An Assortment of Embroidery, Sewing,and DIY Craft Projects

Friday, March 22, 2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Lavender Rice Bags

This winter I've been making lavender rice bags as gifts for friends.  I've just been using whatever flannel fabric I have, making a rectangular-ish shape, and adding rice and lavender.  For the first one I made that I gave to the boyfriend, I used dried lavender.  But when I went back to the co-op, they were out, so I went with lavender essential oil.  I decided to do top stitching on the bags as well, to reinforce them as well as to give them a more polished look. I really love the way they have turned out!  I have about two more bags of rice left out of the 25lbs I bought, which made 7 bags. Not bad!
 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Halloween 2012

This past halloween I decided to go as the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Mostly because I wanted to wear a ginormous tulle skirt. I pretty much DIY'd the entire costume, except for the undershirt.

The vest was a pattern purchased from Joanns. Do you know how difficult it was to find a vest pattern?  I thought the late 80s and early 90s were back in style?  My mom helped me with the vest, getting it sized. Although, neither of us were very good at it and it was much too large for me in the end. But since it was a one day deal, a little pinning was all I needed to make it wearable.  This was also my first time with grommets! Very exciting.
Mom helping me with the vest - used interfacing and everything!


The skirt was a beast. I think in the end it came out to over 150 yards of tulle. it was amazing. it weighed down the elastic waistbad of the skirt so much, that I kept having to pull it up!

Starting to work on the skirt

I added the red felt heart with pins and made the crown out of construction paper. Used some lipstick for makeup and away I went for Halloween storytime at the library!  Little girls just LOVED the skirt. We did a lot of twirling.

 
Before we pinned the vest to make it more wearable
 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Minneapolis Spoon and Cherry

I participated in a swap last summer, based on favorite artists. My recipient loved the artist of the Spoonbridge and Cherry at the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden, by Claes Oldenburg. This was the first time I used Pellon water soluble stabilizer which was amazing. I drew the design on the stabilizer and pinned it on the bag and put the hoop on. after I was finished all I had to do was get the bag wet and all the stabilizer disappeared! So much easier than picking out the pieces of the Glad Press N Seal like I used to use.

 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Owly Bandana

My lovely friend Rita picked pinks and oranges for her furry friend to adorn a bandana. I think she should wear it, but she said something about displaying it. Doesn't matter if it's a dust cloth, as long as she liked it!
 

Friday, March 15, 2013

Welcome, Tiny Overlord

What better way to welcome a new baby to a family than a lovely embroidered keepsake.  Thalia will know forever who was in charge the moment she entered the world.