"Design It, Stitch It: Hand Embroidery" Class Review

I enrolled in Craftsy's Design It, Stitch It: Hand Embroidery(affiliate link) class in January as part of my goal to learn how to hand embroider.  I grew up doing counted cross stitch so I knew it wouldn't be that hard, but I wanted tog get a good foundation instead of just winging it.  I jumped in with both feet, with a trip to Hobby Lobby o get embroidery floss and patterns and I started the lessons.

Jessica Marquez from Miniature Rhino is the host.  She's young, cool, and makes you feel like you can create all sorts of cool things that you'll actually want to make with embroidery.   There's eight lessons, and within these she goes through more than two dozen different embroidery stitches.  She also shows different methods to do the same stitch.

The first six lessons focus all on stitches.  Jessica and Craftsy give you a sampler pattern that you can make to practice all your stitches and then assemble it into a cute little quilt, but I wanted to makes something more practical, so I just used an iron on pattern I found at Hobby Lobby and embroidered a dish towel.  I love embellished dish towels.  (If sewing is more your thing, check out this tutorial for freshening up your dish towels.)  I didn't try out all the stitches like I would have if I had made the sampler, but I managed to squeeze the stem stitch, lazy daisy, satin stitch, french knots, fern stitch, and a few others into my little project.

Finished Project- Embroidered Towel

The last two lessons are about embroidery on knits and designing your own patterns.  It was pretty interesting and I really learned a lot.  So why did I wait so long to tell you guys about it, if it was so awesome?  Well, because I'm a constant unfinisher.  I was nearly done with this towel.  All that was left was a few lessons to watch and about half an hour of embroidery.  And it sat on my desk. Languishing away.  Thank goodness Craftsy access never expires! 

I'm not sure why it sat for so long, other than it got warm and I was spending more time outside.  But, since I made June my "Month of Finishing", I decided to get it done. So, today, I did.  And now I'm all amped up to make more, but  think I'm going to make myself finish up a few more of the unfinished projects before starting another.

Love the fern stitch on the purple flowers on the right, and the French knots on the right.

Have you tried hand embroidery before?  If you have, what's your favorite stitch?  And if you haven't but would like to, check out Jessica's class on Craftsy.  (Craftsy links are affialiate links, but all thoughts are my own.)  It's on sale right now for only $19.99.  And like I said, access never expires, and you can watch the videos whenever you want, at your own pace or even skip around if you like.  It's totally up to you. 

Celebrating the New Year & an All New You Giveaway (US Only)

So the new year is here and I'm teaming up with Lauren Paints {a Beautiful Life} and a bunch of other bloggers to host a fun giveaway. 

It's time to Celebrate the New Year & an All New You 

with this giveaway hop hosted by LaurenPaints.com!

So what's my prize?   Glad you asked!  There's a whole hodge podge of things I like.

Here's a little bit about the prizes.

 

First up is a copy of Sarah Ban Breathnach's A Daybook of Comfort and Joy.  I wrote about how much I loved this book this past summer.  It's all about simplifying your life and being happy with what you have, but still dreaming big dreams for yourself.  It's not preachy or self righteous, but if you really read it, I guarantee it will change your outlook on life.

 

Next up is a set of three mini lined notebooks and a cinnamon scented pen from Smencils.  These are great if you're trying to get organized.  I carry a little notebook like this in my purse for keeping lists and writing reminders for myself.

Having a cup of coffee every morning is my little ritual to get my day started.  I usually brew up a cup and savor it while I read my email, check in on Facebook, and just ease into the day.  (That's one of the advantages of working predominately afternoons and evenings.  No rush-rush to get ready in the morning.)  So, I'm sending a bag of Cameron's  "African Cinnamon" coffee.  This is a company out of Shakopee, Minnesota, that a lot of the grocery stores around here sell.  I think they're pretty good.  I'm also including Dream coffee mug from my affiliate, Dayspring Cards.  The mug says, "DREAM God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.  Ephesians 3:20", and 

on the back, "higher than a mountain, deeper than the sea, wider than the world - for the size of our dreams tells not how big we are but how big our God is."

 

And lastly, I'm all about the natural health and beauty, so I'm including a jar of my homemade sugar scrub- peppermint scented.  (If you want to make your own, you can find the instructions here.  I'm also including a bar of homemade soap that is smells great.  I didn't make it, but it was made locally.  It's oatmeal almond scented and smells great.  Both will come in handy when you need a little pampering.

Estimated retail value of this prize pack is $30.  You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  It's mandatory to answer the question, "What's one thing you hope to accomplish in the New Year" with  blog comment, but all other entry options are optional.  Giveaway ends January 20.   And is only open in the US, simply due to the weight of the package.  Don't worry international friends, I still love you and will do my best to include you in future giveaways.  Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond.  If there is no response after 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After entering my giveaway head over to LaurenPaints.com

to enter to win the Grand Prizes,

One winner will win a $100 Visa GC 

and another will win a $50 Sephora GC!

This event will run from January 3rd {12:01 am EST} through January 20th{11:59 pm EST}

Be sure to check out all of the other giveaways below, there are some GREAT prizes included:

Are you a store or company looking to participate in this Giveaway Hop Event? 
Contact laurenpaintsflorida@gmail.com to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Giveaway for Two Handmade Zipper Pouches

Another week, another winner!  The six pattern bundle drawing is over, and Joske W. was the winning entry.  So, if that's you, check your email!  This week, I have a fun giveaway that's also practical.

Zipper pouches were one of the first things I sewed and they got me hooked.  It was a fast project.  You can whip one up in under half an hour.  They don't take up much fabric, and they are practical.  You can use them to store makeup, cell phone chargers, headphones, sewing supplies, pretty much whatever you like as long as it will fit.

This week I'm giving away two pouches.  The smaller is perfect for purses, to hold cash, credit cards, lip balm, whatever you like.  It measures 4 inches tall and five inches wide.  The exterior fabric is Kaffe Fassett's Winding Floral print.  The inside is a pale green with white polka dots.  It has been interfaced with fusible fleece so it's quite sturdy.  The zipper is white.

Kaffee Fassett's Winding Floral Pouch

The larger pouch measures about eight inches wide and about five and a half inches tall.  There's a layer of fusible fleece sandwiched between the lining fabric and exterior fabric of this one too.  The exterior is from Anna Maria Horner's LouLouThi collection.  I don't know the exact name, but it always kind of reminded me of fireworks.  The interior is a mint green woven.  If you carry a big enough purse, you can definitely throw this guy in your bag.  But it'd also be good to hold makeup brushes, art supplies, crochet hooks, etc.

To enter, just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter giveaway below.  Leaving a comment is mandatory, all other entries are optional.  And if you haven't entered yet, you have one more day to get in on the Stash Builder Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Craftsy Sale is Ending Soon

Just a reminder that Craftsy's big sale runs through Saturday and then it's done!  So what did I find that I couldn't live without?  I managed to pass by all the fabrics, but I did enroll in two more classes.  I have tried my hand at knitting and crocheting without much success, so I decided to give the Craftsy beginner classes a try and enrolled in Crochet Lab Class and Knit Lab Class.  Both teach the foundations of their respective field and I'm hoping to get more proficient this winter when Wisconsin is buried in snow.  Both classes were on sale for only $9.99 each, so I think it will pay off since I seem to do better with video lessons than with books.

I love that I can watch the videos for class when I want, at my own pass.  My access to the classes never expire and the PDF handouts are super handy to refer back to without having to fast forward through the video.  So, just wanted to remind you all that if you were thinking of trying any Craftsy class, now is the time.  They're almost all on sale and Craftsy does have a 100% guarantee that you'll be happy with your class.  I've always been happy with everything I've gotten from Craftsy and I really think you will be too.

What I Found... At Farmer's Market

I live in a little town.  The population here is well under 5,000.  I've always lived in and around this area and only occasionally do I wish I was somewhere bigger.  There are times when I wish there was something open after midnight, besides one lone gas station (especially since I work second shift).  But, for the most part, it's okay.  We have a grocery store.  We have a WalMart (which I count as a pro and a con).  We have a couple fast food places and plenty of gas stations so you can fill up if you decide to make a pilgrimage to the nearest metropolis- which will take a good hour to reach.

It's small here, but there's some things that are just as good here as at any big city.  We have an awesome library with a beautiful view.  Sometimes I just go there to read magazines.  It's so nice to have people around you, yet still enjoy the silence that a library provides.  We have some really awesome hiking and walking trails that I don't take advantage of as nearly as often as I should.  And we have a great farmers' market.

I grow some veggies on my deck, but I can find just about anything that will grow in Wisconsin at the farmer's market, not to mention lots of hand crafted things.  It's only open Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, so I got up today and headed out.  It's only about six blocks from my house, it was a gorgeous breezy, sunny day, so I walked.

Here's what I found.

All my purchases that I lugged home on foot.

I got a Hen and Chicks plant  for one of my friends.  The sweet lady selling them recommended this one because it already has a lot of chicks.

Some homemade soy candles for someone selling sheep cheese, sheep milk soaps and organic sheep and beef meat.

Some snow peas for stir fry.

Homemade Kim Chee.  The mild was still a little spicy for me, but very good.  It's kind of like saurkraut but only crispier and with other veggies mixed it.  It's a Korean treat and very tasty.  The woman selling it was giving out samples at the market.  I also got a cup of organic coffee to sip on while I shopped.  Also very tasty.

 

A photographer was selling prints and greeting cards featuring her pictures.  Of course I had to get some.  I love snail mail.  The ones I picked featured Split Rock Lighthouse, which is located about three and a half hours north of here.  I've been there in the fall and it is a beautiful site.  This card shows it in the winter.  Also, a card with some delphiniums.  I always love cottage flowers like lupines, hollyhocks, foxgloves, and delphiniums.  The bottom one I'm not sure of, maybe Queen Anne's Lace or something similar.  It's very muted colors and just gorgeous.

 

And a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers.  Here's a close up of some of the beauties.

 

I spent way more than I was intending to, but there's plenty more that I resisted, like honey, handmade bath salts, homemade breads, fresh pastries, jams, birdhouses, and strawberries.  Plus, I really believe in supporting local and independent sellers.  I'd rather give them my money than WalMart any day.  We have a short growing season here in Wisconsin, so we haven't even hit the peak time yet, as far as fruits and veggies go.  Once we do, I'll be hauling home sweet corn, potatoes and green beans!