The Hand Stitched Surface Blog Hop

My friend, Lynn Krawczyk of Smudged Design Studio, wrote an awesome book this year.

I really admire Lynn's ability to let her art brain fly.
She gets a fabulous idea and she just goes for it!
I spend too much time telling myself why the idea won't work, but Lynn thinks up fabulous stuff and then writes a book about it. I want to be more like Lynn.

The Hand-Stitched Surface is all about creating great mixed media art with hand stitching. I've been doing a lot more hand stitching lately thanks to her book, and I have a tip for you: As I've quilted straight lines on my Thunderstruck quilt and the lines aren't always straight. They are straight-ish.

I suppose that is part of the charm of this style of quilting, however as I am finishing the quilt I discovered an easier way to make straighter, better spaced lines and I want to share this simple idea:

Fold the fabric over, and finger press (or iron) a line. 

You now have a straighter line to follow as you stitch!

One of my favorite parts of Lynn's book are the fun projects.

The first project that grabbed my eye was the Stamped and Stitched Book Ribbon. 

I don't have a spool but the ribbon I created hangs on my inspiration board.

My biggest advice for this project: Don't use paper from a hundred year old dictionary which is falling apart. Mistyfuse saved the day, as usual.

I fused the paper to hand dyed fabric and it is holding up very well now.

The next project I wanted to make was the Deconstructed Needle Book

As I was making the book another inspiration hit me.
This is how things are you know, work on one project, think of ten more.

Yet to be finished Needle book.

 I needed a couple of envelopes to put some cash in for the twins 21st birthday.
Art Brain told me to go for it and in true Lynn-style, I went for it!!!

Hopefully the girls will like the holders as much as they like the cash.

And hopefully your Art Brain is now feeling inspired.

If you would like to be motivated to create you can do two things:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog for a chance to win a copy of Lynn's book (winner will be drawn on July 15th), and 

2) Visit the other blogs each day for more inspiration and more chances to win a book.

Monday July 9 – Lisa Chin (me!)

Tuesday July 10 – Ana Sumner

Wednesday July 11 – Lyric Montgomery Kinard

Thursday July 12 – Libby Williamson

Friday July 13 – Allison Aller

Saturday July 14 – Lynn Krawczyk