Blog

 This goofy guy turned one yesterday. Happy birthday, Elton!

Big things have been happening behind the scenes here at Salty Oat. Between DBA and tax ID number applications and late-night stitching sessions, I've been getting ready for the launch of the first line of Salty Oat goodies. In the coming weeks, I'll be setting up shop to sell crafty items like monogrammed cross-stitch pinback buttons made from thrifted aida cloth in a rainbow of colors and handmade embroidered napkins.

I have some more fun projects to share with you (like a pillow made with a wedding invite printed on a handkerchief, pincushions from a swap I participated in, and more details from our library-themed wedding) in the coming weeks as well, but I haven't had a chance to photograph everything yet, so today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite recently posted projects and Etsy finds.

• This nesting doll pincushion by Maximum Rabbit Designs would be the perfect project for the matryoshka dolls I still have stashed at my parents' house (via Craft).
• Love this espresso maker print by Sandra Juto (via A CUP OF JO).
• Platter + cross-stitch = best housewarming gift ever.
• This brooch covered in vintage fabric from an obi is totally modern and adorable.
• I would love to make a quilt from these precut blocks of vintage fabric.
• The best kind of plant: one made from yarn that never needs to be watered.
• Prudent Baby's makeup bag looks like it could fit all of my toiletries and then some.
• This tiny little wall hanging would be the perfect way to commemorate an anniversary.

Have your own great crafty find? Please share in the comments!

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of taking the Artistic Embroidery class with Kat McTee at The Stitch Lab in South Austin. After falling in love with a doily-themed embroidery project, I knew I wanted to try out something similar.

I started off using a simple circular design that I found in a book at the sewing studio. I transferred the design to my piece of linen and then started stitching, embellishing the pattern as I went along. I experimented with a variety of stitches, including a modified blanket fan, to create a sampler of sorts.

 

One of my favorite sections of the doily is its center, which features a cluster of French knots.

I finally framed the piece last week and finished the back off with a vintage sheet.

So in exchange for the matryoshka cross-stitch I sent Adaiha, she stitched up this adorable crafty kitty for me, using this vintage transfer from doe-c-doe's Flickr stream.

I love the little cross-stitch details, especially the little x's that form the pattern on the fabric spilling out of basket below.

The back of the hoop is finished off beautifully with a piece of goldenrod floral fabric.

 My inspiration board (which includes a Polaroid from our wedding and plastic deer)

Over the past few weeks, I've been working hard to organize my typically cluttered workspace--our spare room--so today, I thought I'd share a few pictures.  

I keep all of my aida cloth, buttons, felt, and hardware (like snaps and D-rings) in these drawers, which I picked up at a yard sale in middle or high school.

On top of the drawers is a spool rack made by my great-grandfather, who also made dollhouse furniture, as well as a Plain & Thimble sewing kit given to me by a friend.

On the wall above my sewing machine, I've hung a shower caddy, which I've loaded up with pretty fat quarters and scraps of fabric.

I also have embroidery hoops, a measuring tape, and a bag that I picked up at a market in San Antonio, which holds all of my knitting supplies, hanging from the caddy.

At any given time, I usually have a couple of projects going. Pictured above are blocks for a quilt that I'm working on (I'm using this Red Pepper Quilts tutorial), and pictured below are some French knot napkins in various stages, as well as the top of my little trees quilt, which I hope to finish this weekend.