New Fun Christmas Card

I've been stamping for years, but wanted a couple really special cards this year. Quite a while ago I bought an old lace table cloth.  It had a few holes in it, but I could see so much potential in it.  I wanted to try embroidering on it, but wasn't sure it would work because of the density (or lack thereof) of the fabric.  I didn't have any cut away stabilizer, but did have a pretty good medium weight tear away, so used it.  I just hooped the lace on the stabilizer, and when done (an hour later) U just cut the stabilizer to fit cardstock and mounted them all on a card.  The design said it was less than 5x7, but actually didn't fit on a 5x7 card, so I had to make one slightly larger.  If I do this again, I will decrease the size before embroidering.  Though I have many, I still need more shades of green and red for shading, but I guess it turned out okay.  I did have some problems with threads breaking, but I'm sure this was unrelated to the fabric and more that I needed to change the needle. 

 

Chokers

I thought that this little stand would be a good way to photograph my chokers, but it didn't work so well.  These are all chokers and go directly around the neck, not as they are represented by the stand.  Guess I have to break down and buy the bigger one :).

The Raven

 

I have made this one before, but didn't add the beads before.

 

 

Cobwebs

What do cobwebs and crosses have in common?  I have no idea, but it makes a pretty choker, and just in time for Halloween!

 

The Corset

 

Named for the front closure which is hard to see here.  It is joined with woven ribbon in the front.

 

 

Battenburg Lace

 

I saved the best for last.  I really like this one.  This will be a one of a kind.  I can do the base necklace again, but the attached chain is repurposed so cannot be duplicated exactly. I love the metal charm with the butterfly and flowers.

 

 

 

Getting close to opening the Etsy store.  Working out the details and building stock, and maybe even a surprise development. Stay tuned......

 

 

 

Beaded Embroidered Lace and More

 

 

Embroidered lace with hand beading, attached to a metal ribbon covered headband. This is a teen/adult size and I think it would be perfect as a bridesmaid headpiece or even for the bride with a veil attached.

 

 

 

I

 Each one of these little 6 month to 1 year size elastic banded headbands is a little different.  The pink one has a little pop of feathers.  The yellow is just the lovely little beaded organza flowers, and the peach colored one has a little lace droplet on each side. I am so in love with organza.  In a larger size these would be very nice for a flower girl.

Monday's Creations

I worked on these over the weekend and finalized them this morning.  I am happy with the way they turned out.

These are all adult sizes.  They are all machine embroidered and mounted on covered headbands. The flourish has some beads hand sewn on the flower section. They can be ordered in any color.

 

The bottom ones are all newborn to 3 month sizes. It is hard to tell from the photo, but the fabric ones are not flat, but three layers of fabic as shown here.

 I have sewn and glued the pieces together for stability. I can make these to accommodate any size, newborn, tween, teen and adult sizes.

 

 

The embroidered headbands will sell for $9.00 and the fabric and embroidered flower on elastic for $7.00.

 

New Ventures

I've really neglected this blog, but thought I would start posting again as I venture further in to creating again.  I will still be doing some card making, but I have to say that it has taken a back seat to other things lately.

I've been enjoying my embroidery machine but have been somewhat limited with what I could create with the 4" x 4" hoop.  So, now after two years of playing with this one, we made a investment in a larger more flexible machine, with a 5"x7" and 7"x12" hoop, and many other sewing/quilting features.  It has opened up a whole new world of creating. All of my collection of embroidery patterns are for the smaller hoop, so it will take a while to be able to utilize the larger hoop patterns.  Here are a couple newer patterns that I just got for the 5"x7" hoop.

This is a steampunk choker that I made for one of my granddaughters. There will be a key hanging in the middle.

 This is a headband on a thin fabric covered band.

 

I made a baby headband as a gift a couple weeks ago, and showed it to some friends, and they asked me to make a few more for them.  This got me to thinking about resurrecting my old "Bow Dazzled" business,  Here are a couple more that I have put together over the last couple days.

I haven't worked out all the details of my new business yet, but it will include more than just hair accessories as I incorporate more embroidered items. I don't know yet what my outlet will be for them, whether ebay, etsy, or some other internet source. I will periodically post pictures here and if anyone is interested you can contact me. I will be doing a lot of the embroidered snowflakes and ornament covers that everybody loved last year.  I will be selling the headbands for between $7 and $15.  I will post pictures and prices for the Christmas ornaments as I completed them.

This is something that I really love doing, and hoping that it is something that can take us in to retirement in a few years.

 



More Great Grandbaby Fun

 

Now that the goodies have been delivered I can post pictures of them.  These are for Baby V that is due next month to my beautiful Granddaughter Elizabeth and her hubby David.  They are doing the super hero theme for his room so I thought that she would like these.  Of course, being who I am I had to add a couple teddy bears!

 

 

 

After doing many really neat things with my new sewing machine I was really disappointed when I couldn't get it to work right, and it kept tangling the threads in embroidery mode and couldn't do a straight stitch in sewing mode.  So I took it to the dealer today and come to find out, it was only dust particles in the tension discs!  I was so gloriously happy and ready to get back to it now. 

Shifting Gears

I am not giving up card making, but something else has entered my life.  My husband gave me a new embroidery machine for Christmas (well, actually before Christmas, he's not very good at keeping secrets).  I did some sewing for my expected first great grand baby but was scared to try the embroidery for three whole months!  I am signed up for a usage class that is next week, but I got tired of waiting, so I jumped in!

 I made these towels from some muslin that was given to me by a friend.  They are 30" x 30".  This is actually one towel with a design on either end.

 One big problem is that if you have an error, like thread breaking, or bobbin matting up it ruins the whole design and you have to start over again.  Maybe in my class I will learn a way to fix that problem.  I've wasted a couple towels and a few hours work already.

These are "flour sack" towels from Target.

 I love the snowflakes.  Each one takes about an hour to make and they are finished of with Swarovsky crystals which you cannot see on the scan.  I plan on using these on my cards at Christmas.  I think I will attach them with ribbon so that they can be easily removed and used on the tree.