idea: pins and needles
This was just on the front page at Etsy, and I think it's the cleverest thing I've seen in a while...
the fourth woodlanders desktop calendar...
April starts tomorrow, and this month features Unoccupied Nest. She's feeling rather empty. Oh well, perhaps spring will make things happier for her...Especially when she's adorning your desktop!
the goals are coming along...
At the beginning of the year, I made ten plans for 2010. Since we're nearly finished with the first three months of the year, this is a quarterly update on those goals.
The first was to take a picture a day. And let me tell you...I've done this so far! I'm up to 88 photos, and today I'll take one for day 89. I love looking at the set and seeing what all I've been up to so far this year.
Here's a good one. Make a jumbo granny square blanket. Err...well, this was going well, but has come to a screeching halt. You see, I was making this with yard from my stash. And, um, well, I ran out of green. What you see here is all that is left. And my blanket is more the size of a jumbo pillow cover. I can't decide if I should switch colors, which would be a bit strange, given the pattern of colors I've used so far, or if I should just stop and make it a pillow cover. Grr.
Perhaps my biggest plan is to write an e-book. Guess what? I've started on it, and I think it will be fun! I also have some companion ideas for the book. But I'll still be a little secretive about this.
What's this? This is part of the plan to design a game! This is going to be different than the kind of game that I originally thought I would do, but I'm way excited about it. With any luck, I'll be sharing it with all of you in the next couple of weeks.
An ongoing plan is to create lots of fun new products, and I think I'm doing pretty good on that one. There are tons of ideas that still need to get going though. I'm also still overhauling the shop. This means taking new photos of things, and refining a bit. Instead of doing it all at once (overwhelming!), I'm doing it in small bites. Oh, and the business plan goal...I may have been a little vague with this one, so the progress is also vague. But one part (start new forms of advertising) has begun.
Goals that aren't started yet: Paint a large painting, conquer sewing machine fear (still haven't touched it again!), and buy a World Vision Sewing Machine (but this will happen soon!).
Wow! It's been a busy year so far! How are you doing on your goals these days? Tearing through things? Good for your! Needing encouragement? Keep going...it's going to be worth it!
The first was to take a picture a day. And let me tell you...I've done this so far! I'm up to 88 photos, and today I'll take one for day 89. I love looking at the set and seeing what all I've been up to so far this year.
Here's a good one. Make a jumbo granny square blanket. Err...well, this was going well, but has come to a screeching halt. You see, I was making this with yard from my stash. And, um, well, I ran out of green. What you see here is all that is left. And my blanket is more the size of a jumbo pillow cover. I can't decide if I should switch colors, which would be a bit strange, given the pattern of colors I've used so far, or if I should just stop and make it a pillow cover. Grr.
Perhaps my biggest plan is to write an e-book. Guess what? I've started on it, and I think it will be fun! I also have some companion ideas for the book. But I'll still be a little secretive about this.
What's this? This is part of the plan to design a game! This is going to be different than the kind of game that I originally thought I would do, but I'm way excited about it. With any luck, I'll be sharing it with all of you in the next couple of weeks.
An ongoing plan is to create lots of fun new products, and I think I'm doing pretty good on that one. There are tons of ideas that still need to get going though. I'm also still overhauling the shop. This means taking new photos of things, and refining a bit. Instead of doing it all at once (overwhelming!), I'm doing it in small bites. Oh, and the business plan goal...I may have been a little vague with this one, so the progress is also vague. But one part (start new forms of advertising) has begun.
Goals that aren't started yet: Paint a large painting, conquer sewing machine fear (still haven't touched it again!), and buy a World Vision Sewing Machine (but this will happen soon!).
Wow! It's been a busy year so far! How are you doing on your goals these days? Tearing through things? Good for your! Needing encouragement? Keep going...it's going to be worth it!
video: fake vacationer
A family vacation may be happening later this year, but for now, I'm considering becoming a fake vacationer. Or would that be fakationer?
starting max's present...
See this jumble of supplies? The plan for this gift is just as jumbled.
What I would like to make is a play mat. I've thought roads, but train tracks are more his thing. But what else? Just tracks or roads could be blah. Or it could make it much more flexible for his very active imagination.
And then there's the finishing, and does it need a bag/pocket? Or loops to cinch it with? Or? I really need to get it together.
But then, it feels like a less than creative day all around at my house. Not a bad day, just not an oooh-I've-got-a-great-idea! day. It will come...hopefully soon.
In the meantime, the cat seems to be much more inspired by the blank canvas...!
looking at the week ahead...
First of all, look at what I got today! My friend Abby gave this to me, and of course, I love it! My Paper Crane is the best. Thanks, sweet Abby!
So, the week ahead.
I'm planning on having a better Monday this week. I'm not entire sure that I get to control that, but I'm going to do my part. And part of that is creating a sense of anticipation for myself. There is now a list of things that will be going on here on the blog this week. Here are a few of those things:
-Making a birthday present for my brother Max (he turns 8 on Saturday!)
-Reviewing the first quarter of the year (what? how'd we get here already?)
-Preparing for a new month (your desktop needs to be spruced up for April!)
-April Fool's Day (this could be fun...)
-Easter craft goodness (be ready with embroidery floss, felt and fingers!)
Are you ready for the week? Decide with me that it will be a good one!
make a ric rac headband...
Last week I mentioned that I found some felt ric rac on sale at Hobby Lobby. It was a great deal, and nice and wide. Maybe you picked some up, or perhaps you can stop and get some for this fun diy. It's an embroidered headband, and it's fast and easy!
You'll need: wide felt ric rac (I used a piece about 15.5"), embroidery floss or crochet thread, two thin elastic hair bands and a sharp needle.
First, attach the two elastic bands with a reef knot. (That sounds all fancy, doesn't it? You can probably figure this out by looking at the pictures...)
Fold a little bit of one end of the ric rac around one loop of of the elastic bands. Stitch it together. If you want, leave the thread attached and continue stitching in the next step.
Embroider the headband. For mine, I just followed the ric rac with a running stitch, then did some with back stitch. You can get more detailed though. The nice part about the wide ric rac is that there is actually some room to stitch!
After you finish embroidering, attach the other end of the ric rac to the other side of the elastic loops. Do this the same way as you did the first side.
And it's done! Simple, fun, and nice and springy!
the power of style...
Prepare yourself, folks.
I'm about to show you something waaaaaaaay cute.
Are you ready?
Really ready?
Here it comes.
This is the amazing illustration of Michelle Romo of Crowded Teeth. Her style reminds me of everything that I loved about my childhood...like being at the Sanrio store! Animals and objects with the sweetest faces? Of course I love it!
I've been reading Michelle's blog for a few months, and have really enjoyed it. But when she released her new style guide, I was immediately hit with inspiration. If you work with design, you may be familiar with the idea of a style guide. It's a collection of standards for using a design, logo, website, etc.
Michelle used this idea so well when creating her illustrated characters. On the left you see her illustration; on the right she gives a description of the characters and shows colors and patterns and icons that go with them.
By doing this, it really makes you think about the feel of the illustration. You consider how it will work with other things and what things should and shouldn't be combined. It gives the groupings of illustration a really cohesive look.
When I create illustrations for my items, or just for fun, I usually use a limited color palette. But I've never thought about making a style guide. Look at those patterns! Aren't they amazing? Michelle makes those a huge part of her illustration...they contribute so much to the whole look. And then there's the way she displays the icons and patterns and extra elements. They are fun and functional!
My personal goal after seeing this is to incorporate the use of a style guide like this into my work. And to make more patterns. This kind of style can be a powerful tool. I can't wait to see how it will stretch my mind and my creativity...
(Thanks to Michelle for letting me use her images!)
I'm about to show you something waaaaaaaay cute.
Are you ready?
Really ready?
Here it comes.
This is the amazing illustration of Michelle Romo of Crowded Teeth. Her style reminds me of everything that I loved about my childhood...like being at the Sanrio store! Animals and objects with the sweetest faces? Of course I love it!
I've been reading Michelle's blog for a few months, and have really enjoyed it. But when she released her new style guide, I was immediately hit with inspiration. If you work with design, you may be familiar with the idea of a style guide. It's a collection of standards for using a design, logo, website, etc.
Michelle used this idea so well when creating her illustrated characters. On the left you see her illustration; on the right she gives a description of the characters and shows colors and patterns and icons that go with them.
By doing this, it really makes you think about the feel of the illustration. You consider how it will work with other things and what things should and shouldn't be combined. It gives the groupings of illustration a really cohesive look.
When I create illustrations for my items, or just for fun, I usually use a limited color palette. But I've never thought about making a style guide. Look at those patterns! Aren't they amazing? Michelle makes those a huge part of her illustration...they contribute so much to the whole look. And then there's the way she displays the icons and patterns and extra elements. They are fun and functional!
My personal goal after seeing this is to incorporate the use of a style guide like this into my work. And to make more patterns. This kind of style can be a powerful tool. I can't wait to see how it will stretch my mind and my creativity...
(Thanks to Michelle for letting me use her images!)
plug: mailing a-list
Just a little shameless plug. Join the Mailing A-List (the sign-up box is in the sidebar). Something fun will be going out in the email soon.
frustration: taxes
Does anyone actually enjoy doing taxes? It hurts my head, but at least I'm done for the year. Yay!
check and check...
I did it! I finished up those embroideries! The Great Pyramids snowdome was lots of fun, and I'm really happy that I went with the beads. Really happy!
And here are my stitched up ABC Teeny Tinies. There are lot these that I just love, but the Juice Box is certainly in the top three (along with the Underwear and Viking Hat, I think...)
Even though these started out to just be embroidery patterns, I decided that they had other potential. So I've also set up printable cards with letters and numbers. Aren't they cute? Hopefully they'll even help some little people I know to learn their letters.
Now that I've checked these fun things off of my list, I'll probably be adding these new items to the shop tomorrow. And then, I think it's time that I work on something fun for the Mailing A-List...
baby steps...
Thank you for the lovely encouragement yesterday! Some Mondays, I tell ya. Really, I often have good Mondays, where I look forward to the week. But sometimes a lot just seems to hit you.
That feeling of having a lot coming at you at once has been present in my making and in other work. I have a few things started, but it's taking a long time to finish things. Simple things. Why is that?
My stitching of the Snowdomes of the World progresses slowly. Nearly all of the main stitching is done, and what is left is pretty much faces, and "snow".
Since you don't see much real snow in Egypt, I'm thinking glitter. (You've seen snowdomes like that, right?) I had thought about using metallic thread, but it is my nemesis. So I picked through some seed beads, and I'll be using those instead. Fun, yes?
Once this is finished, it will get photographed, and then I can put it in the shop. But not until I get done with this stitching!
Another project that is almost done is my new ABC Teeny Tinies pattern. I've stitched a few of the patterns, and so have others, but it's still waiting on my embroidering the sample for the Etsy picture. Stitch, Mollie, Stitch!
The good news is, even though things are happening slowly, they are still happening. I am taking baby steps. Now, what do you think...can I finish a project or two by tomorrow? What are you close to finishing?
That feeling of having a lot coming at you at once has been present in my making and in other work. I have a few things started, but it's taking a long time to finish things. Simple things. Why is that?
My stitching of the Snowdomes of the World progresses slowly. Nearly all of the main stitching is done, and what is left is pretty much faces, and "snow".
Since you don't see much real snow in Egypt, I'm thinking glitter. (You've seen snowdomes like that, right?) I had thought about using metallic thread, but it is my nemesis. So I picked through some seed beads, and I'll be using those instead. Fun, yes?
Once this is finished, it will get photographed, and then I can put it in the shop. But not until I get done with this stitching!
Another project that is almost done is my new ABC Teeny Tinies pattern. I've stitched a few of the patterns, and so have others, but it's still waiting on my embroidering the sample for the Etsy picture. Stitch, Mollie, Stitch!
The good news is, even though things are happening slowly, they are still happening. I am taking baby steps. Now, what do you think...can I finish a project or two by tomorrow? What are you close to finishing?
six weeks of a bike...
Today I finished a six week photo project. For Souvenir Foto, we took a picture of the same thing once a week for six weeks. Most (all?) of the other folks chose to take pictures of nature, but I went with a bicycle. I wasn't too hopeful that spring would really show up by the end of the session. Here's what I ended up with...taking a photo each Sunday:
Yes, it really did snow here yesterday. There was still some there this morning when I took the last picture. Gotta love springtime in Chicago!
Yes, it really did snow here yesterday. There was still some there this morning when I took the last picture. Gotta love springtime in Chicago!
writing out plans...
I think that some exciting things will be happening. Today I got to writing down some ideas for new and different things that I'd like to do. They will involve embroidery, and making things and being creative. The planning part is so much fun! So inspiring! And I think, I think that these plans will come to be. (It might take some time, but I'm determined...)
The joy of putting ideas on paper! (And also the joy of painting fingernails the perfect shade of springy orange!)
a day at the museum...
We went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago today...We love it there. Yesterday, a new exhibit opened. Here are a few things from Science Storms:
Incredible, indoor lightning.
Simulating an avalanche.
Our friend, Phil, observing a funnel cloud.
In the newly remodeled health/human body area, my brother became a human hamster.
But sometimes, the best thing you can do is just twirl around in the lights swirling on the floor. This is especially true when you are a 5-year-old little girl with a pink dress...
Incredible, indoor lightning.
Simulating an avalanche.
Our friend, Phil, observing a funnel cloud.
In the newly remodeled health/human body area, my brother became a human hamster.
But sometimes, the best thing you can do is just twirl around in the lights swirling on the floor. This is especially true when you are a 5-year-old little girl with a pink dress...
landmarks are ready to stitch...
Remember those landmarks that you voted on a week or so ago? (You did vote, right?) Well, I got to making the patterns. Yay! When I actually started drawing them up, I realized that they would have to be a little larger than I first imagined. Landmarks and architecture require at least some detail, which is difficult to stitch too small. So it turned out that seven landmarks would fit nicely on a page.
The top seven that were voted on (in order) were: Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Statue of Liberty, Great Pyramids, Golden Gate Bridge, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China. But I looked at all of these and...I made an artistic decision. I nixed the Great Wall, and jumped to number eight: the Sydney Opera House.
This weekend I'll start stitching. If you look closely at the picture, you might notice something extra. This is what makes this pattern unique. Just for fun, I'll send this embroidery pattern (as soon as it is finalized) to the first person to guess what makes this new set extra special. (I'll give you a hint...Last month I posted some favorite finds that inspired this pattern!)
Eek! This is going to be a fun one!
The top seven that were voted on (in order) were: Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Statue of Liberty, Great Pyramids, Golden Gate Bridge, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China. But I looked at all of these and...I made an artistic decision. I nixed the Great Wall, and jumped to number eight: the Sydney Opera House.
This weekend I'll start stitching. If you look closely at the picture, you might notice something extra. This is what makes this pattern unique. Just for fun, I'll send this embroidery pattern (as soon as it is finalized) to the first person to guess what makes this new set extra special. (I'll give you a hint...Last month I posted some favorite finds that inspired this pattern!)
Eek! This is going to be a fun one!
found: felt ric rac
I've seen it online lots of times, but yesterday I picked up some wide, pink, felt ric rac at Hobby Lobby. And it was on sale for $2. (It's with the Easter crafts...go get some and we'll make something fun!)
at grandma's house...
My dear grandma is 93. I call her Nanny. She is definitely slowing down in many ways. It should be expected at the time in her life, but it is still hard to see. Today I went and stayed with her for a while when my mom took my grandpa to a doctor's appointment. It was good.
We talked a bit about knitting and crocheting. When I was young, I learned how to knit from her. She told me several times about how Aunt Hazel used to crochet all the time. About how the crochet seemed to just come out of her fingers.
She also told me about some old embroidery patterns that were in a chest down in the basement. I went to find them, and discovered that my grandpa had emptied the chest. Nanny rolled her eyes when I told her this; she knows that "Papa" does these sorts of things without telling her.
I've often admired the stitched pieces that are up around the house, but today I noticed how many there are. There are a lot. And they are mostly cross-stitch. I find this old cross-stitch infinitely more charming than the more modern pieces especially those that were so popular in the 80s.
We also talked about baking. My grandma taught me to bake, and it makes me sad that she isn't really able to do that anymore. But she can still talk about it. She told me that when her mother used to make rye bread, or any other thing like that, she didn't measure the flour. She could just tell how much it needed. Amazing. I have my great grandma Mollie's rye bread recipe, and I think I should bake some, just so that Nanny can see how it comes out.
Before I came home, I got a few goodies. Those hoops at the top, a small oval hoop, and this hand sewing machine. You just squeeze it to take a stitch. Can't wait to try it!
It's a strange thing to see things change so much. When I was little, I spent so many hours at my grandparents' house. I watched Nanny make so many things and tell me how to make them too. Now I tell her about the things that I'm doing, and she sends me home with the tools she used years ago. I think I'd like to go back to how things were.
Tell me...what is something that a grandparent shared with you?
springy journaling cards...
Oh, how ready I am for spring! This time of year is so hard, because a) it has felt like winter for a long time, b) it looks like spring outside, but c) it's still pretty chilly. I suppose that means that it's best to look forward and keep making springy things...
Like some Springy printable journaling cards! You can use them for journaling, or little lists, or scrapbooking, or sweet little notes, or...you get the idea. There are four designs, and they come in two formats. Download and have fun!
Like some Springy printable journaling cards! You can use them for journaling, or little lists, or scrapbooking, or sweet little notes, or...you get the idea. There are four designs, and they come in two formats. Download and have fun!
new fabric...
I can't tell you how excited I was to receive this in the mail today! There was a delay in my order, so it feels like I've been waiting a long time...but at last! Butterfly fabric from Spoonflower! I ended up printing both designs, and I really can't tell which I like better. I love them.
Above you can see the scale difference. I should have put something else in there for reference, but the polka dots are roughly the size of a nickel. And the colors! They came out just as I wanted them. My pictures are close to accurate...although in the real deal, the yellow background is a little creamier.
You can find both designs at Spoonflower. Here and here.
And for those who offered their feedback when I showed these potential designs, I opted not to print the Road Trippers right now. Perhaps at some point though...
resource: rgb and dmc colors
How's this for useful? A chart that shows RGB/web colors and their DMC floss counterparts.
sampling stitches on eggs...
Yay! I finished some very fun stitching today, and I just couldn't wait to share it.
I find that I often resort to the same stitches. Especially with the designs that I create. It sort of makes sense because of the style of my patterns, but I want to branch out occasionally. Hence a sampler of sorts. Done as a happy Easter Egg. Even with my moments of stitch frustration, this has quickly become one of my very favorite things that I've embroidered.
The outline is split stitch. From the top is a partial lazy daisy, some little bursts that I'm not sure if there's a name for them, a stem stitch (my first real success at this!), herringbone (love this new one!), chain stitch, twinkle.
Running (or hidden) stitch (which I've not done particularly well here), cross stitch, lazy daisies, surface blanket (another first), threaded running stitch (new, and so fun!)
Outlined satin stitch, a slightly modified vine, back stitch, french knots.
SO much fun learning these new stitches. I still need to practice more, but that's the fun, right? Also, my brother said that I should use lots of colors. And that would definitely work for an Easter egg. But I really like red work, and for Easter, pink work. Plus it gave me a good excuse to use some of my older DMC floss that came from my grandma...
This will be in the shop soon, as a mini pattern (just $2!), but of course, there are so many possibilities that you could do on your own. Mine is about 7.5" tall, but little ones would be really cute too!
I find that I often resort to the same stitches. Especially with the designs that I create. It sort of makes sense because of the style of my patterns, but I want to branch out occasionally. Hence a sampler of sorts. Done as a happy Easter Egg. Even with my moments of stitch frustration, this has quickly become one of my very favorite things that I've embroidered.
The outline is split stitch. From the top is a partial lazy daisy, some little bursts that I'm not sure if there's a name for them, a stem stitch (my first real success at this!), herringbone (love this new one!), chain stitch, twinkle.
Running (or hidden) stitch (which I've not done particularly well here), cross stitch, lazy daisies, surface blanket (another first), threaded running stitch (new, and so fun!)
Outlined satin stitch, a slightly modified vine, back stitch, french knots.
SO much fun learning these new stitches. I still need to practice more, but that's the fun, right? Also, my brother said that I should use lots of colors. And that would definitely work for an Easter egg. But I really like red work, and for Easter, pink work. Plus it gave me a good excuse to use some of my older DMC floss that came from my grandma...
This will be in the shop soon, as a mini pattern (just $2!), but of course, there are so many possibilities that you could do on your own. Mine is about 7.5" tall, but little ones would be really cute too!
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