My Newest Design -- Abstract Circles

Fun abstract circles made of dots in purple, green and white on a chocolate background created in faux cross-stitch, all on quality products provided by CafePress.

As pictured left -- Scribble important stuff - lyrics, recipes, addresses, and more. Our Wire-O bound, 160 page journal has your choice of papers and measures 5" x 8", a handy on-the-go size to fit in your backpack. Get creative and let the muse flow.

• Back cover made of thin black flexible textured plastic, measures 16/1000" thick
• Front cover made of 12pt glossy paper, laminated for durability
• Filled with your choice of 60lb bookweight (24 lb bond) paper -- blank, dot grid, lined college-ruled, or a task journal.

Your feedback would be lovely and thank you for taking the time. By the way, if you like to cross-stitch and want the pattern to make a pillow cover for yourself, a pdf pattern is available for you in both my Etsy and eCrater shops.

Something New to Share

I've been quiet lately. The beginning of February I started back to work at my day job and I have been overwhelmingly tired at the end of each day. Even so, I've been spending some time designing new pillow cover cross stitch patterns and want to share the latest -- a series of damask patterns in some of the newer colors forecasted to be hot for this coming year. Each is currently available at my eCrater shop. I'll be uploading them to Etsy soon but there seems to be some problems this morning and it's time to climb into the shower to get ready for my work day.

 

Baby Pink on Gray and Mocha Damask Pillow Cover Pattern 

 
 

Hot Pink on Black Damask Pillow Cover Pattern 

  

Turquoise on Teal Damask Pillow Cover Pattern 

 

Lavender on Purple Damask Pillow Cover Pattern

Have a wonderful week. Remember, I can create a custom pattern for you usually at no extra charge than my ready made ones. 

Paisleys, Paisleys, Paisleys

Yay!! I return to work in February and am looking forward to it. I've never been off work so long before, except when I was being a mom.

Meanwhile, I have found great inspiration in paisleys produced in the 1960s and earlier. I've been spending some time converting these great fabrics to 14" and 16" pillow cover patterns and have listed them on both my Etsy and eCrater shops.

I'm also doing some more web design but healing slows down progress . I have received some wonderful feedback on the pillow designs. Some who have purchased them are going to add beading and make evening bags. 

 Even though I call these pillow cover tops, they can really be used for any inspiration you may have. I'd love to hear what you plan to do with yours and hope you will share some photos with me.

New Patterns To Share

Happy New Year!!

I have some new cross stitch designs that I'm rolling out in both my Etsy and eCrater shops over the next week or so and want to share pictures. This series of pillow cover patterns is all paisley in its wonderful variations. Some of the customers who purchased previous patterns have these terrific comments about them:

Gorgeous pattern, can't wait to make a bag with this one! Many thanks.

Fantabulous pattern and a really lovely helpful seller. I'll be back!

Absolutely amazing! I just love them! Fantastic seller, amazing communication, thanks so much!

Remember, I also do custom work and can convert not only your favorite fabric but photos to a cross stitch pattern to be worked in your choice of fabric and to create a one of a kind piece. Add beading or other embellishments and create a bag, scarf or something special for your home or as a gift for a friend.

 

 

 

 

May 2010 be your best year!!!

As Promised: The Recording of the Webinar from Handmadeology

If you are running a business on the internet and have yet to figure out how Twitter and Facebook  help to market your products, this webinar will help you to further understand how to use it for viral marketing. It will be available for only a limited amount of time so don't wait to view and listen. It's from Handmadeology University. Enjoy!


11/10 Webinar


Okay, back to resting and recuperating :)

Monday Miscellany -- Update & Pix of My GrandBaby

He is just about 6 weeks old and a handsome boy (I'm not partial or anything...) so I thought I would share a couple of photos with you:

This sure looks like a smile!

My DIL's kitty seems to want to have a diaper change too!!

Luv dem sweet feets!!!

Last week, a DVD I reserved arrived at my library. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Season 1, is very enjoyable. It is a series on HBO starring Jill Scott (the poet, singer -- love both and own books and CDs) and is located in Botswana, a small country in the southern part of Africa. If you have not viewed this series, I recommend it.

With the economy still struggling to recover, if you don't already use your local library facilities to check out books, music, videos, etc., I also suggest you check into it. A library card is still free as are the checkouts -- the very best value that I know of for quality entertainment. Many may already know but if you live outside of a city and can only check out in a county or parish library, check other close community libraries and the availability of a library card free from them also. Many local libraries have reciprocal agreements between them. For example, I live in Pierce County and have a card for this system here but I also have a free card from the King County library system which allows me to check out material at any of their libraries as well.

That way if I find something of interest not available here, I can search it, reserve it and check it out from the neighboring system. Hope this helps someone save some money and still have an almost unlimited entertainment budget for movies, music, television shows and reading.

Hope this note finds you having a marvelous Monday!

Diane xoxoxo
http://dpeagreendesigns.etsy.com
http://dpeagreendesigns.ecrater.com
Tweet Me: @dpeagreendesign
Email Me: dpeagreendesigns@gmail.com

Fab Friday -- SewZanne's Fabrics

 

A Salt and Battery

I was visiting Jo-Ann Fabrics yesterday looking at the flannel on sale, thinking of a gift to make for my daughter-in-law for Christmas. I found the cutest, ugliest, most perfect fabric to make her a custom quillow (I shared the tutorial for these in a previous article). Because I'm teaching myself to digitize embroidery patterns and don't own an embroidery machine, I wandered over to the sewing machine area and began browsing. As I looked at the prices, I realized for me and my budget, owning any one of these beauties is currently a mere dream. Ahh, if there were only layaway at Jo-Ann!! It is probably a good thing for most of us that there isn't .

The manager of that area of the store was in and we introduced ourselves and began talking. I still have and use my now vintage Singer Futura I purchased new in the early 1970s (pictures to be shared on a Vintage Thursday article soon). My serger is a Singer. I learned on a Singer. So throughout the past 40 or so years, I have become very partial to Singer machines. The manager, Diane (like me), showed me the CE150 which is very reasonably priced and exactly what I wish I could buy at the moment.

Babycakes

I shared that I design cross stitch, quilt and other types of patterns and have shops on both Etsy and eCrater, as well as that I'm learning to digitize. It lead to sharing our websites, blogs and the like. I explored the samples Diane had on hand and she showed me a very cute Japanese Origami style tissue holder she made. The pattern came from SewZanne's Fabrics website. It can be made with a mere fat quarter and I know I will try it soon.

 Crossword Puzzle

When I arrived home, after a rest, I found SewZanne's website and besides some really great craft tutorials, I found the most interesting and fun interlock I've seen in years and it is very reasonably priced. The graphics here are but a few of the samples.

Mellow Out

I still have my original Stretch & Sew t-shirt pattern and can't wait until I can afford to buy a few of these and make some new shirts. At least I hope I can before they are sold out.

 

One Tough Cookie 

 

I couldn't resist sharing SewZanne's site with you. Aren't these fun? Just the right mix of cutesy with smart aleck/sarcasm to make me grin and chuckle. Have a great Friday evening. I sure hope I can equal or top these finds next Friday!!!

More on Monday,

Diane xoxoxo

http://dpeagreendesigns.etsy.com

http://dpeagreendesigns.ecrater.com

Tweet Me: @dpeagreendesign

Email Me: dpeagreendesigns@gmail.com

 

What is NEW Wednesday?

I found a new blog dedicated to Etsy sellers and products today and wondered how many more there are out there. Since Google is our friend, I decided to search "@etsy" to see what I could find. The blog that piqued my interest and curiosity is Eyes on Etsy. Each day Cameron features various products on Etsy according to theme, much like a Treasury (if you're familiar  -- if not, visit Etsy at the link above and select the "Treasury" link at the lower left hand part of the page).

Now to the "googly" results :)

Not so new but interesting and fun for those who are planning a unique, distinctive wedding or just love to browse and enjoy all the aspects of a well put together, non-kitschy celebration of commitment, Etsy Wedding, has taken the time to select some of the best of the real, funny and brazen pieces parts to make your or someone else's wedding as original as it should be.

Etsy-Love is another nice looking blog with the writer's favorites featured. Posts are indexed by subject matter so it is easy to find exactly those type of items you want to view. Contact is made easy with a fill in form.

Vegan Etsy features those items which fit the strict guidelines vegans look for when shopping. The blog is colorful and full of information to educate us non-vegans. The writers are all members of Team Etsy Vegan.

There are a lot of blogs dedicated to Etsy following one subject or another. I will feature a few more next Wednesday. If you visit any of these writers, please leave a comment letting them know you've visited and what you like best as well and, if you don't mind, let them know where you found the link to their blog.

Tomorrow I will begin a weekly sharing of some of my vintage which I love and maybe some vintage finds from Etsy and eCrater. Until then, have a great evening and sleep well.

Blessings & More,

Diane xoxoxo

http://dpeagreendesigns.etsy.com

http://dpeagreendesigns.ecrater.com

Tweet Me: @dpeagreendesign

Email Me: dpeagreendesigns@gmail.com

Muslin Angel Ornaments -- An Inexpensive Way to Trim Your Tree -- Free Tutorial

 
Instructions:

   1. Tear strips of muslin into pieces approximately 9" by 6". This doesn't have to be exact. The 6" (or so) measurement will be the height of your angel. You can use scissors but the finished angel looks better (in my humble opinion) if the fabric is torn.

   2. Taking the right and left corners of one 9" side, tie a knot in each of these two corners. This creates the arms of your angel as well as a pocket to make the head.

   3. Using a cottonball and some sewing thread or string, center the cotton ball in the fabric pocket between the two knots, pulling the fabric over the cottonball and then tying by wrapping the string around the base of the fabric stuffed with the cottonball to make the head and neck area.

   4. Using one of the 1/8 or 1/4 inch ribbon, tie a piece around your angel's neck and make a bow.

   5. Cut a piece of wide wired ribbon about 3 inches long and using your glue gun, affix it to the back of your angel for wings. I usually have some of that gold metallic open weave type wired ribbon on hand and I like it the best because I can stretch it out after gluing to form more lifelike wings, but do your own thing.

   6. For the halo, I use gold or copper colored small garland, the one that is wired and has stars attached, but any wire will do. Cut a small piece proportionate with the angel's head, wrap it around your finger to make a circle. Place glue on the part where your wire meets to form the circle and hold for a second or two to the top back of the angel's head.

   7. Your angel is complete! The only thing left to decide is how you want to use her. I've glued gold ribbon on her back looped to make a hanger, a pin fixing, and a piece of that magnet tape you can buy at an office supply or crafts store, but I'm sure there are other ways to use this cute symbol of peace and promise.

   8. An additional note: before you start tearing apart your muslin, it can be washed, dyed to a different color with either a commercial or tea dye.

Featured in an Etsy Treasury -- Thank You :)

Thank you, Enchanted Hue (Susanne), for featuring one of my Twisted Thoughts cross stitch patterns (Love Sucks) in her Love Can Be Twisted Treasury.

 

Please check all of the beautiful and interesting items she has in her Treasury! Have a great Sunday.

Hugs,

Diane

DPeaGreenDesigns@gmail.com

http://dpeagreendesigns.etsy.com

http://dpeagreendesigns.ecrater.com (for Google checkout users)

New Cross Stitch Patterns for Pillow Covers

I just finished the first two cross stitch patterns for 14" and 16" square pillow covers. Included with the cross stitch chart is a detailed instructional sheet on how to complete the pillow cover once cross stitching is done. Here are photos of both new items. Surgery on my left hand and elbow is tomorrow so I will not be posting for a few weeks. I hope you like these :)

Some Video on Using Digital Stamps

While these videos refer to the My Grafico website and tools, they also apply to any digital stamp you might purchase from an independent designer of digistamps or digital stamps with a shop at Etsy or eCrater.











I hope you enjoy these videos and that they help get your creative juices flowing.

Hugs and blessings,
Diane

How To Use Digital Stamps

I received a question from a "soon to be" customer the other day asking how digital stamps can be used. I responded to the question with what little I know about the various uses and added that I intend to research and prepare some detailed tutorials for this blog to share with you but that it would take some time to begin and complete each.

With surgery on my hands beginning August 26th (starting with my left and, yes, I'm a southpaw) and then the right side sometime around 6 weeks after the first surgery if healing goes well, I will be doing more reading and research on this during the next 3 or so months and begin to write individual tutorials on each use I discover after all is healed and my doctor gives me clearance.

Meanwhile, since Google is our friend, I spent a few hours researching, reading and compiling some links that I think will help anyone who wants to explore the various creative outlets and uses for digital stamps.

I hope you enjoy these and if you know of others that are easy to understand and follow as well as complete, please share them here with me and others by leaving a comment. I will check them out and comment back.

• Digital Stamps by Creations by Wendalyn
• Using Digital Stamps by Sugarplum Paperie (Nicole Seitler)
• A Beginner's Guide to Digital Stamps by whimsicalwendy
• How to Use Digital Stamps by The Frugal Crafter
• Inkjet Transfer Stamping by Craft Chi (Amy Ybarra Murphy)
• Make a T-Shirt Transfer with Keith Dunlop
• Inkjet Image Transfer Squidoo Lens by Intuitive
• Create Embroidered Patches from Digital Images
• Expand Your Image Options with Digital Stamps

There are lots more instructional and tutorial type websites out there but these are the ones I read and/or watched and found to be easy to follow and understand.

Have a great weekend! Blessings and peace to you,
Diane
http://dpeagreendesigns.etsy.com
http://dpeagreendesigns.ecrater.com

New Store on eCrater

I just opened a new store on eCrater. It's free to set up and list and easy to use. I still have my Etsy shop and will continue to sell from both shops. eCrater doesn't limit Google Base entries to 100 as the interface with Etsy does and offers Google Checkout which adds value to already accepting PayPal and other forms of payment. Here is a preview:





I hope you'll visit soon :) Meanwhile, I'm also looking at CafePress and a few others to upload my designs to be used on clothing, cups, hats and the like but that will take some time.

Have a great week. Spinal injection later today and then surgery in a week so I won't be typing much for the foreseeable month or two or three...we will see how all heals.

Hugs,
Diane