Halloween Cross Stitch Wall Hangings

Last week I noticed Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane had listed a new cross stitch pattern in her Etsy shop.  It's an adorable, vintage inspired Halloween design!

 

I already had another Halloween project planned, but I put that one to the side after I bought this pattern.  I wanted to do something a little bit different, and focus on making new decorations for the house.  So I decided to cross stitch a couple of the designs on plastic canvas with acrylic yarn.  I l-o-v-e how they turned out!

 

I used 7 count plastic canvas, acrylic yarn, a blunt tapestry needle, and the Halloween Frenzy pattern for this project.  I'm happy to post a tutorial or more detailed how-to instructions, if there are enough requests.

This is a really great weekend project. I was able to finish one pumpkin in an evening while watching Mad Men on Netflix Instant.  I am so happy they added that and Breaking Bad to the Instant options! We haven't had cable for a couple of years, so I've been spoiling myself in the evenings.  Speaking of spoiling, I just started Season 3, so no spoilers in the comments please!

Has anyone else started on Fall or Halloween decorating? 

Needle & Thor

I was going through some of my embroidery supplies over the weekend, and I found an uncompleted project I started in the summer of 2010.  It was for a project called "Okie Stitch Along" organized by the ladies of Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar.  The idea was to embroider a portrait of a famous / well known Oklahoman, and all the finished pieces were on display at the 2010 Oklahoma State Fair.

I remembered that the writers of the newest run of Thor comics made Oklahoma Thor's new home.  I thought it would be fun to embroider something comic book inspired, so Thor was my Okie.  Unfortunately I didn't meet the deadline, so my project didn't make it to the fair. 

For some reason, I hit a wall, thought the whole piece looked like shit, and realized I wasn't going to finish on time.  So I took it out of the hoop, folded it up, and shoved it in a closet.  Today was the first time in a year that I've really looked at it, and I thought I'd let you see it too.

Looking at it today, I love it again like I did before I put so much pressure on myself. I am the worst when it comes to being my own worst critic. Old habits die hard, right?  But I'm inspired to work on Thor again soon.  It's too pretty to be shoved away in a closet, don't you think?

xoxo,
Amy

Pattern Review: Sweet Little Dress by Leila & Ben

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Ours was pretty great. We had 3 days off, the weather was perfect, I had dinner and played card games with friends, and I had 4 hours all to myself on Saturday, while John took the girls to the zoo. So I decided that would be a great time to work on a pattern I purchased last week.

I bought the Sweet Little Dress Pattern Package from Leila & Ben.  I found out about these patterns through their ad on Sew Mama Sew. I've never sewn clothes before, and the only patterns I've ever used have always been for tote bags or purses. The dress was adorable, looked pretty versatile, and the pattern description said it was easy enough for beginner sewers. Perfect! The "Sweet Little Dress" pattern is offered in 3 different size sets for $6.00 each, but I bought the pattern package (linked above) for only $13.00. 

The Leila & Ben patterns are offered in PDF format, which I really like, and the instructions were very well written and easy to understand. Step by step pictures are on the side of the pattern instructions, and I always appreciate that.  I was pretty nervous about the sleeves, but after reading it through, it seemed easy.  I worked on dress for 3 hours, and I had 90% of the dress finished by the time the family got home from the zoo. 

I was hoping to be finished, but since this was my first time working with a clothing pattern, I was slower than average.  This morning I added the elastic to the neckline and the sleeves and it was done!  I love it and I can't help but feel some pride in myself for making my first garment. 

Before I share pictures, I have to tell you that I did combine 2 different sizes of the pattern to make my dress. Originally this was being made for Darcy, who is almost 5, and for some reason has decided she doesn't like dresses so much anymore. So she asked if I could make a shirt instead. Sure thing. So the top and midsection are the 5T size, and for the hem line, I used the 12 month size. 

Well, Darcy has had quite the growth spurt this summer, and when she put it on, I could tell the collar seemed a little tight. I should have gone with the size 6 neckline and sleeves.  BUT, it looked promising as a dress for Harper, so I put it on her this morning. She is such a short girl, so the length seems a little long.  These are all goofs on my part, and nothing at all to do with the pattern.  Enough with all of that, here are some pictures!

 

I actually really love the pattern and I'm looking forward to making more dresses/tops for both girls.  Leila & Ben also have a "Retro Apron Pattern" that looks super sweet and I'm sure I'll buy that one too. I posted it on Pinterest, and my friend Jaime actually said she has the apron pattern and recommends it.
I want to tell you that I wasn't asked to review this pattern.  I just really loved it, and I think it's a great pattern to have. 

Oh, and how do you like that fabric? It's SO OLD!  It's called "Fairies of Goldenwood" by Alexander Henry.  I bought it 8 or 9 years ago! I always thought it was really sweet and I'm glad I held on to it for so long.

xoxo,
Amy

Little Pocket

In between snacks, meal prep, diaper changes, cleaning dirty little hands and faces, playing pretend, coloring, and letter practice, this is my pocket of happiness for today.

What's making you happy today?