Wild Olive

printable: pages for your recipe binder

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

As someone who makes and sells a lot of recipe card PDFs, I have a shameful secret. My recipes are not organized. Many reside in the overstuffed binder you see here, and some are who knows where. Pinterest has helped me a good deal when it comes to online recipes, but those that are on paper are a bit of a mess.

I've just never taken the time to transfer everything over, but at least now the cover looks pretty:

Last fall I made a new meal planning kit called Not-So-Square Meals, and recently someone came to me with some ideas for companion pages. The cover that is now in my binder is one of those pages, as well as a page for short recipes, and a page that could be used as an index.

The short recipe page holds three recipes, so you don't waste a whole sheet with one recipe that only needs a brief description. The index has two columns so that you type the category on the top line (for example, casseroles), then list all your recipes within that category underneath. So handy for menu planning!

When Lori suggested these pages, I knew that they needed to go into the already existing PDF that I sell, but I wanted to make sure that those who already purchased it could have access to these pages. And guess what? You now have access to these extra pages too!

Download the Not-So-Square Extras

Whether you have the full PDF kit or not, I think these could make a nice addition to your recipe binder, and I hope you find them helpful!

the first wild olive stitch swap

2012-02-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last week I asked if anyone would be interested in participating in a little embroidery swap, and to be honest, I was overwhelmed (and so very happy) at the response! Thank you! But whether you've already expressed an interest, or if this is the first you're hearing about it, I'd like to officially invite you to be a part of the first ever Wild Olive swap!

We'll each be creating a small piece of embroidery, and mailing it off so we can each receive a bit of hand-stitched happy mail! It seems to me that no matter how much technology we have, receiving a little package in the mail from a real person somewhere in the world is still magical.

This is going to be a swap of embroidery in a 4" hoop. I find this to be a cute size, very manageable and inexpensive to mail. You could complete a piece in an afternoon at this size, or take more time and make it more complex. This is up to you. And you can embroider anything you want, although, it might be nice to take into consideration what the recipient might like (to this end, I'll be gathering some info in the sign up that will help with this!).

Also, Wednesdays in March, I'll be sharing posts related to the swap, including some pattern links, finishing techniques, and some extras. I'm really looking forward to it!

I want this to be fairly simple and straightforward, and easy for anyone to join in, so with that in mind, here are the guidelines:

• Finished embroidery should be in a 4" hoop, prepared for hanging.

• This swap is open to all, so you should be prepared to mail your embroidery internationally.

• You are welcome to include a little something extra, but it is not required. Please spend no more than a few dollars.

• All pieces should be mailed by March 31, 2012.

Instead of partnering people up, this is going to be a circular swap, meaning Stitcher A sends to Stitcher B, who sends to Stitcher C, who sends to Stitcher A (but with more than 3 people, I'm guessing!). Make sense?

On March 1, you'll receive an email with the information of the person you'll send to, but not of the person you'll receive from...that'll be a surprise! I'm stitching too, so at least one of you will get something from me!

Ready? Sign up here.

Questions? Ask in the comments, and I'll reply in the comments.

The sign up will remain open through February 29th, so be sure to spread the word, and get ready to send some embroidered happy mail out into the world!

a knitting kick

2012-02-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

I don't usually think of myself as a knitter, although, to look at the number of knitting accessories and the stash of yarn I have around here, you'd never guess it. My grandma was quite prolific in her knitting, she taught me much, and then she passed on all of her gear to me. Still, I don't knit very often.

For Christmas, I knit a pair of leg warmers for my sister, and I thought it was going to use up all of my knitting energy for the "season" (I only knit in cold months). Fortunately, the opposite happened. I got on a knitting kick. A friend of mine has also helped this happen, and when she told me about a local yarn sale, that only fueled the fire (see the damage).

Since the middle of January, I have completed the cowl you see above, and the necklace you see below. The cowl pattern is the chunky cowl found on this page, and the necklace was made with a knitting fork, based on this tutorial.

But I've also started on some dish cloths, per my mother's request...

...a pair of leg warmers for myself...

...and a cowl for myself using a different pattern (hoping the leftover yarn from my sister's holds out!).

And then there's all that lovely new yarn I bought just waiting for me to start in on it. Apparently, I'm a knitter.

Do you knit? Do you have any favorite yarns or patterns I should know about?

project: yoyo magnets

2012-02-20T06:00:00.001-06:00

We got a new refrigerator at my house, and let me tell you, it was a big deal. I won't go into details, but just know that people keep pushing buttons (thank goodness the water line isn't connected yet!), opening it, touching it, and admiring the lights that fade on when you open it (I admit, this last one is me).

My mom loves it so much that she declared it magnet free because she doesn't want any scratches. I can't blame her, but I can complain, because I like sticking recipes up on the fridge while I'm baking cookies. Not other things...just cookies. So I came up with a solution. Magnets for me, no scratches for my mom.

These easy-to-make magnets are basically a fabric yoyo with a round magnet inside. They are plenty strong, but are completely enclosed by fabric. And they are bright and cute! (By the way, the recipe you see above is super yummy, and probably my favorite cookie!)

Here's what you need:
Fabric scraps
Round magnets
Needle and thread

Cut out a circle that is about 3 times the diameter of your magnet. (I used a small ribbon spool to make my template.)

Fold down the edge of the circle as you sew around it. Use a loose running stitch. Shorter stitches will make the yoyo more bunchy in the middle, while longer stitches make it lie flatter.

Before you tighten the yoyo, drop a magnet into the center.

Cinch in it, and knot it off. Done! Now, make a bunch of them, because they are fast, and fun!

Oooh...look at that shiny new fridge!

These came out a little different than I originally imagined because my magnets are thicker than what I expected to buy. But you get what you can get. Flatter magnets would help make the yoyos closer in shape to the traditional kind used in quilting. I'll probably see if I can get my hands on more magnets and make another round of them. You can't have too many of these, can you?

snapshot saturday

2012-02-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

A few of my favorites from this week's photos. I still haven't missed a day! Yay!

happy mail and an idea

2012-02-17T13:11:00.000-06:00

Through the wonders of Twitter, I had a little conversation with Chrissy about embroidery floss. You might guess that I'm always up for a good conversation about embroidery floss. We chatted a bit about the good sales at JoAnn, and how she misses them. You see, Chrissy lives in Germany, and such simple supplies cost a great deal more there than they do here in the United States.

My favorite part about this is that Chrissy used to live very close to me, and we never actually met in person. Now that she's so very far away, we decided to do a little swap. So, I mailed her some colors of floss and other embroidery supplies that she wanted, and she mailed me these fun little goodies from Germany. Happy mail days are the best, wouldn't you agree?

This got me thinking...

I've never done a swap here on Wild Olive, but I think it could be fun. Something embroidery related, because we like that sort of thing around here. Something small and easy to make and mail. So here's my question:

Would you be interested in participating in a Wild Olive swap?

Leave your reply here, and if a group of you are up for making something for someone else in the group, I'll fix it and post about it soon.

And thank you to Chrissy for the sweet little package, and for inspiring the possibility of more happy mail being sent out into the world!

UPDATE: Wow! I'm so happy to say that we will officially be going forward with the embroidery swap! Thank you so much for the lovely response! I'll be posting full details and a real sign-up next week, and we'll make it a March swap. Yay!

Also, I'm thrilled with how many of you have left comments for the first time! Welcome, and I look forward to getting to know you more!

everyday inspirations: balloons for sale

2012-02-16T14:36:00.000-06:00

Everyday Inspirations is a series about the things that inspire me every day. Really, this is about the elements in my home that other people have put in place, but that keep me thinking creatively. Sometimes it's a decorating element, or a handmade object, other times it's just seeing the special things that make our home what it is. These things inspire me.

I feel so fortunate to have creative people in my family. Today's everyday inspiration is a pair of ceramic figures that were painted by my grandma's cousin, whom we called Aunt Carolyn. She gave them to my mom when she was 12 years old. We've had them in various spots in our house, and ever since I was very young, I've loved looking at them.

I love their colors so much...they are bright and lovely! But there's also something a little sad about them. Here they are, with their clusters of bright balloons, and yet there are no smiles. After a long life, this is all they have. Selling balloons. Of course, they have each other, so that makes it better. They remind me of the lady in Mary Poppins who feeds the birds. Is it strange that I've imagined a back story for figurines?

You may have seen some figures like this before, as this seems to be a ceramic form that was available at one time. Royal Doulton had a set that are slightly different in form this, and I've seen vintage versions of them, as well as crafted vintage pieces based on the Royal Doulton figures. For example, here's one that's up on Etsy right now.

Even better still, there was apparently a needlepoint pattern of this design, and I'm really wanting to make a set like this! I think my mom would just love them!

faq: what I use, where I buy

2012-02-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

One of the questions that I'm frequently asked is "what type of ________ do you use?", which is usually followed by "where do you get it?". I thought it might be helpful if I listed out what I use, and where I buy it. At least for the most common items on my supply lists! (Some of these are covered in my Embroidery Basics series, which is worth taking a look at.)

Embroidery Floss

This has got to be at the top of my list of favorite supplies! It's inexpensive and comes in so many lovely colors! I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to embroidery floss, and I've always been this way.

Almost exclusively, I use DMC floss, except for some specialty flosses. DMC has kindly gifted me with many skeins of floss, but that doesn't stop me from buying more of the colors I use all the time. For that, I usually shop locally at JoAnn or Hobby Lobby.

There's also a needlework shop near me, which is where I go to find unusual flosses. Oh, and for a real treat, I'm a member of Thread Club (handspun embroidery thread!).

Embroidery Hoops

Plain wooden hoops are my favorite to work with, but I also use the teeny spring tension hoop you see here. I should probably own stock in these hoops, because I buy them ALL THE TIME! Usually locally, but sometimes online.

Create for Less has a good selection, and I was very happy with the 3" wooden hoops that I ordered from them. They only offer limited international shipping, however. Surprisingly, you'll also find lots of options on Amazon.

The vintage hoops that show up on my blog from time to time have all been given to me by family, but there are many to be found on eBay or Etsy.

Fabrics

Between my mom and I, we have a decent stash of fabrics, so there are plenty of times that I just grab what I can find for a project. But when it comes to embroidery projects, I have a few that I prefer over others. Osnaburg, Weaver's Cloth, Canvas, Muslin and Quilting Cotton are most common for me.

I'm trying out a new fabric, which I can't recall the name of (bad blogger!), but it has a heavier weight to it. I like it, and will share more when I figure out what it is. All of my fabrics like this are purchased locally at JoAnn. I like to walk through and feel the fabrics, looking for what might stitch well.

Wool Blend Felt

Lots and lots of the projects that I make use felt, but I prefer to work with the wool variety. It's much nicer to work with, and it holds up better too.

My local JoAnn has a small selection of wool blend felt by the yard, and I try to work with the colors they have when I can. Most are about 30% wool. It costs a lot less, and is easy for me to purchase without planning too far ahead!

Giant Dwarf sells wool blend felt pieces in the loveliest colors. I really want to place a great big order, but am trying to work through what I already have a bit first!

100% Wool Felt

I'm not gonna lie, if you've only ever purchased synthetic felt, the price tag on 100% wool may shock you. But believe me...there's a difference in these supplies. A HUGE difference! 100% wool felt is softer, sturdier, and just plain beautiful. I hang onto every little piece, and do my best to avoid waste. It's a treasure to me!

My sheets of felt came from Magic Cabin, but you can find it other places. Etsy is a good place to start...just be sure to search for 100% wool felt. I've not ordered from them yet, but Material Evidence has a a huge collection.

Those are my favorite supplies and materials, but if there's something you've seen me use, and you want to know more...leave a comment, and I'll reply with an answer!

a life of love

2012-02-14T10:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I read this verse recently, and thought it was perfect for today, and every day. Something to think about and strive for. Live a life of love.

I hope your day is filled with love...from friends, family and most of all, Jesus.

pattern: you stitched up my heart

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Some months ago, I was listening to the song Your Scarf from Noel Stephen and the Darlings. (Go visit them...the album is awesome and free!) At the end of the song are some lyrics that jumped out and said, "Embroider Me! You must! Please!!!!" At last, I've granted the request, and have embroidered the phrase "You Stitched Up My Heart".

It's a quick stitch and just in time for Valentine's Day. But really, something this sweet could be stitched up any time...especially if you're an embroiderer wishing to tell the one you love how you feel. But even if you're a single girl (or guy!) like me, this was so lovely to stitch.

The little details are my favorite parts. I was going for a classic sampler kind of look.

The colors are used were DMC 503, 3688, 351, and color variations 4070 and 4075. Fresh and springy...

I can't keep this pattern all to myself, so download the PDF below and stitch it up for your someone special! In my case, consider this embroidery a tribute to all of you, my dear readers...You Stitched Up My Heart!

Download the You Stitched Up My Heart pattern PDF

When you've had a chance to embroider this (or any of my patterns!), I'd love to see it! Put a link in the comments, or add your photo to the Flickr group...I may feature it in a future post!

New to embroidery? Check out my Embroidery Basics series.

snapshot saturday

2012-02-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

Continuing with A Month of Craft Photos, and so far, I'm made it to day 10 without missing! Above you see a few of my favorites from this past week.

look back: valentine's patterns

2012-02-10T14:41:00.001-06:00

A couple of years ago, I shared a couple free patterns for Valentine's Day, and as things do around here, they have become buried in the archives. But perhaps you'd like to do a bit of Hearts Day stitching over the weekend? Enjoy these lovelies...

Download the Hearts Day Embroidery Pattern PDF

Then come back Monday for a fresh new pattern to tell the one you love just how you feel!

look back: printable valentines

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Did you get a chance to download the printable Valentines I shared on Monday? Well, those aren't the only ones you'll find here on my blog. If you look back, there are a few more sets in the archives, but I've linked up to them all here:

The Chocolate the Nobody Wants Valentines

Tiny Commemoratives Valentines

Conversational Hearts Valentines

And if you're looking for even more Valentines printables, there are some really cute ones over at Mooo!

printable: straw decor

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

(This post is made possible by a printer that needs calibration, and strange photo lighting...your results may!)

Looking for a cute way to decorate drinks for Valentine's Day? Look no further! It's a somewhat printable-heavy week here on Wild Olive, but this idea was too cute to not share. Today's printable turns drinking straws into cupid's arrows!

Just print out the PDF (at the end of this post), trim the shapes, then cut slits along the dotted lines and slide them onto drinking straws. Depending on how thick your straws are, you may need to make the slits just a bit longer than the lines.

Of course, you could use these arrow ends on other things too...line pencils, skewes, chopsticks, and more! Valentine's Day is going to be filled with help from Cupid!

Download the Arrow Straw Decorations PDF.

project: pie plush for your valentine

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

A few years back, I made a pie that I called "Cranberry Cherry Who Needs Love Pie." This is what we do when we're feeling lonely on Valentine's Day. But if you've seen the things I've been making, you hopefully know that I'm not down on this lovey holiday...even as a single girl. Which is why I've called this soft piece of pie Sweetheart Pie, even if she's looking a little forlorn.

If you'd like to make a slice of pie for yourself or your sweetie, here's what you need:
Red wool felt
Tan wool felt
Embroidery floss (white, black red, tan)
Stuffing
Pie Plush Template PDF
(plus scissors, needle, pins)

Cut out all of the pieces, using the template as a guide. Embroider the heart shape onto the top piece, and embroider the face onto one of the sides.

Pin the two sides onto the bottom crust. The crust should overlap on top of the lower edge of each side piece. Sew with a running stitch and tan floss.

Fold up the straight piece of crust, and pin with the short edge of the sides. Sew with running stitch.

Pin the sides together where they meet at the point. Sew with a running stitch and red floss.

Here's the trickiest bit. Pin the top piece in place as shown in the photo. Pin the extra crust piece in place at the same time (it goes between the other crust and the top piece).

Sew around these top edges with a running stitch. Leave an opening for stuffing.

Add stuffing. You can make this as full as you want. Mine isn't too stuffed...more soft and squishy. As an option, you could add some plastic pellets, beans or rice in a bag in the bottom to give it some weight.

Sew it closed, and you've got a slice of Sweetheart Pie! Whenever I make something like this, my baby sister sees it and asks what I'm using it for. That's her way of asking if she can have it to play with. This pie is already being loved by her and her dollies!

For another fun way to make a slice of pie, check out Aimee Ray's pumpkin pie. Hers is made a little different from mine, and has felt whipped cream!

project: handmade painted envelope

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I shared some little printable Valentines, and today I'll show you one way you can make an envelope for them. This envelope could be made for lots of other purposes too, in different sizes and made with other materials. I love projects that can be changed in many ways, and this is one of them.

Here's what you need:
Clear vinyl (the kind on the big rolls...I used a medium weight)
Acrylic paint
Plain fabric
Embroidery floss
Envelope Template PDF
(plus paint brush, scissors, needle)

Begin by painting on the vinyl. Hearts are good for this time of year, but there are lots of ways to do this. My little sister wanted to give it a try too...her painting is the bottom photo, but I haven't made it into an envelope yet.

Let the paint dry for AT LEAST an hour. Once it's dry, you can proceed, or add another layer of paint and let it dry.

Use the template pieces and cut out the vinyl. Cut a second set of pieces from the plain fabric.

Cut a slit as shown on the template into the back piece of the vinyl. Do not cut this slit in the fabric.

Lay the painted side of the vinyl DOWN (against the fabric). This will prevent the paint from scratching off.

Start with the back piece, and stitch the vinyl to the fabric along the concave curve. DON'T pin the pieces together, because it will leave holes in the vinyl. You just need to hold them as tightly as possible. Clothespins or other clips may help if it's still slipping as you sew.

Now, add the front piece, and stitch around the bottom of the envelope. Continue around the top flap, then secure with a knot. (You may notice that I opted to cut the little tab off of the fabric, and leave it only on the vinyl. This is up to you.)

Your envelope is all finished and ready for a Valentine! Just tuck the tab into the slit to hold it closed.

What are some other ways you might consider using an envelope like this? How about other ways you could try using painted vinyl?

printable: valentines in two styles

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

I love little printable Valentines, and there is no shortage of them available online. It seems only right that I should contribute some as well, and so here we are!

The first set has illustration from my Baked with Love collection. There are four designs in the PDF, and you call with phrases that are related to sweets and baked goods.

Download the Baked with Love Valentines

The other set gives you a look at some new creations I've been working on. Little Owls! I'm kind of in love with them, so Valentine's Day is a good time to share them, right? These Little Owls will find their way onto some items in the shop eventually, but for now you get some Valentines with fun owl puns! (and only one has a for real Valentine reference...you can use them all year 'round!)

Download the Little Owl Valentines

These are just basic little cards, without any envelopes. Come back tomorrow, and I'll show you how to stitch up a really cute reusable envelope!

snapshot saturday

2012-02-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

I take a lot of photos, but too often they are related only to blog projects and shop items. Which I why I thought it would be a good time to do another photo challenge. This one is craft-themed, so for the month of February, all of my Snapshot Saturday posts will be from A Month of Craft Photos!

added to the shop in january

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Sometime in the first week or two of January, I had an idea for a little goal: Add one new (or refreshed) item to the shop each week for a month. For some shops, this would be a ridiculous goal because they need more new things than that, or perhaps that would be too many items! But for me, it was perfect. You see, each of my items takes a chunk of time as I conceptualize, illustrate, set up files, test things, take photos, etc. Getting one done each week is a good plan.

Each of these items have been released as they were ready, with little fanfare. I think I may try to keep up with this schedule, and hopefully get some older things revised in the process. Next time around, however, I think there will be a group of items coming out all at once. You know...if I'm patient enough to keep new items secret!

For now, here's what I added to the shop in January:

Baked with Love Embroidery Patterns

Baked with Love Recipe Cards

Baked with a Lotto Love Game

Every Occasion Celebration Banner

Plus a couple you've seen here before...Musical Folk Embroidery Pattern &
Crafty Characters Embroidery Pattern

I'd say it was a good month!

Now, I'd like to ask your opinion on something. If you go to my shop, you'll see that some of my printables have a main image that is not a photo, but rather a composite image of several pages or cards, while some have regular photos (all have photos when you go into the listing). Which do you think gives you the best first look at those items? Photo or Composite?

project: easy felt valentine holder

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

One of the Christmas gifts I made for my brother was a felt pouch that hangs on his doorknob (his came with pencils in it!). It's quick to put together, and is a perfect place to hold the valentines that might be delivered around your house!

The first one of these I made had embroidery on the pocket, but when I found this trim that I forgot I had, I knew it needed to be used for this project. Aren't the little hearts just the sweetest?

Supplies:
Felt
Trim (twill tape, lace, ribbon, ric rac, eyelet)
Embroidery Floss
Template PDF

Use the templates to cut out the pieces from felt.

Along the front piece, stitch on some trim. You can also add some embroidery to the pocket if you'd like.

Stitch the two pieces together along the sides and bottom. Use a sewing machine, or do it by hand. As I'm partial to hand sewing, I used a running stitch with contrasting floss.

That's all there is to it! Hang it on a doorknob and wait for the love notes to come!

Be aware that this isn't designed to hold anything too heavy...the handle will stretch unless you reinforce it.

-----

Oh hey, remember my Cross-Stitch Handwarmers? They're up for voting on Instructables, and I'd really, REALLY love it if you voted for me. You'll find them here, and the voting link is next to the Valentine's Day banner. It would make me so happy to win an iPad, and trust me...I'd use it for all kinds of bloggy loveliness for you!

calendar: print and post for february

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome February! I'm really so very happy you're here! I love that you're a rather pink month, especially coming off of a blue gray January.

Last month was the first time that I've made a wallpaper for iPhones, and somehow I never put it on my own iPod Touch. Silly me. This time around, I put it on there a few days early, and I'm already enjoying its rosiness. (What can I say? Simple things make me happy!)

Download your own iPhone wallpaper or calendar desktop background for your computer, and join me in a very pink month!

Download the iPhone Wallpaper.
Download the 2560x1440 Wallpaper.
Download the 1920x1280 Wallpaper.
Download the 1280x800 Wallpaper.

Prefer the analog method? Download the printable version, and tack it up on your bulletin board!

Download the PDF Printable February Calendar.

dictionary of embroidery stitches

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

If you enjoyed the heart stitches that I shared yesterday, prepare yourself for some amazing embroidery goodness here today! Some of the most valuable embroidery information that I've learned over time has come from vintage sources. I love poring over old books showing stitches that people have been using for 100s of years, but I've never even seen before.

The other day while looking through a bag of old knitting needles that came from my grandma's house, I found a new old resource. It's a gem, and one that I'm happy to share with you. This doesn't need much explanation, so take a look!

I love that some of the stitches have notes or check marks, which I assume mean that the stitches had been learned. If you like these and want to see the entire collection of stitches, I've uploaded x-large full page photos to Flickr. See the entire set here.

Are there any of these stitches that you want to learn? I might be tempted to do a series with step by step photos...

stitching hearts

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Recently I saw an adorable ombre counted cross-stitch piece, and thought it would be fun to make my own non-cross-stitch version. Each little heart that I've made is just two stitches, so it goes very quickly. Once I got started, I knew that this would be a lovely little project to share with you! It's such a fun way to spontaneously stitch!

Here's how the little hearts are made (It's a cross between a lazy daisy and the fly stitch!):

Come up from the back, then go back down about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch above where the thread came up. Don't pull it tight yet!

Bring the needle back up again just a bit higher and to the left of where the the first stitch went down through the fabric. Be sure to catch the loose loop of thread with your needle.

Pull the thread to the left, tightening the loop.

Go back down through the fabric, making a little stitch that will hold this half of the heart.

Repeat on the right side.

As you're working these, try to keep the twist of the floss the same throughout. They'll look much tidier that way, but even if some are untwisted, they'll still look sweet!

For my ombre, I chose five colors. I wasn't using any sort of pattern, but just stitched the hearts where I felt like they needed to be. Each heart came out just a bit different, giving the overall piece some character. (Speaking of hearts with character...I love this embroidery by Heidi Kenney!)

Happy Heart Stitching!

snapshot saturday

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

As I looked on this little mess, I had to take a photo to remember that my family very graciously puts up with my craftiness all over the house...

weekend links

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, friends! I have some things for you to check out over the weekend! They are some favorites that I've found on my sponsors' blogs and shops, so get your Pinterest account ready because there's good things to be pinned!

Harmony makes mixed media pieces...of course I'm drawn to those that include embroidery. (The piece shown above is no longer available, but you'll find more of Harmony's work in her shop.)

Sara made this lovely wreath going into the Christmas holiday season, but it's got me thinking of Valentines!

Anita has shared some scans from vintage magazines, and these are my favorites! (But there are lots more to see!)

Kelsey did what I've wanted to try, and that is melt crayons into art...now I really need to do this!

Melisa posted the best ever hanger diy! I love these so much!

Ren started a new series called "Things I...", and I really like the idea of this. I might need to write up one of those myself soon...

Liesi has been embroidering arrows lately, and I think she might get me as obsessed as she is!

Angie wrote about the importance of relaxing and taking time to just be. Yep. That's a reminder I need!

Annie shared this skeleton book report, and as a member of a homeschooling family, this idea excites me!

Sécia cooked up some bacon, eggs & toast...all in one! I love cute food, and this definitely qualifies!

(All images are from my sponsors' blogs and shops, and were used with their permission!)