you recognize the above picture, that means you may have cracked open the spine of my brand new book: Needles Out: Boho Embroidery: Mixed-Media Techniques and for that I can’t thank you enough! This book was a several years long labor of love that I began writing during the pandemic. I had my hands in every single page of this book, from helping to direct the photography to hand-writing many of the notes that you’ll find throughout the book, and it is the most me of any of my books! If you’ve read it, or requested it or shared it with anyone, THANK YOU! (P.S. Reviews matter more than you might think and so if you’ve done any of those things, would you head over to amazon and leave my book a review?)

• If you were looking for online classes from me, did you know that I created 8 online classes for free in collaboration with John Bead? You can find the link to all of them HERE! I worked with a variety of techniques like: Creating your own woven beads, Mixed-media embroidery on paper and Crazy quilt embroidery.

• In exciting news, I created and recorded 2 classes for Michaels: Free-style cross stitch with beads and Beaded autumn acorn: plush decor which are both available for free as well!

• I taught at a slow-stitching retreat in Maine with A Gathering of Stitches. This camp was a highlight of the summer and I recommend keeping tabs on upcoming retreats if you want to spend time with fellow makers in a gorgeous setting!

• I spent time at the fabulous Needles & Bolts in Philadelphia for classes. You need to check out this shop if you are in the area!

It was a whirlwind of a year for wildboho and for the coming year, I wanted to share a few things I’m looking forward to!

2025 Looking Ahead:

• I’m looking forward to teaching at QuiltCon in Phoenix, AZ in February. My classes are sold out but if you’re going to be there and really wanted to stitch with me, there are waitlists and class spaces that sometimes open up during the event.

• Another opportunity for in-person classes is on the beautiful Mackinac Island! You can check out the classes I’ll be teaching at the Quilting Arts Seminar in April/May of 2025. I’m really looking forward to visiting this location and spending time with other makers during this week!

• I’ll be teaching additional (free!) classes for Michaels and John Bead and will update you with links on Instagram and Facebook

And there you have it…for now!

Thank you for helping to make 2024 a great year of creativity! Let’s make 2025 even more colorful and inspired (and beaded and sequined!)

Warm stitches,

nichole