Bird Dish Towel for Dot (November 25, 2010)

Dot is my mom.  Yes, we often call her Dot instead of "mom."  (Yes, I used the correct punctuation.  I am deliberate, people.)

This is a pattern from the Sublime Stitching Craft Pad.  I've modified it a touch because parts of it were irritating to me.

Owl Softie (November 25, 2010)

I like owls.  I like little dolls.  I like creepy things.  Apparently, I used to make little dolls for my aunt out of pantyhose.  It probably wasn't even clean pantyhose.  But I digress.

I saw a design for an owl and Raccoon softie in an Aimee Ray book, and I took the basic outline and then went my own way with it.  Rules hurt my heart.  I didn't plan what I was going to do...I kind of made it up as I went along.  I was initially thinking of putting a big bug on the belly, but I ultimately decided that would be too much and that I would save the bugs for another project.  I've got lots of ideas for bugs.  Don't worry.

Getting Organized (November 11, 2010)

Do I usually do titles in "title case"?  I can't remember.  Also, I KNOW you're supposed to include the ending punctuation within the quotes if it ends the sentence, but that annoys me.  I wasn't trying to say "title case?"...I just wanted to say "title case".  See what I did there?  I defied it again.

Anyways, I finally organized all my embroidery shit.  I am exceedingly proud of myself.  Here is how I was working before:



Notice the "floss organizer" underneath the pile of floss.  I bought that as a possibly organizing technique...but when I realized that would require me to hand-wind every floss color around a stupid "bobbin" in order to fit in the case, I eschewed that plan.  I hate the word bobbin, too.

Enter this awesome (even if grossly colored) new carrying case!!!!  Plus, it was an extra bonus for being on clearance for $10.  I am all about it.  Again...so proud of myself.  (But this rarely happens, so let me milk it a little bit.)







Of course, I ran out of the floss-stretcher-thingies, but I'll go get more today after my mom comes over.  I don't mind shopping with Big G, but it's sooooo easier to make a ton of little stops without having to strap her in and out and in and out and in and out of the car seat, cart, stroller.  I'll bet you got tired just reading that.

It's a Stump Pin Cushion! (November 8, 2010)

Don't feel bad.  I had to explain it to my husband, Justin, as well.  This project came out of Aimee Ray's first Doodle Stitching book.  I needed a pin cushion (not really) and since I'm poor and I like all things woodland, I tried my hand at this.  I'm sorry that I didn't take pictures while it was in progress, but I promise to do so in the future.  (I have a baby, so don't hold me to that.)

If I were craftier, I would have made some little mushroom and leaf pins using polymer clay.  Alas, I am lazy above all else.  I'm also hesitant to introduce those fumes into the same oven I use to cook our food.

Deer Dish Towel (November 8, 2010)

This took a surprisingly short amount of time!  The basic deer with leaves and stems is a Sublime Stitching pattern.  I didn't feel like cutting up the transfer, so I traced the design onto the fabric using a wash-out ink and a light box.  Of course, I could barely see the design through the towel...but this is what I got.  I added the mushrooms at the top and the dots at the bottom.  I didn't wash it yet... so I'm HOPING the blue marker washes out.  =)  I will update the post after I wash and iron it.  My husband wants to frame this instead of use it as a dish towel.  Go figure.

Embroidery Practice (November 8, 2010)

So I'm a week into learning how to embroider.  I'm surprised how much I am enjoying it!  It's like painting but without the mess.  Ths is an old pillowcase I chopped up.  I wonder who it belonged to.  Oh well!

The basic circle design came from Aimee Ray's Doodle Embroidery book.... but of course I embellished.