Making Those Best Laid Plans

Redwork Embroidered Monthly Snowmen

I haven't felt too crafty the last few weeks. We have been busy painting kitchen cabinets and walls. The house seems to be in chaos and I am one of those rare individuals who cannot focus on anything creative unless all the house is in order. Crazy, I know. Most artsy people thrive on chaos but not me. I sort of shut down creatively. But...I did see on the calendar that September is National Sewing Month. That has put me to thinking and planning. What do I need or want to sew, machine or hand, in the month of September? My list, I am sure, is incomplete but I am hoping it will spur me in to action. 

Piece the embroidered monthly snowmen quilt.
Embroider quilt pieces for Christmas gift.
Sew daughter's tiger print dress using this tutorial pattern.
Sew floor cushions for daughter.
Embroider bacon kitchen piece for son. (Bacon is his favorite food)
Sew wonder wallets that are cut out.
Embroider my monthly sew alongs.
Christmas stockings for my family.
Work on yo-yo stash.
Sew a few mug rugs for gift stash.
Cover for ironing board.
Hoop projects for wall in sewing room.

This list should keep me busy for a couple of months! What about you? Do you have a sewing list for September? Share it here! I love to get inspired by projects made by you!

Second half of monthly redwork snowmen.

sharing:

http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/2012/08/fabulous-friday-link-party-16.html
http://www.craftionary.net/2012/08/friday-fun-party-and-features-308.html
http://www.happyhourprojects.com/2012/08/happy-hour-friday-0831.html

Crafty Sheep June Challenge - A Double Hoop Embroidery

 

I am a few days late, okay, make that 6 days late in completing and posting my Crafty Sheep June Challenge. I found the Stitcher's Revolution packet Sew Crafty at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago. I am working on a hoop collection for a wall in my sewing room and thought this pattern packet would make some fun additions. I chose to make the embroidery hoop design. To be able to use all the June colors was a challenge. I managed to get a tiny bit of the deep red in the bolt for the hoop fastener. The silvery blue was used in the needle and and the top of the hoop brackets. The deeper gold was stitched for the screw. I love how it turned out. I used the following stitches: Satin stitch for the screw, bolt and hoop. Back stitch around the hoop and the needle. Stem stitch for thread attached to the needle. Running stitch for the embroidery design. Now I am to decide what to make for the Crafty Sheep July Challene. Why don't you join in the fun?

Found this pattern set at my local Hobby Lobby for $ 2.95.

sharing:

http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/2012/07/fabulous-friday-link-party-9.html
http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-38-par-tay/
http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com/2012/07/fabulous-friday-33.html
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2012/07/sunday-showcase-party-no-109.html
http://shakentogether.blogspot.com/2012/07/whats-shakin-link-party-16-party-faves.html
http://www.serendipityandspice.com/2012/07/manic-monday-linky-party-26.html
http://anoriginalbelle.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-yourself-monday-36-link-up.html
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2012/07/craft-linky-party-inspire-me-monday-hot.html
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2012/07/welcome-to-80th-masterpiece-monday.html
http://sewchatty.blogspot.com/2012/07/made-with-love-link-up_08.html
http://www.sewcando.com/2012/07/craftastic-link-up-giveaway-news-new.html
http://thesoutherninstitute.com/2012/07/creative-me-link-up-24/
http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2012/07/mix-it-up-monday_08.html
http://todayscreativeblog.net/craft-paint/
http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-7-10/
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2012/07/show-me-what-ya-got-82.html
http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2012/06/one-project-at-time-tuesday-link-party.html
http://shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/2012/07/link-party-26.html

http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2012/07/whatever-goes-wednesday-125.html

A Little Stitching & A Lot Of Traveling

The last two weeks I have spent more time in a car than anywhere. In the midst of our travels, I found time to stitch this Tea Time hoop and make these fabric button magnets for the fridge. I purchased the embroidery pattern from Urban Threads. My favorite part of this stitchery is the french knots I used for bubbling tea. These two items are being sent to my recipient in the Craftaholics Anonymous Gift Exchange. 

Fabric shopping and pool day.

The Bone Garden Cantina

Two weeks ago, I spent two days with my daughter in Atlanta. We shopped and ate the first day, visiting a great quilt store, Intown Quilters, a crafters boutique, The Beehive, and lastly went to an outdoor craft festival. The second day was pure relaxation at the pool. We had the entire pool to ourselves and then we headed to lunch at The Bone Garden Cantina, where we had wonderful food. The murals on the wall were so interesting I have included a few photos. The beautiful woman? Our daughter, Hanna. :)

Stan and I traveled to DC on Wednesday of last week. We visited our dear friend, David's, grave.  Our friend, LouCinda's father, passed early last year and was cremated. His funeral at Arlington was the Monday of last week. He was a wonderful man, a WWII Air Force Pilot veteran and hero. We found and visited his resting place while we were there.

On Friday, we drove over to Baltimore, MD. We have never been to the city and loved it. We didn't love the 105 degrees but the city was beautiful. 

Water Taxi Views

That evening, we had wonderful club seat tickets to see the Orioles play the Indians. We are huge baseball fans and getting to attend a game at Camden Yards was a highlight of the day. It is a beautiful stadium and we had a wonderful time.

We are home now. Road weary but so glad to have had the time together. This week is shaping up to be a productive week and I hope to have more crafty items to show as the week progresses.


Sharing here:
http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/summer-2012-handmade-gift-exchange-linky-party
http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2012/07/creative-me-link-up-and-giveaway.html
http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-37-par-tay/
http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/2012/06/fabulous-friday-link-party-8.html
http://www.happyhourprojects.com/2012/07/happy-hour-friday-0706.html
http://myturn-evelyn.blogspot.com/2012/07/freedom-fridays-9.html
http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2012/07/linky_party_95/
http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/2012/07/feature-friday-free-for-all-28.html
http://www.craftionary.net/2012/07/friday-fun-party-and-features-57.html
http://www.joyinthejumble.com/2012/07/pomp-party-25.html
http://www.the36thavenue.com/lets-party
http://www.504main.com/2012/07/tickled-pink-no-105.html
http://www.countrymommacooks.com/2012/07/link-and-greet-24.html

Crafty Sheep's May Color Challenge

Crafty Sheep is giving a color challenge each month for any type of craft. I wanted to practice a few embroidery stitches and found this fabric in my stash that matched perfectly. This was my first time embroidering on the print of a fabric. It was easy, fun and I love the colors. 

Check out Crafty Sheep's blog for June's color challenge and join us this month.

http://www.craftysheep.net/2012/06/04/may-color-challenge-wrap-up/

sharing:

http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2012/06/wow-me-wednesday-54.html

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/06/wow-us-wednesdays-69.html

http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/

http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2012/06/whatever-goes-wednesday-120.html

http://howtonestforless.com/2012/06/11/just-a-party-with-my-peeps-18/

http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2012/06/creative-me-link-up_10.html

http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2012/06/mix-it-up-monday_10.html#more

http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-34-par-tay/

http://www.craftionary.net/2012/06/friday-fun-party-and-features-76.html

http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2012/06/uncommonly-yours-link-party-32.html#.T9fUpbWJd2A

May Stitch Along, Dancing Veggies Flour Sack Towel

I participated in the May Stitch Along with New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns on Flikr. The options were so varied. The month of May is host to many national days and we could choose from any of the following: Dance, BBQ, Salad or Flowers. I chose to combine the dance and salad combination with my Dancing Veggies pattern. I found the pattern on Hoop Love Vintage Transfer by mmaammbr. The link for the pattern is  http://www.flickr.com/photos/29529717@N04/6330079313/in/set-72157612501164047 if you would like to print it off for your use. 

I printed the pattern and the traced it with a Clover Transfer Pencil.

After tracing the pattern, turn pattern pencil side down on to the surface that you want the pattern to appear and iron with a hot (no steam) heat.

The pattern is transferred lightly on to the fabric.

When deciding which pattern to stitch, I was looking for one that would be easy to crayon tint. I have never done any tinting but I had seen little dear tracks tutorial, http://littledeartracks.blogspot.com/2010/06/crayon-tinting.html, and loved the effects. It was easy and I loved this new 

technique.

I then followed little dear track's instruction and lightly colored the areas I wanted to tint. I then placed a clean piece of white printer paper and ironed the wax off. This set the tint but removed the wax. Easy peasy.

I finished the flour sack towel by ruffling a 2 1/4" strip of fabric. I had the fabric in my stash. I followed the directions from Made By Lex, http://www.madebylex.com/2010/12/how-to-ruffle-fabric-with-your-sewing-machine.html, to make my ruffle and then sewed down the middle seam to attach it to the towel. 

I love how my little kitchen towel turned out. Aren't the veggies cute? My son was visiting last night and said they were creepy! LOL. 


Sharing:
http://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com/2012/05/too-cute-tuesday-linky-par-tay-85.html
http://todayscreativeblog.net/make-something-creative/#more-10792
http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-522/
http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2012/05/one-project-at-time_22.html
http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2012/05/wow-me-wednesday-52.html
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/05/wow-us-wednesdays-67.html
http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/05/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-17.html
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2012/05/whatever-goes-wednesday-118.html
http://www.the36thavenue.com/2012/05/party-time-56.html
http://www.craftionary.net/2012/05/friday-fun-party-and-giveaway-with.html
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/05/28/made-by-you-monday-102/
http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2012/05/creative-me-link-up_27.html
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2012/05/overflowing-with-creativity-526.html
http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2012/05/mix-it-up-monday_27.html
http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-32-par-tay-giveaway-winner/
http://www.happyhourprojects.com/2012/05/happy-hour-friday-0525.html

Wild Olive Hoop Swap Extra Addition

Mollie over at Wild Olive blog hosted an embroidery hoop swap. For whatever reason, some participants weren't able to fulfill their commitments and that left some not receiving their anticipated swap item. Mollie posted about it and asked if any one would like to do an additional hoop knowing there would not be one received back. I decided to let Mollie know I would be happy to participate, if needed, because I had enjoyed the experience of both giving and receiving. And it really is true, it is more blessed to give than receive. I was excited to make up a new 4" hoop with the colors and motifs suggested by my new partner. I found these beautiful threads in her desired colors and a fun pack of iron-on embroidery patterns. I hope she enjoys her little hoop. I loved making it and getting it packed and sent out on Monday morning.

DMC thread colors used for embroidery was
733, 3808, 3809, 3810, 3813, 3819.

When I completed the embroidery, I removed it from my plastic hoop and placed it in the covered wood hoop with it backed with the above fabric. I trimmed around the edges, hot glued the edges down then glued the rick rack on the outer edge and the inner side of the hoop to hide the raw edges. I like the finished look the trim gave it.

Sharing at:

http://www.countrymommacooks.com/2012/05/link-and-greet-19.html

http://www.the36thavenue.com/2012/05/party-time-55.html

http://www.craftionary.net/2012/05/friday-fun-party-and-features-20.html

http://www.happyhourprojects.com/2012/05/happy-hour-friday-0518.html

http://www.livelaughrowe.com/live-laugh-linky-10/

http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/05/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-16.html

http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/2012/05/feature-friday-free-for-all-20.html

http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/2012/05/linky_party_88/

http://www.simplyklassichome.com/2012/05/simply-klassic-sunday-and-features.html

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-29/

http://my1929charmer.com/my-1-year-blogaversary-continues-sundays-best-31-and-giveaways/

http://shakentogether.blogspot.com/2012/05/whats-shakin-link-party-9-party-faves.html

http://www.serendipityandspice.com/2012/05/manic-monday-19.html

http://anoriginalbelle.blogspot.com/2012/05/make-it-yourself-monday-29-link-up.html

http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2012/05/inspire-me-monday-and-promise.html

http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2012/05/welcome-to-73rd-masterpiece-monday.html

http://sewchatty.blogspot.com/2012/05/made-with-love-link-up_20.html

http://www.sewcando.com/2012/05/promote-your-projects-at-craftastic.html

http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2012/05/creative-me-link-up_20.html

http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2012/05/mix-it-up-monday_20.html

Crafty Sheep's April Color Challenge

I blogged about Crafty Sheep's April Color Challenge 

(http://pam-thebestlaidplans.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-post_9696.html) mid-month. I have loved the cuffs I have seen at the various link parties I visit. There is such an array of styles. I decided to try making a cuff using the color challenge as my guide. I love how the colors all came together. I used a scrap of a polk-a-dot fabric and lined with a stripe scrap. The button came out of my button jar, the orange elastic I had from making pony tail holders with covered buttons. Embroidery thread and machine thread all were already in my supplies. Cost for this project- $0.00! I love projects where I am able to shop at home in my own supplies, don't you? 

I used stem stitch, back stitch and french knots to complete this cuff.

Back side of cuff.

Isn't it cute? I love the colors that were chosen for this project.

Linking up:
http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-28-par-tay/
http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2012/04/mix-it-up-monday_29.html
http://shakentogether.blogspot.com/2012/04/whats-shakin-link-party-6-party-faves.html
http://www.the36thavenue.com/2012/05/sticker-time-and-party-time-53.html
http://www.craftionary.net/2012/05/friday-fun-party-and-features-18.html
http://www.happyhourprojects.com/2012/05/happy-hour-friday-0504.html
http://www.joyinthejumble.com/2012/05/pomp-party-16-and-features.html
http://herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com/2012/05/fabulous-friday-24.html

April Color Challenge

Crafty Sheep has an April Color Challenge for needle-workers. She chose the color palette from Design Seeds  (http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/sweet-neon) and gave the palette as the only guideline with a finished date being the end of the month. I really like having set guidelines, even one this simple, when working on a project. I am definitely a list-making organizer, even in my creativity, so this challenge suits me and gives me a goal for the next couple of weeks.

I went to my thread boxes, after printing the color palette, and was able to get very close to the design colors. I then chose a free embroidery pattern that I had pinned a while back from Needle 'n Thread (http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/08/linea-embroidery-simple-and-quick.html). I have a specific completed project in mind, one I have not made before. 

If you are interested in joining the April Color Challenge, go visit Alexis at http://www.craftysheep.net/2012/04/05/april-color-challenge-sweet-neon/#comment-190 and leave her a comment letting her know. I can't wait to see what others come up with. 

My threads are all DMC colors with the numbers listed in the corner.

WIP - St. Patrick's Day Embroidery

Our house is in disarray. We are prepping to paint the kitchen, living room and hallway. All the walls have been stripped of any pictures, nails removed and today I start the process of filling in with putty and sanding. Since I didn't have good place to hang one of the many printable floating around about St. Patrick's day, I thought I would work on a flour sack dish towel. I looked through a lot of my old patterns and found this from http://www.redwork.info/. They have free patterns each month plus additional patterns for purchase. The pattern I am using is from designer Barbara Parrish dated 2003. It was designed for redwork but I am going with several colors that represent traditional St. Patrick's Day. 

If you are on Pinterest, I have a board just for St. Patrick's Day. Please stop by and repin to your heart's content. The link is http://pinterest.com/pammy1965/st-patrick-s-day/.  

Sweet C's Design has a beautiful free Irish Blessing Printable here, http://sweetcsdesigns.com/archives/3282.

I should be mopping the floor blog has a cute LUCK printable. http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2012/02/luck-free-printable.html

Sweet Rose Studio has a 4 selection choice of an adorable printable here, 

http://sweetrosestudio.com/2012/02/luckiest-people-alive-printable.html#comment-2415

Don't you love these printables? I am so appreciative for the designers that are willing to share their work for free. Head over and download your free printable but also leave them a message of thanks. I have downloaded them and storing them for next year when I will have a finished wall to put them on.