Plans to spruce up the dining room have been moving slowly, but I did manage to fit in a quick little project last night. (There are times when, even though there are many other things to be done, I'm just not going to feel productive in any regard until I just make something. Do you ever feel that way?)
On the wall above our buffet (the one I plan to repaint at some point) hangs a simple black shelf which has always contained various arrangments vignettes and collections. It was a nice idea, but really has never done much for this space (its dressed in it uninteresting way in this photo). The collections themselves were always underwhelming and seemed to fade into the shelf. I've mentioned this room needs color and things that are less heavy visually to balance the lack of natural light. Plus, I'd like to continue to ignore the paint color on the walls (which I don't totally hate, but definitely plan to repaint).
This embroidery hoop display, from The Purl Bee, has been on my list to do for a long time, but it never made sense anywhere in our house till now. It has really added some pizzazz to this room. Plus, if there is one thing this girl has got, it.is.fabric. So I may as well use what I have. Plus this project is so easy, and you know I like easy.
I've been picking up plain embroidery hoops at the thrift store for a couple of months now, with this project in mind. (Often getting several taped together for around a $1). For fabric choices, I started with that green and blue (larger hoop, right of center in the above photo), a Japanese fabric by Suzuko Koseki (who I just saw has a new book coming out next year). From there, I simply built around it but not overthinking placement, just trying to get a good assortment of patterns I'd like to see every day, without filling it all with flowers for Peter's sake.
Here's another colorway of that same print.
And I finally cut into my piece of fabric from Lisa Congdon. I love it.
Thank you all for the encouragement on my granny squares.I'm still making them, and I'm still having fun, so I accomplished my crochet goal. A few asked about pattern, and I highly recommend Yvonne's granny square pattern, its an easy one to follow if you alreayd know a little crochet. Lelia pointed out the granny square pattern on The Purl Bee that I'd forgotten about, thank you! At Monday's class, I learned how to join the squares together, as well as add a scallop edging, so I think I'm set. Now I just need to update our movie queue, quit saying yes to every volunteer opportunity at school, and I just may have a blanket by the end of the winter.
