Hand Puppet Embroidery

Time really does slip right by and I somehow never remember to blog about it... well here I am trying again.. haha

I just wanted to share a peak at a new series I'm working on right now. These are hand puppet embroideries of some of my original illustrations. This combines 2 of the things I love to do, draw and craft! I don't ever do much with all of my little illustrations so I thought that it'd be a lot of fun to turn them into a series of embroideries. I gotta say I'm pretty happy with how they're coming along and am excited to make a few more!

I haven't quite decided if I'll add this sort of thing to my shop yet, what do you think?

 

Well, dear friends, I must get back to work now. I have a decent sized update planned for my shop scheduled for March 5 (hopefully) but I'll be back soon to show you what I've been up to. 

Thanks for visiting, I hope you are all well and staying crafty!



2013 Goals!

 

Happy New Year!

For the past few years I've done a "learn something new" every year as my New Year's resolution but this year I decided to make a list of goals I'd like to complete as my resolution. I have quite a few but I thought I'd share a few with you here...

 

1.  Actually complete my list of goals. I set a lot of goals but I get distracted easily so this is a big challenge for me is to finish what I start and accomplish the things I'd like to get done.

2.  Participate in at least one craft fair. I have pretty serious social anxiety which keeps me from this sort of thing but it's so important to me and my crafting and I just need to do this. This has been a goal of mine for a few years now but this is the year to do it!

3.  Complete an afghan. Started many but never finished one.

4.  Take and print more photos.

5.  Read at least 5 books. I've always been a reader but lately between working a full time job and all my other hobbies I haven't been reading as much as I'd like. My goal is to read 1 classic, 2 fiction and 2 nonfiction.

6.  Cook at least 4 meals a week. I love to cook but need to cook more and healthier meals.

7.  Write more letters.

8.  Travel to somewhere new. I've never been to Canada and would really like to go. Montreal is so close too!

9.  Remember to take care of myself. This has been a challenge recently, I actually have a few posts planned about taking care mentally and physically to share a little of my personal story with this particular issue.

10.  Get out of the house and go on more dates and fun outings! The photo above is from a breakfast date with Jeremy this morning! Starting off right with this goal.

 

Throughout the year I'll share updates on how I'm doing with a particular goal, wish me luck!

 

What are your goals for the 2013? Did you accomplish your goals from last year?



Christmas Morning GIVEAWAY!!



So in the spirit of the holidays I've decided to host a Christmas morning Humble Carnival giveaway! One sweet reader will win a holiday gift from me which will include a small gingham Humble Bear, a striped crocheted bow, an embroidered Hello card and a few secret treats as well!

I thought that this would be a fun way to give a little something back as a thank you for all of the support I've received these past few months.

So here's the deal:

To enter the giveaway - If your not already a follower, follow my blog then leave a comment below with your name and email.

This giveaway is open until Monday December 24th.

I'll announce the lucky winner on Christmas morning!

Good luck!!

DIY: Stitched Holiday Cards

 

 

This afternoon I stitched up a few holiday cards to send to our families. We aren't exchanging gifts so I thought a little handmade touch on a blank card would be a sweet idea.

I purchased a pack of blank card stock cards with envelopes and used my sewing machine to stitch different colored stripes on them. I used teal, cream and red. For the stitches I used zigzag and straight stitches too! I'm really pleased with how these turned out and I can't wait to send them.

 



Balance

So it's been a while... but I want to try to keep up with this a bit better. I really enjoy blogging but somehow it seems to always get forgotten in the shuffle of my everyday. I think the key with this for me is to keep it simple and also try to keep it relevant to whats actually going on in my life.

Lately I've been working on balance. For the first time in my creative career endeavors I am actually busy! That's such a wonderful and amazing thing for me bc I've been working at this thing for years and to get to a point where I have a list of custom orders to be completed is probably one of the most satisfying things I've ever experienced. And as wonderful as that is it brings on a new set of challenges, how do I balance my real job with my creative goals without either suffering?

The first step to that for me is getting organized! I'll be honest, I am not organized, at all, so this is new to me. But I got a little notebook and set up my month in there. I made a list of my goals, my earnings and expenses and I now have a place to write down and keep track of any custom orders I need to compete as well. At the end of the month I can reflect on how I did and what goals I accomplished. Who knew that being organized could be so dang fun?!

Other than that for now I've just been cramming crafting into any and every free second of my day and I couldn't be happier. I am so appreciative of the support I've been receiving and I am just going to keep on working my fingers and heart until I accomplish my goals.

I'm back!!!

Yaaaay! So after months of having no internet access except for the occasional Starbucks visit, I finally have an apartment and internet again!! So happy to be getting back to blogging, etsying and crafting! Now all I gotta do is buy some furniture...

I will be back later to share a bit of where I've been and what I've been making! xo

Lately...

Lately life has been so crazy. Crazy stressful, crazy fun and crazy exciting.

 

 

My Etsy shop has been doing so well and I couldn't be happier about it. I love doing this, this is my dream and I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy that people seem to be taking an interest in my humble makings. I having to take a break from Etsy while I move but hopefully it wont be long...

 

 

For Jeremy's 33rd birthday we went to NYC for the day. It was so much fun and will be the last time we get to go before we move. It's been so fun having NYC only a short train ride away.

 

 

We went to the American Museum of Natural History and of course my favorite part was the bears! I wanted to snuggle them so bad!

 

 

Dee went to live with friends for a little while we travel, move and settle in. I miss her so much already but she appears to be having fun with her new friends!

 

We are officially headed to CA on Saturday. I'm excited and scared to start all over again in a new city in a new state, everything will be new and fresh but there will be a lot to get used to and a lot of work to get back to normal. I love adventure but I'm not always the best with change. Wish us luck! <3