Creative Giftwrapping

I like to be creative when giving gifts.  This often extends to the wrapping as well.  But at Christmas time (yes...I admit it I made these back in December), time is short and I have to be careful to be "equal".

Equal meaning I don't want one gift to look more extravagant than another....for some reason kids think things should be equal/fair! And "hell no!" do I want to be the aunt who shows favoritism or even appears to show it! So after wracking my tired/worn out/holiday stressed brain...I came up with the idea of personalized embroidered pillowcases as wrapping! "Genius!", if I have to say it myself...guess I did! Of course having just made the wedding gift pillowcases I would have to say that pillowcases were on my mind! This idea even allowed for me to use up some of that HUGE ribbon stash I have sitting in the back room!

Congratulations Mr & Mrs!

Ok, so if you're still with me, you know that I have ignored/neglected this blog for over 365 days.  You also know that I am creating this blog as a documentary of my life...NOT! But I am hoping to document most of the projects I have made along the way...unfortunately I didn't always remember to take pics before giving things away. But I am going to be more mindful in the future...I am going to be more mindful .... I am going to be mindful.  Whew! Trying to come up with a motivating mantra for myself and I realized just how damn wordy I can be!

Anyhow, one of my oldest (not eldest) friends chose 12-12-12 (how freaking cool is that!) to be her wedding day, and I wanted to personalize something for the two of them....ya know, something that would make them think fondly of me as they crawled in to bed at night....NOT!   LOL!

Where has the time gone (again)?

WOW!

A good friend came over to visit this week and reminded me about my blog.  Another good friend called me and asked me to help with their families' website, which all got me to thinking about my own blog.  I TRULY had not realized that it had been OVER an entire year since I had posted any new entries! Shame! I also did not realize that I had not visited my own blog at least since November! How do I know it's been that long? Well, I purchased this computer in November 2012 and I did not even have the link in my history! Shame! 

This got me to thinking about blogging....why did I begin my blog in the first place back in June of 2009???? Hmmm.....why.....oh yah! I know why!!! FOR ME! That's right, I started a blog for myself! (gasp!) I love to craft/be creative and wanted a place to catalog/log/track/boast/document the things I had created!  I've never been concerned with having a following, after all this is for my posterity! I wanted a virtual place to showcase what exactly it is I am doing when I hole up in the mysterious Studio!

What do I do when I am in the Studio? HIDE! LOL! Not exactly...well, maybe a little bit! ;) Sometimes I do come out here (yep, I'm in the Studio now) for a quiet place to do paperwork for work, sometimes it's to clean up what appears to have been an explosion (after the creative process has taken place), but most of the time it's to create something.  

I'm not a purist.  There is not just one craft/hobby/diversion that I partake in exclusively. I love a challenge and I love to mix things up.  I've scrapbooked, beaded, sewed, embroidered, Mod Podged, metalsmithed, gardened, etc..... You name it I probably have given it a whirl.  I like to think I'm "diverse" in my interests...some might say scattered but I like the term diverse!

You see I've discovered that I am one of those people .  You know the ones I'm talking about; the ones who go to craft shows, art fairs, browse Etsy, Pinterest, etc. and see something I love and say "I could make that" and "I can do it cheaper!"  Ya...that's me! I love the challenge of trying to replicate something with what I have on hand (which I'm not ashamed to admit is A LOT of "stuff") and making it work for me. 

I am also one of those people who actually enjoy writing.  So I've decided that I will continue to use my blog to document all of my creative endeavors but I will also partake in some rambling writings (see above). If you've stumbled upon this blog by accident and have made it this far, either you're really bored or crazy! Just kidding!  I realized I have a lot of projects to upload! Yikes! 

You've been warned...."I'm back!"

Embroidered Blanket for a New Marine

High School graduation gift for new Marine.

Congrats KC 2012 Grads!

Our oldest son graduated from high school this year (YEAH!!) and I knew we'd have several graduation parties to attend...in addition to throwing one for him! This winter I purchased several 50" x 60" Holiday Time Plush Throws on clearance after Christmas. Since my son's school colors are red and white my brain immediately began thinking "graduation gifts"! I used a 2" collegiate font (slightly reduced), I didn't want a solid font as I like the look of the plush showing through the letters. The design has just under 25,000 stitches.

Welcome Simon!

One of my colleagues was blessed with a new addition to their family this past Christmas Eve!
I decided to do some internet searching to see if there was a pattern out there to make another bag similar to the leopard bag I made and lo and behold I found one on Little Lizard King. The pattern was similar to the one I whipped up on my own, but hers only had the one handle and I really like that so I used it on this bag. I also chose to line this one with HeatnBond Vinyl to make it leak proof! I bought several rolls of this when it was on clearance at JoAnn's a while back. Now I've got the perfect use for it! I see many more bags in my future!
The applique patterns for the burp and bib are from Planet Applique.
The Elephant is holding a minky style blanket that I embroidered with his name and date of birth.

Leopard Bag

I thought it was time to post something besides embroidery projects! But don't worry they'll be back tomorrow! :)
I made this little bag out of two fat quarters and some ribbon. Nothing fancy, just a little gift bag to fill with goodies. The hardest part was the box pleat corners and if you've made them you know they are super simple! Of course I could always add a monogram or something before I give the gift. ;)

Laundryroom Art

I've seen numerous similar hand-created art work all over blogland. I purchased the frames at a local thrift store for $.99 each the rest of the materials I had on hand. I may have to redo the definition picture as I'm not thrilled with the end result...but I'm gonna live with it for a few days first. The clothes pin graphic came from graphicsfairy.com and the laundry definition was "lifted" from Pottery Barn.

Loving the tags!

Who doesn't love Ballard Designs?? But seriously, sometimes their prices blow me away! If nothing else their items often encourage me to follow up on my own comment of "I could make that"!!
I've been on a tag "kick" lately and when the new catalog arrived with these in it I said "hmmm", then I saw the $25.00 price and said "I could make those!" LOL!




So again I go rummaging through my craft stash and come up with these items:





And the result is these: