It's so prickly!

Despite the cooler weather moving in, I was feeling a bit springish! I found this little fellow on a sugar dish I own and decided to embroider his likeness. Presenting my hedgehog:

Some close-ups:

Back shot:

He just came out so cute!

Squirrels!!!!

I have been embroidering away lately and having fun with it. This quote actually came from Harry Potter. I just think it's funny so I embroidered it:

I love the way the squirrel came out:

Words Close-up:

Back view:

So whatcha think? I like it!

Fun with Nails!

While recovering I am still being slightly crafty. My daughters and I had a blast yesterday painting and designing nail decorations. We surfed pinterest for some ideas then went to town! My youngest daughter choose to go with a cupcake theme and my oldest went with a marble effect. So here is a tutorial for the cupcake nails:
Start with clean dry nails. Paint the tips of the nail the color you would like for the cupcake liner. We choose blue with purple stripes.

Then paint a semicircle of white on top. Dip down a few times to get the effect of icing dripping over the edges of the liner.

Then decorate your cupcake. We just put a few dashes of yellowish color for sprinkles. Of course after you decorate add a "cherry" of red nail polish on top. Cover with a clear coat to make it last a bit and enjoy!

As for my other daughter's nail we didn't take during pictures so I will have to write a tutorial another day but here's how they turned out:

We had so much fun doing this!

Hometown Love

I've seen version of this embroidery all over the web. I love my hometown, RVA! So what better way than to embroidery it?

Here's a close up view:

This was a cute and simple embroidery. I googled an outline of Virginia and sketched it out. It hangs on my Hoopla wall representing hometown pride!

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a CRAFT!!!!

Yes indeedy folks I have actually been crafting again! I've been working on some embroideries and some crochet hats. I've been having a lot of fun with them too! So here is my lovey-dovey embroidery:

Some close-ups:

I took some liberty with the words from the song Lump by The Presidents of the United States of America video found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sj_U6vObUA

I've always loved that line so why not embroider it? I think it turned out fairly decent...

Oh Boy!

Summer is officially started in our house! Yea!!! Graduation ceremonies have been held, final exams are finished, and the kids are so excited! I always loved the beginning of summer feeling, so many possibilities await! So now for some pics!
I am going to be in so much trouble, just look how beautiful my girlies are:




On another note, I want to join some sort of blog challenge or link party but I haven't decided which one to go for. I like the idea of challenging myself daily. Are there any out there you like to do?

I also want to really stock up my etsy store. I have a tendency to give away my crafts, but I'd really like to sell some too! Maybe I should challenge myself to some sort of craft challenge. Also, what is the deal with this new t.v. show?


">


How did I miss this? My BFF Dede and I MUST get on this show! I will definitely be glued to the t.v.!

Ketchup!

What a busy few days it's been! I have had a bit of extra stress on me and that has made my anxiety act up and that's just so much fun to battle. Tomorrow is my 2nd oldest spawn's last day of school the others are pretty much done on Thursday. My baby girl had her 9th birthday yesterday:


She's growing up so fast! After Thursday she will be my last kid in elementary school...

I have also been working on teacher's gifts. So far my best is a cute little embroidered sun glass case:


Hopefully things will calm down or at least could hopefully be slightly less stressful. Luckily I was able to hang out with my BFFs this past weekend and that always recharges me




What recharges you?

Tardis anyone??

I have a confession to make... I am not a huge Dr. Who fan, but almost everyone else in my family is so I have absorbed a lot of the show. So the time had come for me to create, the Tardis:



A closer view:

Anyone else need some inspiration?

'Cause I sure need some inspiration! So check out these AMAZING works! Dia de los Muertos sugar skull:

http://mypaperskies.tumblr.com/post/21134033717/day-of-the-dead-skulls-nicola-de-jager

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94711882/custom-embroidered-pet-portrait-made-to I believe I've mentioned my love of Eddie Izzard, here's one of his quotes that is used almost daily in my house:

http://makingislands.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/cake-or-death/

http://paperrosedesigns.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/embroidery-satin-stitching/ So are you feeling it? I'm off to attack some fabric.....

Owlie Stuffie

I can't ever send just one thing when I participate in a swap. I don't know why, I just always want to add at least one more thing. So in my latest swap, from Wild Olive: http://wildolive.blogspot.com/ I added this cute little owlie stuffie:

aDOErable embroiDOEr

This sweet little doe is from a pattern on Hoop Love Vintage Transfers http://www.flickr.com/groups/hooplove/ I veered off the pattern with the flowers but I like the way they came out. The doe was simple and is so sweet looking!

Boo Yah!!!!

I have finished my embroidery for the Wild Olive swap (see over there---->)
I would show it to you but I don't want to ruin the surprise, once my partner receives I'll post pics. I am in such an embroidery mood now! I want to make up some new designs and make a Hoopla wall display in my house! Unfortunately I don't have a craft room so I'm not sure where I'll put them but I'll find a place. Here are some embroideries that make my jaw drop or my heart feel all warm and toasty:


http://www.etsy.com/listing/62664984/flappers-iron-on-hand-embroidery-pattern


http://www.etsy.com/listing/87394593/portrait-embroidered-wall-art-custom




http://jdmakesthings.com/work/handmade/bike/


For some reason negative space embroidery is fascinating me:




http://ducksinarowevents.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-throwback-making-music-with-puffy.html

Oh Boy Am I nervous!

So today I signed up to do a swap online. I signed up for an embroidery swap through Wild Olive: http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-wild-olive-stitch-swap.html#comment-form I've done several swaps through Punky Moms and one through Craftster but this is my first time doing a swap through a blog! I'm so excited but nervous, what if my stuff sucks? Oh well, I signed up and am going to rock it out!

On another great note, my BFF is now 99% cancer free!!! She's so freakin' awesome and I am so happy for her!!! I love you BFF!!!!

Oh My Burning Heart

I've completed another felt embroidery! This is my own design that I stitched on felt. I also painted the embroidery hoop black to make it really pop. I hope you enjoy!

What to do with THIS?

I had a great idea! I got a plain plastic headband and decided to cover it with felt. Specifically a felt that I had embroidered a cool ass peacock feather on it. So I picked out the felt and started embroidering away. When I finished I was quite proud of it! However I did not think this thing through. The felt is way to big for the headband, width wise and I'm not sure what to do with this cool feather, any ideas? I'm thinking about a bookmark or attaching it to more felt and some elastic and try to salvage the headband idea. Hhhmmmm...

Moustache Ninja!!!!!

Yes folks, he is real, it's.....


THE MOUSTACHE NINJA!!!!