Spoonful of Imagination

Add it to a Family for Something Beautiful

  • Home
  • Our Family
    • Our Home
  • Courses
  • Shop
  • Contact

Embroidery Journal #4

March 1, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

embroidery_journal

Can you believe we are in March? This year is flying. I feel like we just moved to Indiana, but when I look at a calendar it has already been almost four months.

How long can I say we just moved to town?

In a little recap of what this post is all about, embroidering is my way of processing life. I can always tell what I am going through and what my current struggles are by the messages I sew. The time spent sewing these hoops rejuvenates my soul, gives peace, helps me slow down, and find perspective. Welcome to my latest journal entry.

amazing grace_embroidery_hoopWhen it comes to setting up house, I love it. I don’t think I was in this house two weeks, before I started painting it and making it ours. Maybe it’s being a creative, maybe it’s being a girl, maybe it’s that I am in the house all day/everyday, but I feel like it is wired in me to want to make it a comfortable, warm place that we find rest, peace, love, and joy while also being a welcoming and safe place to all who walk through our doors.

It is an outlet that I love. I believe God wired me that way. Often when I’m creating I feel the closest to God. He often speaks to me or gives me a picture like different basic supplies coming together to make something beautiful is just like the body of Christ. We can all use our gifts together to further the kingdom far better than any one of us on our own. When I get little windows to create and have some me time, I feel like I come back a better mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter, etc.
Yet, it is something I have to constantly keep in check. I want to use this gift/outlet for good. I don’t know about you, but I know for me it is easy to get lost on beautiful feeds, blogs and Pinterest and just want more. When I find myself browsing and it is not inspiring but making me lust for more…I need to take a break from it. When I get stressed and live by the to do list more than love, I need a day away from all social media, lists, and on the floor with my kids. When I get quiet versus having joy ooze from me, I have too much swirling around in my head, and I need space to prioritize what really matters.
I’m always looking for those little windows that show my heart is walking a dangerous line by my love for something that is also hurting me.

Love_lives_here

colorful_embroidery_hoops

I often get asked about my style. I would encourage you to find whats you. Don’t try to make something work for you…that is not you. I love all those clean, white pictures and decor that just scream peace, but when I go to put a room together that is not what my soul is calling out. My biggest advice is to stay true to you. Your place will most be relaxing and peaceful to you…if you stay true to your taste. But, with that, don’t stop trying new things or stretching yourself to find the little part of you in there waiting to be released.

Ultimately, my Heavenly Father is so creative. From the smallest bug to the Grand Tetons, there is an exquisite world that we get to live in that HE created. He’s the ultimate creator and we are made in his image, so we are wired to create in some way. For some, it might be organizing their schedule, singing, skillfully reaching out to those who are hurt and broken… it doesn’t just have to be crafts. I feel we can all be creative with where ever we are. That’s why I’ll go down fighting that there is creativity in us all.

lets_make_out

our_nest_embroidery_hoopMy theory is you can create a nice, warm home inexpensively. Most of ours is thrift store, created, or clearance sales. I pray that when you see my pictures and home, they do nothing for you but to inspire you. You can create a warm home for you too. If you are one that thinks you can’t create, I’d encourage you to keep exploring and trying!!!☺ Trying new things and mixing it up…can unleash new things in you. It’s a skill that needs practice and strengthening just like learning to walk or hitting a baseball. I’d say just in the last two years have I really figured out my style. Be brave, friends.

In the midst of setting up our new house, I am also purging like crazy. I heard this awesome phrase that I am going to mess up trying to recall. It was along the lines of ‘the state of our house, car, counters can be a window of what our heads and hearts look like’. They reflect the amount of thoughts, tasks, craziness we are trying to make sense of. I am guilty of having way to many disaster zones. I don’t want tasks and a perfectly clean house to define me. BUT, I am learning that I can have better systems that help us to stay a little more organized so all of life doesn’t feel last minute or messy. Simplifying can just create breathing room with less to keep up with or put away.

BE_BRAVE

some random things I am loving…

snow (watching it fall I feel a peace cleaning over my soul)

tea (I drink hot tea all the time since we moved north)

getting color on all my walls

contrasting black and white with all my color

creating for my little shelf at a local antique mall

hanging with new friends

swimming (we got a YMCA membership and I’m swimming laps like I did growing up)

laying a bunch of craft stuff out and letting my kids go crazy

reading Caleb’s constant letters, cards, slips of ‘I love you’ notes

jump hugging my boo

watching Reagan dress up and dance

teaching Reagan to swim

watching J comfort and love on his new pup

hearing my kids giggle the belly roaring laugh

long games of Sorry

dinners with new community

hearing the basketball goal in our living room go all day long

essential oils

searching local small thrift shops with an awesome friend

worship

podcasts from Christine Caine

watching the stack of paperwork needed to get our foster care renewal go down

every minute with Matt

we_are_so_lovedEmbroidering helps me slow down, think, and find space in all the craze that goes through my head. What is it for you?

These hoops are literally my heart cries poured out. Since I have been setting up our new home, I have found the home phrases standing out to me. As much as I love making this our home, there is a peace knowing that it all doesn’t have to be perfect, polished, or out of a magazine. I believe this is not our home. We are just living and loving till we do go home. Thank you so much for reading, for journeying with us, and for being a tool used to continually encourage me. If you are interested in any of these hoops, please visit my shop.

***Do you embroider? I would love to see your embroidery journal! Let’s start a hashtag #myembroideryjournal to keep up with one another!**

signature

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Goodbye 2014

December 31, 2014 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

2014

Have you ever been sad about a year being over? I’m not sure I have, until this year. 2014 was a big year for our little family.

I know I have so much to catch you up on and I can’t wait to do just that. Logging in to write this post made me smile. I have missed you all. We moved and have been unpacking and traveling to see family for Christmas. It’s been crazy busy, as I’m sure your holiday season has been as well. There are lots of things ahead that I am excited about. I can’t wait to get back into our school routine, making this house our home, slowing down this pace of life, hanging with new friends, traveling to see family, and so much more.

embroidery_hoop

In all the excitement, I can’t help but be a little sad that such a special year is over. 2014 was a year our family embarked on new ways of life together. We became a foster family and experienced the love of Christ in a new way as we poured into the little lives in our home. One little boy stole our hearts, and we are finding the term family means more than who we share blood with or who lives under our roof. We found Jesus in a new, fresh way. We found ourselves desperate for a Savior and needed him to fill us with a strength, peace, and love that only he could.

As a family we had lots of milestones. One of the biggest is we moved from Georgia to Indiana to follow a path we feel Jesus has set before us. We sold a house, moved, bought another house, changed jobs, started new jobs, said goodbye to family and friends, and started putting ourselves out there in a new community.

Our baby is about to turn four and is no longer a baby. We gave away the rest of our baby gear in the move which ended a chapter in our lives as the baby days are behind us. Our oldest is a fabulous reader and loves sports. (He’s planning on being the next Julio Jones) Our second learned to swim and ride a bike without training wheels. All three kids just seem to have grown up.

As I reflect on all the changes, I remember my word for the year was SHINE. It was constantly in the back of my mind. I did not do it perfectly, but I feel like I kept trying to empty myself and shine a love much greater than mine. It was a special year and one that has marked our family. Although the year is over, I know that word will carry with me for a lifetime. It’s a lifestyle that I want to try to always live.

we_are_so_blessed

2014 is over, but I know God is just beginning something new with us. Although I am a little sad to see it go, I am excited to think about what 2015 will hold. We are in a new state, town, church, and neighborhood. We have each other and are following a calling and are on a path created for us. We are so blessed.

In a season of lots of change, I don’t want to lose that calming voice that speaks to my soul. I need Jesus just as much now as ever before.

My new word for this coming year is QUIET.

To be a better mom, I need to get up while the house is still QUIET.

To be a better friend and wife, I need to be a better listener. If I talk a little less and be a little more QUIET, I will hear more of those I love dearly.

My anxious heart is always thinking of the next thing, and I just want to whisper to it-be QUIET. Be present where you are in person as well as in your mind.

I want to hear that still small voice of my Savior in my heart, so I will find ways to be QUIET to hear him more loudly than ever.

In all the noise and pulls of my heart, I want to remember what is important and what matters most. I need to QUIET some distractions and learn some balance.

My heart soars when I get outdoors in nature and just be QUIET and enjoy the creation of the master creator. I need to do that more.

we_are_so_blessed_embroidery_hoop

I’m excited to start thinking through my days with this little word running through my head. Do you come up with goals or new years resolutions? Do you have one little word that you use for your year too? I would love to hear what it is! Please leave me a comment. Change can be hard, but it is also exciting to think that everyday we can learn and grow and be a new and better version of ourselves, if we are just open to it. I have some ideas that I can’t wait to start implementing to help me break habits and have a more quiet heart. Let’s encourage one another and those around us to use our imaginations and not give up on ourselves or those around us. 2015 will be great!

Thank you so much for walking this journey with me! I am so excited to continue to share our story with you as well as my creations in 2015. I’m sure it will be as crazy and exciting as ever!

Ps. I will slowly be filling my store back up with my creations. If you are interested in this hoop, I just listed it here. Thank you for all your support!

signature

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Yarn Pillow Tutorial

October 9, 2014 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

arrow_pillowMy fingers took one for creativity with this project. There were moments I am sure they were screaming at me to stop and be kind, but I kept telling them this project was worth it. I do believe it was!

I had this old pillow that I no longer really cared for. In our continual task of looking for things to purge rather than pack, I decided to makeover this pillow rather than part with it. I love the small rectangle size.

recycle_pillowI’ve been on a yarn kick with my Adventure Awaits wall art, so I had this idea of using yarn in like an embroidery type way to decorate a pillow cover. I started with a big piece of burlap that I folded in half, so I had a thicker more dense burlap layer for my cover. I then sewed both layers of burlap to an old creme pillow case and cut the newly sewn (all four layer) pillow cover slightly bigger than my pillow. I just eye balled it an inch or two bigger on every side.

thick_pillow_caseThis was a thick dense cover and my fingers felt it as I pulled yarn through it. I learned the hard way, and I have a few ideas that can help you take this idea and make it easier for your fingers.

But first, you need a design. I decided to do something basic and a silhouette or shape to keep it easier to complete. Burlap was the perfect choice of fabric because it gave me a grid of lines to help make my design symmetrical and straight.

drawn_arrowI drew an arrow on my burlap and then picked one color of yarn to sew around the border. I sewed the arrow like I would embroider a hoop. The difference was a thick, strong, sharp needle rather than a smaller needle with embroidery floss.

sewn_arrow

sewing_an_arrowAfter my arrow was outlined, it was time for the fun part. I looked at my huge basket of colorful yarn and started sewing stripes one color at a time.

colorful_yarn

how_to_sew_an_arrow

DIY_arrow

yarn_arrow_pillowA few tips to help you:

  • Choose one color at a time and do all the stripes with that color at one time.
  • Change up the thickness of the stripes and order, so it is not in a pattern or equal strip widths (any slight difference of widths would be very obvious if trying to make them the same). The randomness is easier to pull off and I think the look would be the same.
  • Once I thought I had a wide enough strip, I cut the yarn and knotted the back.
  • The length of stitches can vary. I tried to offset each stitch to have the middle of one stitch hit the end of stitch in the row before it. This created a weave type look and prevented the yarn to look like it was in rows.
  • Use an embroidery hoop to help tighten the area you are currently working on and move the hoop as you progress.
  • Use a thimble (or kiss as Wendy said to Peter Pan) to help pull your yarn through. If you can see how dense my yarn arrow is filled in, the back is that thick as well, but also has the knots, so it is a lot of layers to continually pull your needle through
  • Ice your fingers 🙂 I worked on this an hour or two every night for a few days. It was fun and mindless, but I did ice my fingers a little afterwards and that prevented them from blistering or being sore the next day. I know, I know this is extreme… but hey, a crafter’s gotta do what a crafter’s gotta do, right!?
  • MAKE an EASIER design. I love this arrow and am so glad I went with my gut and filled it in as I saw pictured in my head. If I was to do another though, I would outline the arrow and maybe sew a word in it or just a few stripes. It would be a slightly different look, but use the same technique and be equally cool.

yarn_arrowAfter I finished sewing my arrow, I made an envelope back like I did on my pillow shams. I decided to use my Waverly fabric I received from Online Fabric Store as part of my swag from Haven. I loved the black and white contrast with all the color on the front.  I added a little pom-pom fringe on the envelope opening, so the back is just as fun as the front.

bright_arrowI absolutely love all the color and different pops of textures! It is such a fun element that can brighten up any space. I also love how this project didn’t cost me a thing. I had everything on hand. Recycling an old object can give new life and lengthen the enjoyment of something. That old pillow has never looked better.

bohemian_pillowsRight now I am carrying this pillow with me around the house and playing with it in different rooms. I like it in every single one. I might need to make some more yarn embellished pillows.

bohemian_decor_elementsWhat do you think!? Do you recycle your old pillows too!? Would you add yarn embellishments to a pillow like me?

This world would be a much boring place without color. I love it. I hope you are able to add some color to your life and use your imagination this week!

signature

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

An Embroidery Journal #3

September 17, 2014 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

embroidery_hoop_journalsHow do you process life?

I look at my kids and I know life is flying by. I don’t want to miss it. I want to see life as it is, as it is happening. I want to learn. I want to grow. Can you relate?

We are in an age of being open and showing our lives on social media. It is only a click away to post a picture to Instagram or a status to Facebook and twitter. In a way, we are constantly showing our lives, and it might feel like those quick snip its are our lives.

I know I am guilty to feel if I share something quick on social media-that might be my processing, and it’s time to move on. In reality, lots of our issues need time.

Embroidering is my way of processing life. I can always tell what I am going through and what my current struggles are by the messages I sew. The time spent sewing these hoops rejuvenates my soul, gives peace, helps me slow down, and find perspective. Welcome to my latest journal entry.

Amazing Grace Hoop

Amazing_Grace_HoopMoving is hard stuff. Or rather TRYING to move is hard stuff. Prepping a house, showing a house, and constantly having it ready to show (all while being a homeschool mama and in the house all day, everyday with kids) makes me want to pull my freshly dyed blue hair out. It’s stressful. It’s in me to let chores go, to constantly choose playing, creating, and being outside over housework. When in a situation that I feel like the house has to take priority, I get short, snippy with my kids, get in task mode, and feel incredibly grateful that my husband still loves me. I hate it.

I am constantly having to apologize to my family and praise God for his Amazing Grace!

heart_embroidery_hoops

embroidery_hoop_dream_catcher

you_are_loved_embroidery_hoopWe are now over a month in to trying to sell our house. There have been good days, bad days, and everything in between.

In spite of all my short comings, I know I am loved. I feel it in the way I see God still moving in our lives as we wait.

It might sound weird, but we might be finding a new norm. It is starting to feel normal to pick up the house before we run errands. It is now like second nature to hang a sweatshirt back up when I take it off. When I craft, I clean up my supplies afterwards. Who am I!?

heart_embroidery_hoop

Amazing Grace Hoop2b

Amazing Grace Hoop1bAlthough we are ready for the next step, we are able to spend time with those we love here now.

I am very thankful that in this “in between time” we have life. We have joy. We get to see our family. We have weekly play dates with our foster son. It may feel at times we are sitting in a box, but we aren’t.

embroidered hoopsMy heart is finding peace in the midst of living something I would wish on no one. My prayers are more frequently that Jesus would grant me strength to seek wisdom and persevere than for our house to just sell quickly. The work might not be with our house, but with my own heart. We are still here for a reason.

Some random things I am loving…

reading to my kids

cheese dip

hiking in the woods

jeans and flip-flop weather

fall

Chick-Fil-A salads

teaching my J to read

watching Reagan sing and dance

squirming to Man vs Wild with Caleb

anytime with Matt

an embroidery journalWhat helps you slow down?

Do you find it hard to think and process life?

One way I have felt loved by Jesus is how he has given me words I needed to hear. Our current church has been doing a series called “in the mean time.” If you too find yourself in circumstances that you don’t like, check it out. You wont regret it.

These hoops are literally my heart’s cries poured out. Thank you so much for reading, for journeying with us, and for being a tool used to continually encourage me. If you are interested in any of these hoops, please visit my shop.

**Note: Our Love is Patient shirts are still available for preorder in the shop**

signature

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
YouTube-Channel
Erica Deuel

Subscribe for Weekly Updates!




Most Popular Posts

Wood Slice Valentine Art
DIY {easy} Burlap Wreath
DIY Outdoor Checker Board
The Encanto, Madrigal's House Craft For Kids
Painting Flower Pot Party Tips
DIY Bookends (what you can make for being a hoarder)
Chiffon Flower Tutorial
Engraved Wood Sign Tutorial (and Dremel Micro)
Cheap lamp to Industrial Beauty
Repurpose Old Kitchen Chairs

Categories

  • All About the Kids
  • art journal
  • Blogging
  • Christmas
  • Craft Projects
  • Dancing Zebras
  • DIY
  • Eddy's postcards
  • Embroidery Journal
  • Family
  • Featured
  • Foster Care
  • Giveaways
  • Guest Posts
  • Home
  • Homeschooling
  • Kid Activities
  • Kid Craft
  • My Heart
  • Our Outings
  • Project Spotlight
  • Send Out Love
  • Shop
  • Sponsored Posts
  • Spoonful Lab
  • Spoonful Tribe
  • Tips + Tricks
  • Traveling
  • Uncategorized
  • Vlog

Favorite Categories

Subscribe for Weekly Updates!

Favorite Categories

© 2023 Spoonful of Imagination, Inc.