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!

Elf-on-the-Shelf: Pinning

Evidently Max is familiar with technology.  I would not have expected it but I found it to be true.  And he must have been watching me while I was on my phone because somehow he figured out my password...

This afternoon, I went upstairs for a little bit and when I came back down I found Max sitting on the couch with my phone open, on the mobile Pinterest site.  Guess what he was looking at?  Candy canes.  Pins about candy canes.  There were a lot and they were interesting, but I am not comfortable with this little Elf playing with my phone.  Who knows what he could have done!  Heaven forbid he get on my mobile Amazon site.  He could have gone crazy with one-click purchasing!

So, now I have put Max to bed early with a firm talking to and am going to change the password on my phone.  This Elf thing is turning out to be more challenging than I thought...

Enjoy the picture of Max anyway (even if he is getting into trouble) and Merry Christmas!

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...

September 29 Babysitting: Logan & Kayla

 

Spider Girl!

Attempting to eat some bananas.  It didn't go so well for Aunt April on the spoon.  Grandma however, came up with an idea to feed it to him through a large 'nipple' and he was sooooo happy!  Our baby is growing up way too fast!

These  are the 'laser beams' we put up that Kayla had to get through.  She was so in love with this!  I had seen the idea on Pinterest and she saw it on my board.  She begged to do it and we spent over an hour playing.  I tapped the yarn to the walls and would adjust them each time she found successful ways through.  It was so simple and she had such a great time!

Grandma and Logan also really loved watching Kayla going through the 'laser beams.'  I think Logan wanted to join in the fun, but I told him he'd have to wait at least one more year!

A little craftiness

I have not been as productive over this time off as I should have been.  I should have gotten so much done.  Sewing, working on my calligraphy, reading, etc.  But, I just haven't been at all.  No excuses, just reality. 

Anyway, tonight I finished a small embroidery project I have been working on and I decided to show off a few of the crafty things I've been up to.  They really aren't anything special.  I'm just desperate to post something and to show off these latest two embroidery projects.  Sorry.  I hope they aren't too boring.  Enjoy the photos.  (I am including links to the places where I got the patterns, instructions, etc. for each project if appropriate.  Hope this helps if you want to give any of them a try!)

Beautiful origami flower.  I found it on Pinterest and it took me to this lovely site.  Check it out.  If you put 12 of them together you get a really big ball flower that is gorgeous!!!  Kusudama Tutorial

Another Pinterest find.  This one is a chocolate box.  So cute and super simple.  Find the pattern here.

Simple origami pinwheel.  Check out the easy instructions here.  By the way, don't you LOVE this tye dye style paper?  I DO!!!!

The embroidery piece I just finished.  It took a lot of work to fill all this in.  If you look, you can see each color/part is a different style stitch.  I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, but I adore it!!!  The decision for the stitches and colors was mine; but the outline pattern came from here.

I finished this last week.  I used a variety of stitches and added buttons for a different feel.  I am kind of into buttons lately and need to work on some project ideas I have to go with that.  Honestly, I can't remember where I found this outline.  Sorry....

Finally, a practice page from my calligraphy 'workbook'.  I haven't been practicing much and I need to.  I really want to learn to do this well, from memory without looking at my book!