Felt Coasters
I have to work hard to remind myself that successful crafts, cooking, and lives do not depend on an ascending scale of bigger and better. Sometimes you cook a souffle that rises higher than Conan O'Brien's pompadour and sometimes you impress the entire neighborhood with the abundance of blooms on your windowsill or the most beautiful scarf in creation. Sometimes you take a trip to Paris that is a whirlwind of kir royales and romantic looks.
But then there is everyday life, which can want for inspiration and loveliness. Rather than feel the pressure to make a random Tuesday a carnival of amazement, I'm trying to remember how great the little touches are, and how satisfying making one tiny, pretty thing can be.
I've gotten back to basics here with the simplest materials: big squares of felt for $.44 and $.29 skeins of embroidery floss. I used a straightedge as my guide to cut the felt into smaller felt squares about 2x2 inches. Then I tried to figure out the blanket stitch. It was a cinch once I made up a way to stop and start a line of stitches. I worked on these while listening to great Brazilian music some friends brought back from their vacation in Rio. The coasters turned out sweet and lovely, a sure way to brighten any random Tuesday.
Comments
Beautiful photo (makes me want to flip through a POP catalog!).
Posted by: amanda | January 30, 2007 5:58 PM
Love that Tom Jobim. Cute, simply satisfying coasters too!
Posted by: mary jane | January 30, 2007 7:22 PM
Amanda, A POP catalog?!? Here's hoping! We could sell industrial lamps you designed?
Mary Jane, Actually, if you're into Brazilian jazz, what I was actually listening to was this AMAZING record by Elizete Cardoso (I just now found a link). Keep that in mind, the next time you're in a record store or, um, Brazil!
Posted by: Sarah | January 30, 2007 9:27 PM
Lovely post! I really like that all your projects are easy to do for normal un-crafty people. You rock!
Posted by: Baerbel | January 31, 2007 3:47 AM
Sweet! I wish I was crafty! Ooh, I really like your glasses too. May I ask where you got them? Beautiful post.
Posted by: Chelsie | February 1, 2007 12:43 AM
Haha, I love the link to "Robots" to illustrate everyday life. So funny! If only it didn't feel true...
Posted by: Alison R. | February 1, 2007 11:26 AM
Chelsie, I got the glasses at Beatrice's store when she taught us how to recover vintage dinette chairs.
Posted by: Sarah | February 2, 2007 11:44 PM
I think I might be able to make these.Maybe.Crafty I am not.But they look gorgeous!
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 6, 2007 1:53 PM
Greetings from Limassol, Cyprus! I really enjoy visiting your page, thanks for sharing.
Posted by: soraya theophanous | March 13, 2007 5:18 AM
I too love these glasses. They are beautiful!
Posted by: Morgan | July 11, 2007 2:54 PM