A Scarf in the Park

Hello! I hope you all had a delightful weekend. Today, I'll take you on a trip to the park.

Let's do a flashback to summer, when the hydrangeas were still beginning to bloom.

When the weather was just right for flip flops and tank tops and hanging out on the grass.

We're in Madison Square Park where every summer, there's an art installation on display. This summer featured Orly Genger's "Red, Yellow and Blue".

Re-purposed fisherman's rope, hand-knotted and painted in primary colors by the artist, snaked through the park.

From a distance, the installation looked like three gigantic knitted scarves {one red, one yellow and one blue} wrapped around the trees and bushes. Once up close, you'll want to touch it {you certainly could} and it will surely make you think, "How did she do this?"

I really enjoyed this piece of art, something both young and old can relate to. I also like how much thought and hard work was put into it, and that there's recycling involved {and you know how much I like that}. My only issue was that I could not capture the piece in one photo -- it was massive!

If you're curious, you can read more about the installation here, here and you can find more pictures here and here.

Have a nice day!

Humble Beginnings

We didn't do any crafting this week, but I do hope that you found inspiration in the quotes I shared. Here's a particular one that I truly love -- where humble beginnings are the start of great things:

via design milk

Have a nice weekend, friends!

No Worries

If you're going through some blahs, my wish is that they will turn into TADAs!

via Pinterest

Yes You Can!

I love the graphic design of this quote and its message of course:

via Pinterest

Here's to the fruition of all of our dreams!

Bloom

Flowery words to inspire you today:

via Pinterest

Happy Autumn

I'm taking a little break from crafting this week, but let me leave you with a few words to live by:

via Event Lucky

A Strawberry Pin Cushion

Hello and happy Friday!

To end our strawberry-themed week, why don't we make a strawberry pin cushion. It's simple to make, no sewing machine necessary.

I'm using felt from my craft stash. Fabric scraps {even if they're not in traditional strawberry colors} are a wonderful blah to TADA! option.

Cut a circle from the fabric. This one is 4 1/2 inches in diameter.

Cut the circle in half. We will be able to make two strawberries with this.

Trim the base of each half circle at a 10 degree angle. 

Take one half circle and stitch on a bunch of French knots with yellow embroidery floss. This step is optional; I just wanted to make the strawberry as lifelike as possible.

Then, with needle and thread, make a running stitch close to the curve of the half circle. Let the leftover thread dangle, which we'll come back to after this step:

Fold the half circle at the center, wrong-side facing out. Sew the open ends together with a back stitch and finish with a knot.

Turn the half circle inside out to look this -- a cone shape.

Fill the cone with fiber fill {Martha Stewart uses sand which helps keep pins and needles sharp}. The fiber fill I used comes from an old pillow {TADA!}. Once the stuffing is in place, gently tug on the loose thread to close the top of the cone.

Knot the ends of the thread and reinforce with more stitches using needle and thread to fully close the top of the strawberry.

With a piece of green felt and a pair of scissors, make a "cap" for the strawberry. 

Secure the cap to the strawberry with needle and thread. 

And here we have it, mini pin cushions for any mini or maxi sewing project.

Have a delightful weekend, darlings!