Embroidery obsession- negative space

One of the things I'm obsessed with lately is embroidery in tiny little 3" and 4" hoops. I signed up for a swap and this is what I decided to make. I wish my photography skills were better, because it turned out really cute.

Pinned! Dresser makeover.

Source: homemadesimple.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I've had a small wooden dresser for years. When I was growing up it was olive green and held paper and pens and school supplies. When I went to college I stole it, painted it black and stenciled a purple hydragea on top. Now it's badly peeling red and white from my son's room. I think when we move again and the baby gets a room I'll do something like this for her. How pretty is that!

Are you on Pinterest? The bulletin board of your dreams?

No? Just the bulletin board of MY dreams?

If you're not, you really should to take a look around. Meanwhile, I thought I'd start showing you some of my favorite crafts and boards.

Today's pick is... mine! This is my Crafty Inspiration pinboard. On that you'll find such delicious goodies as:

Source: Uploaded by user via Lisa on Pinterest

This cool Auburn War Eagle burlap pillow.

Source: servingpinklemonade.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Patterns for a quiet book (MAN we need this!)

Source: greylustergirl.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Completely cool thread storage. It does look like a pretty framed picture, no?

Source: bookslistslife.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

This adorable pink plaid horse. (Oh wait, that's my picture!)

Looking for a comprehensive list of FREE purse patterns and tutorials?

A friend of mine just directed me to this huge list of free purse and bag patterns. It also has link to techniques like this adjustible strap tutorial and this one for purse bindings. This purse made out of potato chip bag or candy wrappers is awfully cool. I just wish they had thumbnails.

Free Etsy Banners!

I just ran across this link to Free Etsy Banners, including Free Christmas Banners for your Etsy shop! Sweet!  Graphic design is this huge mental block for me, I just can't get my ideas to translate onto the screen. I love that someone is doing it for me.  Thanks to @EverythingEtsy for posting that.

Product Development: Simple Stockings

One of the things I'd like to offer in the shop this fall is a simple stocking with little embellishment. I imagine it as an old-fashioned stocking that is elegant in it's simplicity. I came up with this light canvas stocking, with a little ruffled opening. The lining fabric has a lovely little bit of sheen to it, almost a silky feel.




I wanted the shape of the stocking to evoke an actual stocking, like you would wear. I tried to turn it in at the ankle and point the toe a bit.



The first few people I showed it to liked it.

The next few people hated it, said it was too rough, too country. Too plain.

I think it needs a little more tweaking, but over all, I do like it.  I imagine it with different colored linings, maybe a linen lining. I can also see it in a deep red corduroy with a crisp snowy white lining.

What do you think?

Etsy Finds of the Week #4

(Just a reminder that these are not things made or sold by me, just things I saw and liked.)

Plush Chicken

All You Need Is Love Print

Orange and white bakers twine

One Orange Monkey Farts Bath Fizzy

Owl Print

My Memories Suite Software Review and Giveaway!

 What? A Giveaway? What blog is this? But no!  A couple weeks ago I was approached to review and giveaway my very own copy of My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software. I initially decided to pass on it, because I do a million different crafts, but I don't scrapbook. So I sat on the email a few days until I realized that my darling daughter had just celebrated her first birthday and it might be fun to play with her pictures just a little bit.  I was leery, because my last attempt at any kind of paper scrapbooking ended in a truly hideous framed collage of messy, 3rd grade level art.

I downloaded my copy of the software (which I was given for free in order to review it properly!) and then kinda pushed it out of my mind. (There are other big things going on in my life right now, which I really should mention over here, but I digress.)  Anyway, tonight I finally sat down to play with the software a bit. It comes with a couple of different premade templates, and you can change the order of the pages or even remove complete pages at this point. (They are really tiny though, which kinda sucks, sorry!) After that the first page of your book opens up and you can add pictures or text at that point. You can, of course, format the text in many ways, and edit the pictures as well. You can add embellishments like rickrack or speech bubbles and move the photos around as well. Once you get the hang of the software, there are additional backgrounds and things you can add. You can add sound and video and make it into a presentation (I'm imagining this running at a graduation party, for example!) There are a few minor things that I would change (the size of the pictures in that first screen, for example,) but I think that a real scrapbooker would be able to make amazing things with it.

So the nice people over at My Memories have given me a coupon code that will give you $10 off the price of the software, should you want to purchase your very own copy. Simply visit this link, check out the software, and enter the code STMMMS13921 (copy and paste is your friend here!)

They have also given me one copy of the software to give away to my readers! Yay you! There are a few stipulations on winning. First, pop on over to their website and poke around. Pick out your favorite kit and come back here to leave me a comment telling me which one you liked best. That's all you have to do to be entered!

But if you want to get extra entries (and please, don't feel pressured, I know how people feel about this stuff!) you could

• Like them on Facebook and come back to tell me you did. (If you do this one, you get another coupon for their website!)
• Like Made by Lisah on Facebook and come back and tell me you did. (I'll give you two entries for this one!)

I'll pick a winner on October 7th.  Good luck!

Etsy Five Favorites of the Week #3

A brief note: These are five things I really liked that I found on Etsy this week, they are not items made or sold by me!

Mini Crossbody Messenger bag from HangaBag

 Embroidered Necklace by merriweathercouncil

Halloween invitation by dandydesignsink

War Eagle Football Dress by Little Bee's Clothing Shop

Misunderstood Pitbull Stuffed Animal by Flaky Friends

Etsy Five Favorites of the Week #2

Pixel People Superhero Sampler PDF Pattern

Vintage Robot Cookie Jar

Homework Helpers embroidery patterns

Flutter Skirt Pattern

Halloween Wreath with Ghost

Etsy Five Favorites of the Week #1

Custom Ruffled Skirt

Little Hearts Necklace

Library cards

Just Stay Little Print (this almost made me cry, what a sweet thought!)

 

Owl Tea Bag Holder

On Hiatus

I'm sure you've all (all 5 of you) noticed a lack of posts here.  For the time being this blog is on hiatus while I enjoy my new daughter. For more reading on my crazy life, please stop by my home away from home, Books. Lists. Life.  I'll be back in this space in a couple months, promise.

Item of the Day: ABC Twill Tape

Ok, I admit it, I have no idea what I would do with this. But isn't it cute?

She's got lots of other cute stuff too, car and trucks and cupcakes and kitties and storybook characters....

Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.

Etsy Item of the Day: Handmade Chrysoprase and Sterling Ring

I love the trend of big clunky jewelry, I just wish that I had somewhere to WEAR big stuff! That doesn't mean I don't drool over things like this one:

(Ok, I admit it, I wear the exact same jewelry every single day. Boring. This is what I'd wear if I weren't boring.)


Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.

Etsy Item of the Day: Tennessee State Pin

This seller was featured on the front page of Etsy recently for a different state. I went looking for South Dakota and did not find it, but I did find a few other states dear to my heart.  This is the Tennesse one, which is super cute.

I bet if you wanted one of your state and couldn't find it that it could be made for you. Plus, wouldn't this make a very affordable gift?

Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.

Item of the day: Dinosaur Crayons

So yesterday I showed you some Animal Cracker Crayons, I'm following that up today with Dinosaur Crayons. How much fun would these be to use? Especially for little kids like mine who love to RARRRR at you!

Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.

Item of the Day: Animal Cracker Crayons

How adorably cute are these?? They make me want to start giving out party favors at birthday parties.  Or maybe just buying some up for little kid gifts.

Animal Cracker Crayons

Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.

Item of the Week: Birthday Week: Pearl Button Necklace

Another of June's birthstones is pearl and while I'm not a huge fan of traditional pearl jewelry, this cute little button necklace caught my attention. I think this would make a great gift for someone who sews. Ahem.

Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.

Etsy Item of the Day: Birthday Week: Kawaii Big Cat Cotton Fabric

In an effort NOT to post jewelry every day, I'm sharing a piece of fabric with you today. This one is on my favorites list, but I suspect if I owned it I'd have a very hard time cutting into it. Can't you see it as a wallet or little makeup bag?

1 YARD 43x35 Inch, KAWAII BIG CAT COTTON FABRIC, ORANGE COLOR

If you can't think of soemthing to get me for my birthday (no pressure!) you wouldn't go wrong buying a stack of fabric from this shop.

Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.

Etsy Item of the Day: Birthday Week: Moonstone Ring

My birthday is approaching at the end of this week so I thought I'd spend the week with a few things for June birthdays. June folks are lucky, we get our choice of several birthstones, one of which is moonstone. From a brief look at Etsy it would appear that the Twilight craze has infected the moonstone, but I still find them lovely.

I particularly like this simple ring, from louisagallery, but you should definately check the shop for other rings as there are some great choices. (I might like this one more, but it doesn't fit the June theme!)

Disclaimer: The Etsy seller of this item has no idea I'm posting, and no affiliation with me, my blog, or my Etsy shop. I just want to share a little bit of what I love.