Feature You Friday - I'm Feelin' Crafty!

Good morning StitchStealers!

I have a sneaking suspicion that you are all going to LOVE today's feature.  When we took one look at the blog, I'm Feeling Crafty, we knew that we had to feature it, and its creator Louise. I'll let her introduce herself and her blog to you:

I'm a full time working mom.  I'm an architect for my day job, then I come home and play with my almost 3 year old son.  Once he goes to bed I become a jack of all things crafty. Since I'm an architect, I do have formal training in that aspect of my life. After 5 fun years in architecture school, I graduated form Tulane University and have traveled and moved around a bit until settling here in the mostly dreary Pacific Northwest in Seattle. For all my other interests: sewing, quilting, photography, parties, crafting and my art, which is primarily 3d collage art (and which I haven't done in ages!), I don't have a bit of formal training!  My favorites at the moment (because they do change every now and then), are sewing and quilting! I love love love sewing things and figuring out how to put them together. To me, it's almost like figuring out building drawings. Except for the fact that the drawings for buildings are pretty straightforward, and with sewing you have to think about putting the pieces together backwards to get the finished results!

I started my blog, I'm Feeling Crafty, as a way to share what I make with my best crafty friend back home and with my mother, both of whom live about 3000 miles away.  Later, I switched gears and became a real "blogger" hoping that there would be other people out there that would enjoy the things I make and would give me feedback and inspiration. Once I went "public' with my blog and started getting feedback, I got addicted!  I love all the comments I get, and blogging has become a way of inspiring me to keep making things and make them better and better - to "step up my game"!

I asked Louise to share her fave projects from the blog so we could highlight some of the fabulousness you'll find at I'm Feelin' Crafty - and here they are...

Here is a Super Hero Ensemble: (Moms of boys, you will love her blog because she makes a lot of boy-centric clothes and costumes due to her little boy)

Owl favors for the party planner in you:

*Really* cute bucket hat tutorial:

And this is Louise's current personal favorite (and I think we can all see why!) - adorably sweet pillowcase dresses that she made for a friend's granddaughters (I think Louise and I need to become friends!):

So, as you can see, there is a little something for everyone and something to make for everyone! Go visit Louise at I'm Feelin' Crafty and give her some love. As an added bonus, if you head over today you can find out how to take part in her blog giveaway - of a StitchSteals gift certificate! Even without the chance to win, you'll love looking around - guaranteed!

I hope you all have a great weekend and find the time to get a little crafty yourselves!

Would you like to be featured on a future “Feature You Friday”? It’s a great way to show off your skills, share your talents, or promote a business, blog or cause that’s dear to you. All you need to do is send us a photo (or photos) of a project to the StitchSteals blog at blog@stitchsteals.com. If you are chosen, your work (and links) will be seen by all of our StitchSteals Blog readers and Facebook fans. Submit your photos today – we can’t wait to see what you have come up with!

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Feature You Friday - L.L.K. Designs

Good morning StitchStealers!

Today's feature was sent to us by a fellow fabric lover, Linda.  Linda is a mother, gardener, crafter and quilter who is a former elementary art teacher (her background in art definitely comes through in her sewing!).  Linda's "crazy" quilts and wall hangings are definitely one of a kind - bright and colorful with hand embroidered, vintage and recycled fabrics and beaded details. 

Linda also makes some gorgeous journal covers from recycled wool, using vintage buttons from her stash of vintage for the closures.  I love, love, love these - what a great gift idea!

Thanks for sharing your creations with us Linda! If you'd like check out more of Linda's designs, you can see them on her Flickr stream, or visit her stores at LLK Designs on Zibbet

and LLK Designs on Etsy.  Or, if blogs are more your style, you can add her musings on her LLK Designs blog to your blog reading list. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Would you like to be featured on a future “Feature You Friday”? It’s a great way to show off your skills, share your talents, or promote a business, blog or cause that’s dear to you.  All you need to do is send us a photo (or photos) of a project to the StitchSteals blog.  If you are chosen, your work (and links) will be seen by all of our StitchSteals Blog readers and Facebook fans.  Submit your photos today – we can’t wait to see where your creativity has taken you!

Christmas in July Giveaway!

**Giveaway Closed**

Congrats to SJBrinker who plans on making table runners for family and friends! We can't wait to see photos :)

Hope you are enjoying "Chistmas in July". To make this week even more fun, we have a fabric giveaway! All you have to do is enter below.

Happy Stealing!

Stephanie

Feature You Friday - Craft Buds

Good morning StitchStealers!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like there are too many sewing and crafty blogs to read and not enough time!  After all, as a mom of two little people my spare time is very valuable - and I would much rather spend it actually creating, than searching for the best information and tutorials.

When I heard from Lindsey and Mary, of CraftBuds, I headed over to check out the site.  Once I did, I was hooked.  If you are looking for a one stop resource for sewing and crafty goodness, plus some tips for growing a crafty business, you've found it! 

I'll let Lindsey and Mary tell you more about CraftBuds:

Hi guys! I'm Lindsay, and I'm a writer, editor and crafter living in Indiana. My husband and I celebrate our 5-year anniversary this summer, and I love to travel, sew, and meet new people.

And I'm Mary and I’m a stay at home mom to an amazing little boy and wife to a great husband. Besides blogging I do freelance graphic design work and I enjoy sewing, crafting, gardening, and baking.

We were both running separate blog sites and started talking about the possibilities of a combined site. We had both been posting sewing/crafting tutorials so we decided to combine those with interviews, business tips, featured bloggers, giveaways, a master giveaway list, linky parties and more!

We started Craft Buds in March of this year. We chose the name because we hope to help people grow their blogs and online businesses as they find inspiration and information at our site. “Buds” also fits since it’s a collaboration between friends. Lindsay is a professional editor and I’m a professional graphic designer so combine that with our blogging, crafting and sewing hobbies and we make a great team!

At Craft Buds. we just really want to be a resource for people with creative dreams, who just need that extra push to get going. I love the connectivity between creative bloggers, and the ability to help each other out. Please check out our weekly giveaways linkup, which is free and open to anyone with a handmade or craft supplies giveaway!

Lindsey and Mary even sent along some of their favorite tutorials and features on the blog! 

Lindsay: My favorite tutorial is Mary's hooded sweatshirt to cowl neck project. It's a great way to upcycle a child's sweatshirt and make it totally fashionable! I also loved what fabric designer Jennifer Paganelli had to share with our readers about starting her handmade business. 

Mary: One of my favorite projects is the numbered bean bags. They’re great for kids to play with and they’re educational too. I also like the tote bag tutorial because I use this bag all the time. Lindsay’s Twitter for Crafters article is another favorite because it taught me a lot I didn’t know about Twitter!

It sounds great, doesn't it? After you've picked your steal, head on over to CraftBuds and check out what is new in the sewing world, maybe challenge yourself to make the Anthropologie-inspired fabric belt from the tutorial on the front page, or see what Lindsey and Mary are up to in Chicago at the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) trade show!

I'm telling you, it's a smorgasbord of ideas and inspiration for craft and fabric fans.  Have a fabulous weekend!

Would you like to be featured on a future “Feature You Friday”? It’s a great way to show off your skills, share your talents, or promote a business, blog or cause that’s dear to you. All you need to do is send us a photo (or photos) of a project to the StitchSteals blog at blog@stitchsteals.com. If you are chosen, your work (and links) will be seen by all of our StitchSteals Blog readers and Facebook fans. Submit your photos today – we can’t wait to see what you have come up with!

Feature You Friday - Family Resemblance

Good morning!

On this fabulous Friday morning, we have a fun project from your fellow StitchStealer, Charity.  She is a stay at home mom to three little ones, and crafter with many talents who likes sewing, scrapbooking, and photography.  She's also a blogger, and she sent photos of her latest project, a wallet made with some fabulous My Mind's Eye fabrics PLUS some ribbons from a CraftySteal.  She even made me jealous because she made it from a tutorial found through Pinterest - when I have yet to cross ONE item off my "To Make from Pinterest" list.

Be sure to check out her blog, Family Resemblance, for the link to the tutorial for this adorable wallet (which would be an awesome gift!).  While you are at it, take a look around - you will find more *completed* Pinterest-inspired projects (I'm hanging my head low in shame over here).  She also has sewing projects, papercrafts, kid crafts and more! You will come out with at least one thing you want to try.  Promise.

Thanks for sharing with all of us, Charity!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  I hope you are able to steal a little time for yourself to create!

Would you like to be featured on a future “Feature You Friday”? It’s a great way to show off your skills, share your talents, or promote a business, blog or cause that’s dear to you.  All you need to do is send us a photo (or photos) of a project to the StitchSteals blog at blog@stitchsteals.com. If you are chosen, your work (and links) will be seen by all of our StitchSteals Blog readers and Facebook fans.  Submit your photos today – we can’t wait to see what you have come up with!

Feature You Friday - Buzzy Bee Creations

Good morning StitchStealers!

We have a very fun feature for you today.  StitchStealer Becky, sent in her blog, Buzzy Bee Creations, and I immediately became a follower - let me tell you why. Do you know all of those fun ideas for sewing and crafting and home decor that you see around the internet (and especially on Pinterest)?  Well, Becky not only sees them, but she makes them!  PLUS, she also creates her own projects and has turned her hobby into a business with her own Etsy shop, Buzzy Bee Creations, selling an array of handmade flowers, clothes, aprons, bags, shoes and more!

A bit about busy Becky:

I am married to my best friend, mother to a high energy lovable preschooler and a sweet baby girl.  When I am not cleaning up after my wonderfully messy family, I enjoy sewing, scrapbooking, painting and all things that inspire me to CREATE.  I am a country girl at heart and can't get enough of all things handmade. I love rick rac, polka dots and collecting fabric.

Here are some of her latest creations...

An adorable ruffle bum sunsuit made with StitchSteals fabric

A fun bag made with a Moda jelly roll...

An adorable skirt made from a layer cake...

And finally, a little home decor...

Becky has everything from covered buttons to homemade baby wipes.  You will have so much fun checking out her Buzzy Bee blog and Buzzy Bee Creations Etsy shop.  Go visit - you might even be inspired to get started on a project you've had your eye on! (And if you need some fresh ideas, be sure to visit the StitchSteals board on Pinterest!)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Would you like to be featured on a future “Feature You Friday”? It’s a great way to show off your skills, share your talents, or promote a business, blog or cause that’s dear to you.  All you need to do is send us a photo (or photos) of a project to the StitchSteals blog at blog@stitchsteals.com.  If you are chosen, your work (and links) will be seen by all of our StitchSteals Blog readers and Facebook fans.  Submit your photos today – we can’t wait to see what you have come up with!

Feature You Friday - Random Thoughts Do or Di

Good morning, StitchStealers!

Today, we are featuring the blog musings of one of your fellow StitchStealers, Diane.  Diane sent her blog link to me, and I was wowed by the gorgeous photographs of her projects, hobbies and trips.  If you like quilting, sewing, gardening, cooking, or travel, I guarantee you will enjoy Diane's blog, Random Thoughts Do or "Di".

A few words Diane had to say about herself:

I am 58 years old, live in California and I am a SAHM to 4 grown sons. I have just celebrated my 39th wedding anniversary with my Mr. Romance. We love to travel, wine taste, go on food tours and photograph all of this.

We have 8 grandchildren.I love gardening, scrapbooking, baking, canning and quilting. I am passionate about quilting and blogging about quilting right now. I love reading all the blogs and learning so many new techniques. I love the look on someone's face when I have made them a quilt. I think handmade gifts are the best.


I have recently been joining several swaps and bees to connect with the quilting community. I find that quilt bloggers are a very loving and friendly group and I am happy to be a new part of this social circle. I will be celebrating my blogaversary in August with some handmade giveaways.

Here is one of her beautiful quilting projects, her Circle Me Back to Amsterdam quilt, which she made using fabrics she picked up on her travels.

Diane's latest quilt below, is a Hexagon Park in Giddy fabrics designed by Lynne of Lily's Quilts.  Diane made it for a dear friend with early onselt Alzheimer's disease (that blog post is here).     

Be sure to visit Random Thoughts Do or Di to see more of Diane's handiwork (and help her celebrate that "blogaversary" in August!)  Thanks for sharing with us Diane!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Would you like to be featured on a future “Feature You Friday”? It’s a great way to show off your skills, share your talents, or promote a business, blog or cause that’s dear to you.  All you need to do is send us a photo (or photos) of a project to the StitchSteals blog at blog@stitchsteals.com.  If you are chosen, your work (and links) will be seen by all of our StitchSteals Blog readers and Facebook fans.  Submit your photos today – we can’t wait to see what you have come up with!