Bless this House Cross-stitch

After months of slaving over this cross-stitch project I have finally finished it! I am super excited that I got it done before Jeff and I move into our new place on June 1st.

I love the way that the project turned out in the end and I love the frame that I found for it; especially since the frame was on sale :) I got the kit on sale at Hobby Lobby for about $5 and I've been working on it on and off for several months. Unfortunately I wanted to post this so bad that I was lazy and didn't take any decent pictures, I just have the ones I took with my phone.

This is one of the first progress shots I took of the project, at this point I had only been working on it for a couple of weeks. I had started in the middle, like you do with all counted cross-stitch, and then I decided to make my way to the left side and work left to right. The piece was pretty long, about 18 inches wide, so working from one side to the other was easier because I could fold over the fabric I wasn't working with.

I was about halfway through when I took this picture. Spring break was a couple weeks after I took this and our 8 hours in the car to New Orleans gave me a huge boost in progress, I just can't seem to find the picture I took :(

Here is the finished product literally right after I finished it. As you can see it still had the creases from where I had it in a hoop.

And last but not least, the finished product all framed up and ready to go on the wall. My favorite part about getting this project done was how excited Jeff was for me that I finished it. This is the first thing that I have made for our first place together, so it has a ton of sentimental value.

I already have about 3 or 4 more projects lined up to work on next, but I need to get through these last few weeks of school before I can devote any large amount of time to them.

Tinker-Belle Cross-Stitch

This project was one that I worked on while on a road trip because it was the perfect size to work on in the car. I love working cross stitch kits in the car because I feel like I am accomplishing something while sitting in the car doing nothing.

This project stitched up really quickly, I was able to finish it in only a couple of days, the greatest difficulty I had with it was using the pearl filament thread on Tink's wings and wand. That stuff is a pain in the you know what but in the end it turned out really pretty, with just the right amount of sparkle.

I omitted a part on the pattern that was supposed to go above Tink between her wings because I thought it was silly looking to have her name there labeling her. It is must more appealing and I like the simplicity of it just being sly Tink looking like she is up to something like always.

I had a spare frame lying around and I gave it a couple quick coats of purple spray paint any tada! I'm done. I decided on purple for the frame because it matched the back stitching around Tink, and I thought it would be fun.

My First Completed Project of the Summer: posted 2 months late oops

Over the past couple of months I have been working on several different craft projects and I am just now getting around to posting them. One of the first things I made was a memo board for my room.

I made it using THIS tutorial from Moda Bake Shop, and I love the finished result. I tweaked the tutorial a little bit just cause a few of the steps I did differently and I used some different materials but overall it's pretty consistent with everything else. I used a charm pack from Fig Tree Quilts called Fresh Cottons, and I love the finished result!

I used a frame that has been laying around my parents garage for almost a year now and I figured if it hasn't been thrown away or used yet then it was fair game for me to have. I toyed with the idea of painting it, but in the end I am glad that I didn't because I love the contrast of the wood grain against the fabrics.

The hardest part of the project was making sure that the ribbon stayed taught enough so that it would hold the photographs when it was all finished, but they all turned out the perfect tightness except for one that is in the bottom corner so it's kinda hidden. I love the ribbon I ended up using because it covers the seams from where I sewed the charm squares together but the edges are sheer so it gives it a cute little effect.

This picture isn't very true to color but it is a nice close up of both the ribbon and the buttons. In the tutorial it called for a variety of buttons but I liked the idea of them all being uniform and cohesive so I used the same buttons for all of the placed where the ribbons crossed.

I wish I would have taken in progress pictures but I always think about doing it after I have already completed the project. I pictures on the board are 4x6 so that gives you some idea of the scale of the whole thing. Also on the frame I mounted hanging brackets on both sides so that it could be hung either vertically or horizontally. I love this project and my mom has already hinted to wanting one for herself.

My Newest Project

I just finished this the other day and I am super excited that I finished it. I was thinking about giving it to my sister for Christmas but I think I have decided to make the whole set and then frame them. I just bought the Tigger one the other day and I still need the Piglet and Eeyore ones so that I have the whole set. I think they would be super cute for a nursery but I have a few years (like 6) before I have kids, so who knows what I finally end up using them for. The picture quality isn't that great cause my camera is dead and I left the charger at home in Texas and I am in Florida.

Done!!

I am officially done with school till next January!!! I am very excited about that, I leave for Disney in less than 48 days! I just finished packing up all my stuff in my apartment for my journey home tomorrow, and I have to say you never really realize how much stuff you have till it is all in a pile in the middle of the living room. That is pretty much it for now, time to do some sewing. I finally have the time to relax and do some of that (I spent $50 bucks at Hobby Lobby getting fabric for 2 dresses I plan to make). Off to crafting!

Have a Magical Day/Evening

Last Week!

Today starts the final week of summer school, and I could not be more excited because I wont have "school" again till the spring semester. I am going to be taking 2 classes when I am down at Disney but I wouldn't count that as school.

This time next week I will be lounging by the pool at my house and not having to worry about papers, or homework or tests! I can finally finish the book I am reading for fun and work on my craft projects that are sitting half completed. It's going to be wonderful!

Well that's all folks, Have a Magical Day

Rolling Stone Necklace and Earings

I made these for the craft challenge on craftster.org. The challenge was to re-purpose a magazine. Well as the title says I took a magazine and turned it into a necklace. I used an Esurace ad and also a Flight of the Concords ad to make those awesome little folded stars. I then Mod Podged them to give it a nice glossy sheen. Add some beads and chain and you get a necklace that will be the envy of your friends :D.
And now the pictures:

My New Sundress

So here is the story, I started this dress last October. I had gotten the entire thing put together, lining and all, but never put the zipper in or finished them hem. Well I got busy with school and had a few medical problems that sprang up so the unfinished dress got put in a box never to be seen again till last week. SO yesterday I pulled it out and finally finished it.

I am really happy with how it turned out. I lined the whole thing because the flower fabric was pretty see-through all on its own. I used Simplicity pattern 3745. I think if I were to use this pattern again I would lengthen the straps just a bit, but other than that I love the way the dress fits. So here are the pictures.

Here is the finished product, and below is a close-up of the bodice.

Finished!

I am officially finished for the semester. I took my last final this afternoon, it was terrible, but I don't care because I am done and I ended up with an A in my English class.

Now I can relax, somewhat, and do arts and crafts in my free time when I am not working. I just went to Hobby Lobby today and got some new projects to work on and also some supplies for one I am currently working on.

I have 99 days till I arrive in Disney and I absolutely cannot wait. But before I go to Florida I am going to Canada for a week with my parents and my sister to meet here boyfriend. It will be interesting to say the least. I'm also going to South Carolina at the end of July with my boyfriend and his family for a week. We are going to the beach, so I am excited about that.

Hopefully this summer will be relaxing and not too hectic. We will see.

Have a magical day!

Finished Product

I just finished this project the other day, and today I went to the store and got a really awesome frame for it. I love how the red frame and the pillow in the cross-stitch match. What really made me like this project is that the cat looks like the cat my boyfriend has, and the dog looks like my dog. Enjoy!

Current Progress

I started this cross stitch over Christmas break and thought it was really cute mainly because it looks like my boyfriends cat and my dog. As you can see I've only gotten the dog started. I'm bummed I've been so busy with school and haven't had time to relax and work on it. Hopefully I'll have some progress updates soon because I really want to finish it because it is so cute.

My Very First Quilt!

So I finally finished my very first quilt I have ever made. It was my dads Christmas present but I had to give it to him half way done then finish it before I went back to school for the semester. The top quilt is made out of pairs of jeans, I even left the pockets on some of the squares, and I backed it with a sheet(a trick I learned from my granny Smith). I am really excited about how it turned out. Sorry about the pictures, the photo quality isn't too great.