An Assortment of Embroidery, Sewing,and DIY Craft Projects

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Owl Swear Owl Stop Making Owl's

Soon. Very Soon. (But never bad puns.  They are my bread and butter)

Back to the matter at hand. This little guy.  He even rattles!  Next time, note to self, move his feet up higher.

First, I cut him out. I drew out the shapes. Sometimes I used circles, but more often than not I free handed.


There he is, all put together. Too bad you can't see his cute little feet. Next doll I need to remember to sew them up higher.  I also didn't stuff him as much as I have before...hopefully that helps with coming apart at the seems ;)



And lookey what I put on his tushy!


Friday, March 30, 2012

Stitch Swap Sugar Skull Fin!

I finished my Sugar Skull in the nick of time for the March Wild Olive Stitch Swap. Phew!

I just have to drop it off at the post office tomorrow and fingers crossed my person enjoys what I made!


I'll post what I recieve once it arrives in the mail...hopefully it doesn't put what I make to shame too much!  The pictures on the Stitch Swap flickr page are amazing!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Sewing! (machine, 101, 102)

Did I tell you I bought a new sewing machine? No? I did! And it is awesome.  My sister from another mister Kim recommended the one she got several months back.  I'm so glad I did.  It is amazing using a machine that is so simple and intuitive.  I only got it last Friday and I've already used it three times.  What machine you ask?
This machine!


Ah, so beautiful.  I love it.  Ok, enough Sewing Machine lust.

On Sunday I took a Sewing 101 class at JoAnn's.  I basically learned how to use my new machine - winding the bobbin, threading the needle, tension, stitches, straight lines, etc.  We didn't produce anything, but it was a great two hours of playing with the different functions of the machine.

Tonight I took a follow up class, Sewing 102.  Our goal - to make a pillow.  From a pattern.  I had never used a pattern before, so I was excited to rip into it.  We first cut out all the pieces of the pattern.  We had to do two squares for the front and back of the pillow sham.  We had to slightly enlarge the pattern - the pattern was for a 15 inch pillow, which don't exist.  So we increased the size of the pillow by a half inch on either side to accommodate at 16 inch pillow, hence the larger fabric than pattern.



For the back of the sham, we went with the overlapping pieces for closure, rather than sewing it call closed together.  I'll show later.

The other pieces were for the embellished part of the pillow - 7 circles in gradually smaller sizes.


Then it was a matter of sewing our circles on the front piece of the sham, starting with the largest.  Sewing, sewing, sewing....



After all the circles were sewed on, we removed the fabric markings with a damp paper towel.  Next was the back of the sham.  We took our back piece, which we cut larger than the front piece and then cut that piece in half.  We hemmed one side of each of those pieces.  After those were hemmed we pinned the back piece and front piece together. Now it was time for the last go, making straight stitches and pivots around the corners of the pillow.

Then BAM! We were done!  We turned our shams right side out, stuffed with the pillow form, and admired our hard work.


Brought home my prize project and put it on the couch.



This is the back of the pillow - you can see how the two overlapping seams cover the pillow.  Not sure what the technical name for it is.


And closed up tight, looking nice and sleek.



I'm so excited my first project was such a brilliant success.  I can't wait to try something else!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Sewing Essentials?

Since I'm new to sewing, I'm throwing this out there - what are your sewing essentials?  I am going to be doing craft and clothes sewing mostly - maybe throw in a curtain here and there.  Leave me a comment and tell me what I should have in my sewing room.

I'm going to see if my dad can make me something like this...




Sunday, March 4, 2012

Mason Jar Pin Cushion

I whipped up a couple of these mason jar pin cushions tonight. They're not perfect - I can't get the tops to screw on right.  But they screw on, so, success!


Wild Olive Stitch Swap update

I got started on my project today for the Wild Olive stitch swap.

The only basic rule is that it has to be in a 4in embroidery hoop.

Design:

Floss and Fabric:

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Stitch Swap

I joined a stitch swap!  I'm super excited, to make something new for someone and to receive something in return.

Wild Olive Stitch Swap

I have a great idea about what I'm going to make for my person - I think a Mexican Sugar Skull.  I hope I choose wisely, based on looking over her blog!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Guest Posted over at A Librarian's Lists and Letters

I guest posted over at A Librarian's Lists and Letters.

I first met Shannon the @BrassyLibrarian on twitter and I fell in love with her blog. I felt like she was writing my thoughts.  Lucky for me, I got the chance to meet her when I was visiting my sister. 

So check me out and then follow her. We young librarians gotta stick together!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

The CraftySFH on Etsy!

I started an Etsy shop today - so far with items made to order. Once I get past making gifts, I can make some things to get an inventory of ready to ship items.  Keep me in mind when you're looking for great personalized gifts!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Stuffed Owl

Pillow or Doll?

You choose.  I free handed the pattern...just took some elements of different stuffed owls I liked and tried it out on my own.  I like the result...I think next time I'll try for more owl shape in the fabric, instead of just relying on the felt.

Stuffed Owl
Materials:
Two pieces of smallish-rectanglish fabric
Purple, blue, white, orangey-brown felt
Purple, orangey-brown and white embroidery floss (I used the white floss to close the bottom)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Dr. Who Knows

Confession: I have never seen Dr. Who. I know nothing of the fandom.

That said, I have this friend. A new friend who turned 30 yesterday. I thought I'd whip him up something special for his birthday since we were getting together tonight. I searched around the internets and found something that seemed awesome to me (for one who doesn't know the Dr.)


Tardis, flying?

See, awesome, right?  I decided to have a go at it myself...a little embroidery, a little felt, and looked fast.  And it was!  It took me longer to pluck the press n seal out between the circles and spokes.  I also had fun working with the felt and combining it with stitches.  It's a messy little thing, but, let's be honest. He's a boy and I think Tardis doesn't mind a little mess.

My Tardis..

circle and spokes

felt cut out

Starting the stitching of Tardis

Done! Please note I even stitched "Police Box" at the top

I'm hoping my friend will like it - I mean, probably embroidery isn't a dude's top idea of a present. If this doesn't make him happy, maybe the half dozen chocolate chip cookies I'm bringing along with it will....

UPDATE: He said he liked it...so I'll believe him. And it found a place of honor on his mantle.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Cloth Doll

After seeing all sorts of cute cloth dolls around pinterest and the blogosphere, I decided to have a go at it after randomly paging through this book Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Tea Towel.

It looked easy enough....so I picked up some soft flannel fabric at Joanns along with some felt and gave it the old college try.  I based the doll a bit off the pattern in the book, but did stray out on my own.

This project was so fast and fun - the end result is cute, but not cute enough for the cutest baby in the world.

Cloth Doll:

Materials:
Soft flannel yellow polka dot fabric
Purple, green, orangey-brown, and pastey white girl felt
Green, red, orangey-brown, and yellow floss

I LOVE the way the hair turned out, especially the bangs.  I have ideas for revamping the next ones I make...wait for it....wait for it....No seriously, wait for it. I've got two other projects in the hopper right now.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Upcoming Projects

Just to let you know I haven't quit on the blog...I just haven't had a Finished Object (FO) in a while!

My upcoming projects are:

Commissioned birthday apron
Birthday apron for Molly
Birthday present for Rachel
Tutu for Rita (so she can run in style)
Embroidered gift for Rita