Wreaths

I stumbled upon GeorgiaPeachez Wreaths the other day.  The wreaths are made from vintage Christmas ornaments (think the Shiny Brite kind) and I wish I could buy ten of them!

I was just on Facebook and a link to a Retro Renovation article from 2011 about Suzy, the woman behind GeorgiaPeachez, popped up.  That led me to her tutorial for making wreaths.  So, anybody have a bunch of vintage Christmas ornaments I can use?

Check out this other Retro Renovation article on making your own wreath from Suzy's tutorial with 30+ more tips.

And, this article from the same blog about making wreaths with new ornaments from places like Target and Big Lots.

And, be sure to visit the GeorgiaPeachez Facebook page where you will find my favorite wreath.  (So far!)

All of this really makes me want to make a wreath but I am not saying I will do it since we all know it would take years for it to actually happen.

Chicken Scratch Mini Quilt

One thing I really liked about having a blog was I was able to keep track of links to things I wanted to make someday.  Or at least, think about making someday.  Now, I bookmark links and then forget all about them.  So, here's a cute little chicken scratch mini quilt from Love the Country that has been lost in the bookmark abyss.

Doing a little searching on the Love the Country web site led me to these chicken scratch ornaments.  

I Keep Finding Cute Stuff To Make

Over at Imanufatti, there's a tutorial for a really cute Autumn wreath made of felt [link via Craft Gossip's Felting blog].  And, Manu also has a page with a list of all her tutorials.  I especially love the bunny brooch.

I have a cute sweater (it has a shaggy reindeer on it) that no longer fits that I really want to make into a pillow.  I've been thinking about doing it for years now and I think I found the tutorial from My So Called Crafty Life to get me motivated.  It's for turning your ugly Christmas sweater into a pillow and will work just fine for my reindeer sweater.  

I also love this wall art made of vintage Xmas fabric, embroidery hoops and cute ribbons. Hmm...I don't have any vintage Christmas fabric but I do have some cute holiday dog stuff (that I never wanted to cut up because I'm a dork) but I'm thinking I could put that in some small embroidery hoops.

Here's a huge list of DIY projects from My So Called Crafty Life.

I must make this Pretty Posy Pincushion at some point in my life. Lots of pretty stuff at Molly and Mama Makes.

So many projects . . .

March 30 TUSAL Update

March 30 was the New Moon and as usual, I forgot to post a photo of my orts jar for the Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long aka TUSAL so here it is now.  For info on the TUSAL, go here. 

The cat is Katie Kitty from Brooke Nolan's Advent Animals SAL.  She isn't finished in that picture but she is now.  I've forbidden myself from starting any new projects but as soon as I saw this on Facebook (thanks, Sarah H!), I knew I had to do it.  Besides, Katie Kitty was quick to stitch -- it only took three nights to do and that was because I did part of her jacket twice.  The charts for the SAL will be free, with one released per month, and it will last until October 2015.

You can get the chart for Katie Kitty at the bottom of this page at Brooke's Books Publishing. You can see pics of the first three animals here on Liz's Tales of a Thread Spinner blog. They are so cute!  You can use Liz's Dragonflylotus Designs Handspun Threads for the SAL and the chart also has the DMC colors listed.  I used DMC.  I didn't have any blue fabric so I stuck a small piece of white Aida in a Tupperwear full of Rit dye and some water and ended up with what you see above.  Except in real life, it is REALLY BRIGHT BLUE.  

Something I Made In 2011

Happy 2013!!  Time for my daily weekly monthly whenever-I-get-the-urge-to-write-something post.  I haven't made anything in quite awhile -- not even for the holidays -- nor did I finish anything over on that 2012 WIPocalyspse List over on the left.  (The idea behind the WIPocalypse was to complete your unfinished projects before the world ended on 12/21/12.  Good thing the world did not end because I have a bunch of crap to finish some day!)  This was not my year for crafting!  So here's a post about something I made back in December 2011.

Back then, I decided to make felt Christmas stockings for both of my dogs.  I gave myself plenty of time to do it.  And then waited until the very last minute to get started.  I did not finish Lucy's stocking until Christmas morning at 2 am.  I was too sleep deprived to notice I had put the loop on the wrong side of it until my sister pointed it out.  Lucy didn't care but I did so it has since been fixed.

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This picture bugs me because the letters are done in dark green and you can't really tell. At least I can't.  (Maybe it's just my bad eyes.)  I think I used a stocking pattern from Martha Stewart's website but you can find tons of free ones out there if you just Google it.  You do know how to Google, don't you?  (I'll save my rant for another post but I'm convinced the majority of people on Facebook wouldn't know Google if they fell over it.  I do believe bloggers are way smarter though.)

Here's a close up of Pumpkin's likeness, which I love because it so cute, just like Punkie herself.  (Pumpkin = Punkie = Bunka Bunka.  Don't ask.  That's just how it is.)  I think the pattern was an embroidery freebie from Annie Oakleaves and I have been searching online for it so I could link to it but no luck finding it so far.  And, the hard copy that I used has gone missing.  Unless I stuck it somewhere so I could find it easily when I was ready to blog about it.  Ahem.

And, here's a close up of Lucy.  The pattern came from a site with free coloring pages (beware, there are lots of pop ups on that site so I hope you have a blocker) and I thought it was perfect because Lucy HATES having a doggy sweater on her, but she does kind of prance like that.   The coloring page is here.

So there you have my final project of 2011.  Woo hoo!

 

Going back to that list on the left, I have been working on the Scottie pillow.  I've started attaching the top piece to the bottom piece so it should be done soon. There's a lot blanket stitching so I do a little and then get bored.  Hey, maybe I could use one of those nifty sewing machines instead!

 

Happy New Year!!  (she said on January 12th)

 

I Love This Video!

It's Drafty In Here

Why do I have a bunch of draft posts?  Oh yeah.  It's because I am really good at starting things and never finishing them. 

Let's see what links are hanging out in my draft posts . . .

From the Make-It-For-Christmas-2012 file: Gingerbread Cottage has a super cute embroidery pattern.  And here's a felt hedgehog ornament from Totally Stitchin' that I'm also going to add to my Hedgehogs-To-Make-Some-Day list.

Speaking of hedgehogs, this hedgehog cross stitch freebie from JB Cross Stitch is new-to-me thanks to the cross stitch blog at Craft Gossip.   By the way, JB Cross Stitch has some cute charts for sale, in addition to more freebies.

I love, love, love this embroidered needlecase from Goosie Girl's and I've had the pattern for awhile but I don't think I ever linked to it before.

Over at Leslie's Art and Sew, there's a sewing pattern and tutorial for a mystery critter.  You can sew one up and then make a face on it any way you want and add anything else too  [link via The Toy Society blog].

How about a felt pincushion from Jenny of Elefantz?  I like this one because it has appliqued fabric flowers on it.   And, it's all hand sewn.

There's an embroidery pattern for a cute mini-sampler (with birds, flowers, alphabet) that's finished in a hoop at Patchwork Posse [link via Denise at Craft Gossip].

Did you know there's an embroidery section on about.com with stitch diagrams, free patterns and lots of information on tools, supplies and techniques?  There is!

Major Cute Alert!  Look at this adorable mushroom needlebook that my friend Loralynn at My Art, My So Called Life just linked to.  She also had a link to the fun Random Tutorial Generator. 

And, if you're like me and like to see classic movie stars and their four-legged friends, here are a couple of fun posts from I Can Has Cheezburger: part 1 and part 2.

Pardon me while I go make something!

Cute Idea For Christmas Ornaments

Hey, it's never too late to start making Christmas stuff and I thought these embroidery hoop ornaments from The Crafty Cupboard were really cute.

Must Make

I am just about finished with my felt sampler Christmas tree from Inspired Ideas magazine so I'm thinking about my next project. Decisions, decisions!

Little Birdie Plush from A Beautiful Mess

Puppy Pal (scroll down to the bottom of the post) from Turkey Feathers

Owl Hexie Ornament of the Week from Bee Tree Designs (make sure you check all the free patterns there)

Festive Felt Christmas Trees from All Sorts

Christmas deer and fox felt applique from Bustle & Sew

Drool Inspiring

About ten years ago, I made a felt cat bag from instructions in Country Living magazine. I am pretty sure this was the first time I ever blanket stitched two pieces of felt together. And, when I look the picture, I hope to God that was my first attempt at blanket stitching because boy, is it horrible. (Click for larger version, if you dare.)

Did I say I made that ten years ago? I meant to say I made it when I was two. And sitting in the dark in the basement. During a power failure. And I was really drunk. And I was blind at the time. And in a coma.

I made that bag at the request of my mother so when I saw the tutorial for a felt cat bag in the Autumn issue of Inspired Ideas, I decided I should make one for my mom.


I just realized I must take pictures with my eyes closed. In the basement. Which apparently is painted white. (Memo to self: stop hanging stuff on the same white door for picture-taking.)

One thing I will say about that kitty bag is if I ever make one again, I will add the eyes and nose before I stitch the bag together. It's too hard for me to stitch on anything other than a flat surface.

In related news: Amy Powers of Inspire Co. has put out the Christmas issue of Inspired Ideas. I'm not even going to tell you what's in it. Just go take a look. I promise you will not be disappointed. You will probably be inspired to drool a little. I know I was. And I wasn't even passed out at the time. (If you can't see the e-magazine at the link above, try this one).

Click Me

This was supposed to post at 10:10 tonight. Since it's still not up, I am adding another link. Take that, Blogger.

Dutch Sisters (a new-to-me blog) has a tutorial up to embroider and make a cute toadstool. There isn't a pattern (they do sell a kit for it in their store) but I think you could wing it.

I have way too many saved patterns for little stuffed animals and I think these are too involved for me to make, but I could not pass up linking to the tutorial for making Niblet and Biscuit. Niblet and Biscuit. Such cute words. They're cute dolls too. I also just fell in love with Gwenny Penny's Welcome Autumn banner. I'd print it right now but my printer needs toner.

Who knows when I'll get to it but I am definitely making one of these felt birds from A Feathered Nest in the very near future [via One Pretty Thing].

I love this Pottery Barn inspired poinsettia pillow from Spartan Living [via Craft Gossip].

The Felt Flower Mixed Bouquet over at Creative Jewish Mom is now at the top of my to-do/to-make/to-drool over list. As soon as I decide which colors I want my flowers, I am starting on this.

The Most Amazing Unexpected Thing Just Happened

So, I'm sitting at my computer reading the latest newsletter from Bunny Hill Designs and my sister wanders in and looks at the gift tags on my monitor (linked in the newsletter) and says "How cute!" And, I say how there are tons of free printable gift tags out there and that it's too bad I don't have any presents to give, and she says "Why don't you print them out and make a garland?"

Oh. My. God.

My sister does not craft. She once made a Christmas ornament when she was in Blue Birds in first grade but that was back in the 70's. She enjoys reading mysteries, doing puzzles and eating salami but she does not sew or embroider or paint or cook or collage or whittle or knit toilet paper cozies from cat hair so I was shocked and appalled and stunned and amazed at what she said.

I really should add that she was a graphic artist at her last job, so it's not that she isn't creative. It's just that she doesn't, you know, make stuff.

The gift tags are on the free page at Bunny Tales.

A Night Of Clicking Links

AOL has something called My Favorite Places which is where you can save links. I rarely use mine anymore but I have a bunch stored tonight I clicked on the very last link in the "Crafty Stuff" category and was taken to a tutorial for a vampire bat softie on Silver Bug Studio. That made me want to see what else I had saved. Some of the links are now dead but I found a few things to put on my To-Do list. Because it isn't already long enough.

How cute are these little felt chicks from Comfortstitching? As much as I love garlands, I totally want to make the version with a button and ribbon to hang them up. Filing this one away for next Easter.

Here's a huge list of crochet patterns to make sweaters, etc for your pets, I love this jingle bells dog collar.

You can find a tutorial make a dog pajama bag on Timeless Truths.

Did you hear me squeal when I opened this one up? A member of Craftster shared some vintage stuffed animal patterns that her grandmother had saved. I'm ready to go make a dog and a horse and an elephant and another dog . There are also patterns for a giraffe, lion, hedgehog, calf, ostrich, ape and two for ragdolls. I'll have to put the animals on hold until after I finish my Halloween stuff.

Happy Wednesday!

FFF: Gingerbread House Ornament

Is anyone else as shocked and appalled and stunned and amazed as I am that I actually have something to post for Finished for Friday?

I saw the tutorial for this cute little gingerbread house ornament while browsing the Sew Mama Sew blog the other night and decided to make one. The window is wonky. . . shucks, all my stitching is wonky and my little felt circles are wonky but I don't care. I like how it turned out and I am now ready to eat candy canes and put up the Xmas tree.

At first I couldn't find the right ribbon in my box of ribbon-scraps-that-I-am-saving-because-you-never-know-when-some-day-you-just-might-need-one. I wanted red ribbon and all the pieces were either red & too wide or just the right width but not red. Fortunately, this little bit of gingham turned up in my other box of ribbon-scraps-that-I-am-saving-because-you-never-know-when-some-day-you-just-might-need-one. Some days it pays to be a hoarder.

You can find the tutorial to make your own gingerbread house ornament here.

To see other finishes for this week, please visit this post at Lit and Laundry.

Merry Christmas!!

Since it's still Friday in California, I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!! And a Happy Valentine's Day because who knows when I'll be blogging again. :P

One Ornament Down, Tons More To Go

You should all thank me for deleting the entire post I just wrote (except for the following paragraphs) because it was SO BORING. Consider it an early Christmas present.

Mollie over at Wild Olive has been sharing her adorable daily Advent Embroideries patterns, (look in the right sidebar), and they are simple enough that you could stitch the ones she's already posted on her blog so far, and then start working on the new one after she adds it every day.

Last night, I spent a few hours embroidering all seven of the patterns she has shared so far the mitten and making an ornament out of it. Why did it take me so long to do just one? It was due to a busload of dumb mistakes on my part, but my mitten is all finished, and wonky eyes and wrinkled fabric aside, I am happy with it.



You can see some pictures from last night's ornament making project on Facebook.

So, now I am going to stitch up the rest of the posted patterns tonight so I'll be all caught up when Mollie adds another one tomorrow. [insert hysterical laughter here] Well, maybe I won't get all eight finished but I know I can get a few more done this evening.

Are You Following The Gum Tree Designers?

Um, why are my titles in the form of a question? That's twice in a row. Maybe it's because I'm writing the second entry right after I posted the first one.

Anyway, every Monday, the Gum Tree Designers are sharing a new freebie. Last week's pattern was for an embroidered felt heart ornament that I love, and this week's is for a lovely Christmas apron that someone should make for me that you should download if you're the Xmas-apron-wearing type. Or know somebody who is. Named Patty. Be sure to read the entire Among The Gum Trees blog so you don't miss any of the freebies. (Next week they'll be sharing the last one.)

What is the difference between someone and somebody?

Do You Like Embroidering Elves? How About Skiing Koalas?

I have got to get back to blogging regularly. I keep jotting down things on random scraps of paper that I want to link on here, when, instead, I should just post them as I come across them.

Do I use too many commas? Whatever.

So, tonight's first link is to an elf embroidery freebie from Tangarang. That entire design would make a cute Christmas card, now that I think about it.

The second pattern is for a skiing koala from Follow the White Bunny. I love his reindeer sweater.

One more thing: does anyone remember visiting a site with vintage postcard images, including one of a boy with an ax?

Happy Monday...er, Sunday

I totally forgot to post this entry last week. I also wanted to mention that I am finally going to start working on my three Pay It Forwards that I signed up for back in (I think) March, and make a few other things for friends. I am not making anything else for myself until I finish all these either projects. Except for this koala biscornu. [Link via Needlework News.]

Sew Mama Sew is having their annual Handmade Holidays theme this month and will be posting brand new tutorials on their blog everyday. Plus they're giving away fabulous prizes, and there are recipes and printables to check out. And, if you don't want to make anything, they'll suggest handmade products you can buy too.



If you'd like to get the code for the button, you can find it on this post.

Holy Toledo, Another Post

I'm going through my 518 emails (seriously) and I was reminded of an embroidery freebie of a slice of chocolate cake I had wanted to link to back in September from Dawn Hay Designs.

Reading Dawn's blog just now led me to the Life's a Hoot BOM at Sew Much Time, Sew Little Fabric. It started a few months ago so the first two patterns have already been shared and are no longer available for free (but you can purchase them). I printed out #3 and will make sure I get #4 next month. I had wanted to link to Sew Much Time, Sew Little Fabric awhile ago because of the other freebies from Paula but I don't think I ever did.

There are scraps of paper all over my messy desk with notes about stuff I wanted to blog about and I promise I am going to get to all of it this week. And with tonight's post, I can cross off two of the items. That is, if I ever find the paper I wrote them down on. [sigh]

The second Quaker Motif embroidery pattern from Needle 'N Thread is now in my stash. Mary has "translated" two Quaker cross stitch designs into embroidery patterns. You can find the first pattern here.

I also wanted to link to this Heart Christmas Tree cross stitch pattern that I really liked from Matrioshka Biscornu. I see now that she's posted a second Heart Christmas Tree Chart. Instead of wasting hours on Facebook tomorrow, I should stitch up one of these.

I'm pretty sure, in one way or another, these links all came from Denise at Needlework News at Craft Gossip. Thanks, Denise!

I think one reason I haven't been blogging as much is it's a pain to add the code so all my links open in a new window. Why can't Blogger do that for us?