Embroidery Projects

Since I've had so much time on my hand one of my main gifts for Christmas this year was making embroidery pieces.  I made 8 in total for 7 different people.  I feel a little strange today not having something to work on, even though I've been dying to finish all of them.  Strange.

Anyway, I thought I would share the photos of my pieces with you now that they have all been gifted.  I am rather proud of them, even if they aren't perfect.  (And Kayla would gladly point out the part of one of my pieces that has a mistake.  I must remember not to tell her things like that.  She has a wicked memory and loves to share those things.)

Hope you like the photos and my attempts at 'creativity.'  I am putting the links for patterns that I was able to get for free so that you can make them too and to give credit where credit is due!  You can also find all of the free patterns on my Pinterest Sew like the wind: Embroidery Board.  My Pinterest is just listed under my name, April Bumgardner.

This one was made for my sister-in-law Angela.  I found the base balloon pattern here.  I then got creative with my own unique patterns for the balloons.

This one was made for my cousin Charlene.  It was the first one I finished and was a new type of embroidery for me that it was on a VERY heavily patterned fabric.  I found the dress pattern here.

This was made for my Aunt Eileen.  This was also a major experiment for me.  I stitched this onto scrapbook paper.  It was a bit harder than I thought, but the overall effect came out so neat I ended up doing 2 other projects on scrapbook paper.  (One was made for my niece for her birthday.)  I found the pattern for this design here.

Kayla, my niece, helped me pick this pattern out for her mom, my sister-in-law Megan.  The M can be either Megan or Mom.  The original pattern did not have all of the vines, but I felt it was a little lacking and added to it.  The base pattern was found here.

My cousin Michelle loves irises.  So, when I saw this pattern I knew I had to make it.  I really like the way this came out, even if all the satin stitching was a bit painful.  It was so worth the effect!  I found this pattern here.

This was another major experiment.  I made this design on scrapbook paper and added real buttons to the piece.  My Mom is obsessed with button crafts lately, so I thought it was perfect.  I really love the way this came out.  I think it is my favorite.  I found the pattern on this site.

This last design was for my Dad.  It is the only pattern of these that I actually purchased.  I just loved it though and thought it was perfect for him.  I purchased it from Urban Threads along with several other patterns that I will be working on for myself and others in the near future.

I have to say in closing how appreciative I am of all the wonderful people who post great free patterns.  I have no drawing ability and people who make these patterns and post them for use are wonderful.  Thanks so much for making my gift giving easy and affordable!

A little craftiness: take 2

Yes that's right I've been doing a little more crafting.  In between not feeling well; some photography and editing; job hunting; and just this and that; I've been up to my crafty ways.  I'm really interested in buttons right now and things to do with them.  (That will be kind of obvious in the photos below.) 

These are a few projects I've worked on.  I have another major embroidery project I've been working on but since it is a Christmas gift, unfortunately I cannot post a picture because the person it is for would see it.  (I know she looks at my blog regularly.)  Just know it is really cool-at least that is what Kayla said after she was sworn to secrecy! 

My next project is currently in the washer being prepped.  I have a hooded sweatshirt that I wear constantly these days and I am going to do some embroidery first on the pockets and then maybe on the chest.  I'm really excited to get started on that.  I drew out some plans last night and am anxious for the wash to be done and to get the sweatshirt in the dryer!  I will be taking pictures of the entire process for this so that you can see how it goes.  I am not claiming to be an expert, this is just an experiment.  But, if it works well-I will share my process and you can try it too!

Anyway, that is enough yammering.  On to the photos.  That is what this blog is about!  Enjoy the pictures of my craft projects and have a lovely day!

A button bracelet.  Found a method to make these on a blog and have been playing around with them ever since.  I have made 4 or five since.  This is my latest.  These are the nice buttons I just bought.  I love this bracelet!  If you'd like to try to make one, check out the blog post where I learned here.

This is actually one of the first button bracelets I made.  I like the leaf button and the flower.  Very fall oriented!

I'm really working on figuring out how to tie the Celtic Heart Knot.   It isn't perfect but I'm getting there...

A wreath made out of paper punch flowers with tiny sparkles for the center.  They are glued onto a ribbon covered wooden embroidery hoop.  Really cool idea I found on Pinterest and changed around a bit.  Love this!

A 2nd wreath.  I like this one a lot.  I plan to put a picture or something in the center.

A paper punch flower and button streamer I made.  Just something I put together as an experiment.

Another view of the streamer.  You can see the detail a little better here.

Jewelry wire necklace.  My first attempt at sculpting, so don't make fun.  It was a lot harder than I thought.

Dragonfly key chain.  I saw something similar on Pinterest and made my own unique version.  Of course using a button...

Home Made Christmas

This year due to time constraints, laziness, my love of crafts and lack of cash; I decided to do mostly home made gifts for Christmas.  I am pleased that most of them seemed to be well received.  I had grander plans than what was actually accomplished in the end, but then again I always do.   Timing was not a friend of mine and between not feeling well and frequent trips to the Medical Center, I just wasn't able to accomplish quite what I wanted.  Maybe next year.  I will try to start planning earlier.

I will say though, that what I did make, I am fairly happy with and I hope the recipients enjoyed.  In the coming weeks as I (hopefully) continue to feel somewhat well (I can eat, my pain level is much decreased and I am not peeing every 30 minutes!!!!) I will try to finish some gifts I had hoped to make.  Christmas just may end up being extended this year!

So, here they are.  Some pictures of my home made Christmas gifts.  Hope you like them!

Megan's Tye Dye Shirt.  It was supposed to look like a flower.  It didn't come out quite right.

Angela's Tye Dye.  Same concept as above.

Mom's shirt.  She wanted lots of spirals.

Dad's.  Scarlet and Grey for the Buckeye's.

Phillip's

Andy's

Mom on Christmas Eve with the pillow I made her.  The front was 4 panels of embroidery.  Two Crosses, a butterfly and a pretty swirl design.  The back was a beautiful black fabric with frogs and flowers.

Kayla opening the Fairy house I made her.  I used a large rectangular plant box lined it with faux leaves, moss, flowers, etc.  Then glued in some pretty pins my Mom found (for bling), made a chair out of walnut shells and sticks, made a mini blanket and pillow (fairy sized) and decorated the exterior with more bling and flowers.  I hope she likes it!

Super Paul!  Paul wearing one of his capes.  This one is Spider Man on one side and bright green 'camo' on the other.  He loved it and walked around with it on for the longest time.  So cute!!!!

Kayla with her cape.  This side is Scottie dogs and the other is green flowers and frogs.  A princess, superwoman, or whatever she wants to be.  Beautiful to boot!

Wonder Nick!  He was trying to look like he was about to take off in flight!  Spider man on one side (to have one at least to match his brother) and sports on the other.

Paul's second cape.  Trains and dinos!  Love this one. 

Nick's second cape.  Black ops and a real camo on the other side.  I really enjoyed making these!

The capes and fairy house were my favorite projects.  I am also working on a purse I need to finish for my Mom and a tie for my Dad.  I will be posting a tutorial and instructions for the capes.  The kids really seemed to like them and I am THRILLED with that.  They got so many toys and I wanted to give them something different, hand made, and something to inspire imaginative play.  I think that is going to be my new moto.  Imaginative play for everyone!  Goodnight all!

A fun (and exhausting) Saturday!

Yesterday I had a wonderful day.  A bit tiring, pain causing and at time frustrating; but wonderful none-the-less.  I made my way to my hometown on Friday and spent the evening with my parents.  On Saturday morning, my brother and sister-in-law dropped off the boys before they went to an OSU football game. 

So, my folks and I got to spend a great day with the boys.  We had lunch; went to an estate sale (my aunt's mother in law's things-I got a TOTALLY AWESOME antique book of Tennyson's Poetry!); the boys and I went on a leaf walk at the Park; then home to see my niece Kayla and spend some time with my other brother and his wife!  We went to dinner and then Kayla and Nick did some leaf rubbings while Paul went to bed.  We had a great time and it was so worth the exhaustion and pain, and I am learning more and more to take the pills when I need then to try to keep living my life as normal as possible.  I love my kids and my family on the whole!  They are great!

Here's a few pictures from our day together.  Hope you enjoy them!

Nicholas & Paul on the end of the Caboose in Smithville.  They both love trains and were excited to get up on this for a photo!

The creek at the Park in Smithville.

The boys on the bridge.  We were starting to get a bit chilly at this point!

The pavilion at the Upper Park.  So many pretty leaves.

The boys!  It was Paul's idea to 'sit' on the trees.  They are so cute!

We thought this curvy tree was cool.

A view of the creek from the Upper Park.  Such pretty foliage.

The sun beginning to set while we were walking back home.

We stopped for a quick playtime on the playground equipment.  Of course we had to shoot a couple photos.  Nick on the slide and...

yes, that's Paul on the other slide.  Though you can't see his face, that's my baby!

Paul riding the 'pretend' tractor at the Barn Restaurant.  We had a lot of fun playing while we waited for a table.

Kayla crushing Grandma in checkers at the barn.  She's pretty good (with a little help!)

Kayla and Nicholas doing their leaf rubbings.  We found some awesome leaves at the park!