Hi Lovelies + Free Design

Hi all! I know it has been an awfully long time since I've posted, about a year and a half.  There have been quite a few reasons that I haven't posted.  I won't go into detail at the moment but primarily schoolwork and my job has kept me extremely occupied even with my home life, and I anticipate the upcoming fall semester will have no shortage of busyness.  So while I have a bit of free time to post, I am going to try to take advantage of it.  But you all didn't come here to hear me ramble I know!

It seems like every time I get onto Instagram or Pinterest I come across something cute related to pineapples.  I have been into digitizing embroidery lately, so I decided to join in on the fun.  This morning I made this pineapple buttonhole design and am now sharing it with you sweeties.

A Little Digitizing

So I was on Pinterest one day and came across the cutest little bag. (When I find the link, I will have to remember to post it.) I started my gears a-turning, and I ended up with an embroidered version of a little girl's face turned into a pouch.

I lined and backed them with vintage sheets. I used lipstick colored zippers. The multicolored one was just a test dummy to see if my stitches were right.

I think I'm getting the hang of digitizing embroidery designs, especially the in-the-hoop embroidery. In-the-hoop embroidery designs are my favorite embroidery designs to digitize and stitch out.

These are so fun and cute to tote around. Even my daughter loves them!! They are perfect for carrying around a couple of extra dollars, a handful of coins, and lip balm and other small necessities. I've been toying around with other hair, skin, and eye colors.

Vera Bradley-inspired Keychain Wallets

Let me apologize now for the quality (or there lack of) of these photos now.

With that being said, I didn't realize how long it had been since I digitized or even embroidered anything until today. I almost forgot how to digitize. How terrifying!

Anyway, I needed a new keychain wallet because my poor owl wallet had been taken through the ringer and I noticed that I had added a coin purse to my keys, and that was just entirely too much to tote around. I had envisioned this cutesy little quilted deal that would hold cards, coins, and cash and that could clip onto my keys. So I set out to work. After half an hour or so and a couple of attempts I came up with the perfect thing.

I've been whipping these things out left and right today. I've got a few more that aren't pictured.
I decided to go with some fun fabrics with bright patterns to mirror the Vera Bradley look. I added swivel clips to some and small D-rings to others. I just ordered some larger swivel clips, so I think I will be attaching these instead of D-rings in the future.


I made a few of these with this print. I love the fabric so much that I couldn't stop cutting into it. I made one for myself from this fabric.





I have a few more fabrics cut out to make some tomorrow. I think I'm going to head to Hobby Lobby and pick up a couple more prints and really set to work after I do some custom digitizing.

Again sorry for the horrible photos, but I was so excited that I just had to post these. I will take better pics once I locate my camera and whip out a few more.

Valentine Owl Embroidery

Like I said in the post before, I'm not terribly fond of holidays, specifically because of the commercialization of them. However, I do not mind making outfits and little crafts for my daughter for a particular holiday. Toying around with some embroidery digitizing for an applique idea, I created an owl holding a heart applique.








I think this will fit nicely on a preschooler's top. I'm going to make a matching skirt as soon as I find some adorable fabric to use as an applique.
Thanks for looking!

Machine Embroidered Change Purses

I've been meaning to post this for a while now. I digitized a a quilted coin purse design a few months ago, and forgot to take pictures of the final product.



I was inspired by vintage quilted bags and purses. The diamond quilt pattern and curvy shape of the little bag reminds me of the throwbacks that ladies used to carry. I teamed the classic quilt with bright florals to complement one another.










The back is plain, not quilted. I'm going to add these to the shop soon. I've actually been thinking about either adding a section to my shop or opening a new shop for machine embroidery. I love digitizing and I've created so many embroidery designs, and I'm not really doing anything with them. I want to share with everyone the designs that I've created. I guess I'll mull it over.

Anyway the little purses measure 3.75" at its widest and 3" at it's narrowest, and they are 3.5" in length. Perfect for chapsticks, jump drives, hand sanitizers, etc. They are fully lined with a zip closure.

Pretty Little Stockings

I have been on a digitizing and embroidering kick lately. I have slowly been trying to encourage myself to sew more, but all it seems I can do is whip out embroidery machine designs and stitch them out by the half dozens. Well at least I'm doing something creative. I mean it kinda is sewing....

Today I digitized a cutesy little Christmas stocking. Let me correct that a cutesy teeny Christmas stocking. It measures about 3.75 inches by 3.75 inches at its widest points. The opening of the boot is 2.5 inches wide, leaving just enough space to fit a gift card down into.


I've cranked out 7 of these so far. Two of them I forgot to add hangers to... Oops!




These will make cute gifts for classes of little kids, gift card holders, ornaments, or as actually stockings to stuff little trinkets in. They are quilted and made all in the embroidery machine without any extra sewing. I'm actually getting pretty good at this digitizing stuff. And they don't take long to stitch out, just a couple of minutes.











I made them with vintage sheet scraps and a little bit of batting. I think I may piece together some vintage sheet scraps to make them patchwork.






I'll be adding a few to the shop soon.

What have you created for Christmas lately?

In-The-Hoop Crayon Roll File Available

For a limited time, I am offering this design download for 4" x 4" hoops in PES format.


I created this ITH crayon roll for two reasons: 1.) I wanted to donate a few of them to charities for kids this season so they will have something to take along in their pockets, and 2.) I wanted to give people with 4x4 hoops something more to stitch out than just regular aplliques and filled designs.

The design is available for download at Sew Forum for a few weeks. The terms of use and instructions are also posted there.

Enjoy!

A Few Vintage Sheets Items

I've been a tad busy despite the fact that I've been absent. I've planned a few swaps on swap-bot and have had a few orders in the shop. I created a vintage sheet tote swap a little while ago and made a couple of bags for that.




Closeup of roses and ruffles



I met another Lani. She is from Strawberry MilkMade. I love her blog. I met her from the vintage sheet tote swap, and she ordered a couple of items from me. I made her a custom owl camera bag.

I want one now. I'm surprised at how well I came out.

I also volunteered to replace a swap that someone never sent to a girl in one of my swap groups on swap-bot. I think the swap was a rainbow owl softie theme. I'm not really sure. But she said she lacked purple, so that's what I made her.

I actually digitized this little guy months ago and really didn't have anything to user it for. I stitched out on my embroidery machine. It is quite cute.

I also signed up for a handmade stocking swap that had to be filled with craft supplies.

Front


Back

I haven't decided what to fill out with yet but at least the stocking is done.

Lastly, I found a wooden owl bookend at the thrift store this weekend.

It's pretty solid with a flocked base. It's missing an ear, though, but for 50 cents can I really complain about that.....

Rainbow mini quilt

I made this back in the summer. I am not a quilter, and if I were one then I'm definitely not a quilter binder. I can piece and I can "get by" on quilting, but that binding stuff is not for me (at least not by machine).

I made this because I actually wanted to do a large vintage sheet rainbow quilt and because I had digitized some quilt blocks for my embroidery machine and wanted to try both out. Overall it was pretty simple, but I must remember to use more temporary adhesive spray.

This was a nice sample project to try and my daughter totally took it for her little dolls to play with. I must start designing a big one soon. I uploaded the quilt block embroidery designs to Sew Forum. If you need the links, just let me know and I'll post them.

Vintage sheet bunting cards

Inspired by all the vintage sheet buntings and banners on Flickr and blogland, I wanted to create my own. Now mind you, I don't possess the patience to sit down and create a full-size bunting and besides I really don't have a need for one at the moment. I did, however, think it would be cute to have a junior-sized version of those gems.

So in the midst of organizing my scraps last night, I pulled out my computer and digitized a mini bunting (after my computer crashed half a dozen times). And what better way to test out out than on some cute little note cards.

I cut some cardstock 8" by 3" and folded it in half. Then I proceeded to stitch it out.

















I think these are going to make great thank you cards. I also can't wait to stitch these out on pouches and wallets. I think it will be cute!


Don't forget that there is one more day left in the owl wallet giveaway, I'm hosting a vintage button swap, and I'm having a sale at my etsy shop.

Hello, Fall!

Ah, my favorite time of year is upon us! Finally! What a sweltering summer we've had. I love fall time in Alabama; actually I love Alabama's climate, but autumn makes it that much better. Fall, here, is mild and comfortable, pants or shorts weather, great for longer skirts and cardigans, not cold but not deathly humid....just right. I've been working on an autumn wardrobe for the tot, mostly consisting of skirts. Of course she loves skirts; she's such a girly girl. I've been trying to use fall like colors and textures, ya know, denim and corduroy and lightweight wool. Here are a few bottoms I have been working on for her.

paperbag corduroy skirt





I triple stitched the hem for a little decorative topstitching.

pleated denim skirt





halloween pants



I'm usually big on making seasonal themed clothing for the simple fact that it will only last for that season. But I had this fabric lying around and figured I would use it before she outgrows what I have and it be a waste. Besides I think this fabric is uber-cute! There is a yellow jersey peasant top that is going along with it that I embroidered Happy Halloween on. I just need to add elastic and the outfit will be completed.

Speaking of embroidery! I've digitized a couple of Halloween phrases for t-shirts and such. I need to upload them soon. Here they are:



I've been trying to work on my manual digitizing skills. I've actually got a lot of things that I have digitized so far. I just haven't had time to stitch them out or blog about them. I will have to get some of my machine embroidery stuff blogged about soon.