lauradodson:art+craft

More Hearts

I added some more happy hearts to the shop today. I even included a photo for a possible display option. Yay!

Here's how I like to display sweet heart dangles.

You can check out the rest of my happy hearts in my shop. Link in sidebar.

Embroidered Hearts in the Shop

I listed some hearts in the shop today. More will come tomorrow. Head on over to my etsy shop and check them out.

Boerne Handmade Market April 18

Are you coming? It's going to be a funfilled day with lotsa vendors, food, music, and creative folks. Put it on your calendar now. 

I've been stitching and painting my little fingers to the bone preparing for Boerne Handmade Market! More embroidered hearts and a few whimsical paintings and a few other little bits of happiness will be offered in my booth.

There's a long history of hand stitchers in my family.  My mom, Nana, aunts, and grandmother were all stitchers. I grew up either surrounded by their work or watched them sew. It's my turn now! And I am happy to take the next spot. 

The process of cutting hearts, stitching sayings, and appliqueing the felt is quite relaxing to me. I enjoy stitching in the evening while we watch TV. This year I decided to try to make some key rings, too. I'm pleased with how they are turning out! I hope you will be, too.

As a young girl, my mom enrolled me in painting class at a local frame shop. One evening a week, I opened the doors to color, possibility, and the scents of oil paint and turpentine. Heaven on earth! I have painted in a variety of styles, but I always seem to go back to a place of whimsy and color.

 

Stop by my happydreamer booth and say Hi. I hope to see you there!

Vista Print Postcard!

I made a postcard of my hearts for Boerne Handmade Market on April 18. I love it. Vista Print is have a 50% off sale that ends today. Hurry up and get busy.

hearts galore

Whew! After Boerne Handmade Market, my fingers fell off. I have stitched over 100 hearts. 34 for the market, and the rest for custom orders. I think my socks were blessed right off my feet. 

I have never had so much fun in all my life. First with the making of all these little bits of love, and second with the show itself. I met lots of wonderful creative people. It was all so insipring. I am looking forward to the April market.

I will be adding a custom order listing in my etsy shop today. I have surfaced for air, and am ready to get back to stitching. Valentines is right around the corner! 

Boerne Handmade Market::October 25

I've been a maker since I was a child. My mother has a picture of me as a little girl sporting fancy milk carton shoes. I began painting soon after that , and I've never looked back. I like bright colors and whimsical subjects--birds, flowers, hearts, and houses. My paintings are well suited for vibrant happy homes. Including uplifting messages in some of my paintings is one of my favorite things to do. I want to encourage others through my work. Bringing smiles, joy, and light to others lives and homes are some of my chief goals. 

My primary job is wife and mother to our 5 sons 3 of whom came to us through adoption 5 years ago. The last few years I taught K-12 Art at a small Christian school. However, this year I am home and loving it! I volunteer at our sons' school, substitute teach, and MAKE. I will never stop being a maker. It's in my blood.

If I could choose anyone in the world to have one of my paintings hanging in their home, it would be you. My hope is to bring you cheer through my paintings. Why wouldn't I choose you? This is why I make. It's for you. 

Romans 5:5 says this, "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us."  It is my desire to be a communicator of Christ's love, hope, and joy. This is one way I do it.

Come by my booth, happydreamer, on October 25 in Boerne and say hello. I'd love to meet you! There will be bits of lovely for all budgets. Wool felt door knob dangles/ornaments, paintings of all sizes, funky wooden houses, and more. I sure hope I'll see you there! It's gonna be a fun day!

Friend of Africa

I finally finished up my Friend of Africa embroidery + pattern. Whew. I will not say how long that's been on the table. Erm...ahem. However, it is now COMPLETE. Boy howdy does that feel good. I am offering it as a PDF pattern in my happydreamer shop on etsy.  Please have a look for yourself.

I added a felt heart + bead to mine where Uganda is located. In 2009 we adopted three little boys from Uganda and it holds a special place in my heart. The heart could be placed anywhere...Ethiopia, Ghana, etc. Visit my shop to see for yourself.  April 2013 I was able to return to serve in the orphanage where our boys began their lives. The people, orphanage, and landscape with its vast array of colors are never far from my thoughts throughout the day. Uganda is in my blood.

take a gander in the shop when you have a moment. Enjoy.

Home Sweet Home

I finally did it! I made my own embroidery PDF pattern. Yay. To say I am excited is an understatement.

I listed it in my shop...right over here.  Feel free to take a peek. If you like to sew, here's a great opportunity to try my pattern out for a sweet price.

You Are Loved

When I deleted my blog a year ago, it left some broken links. One being this lovely embroidery pattern by pam garrison. I keep getting notitfications via pinterest that people are searching for it on my blog to no avail. Here it is!

I did the embroidery, but it is Pam's pattern that she has for sale in her shop.

Summer School: Sewing Galore

Summer is fast approaching. 3.5 days left of school! Translation~3.5 days to NO ALARM. Aaaaah. 

Swimming. Sewing. Crafting. Playing. Board games. Art projects. Walking. Planning. Organizing. Bliss.

I have two sewing projects for me, and if they go well, then maybe a few more.

Shearwater Kaftan by Make It Perfect
 

The Kaftan looks super comfy and that's what I like. This go around, I am making a muslin or two before cutting into my good fabric. I've never done that before due to over eager desires to wear it NOW. The downside is I am always a bit let down that I didn't S L O W down and tweak the pattern to fit me. 

Waterfall Blouse by Make It Perfect

(Yes, the model/designer is expecting and NO this is not a maternity specific pattern.)

I like how the yoke is a bit fitted but the body of the blouse is loose. I like loose and flowy and comfy. I am on my 4th muslin yoke and it is just about right. One more tweak, and I'll be ready to break out my cute batik fabric. I have two other fabric choices lined up after my first one is made. 

I also have lotsa lotsa dresses and shorts to make for the kiddos at Welcome Home in Uganda. Super yay!  I love sewing for them. I have several boys wishing for more lion-ee shorts. I will most certainly oblige those cuties.

Boy Shorts pattern from TieDyeDiva

Oh these five were so happy to wear their new shorts. There's about 20+ MORE BOYS. Eeek. Anyone want to help sew with me? The only thing I did not do when making these shorts is add the pocket. They are hard are their clothing, the washers are hard on their clothes, and boys + pockets = treasures that will get washed and potentially damage the washers at the home. This is a wonderfully made pattern in all respects.

Come on Summer!