RJ Ward Design

Quite a few years ago I tried my hand at Needle Punch Embroidery. I've had this cardinal laying around finished (along with tons of other projects) deciding what I was going to do with it. At first my initial idea was to frame it. I have a mat cutter but to be honest I have no idea how to use the darn thing. When I was on a sewing/crafting binge it finally came to me just to make a pillow. I have enough cross-stitch pictures hanging and even some that need to be hung and finished. The hard part was already done. I had already blanket stitched the Cardinal to the red felt. I had in my stash of fabric that nice green fleece that just happened to match perfectly. I made the pillow into an envelope style so when the holidays were over I can go back to the original pillow that matches the chairs. I love this pillow! I really think I need to make 2012 the year of finishing up all my projects that I have started, framing all the cross-stitch pictures that I've taken ...

Wishing everyone a Prosperous New Year and a Merry Christmas! 

It all started with my 14 year old son stating the fact that our dog Bailey and everyone else for that matter had a bigger stocking than him and how much he'd like a new one for Christmas. I found a pattern on Embroidery Library's   Project page for a Rag Quilt Stocking. I really didn't want to go that route but I did want the pattern piece to trace my fabric onto. I went through all my fabric stash that I've bought including 4 yards of neutral canvas I got at a thrift store, various other Christmas fabrics that I've had for years, and remnants that I've purchased. I used the canvas for the cuff and lining because I wanted the stockings to be stiff without using interfacing. I used my embroidery machine and embroidered all our names before I did any stitching. Can you tell which one is our dog's? My daughter loved that fabric and actually wanted it for her stocking but she got the red printed snowman instead. The boys got the army print. It's...

I love browsing the internet and all the fabulous blogs out there. It seems my RSS Feed and my Favorites bar are growing by the day from all the talented people out there. I love to look at all the handiwork and creativeness that these people are able to do and wish that I could do something just as beautiful. So this post brings me to a giveaway that one of the blogs that I certainly like to read is doing. Green Fairy Quilts is one of the many talented bloggers out there. Judi has some gorgeous quilts that she has machine quilted with her long-arm business. Did I tell you she also designs patterns? I've had my eye on Dahlia for awhile now. Then on top of all that she (and her husband) sell fabric in their store! Talk about busy. So go have a visit and give a comment on a chance to win some beautiful fabric.

I almost forgot how much I loved turning plain, boring items into beautiful, personalized objects with my embroidery machine. Three years ago I was on the internet dreaming of making money and doing what I love to do - sewing. Then of course I got called into sub as a paraprofessional long term and life just happened. I was working everyday, taking care of my family, watching the economy tumble and turning my interests into other things that would help my family save money. Soon I also found the world of blogging and all the interesting things that people do with a sewing machine and the embroidery attachment to my machine ended up getting packed up in a box. Fast forward 3 years later and all of a sudden people found out about my hidden embroidery attachment. I'm now getting requests to embroider names on small suitcases, purses, backbacks and towels. These bags are for a teacher at the school I work at for her bridesmaids, flower girl and ring bearer. Love how they turned ou...

My oldest daughter is graduating soon. Her school was selling cardboard signs to place in your yard that said "Proud Parent . . . " but I proscratinated so long that they sold out of them before I could buy one. I really wanted people to know how proud we were of her so I thought of what I could do so the neighbors knew she was finally graduating. I finally decided to sew a flag. I used an old flag as my baseline for the width and height of the new flag. The school colors are blue and white and decided that a white flag with blue letters would be perfect. I started with a graduation cap that my husband enlarged at work. It wasn't large enough so I had to extend the measurements and redraw it. I decided I really wanted it to show on both sides so I cut out the black nylon. I then regular stitched all around the cap and cut out the white nylon on the other side. With that done I was able to satin stitch all around the cap. For the blue lettering I wanted to go with t...

First of all it's been month's since I've posted anything. I've been working alot more than I usually do and haven't had the time. It doesn't mean I haven't been busy doing things because I have - it's just that I've been scattered all over the map on projects and it's time I started to focus. So . . . . . We've been going to the thrift stores in our neighborhood on Saturdays looking for some sort of something, anything! A few months ago my eye caught 2 ugly looking outside chairs. My husband walked right by these and I had to lure him back. He didn't see anything special about these two! Finally he  gave in saw my vision and for $3 each we brought 2 chairs home. The finish was more of a moldy gray, green color with a rough finish. I took them out on our back porch and gave them a really good scrubbing. We went to the local Home Depot and decided that we wanted to spray them black. I then ran drove to my favorite Kohl's to finish...