color combo: caramel apple

Happy Halloween, friends! At the time that I wrote this, I still hadn't decided what I would dress up as...hopefully now as this is posted, I've figured it out!

Growing up, going to Sunny Acres, the local pumpkin farm, was a Halloween tradition. More often than not, we went right on Halloween, in costume. The main shop (because of course they have many places to sell you things!) is filled with painted gourds, kitschy figures, and plenty of apples. I used to get a little bottle of apple juice that was shaped like an apple, and I loved it! I also loved when I was lucky enough to get a caramel apple.

Today's color palette is an ode to a classic Halloween caramel apple. Hopefully this floss won't leave you feeling too sticky!

calendar: print and post for november

Pause with me for just a moment. Tomorrow is Halloween. Which means the day after that is November. Which means that in mere weeks I'll be another year older. Which means Christmas will be here before we know it. Whoa. I'm stunned, but also a little excited.

November is my favorite month (birthday, Thanksgiving, my favorite weather), so I chose my favorite thing for this month's calendar. A coffee cup. Yes, this could also be a mug of tea, but I say coffee. So grab a cup of your favorite warm beverage and soak in the last of October.

But then get ready for the new month by loading a new desktop onto your device of choice!

Download the 2560x1440 Wallpaper.
Download the 1920x1280 Wallpaper.
Download the 1280x800 Wallpaper.
Download the iPhone Wallpaper.
Download the iPad Wallpaper.

To use the iPhone and iPad versions, click the link for the wallpaper you want. When it opens, touch and hold the image until it pops up with the option to save. After you've saved the image, go to your settings, choose wallpaper, then find the image you've just saved.

Prefer the analog method? Download the printable version, and tack it up on your bulletin board!

Download the PDF Printable November Calendar.

project: colorful tree plush

The other day I was watching my little brother play Mario Kart, and I spotted something cute. (I love it when video games are cute!) Trees made with scallops in varying shades of green. I thought, how fun would it be to make something like that...as a little stuffed guy?! So I set to work making a simple pattern for a two-dimensional tree with scallops of varying colors. He's a little wonky, but I rather like him!



You can make one too! Here's what you need:

Fabric in 3 colors, plus brown (Since it's autumn, I chose red orange and yellow)
Embroidery floss
Stuffing

Scissors
Needle
Pins
Colorful Tree pattern PDF



Cut out two of each pattern piece. These are not symmetrical, so it's easiest if you cut two layers with wrong sides together.

If you're going to add a face, you may want your lightest shade to be the bottom layer of scalloped leaves. Stitch the face on only one of the bottom pieces for the front.



Working from the bottom to the top, layer the pieces, and with running stitch, sew the overlapping areas.

You can overlap the layers as much or as little as you want, as long as there is room to stitch. Here's how the back of mine looks:




Note that when stitching the bottom layer to the trunk, you'll only sew the middle scallop.



It's really important that when you make the second side of the tree, the layers need to overlap the exact same amount. Use the first side as a guide for spacing.



Pin the front and back together, right sides out, and sew along the outside, leaving the bottom open for stuffing.

Stuff the tree and stitch it closed!



Leaning up against a wall or window, it stands pretty well on its own. I thought about getting fancy and adding a flat bottom, but decided to keep it simple for my first tree. I might need to make more, and in different styles...hmmm...

For now, I'll enjoy this happy little tree and its ever-colorful foliage!

UPDATE: I just discovered that today would have been Bob Ross' birthday...he's the king of happy little trees!

some quiet time

It's not you. It's me. You're not making too much noise. I am.*

For the next week, the blog is going to be quiet. Why? Because there's work to be done, and less posting here means more working behind the scenes. (Trust me...it's gonna be sooooo worth it!) See you soon!

*As proof of my "talking" too much, I submit the following proof: this is my 2000th post!

stitch&send progress and some sublime floss

Are you preparing to stitch&send? If you haven't heard, Abbie is working to prepare at least 200 tote bags and embroidered patches for a community Thanksgiving gathering in Richmond, VA. We'd love it if you could do a bit of stitching too, so be sure to read all about it!



I finally got to some stitching this week, and decided to start with a vintage pattern that I found on Flickr. The goal was to find something that could be enjoyed by just about anyone (a tall order!), and I think this hot air balloon will work.

If you look closely at the photo, you'll see the floss that I used for this. Can you read it? Do you see? This is big.



Sublime Stitching has their own line of embroidery floss! What? Wow! Jenny Hart sent me a package with this surprise in it, and I was eager to try it out. But first, I had to take in all of the yummy colors:






The color palettes (they are sold only in these packs right now) are some of the nicest colors you'll find. And that last photo is a floss unique to Sublime Stitching. "Mingles" are pre-blended colors, where you have two shades side by side. Fun! Oh, and each skein has a cheeky saying on it...cute!

After stitching with these, here's what I found: Although thinner that many 6-strand embroidery flosses and designed so they can be easily stitched with all six strands, I still found it easier to work with just three strands. Also, Sublime Floss has a sheen when it's stitched, it's not smooth as DMC. (That's not bad, it's just different from what I'm used to!)



So...go get yourself some new embroidery floss, and then stitch&send something for someone who needs a bit of handmade!

PS: For the rest of the month of October, if you buy a set of patterns from my shop and mention The Giving Heart, I'll give you an extra set of patterns free!

project: ghostie garland

After I made the ghost toy the other day, I realized that the same ghosties would be frighteningly cute as a garland...and so here we are! This was really quick to make and I love how it looks hanging over our fireplace.



Making your own not-so-spooky garland is easy! Here's how:



You will need:

White felt
Black embroidery floss
Drinking straw (Cut into short pieces)
String or yarn
Scissors
Needle
Hot glue gun

Ghost Template PDF

To make the ghosties, cut out the shapes from felt, then embroider the faces. Make some of them facing the opposite direction. You'll need a bunch...however many you want on your garland. (I made 11)




Add a bead of hot glue to the back of each ghostie to attach a straw piece. For mine, I staggered the height of the straws so that it looks like the ghosts are sort of floating along, and not all in a straight line. It's up to you though!



Thread a string through the straws and tie a loop in each end of the string.




Hang the garland and watch the ghosties fly!

color combo: mum's the word

Chrysanthemums are pretty when they come out in the spring, but they are such a delightful autumn flower. At least to me! I love their yellows, oranges, purple-pinks and deep burgundies! The colors sounded like a good embroidery floss color combo, so that's what inspired this weeks' palette.

The color variations that I used here is really my favorite shades of mums...and perfect for this because I think it's difficult to find exact color matches with so many beautiful flowers in the loveliest colors!

There's a nice vintage chrysanthemum pattern in the Hoop Love group on Flickr. Grab your favorite green, and you're set to stitch a few stems!

project: flying felt ghost toy

A few months ago, I saw a fun idea for making climbing critters. I filed it away, thinking it would be fun to make some of my own. (By the way, my mom tells me that I made something similar to this as a child, after learning about it on Mister Rogers!) With Halloween nearly upon us, I thought this would be a good time to use the friction toy concept with a holiday twist!

I don't believe in ghosts, but I do think they can be one of the cutest things you'll ever see. And since they fly, they work well for this toy!



It works like this: You loop the top over a doorknob, then hold the ends of the string. By pulling the strings, you cause the ghost fly up to the top! If you pull both strings out, it can go really fast...if you alternate the two sides, it goes up a little at a time. It's fun!



Here's what you need:

White felt
Black embroidery floss
Drinking straw
String or yarn
Scissors
Needle
Hot glue gun

Ghost Template PDF



Cut out a ghost from white felt, then embroider the face. I used french knots for eyes, and an open detached chain for the smile.



Cut two pieces of straw, each a little over 1 inch long. Hot glue them to the center of the back of the ghost.




Cut a piece of string about 4 feet long and thread it through the straws. The loop should be at the top. Tie a knot in each end of the string.




Now your ghostie is ready to play with! Isn't he the cutest?

printable: fall cards for project life

Project Life has such appeal to me. But I need another thing like I need a hole in the head. Still, all those lovely cards and photos and bits of writing...wonderful! I've decided that for now, I'll just observe, and as of today, contribute a bit of Wild Olive to your fall pages.

I designed a few journaling cards that you can print out and use in Project Life, or really any way you choose. Print them out on card stock, or you can use my secret method. (These cards have yellow card stock on the backs!)

Download the Journaling Cards PDF.

Let me know if these work out okay, and if they might be something I should make more of to share!

planning ahead

The Christmas items are out at IKEA! While perusing, I found a couple of items that would be perfect for projects. Future projects. Like, December and January projects.

But the thing is, if I share them with you then, you might not be able to get these lovely linens that I've found and plan to use. So, I thought that you might want to pick these up while you can!



This snowflake table runner is going to be a part of my December series (I don't want to give too much away, but you'll probably be humming along with all of the posts!). Of course, there will be other ways to make what I'll be making, but this item goes a long way in getting it started! (IKEA item #502.099.45)



Sometimes my favorite thing about IKEA is the simplicity. With the Christmas items, they have gingham dish towels, and they are perfect for something I have in mind in the new year. (Yes, I'm thinking about 2013 already!) My mom got several for our kitchen, and I got one. But I might steal, er...borrow, a few more for this project. (IKEA item #802.240.20)

So...rush out to your local IKEA (they didn't ask me to say that, by the way) and pick up an item or two! Then get ready for some fun stitching in the coming months!