Embroidery Hoop Art

If I had any extra money at all, money that didn't have some designated place to go, I would spend it all on art.  Paintings, sketches, photography, sculpture, installations, whatever -- I love it all! I think that is why I enjoy sewing and crafting so much, because, while I don't have the skills to be a fine artist, I can create things within my limited abilities.

Recently, I ran across an art project that truly inspired me.  365 Lucky Days (above) is a blog put together by a woman who wants to create a piece of art every day, specifically embroidery art.  Her designs and skill are breathtaking, and her use of mixed-media within her hoops, truly inspires me.  Lucky is an amazing artist!

Doe-c-doe is also a fellow embroiderer.  I love to see how she utilizes fabric to create an actual backdrop for what she wants to write.  In fact, embroidered words are my favorite type of embroidery.

Images via Pinterest

Hoops can be used to showcase fabric and hung on the walls in a beautiful grouping.  Keep your eye out for hoops at thrift stores, because this would be a very inexpensive way to fill a wall, using thrifted hoops and scraps of fabric left over from other projects.

 I found this simple project at Freckled Nest, which displays some beautiful buttons.

 I made this little guy for my sister and her husband for Christmas.  Selfishly, I wanted to remind them of their Oregon home -- a not-so-subtle hint from me that I would be much happier if they didn't live so far away.  While I hand-stitched this one, I made a matching set for my brother (Oregon and North Carolina) and his wife, and I sewed the states down with my sewing machine (the feed dogs were turned off).  Both turned out great.  I also made a teeny-tiny Oregon for my father's office at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. 

I can't wait to make more of these.

-Amy

Inspiration from 1965

I think I'm pretty late to the game when it comes to Pinterest.  I finally set up my account just a couple of weeks ago, and I have to admit that it can be pretty fun to look at so many beautiful images.  On my first day, I encountered the above picture, and couldn't believe what I was seeing.  I have always admired my mother-in-law's handmade ornaments that currently belong to my sister-in-law.  I had heard that she made them right around the time that my husband was born from a pattern she found in some magazine.  Not only was I looking at a picture from the original magazine, but there was a link attached to give me a little more information.  I was able to find out exactly which magazine the ornament patterns were in, and, best of all, I found the magazine for sale on ebay and purchased it for less than $2!

I couldn't wait for it to arrive, and when it did, I spent a good hour going through every picture and description.  It is a Family Circle publication, titled Christmas Helps 1965.  The pictures throughout look like they come straight out of an episode of Mad Men.

The article that goes along with the above picture is all about how a hostess should act, and etiquette for party goers.  Doesn't she look like Joan?

I love this pine cone tree, and after making my little wreath, I can't imagine the time that went into creating a full-size tree!

When I showed my mother-in-law the magazine, she was especially enamored by the stockings.  Can you imagine having such a variety?

This partridge-in-a-pear-tree is probably my second favorite idea from my vintage magazine!

As much as I love all of the new ideas I see floating around on the Internet, I have to admit my favorite things are always vintage.  I'm already looking forward to Christmas crafting.

-Amy

Fun with Yo Yos

Thanks to everyone who has already entered our drawing for Julia's Fall Frock.  We love how you are spreading the word and giving us feedback.  This has been truly fun to collaborate together, and to accomplish so much crafting every week.  A couple of years ago, when trying to use a coupon at the fabric store, I picked up a little yo-yo maker to try out for fun.  I had seen my sister make them for her girls (without any sort of tool, of course), and I wanted to try to some, but wanted to make it a bit more simple.  Since I bought that little tool -- a medium sized clover round -- I have done several little projects with them.  Most recently I embellished a couple of onesies for a shower gift.

 

I've also sewed one onto a bobby pin to add a little color to a hairstyle.  In the picture below I have two pinned right next to each other.

If you've never understood how these little yo-yos are made, I embedded a video below that you can watch to get an understanding of how easy they are to create.  Have I even mentioned how much I love an Australian accent?  Yes, I totally had a crush on Heath Ledger. 

Looking around the Internet you can find a lot more inspiration using yo-yos.  The necklace, below, is just gorgeous.  These are the tiny yo-yos, and you can see that she put a little bead or button in the center.

 

Here are some ideas for Christmas -- a garland and ornaments.  I wonder if I would have enough patience to make that many yo-yos.  There is probably about 10 hours worth of work in that garland.  Totally worth it, as it turned out so beautiful.  The ornament are large, medium and small yo-yos stacked on top of each other, divided by buttons.  I love the string (probably braided embroidery floss) in this project!

Tea Rose Home is always a source of inspiration to me.  This cardigan is a work of art, and I have probably looked at this picture 100 times, planning how I might make one of my own.  Maybe this will be the year!  It is a combo of felt flowers and yo-yos, with lace trim added to the sleeves and bottom.  There are truly endless possibilities that can come out of this simple craft.

-Amy

Wooden Spools

A week ago, my dad knocked on my door with a gift from my grandmother -- five boxes of vintage sewing supplies!!!  I spent a couple of days going through all of the fabric, yarn, trims, buttons and thread, packing everything carefully into one large box so my sister can go through it when she comes this summer.  One of the cool things that my grandma included were a bunch of wooden spools.  I would never use the thread, but the spools are so precious, that I started thinking of how I could to use and display them.

This is kind of what I first thought of doing -- a shadow box type display.  I really think the heart shape makes it very unique.

Just Something I Made has a tutorial for a spool advent calendar.  What an awesome idea!!!  I like how she made the advent kind of like a treasure hunt.

Next week I'm hosting an ornament exchange, and I still haven't quite come up with what I'm going to make for my ornaments.  These wooden spool ornaments sure are cute.  Pebbles in my pocket has a tutorial for how to make these.

This wreath is probably my favorite.  I just found it as an image, so I can only guess how you make it.  What  a creative idea!  Now that I have so many choices, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.  Maybe I should wait until summer, when Julia is here, to decide.

-Amy