09.10.11 Random Act of Craft

Like me, Megan is a Rockford girl who married her true love, Bob, on 09.10.11. Well, my true love is Todd, not Bob, and they got married in Washington (state), not Rockford, but you get the picture… Judging by her posts on Facebook, she and Bob are more in love now than they were the day they got married. I made this Wedding Canvas for them to commemorate their special day, and it turned into a Random Acts of Craft since I procrastinated so much that it’s getting to them nearly nine months after they got married – so, kinda like a baby, but without the pain and discomfort!

I really liked the simplicity of the black and white photo Megan sent me, and I carried that theme into the paper and embellishments I chose to enhance the photo. I love making these canvases, and I’ve used different sizes to make “fancy” wall hangings.

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A Going Away Random Acts of Crafting

In March my friend Shalonda moved down to New Orleans where she’ll stay for six months while helping open up a new restaurant. Shalonda is a pastry chef par excellance, as witnessed by her skills at helping to create our wedding cake (She baked it, Tracy decorated it) – it was DELICIOUS.

Since she was going to be away from her husband and two kids for so long, I wanted to make something for her that was small-ish, but meaningful. I enlisted her husband Dan to help me by sending me a copy of their family portrait (How cool are the tuxedo t-shirts??). I printed the picture out in 4″x6″ size then mounted it to a blank 5″x7″ canvas to display it with pretty paper and embellishments.

I am going to pretend that Shalonda has it sitting on her bedside table, and she gazes lovingly at it each night before she goes to bed, loving her family, and thinking about what a thoughtful friend she has in me.

Amy & Shalonda

It often happens that I forget to take a nice picture of the things I make…

A Pugly Random Acts of Crafting

When I saw the Pugly hand embroidery pattern from Sublime Stitching, several people came to mind who I knew would love to have this hanging on their walls. But I decided that I’d stitch it up for Tom and Terrie because they work so tirelessly to help animals, especially Pugs, in need. Tom regularly drives 100 miles to pick up an abandoned dog who would otherwise be euthanized. Tom and Terrie have opened their home to a veritable zoo of animals, and my husband, Todd, and I admire them deeply. Someday when we are able to afford our own home (instead of renting), we hope to follow their example.

This was a surprise Random Act of Craft in that I did not let Tom or Terrie know that it was being sent to them. It was hard not to post photos on Facebook or Instagram since it’s so darned cute, but I was strong! I stitched it up, mounted it, sent it out via FedEx, and sat on pins and needles waiting to hear that they had received it. I love doing these kinds of things for people! It’s probably because I like getting surprises so much, too.

Mr. Pugly’s proud new parents ❤

RAC #1 to LJKC

My first Random Act of Crafting went to Laura in early May 2011. She’s one of Todd’s college friends, and has quickly become my friend, too, although we’ve only had interaction via the Internet (she lives in that far away land of Brooklyn with her EP producing husband maticulous).

I was searching for images to make a wedding sampler for Todd and I when I came across Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs. I started to think about how fun it would be to stitch her in a hoop, then use smaller hoops to stitch the guys. I remembered that Laura is as nuts for Snow White as I am for monkeys, and I decided that I would make Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for her.

I was having a particularly hard time coping with living away from my family and long-time friends, and it made me feel really good to be doing something for someone who I knew would genuinely appreciate what I was doing. And she did

This post was originally blogged about on Random Acts of Amy.