my May Gifted Gorgeousness Update

It's time for another Gifted Gorgeousness update. These are projects that were gifted to me in some way (kit, pattern, fabric, floss) or projects that I am making for others.

I crocheted the little heart themed doily above to add to my Mom's "Mother's Day" goodie package.  Using a size 5 metal crochet hook and standard crochet thread (likely size 10), and the pattern worked up to a 5" doily. 

The pattern is posted at Red Heart, here: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/hearts-desire-doily.

I made more progress on on Dutch Sampler by Sandy Orton. I finished the "tree of life" motif, and did a little stitching here and there.

Here is where I left off in April:

I also stitched on my Winnie the Pooh "Too Much Honey" sampler, putting some work into Tigger:

I have been working on several of my other projects and should have a few finishes to post next week in my WIPocalypse update.

I hope you are all having a lovely May. The weather in Atlanta has been beautiful, lately.
Happy Spring and Happy Stitching!

Junk Journal

I made this junk journal for a swap in one of my art groups.  I spent about 3 months pulling it all together and really had a lot of fun with it.  The cover evolved as I worked on the project.  I added the cross stitched bluebird, and even a little face made from a piece of an aluminum can that I embossed.

I made several handmade charms to attach to the binding coils.  I have a closer view of the charms & how they were made posted on my hobby site, here:  http://www.hobbyloco.com/charms.html

You can see from the top view that I made the book really thick and chunky.  It is full of all types of papers, pockets, tags, postcards, and random bits of this and that.  There are easily over 100 pages, many are undecorated, but I did embellish a few to get the book started.

I have already posted several of the pages on my Journals & Sketchbooks blog here: http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/ - however the pages posted below weren't included in that post.

These pages all feature needlework - crochet or cross stitched motifs:

 

The beach scene on this page was cut from a piece of a junk mail ad.  This seashell is one of my original cross stitch patterns, and is available as a freebie here:  http://www.hobbyloco.com/XSpatterns2.html#seashell

This page has a watercolor painted background and features a cross stitched squirrel.  Also a freebie pattern of mine, available here: http://www.hobbyloco.com/XSpatterns1.html#squirrel

 I couldn't resist adding a small crocheted doily to the book.  I crocheted this doily from a free pattern found here: http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/free-doily-pattern/spool52/five-point-star-doily

If you are curious to see more pages from the junk journal, be sure to visit my other blog here: http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/

Have a fun & creative weekend!

crochet finishes

I took a long vacation from thread crochet, as my hands just aren't as nimble as they once were.   I crocheted quite a bit 15 years ago ... and I recently heard the hook calling me back.  I finished 2 doily projects this month.

The doily pictured above was crocheted with variegated DMC Traditions cotton thread in Springtime colors, using the "Tiffany" pattern from the book A Year of Doilies.

The other doily I crocheted was from the same book using the pattern "Seashells", with standard white cotton thread.  I sent this one to my Mom & she remarked that she remembered her Grandmother used to crochet doilies ... so it runs in the family.

PS.  I found a wonderful website that has posted many vintage crochet patterns from copyright expired books. Includes patterns for EVERYTHING! Afghans, clothing of all types, doilies, dolls and toys, etc... Find just about anything you're looking for. No registration required.  http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/