Mrs. Bones Day of the Dead Ornament

Mrs. Bones is the new addition to my Day of the Dead tree. She came alive a few days ago as I stitched her together. It was a time consuming project especially since it was my first time using beads in a cross-stitch project. She is a flashy mama and I love her. She even glows in the dark. I got Mrs. Bones on ebay about a year or two ago. I can't remember. Mrs. Bones is looking for her Mr. Bones and I hope to play cupid and unite them next year.  

Completed Projects: Owl Wall Hook

I have two friends, Ms. Thayer and her sister Tawnya, who are into the owl craze. Every time I see owl tutorials or objects I think of them and how I can make them something owl related for their birthdays. Last year when a Hobby Lobby opened near town, I found these cool carved owl knobs and I knew I could use them for an owl project for my owl friend fans.

I came up with the idea to put the owl knob in a round piece of wood and make it look like it was perch in a tree. This idea was floating in my head for a long time. With Tawnya’s birthday this month I was finally able to bring the owl wall hook idea to life. My handy fireman and his new collection of tools helped me drill a hole in the wood for the knob to go in. We were both very happy with the outcome. I know Tawnya will love it. The again it is an owl.

I’ve never been a big owl fan but my friends and swap partners loving these nocturnal creatures and I’ve found myself making many owl themed projects and discovering that they’re pretty cool after all. Click here, here, here and here to see my other owl projects.

Completed Project: Embroidered Notebook

When it’s my turn to host book club, I like to include a craft project for my Bookies (my book club members) to do, other than reading the book I choose. My craft project was to decorate a notebook. Christi, my friend and a fellow Bookie, inspired the idea, after seeing all the wonderful notebooks she decorated for our craft show in September. If you click here you’ll see in the pictures some of the notebooks she made on a table. When decorating my notebook, I first wanted to cover it with an old pair of jeans and include pockets to insert pencils. When I started looking at the jeans and thinking of all the work it would entail I changed my mind. Instead, I took out some of my old Urban Outfitters catalogs from years ago. Note: this drives my fireman crazy because I have so many magazines I never use. I keep them because I know one day I will use them. Like this! I love Urban Outfitters’ photographers because they have an artistic yet elegant way of taking pictures of their products, using color filters, over lapping, and other cool techniques photographers use to make photos look different.

Many pages catch my eye, the one I used for this notebook in particular. It literally spoke to me. “Life is a quilt. Each day a unique square but together they fit perfectly,” it said. I’m not sure if the saying makes sense. I don’t consider myself a poet of words; I express myself more through my artwork. Plus, my grammar, sentence structure… my writing skills in general aren’t great. Thank goodness for spell check. I embroidered the saying on the page. I thought to myself, “What would I use this notebook for?” It would be my journal and those words would be what I would want to read before I meet my pencil to those pages inside, to write about my square, my day that day. To remind me no one day in my life is going to be the same as the other. Each day is completely different, unique, even if slightly. Though some days will be good, bad, and the ones in between. We sometimes think, life sucks; life is joyful (I hope to experience more of those days), etc. Life is life. Before I would wish some of the days I’ve lived would have been different. I now think…I wouldn’t change a thing. This is my life. My squares have molded me to the person I’m becoming, the person I am! Yes, “Life is a quilt. Each day a unique square but together they fit perfectly.” Together they make my life; they make me! I want this journal to remind me of that. When my days have me down or when I read this journal as an older me, I want to say, “Life wasn’t that bad.”

If you’re wondering what the confetti like squares (actually tissue paper) mean on the notebook, they’re my future squares waiting to be sewn, I mean lived. I covered the inside of the notebook with pages from Urban Outfitters’ catalog pages too and the back with blue cardstock paper.

I can’t wait to see how The Bookies decorate their notebooks. I will take pictures of their notebooks to share with you.

Completed Project: Multiplying Hearts Cross Stitch

This "Multiplying Hearts" cross stitch design was my first introduction to cross stitching. I finished it last year and finally had an opportunity to frame it. The kit came with a bright pink plastic frame, which I discarded because it looked cheap. I purchased a wooden hoop frame and painted it black and sealed it. On the back I embroidered “My 1st x-stitch,” my initials, and 11 for 2011. 

I’m trying my best to finish projects I started last year. I’ve been making myself daily lists and gradually getting stuff done. I know I have a rug made out of old t-shirt in my closest that needs to be finished. Hopefully, I’ll be able to tackle it this month too.

Completed Projects: Owl Cup Cozy

I made this owl cup cozy for my co-worker Amanda, who loves owls and Starbucks, for her Christmas present. I’m trying not to buy craft supplies, unless I really have to, and use the materials I have at home. That’s what I did with this project! I had the brown and yellow yarn, black recycled buttons, felt, and the embroidery thread. I used a Starbucks cardboard cup cozy as my template. I embroidered my nickname “gooze” short her Guzman, my last name, on the back of the cup cozy. 

I purchased a Starbucks gift card and put it in a Starbucks cup with white tissue paper and inserted a green straw. I put the owl cup cozy around the cup. Thought it was a bright gift wrapping idea.

I know she’ll love it. Amanda is one of those people I always enjoy working with and together we are a Hoot!

Pocket Pillow Project Complete

I always come up with these great creative ideas but I never have time to sit down and execute them. Well, I’ve had this idea for a pillow with pockets on the back made out of my old jeans and I finally got it done! I went over to my buddy’s Christi’s house from book club and she helped me make a pillow for my dad’s birthday, since I haven’t sewn in a very long time.

To make the pillow, I purchased a pillow form, fabric with printed tools on eBay, Velcro, my old denim jeans, and an iron on “Made with love by” tag. I got fabric with tools on it because my dad is a tool man, he can fix and make anything, and if he doesn’t know how to do it he teaches himself. I attached Velcro to the pillow in case it gets dirty, making it easy to remove from the pillow form to wash. I used the bottom legs of my jeans to make the pockets. I embroidered “tu guera” on the “Made with love by” tag, which means your white girl in Spanish. I drew a remote control using the back of a box and tucked it in the skinny pocket so he knows he can keep it there. No more, “Where is the remote control?” My hubby shipped my dad’s gift two days ago. I can’t wait to hear how much he loves his gift!

I had a blast making this pillow that I’m going to make a firefighter themed one for my hubby and a Day of the Dead one for myself for Christmas. When I read at night I can put my book in the big pocket and my cell in the little pocket instead of the floor, before I go to sleep.

Last Week’s Project: Owl Pouch

Since I enjoy doing swaps online I decided to do one at work titled, “Talent Swap.” I told my employees they would get paired up with a partner, they would have to talk to their partner to know what he/she likes and they would have to make something for their partner using their talent/skill.

Last week I was busy working on my partner’s (Amanda) gift. She loves owls and with my recent cross-stitching obsession I knew I wanted to cross-stitch an owl design. I cross-stitched an owl from my “Miss Woolly’s Mini Cross-Stitch” kit. At first I was just going to frame the design onto an embroidery circle but thought that was too easy and wanted to incorporated the owl into something she could carry around. I decided on a crochet pouch. I made the pouch look like a tree with the owl looking out from the tree’s tree hole. I covered the owl with a piece of plastic to protect it from getting dirty. I’m a self-taught crocheter and if I say so myself I think it the pouch came out looking pretty awesome!

What fun craft projects have you been working on lately?

Cross Stitch Addiction

I just completed my first cross-stitch project! It’s an initial brooch/charm with my initial, L, which I’ve decided to use as a necklace. I purchased the kit on Etsy from Classy Stitches; it is a Creative Circle kit from the 1980’s. The Creative Circle use to be like the Tupperware parties of today, except for buying containers people bought Creative Circle kits and learned how to cross-stitch. How cool is that! Unfortunately, The Creative Circle is no longer in business, but if you would like to read more about them click here.

My kit came with a graph of the entire alphabet for any initial and I also have lots of embroidery floss left over if I want to make another one. I’ll just have to buy another frame. The directions were very easy to follow too. Now, that I’m addicted to cross stitching I need to purchase mild detergent when washing the cloth because it looks like when I washed mine it bleed slighting onto the background.

I can’t wait to start on my next cross-stitch project. I actually want to start a cross-stitch club among the craft blog community. Let me know if you are interested. I will be creating a button for it soon.

My Craft Room the Supply Shop

So, I have this slight problem due to an overload of creative ideas that constantly run through my head. I purchase lots of art and crafts supplies and barely use them. I few weeks ago, I won a cash prize at work and I wanted to buy a button-making machine. I mentioned it to my husband and he said that was fine as long as I used it because I always tend to buy things that I “really need” i.e. jewelry making tools or my sewing machine, and I tend to use them only once. It's not like I don’t like what I buy after I’ve used it a few times, it’s that I get inspired by something else or discover a new art medium and I have to buy that too. Luckily, I’m a great bargain shopper and get my craft supplies for a good deal; however, it’s not a good deal when all these supplies are just sitting around, taking up space, and not being used.

In conclusion, I’ve decide to start using craft supplies and equipment I have in my craft room and stop buying stuff unless I truly do need it. That means no button-making machine. Sad face.

I’m proud to say that I am holding on strong to this commitment and finally competed a project today! I purchased a felt project kit at Barnes and Nobles a few years ago on sale (see I am a bargain shopper) and used it to make my friend Maria a soccer theme pouch. Maria loves soccer. I had the idea of making her this soccer pouch long ago and the pouch came out great especially for being the first one I’ve made. Though, I did have some trouble with the zipper. Not only did I use the felt kit but also the “Soccer is Fun” patch and a soccer button, items that were just collecting dust in my craft room. Not only am I using my supplies I’m starting projects that I’ve wanted to complete long ago. Go me!

Now, what’s next? Off to my craft room!

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