I got carded.

 

My mom "ordered" a bunch of ornaments. I use ordered both ways, as an instruction from a customer to buy and a published directive from a commander. Since they were gifts, I made some little cards to display the ornaments.

Very simple design. And I actually found all the stuff in my basement:

The green paper was a little thin, so I backed it with the red swirls and polka dots. Then I glued on a triangle.

 

Once the tree was set, I mat knifed the very top of the tree about 1/2" down on each side. Here's a detail of the back:

I then carefully threaded the rick-rack ornament loop through the card.

Now my mom can write something on them or whatever. I thought it was much nicer than receiving a ziploc bag full of ornaments. Which I was about 5 minutes from doing when my mat knife was being messy. And it was technically free!

I need to start paying myself. But all I have is a wallet full of Chuck E. Cheese tokens. 

It sings the clearest melody

 I'm still prepping for my craft day. Here's a little bird from spool sewing that I hand stitched. I was trying to see if it was easy to make without a sewing machine. I made pumpkin bread while I cut and sewed, so it took me an hour from printing to the last knot.I think the hand stitching gives it a vintage quality.

And I learned to move the ribbon to a different place so it hangs better. And that pumpkin bread smells too delicious.

Sweatshop

My mom "ordered" a bunch of ornaments. Everything's cut. I just need to watch Arrested Development and stitch.

Linen's Tomb

"What?! A plain linen bag?! No way you made that!"

To quote Albert from The Birdcage, "Well, one must want a hint of color..."

Ahh! There it is!

I had this bag all cut out and waiting for interfacing. I finally went out to get some, ironed it on and it sort of destroyed the integrity of the bag. Like, some of it ironed on and some of it didn't. So, I peeled it off and put it aside for a better idea. Which happened right before the house happened. And bathroom and knitting.

Since I'm most likely heading to Phoenix next week, I thought I'd better finish it. Although it would be funny to hand her the cut out pieces and say, "Isn't it the thought that counts?"

Detail of bird pocket:

Now I'm onto another project. For a high school graduate. It's gonna be Aunt Bootsi great.

More presents.

It never ends.

Bird is the word.

My grandma is kind of awesome. Gramma Pokey, we call her. She is the kind of gal who would see my favorite vintage dish ware at an antique store and buy it for me. And even include the value! So I made her this little guy. It's hard to think of what to make a grandma. I think they have everything. I guess I could have sent photos. But I thought this was just a pretty little thing to say thank you. And remind her of me.

I Look Up to the Little Bird...

I've been working furiously, between learning every solitaire game on my ipod, to finish this Christmas gift for my friend. I second guessed myself through every step in the process. And I had never attempted a zipper installation of this sort before. Zippers are a fickle mistress. 

But I forced myself to cut out the wool/angora felt, then a few days later I decided what the backing would be. Which was a brown pinstripe italian wool suit, pocket included. And so on...

And so it only took a month and a half to finish my first couture pillow.

It began while visiting the zoo. My friend and I were looking at a bird and she remarked, "I would love to have a living room in those colors." Well. My mind picked that information up, and filed under "Eventual Gift." Then I stared at that bird, a superb starling,  until his colors were burned into my mind. Like a peacock but with more brown and black.

After I finally came up with the idea, a pillow, then I had to figure out what to put on the pillow. And once I figured that out, how does it go on the pillow. So I created a layout with coins. And printed it out to use as a guide.

Anyway, after all of this, I gave it to her. And she said, "You called my bluff." Because, we decided, what looks amazing in your head is a little intimidating in your living room. 

The pillow is simply inspiration to guide her toward that living room. We all need something a little glamourous(?) especially when our living room is full of toys. Loud plastic toys. With tinny songs and flashing lights. Good luck, Autumn!

P.S. She liked it. I think it was the sudden realization of the task of painting her living room. Something she had pushed to the back of her mind due to her new baby. And now, I accidentally got her thinking about it. Merry Christmas!

Bird in the hand embroidery

Another Sublime Stitching embroidery. This one from the Craft Pad. With all the coffee I've been drinking, I knocked this out in an hour.
I'm almost brave enough to start designing my own patterns. It's more difficult than it sounds. Simplicity is complicated.

Two for that, you must be mad.

I have been trying to curb my shopping problem lately. I decided that I can go to thrift stores and the 99 cent store and that's it. My little guy loves a thrift store so it's worked out okay. And I found this painting for $2. It's growin' on me.
I am still trying to figure out how to photograph anything in my tiny, dark house, so forgive the annoying reflection.