I went with a very monochrome pallet, like dried grass against a sandy background.
You can vote for my pillow in the challenge through June 12th. This pillow is also available for sale on my Etsy store.
Monday, June 01, 2009
It's All About The Beaches...
This month's HandmadeMN Challenge was to create something around the theme of beaches. I had been batting around an idea for a pillow with grass embroidered on it for awhile & decided to work that idea into beach grass.
I went with a very monochrome pallet, like dried grass against a sandy background.
You can vote for my pillow in the challenge through June 12th. This pillow is also available for sale on my Etsy store.
I went with a very monochrome pallet, like dried grass against a sandy background.
You can vote for my pillow in the challenge through June 12th. This pillow is also available for sale on my Etsy store.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Woohoo!
Finally finished the set of cherry blossom pillows that were special ordered from me on Etsy.
Had to remake one of them as somehow my iron burned the fabric on one! Yikes! I'm glad to be shipping these out & taking a little break from French knots.
Had to remake one of them as somehow my iron burned the fabric on one! Yikes! I'm glad to be shipping these out & taking a little break from French knots.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The List
A little recap of what's currently happening in my world...
Knitting
I'm almost done with the back of the Cambridge Jacket for Matt. It's slow going since I've been spending more time embroidering lately. This green looks much better in person.
Stitching
I got a special order in my Etsy shop for two Cherry Blossom Pillows so I've been spending my days making hundreds of French knots. I have two other pillow in the works, one featuring a deer head & the other a gnome plus another one in my head for the May HandmadeMN Challenge (you can vote on the April challenge through the 15th) but they are all on hold until the special orders are done.
Watching
I've been a big fan of Project Runway since it started, watching what the designers come up with week to week is so interesting, especially if you do any sewing yourself. The show was recently moved to Lifetime & the the new season hasn't start. After losing PR, Bravo has come back with The Fashion Show which has a very similar concept. I know a lot of people have been critical of it because its not PR but so far I'm enjoying it just as much. Though I do miss Tim Gunn.
Reading
Matt really enjoyed this book about trying to live on what you raise & grow or can at least source locally. I'm just starting it myself. We are trying harder to be more aware of where our food comes from & what is in season. This is our second year with getting a vegetable share from a CSA & we have started our own veggie garden as well. Now we will start sourcing meat.
Looking For
I have been a terrible nail biter my whole life. Right now my nails look pretty decent & I'd like to polish them to strengthen them a little. I'm having a hard time finding a polish that doesn't peel off in the first shower after putting it on. Do you have a polish that you love?
Loving
The Orla Kiely tablecloth I picked up at Target last week. It's just so happy & I got the last one they had.
How spring just bursts through after a long Minnesota winter turning everything a brilliant green. My perennial garden is alive with the color from Bleeding Hearts, Primrose & Columbine. The cold weather vegetables like spinach, peas & lettuce are bright green & already tempting us with dreams of fresh salads
Knitting
I'm almost done with the back of the Cambridge Jacket for Matt. It's slow going since I've been spending more time embroidering lately. This green looks much better in person.
Stitching
I got a special order in my Etsy shop for two Cherry Blossom Pillows so I've been spending my days making hundreds of French knots. I have two other pillow in the works, one featuring a deer head & the other a gnome plus another one in my head for the May HandmadeMN Challenge (you can vote on the April challenge through the 15th) but they are all on hold until the special orders are done.
Watching
I've been a big fan of Project Runway since it started, watching what the designers come up with week to week is so interesting, especially if you do any sewing yourself. The show was recently moved to Lifetime & the the new season hasn't start. After losing PR, Bravo has come back with The Fashion Show which has a very similar concept. I know a lot of people have been critical of it because its not PR but so far I'm enjoying it just as much. Though I do miss Tim Gunn.
Reading
Matt really enjoyed this book about trying to live on what you raise & grow or can at least source locally. I'm just starting it myself. We are trying harder to be more aware of where our food comes from & what is in season. This is our second year with getting a vegetable share from a CSA & we have started our own veggie garden as well. Now we will start sourcing meat.
Looking For
I have been a terrible nail biter my whole life. Right now my nails look pretty decent & I'd like to polish them to strengthen them a little. I'm having a hard time finding a polish that doesn't peel off in the first shower after putting it on. Do you have a polish that you love?
Loving
The Orla Kiely tablecloth I picked up at Target last week. It's just so happy & I got the last one they had.
How spring just bursts through after a long Minnesota winter turning everything a brilliant green. My perennial garden is alive with the color from Bleeding Hearts, Primrose & Columbine. The cold weather vegetables like spinach, peas & lettuce are bright green & already tempting us with dreams of fresh salads
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Vote for my little squirrel friend
I belong to a group of local crafters & artists with Etsy shops known as HandmadeMN. Every month the group has a themed challenge & the April theme was Animals.
I enter my hand appliqued Squirrel throw pillow. If you think he's cute why not go cast a vote for him here. Check out the other great entries while you are there too. Voting ends May 15th.
I enter my hand appliqued Squirrel throw pillow. If you think he's cute why not go cast a vote for him here. Check out the other great entries while you are there too. Voting ends May 15th.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Freezer Paper Monogrammed Tote Bags
My twin nephews are turning 4 next week.
I decided I wanted to give them their presents in some sort of bag they could use again. I found these great little canvas tote bags at Joann's for $.97 & couldn't resist. They were designed to be made into purses by adding your own handles. I thought the purse handles were just a little too pursy so I sewed handles out on 1" webbing.
To make the monograms I printed their initials 3-inches tall on freezer paper. Then I cut the letters out with an exacto knife to create a stencil. The freezer paper irons onto the bag allowing me to easily paint on the initial with fabric paint. Once dry, the freezer paper peels right off. After 48 hours I set the fabric paint by ironing it.
The bags are filled with lots of little things boys love like crazy straws, punching balloons, toy cars & M&Ms plus I think they'll like having their own bag to tote their favorite things around in the future.
I decided I wanted to give them their presents in some sort of bag they could use again. I found these great little canvas tote bags at Joann's for $.97 & couldn't resist. They were designed to be made into purses by adding your own handles. I thought the purse handles were just a little too pursy so I sewed handles out on 1" webbing.
To make the monograms I printed their initials 3-inches tall on freezer paper. Then I cut the letters out with an exacto knife to create a stencil. The freezer paper irons onto the bag allowing me to easily paint on the initial with fabric paint. Once dry, the freezer paper peels right off. After 48 hours I set the fabric paint by ironing it.
The bags are filled with lots of little things boys love like crazy straws, punching balloons, toy cars & M&Ms plus I think they'll like having their own bag to tote their favorite things around in the future.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Etsy Day
A bunch of Etsy sellers have gotten together to declare today Etsy Day. A day for sellers to try to get people aware of what Etsy is. I'm sure most people who read this blog are probably already familiar with what a great place Etsy is to find handmade & vintage items. If you haven't visited Etsy, go, have a look around I'm sure you'll be surprised by all the beautiful & unusual things you find & want. In the meantime I thought I'd share some of my favorite sellers with you.
We've been in our house for just over a year but we've finally started looking for & buying art for the walls. Other than photos that either we or friends have taken, most of the art we've bought has been from Etsy sellers.
My first addiction was with Badbird - Andrea Zulli
These are two of her prints we have around the house. (Space Cadet Timmy is perfect in Matt's office.) I also have a wonderful grumpy gnome in my craft space.
She also sells great embroidery patterns & gives a free one away once a month on her blog.
We discovered local Twin Cities area seller Studio Mela at a local craft fair, Craft-a-rama & bought a print for our bedroom. I recently bought this print from her for the living room.
Someone I recently discovered was Yellow Monday from Australia. I love her sense of whimsy.
I couldn't resist buying Three Hares from her just to celebrate all the bunnies we have in our yard.
Our tastes might not be the same as yours but the wonderful thing about browsing Etsy is there really does seem to be something for everyone.
We've been in our house for just over a year but we've finally started looking for & buying art for the walls. Other than photos that either we or friends have taken, most of the art we've bought has been from Etsy sellers.
My first addiction was with Badbird - Andrea Zulli
These are two of her prints we have around the house. (Space Cadet Timmy is perfect in Matt's office.) I also have a wonderful grumpy gnome in my craft space.
She also sells great embroidery patterns & gives a free one away once a month on her blog.
We discovered local Twin Cities area seller Studio Mela at a local craft fair, Craft-a-rama & bought a print for our bedroom. I recently bought this print from her for the living room.
Last year at Maker Faire in Austin we discovered the photography of e.soule. We had to stop ourselves from buying more than three of her prints, they are just so much fun!
How perfect are those sheep with yarn for a knitters craft room!
How perfect are those sheep with yarn for a knitters craft room!
Someone I recently discovered was Yellow Monday from Australia. I love her sense of whimsy.
I couldn't resist buying Three Hares from her just to celebrate all the bunnies we have in our yard.
Our tastes might not be the same as yours but the wonderful thing about browsing Etsy is there really does seem to be something for everyone.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Bluebird of Happiness
We've had a couple grey rainy days so I've been working on this cheery little piece. I love simple pieces featuring birds lately & was really inspired by the art of Andrea Zuill of Badbird.
I did something new with this felt applique and added a few embroidered details. It's still quite simple but I like the little extra those details give it. I so love how the blue looks on the brown.
I was lucky & found a button the exact same color as the bird at Joann's so, I used it to close up the back.
I was tempted to keep this one for myself since it matches our bedroom so perfectly but instead I added it to my etsy shop. So, I guess I'll just have to make another one to keep.
I did something new with this felt applique and added a few embroidered details. It's still quite simple but I like the little extra those details give it. I so love how the blue looks on the brown.
I was lucky & found a button the exact same color as the bird at Joann's so, I used it to close up the back.
I was tempted to keep this one for myself since it matches our bedroom so perfectly but instead I added it to my etsy shop. So, I guess I'll just have to make another one to keep.
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