Tag: embroidery

custom, Embroidery, Uncategorized

Custom Embroidery? Coming Right Up!

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Every wonder what I’m up to when I’m not posting awesome things on Instagram, writing my blog, sanding in the studio, or at Barton Springs…. This is it.  I have been stitching up a storm on custom embroidery wall art.

I’m so grateful to have all these custom orders coming in. They continue to help me survive as an “old lady” embroidery artist.  It’s great.  My favorite part about custom orders is that they challenge me to think differently and keep working to create the perfect piece for a client.  Ok, the second best thing, is making someone happy.

Take a look at some of the things I’ve been working on.  If you need a custom piece of your own, let me know.  I’d be delighted to get working on one.

Contact me at lauralee@madebylauralee.com

 

Embroidery, furniture

Spring is in Full Bloom

lauraleeimhoff

With Spring comes glorious blue skies, the occasional rainstorms, blossoming flowers, bustling farmers markets, and of course, allergies, like woah.  I’ve spent the last few days laid up in bed wishing I had the slightest urge to, at the very least, to work on some embroidery, but with a few attempts, I found it not possible.  I’m starting to come around thanks to truckloads of Zyrtec.

Ok, now that my “wah” fest is over, I wanted to share some new items that I’ve completed since the last blog post.  Most have been shared on instagram, but I’ve got a few that haven’t been yet. I’ve got new Easter themed embroidered wall art that I’m particularly pumped about.  I haven’t done anything for Easter since my Grandmother passed away.  She always had these gorgeous Easter baskets for us, we had egg hunts, and dying eggs!  I guess I have been feeling slightly reminiscent.  Below that, I’ve got a new veggie embroidered towel, a refinished chair, and my personal favorite, “I will resist.” wall art.

Stay crafty, ya’ll!

Embroidery, Uncategorized

Back to Embroidery

lauraleeimhoff

FullSizeRenderIt’s February 1st!  January flew by and it’s been since December I’ve posted anything about embroidery!  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been doing plenty in preparation for the big craft fair in April.  I’ve designed a couple new napkin sets for the occasion based on feedback I had received during the holiday season.  Many people loved the idea of having a themed napkin set, but for the most part, people didn’t seem dedicated to the concept of having all four match or two pairs in a set.  IMG_3594

What could I do for a theme?  I started thinking about seasonal produce.  Citrus and root veggies immediately came to mind.

Citrus: lime, lemon, orange, and my favorite, grapefruit.

Root veggies: red beets, golden beets, radish, and turnips.

I’m in love with them, but what do you think?!

 

12 Day of Crafting, Canning, Embroidery, Uncategorized

A Partidge & A Pear Tree

lauraleeimhoff

Today is the final day before the Handmade Holiday Show at OPA! I thought I would take a moment to share one more post with you before the big day! As promised in my last post on Wednesday, I have something a little on the matchy-matchy side.  To stick with the “what’s in season” category, I thought it only appropriate that pears should be included.  I will have pear embroidered tea towels as well as a pear canned good.  I’m feeling somewhat mysterious this morning and thinking that I might not actually reveal what the pear canned good is… just to leave you hanging, curious, and inquisitive.  Maybe you’ll feel so inspired as to come out tomorrow afternoon?

Hope to see you there, lovelies.

12 Day of Crafting, Embroidery

Orange is the New Black

lauraleeimhoff

IMG_3350Orange is the new black. Alright, admittedly I’ve never seen the show, but it’s a pretty appropriate title, don’t ya think?  Meaning to say…. Citrus is in season, baby! Not just actually in season at the local farmers market, but on my blog too!  I thought it would be a great idea to have matching towels with the canned goods I have prepared for this Saturdays event!  So, here it is Orange Curd and Orange towels!  Woot Woot!

For more info on Saturdays event at OPA click here!

Stay tuned for what matchy, matchy things I have for Thursday and Friday!

Embroidery, Uncategorized

Busy, Busy, Busy Bee

lauraleeimhoff

FullSizeRenderI feel like just the other day I just wrote an entry about how I’ve been working far too much and not focusing on what matters to me.  I get stuck like a hamster in a wheel or a drone working for the Queen.  It’s the daily routine, the grind, the mindlessly trudging away, and when I get to the point of pausing I find myself scratching my head, “Why am I doing this?”

In the past, this hasn’t actually gotten me anywhere, in fact, it’s torn me down and landed me in the hospital.  I go through cycles and I am fine working all the time, but when I come to my senses I feel the need to satisfy myself emotionally and intellectually.  Not too long ago I asked my Facebook friends what I could do to switch things up or to take a break from the monotony. People recommended cutting my hair, going on tour, but the feedback that got me sitting up straight and peaked my interest were “more blIMG_3231og entries.”  They were onto something without a doubt.

Since then, I am still working my day job just as hard as I always have, but have made an effort to focus  on myself, crafting, music, and art just as much.  I have been going non stop for about a month now.  People have asked me, “How do you do it?” They say that I am like a machine!  Maybe that’s true. Of course, giving up coffee and alcohol have been a serious contributing factor to my new found creative energy plus creativity breeds creativity.

I have never felt so fulfilled the last month as I have my entire time living in Austin.  I make sure to spend at least two hours everyday doing something creative for myself.  Not only am I happier but I’m sleeping better too.  If that’s not great enough, I have a lot of new opportunities on the horizon, which I am looking forward to sharing more with you very soon.

xoxo,

Laura Lee

 

 

 

12 Day of Crafting, Embroidery

Something New!

lauraleeimhoff

FullSizeRenderI’m excited to announce I have a new towel for this Saturdays Bluebonnet Bazaar.  My herb towels were such a big hit in December, so much so that I decided that I would add more to my collection.

With warmer weather here Basil and Cilantro are making their appearance at Austin farmers markets, it seems only appropriate that they do in towel form as well!

For more updates on new items follow me on Instagram @lilmisslauralee

12 Day of Crafting, Embroidery

How Bazaar, How Bazaar

lauraleeimhoff

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Today the sun is shining and here I am,  I’ve slept in and missed most of the day (in my defense, I was completely unable to sleep last night). My plan today was to have an admin day updating profiles, blog pages, Etsy shop, and email list.  Not exactly what I want to be doing when the sun has come out in what seems like the first time in weeks!

While I may make a post to my blog during what remaining daylight there is, the rest of my computer work will have to wait until this evening. If you need me you can find me outside, with tea towels, embroidery floss, and a very large ice coffee soaking up all the Vitamin D I can.  I just hope amongst hopes that the weather remains to stay nice during the madness of SXSW and next Saturdays Blue Bonnet Bazaar !

That’s right!  I’ll be partaking in the second Bluebonnet Bazaar.  While I won’t be feverishly blogging in the spirit of “12 Days of Crafting” like in December, I will be featuring an item or two before the event. So please, stay tuned, check in, etc. etc. etc.

Featured Images:

Above: set of 4 hand embroidered floral napkins

Below: Set of 6 hand embroidered floral napkins on vintage linens

 

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Embroidery

Going with the Creative Flow

lauraleeimhoff

FullSizeRenderI’ve been pretty quiet on the blog and Facebook front lately.  Sometimes the body and mind just need a little down time.  I picked up an extra shift at work last week and, for whatever reason, my creative flow has been thrown off.  Perhaps the colder weather and allergies had something to do with it… Or maybe a little rest and relaxation is what the doctor ordered.

Either way, it was nice to have a few days of curling up in bed with my February book or snuggled up on the couch watching a movie.  I find day dreaming always useful too.  Daydreaming of new projects, taking a trip, falling in love… the stuff that the best dreams are made of.

FullSizeRenderWhile falling in love hasn’t actually come true yet and my next trip is in the works (not until April though), new projects are the easiest to breathe life into.  Embroidery is the most natural way for me to slip back into my creative rhythm as well.  I’ve started another set of dinner napkins: peas in a pod.  Simple, adorable, and a nice little item to check off my project list.

As part of my day dreaming project list, I have had a little bit of an itch to get back into fine art.  I had a day dream of having an art showing at a gallery space or coffee shop.  I know that embroidering vegetables on napkins is a long way off, but it is just one more thing to work towards.

For now, I will keep stitching….

12 Day of Crafting, Canning, Embroidery, Glass, Mixed Media

Craft Fair Recap

lauraleeimhoff

 

IMG_1480The dust has settled and I am slowly cleaning up my apartment from the mania of 12 Days of Crafting and prepping and so on.  I’m not going to lie, I had nightmares the entire week before that I wouldn’t be able to sell a single item or that no one would like anything. I am relieved and so very thankful to say that my first craft fair was a success.  I am very much looking forward to participating in many more, that is right after I restock my inventory!

I did much better than I anticipated.  There is a glimmer of hope that I could quite possibly continue to do what I do… and, wait for it, make a living off of doing what I love doing the most: making.

Here are some pictures from my table.  I hope you enjoy!  I have some items left, so if you are looking for Christmas gifts, search no further!  Feel free to contact me!