Skip to content

DIY Picnic: Part 5 (Free Embroidery Patterns)

Frenchembroidery1

Hello there and welcome back for our next installment in the DIY picnic project.  Last week, I etched some glass canning jars.  I think they looked lovely, but a little plain.  This week, I created an embroidery pattern to decorate the lid top.  Yes, it’s possible that I’m procrastinating on sewing the picnic blanket (the next craft on the list), but if you’re looking to procrastinate, I think embroidery is a perfect activity.

Now, I know that not everyone wants to embroider French phrases, so for this free download you have two options.  There’ s a PDF of the pattern in English and a second PDF in French.  You may have your pick.  (Scroll down to the bottom for the download.)

I was having so much fun putting this together that I drew a few more pictures to embroider.  I haven’t had a chance to stitch these yet, but wanted to include them anyway.  I might need to make a little fabric menu.  Here’s a little sample:

Frenchembroidery7

I didn’t make too much of a fuss over the embroidery.  However, I thought it might help to show how I transferred the design onto the black fabric.

Frenchembroidery2

I printed out a copy of the pattern making sure it was the correct size for my jar lid.  On a protected work surface, I layered the pattern, some Wax-Free Tracing paper in white (color side facing down), and the fabric.  Pressing firmly, I traced the design with a pencil.  While the pattern didn’t transfer perfectly, there’s enough there that I could follow the design.  (All that extra white mess comes off with a damp cloth or fabric eraser.)

Frenchembroidery4

After I back-stitched the lettering and outline in white and filled in the cat with satin stitches, this is what the design looks like (below).  Now, I was ready to trace around the lid top and cut out the fabric.  I also cut out some felt to layer underneath (batting would work too).

Frenchembroidery6

I tied a ribbon around the top for a punch of color.  Now, I’m ready to fill up my jar with treats for my picnic.

Here is where you can get a copy of the embroidery patterns.  First, we have the French:

Frenchbutton

Next, we have the English version:

Englishbutton

If you have any problems with the download or have a question (or some comments on my French!), please send me an e-mail at kleecreel at everkelly dot com.

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.  All the best, Kelly

Filed under Fabric & Sewing, I Made This, Tutorials & Downloads. Tagged with , , , , .

By Kelly
August 20, 2010

1 comment

Splurge

Embroiderymachine

I did it.  I bought an embroidery machine.  It’s possible that I’m in a state of shock.  I found a good deal on a used Husqvarna Viking Designer I (not the one above, think even older — when we still used floppy discs).  Anyway, after a year of research, it was finally time to pull the trigger.  I’m all jittery and excitable now and wondering how I am possibly going to get anything done until I pick up the new machine tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have one more project for you this week.  You didn’t think I would forget the picnic, did you?  I think it’s pretty ironic that this week’s picnic project involves embroidery (by hand, not machine).  I’ll have something special here for you tomorrow.

Filed under Site News. Tagged with .

By Kelly
August 19, 2010

No comments

DIY Cuckoo Clock (and free download!)


Cuckoo7
I am so excited to share this project with you!  You might remember this little sneak peak I posted a while ago.  Well, today is the full reveal.  Introducing: the DIY Cuckoo Clock.

I don’t know if you’ve been to any craft stores lately, but I keep seeing unpainted wooden bird houses everywhere.  The small versions used in this project only cost a $1.  Every time I saw them, I kept wishing they were cuckoo clocks.  That’s when it hit me: why not make your own?

Cuckoo1

Now, to be honest, as much as I love cuckoo clocks, the tick-tock sound is very distracting for me.  (Not to mention an hourly chime!)  These are quiet, display-only birds.

This project is pretty simple — almost all paint and glue.  However, you’ll need a drill and possibly a rotary cutter (if you want to make the fancier gold/white version).  I think this project would look equally cute in a monochromatic color scheme — or of course, you could go traditional and add tiny trees, wooden people, and dark wood trim.

Cuckoo4
All of the instructions are in this handy (free) download.  Just click on the image below to download the PDF and then choose “Save as”:

Cuckoo16

If you make one, I’d love to see it!  Just drop me a note.  And, as always, if you have any questions about the instructions (or if you – gasp! -  catch an error), drop me a line at kleecreel at everkelly dot com.

Cuckoo6

Here is a little sample from the instructions:

Cuckoo15


I hope you enjoy!  XOXO, Kelly

Filed under I Made This, Inspiration, Tutorials & Downloads. Tagged with , , .

By Kelly
August 18, 2010

11 comments

Hey there, Muffin!

Muffins1

I thought we would head into the kitchen today and talk baking for a minute.  Lately, I have been on the hunt for some lower calorie desserts that don’t use artificial sweeteners.  We’ve been enjoying frozen fruit bars, yogurts, and fresh fruit after dinner.  However, I get a little edgy when I’m deprived of chocolate for too long.  In the interest of avoiding a total brownie/cupcake binge, I’ve been experimenting with some healthier alternatives so I can indulge a little.

Enter: Bethenny Frankel’s Low Fat Fudge Chocolate Chip Muffins.

Bethenny (or the Real Housewives NYC fame) has a bunch of baked good recipes on her web-site (not to mention breakfasts, lunches, and dinners).  Whether you like her or not (and I do), it’s tough to argue with a chocolate muffin.  I made the recipe as described here with one change: I did not have any oat flour, so I substituted whole wheat flour instead.  The muffins are egg and dairy free and sweetened with applesauce and 1/2 a cup of sugar in the raw.  I was a little nervous that the whole wheat flour might mess up the recipe, but the muffins turned out fine.  I think the oat flour might have made for a moister muffin, but I was pretty pleased with the results.

Muffins2

I really liked them, but I think the chocolate chips are key.  The muffin by itself might be a little bland.  Next time, I’ll experiment with the oat flour and a nicer unsweetened cocoa.  (I used Hershey’s.)

According to one of the comments on her site, someone did the calorie count and they total in at around 170 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of sugar, which doesn’t seem bad for a dense, large muffin.  I’m thinking of freezing the rest and pulling them out for a sweet treat after dinner.

They are not the prettiest muffins I’ve ever made, but everything looks better on a cake plate.

Muffins3

I’m really curious to try this chocolate cake with peanut butter glaze next.

Filed under In the Kitchen. Tagged with , .

By Kelly
August 17, 2010

1 comment

the last 5: DIY Cord Cover

[the last 5 is a series of posts about tackling unfinished decorating projects and adding those personal touches to a room.  Find out how it all started here.]

cordcover4

Before I start off this last 5 project, I want you to promise me that this is not the project you will remember me by.  Ok?  This one is not glamorous.  It will not make me seem cool.  It might even cause you to doubt my taste level.  However, sometimes we have to work with what we have.

The Back Story

We’re renting right now, so while we’re not afraid of a little chocolate brown paint or elbow grease, there are some things that you just have to live with.  For us, it’s this unsightly mess of cords for the TV that sits right on top of an otherwise nice mantle.  Sure, we could cut a hole in the dry wall and hide the cords, but I am not the person in charge of dry wall patching in our family.

So we needed a more practical and less permanent solution.

Cordcover6

The Solution: A Fabric Cord Cover

Cordcover

I grabbed some brown linen and velcro to create a very simple wrap that would cover the cords.  I sewed two 4.5″ x 18.5″ rectangles together, and then attached the velcro along each edge.  The ribbons on the right hand side turned out to be unnecessary.  I was worried that gravity would cause the cover to slowly inch it’s way down.  However, the cover fits very snugly, so I don’t think that will be a problem.

The End Result

Cordcover5

It’s not perfect, but the brown linen is a lot nicer to look at than the blue and red cables.  I think the browns are a better match in real life than this photo lets on.

Cordcover2

In a few months, I’ll be decorating this spot with fall leaves and corduroy pumpkins.  However, I think this will do just fine until then.

Anyone else tackling unfinished decorating projects lately?

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Filed under House & Home, I Made This, Organization. Tagged with , , .

By Kelly
August 16, 2010

2 comments