Side Tracked... Oooh Shiny Object!!!

First off let me start by saying the following... Oh bloggy, how I have missed you! Ok, I'm done. Back to my crafts.

Every time I complete something, I take a picture of it and post it for all my internet-lovies to marvel at on FB and Twitter. And then, something occurred to me, I haven't posted much about my painted works on here. I'm not talking canvas paintings so much as I am wooden letters and porcelain projects that you buy from the store. I haven't braved putting a brush near canvas yet, though I would love to, I am just not secure enough in it at the moment.

Don't get me wrong, I think (my opinion) that I am decent enough at it. I just haven't found my... artistic side abilities as of yet. So anyway, here are just some of the things I have painted. What do you think?

My Princess loves Hello Kitty. Looking at a bunch of pics
of the Hello Kitty Characters, I drew these characters out by
hand and then painted them with acrylic paints. 

Finished with some ribbon I bought for
Valentines day.

B-Dog has been into trains since his 2nd Birthday when
someone gave him a few of the trains and a track set. He
really liked the train and farm scene. Also painted with
acrylic paints.

B-Dogs finished wall letters. The ribbon here is a chocolate
brown and I finished the letters with a gloss (Puzzle Saver).
I used that to see what it would look like and also used the
Puzzle Saver to attach the ribbon on to the back of the
letters. The hanger isn't actually what they are hanging on now
just thought it was cute. 

There you go, some of my past projects (long before my interest in embroidery)!

*insert shiny object <-- HERE -->I have been working on my Son's, we shall call him B-Dog for the sake of not having to continuously call him "my Son", anyway... I have done a bit of painting on B-Dog's crafty piece. While breaking from painting, I checked my emails and noticed an awesome message. Someone wondering "How much something like this (B-Dogs wall letters) would cost?". Exciting BTW!

I have always wanted to make things like this and sell them. What better way to make money than by doing what you love! Right? Since it was a request from a friend for her son who is turning One very soon, I decided the wall letters should be a gift. I will always have time to work on those sweet little things for my Children, but it's not every day, at least in my case, that some one requests something for them selves.

I am truly excited about this. She wants a monkey/jungle scene. I got the letters yesterday and really can't wait to get started on them!

I hope you all have a wonderful, exciting and craft-filled day!

Take Care and Happy Crafting!
Amber~Crafty At Heart <3

For Love project #4

Here is the completed "For Love", Embroidery Project#4, piece. I used "Quick Cuts" 18 in. x 21 in Material and cut a 6 1/2 in. x 6 in. square. Embroidering with contrasting threads (Orange, Light Blue, Red, Light Pink, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Blue, Light Green, Green). I used the Back Stitch on all words except for "Patient", I used the Split Stitch there. Back Stitch was also used for the Stick People. 

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud." Taken from 1 Corinthians 13:4

I used three strands for all the words and the out-line of the Stick People and Heart. Two strands were used in the strike-through in "envy", as well as for the eyes and mouths. 

 I took my time with this one because it is the first time I have embroidered with words. I wasn't really sure how it was going to look once it was completed. I had originally decided to embroider the words only. At the last minute I decided to add the cute little stick figures holding a heart. 

I made this piece to show why I do the things that I love to do. My Family, Friends, spending precious time with my two little ones and my Husband, my crafts, and just using my imagination to create things like this... It all means so much to me. I am blessed to be able to do it all. 

I am not sure what I will end up doing with this embroidered square, though. I have had a few ideas. I will either frame it or maybe make some more embroidered squares and attempt to make it into a quilt, or just iron it on to a tote bag. Who knows? The possibilities are endless!!

This piece was a lot of fun to make. I thoroughly enjoyed using all the different colors and am very pleased with my choice of adding the two little people at the last minute. I am surprised though, at how well the words came out. I didn't think they would look as good as they do. I also learned something from this piece; when you are doing something that you get great enjoyment and relaxation from, patients comes easy.

 Like everything else that I do, embroidery is calming for me. Being an Army Wife, calm is not normal, so when you can find it it is pure bliss. To be able to just sit in silence, working on a new craft or working to finish one, is amazing. I would really like to create a few more squares that represent the things and people in my life, that I cherish so much, and make a quilt... if only I knew how to make a quilt. 

This thought brings back a fond memory of a Summer spent with my Grandparents at their home in Brownwood, Texas. They had emptied their living room to set up their quilt ring. I never did get to see how they got the quilt started, but my Papaw taught me and my Grandma how to make it. The three of us woke up every morning, had breakfast together and after the dishes were cleaned up, we all sat around, what later would become my Christmas gift from them, that quilt. I learned how to stitch by hand from my Papaw. I can still tell where my stitches are on that quilt. They are the ones that are crooked and a little all over the place :)

I hope you enjoy reading about this as much as I enjoy telling it! I will be taking a small break from embroidery to get back to my painting. I am working on something cute for my little boy this week. Once it is complete, I will post it!

Here's to hoping you all have a fantastic week!

Take Care and Happy Crafting!

Amber~ Crafty At Heart <3