How to Make Mediocre Art

Upon realizing I inadvertently created something with little to no practical purpose, I went in search of the reason...

1. Be inspired.

2. Have scathingly brilliant idea.

3. Work out how to successfully implement idea.

4. Have obsession with buying supplies.

5. Spend three days working on crazy idea.

6. Be excited about completing something, for once.

7. Post in various places online.

8. Wait for delighted response.

9. (cricket, cricket)

10.. Realize that you have somehow created something that is both perfectly high and low art...simultaneously. 

11. Realize also that you straddle high and low art, e.g. foie gras and easy cheese, Honey Boo Boo and BBC's Sherlock,  Cher and...Cher.

12. Start all over again.

1. Be inspired.

Designing Women

"he offered her the world she said she had her own"

I wish I could remember where I first read this quote. Probably pinterest. I just remember saving it and then searching for its author. Monique Duval. (Because you shouldn't have to google). And then pulling out a notepad to design my first embroidery pattern.

Obviously, it's been through some edits.

It was very scary to stitch. I had no photo of what looks good or what looks crazy. And no idea what colors to use. I just had to guess and then pull out the stitches I didn't like. Which happened a lot.

But I kept going. I wanted to finish. And it's so easy to say, "Well, I guess this isn't my thing," and put down my hoop and try something else. 

But, I think I've finally figured out that it would be better to fail spectacularly than to give up. Lucky for me, it wasn't a failure, this time. But I find myself curious to learn which of my next projects will be. And that makes choosing it all the more delightful.

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

DIY Home Sweet Home The More the Merrier Monday

ModVintage Life Mod Mix Monday

The Southern Institute Creative Me Monday

Ask Anna Weekend Warrior

be colorful motivated monday

Skip to My Lou Made By You Monday

Making the World Cuter Monday 

Inspired By Felicity Get Inspired Monday 

I Should Be Mopping the Floors Mopping it Up Monday 

You're Talking Too Much Meet Me Monday 

Get Outta My Head Please Show it Off Monday

Flour Me With Love Mix it Up Monday

Bringing Beauty Beautify it Monday

Crafty Confessions Tuesday Confessional

My Uncommon Slice of Surburbia Tuesday's Treasures

Home Stories A to Z 

Our Delightful Home Show Us Wat You Got Tuesday! 

Reasons to Skip the Housework Time Out Tuesday

The Farmhouse Porch Cowgirl Up Tuesday

Thrifty Home Penny Pinching Party!

Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

Rae Gun Ramblings What We Wore and Made Wednesday

Adorned From Above Wednesday Link Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday

Thrifty Decorating Thrifty Thursday

No Minimalist Here Open House Party Thursday

Fireflies and Jellybeans Show Off Your Stuff

The Shabby Nest

Fingerprints on the Fridge Feature Yourself Friday

Chic on a Shoestring Flaunt it Friday

Fridays on Remodelaholic 

My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday

Five Days Five Ways Friday 

TaterTots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up Party 

Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special 

Sassafras Salvation Sunday Salvation Show

Under the Table and Dreaming The Sunday Showcase

My 1929 Charmer Sunday's Best

Holey Sugar Skull!

My friend asked me to make the raffle ticket box to go with the DIY Christmas ornament kit I made for the raffle. I said, "Sure," while the intersect searched for what a raffle ticket box looked like. Then she said, "You're probably gonna do something really cute."

"Well, I am now!"

So I bought a box at a thrift store and cut the top edge down to make it shorter. Then flipped through my book Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart, found the sugar skull pattern and began poking holes in the box with a thumbtack. The box had a lot of layers, including a glue layer.

Embroidering paper was a lot easier than I thought. Like when I messed up, I just pulled out the stitches. And it doesn't ruin the fabric. Because the holes are already there! Maybe I won't do lazy daisies again, but otherwise, good times.

After I finished embroidering, I had to make it a ticket receptacle. The ticket slot is a little crooked and I accidentally sliced the top while cutting it out. And don't get me started on the inside!

 

I heard people liked it more than the kit I was raffling!  

Skip to my Lou!

Petting Zoo

Have I mentioned that we don't really watch tv anymore? In the traditional sense, I mean. So I have to find stuff to watch add it to a queue and then hope it's as good as the stars have indicated. Or decide whether or not to believe netflix when they recommend me stuff.  Which means I have a lot of down time. Waiting for disc two of seaon 3 of Chuck? I guess I'll watch Jamie Oliver...again...

That means I get bored. So, unless I just sit and internet for a few hours, which just makes me want to buy stuff, I have nothing to do. 

I thought to get back embroidering again before Christmas and went to etsy to try to find a fun pattern to stitch while I watch Jeff Goldblum solve a mystery. And I found this:

Petting Zoo by Cathy Gaubert

which made me immediately stop. The girls in the pattern look exactly like Deborah's three girls! Crazy! Well, now I have to do it.

I bought the pattern and stitched it and now it's hers.

I think the hardest thing was choosing the dress colors. The teal shoes were a given...

Bee Embroidery Pattern