Create Whimsy

Inspring makers and sharing their stories

Ashley Potts +

Ashley Potts

Austin, Tx

A little more about Ashley . . .

 

What kind of creative projects are your favorite?

I love all sorts DIY…as long as it’s colorful and makes me smile. I lean towards home improvement at the moment as we remodel our 1975 generic home into a fun, colorful space!

When is your most productive time for creating?

It seems to hit me at the inappropriate times..I rearrange rooms before work and always start painting projects at night when the kid goes to bed!

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What is your favorite storage tip for your creative supplies?
I love old cracker, sugar and flour containers – the metal kind from my grandmothers. They are colorful AND have special memories associated, so it’s a double whammy!

Tell me more about your home dec projects. How often do you move your furniture, art and accessories around in your home?

I move furniture, artwork and accessories around every week! Why not, if it doesn’t work..I move it again. It’s a never ending process ’round here.

When you are in your creative mood, do you listen to music, watch tv or do you prefer a quiet spot? If it is music, what types do you listen to? If watching tv, what kinds of shows?

I always have TV on in the background..the usuals are HGTV and the cooking channel. I judge the people remodeling and wonder what I would do in their shoes and when listening to the cooking shows I wonder what it would be like to actually cook!!

Best tools for Hand Embroidery

Best Tools for Hand Embroidery

Tools for hand embroidery are not complicated, but you want the best quality you can afford. The best scissors, needles, threaders, hoops and books are here.
Fly stitch sample

Fly Stitch Embroidery

The Fly Stitch can be birds in the air, a long curly vine or a decorative fill stitch - and it's easy! You'll want to know this hand embroidery stitch.
Finished Big Ruffle Pillow

Big Ruffle Pillows

I made decorator pillows with pillow forms, upholstery fabric and a silk taffeta window panel to make the gathered ruffles.
Close up of the patches on the denim dress

Repurposed Denim Dress

With mis-matched cotton scraps and perle cotton thread I arranged squares on a repurposed denim dress and attached with a running stitch in the Boro style.
Black headband with a pink flower

Make Your Own Headbands

I bought headbands from the dollar store and flowers from the craft store and I now have 10 new cute headbands with flowers on them to match my outfits!
The finished skirt

Free Twirl Skirt Pattern

Peppermint Twirl dresses are as cute as they are popular. Learn how to draft your own pattern from your measurements and sew your own twirl skirt at home.
Felt Flower Easter Egg

Felt Flower Easter Egg Ornaments

We had fun making some felt Easter eggs. They were easy to make with felt, trims, scissors, needle and thread. No sewing machine required!
Close up of the blouse with embellishments

Ready to Wear – Your Way

This top started out as a solid blue blouse from Goodwill. I chose a simple shape (diamond) and cut many shapes from fabric scraps and appliquéd them.