Here’s a glass art project that doesn’t require many tools or supplies. You don’t need experience working with glass or a kiln. All you need is a camera and some glass pieces. The rest is up to you. Over at Remodelista/Gardenista there’s a DIY project by Justine Hand that involves setting up compositions with glass bits and other pieces that you may find on a beach during one of your summertime adventures and taking pictures. Print them up and frame them for some simple art that will always remind you of the time and place you picked up those cool pieces of glass…or rocks and coins or other goodies you may come across.
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Designer Spotlight: Rhonda’s Originals
Rhonda’s Originals is an Etsy shop based in Connecticut that does a lot more than cross stitch patterns, but for our purposes we’ll focus on the Miss Prim line of cross stitch dolls, samplers and other designs with a sometimes twisted historical slant.
I really wanted to share these because I came across the Abraham Lincoln doll shown here, and given that his birthday is coming up I couldn’t resist it. His very tall hat says “Oh, Honestly, Abe,” which illustrates that snarky twist I mentioned. This particular design is 67 by 139 stitches, or about 4.75 by 10 inches, or 12 by 25.5 cm, when worked on 14 count fabric.
The patterns include instructions for making them into pillow “dolls.” Once you’ve stitched this one you’re sure to want to add George and Martha Washington and Betsy Ross to your collection (hers says “Heavens to Betsy”).
Among the more than 100 cross stitch designs there’s not really an organization so you’ll have to go treasure hunting. And treasure you are likely to find if you like mermaids, skulls, Pride and Prejudice or old fashioned Santas. To name a few of the things you’ll find. Most of the patterns are shown making these odd shaped pillows, but there are others that are shown as rectangles, and of course you can frame pieces or display them in a different way regardless of what is shown in the pattern.
In addition to cross stitch patterns you’ll find lots of fun printables here including puzzle cards, paper dolls, collage sheets, printable covers to upcycle old paperback books, holiday themed digital clip art you can download and use in different designs, and a fun collection of Marie Antoinette inspired digital designs. This stuff is lots of fun if you’re into collage, altered art, digital scrapbooking or other paper crafts.
Check out all the fun stuff on offer at Rhonda’s Originals, and let me know if you stitch up your own Honest(ly) Abe!
[Photo: Rhonda’s Originals]