Crafty Carnival

I really really love Craft zine.... a lot.

Do you read the Craft blog?  I love it.  It is a daily source of inspiration and goodwill.  I've been fortunate enough to have been blogged about there and it is one of those things that makes me love what I do.  It's such a happy place to be recognized :) 

Well this last week got extra exciting!  They featured my not yet born nephew's room here!  My brother in law painted a rockin mural of Totoro, and he's done a lot of work to make the room fabulous!  (Sure beats the clouds I did for my girls!  LOL!) My bil is a very talented artist and inventor... check him out at Crab-Fu.

Also, my friend Tamie was featured twice!  This post is for a free signed copy of her book, Tiny Yarn Animals, and the second post here, is about a craft pattern pod cast!  How cool!

And finally... the tutorial I wrote for Pimp Stitch here about how to add fabric to your embroidery designs was featured too!  YAY!  I'm just so happy right now!  THANK YOU EVERYONE AT CRAFT!!!!!!!  Keep up the good work!

xoxo Missy

New Patterns Available on Pimp Stitch

All four of us girls have released new patterns on Pimp Stitch.  They are half Christmas/Holiday, and half everyday again :)  I did a Kokeshi Pets to go with my Kokeshi dolls from last week, and I did a series of sill snow men :)  Enjoy!

I also posted a tutorial on the Pimp Stitch blog about how to use fabric to add punch to your embroidery projects, so check that out :)

Nor Cal Crafty... that's me!

I really like that name, I wish I would have thought of it earlier.  LOL!  Who knows... somebody probably already has it.  Anyway... there's a lot going on over here, and I've had NO time to blog, so I have to catch you up on some exciting happenings!

First, there's a new pattern release at Pimp Stitchtoday!  It's part Christmas and part everyday (I did Kokeshi dolls and Gingerbread Guys).  Also, the first six patterns from each designers collections have been bundled into one package so you can buy past collections for a discounted rate!  You get 6 patterns for $15!!  And don't forget to check out the Pimp Stitch Blogfor fabulous interviews with designers such as Kristen Rask of Plush You fame!  She did a really cool free pattern last week.  The PS blog is being updated regularly and has some really cool things coming up that you won't want to miss!!

Also, the first Pimp Stitch kit we sold in our PS etsy shopand it did very well.  Now we've added a Christmas kit.  The cool thing about these kits is that it comes with a pattern page that has designs from each of us four designers.  I did this little Christmas Tree, Tamiedid an adorable reign deer, Amy did a cute fluffy snow man, and Laurendid a yummy ginger with milk!  You can buy these kits in the PS etsy shop and at shows only.  They are limited in quantities, so get them while they are still there!!

You guys all know that my fellow Pimp Stitcher, Tamie wrote a book right?  I know you know that, but JUST IN CASE!  Here's a linkto that.  It just dropped last week and is finally available.  We LOVE LOVE this book.  The layout is adorable, the animals are to die for, and all in all it's just a great inspirational book full of cute!  Congrats Tamie!!

And if you're already thinking about Holiday gifts... you're not alone!!  Amy started a series on her blog called handmade for the holidays.  She will be blogging tutorials for quick and easy Christmas gifts!  The first one is for these adorable button rings!  I'm telling you.... this girl is talented!!!

Finally... I have to tell you about YOU BAZAAR!  This is a show that is coming to SF on November 2, from 10a - 5 p!  It's a combination of Plush You and Bazaar Bizarre!  For me, this is like a dream come true... or as Hannah Montana says... the best of both worlds.  (sorry for the HM reference but I had too... I do live with her image in my face daily since I have a 7 year old!  LOL!)  Anyway, I'll be vending at this show with the other Pimpsters, and I'll be teaching a workshop too!  I'll be providing some blank plush toys, and you get to embellish them!  You get to stitch faces, add hair, or teeth or horns or clothes, or wherever your imagination takes you!!!  The plush blanks will be $10 at the show, and the embellishments you need will all be provided... just bring your imagination!!  Here's some pics of some old stuff I've made but needed to rework.  There will be lots of new stuff too!!  I hope you will come and see me there!!

 

Halloween time at Pimp Stitch

Oh Fun! Fun! Fun!!!  Halloween is my mom's favorite holiday, so I like it a lot too just because she always makes it super fun for all of us!  All of us girls are releasing Halloween patterns this week atPimp Stitch.  You'll find lots of kids in costumes, pumpkins and creepiness :)  My first pattern has kids in costumes, here is a little girl dressed up as an owl:

My second pattern is called Halloween Carnies, and it has a girl ghost and a boy pumpkin head.  For this stitchery, I added white flannel over the ghost body.  It's really easy to do.  MINI TUTORIAL:  I used a fusible webbing (wonder under) and traced the portion of the pattern I wanted to be white flannel onto the Wonder Under.  I traced the REVERSE side of the pattern.  (So in other words, the back of the page :)  Then I ironed that onto the white flannel and cut it out.  (There are really clear directions on how to use this stuff on the packaging... and I'm sure they can explain it a lot better than me... all though I don't think I've ever read the directions because I've been using this stuff since the 80's to make decorated sweatshirts... LOLOL!)  Anyway, then I traced my design onto the osnaburg.  I removed the backing from my wonder under flannel ghosty and placed her on my traced lines.  Then I ironed her on and stitched her down for added security with a blanket stitch.  It's a little different and adds a cutesy touch to this embroidery pattern!

Don't forget to check the Pimp Stitch blog for the latest and greatest!  Kristen of Plush You will be making a guest appearance very soon, and she is the first in a long line of SUPER talented people stopping by our blog in the coming months!