Sunday, January 24, 2016

My Linda's How-Do-I Series? How To Make My "Gotta Love Fairies Peg Dolls" Free E-Book


I have made many, many different types of dolls over the years. Most of them I have loved creating, but I have to tell you that I really liked making flower fairies out of wood doll pegs and silk florals. There's just something enchanting about them. I would hope you would agree.

Each fairy is made from a painted wood doll peg with a painted wood bead head with a drawn face. Each sports a full head of curly doll hair and is costumed in a silk floral dress and, in some instances, a silk floral head dress.

So, I thought you might enjoy a few free e-book on how I created my "Gotta Love Fairies Peg Dolls" so you could make some of your own.  My free e-book is here.

Saturday, January 09, 2016

Gotta Love Pictures and My Picture Craft Tutorials, Video's and How-To's Pinterest Board



If you've been a reader of my Linda's Blog you know that I LOVE creating everything and anything. One of the items I love creating is pictures.  Not just photographic pictures, but all sorts of picture decorations and have written about many of the picture decorations I've made all of which are shown in the collage above.

Needless to say I love creating all sorts of picture crafts.  So, of course, I had to set up a Pinterest board for all the amazing picture crafts I've found.  I hope you find my Pinterest board helpful.

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I love creating pictures. If you would love to learn how to create pictures perhaps these tutorials, video's and how-to's will be helpful.

If you love our Picture Craft Tutorials, Video's and How-To's board please follow our board by clicking on the link above.

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Frosty Snowman Beaded and Buttoned Cross-Stitch



I was not someone who was hoping for a white Christmas. In fact, given the horrendous snow season we had last winter, I was hoping we'd have a mild winter and maybe even - no snow! Unfortunately Mother Nature was not cooperative. We had our first horrible snow storm last Tuesday and, horrible it was! There was only 4 inches of it, but it was heavy and wet. It was like trying to move concrete. Impossible to push. Needless to say, hubby and I were not happy campers.

Given how much we dislike snow you would think I wouldn't like crafting snowman or snow ladies. Au contraire! I love crafting snowman and snow ladies. Go figure!

So, when deciding what cross-stitch kits I wanted to make this year I decided to do one with a snowman.  This time I decided to do Mill Hill Frosty Snowman Winter Buttons and Beads Counted Cross Stitch Kit, 5 by 5-Inch.

The Mill Hill Frosty Snowman Winter Buttons and Beads Counted Cross Stitch Kit, 5 by 5-Inch pattern uses full counted cross-stitch and beaded half stitch as well as beads of various sizes for emphasis and depth. It also uses straight and Smyrna stitch for highlighting and emphasis. The pattern also calls for certain areas of the perforated paper to be left untouched as the background. In this case they were leaving sections of the navy blue perforated paper background untouched.

I decided to frame my finished cross-stitch picture using a Mill Hill wooden frame with snowflakes on it versus the Mill Hill Wooden Frame, 6 by 6-Inch, Matte Blue that was shown in the pattern picture. My frame is a 6" x 6" handpainted blue wooden frame painted with snowflakes but without glass.  Unlike the shadowbox frames I had been using more of the perforated paper would be seen surrounding the cross-stitch picture.

The pattern called for certain areas of the perforated paper to be left untouched as the background like the picture shown below:


However, I don't like seeing the different perforated sections in the background and since a lot more of it would be exposed with this kit and frame I opted instead to finish all of the background. I thought a background of navy blue embroidery floss would really enhance this picture so I finished the inside square background with two strands of DMC navy blue embroidery floss sewn as a half cross-stitch and the area surrounding the square with two strands of DMC navy blue embroidery floss sewn as a half cross-stitch.

The pattern also called for a single white strand of embroidery floss to be used for the straight and Smyrna stitching on the snowflakes. I opted instead to use two strands of the white embroidery floss for the straight stitching and Smyrna stitching as I wanted the snowflakes to stand out a little more.

I didn't realize until I was writing this blog post that I actually had made a big mistake on my snowman's cross-stitch.  I had forgotten to embroider his mouth and eyebrows with one strand of gray embroidery floss. As I'd already glued my cross-stitch to it's backing I couldn't correct this with a cross stitch. I could lightly draw this in, but I wasn't sure I would like that result. The ink might run on the embroidery floss. So, my snowman does not have a mouth or eyebrows. I should have known better and done a final check before gluing.

I also decided to once again utilize the rectangular wood frame jig that my darling husband built for me that I could tape the edges of my perforated paper to. The wood frame jig is a rectangular embroidery hoop of sorts, but without bending the perforated paper. He had made it out of 1/2" x 1" pine wood strips with an adjustable center strip that I used for this 5 x 5 square design.

I had learned from previous mistakes that I needed to draw diagonal lines to locate the exact center of the perforated paper and also drew diagonal lines across each corner of the pattern to get the center point as well.

While the end results of this design were wonderful some things in the kit and in the instructions could be improved upon so I'd like to offer the following constructive suggestions:

The cross-stitch chart was in black and white as was the floss color code and symbol key. Both were easy to read and very clear. While I had no problem with the chart and keys I did have a problem with the way the DMC floss was presented. All of the floss was tied together in one big knot so you had to separate the floss pieces yourself, sort them, and try to interpret which color belonged to which floss # and symbol key on the color chart. If you only have a few colors to deal with this isn't a problem. However, if you have several different colors to choose from that are close in color then interpreting the chart can be tricky. You may assign the wrong color to the wrong symbol if the colors are too closely aligned.

As I have done with other cross-stitch kits I've completed I had to design my own thread color sorter and symbol key. I took a piece of thin cardboard and cut a 1" x 9" long rectangular piece out to use as a thread sorter. I then punched 10 holes in my cardboard strip in which to tie each of the different colors. Just above the hole I wrote the DMC floss # and & the respective cross-stitch symbol. I then inserted the floss threads that went with that # and symbol through the hole and tied them in a loose knot. This kit could be much improved if a thread sorter with respective #'s and symbols was provided.

This kit came with two envelopes of beads. Usually there are plenty of beads left over.  This time I thought for sure I was going to run out of the orange beads. I ended up with only one to spare.  Good thing I didn't lose any.  They should have supplied a few extra orange beads.

The kit included a small star. The button was okay except it was glued to a small piece of cardboard which did not easily come off and the glue used had hardened and extended over the sides of the button. It was very difficult to cut with scissors it was so hard. I managed to make it presentable enough to use in my picture. I have found over time that the buttons used in the Mill Hill cross-stitch kits are usually of poor quality and the worst parts of the kits. Sometimes I use them sometimes I don't.

The wooden frame came with a 6" x 6" cardboard mounting board for the picture but had no back so I I decided to cut a 6" x 6" white foam board as filler for the back. I also cut a piece of heavy decorative paper and taped it to the back of the picture with double sided tape to finish the back of the frame. The frame could be hung as a picture or stand with an enclosed dowel peg used as an easel and I opted for the latter.

My results with the totally finished background, square edges, and decorative frame is shown below:


Despite the relatively small issues I had encountered with the kit I was happy with the way my Frosty Snowman turned out.

It took me 36 hours to complete this picture including the framing. As always, my comments are meant to be constructive to enable future purchasers to benefit from my experience and to enhance their ability to create a wonderful little cross-stitch design.

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

Fourteen Years Later I Finally Had Time To Finish The Wood Christmas Ornament Pieces



I often get asked how I manage to make so many things. My answer is always - think kits and assembly line. Whenever I've made something over the years I've always made a  bunch at once in an assembly line fashion creating kits to be done at some later point in time.

For instance when I was in my woodworking phase I would spend days on end outlining the pattern pieces on the wood pieces hubby and I had bought. Then hubby and I would spend days on end cutting the wood. If the projects called for fabric or other embellishments I would spend days on end cutting the fabric and putting all the embellishments together. Then I would put everything together in a kit and store it until I was ready to make it.

When I did make it I would make many at one time painting everything that needed painting first, then sewing everything that needed sewing, gluing everything that needed gluing, etc. Multiple projects were worked on at the same time which, in the end, resulting in my being able to make a lot of things in less time. If I made each item one at a time I would waste a lot of time in the set up and cleaning up of tools and work areas each time. If you do it all at once you only set up and clean that particular area once.

Needless to say since I never do anything in moderation I have a lot of kits waiting to be assembled. So, since I was working on the wood projects for my Tinytopia class I decided to see what other wood kits I had waiting to be finished and found two that could be made at the same time as the projects for my class.

One of the wood kits I had waiting to be made was from a Plum Purdy by Renee Mullins pattern I had bought in 2001. The pattern called for making 6 wood Christmas ornaments painted on one side. I had cut two pieces of wood for each ornament so I would be making 12 ornaments.

I was hoping to show you a picture of the pattern but it is so old it is no longer in circulation - at least I couldn't find a picture of it online.

Since I was now in a mixed media phase I decided to finish the ornaments this way on both sides.  I would be painting, collaging, embellishing, sculpting, stenciling, gluing and sewing the ornaments in various mixed media ways.

Here's my results:

 
Fronts of the two Santa ornaments.


Backs of the two Santa ornaments.


Fronts of the two mitten ornaments.


Backs of the two mitten ornaments.


Fronts of the two snowman ornaments.


Backs of the two snowman ornaments.


Fronts of the two stocking ornaments.


Backs of the two stocking ornaments.


Fronts of the two gingerbread ornaments.


Backs of the two gingerbread ornaments.


Fronts of the two angel ornaments.


Backs of the two angel ornaments.

Fourteen years later and this kit was finally finished.  Albeit not like the pattern had called for, but finished the way I wanted to for now.  In looking at the ornaments I was pleased with the way they had all turned out.  I hope you would agree.

Sunday, January 03, 2016

Linda’s How-Do-I Series? How I Created My Large Artificial Outdoor Christmas Floral Decoration



In November 2015 I wrote a blog post entitled, "I Can Do Better - My Xmas Evergreen Arrangement Decoration" about the fresh evergreen arrangement I had bought for decorating outside my farmer's porch in the front of our house.

This year I had decided that our farmer's porch area needed some Christmas decorations, too, So hubby and I went out on Black Friday, which we hate to do, to buy a fresh arrangement of pine and evergreen branches in a container that would be suitable for the farmer's porch.

I found a container and  arrangement that I thought might work for us and would be visible on the farmer's porch. We have a row of yews along the walkway to our farmer's porch that are about 2 1/2' feet tall so I knew I needed a large arrangement and that I would need to put this arrangement on a container in order for it to be seen above the yews.


The arrangement container we bought was black in color so we decided to use a plastic black container we had turned upside down on which to place the arrangement.

I also decided that the fresh arrangement I had bought needed more height so I added red berry sprigs and gold painted bamboo to give the arrangement height. It came with one white painted pinecone so I added a trio of 3 Christmas color bulbs and another white painted pinecone for decoration.

I was happy with the way the arrangement looked on the farmer's porch. It was bright and festive and complimented the wreaths on the front of the house. However, I wasn't happy with the price as I know I could have made an artificial arrangement that would last forever for half the price and it wouldn't cost me anything going forward.

So, I decided that when the floral Christmas stems went on sale at Michael's or A.C. Moore that I was going to buy some to make a large artificial outdoor Christmas floral decoration to replace the fresh one. I figured that at the end of the Christmas holiday season I'd remove the dried fresh branches from the arrangement and replace them with artificial evergreen branches. Then it would last forever and wouldn't cost me anything going forward.

Well, the artificial evergreen's went on sale and I bought what I needed to create my arrangement.

As I was putting my large artificial outdoor Christmas floral decoration together I created a tutorial so you could create one of your own and created a free e-book for you as well.

I hope you enjoy my free tutorial e-book.


To view and download my free e-book please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view our free e-book. Then just download our free .pdf e-book by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Manda - The Fairie Twin Victorian Fairy Doll Dress Free E-Pattern




What child hasn't imagined playing with fairies and wanting to make a fairy garden.  I know I did. While I never got the fairy garden I did enjoy making some fairies.



To view and download my free e-book please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view my free e-book. Then just download my free .pdf e-book by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Friday, January 01, 2016

Mish - Fairie Twin Victorian Fairy Doll Dress Free E-Pattern




What child hasn't imagined playing with fairies and wanting to make a fairy garden.  I know I did. While I never got the fairy garden I did enjoy making some fairies.



To view and download my free e-book please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view my free e-book. Then just download my free .pdf e-book by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.