Mug Hugger

My newest project.  Couldn't find a pattern that fit the way I wanted it to, so I made my own.  Made a few of these up and will put them on my Spotted Owl shelves at the the craft shop in town.  

My Apple Bag

It needs a little work, but this is a produce bag I made made up on my own.  I'm tweaking it so I'll have a new pattern to add to my Craftsy pattern shop, and a new offering at The Crafter's Co-op, a little shop in our downtown where my sister and I have a few shelves.

I was inspired by a bag of apples I bought at the grocery store.  They came in a mesh bag and had 2 little holes on the label, I think for your fingers when you carry it.  It fit nicely on my little birdie hook, so I hung it up; being short on counter space it worked quite nicely, although the plastic mesh with label still on it wasn't all that attractive!  I figured I could come up with something at least a little better.  This is what I ended up with.

Teeny Tiny Hearts and Flowers

I've been playing around with size 3 crochet thread and a very small hook.

I found the sweet little heart pattern on Pinterest and have just been improvising on the flowers.  

Pink, Red & White

I decided to put a few "Valentinesy" things on my shelves at the craft shop. Shown here are pink and red cloche hats and one of the stringy knotted scarves made with several different yarns.  I took three up there, all were a little different.

I'm not sure what I'll do with the flower yet.  I think I might add a pin/clip combo fastener to the back, so it can be used as either a brooch or a hair-clip.

Crafty News

Hats seem to be the hot ticket item around here right now!  I've sold a few at The Crafter's Co-op, and had some special orders, too.  

We were able to join a few of the other co-op crafters last weekend for an Arts Festival in our downtown.  We had a great time with the other crafters and meeting all the people who love handmade stuff.

This is one of the hats that was a custom order from the festival.  

A New Adventure

Well, these past few months have been busy ones.  On top of homeschooling, children's ministry and just general daily life I've added in even more crafting. Yes, more crafting!  Now you're thinking that should probably have gone the other way.  An opportunity presented itself for my sister and I to share a couple of shelves in a new store in our downtown area.  So we joined creative forces and are now Spotted Owl Handmade Giftables.  We don't have a certain set of crafts we do, we just craft as we please and hope others enjoy.  Not sure if this will be a long term project or not, but we are having fun with it for now.  If you are on facebook we'd love it if you would 'like' us, or follow us on Twitter.  Even if you are far away and can't visit our shelves, we'd love your feedback on items, input and encouragement.       

facebook.com/SpottedOwlGifts or on Twitter @SpottedOwlGifts

Baby Shower Diaper Craft

Is this not the cutest little thing?! 

I was all set to give making a diaper cake a try when my sister showed me a pic of one of these.  Forget the diaper cake!  This is just too cute to pass up. 

We sort of got a little out of hand - we made three of these and a mini diaper cake, too! 

I'm always on the look-out for cute shower decor.  Do you have any cute ideas to share?

Sunshiny Burp Cloth

I just love this brown and yellow together!  Not a huge fan of yellow, but I love brown; so together I guess it's a winner!

That's cotton yellow polka dot fabric with a hand stitched monogram and ribbon accent (the first time I've done ribbon like that), backed with smiley sunshines and bugs flannel backing.

It's of course not perfect, but then again it's for wiping drool and spit up... 

My Owly Craftiness

I've developed quite a thing for birds here lately.  So when I saw this pattern from Sublime Stitching and then the tote a few weeks later, I knew I had to give it a stitch.

This was my first go 'round with the "Owlbert" pattern.  He's a little lost on the huge kitchen towel, but not bad for practice.  Can you see that I figured out how to do french knots!  I added a few for a bit of a starry effect and went a little knot crazy!

And here's the tote.  I used a variegated thread on the body, but I don't think you get the full effect unless you are filling in your work.  I'm not ready for that yet.  It was all I could do to get through satin stitching the moon - my first attempt at the satin stitch. 

Girly Craft

Pillowcase Dress - Gracie pattern

I made this for my one of my nieces, her birthday is this coming Saturday.  I have three nieces now, I'm sure I'll be making more!  While the soon-to-be four-year-old was trying it on, the two-year-old was already saying, "I wear it, I wear it."

I hated to show it to her ahead of time, but I had to know if it was even close in size.  It looked so cute!  And she's four, she probably won't care.  Still, I may try to make another for a bit of a surprise when she unwraps it. 

With a Cherry on Top!

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Finished!

I want to have it framed, I think. 


So I finished up my sampler and went right into embroidery. 

It was fun!  Such a cute little chocolate cupcake with a cherry on top.  The pattern is from the book, Sublime Stitching. (I like the book better than I though!)  I just have no idea what to do with this darling little cupcake now.  I think I will just use this piece of fabric, which is quite large, to just practice.  My stitches need to be more uniform, but that will come with time I suppose.  I tried the split stitch and backstitch on this little cupcake with some "seed" stitches thrown in as sprinkles.  Hmm, what to try next.  Maybe a pretty little birdy.

I found some textiles for sale at the Sublime Stitching embroidery site I might like to try, once I get a few practice projects under my belt, a half apron and kitchen towels.  
  

Cross Stitch

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I guess I feel most connected to the FarmGirl within and the past through my crafting.  I picture farm ladies of old sitting by the fire with their needle and thread in hand darning socks, or working up a homespun crochet or knit piece to keep their farmer husband warm as he works in the winter cold.  I dream of what it would have been like to live on the prairie like Laura Ingalls.  My husband assures me I'd never make it.  Still, I continue to dream.

Here is my latest "FarmGirl" crafty endeavor:

I thought I would start out with a stamped cross stitch pattern, or rather re-start, to get back into needlework.  I did counted cross stitch as a teenager.  I plan to try out embroidery next.  I've only made one or two attempts at embroidery with poor results.  I found a book to help me out, Sublime Stitching.  Not crazy about it, but the price was right and I had a coupon.  It should be enough at least to get me started.  It has all the basics.   And a few cute patterns, too.        

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  Proverbs 31:13

Simple Black Check Chair Pillows

Well, I did it!  I got out the sewing machine and went at this afternoon. 

I actually just covered pillow forms, instead of real chair pads.  And I found matching ribbon on sale to use instead of making those tedious ties.  I was going for simple!  I wish I had a bigger checked print and a bit larger pillow form, but I was at the mercy of  "the sale".  Can't afford to be too picky!

( I promise they don't have such a dizzying look to them in real life!) 

I'm pretty happy with them, they have a primitive look to them, which I like.  Maybe I need to find some blackbirds to add to my decor.  I always see blackbirds in the primitive displays in my catalogs.

 

I may add a button to the center to give it a little extra something, but haven't decided yet.

Recent and Hopeful Craftiness

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I just thought I'd take a few minutes to show a few things I've finished up in my little crochet corner. 

I had so much fun with my new little niece the other day.  Here is a little cocoon set I made her:

I also finished that wrap I mentioned last week:

You will notice that the top edge is a bit more ruffled than the bottom.  It's supposed to be a more subtle edging like the bottom.  Oops!  Oh, well I made it my own and it adds a little extra something, I guess.

I'm hoping to get my sewing machine out, maybe tomorrow, or hopefuly somtime next week.  I'm needing new chair pads for the kitchen table.  I have what I need, I just need to do it!  I also want to make a pillowcase dress and leggings for my oldest niece.  She's three, soon to be four, and I thought those would make a nice birthday present. 

Here's to happy crafting! :-)