crossstitch

December 2024 - Update

November 30, 2024

Shop in person for 15% off discount
First Saturday Open Studios - Dec. 7
Make It Show @ the PNE - Dec 12-15
Registration Open for Winter Course - Jan 14 - Feb 6
Shop my art/merch at Retail

Shop in person for 15% off discount

With Canada Post on strike, shipping options are limited and expensive this holiday season.
Please consider shopping locally or in person, whenever you can.

If you stop by my studio during next First Saturday (Dec 7)
OR
at my booth during Make It Vancouver (Dec 12-15)

You can get 15% off your entire purchase.

Show me the coupon code below for a discount:

Code: 15HOLIDAY24

First Saturday Open Studios - Dec. 7

First Saturday is a public monthly artist-run open-studio event.

Come visit artists where they work at City Centre Artist Lodge.

The following artist studios will be open:

Tracy Anne Northey - Studio # 34
Ilena Lee Cramer - Studio # 109
Elana Sigal - Studio # 110
Lukas Lundberg - Studio # 208
Mallory Donen – Studio # 211
Stephane Savoie - Studio # 123
Devorah Peterson - Studio # 221

Location: 2111 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3C6
Date: December 7, 2024
Time: 12pm-5pm
https://www.firstsaturday.ca/next-open-studios

Make It Show @ the PNE - Dec 12-15

I’m so excited to be a Makie at Make It Vancouver happening Dec 12-15 at the PNE Forum! The show will feature 250 amazing local brands and makers. This is an awesome spot to get all your holiday shopping done while supporting creative entrepreneurs. There will also be food trucks, a lively festive atmosphere, and holiday fun to be had by all. Make sure to follow @makeitshow for a chance to win prizes leading up to the show. Can’t wait to see you there! makeitshow.ca/vancouver

Show hours:
Thursday, December 12, 5pm-9pm
Friday, December 13, 11am-9pm
Saturday, December 14, 10am-6pm
Sunday, December 15, 11am-5pm

Registration Open for Winter Course - Jan 14 - Feb 6

**Learn the basics of cross-stitch with me in this 4 week introductory course!** Or you can register as a part-time student by registering for 1 week of your choosing.
Over the course of 4 weeks, I will review cross-stitch materials, techniques, basic pattern making and how to finish your embroidery projects in several ways!
This is a small course taught from my artist studio at the City Centre Artist Lodge, so **spaces are limited** to 4 full-time students and 2 part-time students per week *(part-time students select 1 week of the course to attend).*
**Registration Fees:**
$300 - Full time student (4 weeks)
$110 - Part time student (1 week only)
**Schedule:** All classes are Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm (January 14 - February 6).
**Location:**Studio# 211, 2111 Main Street, City Centre Artist Lodge
**Supplies:** Students are provided with all necessary supplies including Aida cloth, needle, threads, and hoops.
**Refunds** are only available 7 days prior to the start of the course, students will be charged a $20 refund fee. To request a refund, email mmdonen@gmail.com.
Refunds will not be accepted once classes begin.
**No prior experience required, all classes are beginner level.*

Shop my art/merch at Retail

Here’s an updated list of retail locations you can shop my art/merch this holiday season.

Craft Council of BC
1386 Cartwright St
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6H 3R8
Shop hours: Tues - Sun | 10a - 5:30p

Pressure Point
A shop celebrating local emerging artists
2111 Main St, Studio #108
Vancouver BC, Canada, V5T 3C6

Rath Art Supplies
2412 Main St
Vancouver, BC, V5T 3E2

Silk Purse
1570 Argyle Avenue
West Vancouver BC V7V 1A1

Slice of Life
1636 Venables St
Vancouver, BC V5L 2H2
Shop hours: 10am - 8pm, 7 days a week

October 2024 - Update

September 30, 2024

NEW Available Works B&W Static Glitch 02-03
October Studio Sale & Uni Design World Pop Up/Free Workshop - Oct 5
First Saturday Open Studios - Oct 5
Upcoming Fall/Winter Events

NEW Available Works B&W Static Glitch 02-03

Last month I showed a new series of black & white glitch inspired cross-stitch pieces as part of the First Saturday exhibition. I had all three works professionally framed at my go-to framer (Kent Picture Framing) and surprise, Kent (the owner), bought one of them!

**SOLD** *- Static Glitch – B&W 01*⁠, Cotton embroidery, 14ct Aida cloth⁠, 10 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches framed, 2024

The other two works from the series are still available for purchase through my website.

Black and white framed cross-stitch artwork. — *Static Glitch – B&W 02*, Cotton embroidery, 14ct Aida cloth⁠, 10 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches framed, 2024

Black and white cross-stitch framed artwork. — *Static Glitch – B&W 03*⁠, Cotton embroidery, 14ct Aida cloth⁠, 10 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches framed, 2024

October Studio Sale & Uni Design World Pop Up/Free Workshop - Oct 5

I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be sharing my studio space with Maya the owner of Uni Design World this First Saturday, October 5th! Her sustainable fashion brand uses a unique style of patchwork design; every piece is meticulously crafted and is truly one-of-a-kind!

We’re partnering for this open studio to offer you a unique textile and fiber experience! Come play/interact with us at our FREE workshop to see how we improvise and create different colour combinations and turn scraps of fabric/threads into something new.

During the open studio we’ll both be offering end of season/end of line discounts. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this (I’ve never offered discounts this high before)!

Help me clear out some old inventory, I’m running out of space in the studio.

Hope to see you there!

First Saturday Open Studios - Oct 5

As always, there will be other studios at City Centre opening for First Saturday, so there will be plenty to explore!

Upcoming Fall/Winter Events

September 2024 - Update

September 01, 2024

Only 1 week left to register for my Fall cross-stitch course! All classes are taught out of my studio at City Centre Artist Lodge, which means classes are 6 students maximum. This way everyone gets plenty of one-on-one time. If you’ve been thinking about it, now is the time to sign up before spaces fill up!

August 2024 - Update

July 30, 2024

I’m so excited to be offering a 4 week course this Fall, dedicated to the art and craft of cross-stitch. Lucky for you, you’re getting first access to registration since you’re reading my blog!

February 2024 - Update

February 06, 2024

Joy of Painting - 2013 Re-Release

Shop Update: Heart Cards
COLLECTIVE CHAOS - MARCH MINI Show at Slice of Life

This past month I've been taking things a little slower than usual. I've been focusing most of my time on recovering from the end of year burnout and working on a commission (which I'm excited to share in next month's update).

Joy of Painting - 2013 Re-Release

Shop Joy of Painting

I'm happy to share the availability of a painting I completed back in 2013! Yes, 2013! The painting has lived with my parents for the past 10 years, but alas they've downsized and this beauty needs a new home. It currently fills a wall in my apartment, but I'd love to give it a new home with more space to breathe. I even have a time-lapse video to share with you (because I'm a timelapse hipster, I've been documenting my process before it was cool).

Watch video

Shop Update: Heart Cards

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so I've added a few cross-stitch heart cards to my online shop. Why not send one that special someone? Shipping & studio pick up options available at checkout.

Shop Cards

COLLECTIVE CHAOS - MARCH MINI Show at Slice of Life

I'll be exhibiting something mini at this collective MARCH MINI show next month. Save the date & RSVP so you can jump the line if space fills. There will be music, merch and a door prize!

RSVP

Date & Time
Saturday, March 2
7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. PST

Location
SLICE OF LIFE
1636 Venables Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2H2

COLLECTIVE CHAOS features 20 different artists with a new theme every month!

exhibiting artists who live and work in vancouver, this is a radically inclusive gallery project to support all those who apply to the slice program.

July 2023 - Update

June 30, 2023

Studio Update/Process
Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch
First Saturday - July 1
Vancouver Mural Fest is BACKK!!! (Aug 4-13)
Summer Schedule

Studio Update/Process

It’s been so nice getting back into my studio rhythm this past month, I’m back in the thick of it taking on multiple projects at once, I just can’t help myself! I work better when I’m busy, it helps me stay focused and committed to larger cross-stitch works. That way I can balance my time by taking “breaks” from my big projects by stitching smaller things here and there. I’m also happy to say that because of this I have more freedom to exercise my creative muscles and experiment with other techniques/approaches I’ve been itching to try. One of the new approaches I’ve been wanting to explore is cross-stitching with bigger stitches. This means instead of one stitch per square on Aida cloth, I’m actually stitching across two squares.

My newest project Glitch Streak 04 (an addition to my Glitch Streak collection, inspired by a scan glitch) uses this new technique and will be part of an exhibition for a Pride celebration during Vancouver Mural Fest. I’m not ready to share the completed piece yet, I’m still getting it framed! But I’ll share this detail photo instead so you can see the technique that I’m talking about.

*Glitch Streak 04*, detail, embroidery thread, Aida cloth, 2023

Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch

I had a schedule conflict with my workshop, but thankfully THIS___ gallery was so accommodating! We’ve adjusted the time to 9am-1pm. Hoping that works better and that more of you decide to sign up. This is my first in person workshop and I can’t wait to teach you how to cross-stitch. Spots are limited, so register now using the button below!

In this introductory cross-stitch workshop, artist Mallory Donen will demonstrate her step-by-step process of converting glitch images into cross-stitch patterns to make a glitch pin.
You will learn the fundamental skills of cross-stitch and pattern creation using Stitchfiddle.com.
By the end of the workshop, you will go home with your very own cross-stitched glitch pin!
Tickets are $50 (+tax) including all supplies.

First Saturday - July 1

Stop by my studio this weekend for First Saturday (12-5pm, Studio #211) and visit several other artists at the City Centre Artist Lodge (list of open studios below).

I’ve been re-organizing my studio display and have even better ways to show you all what I have to offer! You can always visit me during other studio hours (listed below) or other events in Vancouver. Or contact me directly (reply to this email) to schedule a private studio visit.

Vancouver Mural Fest is BACKK!!!

That’s right, you heard me! The most exciting, popular event of the summer is returning and there will be so much to check out this year! The festival takes place August 4-13, with mural tours, live music, food trucks, and of course open studios at City Centre Artist Lodge!

The main time to check out the studios at the Artist Lodge (City Centre Motor Hotel) will be during the Mt. Pleasant Street Party (Aug 10-13). But I’m also planning to have studio hours on the first weekend (Aug 4-5) of mural fest.

So if you want to take your time and have more room to explore my studio, I suggest stopping by on the first weekend! That will be the best time to get close and personal with my work! I hope you all can make it, please check out the mural fest website for more details/information.

Vancouver Mural Fest website

Summer Schedule:

July 22 - Vancouver Farmer’s Market,
City Centre Artist Lodge, 2111 Main Street,
Studio# 211, 12-5pm

Aug 4 - Studio Hours
City Centre Artist Lodge, 2111 Main Street,
Studio# 211, 3-5pm

Aug 5 - First Saturday
City Centre Artist Lodge, 2111 Main Street,
Studio# 211, 12-5pm

Aug 6 - Studio Hours
City Centre Artist Lodge, 2111 Main Street,
Studio# 211, 12-5pm

Aug 10-11 - Vancouver Mural Fest/Mt. Pleasant Street Party
City Centre Artist Lodge, 2111 Main Street,
Studio# 211, 5-10pm

Aug 12-13 - Vancouver Mural Fest/Mt. Pleasant Street Party
City Centre Artist Lodge, 2111 Main Street,
Studio# 211, 2-10pm

June 2023 - Update

May 31, 2023

The Art of Slowing Down: Women’s Labour & Craft
2023 Pop-ups/Markets
Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch

Last month I took some time away from the studio to recover from the tiring burnout of three solo exhibitions back-to-back since Fall 2022. A couple weeks ago I met with a client for a portrait photoshoot and I’m currently working on their cross-stitch portrait commission. I have a couple commissions being framed now, I can’t wait for my collectors pick them up so that I can share photos with you! My books are still open for commissions, so please visit the commission section of my website to learn more and reserve your spot before my spots fill up for the year!

It’s the final week of my solo exhibition, The Art of Slowing Down: Women’s Labour & Craft, so if you haven’t been following along on social media I’m sharing photos of the installation! I’m so thankful for all the support that everyone at Artlink Contemporary Gallery provided for the installation and documentation of my second solo exhibition in the US.

The Art of Slowing Down: Women’s Labour & Craft

This solo show challenges notions of labour, productivity, and the value of art in relation to craft and women’s work. Throughout her practice, Donen has explored the connection between the repetitive nature of women’s work and machines. Advances in technology continue to make physical human labor obsolete. In opposition to mass production Donen embraces slow repetitive processes, such as hand-stitching and knitting to bring awareness to undervalued women’s labor and traditional craft.

2023 Pop-ups/Markets

This weekend you can find me vending at the Dragon Boat BC - Vessi 500M Championship in partnership with Got Craft. My booth will be set up along the sea wall, I’ll be sharing a booth with fellow City Centre Artist Lodge tenant, Happy Nomad Candles. It’s supposed to be another beautiful weekend, so stop by for a free market featuring 20+ local artisans/businesses between 9am-5pm and watch the live Dragon Boat racing!

**June 3** - Dragon Boat BC - VESSI 500 x Got Craft Market, 9-5pm, Science World, 1455 Quebec Street

2023 Schedule:

June 17 - VHS Market (Vintage & Handmade Society), 11-6pm, 800 West Georgia, Downtown Vancouver
Aug 10 - Vancouver Mural Fest, City Centre Artist Lodge, Studio# 211, 5-10pm
Aug 11 - Vancouver Mural Fest, City Centre Artist Lodge, Studio# 211, 5-10pm
Aug 12 - Vancouver Mural Fest, City Centre Artist Lodge, Studio# 211, 2-10pm
Aug 13 - Vancouver Mural Fest, City Centre Artist Lodge, Studio# 211, 2-10pm
Nov 25-26 - Portobello West Holiday Market, 10-5pm, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown (Vancouver)

Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch

Buy tickets

May 2023 - Update

May 03, 2023

The Art of Slowing Down: Women’s Labour & Craft
2023 Pop-ups/Markets
Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch

Last week I travelled to Fort Wayne, Indiana to install my next solo exhibition opening this week. This is my second solo show in the USA and the first time I’ve travelled outside of Canada to install my work. Overall, it was a great experience working with the gallery and I’m very happy with how the exhibition came together. I’ll be sharing more installation photos/videos on my social media in the coming weeks so be sure to follow me on Instagram (I post the most there)/Facebook.

The Art of Slowing Down: Women’s Labour & Craft

2023 Pop-ups/Markets

2023 Schedule:

June 17 - VHS Market (Vintage & Handmade Society), 11-6pm, 800 West Georgia, Downtown Vancouver
Aug 3 - 13 - TBD Vancouver Mural Fest, City Centre Artist Lodge, Studio# 211
Nov 25-26 - Portobello West Holiday Market, 10-5pm, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown (Vancouver)

Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch

Buy tickets

April 2023 - Update

April 01, 2023

Proofs of Labour
No Smoking (Motel Collection)
Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch
Portrait Draw - $10 entry for a chance to win a custom portrait valued at $350!
2023 Pop-ups/Markets

Proofs of Labour

I finished the final stages of unstitching all the threads from my Proofs of Labour conceptual cross-stitch project. Here’s what the Aida cloth looks like after 48 hour of unstitching. Remnants of fibres remain on the cloth and the holes are wider/stretched out from being punctured by needle and thread and finally unstitched. The labour logs and jars containing the unstitched threads will be part of the installation for an upcoming solo show in Indiana, May 4 - June 4, 2023.

No Smoking (Motel Collection)

My latest No Smoking cross-stitch series was inspired by actual signs from my studio located at the City Centre Motor Hotel and are a continuation of my Motel Collection.

Shop the motel collection

Glitch Pin Workshop - Learn the Basics of Cross-Stitch

Buy tickets

Portrait Draw/Raffle

$10 Entry for your chance to
win a cross-stitched portrait valued at $350!

How it works:
- Send $10 entry fee via etransfer (email: mmdonen@gmail.com)
- On April 10th, I will be drawing a lucky winner
- the winner will be asked to provide a photograph of a person/pet/item of their choosing
- I will create a custom small cross-stitch portrait (artwork approx. 3.5 x 3.5 inches)
- the winner will receive their original commission matted & framed (framed 12 x 12 inches) by May 31st

2023 Pop-ups/Markets

April 22-23 - Portobello West Spring Market, 10-5pm, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown (Vancouver)
June 3 - Dragon Boat BC - VESSI 500 x Got Craft Market, Science World, 1455 Quebec Street
June 17 - VHS Market (Vintage & Handmade Society), TBD, 800 West Georgia, Downtown Vancouver
Aug 3 - 13 - TBD Vancouver Mural Fest, City Centre Artist Lodge, Studio# 211
Nov 25-26 - Portobello West Holiday Market, 10-5pm, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown (Vancouver)

March 2023 - Update

February 28, 2023

Solo Show - Womanmade: Crafting Architecture & the Mundane
Work in Progress - Proofs of Labour
First Saturday, March 4, 12 - 5pm
2023 Pop-ups/Markets
Women in Art 2023

Solo Show - Womanmade: Crafting Architecture & the Mundane

I’m excited to be sharing some installation photos of my exhibition Womanmade: Crafting Architecture and the Mundane, in Michigan! This was my first time being completely hands off for the installation process and I’m very happy with how it all came together. The show will be up for another couple weeks before the work returns home at the end of March.

Work in Progress - Proofs of Labour

WIP - *Proofs of Labour,*⁠ 2023⁠, embroidery, Aida cloth,⁠ 24 inch hoop⁠, 74 hours of stitching

The update on my current work in progress is that I completed all 74 hours of stitching on the 24 inch embroidery hoop and I’ve moved onto the unstitching stage. While I’m unstitching all of these threads, I’m documenting all the labour and logging my hours. Then I will use the jars and labour logs for the installation of the project for a show in Indiana, starting in May. I’ve started to collect my unstitched threads into jars and I’ve been labelling them with the hours spent unstitching.

First Saturday @ City Centre Artist Lodge, Feb 4, 12-5pm

This coming Saturday, stop by to see my latest cross-stitch project of the City Centre Motor Hotel sign, which is now available as a print & a greeting card. I also have a new selection of buttons I’m excited to share. So if you want to add to your button collection you’ll need to come check them out in person!

First Saturday is a public monthly artist-run open-studio event.

Come visit artists where they work at City Centre Artist Lodge.

The following artist studios will be open:

Maxine Woogman - Studio # 32
Tracy Anne Northey - Studio # 34
Niki Brown - Studio # 103
Elana Sigal - Studio # 110
Shelley Saltzman - Studio # 130
Happy Nomad Candles (Hayley) - Studio # 203
Lukas Lundberg - Studio # 208
Mallory Donen - Studio # 211
Paulo OConnor - Studio # 225

Location: 2111 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3C6
Date: February 4, 2023
Time: 12pm-5pm

https://www.firstsaturday.ca/next-open-studios

2023 Pop-ups/Markets

Mar 11 + 12 - Eastside Flea Market, 11-5pm, 550 Malkin, Vancouver
April 22-23 - Portobello West Spring Market, 10-5pm, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown (Vancouver)
June 3 - Dragon Boat BC - VESSI 500 x Got Craft Market, Science World, 1455 Quebec Street
June 17 - VHS Market (Vintage & Handmade Society), TBD, 800 West Georgia, Downtown Vancouver
Aug 3 - 13 - TBD Vancouver Mural Fest, City Centre Artist Lodge, Studio# 211
Nov 25-26 - Portobello West Holiday Market, 10-5pm, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown (Vancouver)

Women in Art 2023

My project Glitch Streak will be part of the Women in Art 2023 group exhibition at the Kariton Art Gallery, celebrating International Women’s Month March 2023.