One Hundred Already?!

Hi lovelies! Today marks my 100th post on Too Crewel! I can’t believe I’m already five months, and 100 posts in. It seems like just yesterday I pressed publish on my first wimpy little post. It is interesting to look back and see how much you change in such a short time, and to see the evolution of your interests. I believe I’m finally to a point where I know what I want this blog to focus on.

I’ve been reading 31 Days to Finding Your Blogging Mojo (written by Bryan Allain), and it is really helping, and really enjoyable to read! Day two involved putting yourselves in the seat of your readers, and picking out the five things you dislike the most about your blog, and the five things you liked best. This exercise made me realize I hated my previous layout, I mean, don’t get me wrong…it was cute as hell, but it looked like I was writing about babies. Uhm, no thank you (no offense to any babies who might be reading). So here it is…my new layout! It is still a work in progress (I need to resize my header…hello pixilation), but I think it gives new readers more of an idea what I’m all about.

So what will my next 100 posts be about? Well…I’m glad you asked!

For the month of December I think it would be awesome if I could gather a group of artists, crafters, creatives, whatever and pick a theme. I’m thinking once we get a theme we could all make something that we think represents it. It could be one thing, or thirty. It could be an embroidery, or a sculpture. So…if anyone is seriously interested in doing this leave me a comment or send me an email!

A while back I had the idea of artists making some sort of pattern (digitally) for me to print onto fabric for a collaboration piece. Originally I wanted to do this for the month of October, but that fell through, so now I’m thinking of doing in in January. Some the same thing goes, if you want to make some fabric for me to make a project out of let me know!

Thank you to everyone for helping me make it to this point!

oh, and ps…I made this today!

xoxo.

New Kind of Embroidery

Monday already! I’m actually quite okay with this, I’m finally feeling better, my apartment is rearranged, and I finished four projects this weekend. I’d say I’m at a good place to start my week.

I’m seriously in love with these first two pieces that I made. I think as soon as I press the “publish” button I’ll be working on another one.

I have another hoop I painted white, I think I’m going to do something similar on it, but with chevrons.

backside.

An iPod/camera/little electronic sleeve:

And for the holidays:

Did you make anything recently that you are as excited about?

xoxo.

ps. the three embroideries will but up on Etsy later this week!

DIY Kindle Sleeve

A while back a lovely gal named Carolyn asked me to do an art trade with her, and make a Kindle sleeve. I finally finished the sleeve, and thought I’d make it into a brief and simple tutorial!

Materials:

• Ruler/Tape measurer
• Pins
• Needle
• Embroidery/Creweling Floss
• Wool Felt and plain felt (whatever you prefer)
• Scissors

Step One: Design

Pick out the colors of felt you’d like to use, and sketch out whatever design you are choosing.  

I chose brown for the overall, light blue, a reddish color, and also white.

Step Two: Cut Out Pieces

This is where you’ll need your ruler. If you don’t know the dimensions of your Kindle ( or iPad, whatever really) then now is the time to measure it. I think most are about 7.5″ x 4.8″. I did the “body” of my sleeve two pieces thick (for some extra cushion) and cut the pieces about 8″ x 5.” I then cut out the pieces I needed for my design.

 Step Three: Putting it Together!

Now is when you sew your design portion together. I did one piece at a time, starting with the blue, then the white, and lastly the red. I hand sewed everything on using a back stitch, but you could also use a machine. I liked the idea of chunky stitching on this piece, though.
   

Step Four: The Closure

For my sleeve I used a single large button.  I sewed it onto two pieces of the brown felt (folded and sewed in half to make it more sturdy). To attach it, sew it between the back two layers of the sleeve, as to not expose the point of attachment.

Step Five:

Put it all together! At this point I decided to continue with the hand sewing, and finished the piece with a blanket stitch (if you do not know how to do a blanket stitch, I found a really great tutorial here).
I’d show it with a Kindle…but I don’t have one I think I’m going to make one similar for my laptop!

Happy Sewing!

xoxo.
  PS! Don’t forever to enter this weeks giveaway! There will be another new item up this week. Enter here

Hi, I know it’s so hot, but be calm. (…huh?)

I finished three new embroideries! I feel like it’s been so long since I’ve sat down and embroidered, and I almost forgot how much I love it. I made one that is a simple hi, a melting ice cream cone complaining of the heat, and one stating be calm (inspired by the song “be calm” by  Fun.). All of them are up on Etsy!

see more of the ice cream cone here.

see more of this piece here.

see more here.

xoxo.

30 Days: Day 19

Day 19! The end is near! I have to be honest, I’m kind of excited to get back to business as usual over here. Today’s question is:
What’s a talent of yours?

If we are continuing to keep it honest, I have to say that this question was really difficult for me, as I am extremely difficult/doubtful towards myself. But, I’m going to go ahead and say embroidery/sewing. I still have so much to learn about fabrics, stitches, ect, but I do think that I have some talent in it.

Here are some of my favorites:

this was my first piece to sell!

   

one of my favorites! this one just sold yesterday

So friends, what’s your talent?

xoxo.

Alexa Meade Art: 30 Days; Day 17

Day 17 simply states:
A piece of art.

Alexa Meade  is fantastic. Her style is so original.

“Rather than creating representational paintings on a flat canvas, Alexa Meade creates her representational paintings directly on top of the physical subjects that she is referencing. When photographed, the representational painting and the subject being referenced appear to be one and the same as the 3D space of her painted scenes becomes optically compressed into a 2D plane.”
(found here) 

Isn’t it the coolest thing ever?!

Oh & I got to wear my Halloween costume Friday night!

Betty Draper, Pixilated, and an Owl!

Then yesterday I sewed this pocket onto my thrifted sweater!

 xoxo.

Owl Halloween Costume DIY

I haven’t been able to dress up for Halloween the past few years, because I was always working. This year I finally get to, though! I’ve wanted to make this costume for the past couple of years, and I’m so happy I finally got to. I’m in love with it, check out how I made it, and after I get to wear it, I’ll share that too

First things first, pick out your color palette!
Once you’ve got the colors narrowed down, here is what you do:

Step One: “Making” a dress. I was going to make one from scratch, but I had a couple pieces of clothing laying around that were in need of being retired anyways. I used an American Apparel skirt, took it in so it to fit, cropped a top, and sewed it in to make a dress. It you have a solid colored dress laying around you’re willing to part with, you could eliminate this step.

Step Two: Cut out the feathers. I probably ended up with 50 or so. I cut mine into chevron shapes, but you could oval shapes, and try and make them look like actual feathers.

Step Three: Pin them onto your dress in whatever order you chose!
Step four: Sew them on! I started on the bottom and worked my way up. I used the sewing machine, but you could also hand sew them on if you don’t have one. I sewed a small straight line across the squared off part of each “feather.” (and watch law and order: svu as i did it )

Step five: Try it on! See if you need any more “feathers” added, or any other adjustments. I only did the front of mine, but if I had more time I would have done the back as well (I need it for tonight so I was in a hurry!). If I would have done it again, I would have folded the edges over for the top pieces, and sewn on the little lip to hide the seam. Oh well! It almost looks street wearable, doesn’t it?

I just need to iron it, and trim up a few little strays.

It is going to be paired with brown sweater tights (hopefully it will mimic the texture of bird legs), and this cute little mask I just made!
 I made it would of felt (with a double layer of the brown to make it more sturdy), and just sewed it with embroidery floss. I put it on my face and it seemed to tight fit, so I glued a piece of cardboard to the back, and now it sits off my face.

What are you being for Halloween?

xoxo.

Autumn Leaf Garland

Hello lovely friends! The first project I made this week going with the Autumn theme is really easy, and really cute (at least I think so:)). I took photos step-by-step so you can make one too!

The project is a Leaf Felt Garland.
Materials:

• A variety of colored felt (in sheets).
• Yarn, or floss, or thread, whatever you want to stitch them together with.
•  Scissors.
• A needle (hopefully you have one sharper than the one I used!).
• Pins if you’d like (not necessary).

I cut out a few leaves in the shape I wanted, and then pinned them to the rest of the felt to use as a pattern.

Ta-da! Many leaves, or whatever shape you chose!

I used green yarn, and pinned my leaves together in the pattern I wanted.

 

And here it is! A little splash of Autumn in the apartment (and our junk corner).

  I think I’m going to make one for every season/occasion. If you make one be sure to share it with me!

xoxo.

Featured Artist: Erin Flett

It’s Sunday…which means it is the best day of the week (at least I think so)! Yesterday I was lucky enough to get in contact with a lovely artist by the name of Erin Flett. Here is a little bit about her:

 “Hello from Maine! I am a surface textile graphic designer that is in love with all things funky and old + drawing collaging and layering found and hand drawn elements. I am a mother of two little ones and have been doing solo design work for 7 years. now..and just recently launched my own line of textiles and paper prints. I hope you enjoy seeing my work and please stop by for a little discount specially for you guys. CODE: TOOCRUEL %15 OFF. 

e”

The 15% off code is good on items through her etsy shop. Erin also has a line she does for AU, Inc, and another place to check out her work is her website.

Here are some of my favorite pieces of hers on etsy, and her fantastic color palette! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Some of my favorite colors!

These are from her AU bag collection. Click the image to go to the website!

I want everything!

xoxo.

Embroidered Typography: Pinterest Edition

Lately I’ve been really attracted to embroidered typography, so today’s post is brought to you by Pinterest. I see some new projects in my future!

(click images to be brought to sources)

Don’t forget to enter my Double Giveaway!

xoxo.

ps.  If anyone is still interested in taking part in my artist series project for the month of october let me know!