Embroidered Goodness: Shapes by Shel Silverstein

It’s the weekend! This means that todays piece is a little bit simpler. The illustration (or in my case embroidery) comes from the poem Shapes from A Light in the Attic.

    

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing the seventh and final piece, I’m really excited about the last one too! Any guesses?

xoxo.

Embroidered Goodness: My Guitar by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein week is coming to a close, I only have a couple more pieces to share. Today I am sharing a piece from A Light in the Attic, from the poem “My Guitar.”

   …as someone who would like to know how to play the guitar, but whines every time my fingers start to hurt…this sounds perfect.

xoxo.

Featured Friends: Lisa DuBois

I really have the greatest friends! My friend Lisa DuBois recently made this illustration of Bryan and I as a late birthday present.
Isn’t it the cutest thing ever?! Bryan looks so freaking adorable, I can’t even stand it.

Lisa and I work together, and she goes to school with Bryan at Kendall College of Art and Design. She very recently won the silver award for Best Up and Coming Artist in our city, Grand Rapids, MI! Check out her illustrations and tell me… how cute would one of her illustrations be as an embroidery?!

Lisa and her kittys, Knick Nack and Zoey.

Adventure Time!

Lisa’s brother and niece.

The Muppets

The Avengers

Isn’t she so great? You can check out more of her stuff at the following links, and she also does commissions!
tumblr / facebook  / website

xoxo.

Meet The Sponsors: An Astrid Endeavor (and a Giveaway!)

It is time to meet another one of my lovely sponsors! Her name is Astrid, and she runs one of my favorite etsy shops ever called An Astrid Endeavor. Her shop is filled with embroidered adornments, and they are seriously so great! I was able to have a little Q&A with Astrid, her is what she had to say…

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What/who sparked your interested in embroidery? 

“I come from a family of crafters and artists on my moms side. When I was a kid I was surrounded by all types of artistic mediums- which is why, to this day, I love all things crafty and love to embark on all artistic endeavors. During the summer, my mom would basically create her own version of craft summer day camp, and this is when I remember learning about embroidery, specifically cross stitch. However, my mom just sent me my very first embroidery project that she claims I did at age 3, complete with giant needle and all! 

I’ve always made jewelry, but I’ve just started using embroidery as the main medium because I haven’t had access to tools and machines that allow me to work with metals and glass. I call embroidery the “quiet art” since it’s something I can do while my little one is asleep at night. It’s also something I can bring on the go- to work, the playground etc….”

What is your favorite type of embroidered piece to make?

“Embroidery is so meditative- requiring focus and attention. I love the way the needle sounds and feels when it punctures the fabric. I love the way the colors reflect the light in various ways. I love exploring how to mix different colors and shapes. Right now, my favorite things to make are geometric necklaces. But I do love making brooches and have found it so fun to create this new accessory- I love to wear them on my sweaters, put them on bags- even my Converse chucks!!”

Do you have a favorite color palette?

“Bright colors are so hot right now- neons- so cool! I have to be careful though, because I would make everything in hot pink and mint green if I could. I just love those two colors together right now!”

Where do you draw inspiration?

“My undergraduate degree is in Cultural and Medical Anthropology as well as art and I got my Masters in Counseling Psychology and Expressive Arts. So, I am constantly inspired by people- how they feel and what makes them “tick” but also how they express that through art and ornamentation.”

Anything else to share?

“Just a big THANK YOU for taking the time to come check out my shop and for all your support and encouragement!”

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To show her thanks, Astrid is offering a 10% off to all of Too Crewel’s readers to her shop, just enter the code BLOGLOVE10 at check out! And that’s not all…she’s also hosting a giveaway!

What do you win, you ask? Astrid is giving away one of her embroidered brooches!

Here is how to enter:

• Like An Astrid Endeavor on Facebook (1 Entry)
• Like Too Crewel on Facebook (1 Entry)
• Add An Astrid Endeavor to your circle on Etsy (1 Entry)
• Add Too Crewel to your circle on Etsy (1 Entry)
• Follow this blog (1 Entry)
• Tweet about this giveaway (include @toocrewel in tweet) (1 Entry)
• Comment saying what you’d put this cute little brooch on (1 Entry)

That is seven ways to enter! Please do a separate comment for each entry (I don’t want to miss any of your entries!), and be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you won!

This giveaway ends on May 28th
(now closed!) 

xoxo.

Meet The Sponsors: The Girl in the Wild West

This month I’m lucky enough to be having some pretty rad ladies as sponsors. Today you get to meet the lovely and sweet Helengrey from The Girl in the Wild West.
 I had a chance to ask her a couple of questions, and she had nothing but good things to say, check it out!

What can we expect to read about at The Girl in the Wild West?
The Girl in the Wild West is my blog about my adventures living on a ranch. I grew up in a city, so everyday I am learning something new. I write about gardening, cooking, baking, building, decorating, and crafting! 

So, which do you like best, interior design, cooking, or gardening?
I love interior design. I hope to one day start up a interior design business with my mom called Grey Interiors. 

What’s been your favorite part about your move?
 My favorite part of moving was being able to wake up to see the majestic view outside my window. I love how peaceful and calm it is at the ranch. 

 Have a favorite recipe to leave us with?
 I love anything chocolate, but my favorite chocolate dessert is my cold chocolate ganache cupcakes. 

You can get the recipe here.

You can check out my favorite post from The Girl in the Wild West here.  She made some pretty awesome Chalkboard Tags out of Mason Jar lids. I love that idea!

xoxo.

Featured Etsy Shop: Soapopotamus

Bryan found an Etsy shop the other day that I am now obsessed with. It is run by a lovely gal named Regina, and it is called Soapopotamus. She sells the most original handmade soap I have ever seen, and they are all goat milk soaps!

     (click images to view sources)

Can you believe these are even soap? So, when I saw the soaps Bryan was looking at I expected them to be at least twenty dollars. But…the average cost of these little jems is only five dollars. FIVE! I’m having a hard time deciding which one to buy…what is your favorite?

xoxo.

ps. Isn’t my new featured banner awesome? A lovely gal named Carolyn name it for me as an art trade. Thanks, Carolyn!

Leigha Kenny: Home Inspiration

Hello pretties! The weekend has finally arrived, thank god. Today I’m featuring the lovely Leigha Kenny. I met Leigha a few years ago through a mutual friend, and she is such a sweetheart. She is a fantastic artist, and has a great eye for jazzing up what others may consider junk.

So without further adieu, meet Leigha and her cute as hell apartment!
 “Hello, my name is Leigha.

I’m a West Michigan native living in a small beach town called Grand Haven. I recently graduated earning my BFA in Illustration from Kendall College of Art & Design. I love drawing, painting, antiques, DIY, mint tea, and have an enormous amount of affection for animals.

I enjoy re purposing and creating beautiful pieces, weather it’s a thrifting find or out on the curb, I’ll find some way to make it shine. (at low cost) If you have any questions, please feel free…”

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Don’t forget to check out her blog! 

xoxo.