Don't get your tinsel in a tangle and other fun stuff...

This summer, I bought a book of fabric samples from Bella Notte.

They make beautiful, luxurious bed linens. And gorgeous linen tunics.

The samples are a perfect size for embroidering.

I started playing around with designs and knew I'd frame a lot of them

in the house- especially for the holidays.

I did a few last year that you can see here.

I have beautiful pre-cut pieces of distressed velvet

to embroider and this makes me extremely happy.

My machine is behaving.  My software is behaving.  Life is good.

I'm also going to offer some for sale.

Yay, I know I heard you say yay.

I've staged a couple for you to show you how easy it is to take these

and create special moments for your home.

For this one, I started with a shadow box from Hobby Lobby.

Fifty percent off, of course.

I pinned down the fabric, tucked a battery operated string of tiny lights underneath and topped it off with unbreakable ornaments.

"Don't Get Your Tinsel In A Tangle" in rose gold hues-

I'm loving this color combo right now.  It's so soft and pretty.

It was a big pain in the wazoo to get a decent photo without 

too much reflection but this was gorgeous, girls.

Like a very fancy sign and we all love signs.

I'm bringing fancy back.

Hmmm, he didn't heed the tinsel warning.
Side peak of the shadow box.
I love this box and have many plans for it.
You should get one before I buy them all up.

The blue version has been framed in an oval 8x10 frame.

Easy peasy.

It's just way too late for Edith...her tinsel has been tangled for years.

Sparkling elf magic...this watermelon pink is so pretty with 

green velvet ribbon and glass glitter.

Extra Jolly- not just regular- extra.

There's a million ways to incorporate these into your decor, 

but you get the idea, right?

I'd love to see what you do with one!

These velvets are muted and soft- there are no bright colors.
The lighting is really affecting the colors in my photos but here is the photo from Bella Notte that shows the truest tones.
These are the swatches of fabric:

Holly Extract - pale, pale gray with black thread.
Extra Strength Holiday Spirits- minty green with blue, mint and cream thread. 
Pumpkins- Taupe with burnt oranges and greens.
Deer- gray with chocolate brown thread
Jack O'Lanterns- navy with orange thread.
Elf Magic- white with pink and taupe-y gray thread
Tinsel in a Tangle- peachy, blushy pink with ombre pinkish thread.
Dogs- pale blue with medium blue thread
Blue Tinsel Tangle-  blue with ombre blue toned thread.

Each one will be $20 which includes shipping.
Email me at whatwekeep@gmail.com to purchase and I'll send you an invoice.
More are on the way- and I have one full set of samples yet to be embroidered if you have a certain colorway in mind.
Email me to reserve it.

My next post will be the long awaited giveaway post. 
Woo Hoo!
Andi, I know you are excited. 
You guys know the drill- I'll giveaway something I'll show you
but when a winner has been chosen I like to make a couple of personal items for you. That's the fun part for me!

As always, thanks for coming by and 
I hope you like the new embroidered items.

Chocolate is always a good idea...

Hey strangers!  I know, I know...

I have been away from my blog for most of the summer.

I needed some me time to replenish my soul.

My creative soul and my regular, everyday soul was feeling kind of raggedy.

Doing this kind of work- and it is work- requires quiet thinking time.

Did I sit quietly meditating? NO.

My soul work is done with a paintbrush in my hand,

or watching a sewing needle pop up and down,

stirring a simmering pot on the stove, or floating in the pool.

That is where I find my quiet.

There is never quiet in this house in basic terms, not with all our pups

running amok and underfoot and on top of me and in bed with me, etc.

So you understand, right?

I knew you would.

You are my people, after all.

Ah, but what about the chocolates and bonbons?

I won't lie- there have been moments. Many moments.

After all, I'm still me.

And chocolate cannot escape me. wink wink

So, I have been embroidering quotes to frame for years and it's one

of my favorite ways to personalize a space or 

create a little moment somewhere in my home.

I paired this one up with my very old and very stinky wooden pyrography box.

I had tried unsuccesfully to remove the smell ten different ways and finally

just painted it in this pale pinkish color by Vintage Market & Design.

It's called Conch and it has just the perfect hint of pink.

I waxed it with MMS regular wax and then used dark to highlight the burnout.

Blush and Bashful, ladies. There's my Steel Magnolias quote of the day. ;)

      

I framed it without the glass and secured it to cardboard with antique copper tacks from England that I removed from another project.

The fabric I used was a sample from Bella Notte linens in Hendrix Powder.

I've made quite a few this summer and will have them available 

for sale in the next few weeks.

I'll have another post up soon with the ones I've completed.

They'll all be one of a kind.

So many possibilities for use.

I think you'll love them as much as I do.

Yes, I see that tack needs to be adjusted, my detail fixated friends.

Admit it, it bugged you.

It's bugging the crap out of me! hahahahaha

And the light changed from the upper photos to the last two 

that I took just now. Sigh.

I'm way too busy eating that dark chocolate pumpkin seed stuff to care

about going back and reshooting them.

Nothing will happen, right? 

I've got a few giveaways planned for the the next few months

and I'm excited to show you some things I've been working on.

I've posted on Instagram this summer if you'd like to check that out.

FYI, those of you who don't use IG on your phones can still see my posts.

Just google tlc4wwk and it will take you there to view on your computer.

I'm still getting the hang of things over there, but it's fun!

Have a great week, y'all.