After more than two years of fruitless job search, I'm excited to be working with an advocate and job development coach! It's been difficult getting to a point where I could admit and accept that I need the help, just as it's been hard getting to an acceptable comfort level within myself, moving past the "my body is a betrayer" and survival mentalities and finding ways to stabilize my health without the benefits of medical insurance or prescriptions. I've done an enormous amount of self-coaching, lol!
My advocate is taking a two pronged approach. The first involves helping me find work. Not just any job, but one that takes into account my interests, skills and passions. The second involves supporting me in building an online income via my crafts and finding ways to begin utilizing the coaching certificate that I earned over a year ago.
She's given me a challenge - to come up with five ideas for products that I could make, using only what I have on hand. I've decided on the products and have begun creating the 'prototypes' for each. I hope to post each item on my blog as they're completed, and will be having a giveaway when all five are ready.
The very first creation is made using three vintage fabric hearts, hand appliqued on muslin and decorated with embroidery, beads or buttons and embellishments. Each heart is unique and loving stitched.
The first heart is in blue and white ticking, with embroidery stitches, tiny flowers and seed beads.
The second is a darker fabric with tiny white dots, embroidered with a running stitch, flowers and seed beads.
The third heart is a pink and white stripe, embroidered and decorated with colorful buttons.
I have a stack of the vintage hearts and plan on making each one unique. I haven't decided whether to mount the hearts in wooden embroidery hoop frames or to mat and mount them in standard frames.
What do you think - hoop or frame, and why? I'd love to hear your opinion, so leave me a comment!
I think you should do both. I personally love things -- especially needlework --in embroidery hoops, but I think putting them in a frame adds something, too. Since they are individually made, it might be fun to fit the heart with the frame or hoop.
ReplyDeleteI really <3 the "Be wild" heart the best. & I think the hearts should be put in frames :D
ReplyDeleteI think it is so great that you are getting help, the kind you actually need vs the sort they normally want to give you! Your counselor sound great! I too really love the 'Be Wild' one especially and it would be lovely in a frame so someone could have it in their home :)
ReplyDeleteI love the 3rd one, Cynthia.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good thing that you found something that allows you to work and that supports your interests and helps you to do what you loves.
Joy, that's a great idea! To take the hearts on an individual basis and use a frame or hoop - whichever one seems to work best. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marta :) Do you think the frames should include a mat?
ReplyDeleteLuna, the supported employment counselor is much more proactive than the person helping me at Vocational Rehabilatation - and yes, she's great! I'm feeling optimistic that my financial situation will begin changing soon. Thanks for letting me know which heart you like the most :)
ReplyDeleteNolwenn, the 'Be Wild' heart is definitely popular! I haven't found work yet, but hopefully will soon. And finding ways to make an extra income via my crafts is a good possibility too. Thanks for stopping by!!
ReplyDeleteI've posted a link to this post on several Facebook pages and from the multiple responses, the 'Be Wild' heart is definitely in the lead, with the blue/white heart coming in second. Most people also seem to like the idea of mounting them in frames.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten some wonderful responses and want to thank everyone that's taken the time to connect with me!
I'd say frame them. :) I love them all!!
ReplyDeleteI like the 3rd one as well. I think I would like them better framed, but that is just me. You could leave it as an option.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful Cynthia. I especially love the ticking one (and what's not to love about a ticking heart ;-).
ReplyDeleteMy preference would be for matted and framed, but it sounds like fun keeping your options open to hoop or frame as you are inspired.
My fav is the second - the darker - one.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd frame them into hoops.
Well done!
The way to go!
Scatter, Sparkleblue, Deborah & Rita - thanks so much for your feedback!
ReplyDeleteScatter, I laughed because, like me, you like all of them!
Sparkleblue, I think leaving both frames and hoops would be an ideal option.
Rita, yay! I will probably begin by offering the hearts framed in hoops because of the cost factor. I'll have zero dollars to invest in the beginning and a huge part of the challenge was to come up with products made using what I already have on hand. But I'd love to keep the frame option open for the future ;)
I just love the stitching on the first heart! Framed in hoops for beginning is fine, and you might just offer them unframed for a bit less and let the recipient frame it. Of course, if that doesn't fly (and who knows?) then you've lost nothing by trying!
ReplyDeletethe blue and white ticking is my fav.
ReplyDeleteI think the hoops go better with the hand made theme--almost as if you have just finished the stitching. however you go, they are adorable
blessings
Sherrie & Becky, thanks so much for your feedback - and for the compliment as well! I hope to be posting the second and third items sometime in the next week or so and hope you'll stop by to let me know what you think ;)
ReplyDeleteThese are sweet...if you have stacks,why don't you make a quilt from them.
ReplyDeleteThey are sweet Barb but probably too few for a quilt. I'm not a quilter, lol! But, I'm comfortable with embellishing/embroidering the vintage hearts individually and, I think, it would be more profitable (not to mention quicker to produce) as a business venture or product. The point of the challenge is to help me find creative ways to produce an income in a timely manner, using materials that I have on hand - and this fits the requirements. Excellent question though :)
ReplyDeleteThey are all lovely. The second one spoke to me. It is so elegant. I would wear it as a pin or I would put it on my favorite journal. The detail is simple and rich at the same time. Putting them in a hoop would give them a vintage look. I think that would be my vote. Since I am new to this I did not know how to post this correctly so I decided on anonymous but I am Christine Dargahi.
ReplyDelete