Happy New Year My Basted Friends!

New year! New ambitions, aye?

Well let me be that typical lazy blogger and say for one:
I WILL BE BLOGGING MORE.

(or at least I say I will…)

I am going to try to make some changes. I didn’t do too bad off last year. I lost weight, which I gained back. Oops. I did blog a little bit more, but not enough for my liking. I created my new etsy shop!

On Viva La Stitches, I have 4 items for sale.

Kinda silly, but hey! They are there! I have plans of what to add onto the store. Some original pieces will be fun! I know I need to add so many things on there. However holiday hours at my work kicked my ass. Not enough alcohol could make up for 4am wake up calls!

With that, I promise to post more tutorials! Since my wedding was mostly DIY I will be making posts relating to those. I have the mini-veil tutorial one, but my wedding based tutes are seriously lackin’! I’m also sure I still have a 3rd installment of knitting gauge waiting to be written. Oops. Okay, that’s it! I am seriously putting some focus on this blog!

I also plan to be more organized. That includes tearing out and re-doing my closet! That should be fun. My whole life needs organization. I have all the apps and planners to do that. I have the resources..and some money to help with my physical things. And I have all the supplies in the world to make millions of product for Viva La Stitches! Now time to just do it!

I would like to thank everyone for their everlasting support! I truly appreciate it! All the follows, likes and comments I’ve gotten brighten up my days immensely!

Now to drink more coffee and Bailey’s while I make a way too long To-Do list!

Best,

Bre

Sugar Skulls Chillin’!

Completed Sugar Skull Headbands – Design by Sublime Stitching

I have listed two ready to ship headbands onto my Etsy Viva La Stitches! Including one discounted! Don’t forget to use my current Promo code “Soft10” to get 10% off!

Thinking of something a little different? Let me know, I can do custom orders. Just message me anytime!

Awwe Crap! Christmas Knits!

If you are anything like me you have tons and tons of yarn. And then some. And if you are anything like me, you’re pretty cheap. And you like to give people presents. And to drink…oh wait…well..yeah that too.

Back to the point of this post, it’s time to make some really quick knits up. I personally steer clear of scarves since they basically bore me, and take forever for me to complete. The other night, I cruised along Pinterest and picked out some sweet quick knits for you to make, since you have (almost) 3 weeks to make some presents! I’m going to try to make some of these for people.

Well here’s some effin’ scarves & cowls for you anyways:

Quick Knit Scarf by LoopsKnitting

Marian by Jane Richmond

 

Life is Uneven Cowl by Jess (on CutOutandKeep)

Fingerless Mittens:

Jane Richmond – Mitten Cuffs

Leg Warmers:

Jane Richmond – Leg Warmers

Always a Christmas Classic – Slippers:

Splash by Drops Design

New Classic – Coffee Cozies:

1. Owl Coffee Cup Cozie 2. Cream Cable Cozy 3. Coffee Mug Cozy

Last but not least:

Here are some sweet blanket options if you have a chunk of time on your hands:

1. Eleventh Hour Blanket – Purl Bee 2. Speed Hook Shell Afghan 3. 5 1/2 Hour Throw 4. 6 Hour Throw

There you go! Some sweet options. For more inspiration hop on over to my Pinterest! Do you have any favorite stitch up real quick projects? Feel free to comment below and let me know!

Also, tonight’s drink of choice was a previously consumed Long Island Milkshake…it was amazing.

 Best,

Bre

Work in Progress!

We all know how I love to constantly start millions of projects and rarely finish them. I really should get on that! Tisk on me.

Anywho I’m working in the Miette cardigan by Andi Satterland. I really need some more vintage inspired pieces and this is perfect. A lot if vintage knit patterns are done with dk or fingering. As we know, Hahahahaha. Like I have the time for that. Silly. Andi has a few patterns done with worsted which gives me hope that I could finish them!

What is your current work in progress?

Best!
Bre

Hubby Portrait

 

Today you now know that I dabble in drawing. I did this with some charcoal pencils I’ve had for years and have no idea how you are “suppose” to use them. I always wish I was better at drawing, and way more creative. I can only copy pictures. When I attempt to come up with something original it usually becomes a disaster.

So here is a picture of my Husband I drew. It’s pretty accurate…except his cute cheeks aren’t quite that chubby…and a few other things that I’m not sure why, but are not quite right. I’d love to take another art class. All the art stuff I know if from a couple classes I took in middle school.

I’d also love to know how to paint.

Now I  am going to enjoy some Angry Orchard Ginger Apple Cider, get on somekind of entertainment and knit a cute cardigan!

Of course I made this!

One of my buddies just filled up her home with some new sweet roommates. They had a Halloween/House Warming party Sunday that I gladly joined. Of course, it wasn’t until earlier that day I realized I should have a handcrafted housewarming gift for her.

One phrase came to mind:

She’s very much a freespirit kinda girl, which is what I love about her.

With the cutesy font, and bright red font I feel like this little tea towel is a winner. Just gotta sew on a loop to hang it and it’s done. Who wants oneee? Pretty sure this is going on my Etsy soon as a customized item.

Where did you get those Wine Bottles!?

I don’t know why I am mentioning this again, but we allll know I love crafting, and the occasional alcoholic beverage.

And sometimes I like to mix these two awesome things together…but not in the usual “pop open a brewsky while I stitch” way.

So also with my love of crafts and alcohol, I love to participate in some sweet themed parties. We did an Edgar Allen Poe party for my birthday, a sweet Prom themed party in June, and last weekend for my close friend Sam we pulled together a ridiculously fun King Henry VIII Party. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, feel free to hop on Netflix and enjoy some of The Tudors.

Anywayssssss, she loved my Raven wine, and the other one I made…and I stupidly didn’t take pictures of. We whipped up some for hers, and I’m gonna give you the rundown on what you need to do this. That’s right! A tutorial on how to make your own wine without having to actually own a winery.

I swear it’s super easy!

What you need:

• Wine – Duh.
• Label Paper or just Paper. The first time I used just normal paper and a glue stick.
• Printer

To make things simple I used PicMonkey to edited my picture. It was super easy with this program! I actually didn’t do any “real”editing. I literally made 2 changes: I rounded off the corners of the picture (I used classic painted portraits of each queen) and added text. I like to have fun and make so called witty names for each wine, and used the year they died as the vintage year.

I was Jane Seymour. We named her wine “Seymour Sons” since..she..had a son. And was the only wife to have a son. Damn me and my addiction to play on words.

When I printed my pictures, I did it directly from the folder. I have Windows 7, and it was pretty simple. On the top of the opened folder there’s a bar that gives you options. I clicked the “Print” one.

I chose the one that prints 4 pictures per page, and unclicked “Fit to frame”.

I’m sure y’all appreciate my sweet MS Paint skills. 

Once printed you just cut them out and stick them on. Well, first you want to remove the other label first. If one is stubborn, just stick in some warm water. Or I’m sure you can just stick it in that cold box for a while. (Disclaimer: Warming or cooling wine may alter the integrity of the wine, but hey, I’m fine with that.) When I glued then I just rubbed the glue stick all over the back, and slapped it on.

There are so so so many things you can do with this! So be creative and have some fun!

And for your viewing pleasure, I thought I’d include a picture of my husband.

Oh did I forget to mentions, it’s of him wearing my corset? What a sport!

Happy Drinking!

Bre

PS: If anyone can get why I named each of the bottles as I did, then a giveaway will commence!

Me Currently

Filling in the Blanks with Luvinthemommyhood. Anyone wanna join?

 

* i’m longing to make “my shop’s items” right now.

* i want to try “making iPhone charms” with some “vintage beads” yarn.

* i wish i could sew with “Anna Maria Horner” fabric.

* i dream of making “a change in my motivation”.

* i keep track of my ideas by “writing notes in my planner”.

* i’m inspired by “vintage embroidery patterns”.

* i would love to meet “Jane Richmond” in person.

* my favorite fiber is “cotton”.

* i like to sew with “Snazzy Modern Fabrics”.

* my favorite color is “seafoam”.

* i rock at “embroidery presents”.

* i would like to learn how to make “blog graphics”.

* i like to listen to “cheesy tv shows” while i “stitch”.

* i bring my “pens” everywhere.

* my favorite thing to “stitch” are “sugar skull headbands”.

* my favorite thing to “knit” are “headbands…also”.

* my crafting space is “all over the place“.

* if i had my own crafting room it would be “cozy mix between creative and office”.

* i sew with “my hand most of the time”.

* i like to “create” “sketches for the future”.

* i can never get enough “nutella”.

* i adore “people who can do templates”.

* i also enjoy “spending time with my husband”.

* i like to fill my shelves with “books”.

* i create the best when i’m “about to fall asleep”.

* i am currently excited for “Perks of Being a Wallflower movie”.

* right now i am “getting my new etsy shop set up”. 

* i love to watch “my guilty pleasures” while creating.

* my guilty pleasure when it comes to creating is “anything with stockinette stitch”.

* my current favorite music crush to listen to while creating is “Two Door Cinema Club”.

A friend of a friend project

Since my recent embroidery obsession, some friends have made requests. I sent my Lady Guadalupe back to a buddy in California.  She is oh so stoked on it too!

have to say it is pretty sweet looking! ha. I didn’t have anywhere to put it either, so it totally worked out.

Recently my other buddy Jess enlisted in me to help her out. She is attending a wedding and wanted to give the bride and groom a unique present. She saw a picture of embroidered lyrics online and wanted a duplicate of it. Not hard at all! The hardest part of this whole project was picking the font (which is Skinny Jeans if anyone wanted to know.)

Finally I got to stitching this piece of magic. Anything with a Weezer reference is golden to me.

I chose a napkin for my fabric, and a pretty light gray for the words. I had to try to fix the M on me about 3 times until I gave up and let it be.

This gift is so sweet and adorable. I wrapped it up and threw it in the pre-selected frame:

This would be the equivalent of a rough draft for me for the framing. I still need to re-position it a bit, glue a bit and seam the back to keep it taunt. I’m pretty stoked on it! Totally worth the beer I’m exchanging for it! I highly doubt I will be selling this, since it’s inspired by someone else. However, I have thought of a few sweet embroidered designs to frame and hang. And may look into some fun phrases to do this with.

Happy Crafting!

Bre

Update: Cards, Button, Shop, Etc.

Hey Y’allllll,

So I’ve been attempting to stay somewhat proactive, while working & trying to get some product up for my new shop (Oh, plus study for cosmetology, search for a salon job, and plan a trip to Europe.) I have to say, not too shabby yet. Ha.

Here is my to come business card. Working on the headbands I’ve created, I’ve been getting tons of compliments whenever I (constantly) wear mine. I could just say “Ohh yeah check out my blog for more information” but it can be oh so forgotten. Plus I’m sick of the sloppiness of writing my URL on a post it note.

Also working on some minicard samples form Moo.com for my items that I sell on etsy. In fact, if you’re interested you can get 100 mini cards for free from them! They do have a little Etsy & Moo symbol on them, but hey, FREE! And just something I’m thinking about.

(Actually if you just google “Free Moo Cards” there’s a few things to choose from. Including..Facebook cards? Yeah I’m not sure either. Looks like they are currently doing 25% off as well.

Anyways, I did snag my business cards from Vistaprint.com since I’m on a small budget currently. They have been shipped (YAY!) and I still have a list of things to do. Hopefully sometime October the shop will be open, trust me I’ll keep everyone in the loop.

Until the shop is up, you can support by blog with this dandy button:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37761346@N05/8001225957/

Yeah, it’s not the cooooolest quite, but it gets the point through, and it’s cute. Notice a theme with the picture? I’m just a tad too proud since I actually set up a lightbox area and took my own pictures. look at that, getting all snazzy like. So if you want, feel free to link this little button on your blog. I’m am also down to trading buttons. Just shoot me an email.

Happy Crafting!

Bre