pattern: you stitched up my heart

Some months ago, I was listening to the song Your Scarf from Noel Stephen and the Darlings. (Go visit them...the album is awesome and free!) At the end of the song are some lyrics that jumped out and said, "Embroider Me! You must! Please!!!!" At last, I've granted the request, and have embroidered the phrase "You Stitched Up My Heart".



It's a quick stitch and just in time for Valentine's Day. But really, something this sweet could be stitched up any time...especially if you're an embroiderer wishing to tell the one you love how you feel. But even if you're a single girl (or guy!) like me, this was so lovely to stitch.

The little details are my favorite parts. I was going for a classic sampler kind of look.




The colors are used were DMC 503, 3688, 351, and color variations 4070 and 4075. Fresh and springy...




I can't keep this pattern all to myself, so download the PDF below and stitch it up for your someone special! In my case, consider this embroidery a tribute to all of you, my dear readers...You Stitched Up My Heart!

Download the You Stitched Up My Heart pattern PDF

When you've had a chance to embroider this (or any of my patterns!), I'd love to see it! Put a link in the comments, or add your photo to the Flickr group...I may feature it in a future post!

snapshot saturday

Continuing with A Month of Craft Photos, and so far, I'm made it to day 10 without missing! Above you see a few of my favorites from this past week.

look back: valentine's patterns

A couple of years ago, I shared a couple free patterns for Valentine's Day, and as things do around here, they have become buried in the archives. But perhaps you'd like to do a bit of Hearts Day stitching over the weekend? Enjoy these lovelies...

Download the Hearts Day Embroidery Pattern PDF

Then come back Monday for a fresh new pattern to tell the one you love just how you feel!

look back: printable valentines

Did you get a chance to download the printable Valentines I shared on Monday? Well, those aren't the only ones you'll find here on my blog. If you look back, there are a few more sets in the archives, but I've linked up to them all here:

The Chocolate the Nobody Wants Valentines

Tiny Commemoratives Valentines

Conversational Hearts Valentines

And if you're looking for even more Valentines printables, there are some really cute ones over at Mooo!

printable: straw decor

(This post is made possible by a printer that needs calibration, and strange photo lighting...your results may!)

Looking for a cute way to decorate drinks for Valentine's Day? Look no further! It's a somewhat printable-heavy week here on Wild Olive, but this idea was too cute to not share. Today's printable turns drinking straws into cupid's arrows!




Just print out the PDF (at the end of this post), trim the shapes, then cut slits along the dotted lines and slide them onto drinking straws. Depending on how thick your straws are, you may need to make the slits just a bit longer than the lines.




Of course, you could use these arrow ends on other things too...line pencils, skewes, chopsticks, and more! Valentine's Day is going to be filled with help from Cupid!

Download the Arrow Straw Decorations PDF.

project: pie plush for your valentine

A few years back, I made a pie that I called "Cranberry Cherry Who Needs Love Pie." This is what we do when we're feeling lonely on Valentine's Day. But if you've seen the things I've been making, you hopefully know that I'm not down on this lovey holiday...even as a single girl. Which is why I've called this soft piece of pie Sweetheart Pie, even if she's looking a little forlorn.

If you'd like to make a slice of pie for yourself or your sweetie, here's what you need:
Red wool felt
Tan wool felt
Embroidery floss (white, black red, tan)
Stuffing
Pie Plush Template PDF
(plus scissors, needle, pins)



Cut out all of the pieces, using the template as a guide. Embroider the heart shape onto the top piece, and embroider the face onto one of the sides.



Pin the two sides onto the bottom crust. The crust should overlap on top of the lower edge of each side piece. Sew with a running stitch and tan floss.




Fold up the straight piece of crust, and pin with the short edge of the sides. Sew with running stitch.

Pin the sides together where they meet at the point. Sew with a running stitch and red floss.



Here's the trickiest bit. Pin the top piece in place as shown in the photo. Pin the extra crust piece in place at the same time (it goes between the other crust and the top piece).

Sew around these top edges with a running stitch. Leave an opening for stuffing.



Add stuffing. You can make this as full as you want. Mine isn't too stuffed...more soft and squishy. As an option, you could add some plastic pellets, beans or rice in a bag in the bottom to give it some weight.



Sew it closed, and you've got a slice of Sweetheart Pie! Whenever I make something like this, my baby sister sees it and asks what I'm using it for. That's her way of asking if she can have it to play with. This pie is already being loved by her and her dollies!




For another fun way to make a slice of pie, check out Aimee Ray's pumpkin pie. Hers is made a little different from mine, and has felt whipped cream!

project: handmade painted envelope

Yesterday I shared some little printable Valentines, and today I'll show you one way you can make an envelope for them. This envelope could be made for lots of other purposes too, in different sizes and made with other materials. I love projects that can be changed in many ways, and this is one of them.

Here's what you need:
Clear vinyl (the kind on the big rolls...I used a medium weight)
Acrylic paint
Plain fabric
Embroidery floss
Envelope Template PDF
(plus paint brush, scissors, needle)





Begin by painting on the vinyl. Hearts are good for this time of year, but there are lots of ways to do this. My little sister wanted to give it a try too...her painting is the bottom photo, but I haven't made it into an envelope yet.

Let the paint dry for AT LEAST an hour. Once it's dry, you can proceed, or add another layer of paint and let it dry.




Use the template pieces and cut out the vinyl. Cut a second set of pieces from the plain fabric.



Cut a slit as shown on the template into the back piece of the vinyl. Do not cut this slit in the fabric.



Lay the painted side of the vinyl DOWN (against the fabric). This will prevent the paint from scratching off.

Start with the back piece, and stitch the vinyl to the fabric along the concave curve. DON'T pin the pieces together, because it will leave holes in the vinyl. You just need to hold them as tightly as possible. Clothespins or other clips may help if it's still slipping as you sew.



Now, add the front piece, and stitch around the bottom of the envelope. Continue around the top flap, then secure with a knot. (You may notice that I opted to cut the little tab off of the fabric, and leave it only on the vinyl. This is up to you.)



Your envelope is all finished and ready for a Valentine! Just tuck the tab into the slit to hold it closed.





What are some other ways you might consider using an envelope like this? How about other ways you could try using painted vinyl?

printable: valentines in two styles

I love little printable Valentines, and there is no shortage of them available online. It seems only right that I should contribute some as well, and so here we are!

The first set has illustration from my Baked with Love collection. There are four designs in the PDF, and you call with phrases that are related to sweets and baked goods.

Download the Baked with Love Valentines

The other set gives you a look at some new creations I've been working on. Little Owls! I'm kind of in love with them, so Valentine's Day is a good time to share them, right? These Little Owls will find their way onto some items in the shop eventually, but for now you get some Valentines with fun owl puns! (and only one has a for real Valentine reference...you can use them all year 'round!)

Download the Little Owl Valentines

These are just basic little cards, without any envelopes. Come back tomorrow, and I'll show you how to stitch up a really cute reusable envelope!

snapshot saturday

I take a lot of photos, but too often they are related only to blog projects and shop items. Which I why I thought it would be a good time to do another photo challenge. This one is craft-themed, so for the month of February, all of my Snapshot Saturday posts will be from A Month of Craft Photos!

added to the shop in january

Sometime in the first week or two of January, I had an idea for a little goal: Add one new (or refreshed) item to the shop each week for a month. For some shops, this would be a ridiculous goal because they need more new things than that, or perhaps that would be too many items! But for me, it was perfect. You see, each of my items takes a chunk of time as I conceptualize, illustrate, set up files, test things, take photos, etc. Getting one done each week is a good plan.

Each of these items have been released as they were ready, with little fanfare. I think I may try to keep up with this schedule, and hopefully get some older things revised in the process. Next time around, however, I think there will be a group of items coming out all at once. You know...if I'm patient enough to keep new items secret!

For now, here's what I added to the shop in January:

Baked with Love Embroidery Patterns




Baked with Love Recipe Cards



Baked with a Lotto Love Game




Every Occasion Celebration Banner




Plus a couple you've seen here before...Musical Folk Embroidery Pattern &
Crafty Characters Embroidery Pattern

I'd say it was a good month!

Now, I'd like to ask your opinion on something. If you go to my shop, you'll see that some of my printables have a main image that is not a photo, but rather a composite image of several pages or cards, while some have regular photos (all have photos when you go into the listing). Which do you think gives you the best first look at those items? Photo or Composite?

project: easy felt valentine holder

One of the Christmas gifts I made for my brother was a felt pouch that hangs on his doorknob (his came with pencils in it!). It's quick to put together, and is a perfect place to hold the valentines that might be delivered around your house!

The first one of these I made had embroidery on the pocket, but when I found this trim that I forgot I had, I knew it needed to be used for this project. Aren't the little hearts just the sweetest?



Supplies:
Felt
Trim (twill tape, lace, ribbon, ric rac, eyelet)
Embroidery Floss
Template PDF



Use the templates to cut out the pieces from felt.

Along the front piece, stitch on some trim. You can also add some embroidery to the pocket if you'd like.



Stitch the two pieces together along the sides and bottom. Use a sewing machine, or do it by hand. As I'm partial to hand sewing, I used a running stitch with contrasting floss.




That's all there is to it! Hang it on a doorknob and wait for the love notes to come!

Be aware that this isn't designed to hold anything too heavy...the handle will stretch unless you reinforce it.

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Oh hey, remember my Cross-Stitch Handwarmers? They're up for voting on Instructables, and I'd really, REALLY love it if you voted for me. You'll find them here, and the voting link is next to the Valentine's Day banner. It would make me so happy to win an iPad, and trust me...I'd use it for all kinds of bloggy loveliness for you!