{Organizing~My Embroidery Floss}

The other day on facebook another craft blog that I follow asked it's readers how they organize their embroidery floss. So I wanted to share how I organize mine.

I'm sure most of you know what embroidery floss is, but for those who may not... Embroidery Floss is a thick thread that is used primarily for embroidery. I have used it for embroidery, however right now I use it mainly for other hand-stitching projects, such as my little dolls.  Each color of floss has an assigned number, I'm assuming these were assigned as the colors were made up because they are not in any sort of color system. I only use DMC© brand floss colors because I like the colors and they have a lot more colors to offer and I feel that they are a higher quality thread.

I have used embroidery floss for many, many years.  I started doing cross-stitch back in the late 80's when I was a teenager.  I've done a little bit of embroidery over the years and now use it to hand-stitch my little dolls.  Needless to say, I have collected a lot (pretty much every DMC© color there is) of floss over the years.  I have tried many different way to organize the floss, but this is the way that I have found that I like best.

I have one of these divided boxes for each set of colors... 

Browns, Grays & Black   

Blue's 

Purple's 

Yellow's & Orange's 

Red's & Pink's 

& Green's

I looked up online for a list of embroidery floss by color and then made these sheets to go inside each box.  So when I'm looking for a specific number I can find it listed above, but more likely I'm trying to match the colors to shades of felt that I'm working with so this system works really well for me.

 I also wrote on the outside of the box with a sharpie which colors are in that box, so when I have them stacked like this I can easily pull out the box I need.

Happy Stitching!!!

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{Native American Spirit Animals ~ A Baby Mobile}

I made this custom baby mobile for Ari V.

She wanted a mobile made with these Native American Spirit Animals... a bird, cricket, turtle, coyote, butterfly, dragonfly, frog and squirrel.  I made the coyote, turtle, butterfly, dragonfly, cricket patterns myself and got the frog, bird and squirrel patterns from 
DIYWithWoolFelt on Etsy.

You can order your own custom baby mobile over in my Etsy Shop. I offer many different accent options and if there's something you want that you don't see listed feel free to message me and I'll see what I can do to help you.

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{Captain America cape}

Captain America for Stacey!

You can order a custom cape over in my Etsy Shop... 

Custom Cotton Capes 

Custom Satin Capes 

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{Pink & Aqua Owl Crochet Hat}

This is a custom order for Charles.

You can order a custom hat over in my Etsy Shop. I have several varieties to choose from.

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{Grace, a sweet fabric & felt doll}

This is a fun, new doll pattern that I bought a few months ago and couldn't wait to try out. Her hair & shoes are made from a very high quality wool blend felt.  Her body and the rest of her clothes are made from cotton fabrics.  She is soft and sweet and any little one would love her. 

She does have safety eyes and a button in her hair, so if you are ordering this doll for a child under 3 (or one that tends to put things in his/her mouth) please DO NOT leave the child unattended.

Grace is available in my shop.  You can order her here.  Or...

You can head over here and order a customized Grace doll.  You can choose hair, skin, eye and clothing colors/prints. 

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{Medusa & Greek Goddess Costumes~2014}

I know, this doesn't really look like a costume.  Well, this was the dress that I made for Cammi's Medusa costume this last year.  She decided that it could double as a regular dress, so she just added a belt and changed her shoes.  Oh, and decided not to add the snakes to her hair for church!

My other daughter, Miranda, did her hair, with fake snakes coming out of it and it looked so great, but I didn't get to get a good photo of her that night because she had to work and then went straight to a friends party and got ready there.  She took a photo on her phone in front of a mirror at her friends house, so that's the best I have.

This next one was a Greek Goddess for my oldest daughter, Korryne (pronounced Corrine).  I almost always have to add or change something to store-bought patterns and of course I had to with this one as well.  I combined two different patterns, added the dickie and made up the pattern for the sleeves.  They didn't turn out exactly like she wanted, but that was because we ran out of fabric and time. I think it turned out okay and she was happy with it so that's what really matters.

I also made my 16 yo daughter, Miranda, a toga for her Egyptian Goddess costume.  I thought it turned out pretty cool, but she got ready at a friends house and I didn't get a photo of her. Bummer :( 

Cammi keeps telling me that I need to make formals for other people, because I could make some good money. I keep telling her no-way, and that this is a perk for being my child... to get a formal that doesn't look like anyone else's!

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{Badge & Heart capes}

Jessica ordered these medium size badge capes...

and these small size heart capes for her little cousins.

You can order custom made capes over in my shop. I offer cotton capes, like the ones shown here and satin capes.  I specialize in custom orders so if there is something you're looking for, but don't see in my shop, please message me and I'll see what I can do.

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{Abbey's Humpty Dumpty Softie}

A new humpty softie

I love these Humpty Dumpty softies and I love making new combinations.  This one was for Abbey.

You can order your own custom Humpty over in my shop.  This one pictured is small Humpty & I also have a large Humpty available to customize as well.  

This stuffed Humpty Dumpty is made from a pattern from Jill Hamor

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{A Christmas Elf}

Little Miss Elf is a little late in showing up here, but that's my fault.  I was so busy with orders the last two months that I haven't had time to blog, so I'm trying to get caught up.

Melissa wanted her Christmas elf made with the eyes embroidered, no jingle bell on her hat and no buttons on her dress. I wasn't sure if I would like this doll without the safety eyes, but I really like how the eyes turned out.

I have a lot of different styles of dolls in my shop.  I specialize in custom orders because I want you to get a product that you will love and be happy with.  You can order a custom doll over in my Etsy Shop. If you want something different than what you find there please feel free to message me.

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{Snowa, a special doll}

This was one of my favorite projects this Winter.

Natasha wanted me to create a doll from an imaginary character that their family made up in stories for their son, Noah. Snowa used to be a snow man until a fairy turned him into a real boy. Most of Snowa's adventures happen in winter.

I was so excited to take on this fun task.  This is what I came up with, based on the style of doll and colors she wanted. I love how it turned out so much that I had a hard time giving him up.

You can order a custom doll over in my Etsy Shop.  Just send me a message and let me know what you are looking for and I'll see if I can help you.

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