Are you on Instagram? Then you should definitely check me out on there! I’m currently offering a pretty sweet giveaway. Enter to WIN A SPOT in the Crafted Artisan Truck’s upcoming embroidery workshop being taught by the folks of Needle & Pine. We could all use more things to do with our hands, right!?
I have had a printout of this button embroidery project sitting in my sewing room for quite some time now. I keep eying it, wondering just when I’ll have a chance to stitch it up. It will continue to remain in the “one day” pile of projects, but here’s hoping that “one day” will come soon.
This particular pattern was done by doe-c-doe and is available for free download.
Happy stitching!
Source: doecdoe.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest
There has been some more crafting going on, one small stitch at a time. I prepared several embroidery hoops with a variety of lovely fabrics (thanks mom for letting me raid your stash of prints). Oh yes, I know it’s hard to believe that I would need to raid someone else’s fabric stash given the vastness of my own crazy stash, but I wanted to use particular prints. My mom has been busy working away on Sam’s baby quilt, all of which is made from 1930’s reproduction prints and I was keen to use these same type of prints to decorate the nursery. The inspiration for this embroidery hoop decor can be seen on one of my Pinterest boards. I’ve been slowly working away on hand stitching designs onto each, a bit every evening between Sam’s feeds, when I can hand him over to hubby and have both hands free. Hopefully I’ll be done soon and I’ll share the finished project once the hoops are hung in the nursery.
Yep, I actually did some crafting this week. AND not only did I do some crafting, I completed a little project! Here’s my first Button-spiration completed craft project. I posted about it on Wednesday. I quickly discovered that it was a perfect thing to work on in the evenings while Sam dozed between feedings. It whipped together nicely and it was so enjoyable to spend some time with my beloved buttons! This rainbow hoop of buttons is destined to be hung in the nursery. Now Sam has something colorful to look at in there (or maybe it’s more that mama has something to look at…). Either way it felt wonderful to get back to some crafting, no matter how simple.
Hope you can find a few spare moments in your day to create, whether it’s cast on some stitches, doodle in your sketchbook or cut out a few pieces of fabric.
I am quickly discovering how tricky it is to write on this blog with any much frequency and at any great length now that Sam is in my life. I have, however, been spending many late nights and pre-dawn hours surfing Pinterest while nursing my little man. I’ve been collecting lots of inspiration for future craft projects when both my hands are free and my brain is slightly less consumed by all things baby. This is how the idea for a new weekly post was born. “Button-spiration” will feature a new button craft each week. Some of them I may have already tried, some may get filed away for “some day”, and many will probably never be attempted. Inspiration is, after all, about being stimulated and getting excited about an idea, even if it doesn’t lead to a finished product. And inspiration is something I could a healthy dose of each day while I continue my recovery.
So here we go, the first of many button loving craft projects to share with you:
Definitely want to make a version of this to hang in the nursery. So colorful and cheery, what’s not to love? I even have an embroidery hoop and fabric all prepped to do this. Just need to pick out my button rainbow.
Source: littlebitfunky.com via Sarah on Pinterest
This sweet little treasure was made by Jana Pruden, a crime reporter for the Edmonton Journal (go figure) and one of my favorite designers at the Make It show. It was truly wonderful to have our booth right next to hers and I watched the love and detail that went into everything she made right before my eyes. All the little details, from the wooden ironing board in her booth to the clothespin tags to the vintage fabric she wraps each purchase in, are just perfect. I’m seriously very inspired by the whole experience she offers customers, not just the product. AND this is just a hobby for Jana! She hand embroiders a whole variety of images and text on various items (pillow cases, hankies, aprons, bloomers, etc). I put in a special request for this hankie, a jackalope on linen, which she whipped up one evening. Many thanks to her for that! It became a sweet little anniversary gift for Marcus (the fourth year is apparently silk or linen gifts). Of course, the hankie came complete with instructions on how to use it for more than nose wiping purposes.
Like to read a bit more about Jana? There’s an interview for the Make It show that she was included in. And here’s a slightly more dated interview, but focuses on her passion for crime reporting.
Now, as for hand embroidery… Sublime Stitching is THE place to start yourself off on the right foot. Jenny Hart will get you set-up with super hip and sassy patterns, plus, there’s kits if you want to start off that way. I’ve had my eyes on many of the patterns available through Sublime Stitching and I might just have to get back into doing some more embroidery. Seriously, who can resist the Sexy Librarians or the Dia de Los Muertos. Oh and perfect Christmas gift for hubby… the Meaty Treats.
Happy stitching everyone!