Are you wondering what you are going to do with all of those embroidery pieces you have been making / plan to make / want to make / might not ever make?!?!?!
Well I was wondering too!! So as I was trying to make up my mind I decided to go BEAD shopping this past Friday night! WAHOOO!!! See what I bought!?! I had to share! Sooo pretty. So many oranges and teals and oranges and ummm teals....and hmmm... greens and more teals and oranges. Strange. I guess I need to branch out?
Anyway... I also got the cutest little fish button on-the-planet too! You see... The Artful Bead had a little preview night this past Friday. The owner of the store and her very most favorite people went shopping at this gigantic bead show in Tucson, AZ a couple of weeks ago... and when they got back they had a little open house to share all their goodies! I went last year and knew I had to make it to the one this year. So I gathered up my very most favorite people and hauled them off to dinner and bead shopping. It was soooo fun! I wish you guys could have been there! We would have taken down the house! hehe (Mary (the owner) is prolly thanking her lucky stars that did not happen)!
When I got back from bead shopping I still had the dilemma of what to do with my little tiny embroidery pieces... so I decided to go shopping AGAIN...! When life stresses you out... shop for craft supplies. That always helps me cope!
So where was I going with this anyway?
Since I am using almost nothing but wool for my embroidery/crewel projects... creating stuff that you can wash (like cute little hankies and towels and apron pockets and onesies and.. and.. and.. you get the idea)...it's just not possible with my current thread situation. If I want to make washable stuff this means that I need even more thread... sigh. Now is just not a good time for more thread. Seriously. I am busting at the seams in the craft supplies department. Even more so than I was 6 months ago. I might have a fire sale to get rid of it all so I can start all over (cause shopping for craft supplies is almost as much fun as making stuff right!?!?!). How did I get back to the topic of shopping? hmmmm
Anyhoo... I decided to use simple picture frames (meaning - cheap) for my tiny embroidery pieces - a Hank here and Hamie there.. you know who I mean right?
I went to the ever-so-fabulous Tuesday Morning (it's like the decoration section of Ross, Marshalls and TJMax all combined into one giant fabulous store)... and I picked up several picture frames for less than $3.00 each! I had hit the thrift store earlier than morning but they were picked clean (booooo for people discovering how completely fabulous thrift stores are).
I got a flowery frame and this plain circle opening frame with a little nick on it. I figured I could spray paint over them (besides they were kinda white and plain and needed some snazzling up anyway). So I hauled RonChops over to the Home Depot (like that was tough) after our Valentine's dinner (so we could get some spray paint)! Pretty spray paint...teal and bright green spray paint! Soooo pretty!
I had to knock the glass out of one of them but that was pretty easy to do. I just took it outside and smacked the center with a hammer inside of some newspaper (that helps to get your pent up craft aggravations all worked out).
I did the whole spray paint thing very carefully cause I did not want any paint pools (I actually ended up doing two light coats to make one nice even coating). Worked like a champ!
I made a little tweet bird and a small flower stem and leaf for the centers of the two frames. I ended up using one of the bead discs I had purchased at the bead store the night before as a flower top (that's pretty much why I bought them... for flower tops and buttons... they are just perfect for that)!
I embroidered each piece on some quilt batting I got on sale about a year ago. I think I ended up getting something like 5 yards of the stuff for DIRT CHEAP (which just so happens to be my middle name)! Lolly D.C. Chops (that was a toughie to explain in grade school).
I messed up on the blanket stitch on the bird and basically made a little swarm of french knots under the wing to cover up my little boo-boo.
When RonChops was doing his nightly craft project inspection rounds he noticed said it looked like the poor thing had a growth or defect or something. Poor pathetic baby. I decided to keep her anyway... she's just special! I loved using the quilt batting cause it made them look a little fuzzy and cute! I just love it!
I have more pics to share and sadly no more stories...
so here are my pics all stacked up like a little pack of crackers...
Here is a close up of the stitches.. I did a chain stitch with some little french knots in the holes of each one. I just love this look to pieces!
This is completely random. My sister sent my mom and I some of her button stash and this was in there. I fell in love. Wait till I show you some of the other ones. You guys are going to freak out at the mother of pearl buttons. Seriously.
Here is the sticker from the back of the button pack!!!
Look at that... this whole pack of buttons was only 18 cents!?
I wonder how old these little puppies are?!?! Anyone have a guess?
I know.. another random one. 3 people emailed me asking about the picture frame I used in The Butterfly Post from yesterday. Here is a close up so you can see how the frame is put together.
I hope this helps girls!
So I think I am all done for today! I had so much fun writing this post. I'll be back on Friday with more shares!
I hope you are all having a terrific week!
More hugs than you can stand,
P.S. Have I told you guys about my second craft room project yet AND the new craft room shelves RonChops installed for Valentine's Day??? I do not think I have!!!
I now have a second craft room. I have named her "The Craft Room Annex"... I will share pics next week... I am soo excited it's not even funny. I am having just a few problems decorating it though... it's an entirely round room - which means you cannot hang any pictures in there (and if you know me, you know that I like to hang pictures from floor to ceiling)... I am thinking quilts and tapestries and such might work! I just do not know yet. I might need some help from you guys! Keep your eyeballs peeled! xoxoxoxoxo (a P.S. with two paragraphs... that's a new record for me!!!)
