Dragon wristlet

Still one of my all time favorite dragon ideas.  I love this saying and have paired it with many different dragons over the years.

This wristlet is perfect to carry my embroidery floss, scissors and the small embroidery/needlepoint projects I'm working on.

This dragon has been my go to for the last few years.  It looks fantastic stitched on any fabric!

Muga Rugas...

I'm still recovering from a year of sick.  Trying hard to let go of the anxiety of missed opportunities, and the disappointment of not being able to go into business for myself as I had planned at the beginning of the year.  I'm trying to reconnect with my love of sewing and creating.

I've been intrigued by all the mug rugs I've seen in quilting and embroidery forums.

I've also been wondering what to do with some of my purchased embroidery designs.

So naturally I put the two together!  The base designs come from http://www.emblibrary.com/.  I've played with them a bit--adding some quilting and resizing in Embird.  The result:

These were a fun project!  They have even inspired me to digitize a number of my own mug rug designs....which will be fun stocking stuffers this year!

ITH bags...

I love to sew bags!  And with my kiddos always asking me to make them something, I thought a great in-the-hoop bag would be easy for THEM to make.  This pattern from
http://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/  is so simple that my oldest has made a number of them for herself and for her friends!

This was a last minute homecoming bag (so last minute we struggled to find a zipper)

 



This one she made for a friend:

 

 

I've really been getting back into the machine embroidery, and trying to get back to blogging! Stay tuned for more projects! 

The gloves...

My oldest child loves fingerless gloves.  She also loves Dr. Who. 

And I'm a mom who likes to see her children happy.

 

I just couldn't resist making her these!  It's an in-the-hoop machine embroidery design I came up with.  I love to challenge myself to make fun designs my kids will enjoy!  These are a hit with all 4!

setback...but still moving forward

UGH--the health thing!  Living with autoimmune issues can be the pits!  One day up, next day down.  This week I had a bit of a set back--the kind that put me in the ER for a day!  I'm getting better and pushing through, but being there did put some things in perspective.

I love to create!  The finished product makes me happy and has never disappointed recipients (well, maybe that one blanket I didn't quilt because at the last minute I decided to let a friend decide if it was heavy enough or if she wanted it heavier....the baby is not a baby anymore so I guess I'm off the hook!)

I love to hand embroidery, cross stitch and needlepoint--always a great and easy on the go project for me.

I love to machine embroider, and with that create designs.  I've been at it for a long time now and digitizing is something I have fun doing....but selling the designs and dealing with all the headaches that come with that...ugh and double ugh!

Lying in that ER bed just made me realize I've spread myself to thin with all my ideas and projects.  As I looked at everything I've started I decided that developing the digital shop will have to be put on hold for now (and maybe forever).

That doesn't mean I won't put designs out there--oh no, there will be all kinds of free stuff!  It just won't be my focus.

Instead I'll focus on the final products, cleaning up tutorials for this blog, sharing my love of needle, thread and fabric...and just having fun!

Because life is too short, and throws us too many curves--we should love one another and share our crafting love while we can.

Bunny Freebie!

Here we go:  a freebie*:

I've been making the non-in-the-hoop version for a few years now--and yes, they are based off the silhouette of a popular chocolate bunny.  My favorite as a matter of fact....unfortunately due to allergies and autoimmune reaction I can't eat chocolate anymore.** :(

Last year I made them in the hoop for the first time (that is the embroidery machine did most of the work).  When I started stitching them this year again, I reached out to a fellow machine embroidery enthusiast at my church and said "let's make these for our Easter egg hunt!"  She was totally on board and we had a great time stitching stuffing these little cuties!

I love to create!  Making people smile with my creations is such a huge added bonus!

Hope this little cutie brings a smile to your face and your heart!








*free bunny does not contain my church logo!  Feel free to make your own, design it, own it and have fun! :)
**although I have found out I tolerate most of the Theo dark chocolates fairly well. :)