My personal library reflects my Greek heritage and creativity. My books fuel my passion for textile arts, Greek literature and language, English literature and language, and the writing craft. The figurines and souvenirs that fill empty spaces reveal my emotional connection with my homeland and creative interests. Published in Georgia Library Quarterly. Volume 62. Issue 4 (2025).
Date With Destiny: John William Waterhouse’s Penelope and the Suitors
Now housed at the Aberdeen Art Gallery in Scotland, Penelope and the Suitors (1912) by John William Waterhouse was commissioned during Britain’s women’s suffrage movement. During that period, many
universities and disciplines, such as politics, were closed to women, and women therefore turned to the domestic arts to socialise with each other, attend lectures, and fulfill their ambitions. Published in Selvedge magazine. Issue 125: Mediterranean 2025. Page: 65.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: The Story of Two Greek Wedding Embroideries at the Benaki Museum
Embroideries were part of every bride’s dowry she installed in her new home. At the same time, she transferred her embroidery designs and techniques to her husband’s homeland. The custom of making a dowry was common in Greece. Women wove cotton, linen, and silk, creating household items such as bedspreads, aprons, towels, pillowcases, and valances. They used them in domestic life and in both religious, and civil ceremonies. The scenes depicted on these two 18th-century rectangular cushion covers exhibited at the Benaki Museum are examples of wedding textiles and reveal the influence of Ottoman culture on Epirus society. Published in Selvedge magazine. Issue 125: Mediterranean 2025. Pages: 72-73.
Cupola Views: Karen Nyberg’s Space-Inspired Fabric Lines
As well as being an engineer and retired NASA astronaut, Karen Nyberg has a passion for art, sewing and crafting. She was the first person to quilt and sew inside a spacecraft, a challenging activity in the weightless environment. In this article, find out how Nyberg’s love for science, arts and crafts, and her desire to share with others the experience of seeing the beauty of Earth from space, led her to design space-inspired fabrics for incorporating into quilts and other crafts. Published in ROOM, the Space Journal of Asgardia. Issue 35, Autumn 2024. Pages 78-82.
Snip and Stitch: The Art of Kofto Embroidery
Part of my dowry and Greek heritage is an elaborate pillowcase that my paternal grandmother embroidered by machine. It is a white cotton pillowcase accented with cutwork embroidery in satin, buttonhole, and stem stitches. This whitework embroidery is called kofto (Greek: κοφτό), which means “cut.” It was a very popular technique in the ’70s and ’80s in Greece. Learn more about the history of kofto and how it was made in this article. Published in Piecework magazine website.
Out of This World: NASA’s Textile Technicians and Innovations for Space Voyages
Getting safely into space and back is about a lot more than engineering, computer systems, mathematics and physics. The humble craft of sewing is also an essential component of every mission. A spacecraft and its crew cannot survive in space without special textiles to provide protection from low gravity, radiation and the extremes of heat and cold. In this article, I explain how NASA’s team of talented seamstresses and textile technicians kept astronauts alive in the cold void of space during the Apollo and Space Shuttle eras by ‘dressing’ both astronauts and spacecraft, and I look at the impact of new technical textile programs and initiatives on the space industry. Published in ROOM, the Space Journal of Asgardia. Issue 34, Spring 2024. Pages 84-89.
The Pearl-Button Fever: Fishing Fortunes from the Mississippi River Bend
For many years, Muscatine, Iowa, on the Mississippi River, was the Pearl-Button Capital of the World. This industry created fortunes and fed families during the Great Depression. It started with the first factory, the Boepple Button Company in 1891, and it flourished for over a decade. In early 1900’s, the pearl-button industry declined due to mussel depletion and mass production of plastic buttons. Published in Piecework magazine website.
From Sheep to Tagari: The Story of the Greek Shepherd’s Bag
Tagari is a handwoven, rectangular, wool bag in which Greek shepherds and farmers used to carry their lunch. In this article, I recall how my grandparents made these treasured bags. Published in Piecework magazine website.
Judge a Book by Its Cover: Toxic Textiles in Libraries
Arsenic-containing green bookcloth bindings of the 19th century pose danger to anyone who touches them or breathes in the dye particles. Conservator, Dr. Melissa Tedone, has created the Poison Book Project to guide librarians, rare book collectors, and other institutions on how to identify and handle these poisonous books. Published in Textile Society of America.
The Little Black Dress Goes to Hollywood: Audrey Hepburn’s Fashion Legacy
Audrey Hepburn became famous when she wore the iconic little black dress in the opening scene of the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This elegant dress reinvigorated her acting career and the career of its designer, Hubert de Givenchy.
Icelandic Sea Clothes in Captain Thurídur’s Time (1777-1863)
Captain Thurídur was a strong woman who braved the soaring waves and freezing Icelandic waters to fish. Every day, she was exposed to icy snow and bone-numbing wind. Her skin clothes were the only protection against the harsh Arctic weather conditions. This article lists the sea people’s attire in Captain Thurídur’s time as I read it in her biography: Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain by Margaret Willson.
Weaving the Future on Jacquard’s Loom
British scientist and mathematician, Charles Babbage, was always delighted to show his guests his newest exhibit: the portrait of a French inventor named Joseph-Marie Jacquard. The portrait was an illustration of the capabilities of Jacquard’s loom, the world’s first automatic machine for weaving elaborate images.
Dressed in 30 Meters of Greek Pride: The Evzones’ Traditional Uniform
The traditional fustanella uniform of the Evzone guards of Greece is as unique as the guards themselves. This article traces the origins of fustanella and how it is made. Published in Piecework magazine website.
Embroidery and Symbolism of the Eastern Orthodox Liturgical Vestments
Over the course of their ministry, Eastern Orthodox clergy wear peculiar liturgical vestments that communicate the prestige of the Orthodox Church they serve and the continuing traditions of the Byzantine Rite. This article explains the function and meaning of these vestments and their embellishments. Published in Piecework magazine website.
Bound in Stitches: A Brief Guide to Common Bookbinding Stitches
Sewn bookbinding techniques improve the functionality, durability, and beauty of a book. This article describes some effective sewn binding stitches and their origins. It also includes links and references to illustrated tutorials that demonstrate each sewn binding solution. Published in Textile Society of America.
Eva Palmer Sikelianos and Her Loom: Weaving the Ancient Greek Dress
Eva Palmer Sikelianos turned her back to conventional western dress for the liberated Greek style tunic. She dedicated her life to reviving the Greek handicrafts and the Delphic Festivals. Published in New Writers Welcome, The Medium.
Amelia Earhart’s Fashion Runway: A Passionate Aviator’s Fashion Line
Amelia Earhart was an inspiring role model for women in aviation. But she was also America’s first celebrity fashion designer of comfortable clothes for active women. Published in New Writers Welcome, The Medium.
Volunteers Wanted: Sewing Tote Bags for The Lydia Project Cancer Clients
From helping at the lodging center to sewing tote bags, the Lydia Project depends on the generosity of community members to provide services and support to its cancer clients. Published in New Writers Welcome, The Medium.
Buried Treasures: The Significance of Wool Artifacts in the Pazyryk Tribe
The wool artifacts found buried inside Pazyryk tombs gave us an understanding of how important wool was to these ancient peoples. Published in New Writers Welcome, The Medium.
The Discovery of the Indigo Plant and Dye
From ancient cultures to the modern society, the cultivation of the indigo plant has changed civilization. Published in The Medium.
Is Hand Sewing as Strong as Machine Sewing?
This Q&A guide focuses on the pros and cons of hand sewing versus machine sewing. Published in All Free Sewing.
This Q&A guide explains what tacking/basting is in sewing and how you can use it. Published in All Free Sewing.
grecianneedle.com 