I posted three times in 2016 and I hope to beat that record this year. Welcome to the second post of 2017.
While going through my email, I found three things I wanted to share. I'm not sure how or when I discovered The Spruce but I'm now getting their newsletter. Looking around their website led me to this cute bunny embroidery from Mollie Johanson of Wild Olive fame.
And, the Printable Hexagon Floss Minder is also from Mollie and on The Spruce. When I have a lot of floss to use for a project, I make my own floss minders by punching holes in old scraps of cardboard. Mollie's minders are much nicer and neater.
One more embroidery pattern from Mollie: Funky Farm Friends
And, if you have some time. check out The Spruce. There's some neat stuff over there. Not just crafts, but recipes, pet care, and home decor.
I know it's June but I haven't been able to post pictures for awhile so I have some catching up to do.
There was a tutorial for an adorable fabric Easter basket posted on Red Brolly back in March. I wanted to make it and only got as far as doing the embroidery, but hey, at least I did that. Now that I can upload my pictures again. I'll take a better one as soon as I iron this. And, thank you to Sarah and Mary for the floss. Other than the brown for the bunny and the white for his tail, everything else is the variegated stuff you both sent me -- Cosmo Seasons from Sarah and Janlynn from Mary. (Hard to see in the picture, I know.)
Tipnut has a list of links to patterns and tutorials for making stuffed bunnies. It's amazing how many of them I already have printed out but haven't made yet. Story of my life. :)
Since I don't have any new bunnies to share, here's a bunny cross stitch I did back in 2009.
It's called Rabbit with Hyacinth and you can find the free chart at Ellen Maurer-Stroh.
The other day I snapped some pictures of my neighbors' roses because they were full-on blooming and soooo pretty, I was going to blog about them since I really have no other pictures to share since all I do anymore is go on Facebook and play Pet Society and make fun of stoopid status updates. Seriously, what is up with people who post that they're at the bank and at McDonald's and at the grocery store? Do they not realize that no one needs an update on their whereabouts every 17 minutes? I would so love to go rob them while they're running their errands. Really. It's so annoying.
I know someone else who counts down to vacation. As in "142 days until Scranton." Then, we get "138 days until Scranton.". OMG, PLEASE SHUT UP. I know you're excited to take your trip but none besides yourself is marking off the days on the calendar.
And, just so you know, I am not talking about anyone that I know through blogging and is a Facebook friend. any I don't mind the occasional vacation updates at all and I love looking at your vacation pics but the constant countdown is annoying.
Maybe I just need new friends.
So, anyway, I took some pictures of my next-door neighbors' roses and cannot get them to download or upload or whatever it is. I keep getting an error message. The photos are showing up on my camera so I don't know what's going on. I was thinking of cutting some of those roses under cover of darkness so maybe that's why my camera isn't cooperating. It doesn't approve of what I'm planning.
Like I would ever have the guts to steal my neighbors' roses. Please. However, if they had heirloom tomato plants, that would be another story.
I am bound and determined to make something this weekend (does my bed count?) so I should be back on Monday with something to show you. Have a Happy Easter! (Just like that poor chick!)
You can find a round-up of free embroidery patterns on Craft Gossip and on One Pretty Thing, including the latest freebie from Badbirds: a platypus.
Also, check out this post on Craft Gossip for some Easter embroidery patterns and cross stitch charts.
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!
The other night I was sorting through a stack of free patterns that I had printed out because I was going to make them ASAP [insert hysterical laughter here], and decided to make a list of the patterns and the blogs & sites they were posted on so I could link to them here. The following day, I knocked a full plastic cup of iced tea over on my night table and the list got wet and the ink ran so my plan to post the links went out the window. The good news is I didn't file any of the patterns anywhere -- they are still in a pile on my bedroom floor -- so I'll just make another list and then post their links here. In 2012.
I also promise to take some pictures of what I'm working on just to prove I am actually doing something. One is a cross stitch design that I found on a French blog that actually came from the blogger's grandmother. Or maybe it was her great-aunt. I only read the English translation once and now I don't remember all the details. I also started making a stuffed Dachshund a few days ago. The original pattern was for a flat Doxie with a top body piece, a bottom piece and one ear. But I wanted to make him three dimensional so I added an under body piece and he will have ears on both sides of his head. Hopefully, he will stand up on his own. (I stole the idea of the under body from the Scotty dog at allsorts and used part of the Doxie pattern to make it. I have no idea how this will turn out but I know I'll learn from it no matter if it's good or bad.)
Have you ever been to Karens Variety? Karen sells new and vintage patterns, pattern books and pdf's for cross stitch, embroidery, crochet, knitting, dolls, toys and sewing. I haven't yet bought anything from her but I do get her monthly newsletter and have printed out some of the free patterns she's shared like this one for an adorable Bunny Bib. You can go here to subscribe to the newsletter. There's also a contest every month for a $50 gift certificate to her store. To see all of the free patterns so far, check out this page (many are for crochet and knitting).
Over at Red Brolly, you'll find an embroidery pattern for Brutus the Cat [via Freebies for Crafters], which is the first block of The Catalicious Quilt. Every month, another design will be posted. Block #2 is on this post.
Look at the cute Baby Bunka and her little dog at Fantastic Toys! How do I find out if I have an ink jet printer so I can make this? Looks like I have a laser jet. :( I also love the adorable Pom Pom Bunny and Mushrooms over there. Some day, I will make the Cupcake Softie from Fantastic Toys and shock and appall myself.
Ok, I'm going to work on that stuffed Dachshund. Happy Tuesday!
Thanks for the nice comments about my Pekingese embroidery! :)
I have a few links I wanted to share:
Here's a super adorable fabric dollhouse tutorial from UK lass in the US. If I ever learn to sew, I will make one of these.
I found the dollhouse tutorial from this list on Blue Bird Studio and I just realized that I have been to Blue Bird Studio in the past because I remembered her embroidery patterns of dollies, eggs and bunnies & chicks, and the wall hanging she made with them. I even commented on that post. I swear there are just too many blogs and projects and free patterns to keep track of. (Hey, Patty, isn't that why you started a blog in the first place? To keep track of them all?) (Shut up, voice in my head.)
Heather of Blue Bird Studio also put together a nice list of free BOM patterns.
And, here's a tutorial for a super cute Little Letter Needlebook from Skebba.
Did you see the Apple Tree Applique block from Wee Folk Art? I really want to try that woven spider wheel stitch now.
There are two cute Vintage Pots embroidery transfers over at No Pattern Required. There's lots of other vintage stuff on the blog that's worth checking out. I especially love the posts in the Mid-Century Menu category. You have to read the one about the Welch's Grapelade Cake. Um, yeah.
I posted this image last year. I like it because it has Lassie dogs and the tree makes me think of cotton candy.
Happy Easter!!
Here are the bunny and eggs I finished yesterday. I wish I had a paler blue felt for the bunny. The colors of the eggs are off in this picture-- they're not as bright as in the photo. I had planned to embroider the eggs but that was tough to do after I cut them out. I should have stitched them first. I couldn't get the bottom seam on the bunny to look right, which is why the eggs are covering him up. I don't have enough felt for the handle of the basket I started last night so Mr. Bunny and his eggs will just sit on my dusty shelf for now.
I didn't add the pom-pom tail because I like having it sit on my night table. It makes me happy to see it and I could really use that right now. (Not having enough felt just led to a crying jag, which just made me realize (once again) how long I have been stuck in this house and how much longer I will be here, blah blah blah).
It looks nothing like the original but the bunny pattern is from Wee Wonderfuls and the egg patterns are from Wee Folk Art. And, I learned how to make the pom-pom from Bella Dia's tutorial. It took me three tries to get it right so keep at it if you give it a shot.
Wanna see my pom-pom again? I know you do.
The hits just keep coming!
Check out this tutorial for Peeps made out of felt over at Dusty Bottom Acres. As soon as I am done with this post, I am off to make some Peeps. I also started on a basket for my bunny this afternoon and I'm hoping to get that finished tonight. Maya Made has a pattern for a felt basket. So does Tiny Decor [via One Pretty Thing].
My supply of felt is dwindling but if I have a large enough piece, I also want to make one of these cones from Tangarang.
A vintage elephant embroidery pattern has been added to knitting-and.com.
So September has a tutorial for a reversible flower pot wrap. Cute idea!
I love the bunnies and chicks embroidery patterns at Blue Bird Studios. I found that blog thanks to a link on One Crafty Place and now I see even more patterns for dollies and eggs. And, take a look at the Spring wallhanging that Heather of Blue Bird Studios made with her sketchings turned patterns. Oh, I wish I could sew!
My sister got involved while I was snapping shots of my orts jar. And, no, she's not giving me the finger. She was making a sideways peace sign. (See next post down if you want to know why I was taking pictures of a jar full of pieces of leftover embroidery floss.)
Say, what does that Monetize tab up above, in between Layout and View Blog, do? Let's click it and find out...nah, nothing exciting. It just shows you how to set up AdSense so you can add Google ads to your blog. Dang. I was hoping it was a way to make my blog look like a painting by Monet. For what's it worth, I have never clicked an ad on a blog before, and most likely, never will. (Links to Etsy shops do not count.)
Ok, moving on...guess what I did last night? Besides catching up with several episodes of "Burn Notice" on the DVR, I also hoarded more patterns. I promise this will be the very last time I mention my addiction -- I'm sure everyone else is getting as sick of it hearing about it as I am. I will do something crafty or fun or even illegal over the next few days so that when I am ready to blog again, I will have something else to talk about.
My latest hoards:
Prairie Schooler's little house with rain falling on it cross stitch freebie
Easter Egg Trio Tea Towel embroidery freebie from Bird Brain Designs
Redwork hedgehog embroidery pattern from a Flickr member
Pretty Posie Pushpins from Polka Dot Pineapple
Elephant pull toy embroidery pattern from So September
Embroidered Pint-Sized Pocket Pillows from Goody-Goody
Elephant quilt block from Miri
Pretty much everything from Wee Folk Art (join their Crafting Club so you can see all of their freebies)
Hopefully, I will be back later in the week to tell you about something I made from one of these patterns. Have a great Monday!
Earlier today, some guy knocked on the front door and I was ready to jump up from the computer and go answer it when I realized it was after 2:00 in the afternoon and I was still in a robe and pajamas. How did that happen?! I seem to remember coming up with a plan, while I was eating breakfast, to give my bedroom a good spring cleaning -- I was even going to move furniture so I could vacuum everywhere -- and then next thing I know, it's early afternoon and I'm still in my PJs and playing on Facebook. Have you tried the Pick Your 5 application yet? It lets you make lists of your five favorite whatevers -- movies, bands, TV shows, beers, sports teams, books, slopes, dog breeds, etc, and then share them on your page. I love doing that kind of thing, and also seeing what other people put on their lists. And, making fun of people who think Hannah Montana is one of the best shows ever always cheers me up.
And, it wasn't just Facebook that kept me busy today. I also wasted a ridiculous amount of time trying to get a pattern to print. Normally, I'd give up after the second try but it's for this adorable donkey on Etsy's blog and I HAD to have it. Who knows why but I couldn't get the pdf to open no matter how many times I tried, and printing the page only gave me the sidebars -- the entire middle section with the pattern itself was blank. Signing into Etsy didn't make a difference and neither did using Firefox instead of AOL's browser. To make it more fun, my computer kept freezing up when I was trying all these things so I had to keep starting over. The weird thing is I had the same problem a few months ago while trying to print another pattern from The Storque blog. I would love to link to that other pattern now but I just got stuck on Etsy again and had to re-start AOL. Anyway, the donkey is cute and I am sure you will have no issues printing the pattern. I think I'm just special that way.
On to the good stuff . . . You can win a copy of either The Apron Book or The Kitchen Linens Book by EllynAnne Geisel from The Apron Goddess. All the details are on this post. You have until midnight, Saturday, March 28th, to enter.
Kandra & Renee at Sibling Craftery are holding their first giveaway for some great prizes. (fabric! a pincushion! floss!) You have until Sunday, March 29th, to get in on this one. And, I know I've linked to them before but in case you missed it, be sure to check out their fun embroidery patterns too. I heart the Valentine's Day one.
There's another way to win one of EllynAnne's books but it's a little more involved: EllynAnne, along with Colonial Patterns Inc., is giving away six prize packages (full of Aunt Martha embroidery transfers, some towels to stitch them on, and copies of her books), over at Apron Memories, but to enter this not-a-contest giveaway, you need to create something using vintage household goods, (fabric, handkerchiefs, toweling, embroidery, doilies, place mats, napkins), and then post it in their Kitchen Linens Flickr pool. The deadline to enter is April 30th.
I am really in the mood to stitch something now but first I must print out even more patterns. I wouldn't want to get kicked out of Hoarders Anonymous any time soon. They're all are for embroidery except the felt Easter cone, which is now on my to-do list. (I'm considering joining Felt Anonymous as well.)
Bunnies and chicks at Orange Flower: Patterns and Tutorials [via Meet Me At Mikes]
Springy Chicken Day, flower for Spring, and (my favorite) Itty Bitty Circus and (even more favorite) a felt Easter Favor Cone at Tangarang
Henry the Hedgehog and Padraic O'Malley (links are in the right sidebar along with a few more) at Chichiboulie
Bunny pattern for March from Bad Birds (thanks, L&L!)
Have a great Thursday!
Ok, I've never shellacked a butternut squash. I was just stuck for a title.
As usual, I'm behind with my blog reading and with answering email but I've completed 157 quizzes on Facebook. Go, me! Seriously, I am truly addicted to them. And, you can call me by my nickname from now on. That would be Junior Braniac, thank you very much.
It's been awhile since I posted some links to free patterns and tutorials so here ya go!
Over at Orange You Lucky, you'll find some really cute cat book labels to print out.
If you missed "The Party's Over" embroidery freebie from Pimp Stitch last year, you have another chance to download it at Craft now. I love this one.
Molly is sharing a vintage DOW transfer pattern with cute kitties at Molly's Place.
There's a cross stitch chart and also an embroidery pattern of a chicken on the French blog, Cachounette.
On Martha Stewart's site is a project for embroidering t-shirts but you could use the templates for any kind of embroidery. They include an elephant, a giraffe, a dragonfly, a firetruck, and a tractor that I believe is really a skip loader. (I think heads are going to roll over this!)
Want to make an adorable little felt coin purse with a cupcake on it and Johnny Depp inside? Ok, he isn't really in the purse but there is blanket stitching involved. And, also a zipper which freaks me out a tad. Thanks to paper-and-string for the tutorial and to Craft for the link.
Also via Craft is a felt bunny card how-to from One Crafty Mumma.
And, at Wild Olive, Mollie is posting some sweet embroidery patterns (think pirates, cowboys, mushrooms and a tree stump).
I'm hoping to have something finished and ready to share by Friday. Have a great week!
And, here is the other greeting card image I found. I confess I don't see the gladness. Is the dog happy because he's going to eat the poor chick? What a lovely picture. It's so Easter-y!
Anyway, I hope you have a Happy Easter!!
I went through some saved images that were originally from a bunch of dog greeting cards and found a couple of Easter ones. I'm not sure what two Collies have to do with Easter and your husband but here is that one. (That tree makes me think of cotton candy.)
I know a lot of people read Primrose Design but in case you missed it, Janet has posted a cross stitch chart of some pretty strawberries that she created from a design on some tea towels. The link to the pdf is in this post. And, check out the neat stitching on the raspberries on another towel.
Apron porn alert! As of two minutes ago, Confessions of an Apron Queen is my new favorite blog. As soon as I read the first line "If you love vintage aprons..." I was hooked. It's loaded with fantastic apron photos (and all kinds of other great stuff). There are a zillion things there that I will have to go back and read when I have more time tonight. And, the Girl Scout Cookie poll reminds me I can have Thin Mints for lunch today. (This was written earlier today and yes, I did eat a couple of Thin Mints at lunch, not for lunch.)
The Apronista is having yet another apron giveaway. This one is from marie-madeline studio, makers of some really pretty aprons. Go leave some comments on the post to enter.
And, speaking of aprons, today, my mom gave me two that she has had since she was a kid. She's pretty sure my grandmother made one of them, which gives it even more sentimental value. (It hit me again today that I'm really fortunate to have sister who has no interest in old aprons or old jewelry or old hankies because that means I can claim all that good stuff without having to fight with a relative for them.) I'm going to iron the aprons and then I'll take some pictures.
Check out RedWork Stitcher's photos of embroidery and redwork patterns on Webshots [link via Mrs. Stitchy Britches].
On Echevette, there are several free Easter cross stitch charts: Joyeuses Paques (bunny with basket), Petit lapin de Paques (rabbit on an egg), and Easter sampler (rabbit, eggs, flowers in pink & green).
I just read on my calendar that March is Adopt A Rescued Guinea Pig month. If you're considering doing that, check out Petfinder. (The widget below shows all the small & furry animals, not just guinea pigs, listed on Petfinder at the time. You can go the site and do a search for adoptable animals in your area.)
