Hoop Art Wall Hanging

I was looking for a craft idea that would help teach simple sewing skills.  Several of my mom friends (and their girls) have expressed an interest in leaning how to hand sew.  

I thought this pretty little framed fabric art piece would be the perfect project. 

 

It's made using simple embroidery stitches.  Not too difficult but with cute results.  A perfect way to practice stitching and knots.

The "frame" is an embroidery hoop.  I found some colorful options, but in the end decided to use the traditional bamboo version.  

I gathered up an assortment of fabric scraps, decorative buttons and embroidery floss to match.  

The green strip of fabric was sewn to the bottom with a fairly large Running Stitch using a dark green thread (because I wanted the stitches to stand out).  I pulled at the top cut edge of the fabric to "fray" so it resembled blades of grass.  

Once the grass was sewn in place.  I positioned the hoop and cinched it down.  Then I marked where each of the flowers would be, using a fabric marking pen.  

The Large flower is made from a fabric YoYo with a blue button center.  The Orange flower is shaped button (tied with a blue bow).  The Pink flower is stitched using the Lazy Daisy embroidery stitch with French Knots for the center. 

The flower stems are stitched with a Running Stitch using green embroidery thread and a tiny felt leaf is sewn on with lighter green thread.  

Lucky for me - my mum has a collection of nearly every color of embroidery floss ever made.  So fun choosing just the right shades from this box (1 of three) of candy colored threads. 

Once the stitching was done, I cut the background fabric just slightly larger than the outside of the hoop.  

From the backside, I folded the fabric over and glued it in place around the inside of the hoop.  

Using a low temp glue gun is the best choice.  That way you can use your fingers to press the fabric into the (not too hot) glue before it hardens. 

To cover up the messy bits and stitches on the backside of the fabric, I cut a white felt circle and glued that around the edges of the hoop for a tidy back. 

I stitched a blue button to the center of the YoYo, and tied a strand of embroidery floss into a bow through the orange flower button.  Each of the flowers were glued in place atop their embroidered stems.  

The final touch was a polka dotted bow glued to the top of the embroidery hoop screw attachment.  

Now this sweet little Hoop Art Piece is ready for hanging.  

But first I think we will make a few more in different sizes.  I can imagine stacked button flowers.  Rolled felt flowers.  Maybe a kite flying in the wind?  So many ideas swirling around in my head....I better gather up a few friends and have a sewing craft party. 

Picture Frame Pin Cushions

I have been doing a lot of sewing lately (nothing exciting - mostly Skirts for my daughters Ballet Company).  

Unfortunately my (downstairs) workroom is a mess, so I end up using the (upstairs) kitchen as a work space.  I have these little bowls of pins in several locations throughout my house as I'm working on projects.

Which is not a big deal (other than the fact that they are not very cute). 

But in the past 2 weeks I have dropped/slit/knocked/pulled these bowls onto the floor at least 3 times.  

Pins scatter everywhere.... the Bowls break.... I end up Searching for hours to be sure to find all the Pins.

I decided it was time for a different method.  

I'm sure I could have gone to the store and purchased a very functional Pin Cushion.... but what Fun would that be?

Since I have a fairly large STASH of just about everything (in that totally messy workroom I mentioned above) - I had all the bits and pieces needed for this project already at home. 

They are made from colorful acrylic picture frames that I found in the dollar bins and Michaels.  

I love the happy colors and ornate designs.

I twisted off the stand up easel portion from the back of one of the frames (you will see Why - later).

To make the foundation of the pin cushion - I used the paper insert shape from each of the frames and traced onto a piece of chip board*, and cut them slightly smaller to allow room for the fabric wrap around.

*I lied.  I didn't really use chip board (because it's lost somewhere in the messy workroom downstairs and I'm afraid to go searching for it).  I used the cardboard back of a notebook paper tablet. 

  

  Now comes the FUN part.

Picking through my fabric scraps to find the perfect match.

 

Should I use tonal colors that match the frame color?

Or go Bold with something Bright?

 Maybe a little of each?

I used layers of cotton batting to "stuff" the pin cushion.  Each layer is cut slightly smaller than the chip board base shape.  

Once the fabric is wrapped around the batting, I then used the very sophisticated  method of taping the fabric on the back of the chipboard base.  

After the fabric is taped on all sides, its easy to slip it into the picture frame.

 

I added some Hot Glue to the back seal of the picture frame opening to keep it all secure.  

 

For This frame I kept the back Stand Up Easel in place. 

 On another frame - I added 4 chunky acrylic beads to the bottom (remember I pulled off the stand up easel from the back).  

The beads were Hot glued to each of the corners like little Feet.

  Now I have a few sweet colorful Cushions to keep my sewing pins in place.  

I'm going to have to make another Larger version to use by my sewing machine (where the majority of the pins end up), so I'll be watching the clearance section for some unique shaped, colorful picture frames.   

Summer Bucket List and my Favorite Fonts

Every Year we make a Family Bucket List.

At the beginning of Summer we are so excited about the possibility of all the Fun things there are to do....and by the end of Summer we are usually disappointed that we didn't do any of them. 

Although there is something to be said for just chilling out, relaxing and doing nothing.

(Note:  need to put more of that on our Bucket List)

Plus - I'm a List Maker - so this project is perfect for me.  It's a big pretty List that is displayed out for the entire family to view.

I used a 8 X 10 white picture frame and added some paper flower embellishments (hot glued) to the corner.

Pink - Orange - Turquoise - Lime Green - they make me Summer Happy!

Our list of Summer activities includes simple every day things we can do without much planning.  Each one is listed in a different happy Summer Color and typed using some of my Favorite Go To Fun FONTS:

Have you seen the great colors that Dry Erase markers come in now?  

Don't forget - they work on Glass too (not just white boards). 

Go ahead and mark up your Summer Fun List.  Check off things once you have done them, Add notes about when you want to do them, Draw pictures, Doodle...

It can all be easily wiped away.  Just be sure to keep the Dry Erase markers separate from the Sharpies (lesson learned the hard way - OOPS). 

First thing on our Summer Fun Agenda....make Fruit Popsicles.  

DONE!  Strawberry Lychee and Pineapple Coconut.  Y-U-M

What's on YOUR Summer Bucket List for this year?  

Felt Pinwheel Hair Clips

 Happy Spring! 

I think Pinwheels are one of the easiest and cutest ways to add a little Spring embellishment.  

I have used them on Cards, as Outdoor decoration and as Cupcake Toppers.


(read more about this Birthday Celebration here)

Instead of making them out of Paper, this time I made these sweet little Pinwheels from Felt.

Each one is uses two layers of felt cut into 2" squares.

I chose the Felt Color to coordinate with some pretty spring ribbons.

Once the felt pieces are cut into squares - use sharp scissors to cut half way into the center from each corner.

Be careful not to cut too close to the center, just enough to allow the corners to be folded in to make the pinwheel.

Fold in each corner of the pinwheel points and stitch them in place at the center.

This is an easy sewing job.  You could also use glue hold them in place, but because the points are so tiny, it's actually easier to sew them together (the glue added too much bulk).

Next I covered metal alligator clips with the colorful ribbons using hot glue.  They look pretty cute just as they are....but will be even cuter with the addition of the pinwheels.

 The center of each pinwheel got a coordinating button (hot glued in place).
 

The extra dab of glue holding the button in place, also keeps the sewn points secure.  Sometimes the felt can shred if sewn too close to the point.  The glue ensures everything stays put. 
 

Once the pinwheels are glued to the ribbon covered clips - you almost don't see the ribbon, but it makes a nice finishing touch to have the ribbon pattern peeking out from behind.

You can see more of my Project Thursday Tutorials over at 

The Pink Elephant

Also Linking Up at these crafty sites:

Made by You Monday at Skip to my Lou

Monday Funday at C.R.A.F.T

Woodland Door Decor

The first thing your Party Guests will see when they arrive is the Front Door - so it's important to have at least a little sample of what will be inside to greet Party Goers as they arrive.  

For our Woodland Theme Party - I made a duo of Simple Wreaths.

A basic straw wreath form wrapped with torn fabric strips and decorated with felt and burlap flowers. 

 

I couldn't decide if I should keep is simple.....

 

Or add some Woodland Creatures. 

You can read more about how to make this wreath at The Pink Elephant blog here.