You can hop on over to the Lark Crafts blog site right now and check out my latest last minute gift idea! The tutorial is all there and then of course you can attach the tag to my Simply Stitched Gifts book!
These tags are the thing I do when I'm feeling creative but don't want to spend too too much time on a big project.
And, add a few words of Thanks, Birthday Wishes or Encouragment and they'll make a nice little gift all by themselves!
Click here is find the exact tag!
|
|
Yay ... it seems like forever ago that I was working on Simply Stitched Gifts, a free motion stitching book ... It's finally out in book stores and being sold on Amazon!
Here are a few of my very favorite projects in the book and actually as I was thumbing through it I was reminded that there really is something for everyone here ... and if you don't know how to free motion stitch, guess what ... instructions are included in the front basics section! Oh and thanks to Jen Osborn for contributing a couple of projects to my book. Jen's honey and wheat market tote is the best!
As you can probably see ... free motion stitching or free motion quilting is one of my most favorite things to do ... it's like sketching with you sewing machine ... it's freeing and really, there are no rules!
In Simply Stitched Gifts I've combined a love of fabric, stitching, sketching and painting to create super fun mixed media gifts to give or to just make and keep!
Here's the thing ... I love to teach ... be it free motion stitching, sewing, quilting, or photography, I just love to teach and I feel like with all my books, that's exactly what I'm doing! I hope you enjoy this book and I hope that you enjoy learning this fun technique ... free motion stitching!
|
|
Look what just arrived from Amazon! Coastal Crafts!
I'm so excited to share this book with you!
I feel like I gave birth to this book years ago ... seriously, it feels like a lifetime ago that I was stitching fish garland and painting seashells!
Here's a few fun facts about this book ... First, it's a multi craft book ... so it's not just sewing, or gluing or painting ... it's all crafty things in one book! And second, I intentionally created every project from supplies and materials that can be purchased at your local craft store like Michael's or Joann's! How fun it that?
Yup, I painted shells all nice and white to make this heart shaped hearth wreath ...
These candlesticks were one of the first projects I created for the book and I think they may be my favorite too!
And I covered these chuncky letters with glue to adorn my front porch!
Here are just a handful of other projects offered in the book to really get you into that beachy, coastal mood ... you know, cause summer is here, right, and who doesn't like a little coastal craftiness in there home during the warmer summer months?
LOVE this lampshade covered with the antique nautical map! LOVE!
And ... Nautical flag garland anyone? Yes, PLEASE!
And of course ... Linen pillows with huge stenciled shells are the perfect coastal touch for any window seat with a garden or beach view!
Oh, and a little embroidery on a few dishtowels make just the perfect hostess gift!
Or how about a little plaster and sand memorabilia!
Ok, so ... what are you waiting for ... seriously ... grab your copy of Coastal Crafts here on Amazon or anywhere craft books are sold, and get your craftiness on! Also, check out this nice post that Lark Crafts has up on their site today!
Enjoy!
|
|
How fun to be a part of this amazing blog hop for Stitch, Craft, Create. With these 2 fabulous books coming out soon, 50 Fat Quarters Makes and Retro Mama: Scrap Happy Sewing ... A blog hop is the perfect way to catch up on what's going on out there in the blog world of some of the most talented designers/stitchers/crafters!
Look how fresh this cover is ... Oh and lookie there, how cute, my craft bucket is right there on the cover!
So spring is officially here and if you're like a lot of people that usually means spring cleaning! But wait ... that does not mean that you need to throw out your fabric stash ... Oh No ...it just means that you get to paw through it all as you are orgnizing it and you get to imagine all the fun projects waiting to be created!
You see, I have soooo much fabric but nothing is more inspiring to me than to just sit on my craft room floor, pull out the bins of fabric and scarps, and to fold and organize those bins ... it's like I discover all my favorite fabrics all over again!
So, as some of you know, I LOVE sewing details and I LOVE to hand sew ... so here's a peek at some of the details from the projects I contributed to 50 Fat Quarters Makes!
Just a little stitching detail on the pocket of this fabulous apron ... did you know that I used to manufacture a line of activewear back in the early 1990's? It was all about the details and the stitching quality!
Oh, um ... just a little snippet of a mug rug made with just 1 or maybe 2 fat quarters ... Ugh, can't remember!
Ok, how cute is that pig, rooster, chicken, sheep and fence fabric? I mean seriously!
Ah ... the craft bucket ... Mixing and matching of all those fabulous fat quarters and scraps! What fun!
And the baby doll or Teddy Bear mini quilt ... perfect for a spring picnic with your favorite little girl or boy!
Ok ... hop along to the other blog posts and check out what's going on ... rumor has it there are even several giveaways going on with books, fabric and fat quarters to be won!
|
|
This little (8 x 8 inch) book, Fat Quarters; Small Fabrics, More Than 50 Big Ideas, is just packed with wonderful, creative and inspirational stitched projects! Amanda Caretsio and the entire Lark Crafts team did an amzaing job pulling this book together ... Bravo Team! It's a must have and a go to kind of book for those of us that collect Fat Quarters! Yup ... I love the size of a Fat Quarter!
Also, not going to lie, I had the amazing opportunity to contribute a handful of projects to this book! Oh and ... I actually lived with and handled every projects while photographing this book! You guessed it ... I fell in love with so many of the projects ... All of them were so well constructed ... made my job as photographer, way easy! Thanks to all the designers!
Of course I had favorites projects ... these cone hats are timeless! Too bad my kids are all adults now!
But I think this is one of my favorite photos in the book!
So, something you might not know about me ... I love to create patterns for 3-d things! It's a challenge but I totally love to think in 3-d terms! And I love little birds!
Perched on a mantel or sitting on top of a pile of books on a bookshelf!
And is it just me or do we all LOVE flying geese? Check this out ... Geese flying up the side of a denim skirt! I say YES!
Um ... ok, well ... I have about 15 pounds to loose until this skirt can zip up but stay tuned ... I'm getting there! Seriously I am!
How cute is this? And how easy is this? Pretty darn cute and super duper easy!
So, I love this photo for a few reasons ... Ok, as the photographer you get to pick the models you use to show off the pieces and yup ... that's my baby, Cameron! Oh and ... he loved this tie and said he would definitely wear this tie!
And this Boho bag is a favorite project in the book ... well, the project and the model ... Thanks Monica Mouet!
So as you can see from this very small sampling ... this book is just packed with fun! If you are a beginner or an experienced sewer, there are tons of things you can make with the FAt Quarter stash ... for sure!
|
|
It's been almost a full year now, maybe longer, since I was out and about photographing Coastal crafts. I remember on some days it was all cold and windy and on other days the sun was just perfectly warm and soothing. I was reminded that I loved it all!
You see, creating a book full of projects that are inspired by the beach and the coast seemed like a natural fit for me. While I did enjoy making the projects and being creative with sand, shells and jute, what I enjoyed the most was thinking of all the childhood memories that were made at the beach.
My parents once rented a beach house that was right on the boardwalk in Newport Beach CA. It was a slice of heaven ... the warm sand, salty air and ocean waves were all right there outside the front door; a huge inviting playground for me and my sisters to explore.
We took take the ferry across to Balboa Island and walk around eating our frozen bananas, strolling really, visiting with others who were strolling and walking their dogs. We would peer into the small houses that lined the narrow streets and imagined someday living that type of life.
And then there was the time when I mom decided she was going to learn how to sail. She did well from what I can remember ... she learned all the terms and mastered a few things nessesary to be let loose in the bay on her own. And the end of the story ... well, let's just say that she arrived back home soaking wet and wrapped up in a beach towel!
Ah, and then there was the time when just my dad and I took a weekend long vacation to San Diego to visit the area and to chat about whether I should go to college after high school or join the Navy.
I went to college, (Cal State University Long Beach) studied textiles (surprised?) and guess what ... I lived right on the boardwalk in Seal Beach and loved every single day of it ... Probably not surprised!
BTW ... Coastal crafts will hit the book store and crafts stores in your area on May 26th! If you want to pre-order a copy, Amazon is selling it right now!
|
|
Stitchy, stitchy goodness ...It's all I want to do these days! I love to free motion stitch ... ok, not that perfect type stitching where you have to follow a pattern and all but that freehand type of machine embroidery, where you let down your hair and let loose!
About a week ago I joined a friend of mine, Tracy Schultz and off we went to LA to take a class at French General.
Mandy Patullo was teaching here in the states for the first time ... The Bonny Birds! What a treat and what a delight to hear her story, inspirations and to learn a bit about her finger turn applique process while creating a bonny bird on an antique quilt square.
Here's how my bird started out ... didn't finish the bird that night cauase of course I started chatting with some of the gals including French General owner Kaari Meng ... only to find out that she's working with the same editor I'm working with at Sterling Publishing in NY ... Small, small crafty world!
So I pulled out my Boony Bird last night and I just started adding bits of fabric here and there to make a wing and an eye.
Added a little chain stitch around the eye and popped in a little button, right there in the middle!
Nexted I added a few French knots to the under belly and the wing, oh and embroidered a couple of bird feet as well.
The little tail was missing something so I grabbed some gold metalic thread and added a few sparkly feathers to the end.
And then the most fun part of this whole project ... a little free motion stitched tree with branch for the little bonny bird to perch on!
At this point I walked away from him for a few hours ... went to a football game then came back and without even thinking, I started painting the tree teal! I was moving so fast here that I didn't even have a water bowl around so I was using my ice tea to water down my paints and to clean my brushes!
Truth be told ... this is not the first time nor the last time I'll be using my tea as water ... gives it all a little antiqued look, don't you think?
I love the teal painted tree!
And branches!
Filled in a few little dots with red paint and set it all aside to dry.
At this point I'm not sure where this quilt panel will end up ... I may mount it to watercolor paper or even stitch it to this tote to carry my knitting supplies back and forth from my knitting group!
Stay tuned ... More stitchy, stitchy goodness to come ... for sure!
|
|
Turns out that last year at this exact time I was very, very busy ... photographing like 4 books at the same time! This book, Felt-o-ween, was just one of the favorites ... or at least one of the first book that I received this season ... yup it takes about 1 full year for a book to hit the stands after I finish photography!
I hope that from the cover shot alone you can see how fun this was to shoot and, how wonderful it was to create a few projects for the fabulous Kathy Sheldon and Amanda Carestio ... 2 authors that I am fortunate enough to call friends!
Here's a few of my favorite projects. How fun are these cupcake toppers by Laura Howard?
Here's one of my contributions to the book ... oh, along with the black birds on the cover!
This fab bracelet and necklace combo is one of Kathy's projects ... just how fun is this? Seriously!
And these ... Yup, I made them ... and now looking at them again after a year has gone by, I really don't even know where they are! Darn they are cute with these old Doc Martins but will be even cuter with my new Doc's I just bought in London!
Okay so ... as you can see, this is sort of a must have book wouldn't you say!
I promise, it will not disappoint!
|
|
I'm so very excited to share with you my latest book that I co-authored with Jenny Doh ... SERGE IT!
Inside these pages you'll find some new and fun projects to make with that serger you bought, that you just knew you had to have! Right? Well, you were right! You need a serger to make these adorable trivets!
Ok, so this is not a book about how to use that serger. Oh sure we do have a pretty hefty basics sections that walks you through the parts of the serger and talks about the stitches that a basic serger will make, but also ... I give you a little tip on how to change the thread on that darn machine that's makes it easy peasy!
So check it out here on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and everywhere else books are sold. I don't think you'll be disappointed. The projects I designed and made are resfreshing, fun and of course, some are made from recycled garments, like a skirt that's make from a discarded man's sweater!
And then a cute, not so little, ruffled purse can happen also! So dust off your serger, or take it in for a tune up and start serging!
Happy Sewing ...
HAPPY SERGING!
|
|
It's that time of year isn't it ... you know, gifts are exchanged, sometimes with people that have everything. You know who I'm talking about ... anyways, I had the opportunity to photograph Aimee Ray's Sweet & Simple Jewelry book (Lark Crafts) a while ago and I remember thinking how fun and doable so many of the jewelry pieces were. Well, when I received my copy of the book in the mail, I decided to try and make the beaded bracelet that's on the cover!
Ok, so easy, so fun and so beautiful.
Of course I couldn't make just one bracelet, oh no ... Off to my local craft store I went to buy even more beads and waxed thread to make a few variations!
And I loved digging in my button tin, searching for the perfect button of the closure.
While I can't give you all the steps to making this bracelet, I'll share a few photos I took of the process so that you can see just how doable this project is ... perfect for that person on your Christmas gift list who has everything.
This bracelet is just one of so many fun and easy jewelry pieces offered in this book. Truly ... there is soooo much information packed into these 132 pages ... It's a great resource for crafter and jewelry designers of all skill levels. I even learned a ton just taking the photos of the projects ... and while shooting the basics section!
Cheers to holiday crafting!
And stay tuned for yet another Amiee Ray book coming in 2016
|
|
I have never done a giveaway here on my blog, but thought that today ... the day that my book Stash Happy Applique (Lark Books) is officially out and about in the book stores, was the perfect day to start a giveaway! Right?
So here it is ... a copy of my book, and this adorable house pillow! So fun don't you think?
The book is packed with super cute applique items from wearable, home decor and gifty things as well.
Check out these happy woodsy Gnomes ... so cute don't you think?
Anyways ... here's what you need to do if you want to win that house pillow and a copy of my book. Starting right now ... Tuesday April 3rd, leave me a comment here on my blog, anything really ... I love funny animal stories, and then on Monday April 9th I'll pick the winners name randomly from a basket!
Good Luck ... Oh and if you'd like to purchase the book, you can find it here.
|
|
So much fun, so much to see and so many new friends to meet. Needless to say Jenny and I had a wonderful time ... seems like just yesterday we were wondering through the packed fair grounds up in Spokane Washington. Serena Thompson really knows how to put it all together with her down home farm chick way.
Here's a quick photo I took of Jenny and Serena at the book signing they had for Signature Styles.
And Jenny and I signing away ... well actually I was just the money person but had fun chatting with Jenny's fans.
Here's Heather Bullard of Flea Market Style magazine and her BFF Kimberly ... super sweet, one in a million type of gal!
And here is Serena again, signing magazines with Catherine Strawn, Senior Associate Editor for Country Living magazine.
Here's just a glimpse of what we experienced for two short days!
Jenny purchasing her treasured find of the show ... a super tiny and super old dictionary.
Stacks of really old quilt blocks ... I'll share my finds in another post
Beautiful old laces.
Fun old car being used as a photo opp!
Pretty sure my mom has a collection of these in her laundry room.
Typerwriter keys that just happened to spell out 'Cam'.
I was most inspried by the use of the rusty old box springs.
And of course the lilacs were in bloom everywhere.
As you can see ... the antiques ranged from old cow posters to tiaras and everything in-between. I'll share with you in a few days, some of the treasures I purchased ... one piece is still in route, thanks to the good folks at Blue Canoe!
|
|
This retro apron is just one of the many fun projects in Stash Happy Patchwork and Lark Crafts is offering the instructions as a download! Check it out here and you'll also find instructions to make a potholder to match. (Oh and btw ... yes, I love my stove and sifter!)
Here are just a few detail shots I took of this project.
Happy Mother's Day ...
Happy Stitching ... Happy Stash Happy: Patchwork!
|
|
Check it out ... Lark Crafts is featuring a month of stash fun and goodness to celebrate the release of my Stash Happy Patchwork book!
This patchwork mosaic shows just a few of the projects that are in the book, and one of my favorites ... the wonky log cabin bucket!
You'll want to check in often this month and see all that Lark has planned including some more giveaways, tutorials and tips, fabric polls, free projects and more!
Happy Stash
Happy Patchwork!
|
|
The good folks over at Lark Crafts are doing a little giveaway of my book, Stash Happy Patchwork along with one of my favorite projects that I made for the book, this Pretty Petite Dress. All you have to do is leave a comment here and you'll be entered to win!
..............................................
Ok, now the scary news ... Mark Lipinski, the Creative Mojo guy is interviewing me LIVE tomorrow, Wednesday April 27 at 2:28 PM PST!
So, if you're near a computer and you want to hear the interview click here www.toginet.com, then click on the 'Live On The Air' button in the top right corner and I'll be there, well here, but talking to Mark there in New Jersey.
This is so not me ... what if my phone dies? What if my dogs bark? What if my husband calls from Japan right then?
It will probably go just fine. I spoke with Mark a few days ago and if you have ever seen him, met him or talked with him, then you know he's an easy peasy conversationalist. I'll be all fine I'm sure.
Tune in and wish me luck!
|
|
In just a week or so, ok May 3rd to be exact, Stash Happy Patchwork will hit the shelves of the book stores. Very exciting ...
If you want a signed copy of the book, you can purchase it here at Crescendoh.com and you'll also receive this patchwork heart ornament that I made.
And here's a quick video that Jenny made!
So I'm thinking that I may need to scoop up my mom and Jenny (Jenny's latest book Signatures Styles will hit the stands on May 3rd as well) and go out for a little celebration lunch, then a quick stop at our local Barnes and Nobles!
Happy Stash Happy!
|
|
