My Week on Instagram {2.21-2.28}

I haven't been working on projects that I feel warrant a blog post, or not yet at least.  I do post to Instagram quite often.  I've expressed how much I love this app many times.

First of all you can follow me here - http://instagram.com/daisiesforviolet

So, this week on my Instagram,

1. I'm working on a project for a swap at C.R.A.F.T.  My partner's style is completely different than mine.  It's been fun coming up with something make/assemble/send to her.  These are the colors I picked out to use on her project.

2. I picked up a hexagon punch last week just because I felt like I needed one.  There was no explanation, my life was suddenly incomplete until I could find a coupon and get one of these in my possession.  I tend to lean toward bold colors, so I was just trying to get a feel for some neutrals.

3. It's still epic winter time here in Chicago.  I couldn't find a matching set of flops in the house and Violet thought it was hilarious that my shoes didn't match so she went and found her flops that didn't match.  They lasted just long enough to take a pic.  I hope the colors somehow influence the weather....

4. I made her first mitten before it got sub zero the first time.  I love this yarn, it's Caron Super Soft, for small projects like this.

5.  I got this coat at a thrift store for $20.  That's too much for a coat at the thrift store.  BUT this collar is wonderful with my short hair.

6. Violet has SVT.  She has episodes of SVT I should say.  Her heart rate doubles for no discernible reason.  She had her first at nine days old, her second at 21 days.  Her third was last Tuesday night at 28 months old.  We are back on meds, unfortunately, We all thought she had grown out of it.  So we are disappointed but it's not life threatening.  So if she's going to have heart issues, honestly this one the one I would pick.  This picture is her at 2 am checking her heart rate.  She was at about 160, 90 is normal.  The stethoscope is her new favorite thing.

7, 9, and 10.  These are gifts for a friend's daughters.  More on this when I get my friend's gift done.  It's a SURPRISE!

8.  I don't get how this is comfortable.

11.  This is Grim. He's a jerky cat.  The internet loves him.

12.  Selfie.  This is my favorite app ever.  I got a Windows phone the phone before this one and I seriously considered taking it back cause they didn't have it on the market.  But, $35 restocking fee.  It's Vignette. Go get it now.

13.  Another thing that was a total compulsion for about 48 hours.  I actually blogged this one.  FREE PATTERN YAY!

14.  She loves to paint, draw and make things.  I had to go to target a few days ago because she wanted to use tools and I didn't trust her with the real screw driver.

15. This is a wrap I made for a friend of mine.  It's also Caron Simply Soft in a great creamy orange.  But you can't tell cause I used that same app, Vignette.  I love (that app) this wrap.

Wow, this really turns out to be a diary.

What are you making today?

Tutorial on a Tuesday: Butttons.

Alllriiigght.  

Buttons.

This is how I make my buttons.  I've done maybe 5 now and they aren't easy and I was doing them pretty blindly so I want to show you how I do them.  It's not going to be the prettiest thing you ever saw from the back, but it works.  

FIRST.

Stitch something.

Then pick up some buttons, they look like this.

You want the one that says "kit" cause they have the little pushers with them.  The others will say "refill"  (the back gives directions on using the pushers).

I picked up these today. 

Best. Idea. Ever.  Trying to figure out how much would be on the the actual button and how much would fold was very awkward.  These make a few things more simple.  Basically, it tells you the size of the button, the inside size that will show and the outside size you need to cut to.  Seriously, but it.

Materials - 
Add double sided tape and some scissors to this list.

Again, this is how I do this.  Take it or leave it...

The back of your buttons are going to have a loop, so they can be used as a button. 

Take it off.  Some pliers to pry it off. 

Next, cut the stitch into the round shape you need.  You can use the template.  In fact, do it, use the template. 

Use a little piece of double sided tape to hold this down.  You are going to start folding and it's going to move when you don't want it to.  The tape is very helpful.

Next, use the template to make sure that you have your image centered. 

When you do, start folding the sides around.  This is the tricky part.  The cloth is thick, and the buttons aren't really made for such thick cloth.  So use the little pusher thing, and use it to smash down the edges and flatter them out.  Like this. 

Next put some poxy on the metal part that is still showing.  The heart button shown in my last post fell apart a couple hours after it had been on the kids coat.  You don't want the back to unattach.

Then put on the back.

The kit is going to tell you to use this stuff.  I say skip it.  Because of the fabric.  

Instead...

You are going to need to bent it a bit to get it snug.  The e6000 will do the rest. 

Speaking of, put some more on. 

Then put on the pin back.  Purchased for a couple bucks at Hobby Lobby.  Worth it. 

 

And then.  BAM!

This one is a gift for a friend.  I hope she likes it.  :) 

Embroidery: The Process.

In my recent experiments in cross stitch I remembered how much I loved the freedom of embroidery.  You can change your mind about anything a second before you do it.  

I like that freedom.

So to get me back in the groove I've decided to participate in the &stitches Back to School Embroidery Contest. Basically it's a call to create a flash card.  Simple enough that so many outstanding things can be created.  :)

&Stitches is a blog I have really grown to love recently and I'm excited to join my first competition.

They have some great prizes, but honestly, I'm more happy to try an idea on and see how it turns out.  I like a challenge. A chance to think outside the projects I have going on about at the moment.

Here I will share my little process for embroidery.  

When I began I would get these...

Now, there is nothing wrong with these.  But I have a craft M.O. I will try the recommended beginners level.  Once.  Do it correctly and skip about 5 levels and try that next.  

I like a challenge.  

It's just how I learn.  I mean, it's not life or death. Its fabric and thread. 

So I will make a pattern or download it from an awesome website, like Urbanthreads.com.  (<3)

Hook my laptop into my extra-special-embroidery-design-tracing-monitor. It's an old monitor with plexiglass taped onto it so I can put the fabric directly on to it and trace.  It's a modified light box and works perfectly.

I use a fine point disappearing ink pen.  They are about 6 bucks in the sewing gadgets part of your craft store. WORTH IT.

And it looks like this.

I picked out my fabric and thread.  

I have a simple design, it's about something somewhat technical  I want to keep it clean and just think about keeping the work neat and well done.  Not many bells and whistles here.  

Hoop it and dig in. 

I'm doing a whole lotta raised satin stitch.  It's going to be PRITTY!

Stay tuned!