Fruit & Bear Learn To Stitch

Hi Y'all!

Recently I got to hang out with a couple of my teenage nieces for a whole entire weekend and we had a grand ol' time, the best kind of girls weekend. We ate too much, talked and talked and talked, watched movies, painted our nails, listened to music, talked some more, good times, I tell ya, good times! And then something really cool happened... they asked me to teach them to stitch! Seriously, I thought they were pulling my leg, but they were totally into it.

Like, OMGeee!

I already had a couple of darling motifs that they liked from Amiee Ray's Doodle Stitching traced onto fabric and hooped up (left over from my long ago Creativi-tea party - ooh, I need to do another one of those, that was fun!) so I grabbed some extra needles and scissors and got down to it. We stuck to the back stitch for these little embroideries and the girls caught on really well. These are their first embroideries.

Aren't they great!?

And here are the worlds newest (and cutest) stitchers!  

Fruit & Bear and their happy little stitches.

I enjoyed showing the girls how to get started so much. They were already talking about other things they'd like to try. Muahaha! I snagged them, they'll never be the same again, muahaha, muahaha!

I can't wait to spend some more time with the girls, I mean, they're super fun and I love hanging out with them anyway, but add stitching to the mix and shazam, heaven!

Wishing you all a fun weekend! What'cha got planned?
Do tell!
oxo,
Lisa

p.s. Fruit & Bear?? Nicknames since they were babies, Hannah-banana would have been much to common so it had to be "Fruit" (naturally, right?) and Claire... well, obviously, she's our Claire-bear. I love them so!

Petunia Cottontail

Happy Easter, Friends!

I hope you're having a wonderful day today, either relaxing, contemplating or having a wild egg hunt with lots of chocolate, jelly beans & giggly kids!

I'm headed to Lake Tahoe to spend Easter with my brother and his family in just a bit, but I thought I'd pop in real quick and share my latest little felt pin, finished just in time for Easter.

Sean and I were debating what the female equivalent of the name Peter is? We couldn't decide so we went with Petunia. Petunia Cottontail. ♥

My lil rabbit is definitely a girl bunny with her sparkly, beaded flower atop her round little head.

She's surrounded with a sweet posy of bright, beaded flowers too, yep, she's a girly girl.

I had fun stitching this little lady, I like the framing, it reminds me of a miniature portrait and has me debating what other little critters would look cute in this fashion. A fox? (I've always loved foxes) A squirrel? (I'm nuts about them!) A kitty cat? What do you think would be cute? Hop on down and let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Wishing you the sweetest, springiest Easter, have a beautiful day!

oxo,

Lisa

Sew Cute Bunny

Hello Easter Bunny!

Just in time for Easter, I have a funny bunny to share with you! ♥

A couple of months ago, I was asked by the publisher if I'd like to review a new craft book that's coming out soon called Sew Quick Sew Cute by Fiona Goble, probably like many crafty type bloggers I get these offers from time to time, but generally, unless it's something I'm really interested in I politely decline. This book however was right up my alley, I like cute & quick! I agreed to accept a review copy, apart from receiving the book I was not compensated in any way for this review and these opinions are my own.

I loved the bunny that is featured on the cover, so I knew right away that was what I wanted to make. Isn't she sweet?

Making the bunny was a breeze, only uses a small amount of fabric and the directions are clear & easy to understand.  Her sleepy eyes are sew cute! I love that this project included a bit of embroidery.

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I stitched her nose a bit different than the nose on the cover and in the pattern, I thought she needed a little pink nose, so I gave her one. Lots of room in this pattern to make your bunny your very own.

Miss Bunny came together in just under two hours, including embroidery which would make her a a great gift if you haven't got a lot of time. There are several other cute ideas in the book, things that I'd love to make when I have some more time, I really like Stash Box and the Apple Bag (check out the preview on Amazon). 

I think Miss Bunny makes a sweet addition to my guest bedroom, she can stay as long as she likes!

Sew Quick Sew Cute is a fun book, there are lots of project a beginner could tackle without much trouble, in fact I think this book would be especially great for young sewers & crafters, the projects are just hard enough to be a challenge and easy enough to encourage completion and feel good about the results. I enjoyed this book and think I'll be using it again & again.

So! Are you ready for Peter Cotton Tail to visit you? Easter's on its way!

What are your plans this weekend, friends? Do tell!

oxo,

Lisa

Announcing: The Rowan Tree!

Spring greetings & happy Friday, friends!

I'm very excited to publish this post but nervous too, I've been dawdling forever, in fact this post has been sitting in my drafts for two weeks, clogging up the works. Fear and feelings of  "am I good enough?" are powerful forces, but I won't let my silly fears keep me from pursuing what I love and share it, so here I go!

Recently couple of my girlfriends opened a new store in the downtown area of my home town, Lodi, California called The Rowan Tree, and it's a great little place you guys! The stars aligned the store came together very quickly, quicker than one might imagine! It's getting better every day as it fills with art and handmade goodness by local artists and makers and I am honored to say that they've asked me along in this journey as a contributing maker & artist!

So exciting! A rare and fabulous opportunity for someone like me. I mean real talk - I've never sold a thing, I've never tried. I don't have an Esty shop and although I take what I do seriously and always put my best effort into everything I make, it's been a passion and my need to create, but never a commercial endeavor.

So!
What to make? What's my style? What do I dooooooo?

I've given this a lot of thought, and came back to where I started - the things I've always loved. Flowers, embroidery, felt. This is my starting place and where I am most comfortable, things I never tire of, which have a lot of room for exploration, interpretation and room to make my own. I've got lots and lots of ideas in a rapidly filling notebook stuffed with little bits of this and that, doodles and drawings, lists of suppliers and bigger grander things as one idea tends to lead to another. I am excited!

I had to start somewhere, so I started with pretty things to wear, broaches in soft, springy colors! 100% Merino wool felt, embroidered touches and just a tiny bit of sparkle. Here are my first contributions to The Rowan Tree!

Hello Easter Bunny

Here is the display I made to showcase my pins in the store. I've had this mannequin for some time, but it's not usually this cute.{wink!}Normally it sits in our living room and displays one of my husbands collection of ice hockey jerseys. He's graciously let me borrow it for the time being. I gave the pedestal & top piece a coat of spray paint and covered the body in a yard of this (the only link I can find) gorgeous Pam Kitty Morning fabric I picked up on a recent trip to The Nimble Thimble. 

I also made a few little needle books, these in a wonderfully soft wool blend felt with embroidered touches.

Oh, and a big, cheery pin cushion and some hand made greeting cards embellished with fabric & small touches of embroidery. Fun little extras that I was playing with. Looking forward to expanding on the idea of embellished cards.

Looking forward to A LOT. I wish I had more time to make all the things that I'm dreaming of! I've always wanted more time (who doesn't?), but lately the urge is fierce! Now, if only I could make this into a full time job with bennies! 

Well... whew! That was a long post. I've already made several other things for the store and there's more on the way, and now that I've gotten this ball rolling, perhaps it won't be so long til we can chat again, and I can share a little more about what I've been up to and what I'm planning in the coming months. I'm pretty stoked about it!

Can't wait to chat about this with my blogging peeps, so lay it on me! Advice, pointers, critiques (but please be gentle ♥ ) I'm all ears.

Big love!

Lisa

p.s. Go check out the The Rowan Tree! Give us a "like" if you're pickin' up what we're laying down. Pretty please with sugar on top!

p.p.s. Hey look, The Rowan Tree has a write up in our local paper today! The shop is open all weekend, if you're local, pop in and say hi! Tell 'em Lisa sent you. ♥