calendar // a soft tourmaline for october

As October 1st arrives, I'm feeling like I'm in a flurry. Not of snow, thankfully, but I am trying to do many things all at once. And while my calendar wallpapers aren't necessarily helpful for planning and tracking the things going on in your days, I do find that making them each month points me toward a new start.

That's a soft way of saying "oh my goodness I can't believe that another month has passed and what am I doing with my life?!?!?!?!" But I kid.

Speaking of soft, however, this month's birthstone is another one where I had to choose what to represent. Opal is common for October, but so is a pink gem (though I saw several options for this). When I was very young, I remember being envious of my best friend's October pink gem birthstone, so I went for that. It's pink tourmaline, and I'm showing it in a soft pink, with a soft-ish cut.

Old memories and gems that don't look as hard as others come together in a cut that I learned about called an "old mine cut". It's called this because it's how things would have been cut in old mines. In fact, they don't really cut gems this way anymore, and the new, similar style is a cushion or pillow cut. Soft, get it?

Okay, enough of me geeking out about gem cuts and pink birthstones and making far stretching connections between them. Have a few calendars!

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Ready for a few more things I squeezed into September (which may also contribute to the flurry I've felt)?



I love helping kids learn embroidery and sewing basics, which is what this apple and worm are for! Find the tutorial on Hello Bee.



In the autumn season, I always get more intense with my knitting and crochet. And I'm carrying it around in this new project bag I designed for The Spruce Crafts!



Speaking of knitting and crochet, I've also been creating new sample photos for The Spruce Crafts. The V Stitch is the latest that I worked up. I love the look of it, plus I'm smitten by this yarn color!



Of course, if it's knitting season, it's also sweater weather! Grab my pattern and instructions for stitching on knitwear, also at The Spruce Crafts.



Do you enjoy autumn breads as much as I do? Visit Handmade Charlotte to download these printable wrappers with a kawaii print!



Also from Handmade Charlotte, learn how to make these Silly Spool Totem Pole Backpack Charms! I seriously had so much fun making these.



And last, but certainly not least, be sure to check out the latest episode of the Very Serious Crafts Podcast!

Now, off I go to work on new things that I hope to share here soon!

calendar // a sweet diamond for april

Welcome to April! A month that is apparently so special that it gets a diamond for its birthstone, and a sweet smiling one if you're shopping for Wild Olive diamonds!

Since it was released in November, I've been obsessed with the Animal Crossing Pocket Camp app. It harkens back to the days when I would stay up until the wee hours playing Animal Crossing on Game Cube. What does that have to do with this month's birthstone calendars?

Well, sometimes the characters in the game look at the ocean and say something like "It looks like a sea of diamonds! Wouldn't it be wonderful to dive in? No, you're right...that does sound painful." Or they'll say that "seashells are like nature's diamonds! Wait, I guess diamonds are nature's diamonds!"

Anyway, I can't help but think of these silly quotes now when a diamond is mentioned! Download your own calendar wallpaper with one of nature's diamonds below. Save what you need to your devices and set them as your background wallpapers or lock screens.

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At the start of each month, I also like to do a little recap of a few things that happened in the previous month. Things that may have been shared elsewhere, but not here.



For starters, April 1 was the end of my World Vision Care Kits project, and although shop sales didn't quite meet my goal, it was close and I have a plan to fill in the gap and finish the project. In fact, supplies are ordered and a wonderful group of girls will be helping me assemble them next week! More info on that coming soon.



These kawaii fast food printable packages are a freebie at Handmade Charlotte, and they're fun for play or to wrap small gifts!




I sewed this ribbon tag blanket and a catnip-filled mouse for The Spruce. I also drafted a pattern for sewing a sun hat, which I think I need to write an entire post about. Because it was the first wearable with a shaped pattern that I've ever made on my own. It was a learning experience, and I'm really happy with the results!



Leading into Easter, I made these printable accessories to create a wacky, wobbling bunny balloon. And you know what? It doesn't have to only be an Easter Bunny! Grab the printable at Hello Bee.

That's a just a smattering of things. There was also work behind the scenes on things that will come along in the next couple weeks, the next couple months, and even further down the road. They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but I'd say that craft supplies and new projects might just be this girl's best friends!

PS: Right now it feels more like chilly February where I live, but I'm going to trust that April weather will come soon. So for all ou April birthdays, happy birthday and I hope you're experiencing happy weather!

calendar // a cheerful aquamarine for march

With February always ending so quickly, I'm never quite ready for March. And yet, I'm always so ready for March because spring is just around the corner! To add to that bit of joy, this month's birthstone, aquamarine, is bright and pretty and one of my favorite colors.

I went with a square-ish/octagon-ish style gem and learned that this is called an Asscher cut. You guys...I'm starting to geek out over gemstone cuts. There are so many! Including one called a "scissors cut" which sounds like something a crafter might want.

But I do love the simplicity of this one, and I'm looking forward to stitching it up soon...

Download the aquamarine calendars below. Save whichever you need to your devices and then set them as your background wallpapers or lock screens.

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Last month, when I wasn't posting here (which was quite often!), I was creating projects for other sites. Here are a few of my favorites:



I made these donut friends for Valentine's Day, but with a few small changes, they work any time of the year!



Will your little one be losing a tooth soon? Sew up a happy tooth pillow in no time at all!



St. Patrick's Day will be here soon, which gets us thinking about all things Irish, and a bit of luck. Which is a perfect time to stitch your own lucky charms!



And most recently, I shared this kawaii cloud purse with a rainbow fringe. It may have just been an excuse for me to put my ribbons in color order...

One last thing...Happy Birthday to all my aquamarine birthstone March birthday friends! Tell me, do you like your birthstone color/stone?

calendar // summer-loving guinea pigs

And just like that, it's June. And while I would have happily accepted a bit more May or even April, it seems that Captain Cuddles and Lieutenant Nibbles are ready for summer. They've got their piggy sunglasses and pineapple drinks ready. Before long, I suppose I'll be sporting a similar look!

At least for now, my screens and yours can feature my favorite guinea pigs in their summer garb. Grab your wallpapers here and they should fit most devices.

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Before May is too far in the rearview mirror, here are a few posts that I shared elsewhere last month!



Father's Day will be here before long, and this keychain is a project that you can make with your kids as a gift for dad. The fingerprint portraits are fun and easy, and you'll find the tutorial at Hello Bee.



Need some fries to go with that shake? Err...wait...no. Need a card to go with that gift? Yeah, that's better! Head to Handmade Charlotte to find this printable french fry card that you can customize with all of the things you love about your dad!



Get ready for summer with embroidered borders and corners! These free patterns at The Spruce come in three styles and they're perfect for stitching along the edge of your picnic linens.



Or if you want to add some of those summer borders to the hem of a t-shirt, you'll also find my post on how to embroider on tees and other stretchy fabrics over on The Spruce. There are a few stabilizer methods to choose from, so you can find your favorite!

Happy June Crafting to you!

calendar // may flowers (and guinea pigs)

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Guinea pigs. Or at least that's what happened with this month's calendar! There I was, drawing some flowers on my screen and these two adorable little faces just popped up. I think they're looking for a sweet-smelling snack...

Speaking of flowers, I recently shared a few floral-themed posts around the internet. You can craft, stitch, or print your own flowers or accessories to accompany your flowers!



At Hello Bee you'll find these mini vases made with cans pulled from the recycling bin. It's a great way to reuse them before they are eventually recycled!



For my stitching friends, this ode to spring is surrounded by miniature embroidered flowers. The pattern is free at The Spruce, but you'd better stitch it quickly, because summer will be here soon!



Finally, if you want to add something special to a bouquet of flowers, this printable wrap has some watercolor Wild Olive flowers with faces, as well as an encouraging word. Find the free PDF at Handmade Charlotte.

Now, how about adding a May flower guinea pig calendar to your computer, phone or tablet? The sizes should fit most screens.

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Happy May to you!

calendar // a past psl for a present september

September is a good month for one very important reason: Pumpkin Spice Lattes. It's kind of a staple around here each year, and this September can be no different.

That said, I could probably stand to have a do-over for August. An unexpected blogging break and other things meant that I only created five posts here. And that just bugs me. At least a new month can be a new start of sorts.

Though I only posted five times at Wild Olive, I did manage to write a bunch for the other blogs I work with. Here are a few of those posts:



For Hello Bee, I shared this felt frame to hold your child's artwork. It would also make a great DIY gift for kids to make for grandparents or friends!



At Handmade Charlotte you can print customized crayon wrappers or give them the wild Olive treatment. Because crayons are better with faces.



Speaking of crayons with faces, this free embroidery pattern is available at About.com. Who doesn't want to stitch some dancing crayons!



For when you have some embroidery but aren't quite sure what to do with it, why not make a pillow? The sewing on this is SUPER easy!



And finally, also at About.com, you can add some flair to your embroidery scissors with a tassel charm made from embroidery floss.

Oh, and all through August, my Around the House Stitching Club has been stitching along. We're not quite done yet, but you can see what folks have been making. All their progress makes me feel like I'm doing even more than I actually am, so stitching club members deserve a special shout-out for that!

Now, let's officially jump into September! Grab yourself a PSL calendar and perhaps an actual PSL too!

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For your home screen or for keeping up through the entire PSL season, these have the PSL mugs, but no calendar. Side note, the rows of mugs are absolutely inspired by the rows of dancing beer steins in Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast.

Download the iPhone PSL Wallpaper.
Download the iPad PSL Wallpaper.

For iPhone 6+, choose the iPad version. 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.

You can also download a printable September calendar. Trim it and leave it in black and white, or enjoy a bit of coloring!

All of this talk really has me ready for a grande pumpkin spice latte, skim with whipped (my typical order!).

calendar // old buttons for august

Okay, who turned the calendar page over early? Hmmm? Seriously, can we flip it back to July? (Read to the end of this post to see a little look back at July while we're at it...) There are some good things that are happening in August that I'm excited about, so I'll keep looking forward.

One thing that makes me happy is that when I was looking through old desktop calendar artwork, I found the year of crafty designs I made. They eventually became what is now the Crafty Characters embroidery pattern in my shop. The item I focused on that August was buttons, and I think I'll have to see how I can use that again this month.

To start, grab a calendar!

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Download the 1920x1280 Wallpaper.
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For your home screen, these have the buttons, but no calendar. That makes them good as a background behind your apps, or for those of you who don't want to say goodbye to the buttons too soon.

Download the iPhone Button Wallpaper.
Download the iPad Button Wallpaper.

For iPhone 6+, choose the iPad version. 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.



As usual, there is also a printable August calendar. It is designed to be trimmed so that the lines go right off the edge of the calendar, and it's also perfect for coloring. I think there's probably just enough room to customize the buttons some too.

Now, here are some of the things I was working on around the rest of the internet during the month of July!



The folks at Hamilton Beach invited me to create a project for their Everyday Good Thinking blog, and I made this checkers set that uses felt and your favorite fabric. It's entirely no-sew and fun for taking a break from the screen.





This month at About.com, I shared my tips for stitching at larger sizes and working with larger materials (such as yarn). There's also a free fruity border pattern, and a method for embroidering flowers with felt elements.

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: Sometimes I think that there's no way that I'll be able to keep coming up with ideas for the About.com Embroidery site. And then I add a dozen more items to my list of things to write and create. It would seem that there's



Over at Handmade Charlotte, you can make my Perler Bead bracelets that are inspired by favorite fruits. They're a perfect end-of-summer project!



And finally, if you have little ones who like to do some imaginative play (of if you just want some happy felt treats!), visit Hello Bee to make your own ice cream cone playset. Naturally, I added a face to mine, because things are better with faces.

Have a wonderful and creative August, my friends!

calendar // old kites for a new march

I am seriously not okay with welcoming March today. Seriously. My days and weeks have been passing faster than ever. Very soon I'll share more about my thoughts in regards to that. For today, I think we'll just take a peek at some things I made in February before leaping into a new calendar page.

Speaking of leaping, these felt frogs fly through the air with a swift smack on their handmade catapult. I made them for Leap Day, but flying frogs are in style any day of the year. You can find them at Hello Bee.



Also at Hello Bee, if you're up for a bit of a mess, try making this taste-safe sensory paint! It's a lot of fun and perfect for little ones who might need some encouragement to touch slightly icky squishy things. This may be an ironic post from the gal who won't touch raw meat. (I won't. I can't. Please don't make me.)



If your kids like pretend play, or if you want a more creative way to accept memos at your desk, pop over to Handmade Charlotte and build a happy mailbox! You may even find that it's helpful for sending words of kindness to family members.



My most recent post at Handmade Charlotte was making some alien beanbags. Aaaaaannnnddd...there's a moon mat to go with them! Use them as a tossing game, or just let the aliens act out a little scene on their home planet.



Writing for the Embroidery site at About.com keeps me the most busy these days. Recently I shared a tutorial for making this needle book that has a bit of applique and embroidery on the cover.



Welcome friends and family into your home by stitching up a little hoop to hang inside your door. The welcome pattern is based on a design on my duvet cover, and it kinda makes me want to work on more ribboned embroidery patterns!



And finally, you can add a bit of pizazz (does anyone still say pizazz?) to that welcome hoop with some paint! Or maybe a color stain! Or even glitter! Read my tips at Embroidery.About.com.



And now on to March! The kite on this month's calendar is based on a design from just a few years ago. I simplified it for this use, and I still like it. I also like that it's not green, because not everything in March should be green.

Actually, kites are always something I associate with Easter. I used to always get a kite in my Easter basket and I would fly it in the field behind my grandparents' house. Mmmm...I miss that.

So I hope you'll indulge me by letting me fly some kites on your screen!

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

For your home screen, these have the kites, but no calendar:
Download the iPhone Kites Wallpaper.
Download the iPad Kites Wallpaper.

For iPhone 6+, choose the iPad version. 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.

You can also download and print a March calendar PDF. I recommend printing this on card stock, and then trimming it. It's a coloring calendar, and in this case, I think you should try decorating the kites with fun designs too.

Now I'm going to try and enjoy this month, while attempting to get a ton of stuff done. Wish me luck!