Aimee Ray's Blog, page 3

January Patreon designs!

 Hello friends! I am out of words to describe 2020, and it's not even over yet. Are you as ready for 2021 as I am? I officially predict next year will be full of beautiful, new beginnings and bright, green growth. (who's with me??) 

New little dear Patreon craft club designs for January are ready and waiting to lift your spirits! Stitch-a-Long subscribers will receive this pretty little terrarium embroidery sampler and Felt Friends will get this lush succulents felt pattern download. January is when I always crave green amongst all of the dead brown nature and I think these will be exactly what we need!  

If you'd love to get an exclusive felt sewing pattern PDF download, or a beautiful printed fabric embroidery sampler in your mailbox each month, come subscribe before January 1 at Patreon.com/littledear and join us! I can't wait to have you as a stitching partner in the new year. Let's make it awesome together.  

Gingerbread fun

 

How's your Holiday season going so far? Hopefully it's not too crazy and you're finding some cozy crafting time. This is an easy and fun little project that's great for (almost) all ages. Aren't they cute? Just grab a box (aren't there an abundance of those around lately?) and a white Posca paint marker and go to town drawing cute Gingerbread houses, people and pets!

This was my first experience with Posca pens and I have to say they are really fun to draw with. You do have to let them dry for a minute or the lines will smear, but overall they're not messy and very user friendly. We drew our pics on the cardboard first, then cut them out leaving an edge around the drawing so they look just like decorated cookies! I grabbed only a white one and I love the simple look of these, but they come in all colors so you could make lots of frosting colors if you choose.My kids (age 5 and 8) really enjoyed this. They drew the cutest ones! 

My son made a Ninjabread man, a Monkeybread man and a house with a Satellite dish. ;)We wrote greetings on the back and sent some to our families as cards, but you could also add a string on top and make really cute ornaments, or cut a little cross piece for the bottom so they can stand up. 

If you're looking for a simple, easy and fun holiday project, try this one out, I think you'll love it.xo aimee

25% off all downloads!

 
So 2020 has definitely not been the best year for anyone, but now more than ever is a great time to stop and think about exactly what we ARE thankful for! I am so, SO thankful for each of you for supporting my little business (and my family!) during this tumultuous year. 

It's looking like a long and isolated winter ahead, so now is also the perfect time to stock up on craft projects to keep your mind and your hands busy and happy! All digital downloads are 25% off at littledear.etsy.com and littledearprintshop.etsy.com!

All felt sewing patterns and embroidery pattern PDFs are on sale at littledear.etsy.com, and at littledearprintshop.etsy.com you'll find all kinds of digital printable paper crafts for decorating and fun! Create lots of cute Holiday garlands, table top or mantle displays, ornaments, finger puppets, gift tags, cards, and more with these fun and easy downloads. SVG files are also included so you can use your Cricut or Silhouette machine for endless crafting possibilities.

I'm also adding new printable artwork regularly so if your walls need an update, come shopping! Treat yourself to something fun, you definitely deserve it. <3

Cozy Winter Felt Friends

 

I've been working on some new Winter Holiday patterns and I know you'll love making them too!This woodland animal pattern set is inspired by the Ukranian folk tale "The Mitten" (most famously retold and illustrated by Jan Brett.) If this story isn't part of your Holiday traditions, give it a read, you'll love it! This special release set includes some of my previous animal patterns, and a few all new ones. Plus a cozy mitten for them all to hide in!

I get lots of requests for Christmas patterns. Since I already have a large menagerie of felt animal patterns to choose from (more than 100!) I decided to make an accessory pack so that any of them can be Christmas-y! This Cozy Clothes set includes patterns for a hat and scarf, mitten and stocking, and they'll fit almost any of my animals. Or, use them alone as super cute ornaments! Stitch a ribbon on the mitten or stocking to hang them, then hide a sweet treat inside.
Come visit littledear.etsy.com for these sweet accessories, as well as all of my coordinating felt animal sewing patterns and pick favorites for everyone on your Christmas list.


This lovely wintery trio was one of my favorite Patreon Felt Friends releases last year, and now they're in my Etsy shop for everyone to enjoy. (By the way, if you'd love to get an all new, exclusive felt pattern, or a printed hand embroidery sampler each month, come check out my little dear craft club subscriptions at Patreon.com/littledear!)
I hope you'll love stitching these sweet, winter friends and have a cozy and peaceful holiday season!!xo aimee

November Patreon Preview!

 

Hello friends! November is almost here and I'm all ready to send out goodie packages to my Patreon craft club subscribers!  I'm loving these projects and I know you will too.

Felt Friends subscribers are getting the pattern for this sweet trio, Raccoon, Fox and Chipmunk! Although these are new pattern designs, I have done a simpler felt fox and raccoon before (you can see those in my Etsy shop) But they are some of my all time favorite animals and I wanted to do up some new, fancier versions. The Chipmunk is an all new animal in my menagerie, and also a big fave of mine! They are so much fun to watch. All three of these cuties appear in my real life neighborhood regularly, and I feel so lucky to have such magical nature around me.

Stitch-a-Long subscribers will receive this Autumn Wreath sampler to embroider. This design will be unique because I'm going to stitch in all in just ONE stitch, can you guess which one? It's my favorite. ;)

I can't wait to show you how it turns out. 

If you'd love to get an exclusive felt sewing pattern PDF, or a beautiful printed fabric embroidery sampler in your mailbox each month, come subscribe before November 1 at Patreon.com/littledear and join us!

xo aimee

Thread Doodling by Carina Endvoldsen-Harris

 I was so thrilled to receive a copy of Thread Doodling by Carina Endvoldsen-Harris in the mail recently and I'm excited to share it with you! This book is full of so much eye candy and inspiring embroidery projects, it's a great addition to your craft book shelf. 

Carina (of polkaandbloom.com) and I have been friends online for years and she has done some projects for a few of my Doodle Stitching books as well! She and I have similar stitching tastes and styles, but Carina's fun designs and bright color palettes are uniquely her own. I know you'll love her work as much as I do.

Here are some sneak peeks into her newest book, Thread Doodling! This book contains over 20 embroidery designs and also includes Iron-On transfers for all of them. There are stitch diagrams and instructions for getting started in embroidery, making this book perfect for beginners as well as experienced stitchers. Each project has color and stitch guides, but also lots of useful suggestions on making the patterns your own!

Some of my favorites of Carina's designs are her repeating, geometric patterns and mandalas. If you're looking for some calming, meditative embroidery time, these are the perfect patterns to start with! 

My all time favorites of this book are the map designs. I'd never considered turning an above view of a favorite city or landscape into embroidery but this is such an awesome idea. There are several different suggestions and patterns for map embroideries here and I can't wait to try one out.

Thread Doodling by Carina Endvoldsen-Harris is available now, you won't want to miss it. Also check out Carina's website at polkaandbloom.com for more fun patterns and projects.
xo aimee

Pincushion Rings

 

Hello! Today I want to share a fun little project with you for how to make these cute and fun pincushion rings! They're quick and easy to make, the perfect gift for your crafty friends. 

I made them for my Crafty Superstar Patreon subscribers (did you know I send something extra special to my top level members each month?) and I think you'll love them too.

I purchased 1 inch felted balls from Cutest Little Garlands on Etsy, and ring blanks from Constructing, also on Etsy (I buy a lot of things on Etsy. :) The rings have a flat circle piece to use as a base.

All you need to do to put them together is grab a glue gun and glue the balls onto the rings. All done. They are super cute and fun to use. They'd make great stocking stuffers, or treats for your craft or sewing group. Or just make one for yourself! (anyone else constantly misplacing your needle??) 

I hope you will try these out. Have fun!xo aimee

Into the Forest or Under the Sea

 

Are you more at home in a shady, fairy forest or on a sunny, tropical beach? Either way, the perfect craft projects are waiting for you at littledear.etsy.com. Lovely Octopus and Mushroom Fairy Ring embroidery samplers are a wonderful way to take yourself on a relaxing, virtual mini vacation from everyday life. Stitch up a set of felt seashells or mushroom buddies to match with easy PDF sewing pattern downloads! 

Come treat yourself, or stitch something for someone special. The perfect project is waiting for you at littledear.etsy.com.
xo aimee

Stitch your ABCs

 
Felt Alphabet sewing patterns are new at little dear!

Now you can stitch up all 26 letters from felt. These are so much fun for you to sew, and for little ones to learn and play with. 

You can also use them to make custom name garlands! Stitch up your ABCs, names or inspiring words in any color palette, they'll be the perfect addition to any nursery or kids room decor.

Grab your PDF pattern download at littledear.etsy.com and stitch up your letters for someone special. Have fun!xo aimee

October Patreon Preview!

 

Are you ready for spooky season? All new creepy cute craft projects are waiting for you when you subscribe to a little dear craft club at Patreon.com!

These fun, felt Classic Movie Monsters and elegant, black on black Spider Web embroidery sampler are coming to little dear Patreon subscribers in October.

You'll love making these fun projects for your Halloween decor!
Come join us by Oct. 1 at Patreon.com/littledear to subscribe and get
one or both of these exclusive new designs.


This is set #2 of my Felt Monster patterns, they join Classic Monsters set #1 from last year (seen here peeking in around the edge!) If you missed that pattern, it's available now at littledear.etsy.com
xo aimee