Made Marian: Oozing Crafty Goodness

That’s the name of the pattern I used to stitch this tester for some white linen cushions I’m planning to make.  The pattern is by Carina and is for sale in her Polka and Bloom shop.

My stitching is definitely in the “needs improvement” category but it was a fun pattern to work with because the colours are so bright and cheerful. However it took me way longer to finish than I would have hoped. I just seem to be running out of time for crafts these days, or maybe it’s a case that I’m not making time for crafting.  There are unfinished projects and supplies for not yet started projects haunting me all the time.  As well as an ever growing folder of bookmarks for potential projects.  It’s enough to drive a girl to drink! My excuse is the wedding of course and the fact that I’ve taken up walking so these things are eating into what little time I have that I’m not spending at work or asleep.  This is the point where my parents would point out that I haven’t much to worry about if this is all that’s bothering me

My between jobs, belated Christmas Holiday is at an end.  Tomorrow I start my new job which, thankfully is no longer in Shannon, Co. Clare.  It seems that it has been a nightmare this last week trying to get out there because of the state of the roads.  I’ve been on holiday or, unemployed, I suppose for 10 days and I have to confess that they have been 10 blissful days of lazing around the house watching TV and movies, reading books, catching up on blog reading and crafting.

Ugly Betty has been my TV of choice.

Embroidery has been my craft of choice.  I used a pattern from this book to make these embroidered cakes which I plan to use on birthday cards.

I bought this little vest top in Penney’s a few months back to see if it was possible to embroider onto that kind of jersey fabric.  The lesson of the day is that, yes you can but it’s a lot of work!  As suggested by Grannymar ages ago, I lined the embroidery hoop with bias binding and that definitely helped prevent any lasting marks on the fabric.  So for anyone who might be thinking of pimping some vest tops, that is a top-tip

The tops of the feelers and the blue dots in the bottom of the wings are embellishments that are sewn on and the butterfly’s body and head were donated by Ruth after she saw my WIP and suggested that she might have just the thing to finish him off.

This was a time consuming project but it was well worth it as I now have a one of a kind vest top for the princely sum of €3.  By the way this is the same patterns as I did here.

As I sheepishly return to the blogosphere I can’t help wonder if I have any readers left.  I’d love to say that I’ve been off doing something exciting but alas I’ve just been a little uninspired lately due to nasty factors beyond my control.  Anywho, I’m tired of complaining (aren’t you lucky I haven’t been complaining here) about the cards I’ve been dealt and I’d better just get back playing the game, if ya know what I mean.  Last thing I wrote here was that I’d be back with some crafting so true to my word, here is an update of what I’ve been up to.

I made these very pink brooches.

And inspired by Ruth at Nice Day Designs I decided to revamp some bargain bin tops.

This one had plain white buttons when I picked it up for €3, I changed the buttons and then did some plain backstitch embroidery to add some colour.

To this one I just added some crochet flowers.

What do you think?  If there’s anyone out there that is

Well, I’m off home to visit my folks tomorrow and then we’re heading down to Ballyferriter outside Dingle for the rest of the May Bank Holiday weekend.  Hope everyone has a good one

Despite my absence from the blogosphere I have been crafting and I finally finished my embroidery set.  This was the third one I did, roses.

In order to complete my plan and use the hoops as frames I had to figure out a way to hide the extra fabric, after trying and failing with pins I resorted to glue.  This is what the back looks like.

I decided to display my new “art” on the side of the bookshelf in our living room, here’s what they look like together.

I have to say that I really enjoyed embroidery and I’m already thinking of my next project.  I think it will be pillow cases for my own bed, I’ve used cream bed linen for as long as I’ve had my own place but I’m tired of it, I’m thinking I’d like white bed linen with DIY embroidery detail on the pillows and a crochet throw for the bed.  I like the idea of having some examples of my crafty goodness in every room.   This might also require new window dressing….now if only I new how to make curtains

…..is finished.  I took Elise’s advice (see her comment on the last post) and added an extra row of feathers.  He’s actually growing on me so he might get a place on the wall after all.

I took my inspiration from these beauties when I decided to leave my butterfly in the embroidery hoop and display it.

I moved onto this owl but I’m not sure about it, it seemed like a good idea at the time but it became apparent fairly quickly that owls are pretty boring looking in terms of colour so this one may not make the wall

So the excitement of the bloggies has passed for another year and I’m back to work (boo!) and new crafting (yay!).  I got the book Sublime Stitching for my birthday last year and have only just started to use it, but boy was it worth the wait.  The patterns are super easy to use and as far as crafts go the financial outlay is pretty small.  You’d probably spend about a tenner to get yourself a few skeins of floss, a hoop and some linen to practice on.  Er, obviously you’d have to shell out for the book and I’m presuming you have an iron already as you’ll need one to transfer the patterns onto your fabric.

Anyhoo, this is what I’ve been at tonight.

Learning the stem stitch

And stitching a butterfly while reading all the new blogs I’ve discovered after the weekend.

I’ve been on Ravelry for a while now, for those not in the know, I described it once as Facebook for craft nerds.  You can upload details about your knitting and crochet projects and also keep a record of what needles and hooks you have as well as your yarn stash. And of course the obligatory adding of friends.  Like facebook, I go through phases where I’m more active on Ravelry than others.  And like social networking in general there is always more than one social network to chose from.  I joined Craft Stylish some time back but didn’t add anything until recently.  I’m still not entirely sure how it all works but I’ve started off by adding my crafty idea for organising my embroidery project.  I’ve added my Craft Stylish profile to the Craft Nerd section on the right.

Basically it’s just a folder with plastic pockets in it.  I keep the instructions and page that has the “finished” picture at the front and then keep the threads in pockets organised by their shade…all the greens together, the reds, the yellows and the neutrals.  There’s an extra pocket at the back for the project itself.  It folds up and fits perfectly.  The only thing that doesn’t fit in is the hoop.

Speaking of embroidery, I got this book for my birthday and I can’t wait to get time to do some of the stuff from it.  I want to get more hoops and do leave the project in the hoop after I’m finished.  Like this from Janick Nea.  The rest of the set are here.

Or how about these hoop ornaments by The Felt Mouse.

I see handmade Christmas Ornaments in the future.