cozy at home

and the winner is... red!

2012-01-26T12:31:00.001-06:00

i have always loved this color combination.

plus, i was determined to make this top from fabric on hand.

i have a lot to use up!

it's not done yet... this is just the top, unpieced

and still needing its border.

(don't mind that gray bar... it's my treadmill :)

pink or red - that is the question

2012-01-23T10:24:00.001-06:00

i'm starting this today... i have the blue/aquas down...

just trying to decide if i want the rest all red or all pink.

you can find this pattern in quiltmaker jan/feb 2012...

i love the prism quilt in there too!

self portrait - design I

2012-01-21T19:08:00.000-06:00

i went back school last winter and took a design class...

not interior design, but design in general.

we covered topics including line, rhythm, repetition, etc.

our final project was a self portrait...

we could choose the materials, so of course i went right towards fabric and thread.

honestly i am a bit nervous to share this... totally out of my comfort zone, but here goes.

i took a picture of myself and then went to work of trying to decide how to best create this in fabric.

this really was an exercise of trial and error. i tried gridding it out at first and drawing on fabric with a water soluable pen. the thought was to cover the face with 'flesh' colored fabric and then stitch on the features.

honestly, i thought i looked like michael jackson... my first attempts actually turned into a mask my youngest loved to wear around the house for a while.

after more trial and error, i eventually printed my picture onto stabilizer used for embroidery (the tear away kind that you use to embroider onto fabric) and then stitched directly onto the stabilizer.

yes, i know... i don't quite look like myself :) had i realized, i would worked on my flesh color... maybe next time. my kids reaction was that i look like Rosa Parks.

i used scraps of fabric to create a mosaic shirt. in the background i have random thoughts that were going through my head while i was creating this.

we had to enter one of our pieces from the class into the student art show towards the end of the semester and i chose this one.

i'm happy to say it won the design I category. i received $100 for the loan of the self portrait to the school. it was displayed along with the other winning pieces from the student show in the boardroom at the college for about 6 months. i recently had it returned.

i am in design II this semester - so excited to learn about color theory :)

2012-01-16T10:53:00.000-06:00

we went to the saint louis art museum this past week.

this is one of my favorite pieces in the museum.

edgar degas - little dancer of fourteen years.

i just love everything about this piece...

the fabric skirt is amazing.

her features are so detailed...

i looked up this piece online and was shocked to read this,

"When the La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans was shown in Paris at the Sixth Impressionist Exhibition of 1881, it received mixed reviews. The majority of critics were shocked by the piece. They thought it was ugly, that it looked like a medical specimen, in part because Degas exhibited it inside a glass case. Some considered the head and face grotesque and primitive."

- wikipedia

i don't see how anyone could feel that way about this work!

it made me think about creating - i worry WAY tooooo much about how others feel about what i've done. a negative comment can turn a real sense of satisfaction into dissatisfaction.

i wish i could talk with degas and find out how he felt about all this...

but he's not too handy today.

any thoughts on how you handle this?

hope you have a wonderful day :)

stringing along

2012-01-11T16:01:00.003-06:00

i've been wanting to try paper piecing for awhile and finally decided to give it a try.
for those who have never heard of this, it just means that you sew your fabric onto a piece of paper first - as a guide. when things are pieced together, you rip away the fabric.
i looked at this tutorial from film in the fridge...
i do two things differently. i folded my paper in half... and i did iron my white center strip of fabric in half too and then matched up my creases (instead of using the glue stick to hold the center strip in place) .

does that make any sense? if you want me to show you what i mean, let me know and i will :)

the blocks went together really quickly and i found that i enjoyed this process alot.
i used fabric from my scraps.
v e r y simple... a just right project for the holidays.

here is the top pieced together... needing some trimming.

i have chosen this flannel for the back. i have learned that my family doesn't really care what my quilts look like - it's all about warmth. flannel backed quilts are the ones they fight over, so it's time for some more of them in this home.
i'll show you the finished project when it is done :)

valentine's tulle wreath

2012-01-04T19:41:00.004-06:00

i have been wanting to make something festive for the front door - down with the
Christmas wreath -
up with the valentine's day one :)

money needed to be minimal on this one, so after being dismayed at how much silk flowers were (even half price), i thought of this idea as i wandered around hobby lobby the other day...

take one wire wreath form:

yes, for $1.99 - well, actually i used my handy dandy 40% off coupon, so it was less than that...

then 3 of these spools of tulle - they were half off, so $2.50 a spool. i probably could have just bought two, because i only used a partial amount of the third one, but i really wanted my wreath to be full. any leftover tulle is great for using on presents :)

cut the tulle in approximately 5 inch strips - give or take an inch. experiment and see what is to your liking.... you will have a huge pile when you are done.

then begin the mindless task of tying the tulle around each wire.

keep tying...

and tying....

and tying...

until...

ta da!

i cut a bigger piece of tulle and tied it onto the back top center to use as a hanger.

this one is pink, but there are lots of other tulle colors out there - even glitter tulle- oooooh.
my grand total, with tax, was $9.32... with tulle leftover for some presents :)
if you make one, let me know! i'd love to see it!

stuck

2011-12-30T14:04:00.006-06:00

my hubby was listening to a foreign station on his ipod the other day and recorded an amazing song...
this led us to try and figure out the song and singer - i am in love with her voice!

the song became stuck in my head - and interestingly enough - the name of the song is stuck!

the amazing artist is caro emerald - from the netherlands... my new favorite singer. i love the style and the sound.

now for your listening pleasure.... let me know if you love it as much as i do.
(sometimes there is an ad - 15 seconds ... then the music :)

giving this a whirl...

2011-12-27T00:39:00.007-06:00

i hope you had a very merry Christmas :)

i saw this on pinterest and fell in total love with everything about it. my friend tifani and i are going to make this together... apart :) mine here at my home and hers at her home. anyone else want to join in??

the tutorial is from aesthetic nest and can be found here.

i ordered the chevron fabric from fabric.com and found the flannel for the back at joann's... they had a major flannel sale right after thanksgiving (the lines were absolutely insane!! but the express cutting line went fast :)

i picked the flannel for the color... since it will all be cut once i finish the many lines of sewing.
no too much progress yet, but it will probably be like the rest of my projects. i have 'a.d.d.' - or something like it when it comes to projects :)

oh, i am still going to update on the guest room - it's just the guest came before i could snap a pic and i figured i would wait until they left...

what i've been working on...

2011-12-13T12:33:00.001-06:00

my friend asked me to redo her guest room...
more to come :)

some tree skirt love

2011-12-06T11:03:00.002-06:00

1. Tree Skirt Progress, 2. Herringbone Block Tutorial, 3. 8. The finished christmas tree skirt, 4. red lace tree skirt 2, 5. Tree Skirt, 6. just an ordinary tree skirt

every Christmas time i think... time to make a tree skirt... and every year i don't seem to get past the thinking stage...
oh well, at least i will dream about it :)

i know the herringbone block is not a tree skirt, but i think it would make an awesome one :)

ho, ho, ho!

2011-11-27T19:42:00.001-06:00

my mom came up awhile ago, and she, my daughter and i went to a laura wasilowski workshop for the day.

if you've never heard of laura before, check out her blog here.

she is an excellent teacher and lots of fun.

she hand dyes fabric and teaches you

how to fuse together a piece of art :)

none of us finished our projects, but i will post some pics soon.

in the meantime, here we all are together...

(plus a random lady ironing :)

back to the drawing board

2011-11-16T18:26:00.000-06:00

i have been taking drawing I at the local community college this semester...

growing up, when i was asked what i wanted to "be" when i grew up, i would say a graphic artist (that is after i outgrew airline stewardess and model :)

in fact, when it came time to choose a high school in canada, i chose the more technical high school versus the academic one. i knew i would get more exposure to arts at the technical one.

my family moved to kentucky right before my sophomore year, and somehow i didn't even consider art classes in high school anymore. i took the classes my counselor told me too.

by the time college rolled around, i had set my artistic aspirations aside.

i was chicken.

i always felt like my stuff wasn't good enough.

i majored in elementary education - and really did enjoy that. the closest i got to art was a calligraphy class (which i LOVED!!)

well, now that my kiddos are old enough, i have found my first love resurfacing.

i signed up for the drawing class - with students almost my oldest son's age.

i considered dropping the class because of that old fear that i wasn't up to par, but i didn't.

i have learned so much in this class and am so glad i hung in there.

we have an assignment due tomorrow.

we were supposed to take four 8 x 10 black and white portraits, cut them up and reassemble them... then draw a 16 x 20 graphite picture.

this is my 8 x 10.

(we had to do a 1" grid on the original and then a 2" grid on our drawing paper)

here's what i have - almost done -still to be matted.

i think i will call it 'middle earth'

time out!

2011-11-10T09:48:00.000-06:00

i had a birthday not too long ago - and life has been really busy.

a wonderful friend (Charlotte, pictured below on the left) called to wish me a happy birthday and offer me a free trip to kansas city to time out for women, which is put on by deseret book. Charlotte offered me tickets to the event, hotel and a ride!

well, believe it or not, i really wanted to go, but had to think about it. i debated back and forth - should i go - should i stay. my family had things going on... but, i finally woke up thursday morning and thought, "am i crazy!!??? free room, transportation, ticket - oh yeah!"

we stayed at the sheraton in overland park - connected to the convention center. so awesome :)
i loved some of the elements in the lobby...

huge wing chairs with reading lamps...

with a gorgeous oversized leather ottoman in the middle of the four wing chairs.

i thought this idea for artwork was cool.

close up pictures of watches.

you could do this for anything you love or collect.

this was where you took the elevator...

i've realized that i am a huge fan of symmetry.

this was a showstopper in the convention center.

jennie's imitation of the vase in the corridor :).

this really was a time out for me :)! all of the speakers were wonderful.
i am so grateful for loving friends.

some more flickr love

2011-11-02T15:23:00.001-05:00

1. Roe Baby Quilt, 2. Modern Blocks - All or Nothing, 3. purse, 4. Mod Sampler, 5. Pop Flower Quilt, 6. Rainbow Sprial Quilt, 7. Kitchen Towel - Be Nice or Leave, 8. California Dreamin~Top Completed!, 9. Spiderweb quilt - full frontal

a quilt for fay

2011-10-29T20:00:00.007-05:00

my husband's grandparents celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last saturday. in celebration, we traveled down to southern illinois to a surprise party. this quilt has been in the works for quite some time, but it was finally finished :)

here is the happy couple and my husband :)

mental block?

2011-10-19T08:47:00.001-05:00

have you ever wanted to start a project
(quilt, redecorate a room...??)
and been stumped by the color palette to choose?

well, no more :)

there are great resources out there in blogland...

check out photo card boutique

or

design seeds

both are inspiring spring boards for your next project.

can't you just see a quilt made from these two examples?
i'm thinking about using the cake photo colors for the guest room :)

they're getting so big!!!

2011-10-05T08:02:00.000-05:00

what's for breakfast?

2011-10-02T09:09:00.000-05:00

yummmm... this has been what we've had the past few Sundays. i stumbled across the fabulous food blog - annie's eats . you can find the recipe for this baked oatmeal, and lots of other yummy food.

a few of my favorite (flickr) things

2011-09-27T17:56:00.001-05:00

1. Scrappy Mod Sampler Quilt, 2. img_2027, 3. Fabric Petals,

4. reflection quilt back,

5. "Hammertime" - STLMQG Robert Kaufman Kona Solids Challenge, 6. WIP 7 - SewConnected 2 Quilt, 7. Shattered Wheel, 8. Doll Quilt Swap 9 quilt received! from Lindakl,

9. Soul Blossoms Dresden

2011-09-16T12:20:00.000-05:00

i don't normally advertise things, but this seems like a great deal!! i popped in bath & body works today and this got plopped in my bag. if you go there tomorrow (saturday 17) between 11 and 3 and buy any 'home fragrance' item, you get a free tote and 3 mini candles (candied sugar plum, marshmallow peppermint and gingerbread)

here's a link with more info: click here

hope i bump into you there :)

oh, it does say 'while supplies last'... so don't be a slow poke!

2011-09-15T07:35:00.002-05:00

yes, this is how i felt lately.

life can be gliding along and then all of a sudden you hit the wall - seemingly unable to gracefully regroup. not really any one thing - a combination of many things. i am learning some really great life lessons right now (nothing earth shattering, just those kind of internal, just for me, wow am i really almost 45 and just now learning this is how life works), but do find myself wishing i could put up a closed sign with a date when i'll be back in the game of life, but i guess that's not how it works.

till then, i'm open for the 'business' of the day :)

i'm ok... life is good - just those pesky expectations of mine getting in the way.

thanks for reading my run on sentences. i've never considered myself much of a writer, but if i were, i'd be stream of consciousness all the way.

actually, as i ramble on here this book comes to mind.

maybe this would
be a better title for this post :)

maybe i should get it out and read it again... but i think i loaned it to someone and never got it back.

;)

i must say i am grateful for prayer and scripture study.

hope life is great for you...

the best penny i ever spent

2011-09-05T15:37:00.001-05:00

yes, a penny!
(but i did have to pay shipping - $4.99)
check it out here

this is a 1/4 inch quilting foot. someone was teaching a quilt class at church and highly recommended this for piecing.

WOW! it has transformed my seams :)

see if your machine has one... or if you can get one - so worth it!

21 years and counting :)...

2011-08-23T10:18:00.000-05:00

on to the next challenge

2011-08-21T17:43:00.002-05:00

yes, there is another challenge in my life...

if only it was the only one ;)

you can get all the scoop about it here.

jay mccarroll is the designer of the fabric we were given...

six fat eighths (say that 10 times fast!) from his habitat line.

i must confess... i don't really like this line. it is just not my cup of hot chocolate - no offense intended. if i had to pick a favorite from the six we were given, it would have to be the blue one with the dots.

this is my start.

wow, huh??

do i hear crickets??

well, actually here in these parts lately, it would be cicadas :)

thank you for all the kind comments about my last challenge quilt. it was my design - i bumbled along. i would love to write a tutorial. what 'cha think? anyone know someone good at mentoring someone with lots of ideas, but no experience writing tutorials??

done and done...

2011-08-16T09:34:00.007-05:00

stlmqg meeting 8/13/2011, a photo by splendorfalls on Flickr.

rip, rip, ripping challenge

the front...

2011-08-16T09:34:00.006-05:00

stlmqg meeting 8/13/2011, a photo by splendorfalls on Flickr.

the back...
the end :)

working on the flipside

2011-08-03T11:36:00.001-05:00

i finally finished the front of the rip, rip, rip challenge quilt.
now i'm on the to back. this quilt really has been a challenge for me.
i have tried so many different configurations trying to use up all of the fabric from the challenge - and be satisfied with how it looks.
i have never pieced a quilt like this before, so i am sure to have my seam ripper by my side as i dive in :>

i just love this... genius

2011-07-31T00:55:00.000-05:00

rocky mountain high

2011-07-28T09:12:00.002-05:00

we had a mini family reunion in colorado...
sigh...
i rreeeaaaalllyyy needed that!
more to come...

stlmqg rip... challenge progress

2011-07-12T15:36:00.001-05:00

2011-07-04T23:22:00.001-05:00

1492

2011-07-03T20:28:00.003-05:00

the other night Cooper (my seven year old) and i were driving home from target.
out of the blue he said,
"i already know that the earth is a circle."

surprised, and wondering what started this line of thinking, i said,
"really? how do you know that?"

he said, "because... when you look at where there are no trees - you can look at the sky and just tell."

his next statement was interesting.

"i'm glad i'm not christopher columbus."

"really. why?" (i had to know :)

"because, then i'd be dead."

rip, rip, ripping challenge

2011-06-28T22:53:00.001-05:00

the saint louis modern quilt guild is having a new challenge...
if we wanted to participate, we had to bring a yard of fabric to our last meeting and then we ripped it in half - saved half - and proceeded to pass the fabric around in a circle (our chairs were in a circle with all of us facing out). when the person in charge said, "stop" we ripped the piece of fabric we now had in half, started passing and repeated until we each had five pieces of fabric. clear as mud? :> no, i know you get it ;)

here are the official rules from the stlmq:

"You must make something (quilt, table runner, market bag, etc) that is bigger then a placement
using 4 of the 5 fabrics that you received during the Ripping game. You can add any additional fabrics that you choose, just make sure that each of the 4 fabrics are clearly represented somewhere in the project. You may be asked to point them out, so be prepared. The finished item must be brought to the August 13th meeting, in order for you to be eligible for any prizes.

Think creatively and have fun!"

i have the fabrics that i ended up with numbered above (i decided to use all 5 fabrics).

this really has been a challenge. lots of ideas floating. some frustration, but great challenge. of course, i am not complaining about the fabrics i ended up with.

will keep you posted.

letha's pineapple cream pie

2011-06-20T22:47:00.000-05:00

in honor of father's day, i made this pie for my wonderful father-in-law - fred.
this recipe is his mom's - letha - and is also his fav-o-rite pie.

i have altered the original recipe a bit through the years - always tweaking to make it better and hopefully better for fred. i'd love to know if you try it and what you think of it...

letha's pineapple cream pie

1 baked pie crust - cooled - i use this recipe

filling:
2 cups evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
dash of salt
put these three items in medium pot on stovetop

in medium bowl combine:
1 can pineapple chunks, extremely well drained, roughly chopped (here's a picture of it...)
or you could used crushed pineapple, i've just found that rough chopping the pineapple myself makes for a nicer pie -

4 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with a little cold water - then pour over pineapple
3 egg yolks (i save the egg whites for the meringue i put on the pie - i use 4 egg whites for the meringue, so i go ahead a set said 4 egg whites at this point)
dump the bowl ingredients into the pot on the stove.

combine all ingredients with whisk. turn on the heat. i have a ceramic cook top and use a 4 - so medium heat... stir constantly until it begins to thicken and boil. as soon as it begins to boil, stir constantly for one more minute.

pour filling into cooled pie crust...

meringue

now, i know that there are lots of meringue recipes...
this one works for me.
i use a viking mixer with a whisk attachment (i had a kitchen aid mixer that i used before the viking and it worked well for meringue too).
the weather can play with your meringue - humidity can make this difficult to have it turn out great - but oh well. just do the best you can :)

i usually wipe out the mixing bowl and whisk with white vinegar right before i make this. a tip from julia child. makes sure there is no grease/fat in bowl...

4 egg whites
dash of salt
1/4 cup sugar - superfine if you happen to have it

beat the egg whites and salt on high speed for three minutes... looks like this for me -

with mixer running, g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y add 1/4 cup sugar. this usually takes me 2 minutes. after 6 minutes TOTAL mixing, mine looks something like this -

mix 2 more minutes or so... you're looking for a stiff mixture -

begin to spread over pie...

make sure you bring the meringue all the way up to the edges of the crust all the way around.

put all the meringue over the pie -

bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes, checking to make sure the meringue gets evenly browned. i usually check mine after about 8 minutes and turn the pie to have it browned on both sides.

my father-in-law loves this best the second day...

rafferty

2011-06-19T00:57:00.003-05:00

i have some of the cutest nieces and nephews... you can check out one of them,
rafferty, here.
my extremely talented sister in law - ashlee - keeps popping up on the web. you may have seen her amazing photos here, here, here, and i have started to see her work popping up other places too.
you can see more of her beautiful children here...
i am a lucky aunt - the only problem is they are toooo far away!!!!

just curious...

2011-06-17T18:29:00.001-05:00

i've realized that as i surf the big, wide world of blogs... i'm like a little kid.

fascinated by pictures... it takes some doing to get me reading.

am i alone in this?

now, some blogs are written by some truly witty and downright funny people.

take this blog for example.

eye candy for sure! i sigh with every post - dreaming of my own farm house - decorated with all her beautiful colors... but she also includes such wit and interest in every post. what a woman!

do you have any favorites blogs that have the best of both worlds?

or did i lose you with no pictures ;)...?

hope you are having a wonderful day!

dad's day!

2011-06-13T16:28:00.000-05:00

this is coming up sooon! any great ideas swirling around in your head? i have a few, but the piggy bank is a bit on the lean side. check out these cute ideas...

you can see some more ideas and get the downloads here...

i'm always on the lookout for great recipes with peanut butter and chocolate - can't go wrong at our home with that combination :> anyone have any to share??

first hydrangeas, another quilt done :) and a new block...

2011-06-06T21:34:00.002-05:00

so excited to have these blooming in the yard again.

one of my favorite flowers...

ta da! i finished this and found a fab-u-lous way to finish a binding here. check it out. i have always struggled with the whole finishing the binding thing and this made life SO much easier :>

...trying out the crazy quilt thing...

my apologies...

2011-05-26T20:50:00.000-05:00

i know this is a horrible picture...

remember when i told you i found the cord to my camera - well, i did. what i can't find now is the battery charger. sigh.

i know i will come across it. anyone want to come over and help me do some more organizing? maybe we will run across it together :)

in the meantime, here is the back of the quilt i've been working on. i meant to embroider the info on the stars so the back would be horizontal, same as the front, but i wasn't paying enough attention. oh well.

que sera :)

each star has info (date of birth, weight, etc.) of the baby embroidered on it. maybe i will get this quilted this weekend :)

a big thanks to my oldest son for holding this up

while i took the picture.

his head casts a nice shadow :>

the latest...

2011-05-19T14:16:00.001-05:00

i've been working on this quilt top on and off (obviously more off) for the past few months... i say obviously because the little guy this is for in now 7 months old!

you may have seen the eat, play, sleep, repeat here before...

it is from vanessa christenson of v and co.

if you've never checked out her blog before, you should...

lots of wonderful ideas.

she was very nice when i emailed and asked if i could show this on my blog.

i thought it would be fun to add a banner with his name.

i haven't forgotten about the design class update... :)

just having too much fun.

i'll show you the quilt again once i make some more progress.

i'm back - ole!

2011-05-13T17:14:00.001-05:00

yes, i found the cord. :)
and yes, some pictures are coming soon...
i had a fabulous semester at school - design I...
loved it! more on that soon :)

i stumbled on this video at dare to dream (a blog i recently rediscovered).
i know it is lengthy, but for me it was the right thing at the right moment i needed to hear it...
more on the design class coming up..

the power of words

2011-04-15T16:42:00.002-05:00

yes... i am here.

no, i can't remember where i put a little cord that connects my cute camera to my laptop.

i'm fairly sure i put it somewhere i thought would be great for me to keep it for quick and easy use.

my mom sent me this and i found it very moving.

i'll be back as soon as i find that adorable little cord.
i have a lot of catching up to do :>

p.s. this looking for things is getting old - i spent about 40 minutes looking for my van a couple of weeks ago... only to find where i was sure i didn't park. thank goodness for prayer!
i either need a session - or five with a personal organizer - or some good memory vitamins!

If you give a boy a camera...

2011-03-22T16:25:00.000-05:00

well, not actually give it to him, but let him use it...

you may be surprised what you find when you import your pictures...

hmmm.... time to hit the gym!!!

p.s. a huge thanks to my friend Lorrie for this cute camera! when she read i was having camera problems, she most generously gave me a cute pink sony cyber-shot!

Which flower are you?

2011-03-13T15:40:00.000-05:00

Flower magazine is offering a quiz...
click here

let me know what it says...
it says I am a sunflower... hmmm. definitely not my favorite flower, but I'll take it.

Daddy Daughter...

2011-03-06T10:42:00.000-06:00

Jason and Amanda

headed off to the annual Daddy Daughter dance held by the city.

I think it is so awesome they hold these every year.

I snapped a couple of pics before they headed off for the evening's festivities :)

my first tute - love

2011-02-05T21:50:00.001-06:00

i made this for our front foyer - and thought, although it is easy, i wanted to give writing a tutorial a try. i would love your feedback - because i would like to get better and better at this. so many times i am in the middle of a project and think, ooh, i should have taken pictures and done a tutorial.

here's the finished product

Here's what you will need:
embroidery hoop - painted color of your choice, or left natural
fabric for background - large enough to fit your hoop plus a few inches all the way around
fabric for letters
pellon 805 wonder under fusible web - or something similar
"zots" craft adhesive, or something similar
scissors
iron
letters - printed from your computer on cardstock - or freehand cut... whatever suits you

first, i would go ahead and iron my wonder under onto my fabric for the letters. this will give it a chance to cool and be easier to peel the backing off. just follow the instructions that come with the wonder under.

i found my frame at goodwill. they are available at any craft store.
i painted the frame white and then found some fabric i liked.

put the fabric in the frame and pull it taut.

then i went to paint (you could use Word, or whatever you prefer) and found a font i liked (salaryman in this case) and printed it out as large as i possibly could.

it is a good idea to print it out on cardstock so it will be sturdy enough to trace around the cut out letters.

i wanted the work bigger, so i enlarged 175% on the copier. you may have to fiddle around a bit until you figure out what looks best for you.

when you have what you want with your cardstock letters, cut then out carefully - these will be your templates for you fabric letters.

trace the wrong or the backside of your letters onto the paper side of your fabric.

now comes the cutting. i suggest you use really sharp scissors so you can have as clean of an edge as possible.

once you have you letters all cut out, it is time to take of the paper backing...

position each letter where you would like it to be and then get out the hot iron. you goal right now is just to tack the letters in place, not necessarily 100% adherence.

once they are tacked on, with no floppy edges, turn the frame over and iron on the backside.

make a few slow passes and then check to see that everything on the front is where you want it to be.

then trim the extra fabric away from the edge of the back of the frame. leave enough of an edge so that you can tack down the edges for a finished look.

you can use these - they do a great job ... or an adhesive of your choice.

place the zots around the inside edge of the frame..

start to fold fabric over, all the way around the frame.

to hang this i used the 3m picture hangers - both sides of the hanger have velcro. these are so awesome for those of us that enjoy moving things around the house and don't like patching nail holes along the way :)

first you stick one hanger to the object you are hang and then the way i do it is to put the other hanger (the one that will be stuck to the wall) on top of the one you have already placed on the object.

the next think to do is to peel off this backing, go to you hanging spot and stick it on the wall.

ta - da! stand back and smile and say,

"hey! i do good work".

p.s. if your item to hang seems heavier, by all means use more than one hanger!

i've had a couple things come down unexpectedly, but nothing that couldn't be fixed.

p.p.s. if you make one, send me a pic - i'd LOVE to see it :)

... and please let me know what you think of this tutorial - i'd appreciate any feedback - that's how we learn :)

yippe kai ay :)

2011-02-04T11:17:00.000-06:00

amazing! i got the camera to work - for now...
i have been really eyeballing the cameras at costco lately.
but, for now - i was able to take some pics of the latest on the design wall.

i have been using up my leftovers. it makes me happy to see all of these beautiful fabrics together.

i have three more blocks to make - and will redo the one with the lighter pink center. the center is too square.

what do you do with your leftovers??

a new banner and a dead camera

2011-02-01T11:23:00.000-06:00

sigh...
our camera seems to be kaput. thus the lack of posts and the recycling of pictures.
i'm listening to the tap, tap, tap on the windows. sleet. freezing rain. and soon to be snow.

the weatherman says the snow should start soon and we may have 10" to 15" inches when it is all said and done. i would love to show you some pictures... we can hope for a resurrection of the camera, but i think i better keep saving for a new one :)

The Master of Disguise Meets a Stubborn Salesman

2011-01-19T13:53:00.000-06:00

Late last year, Cooper decided to sell a candy cane...
at the front door (too cold to be outside).
He set up his post then taped his advertisement and candy cane to the front door. Then he sat in his little yellow chair and waited for the customers to come pouring in...

He had a pretty high price tag (I'm think it was $2)... and wouldn't let us take pictures from the front. So we took pictures from behind.

He opened the door at one point and yelled at the neighbor across the street. He was getting in his car - but it was a no go... He was not interested in a $2 candy cane.

His very nice big brother wanted him to have some success, so he offered to buy the candy cane. Cooper flatly refused him.
Cooper wanted a REAL customer.
A very creative Harrison decided to disguise himself and give it a try.

He got ready and came walking down the street, trying his best to fool Coop, but...
Cooper said no. He recognized Harrison's shoes and knew it was him!

Fortunately Harrison used a washable Crayola marker and not a Sharpie marker...

And in the end... I'm not sure what happened to that candy cane :)

Catch that color!

2011-01-14T22:21:00.002-06:00

I washed Tara's quilt and used this to make sure the colors didn't run, I used this...

For the most part, I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

A bit of bleed... see it in the corner.

I'm not one to prewash my fabrics. I love the crinkle magic that happens in the dryer after the wash and I think prewashing takes away from that. And I'm always after as much crinkle as I can get.

I also used the color catcher on this quilt. Here it is prewashed.

and now for the magic...

I wasn't as thrilled with my color catcher results on this one... but I only used two sheets. With all the turquoise waiting to bleed on this one, I should have used more. But I learned, and that's what it's all about :)

College Dreams

2011-01-04T21:49:00.001-06:00

I had a weird dream last night...

I was late for one class and realized that I had been not been going to a class for most of the semester AND that there was no way I could catch up on my homework.
AHHH! (like the Home Alone slap after the aftershave...)

Strange - I used to have dreams like that all the time - even after I graduated from college.

See, I start a class this month at the local community college, Design 1.
I am SUPER excited, but came to realize after my dream, also very nervous.
Hubby took the day off work today and we went to pay my tuition, get my student ID and parking pass and find my classroom.
We saw a group of students being led in what looked like an orientation group and I said something to hubby about me being like twice their age - and he observed that I could be their Mom.
WOW!
It's weird to get older on the outside and feel your same goofy self on the inside.

I peeked in the window of the classroom and was exited to see it is like a studio.
I will let you know how my first day goes (about two weeks from now).
Hopefully in this case my dreams won't come true :)

Tara's Quilt - Prewash

2011-01-03T14:17:00.002-06:00

I finished this one and here it is - before the magic of the washer and dryer.

It is my first venture into using up leftovers - it is for a cousin due to have a baby any time now :)

Cooper's Nativity and a Happy New Year

2010-12-31T18:47:00.001-06:00

we hope you had a wonderful Christmas... we enjoyed being all together.

before Christmas, i had been cutting out some vinyl with my cricut and had some scraps laying around. cooper put them to good use... I saw this on a wall in my craft room...

Coop explained that this is Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and that the stockings are for Heavenly Father and Jesus. awwww - i thought that was so sweet.

here is what is up on the design wall right now -

you can find the pattern here. at this point i am planning on a light grey binding and a soft, pink flannel back. this is for a friend who just had a baby...

here's hoping you all have a happy new year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T21:08:00.001-06:00

my favorite...

long time... no post

2010-12-21T16:31:00.000-06:00

yes, i am back...
wish i had some amazing, incredible travel story to share, but i've been here the whole time.
cleaning, cooking, a bit of quilting, painting, parenting, etc. etc. real life stuff. and life is good.
i hope you are all enjoying the Christmas spirit in your homes.
here's a bit of catch up...

i wish, wish, wish i could capture sunsets the way they really look!

made some invites for church

made some ornaments

and a pie for my father-in-law
(i'll ask him if i can share his mom's recipe - pineapple cream pie)

so much fun making this gingerbread house!

finally finished with this quilt...

i'm leaving out pictures of the laundry, cleaning, painting, etc... :)

it's good to be back!

still playing with scraps

2010-10-21T10:25:00.000-05:00

i added some machine stitching...

i may have gone a bit overboard,

but it is good practice.

i'd love to know what you think...

i'll keep working on the border.

playing with scraps

2010-10-13T08:42:00.004-05:00

i was in the mood to create something yesterday

(i felt like it had been forever!)

so i started playing around with some scraps...

at first i thought of a house,

or maybe trees on a hill...

in the end, the trees won me over.

so many possibilities!!!

i will update soon - i did some machine stitching. i'm thinking wall hanging, but maybe a pillow?

small update on the sewing room

2010-10-08T23:01:00.000-05:00

i know it has been forever since i have updated you on the craft room. i thought i would show you some evidence of progress. hubby and i found a counter top (10 feet!) for $50 for one side of the room. i still need to sew a "curtain" to hide underneath it, but here is one corner...

i had the shelf in the basement - a yard sale find. i painted it white and am storing odds and ends there. the bulletin board is a small bulletin board covered to be a quilt design board.

i will do my best to keep the counter top clean.

i'll go through the stuff in that box soon.

(i do love the box - a target find)

she's liking it

my new morning routine!

2010-10-04T13:54:00.000-05:00

fusing fun!

2010-10-01T11:57:00.001-05:00

i had an amazing time in Paducah...

and like the somewhat lazy blogger i have been of late, go here to our teacher's (Laura Wasilowski's) blog and check out her "Iron Maidens" post to see everyone's pics.

It was a great group - so many different ideas floating around that room! My Mom took the class (Judith), but she thought her picture was terrible, so she won't look at the blog =).

I will post some photos of my work - as soon as i can find a memory card...

love it!

2010-09-29T14:30:00.001-05:00

Head on over to house of turquoise

to check out some new photos taken by my extremely talented sister in law - Ashlee.

Her photos are divine!

everyone's a winner here...

2010-09-29T09:50:00.001-05:00

:D
thanks Christy and Tif... and Lorrie for your sweet comment.
You all win. Let me know what numbers you want.
lots of love,
elizabeth

i got your number(s)... and wait! no wheat!??

2010-09-18T18:15:00.001-05:00

yes, it's time for another giveaway...

some numbers - for canisters, mailbox, front door...

whatever you want

(if you win that is).

(see last post to see my canisters)

I will draw the winner on monday, september 27th.

why so long you ask?

well, i am spoiled and will be going to this with my mom!

an early birthday present from her.

i am so excited and promise to give a full report when i get back.

on the health side of things, i found out that i am gluten intolerant.

boo hoo hoo! weeping and wailing!!!!

those of you that know me well, know how much i adore my bread, so i am struggling with this one.

any one know any great websites or recipes for me?? pretty please????

if you want to win the numbers, just leave a comment. have a wonderful week =)...

1, 2, 3

2010-09-15T10:36:00.001-05:00

I did a little update on my kitchen jars...

I'm loving the numbers I see ALL over the place.

The "1" jar I stock with towels - trying to kick the paper towel habit!

I think I post a giveaway for some numbers soon :) Check back...

Remembering

2010-09-11T23:03:00.000-05:00

I couldn't let this day end without saying something about 9-11.

That day changed me...

I was folding laundry - watching tv when everything began to unfold. I remember the shock and sadness that permeated everything.

I am grateful for all those who have given so I can live in freedom.

I will never forget.

All I can say is WOW!

2010-09-07T10:30:00.002-05:00

I was told about this amazing website yesterday...

If you don't know about her already - click as fast as you can on over there!

ana-white.com

I am SO excited to get out the power tools!

a stash for cash and a happy anniversary

2010-09-03T12:06:00.004-05:00

My wallet had been showing some signs of wear, so I decided to make a new one...

Soooo, this is what I came up with this time -

Love this fabric!

I really struggled with the edging, but finally found this ribbon -

at Dollar Tree.

I am still thinking on how I want to close it. Not sure if I want velcro, snaps, hmmm.

I did a zippered compartment for change and swapped where I stash the cash and the cards. So far - LOVE it!

We also recently celebrated our 20th anniversary :D

Here's to many more to come!
p.s. - is anyone interested in a tutorial for this wallet??

bitten by the bug...

2010-08-26T08:58:00.000-05:00

The fall bug has bitten me with a vengeance! I am ready to bring out all things

orange, red, black and white!

It amazes me how this happens so quickly...

Has it happened to any of you??

Anyone have ideas for great fall projects??

I'd love to hear them :)

If you have 8 min and 20 seconds - this is so worthwile...

2010-08-24T09:29:00.000-05:00

My-New-Life

open kitchen shelving - on the cheap

2010-08-13T20:58:00.001-05:00

I have been admiring and wanting some open shelving in the kitchen for quite some time now.

I promised myself awhile ago that I wouldn't ask my husband to do any more projects

(at least for awhile)

- that if I wanted something done I would try my best to do it myself.

Here's the intended target...

These cabinets are the cheap, ugly kind.

I painted them white when we moved in

(about 8 years ago)...

then black not that long ago...

then back white a few weeks ago...

a woman prerogative to change her mind, right? Back to the subject at hand...

First I had to get this thing down,

so I set an old crate underneath to help break the "fall" of the cabinet - and I am SO glad I did!

I came down with a big thud.

My husband put up a beadboard backsplash awhile back, so I went in the basement and found two pieces - there wasn't one big enough, so I cut them to size and pieced them together.

I saw some shelf brackets I loved, but ultimately, price won out. I bought these at Lowe's for about $1 a piece. The shelves are particle board - about $2 or $3 a piece. They were 4 feet in length.

I cut them down to about 38 inches on the table saw (they will cut them at the store for you too).

I primed the shelves and then painted with white semi gloss (latex). I had both in the basement.

I did spend about $8 on these.

No skimping on safety.

I am happy with the result - just need to find the wood filler and buy some trim for the shelves. I know the edges look rough right now. I'll update you when I get it all done :). I am really happy with the change...

I wonder what I will tackle next?

I'd love to know what you think!

PHOOEY!

2010-08-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

I have been taking pictures to share with you and ...

argh!

something is not right.

I am not able to download the memory card.

I will consult with my technology specialist

- aka - my hubby

and hopefully be showing some fabulous pictures SOON!

Phew! and a winner!

2010-08-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

Has summer flown by for you like it has for me??

Lacy - you win - thank you ALL for your comments.

I'm still running around - kids getting ready for school. Be back SOON!

i'm here - and i'll post tomorrow... i promise :D

2010-08-01T22:43:00.004-05:00

Thank you! Keep it coming!!

2010-06-28T12:44:00.004-05:00

I have loved your comments... and would love to have some more :)
Every comment counts towards a purse or tote! (Previous post comments included).

My room is off the kitchen - it's actually supposed the dining room, but I claimed it as mine.

I do ask a lot of in this space... I sew, cut vinyl (Cricut) and would like to break out my Yudu and try my hand at silk screening some stuff.

I am open to any suggestions and would like to take advantage of every square inch - all vertical spaces included.

I love the idea of having countertops installed (thanks Tif) and think I would like to do that on the wall with my sewing machine.

I am a very visual person. If I don't see it, I often don't think to use it. I also want things to look "cute".

The thing on the right is my treadmill. There is a tv mounted in front of it and they are both in this tucked away space my husband created.

That white stuff on the wall hold projects I want to look at and think about. This area needs to stay pretty much the same, because I am not moving the treadmill.

This is NOT working for me. My "cutting table". I used to have my daughter's sewing table here (I'll show you that in a minute). So, suggest away :) I have thought of having some sort of island cutting table - under the chandelier, but I don't know if I have enough room. Maybe a "sitting chair" in front of the window for a visitor? Maybe no room for that??

Here is the last wall. To the right is the opening into the kitchen, so it is a short wall. I know I need a vent cover. I am totally open to any suggestions. I am not in love with anything here.

I would love to here all your ideas - out of the box ideas are great.

I will post some fabric thoughts for the winner's purse/tote. I'll keep this open as long as the ideas are coming.

Thanks :)

p.s. if you need measurements, better pics, any more info - please let me know

would you, could you???

2010-06-25T14:54:00.000-05:00

here's the truth...
my craft room is a mess.

my name is elizabeth and i NEED help!

there i've said it.

if i am brave and post pics -
(here's one - and really it is not this bad right now :)

will you give me suggestions on how to organize this space?
of course, if you give me your suggestions via a comment, i will enter you in a drawing for a purse or tote - your choice.
i will show fabric choices and some guidelines for the purse/tote, but you decide what you want design wise.

let me know what you think - if you're in or out.
thanks!

Cooper moment...

2010-06-24T23:07:00.000-05:00

I was sitting in the front room last night when I heard some noises from the family room. This is why...

Cooper was sitting on the couch, picking his nose and wiping it by him on the couch. Dad noticed what was going on and told Cooper to clean it up! Dad also told me that he gave Cooper some tissues to clean it up. By that time Cooper knew how absolutely grossed out everyone was (I guess that was when I was hearing all the noise).
So after Dad gave Coop the tissues and told him to clean it up, Coop replied, "I already put them back!" Yes, he put them "back".

EEEWWWWWWW!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

easy peasy pie crust

2010-06-22T00:05:00.003-05:00

This was originally shared with me by my friend (who also happens to be my mother-in-law - yes I am VERY blessed :)

She got this from her Mom - who I believe got it from Betty Crocker...

very simple ingredients:

for single pie crust
(if you want a double, just double the recipe)

Preheat oven to 475 degrees

2 cups (280 grams) all purpose flour -
my latest favorite is Eagle Mills - I'll post more about it soon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil - sometimes just a tad more - I have found depending on the weather
1/4 cup milk* see below for more on the milk part

Mix flour and salt in bowl with fork. Pour oil into measuring cup and add milk. Do not mix. Make a well in center of flour/salt and pour in milk/oil. Stir with fork until mixed. Place sheet of wax paper on counter, with a bit of water underneath so it won't slide around.

Put mound of crust on wax paper and cover with another sheet of wax paper.

Roll out with rolling pin to desired thickness.

Take off top wax paper and put pie plate beside crust.

Lift up crust on the wax paper and do your best to flip the crust onto the pie plate.

Gently pull away the wax paper.

Now, if the crust breaks or whatever, just repair it. This crust is incredibly forgiving. Today, I know, my pictures make it look easy, but I have had days where I have had huge rips and tears. No biggie, just piece it back together.

Shape the edges - I usually go around the rim and make sure I have an even amount of crust for the edge and then shape it how I want it to look.
And yes, scissors can help even things up...

If this is for a baked pie crust, poke lots of holes in the bottom and up the sides with a fork and then bake till done - this can be 8 to 12 minutes. Set your timer and check often.

I have tried baking with stuff in the crust (you know like beans) to keep the crust from getting puffy, but I have found that if I prick enough holes with the fork, I don't have any problems.

I will post a pic of the baked crust soon - sorry - I forgot...

*As far as milk goes, you can try different kinds and see what you like. I have had some interesting results.
This crust was made with vanilla soy milk. My in-laws like ones I make with evaporated milk. I recently tried whipping cream and it was great with a fruit pie. Have fun and happy baking!

I'd love to know what you think :)

the latest

2010-06-09T09:14:00.000-05:00

brake work...

stairway work...

etsy work...

Birthday work :)...

ramblings...

2010-05-30T18:16:00.001-05:00

I have been up and doing... just forgetting to take pictures.

I finished one bag that was ordered, am working on a quilt for etsy, and have been working on the house...

I just need to take some pics.

I feel like I stink at writing tutorials, but if there is enough interest in some tutorials for bags, I will definitely give it a whirl...

just let me know what you think.

I have also been working on the yard - and actually did take a couple of pics!

I am trying to plant less annuals and add more perennials. I had to plant some impatiens :)

My favorite - hydrangeas - have started blooming...

I would love to replace this retaining wall with a stone one, but I think we will have this around for quite awhile still.

I do want to thank all of those who have sacrificed for for our country.

I know freedom isn't free and I am very grateful for what we have.

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day.

and the winner is...

2010-05-24T19:51:00.001-05:00

Her Majesty the Queen!

Congratulations!

And to the rest of you - thanks so much for all your comments.

I'm sure I'll have something more to giveaway soon :)

tote - ally done!

2010-05-17T12:27:00.002-05:00

Well, what started out as a purse, ended up more like a tote.
I've switched to a bigger purse/tote myself lately...

so, here it is

It measures 14 inches tall by 13 and a half inches wide. The is a cell phone pocket on the outside and a zippered pocket on the inside, as well as a carbiner clip for keys and lots of pockets.

If you want it, be sure to leave a comment.

I will draw the winner next Monday (May24th).

Best of luck! :)

making do

2010-05-13T10:13:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting one of these,

but due to the price, I came up with this...

I bought the basket at Hobby Lobby

(gotta love their 50% off sales!).

I think I paid $7 or $8 for this.

The basket was originally brown. Add some white spray paint...

and some vinyl lettering - Ta Da!

I am happy with it :)

remodel - o - rama...

2010-05-03T20:41:00.002-05:00

Okay - finally some pics to show of some of what we have been up to around here.

I must say this project took longer than we thought and I am so grateful we are close to the finish line.

this room is what we refer to as Dad's room -

his 'mancave' so to speak.

As usual, I forgot to take real before pictures.

Oh well.

They would not have been too exciting anyway.

This is sort of a before - it shows the red color we painted about 8 years ago. This used to be an open wall into what used to be the dining room (but is now my craft room). Jason built this wall and openings for his stereo equipment.

We were both ready for a change...

We had a really cute little kitten that peed all over this room and it STUNK up the carpet. Pee Yoo!

This started us on a quest to replace the flooring. Our first thought was for more carpet, but after pricing it out we decided to search for a ~~good~~ incredibly ridiculously great deal on hardwood flooring AND we were blessed enough to find it! They had EXACTLY the amount we needed on clearance. Yee Haw! I do love a great bargain :)

This is Jason contemplating the work is is about to undertake...

This is me admiring my toes and looking at the nasty carpet we are about to say farewell to!

Picking out paint colors...

Painting all the dark trim white (a task I still need to finish - including baseboards...)

Poor man did end up in urgent care one night and ended up having to have 5 or six stitches in a finger he whacked really hard with a heavy metal hammer :(

Also the nailer was REALLY loud (not to mention the miter saw), so these were his homemade earplugs...

Everybody pitched in at one point or another.

I think we all got a bit tired of it after awhile...

(Sorry Jared, I couldn't resist!)

But, eventually we made it to the end!

Now time to move on to the next the next project...

Right sweetie??

paint colors:

walls - restoration hardware - slate

trim - valspar - kitchen and bath - ultra white

floor:

vintage - amazonia -- brazillian cherry (jatoba)

starting...

2010-04-30T08:43:00.003-05:00

I have finally started cutting this out :)
I decided to through in some red canvas...

We have been remodeling and I hope to post later today about that...
Meanwhile I am off to sell snacks
at the high school to raise $ for the track team.

Have a wonderful morning!

TKO!

2010-04-25T23:20:00.001-05:00

The majority rules,
so #5 wins!

decisions, decisions...

2010-04-21T12:27:00.005-05:00

here you go -

please choose your top two and let me know...

a CUTE twill!

all cotton

sturdy canvas

all cotton

so, if you leave a comment, it counts as an entry

for the finished purse :)

if you left a comment on this post,

you already have one entry to your name ;)

congratulations!

new fabric vote tomorrow! so come back soon :)

2010-04-20T21:34:00.001-05:00

just checking... so check this out

2010-04-15T12:07:00.005-05:00

this is a p.s.... at the beginning :)

you don't have to know me to leave a comment...

i'd LOVE to hear from you!

Since I am feeling so much better (YIPEE!), my mind is churning and I am wondering...
Should we continue with the ultimate purse project and do one more purse to give away?

If you think yes - please leave leave a comment and say so :)

If not, well, I'll get the point...

This was the fabric came out on top on the last vote, BUT

over Easter weekend, we were visiting my parents and I popped into here and scoured the remnant table, so I may have a couple more fabric choices up my sleeve ;)

Let me know what you think...

i'm still here...

2010-04-14T13:24:00.002-05:00

Yes indeedy - I am still here, just zipping right along.

Actually, I feel SO much better than I have in a very long time

(this is when you hear the Hallelujah Chorus ringing in your ears)... and happily, we are still remodeling. No complaining, it's just that all of our living room furniture is scattered all around the rest of the house (not to mention books, radios, etc.),

so my attention has been focused elseware.

Unfortunately, no recent time spent in my messy sewing room (well protected by my Coop - seen above).

Hopefully in the VERY near future I will be able to show you what we've been up to.

Does anyone else forget to take a bunch of before pictures,

or am I the only one, halfway through the project to think,

"Oh no! I forgot again!"?

Please assure me that I am not :)

Hope all of you are enjoying some fabulous weather. Have a wonderful day :)

I'm off to mow the yard...

gee i'm glad that cows can't fly... and other random thoughts

2010-04-01T23:49:00.002-05:00

birdie, birdie in the sky...

why'd you do it - on my van side view mirrors...

not to mention all the other neighbors cars and people who visit us!

This is the offender - now known as either "poop bird" or "doo doo bird" in these parts. We are remodeling and can't park in the garage right now. I took my van to the car wash and felt so much better, BUT he/she has already started up again!!!

On the random thoughts side of things... Did you know that if you hold up a water bottle in front of your face, you can get a cool picture like this?

Our #2 son had some french toast and found this on his plate - untouched photos - I promise...

Cool, huh? (Or is it small things amuse small minds? :)

Lastly, but most important - a HUGE thank you to all those that have wished me

My surgery went well, but the verdict is still out as to whether or not I am done with all this. People were so very kind to our family. Lots of yummy food - and even an ice cream cake (pictured above). My daughter asked if I could be "sick" a bit longer. I had not done much in the cooking department the last while, so everyone was very grateful, but I think most of all me. Thanks so much.

whatcha lookin at??

2010-03-22T11:11:00.001-05:00

I spend quite a bit of time at my kitchen sink and realized I needed a change of scenery, so this is what I came up with...

These are some coasters I found on clearance. They have a spot in the back to slide a picture into... I've had these up for a bit. I think I will change them out soon for some brighter fabric.

I found this cute nest this weekend at the most ADORABLE shop - The Robin's Nest. (I'll be blogging about the shop soon). The urn was a Goodwill find and the pillow...

I fell in love with it on a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois a few years ago. It is a good reminder for me :)

The silver bells were a Crate and Barrel find at Christmas clearance. I LOVE these pastel colored candy corns! (A tip from the owner at The Robin's Nest.)

You can find them at Michael's! They are in a vase from IKEA (oh how I wish we had an IKEA here!!!)

The little votive holder - a dollar store find.

I made the wreath Saturday night. I haven't done that in years. I grabbed a small simple grapevine wreath and greenery and flowers at Michael's. Cheap therapy...

So, here's my "spot". Hope you are looking at happy things.

I might not be around here for a few days... more surgery tomorrow. Oh me, Oh my. I hope this will be the last one for a long while - if not ever :)

Hope you have a wonderful day!

hallway redo

2010-03-18T11:56:00.002-05:00

It seems that we are in the constant mode of remodel. Happily, this doesn't really bother me because I know change is coming - eventually. Our kids bathroom remodel has hit the one year mark now - although it is now functioning (but that's for another post).

Our hallway has needed a face lift for a while (yeah, don't mind the bare ugly stairs - that's another redo I am working on...)

This redo started with some fabulous Oops paint - from Lowe's - only a half hour old! gotta love that. I found some frames at HomeGoods for $3 a piece. They had fabric covered mats that I was not too fond of, so I covered the mats and painted the (existing white) front sides black - acrylic paint. Then I went to The Graphics Fairy website where you can find really cool vintage graphics that you can download and print for free.

I went around the house and found all the black framed pictures that I thought would go well together and then measured out my wall space on the the floor and marked out my space with painters tape so I could play around until I found a combination that satisfied me.

I might add a little black vinyl here and there to fill in some of the larger spaces, but over all I am happy with how this turned out.

cuteness for $1

2010-03-15T20:52:00.001-05:00

I found these cuties on a recent trip to Target - in the Dollar Spot no less. What I love most about them is they came with pre-drilled holes - perfect for the pegboard! There was a ribbon on each side, so I just took one side out and voila!

Instant junk holder :)

I'm trying really hard to get my sewing space organized - hubby hung a chandelier in there for me the other day :). I'll post some pics soon...

new to the shop... and a fabric decision

2010-03-11T17:49:00.002-06:00

I'm finally adding a couple of things to the shop. Sewing is such a stress reliever for me - and having a patient husband is priceless :)

First up a Spring Table Runner -

And second, a big lap quilt. I love these fabrics!

I need a better picture of the back -

too many tree shadows and it is looking wonky,

but it really is straight...

On the purse "front", there seems to be a
general consensus about fabric #2.

What great taste you all have!

Amy Butler's "Daisy Chain"!

fun fun fun!

I look forward to making and giving another purse away :)

Drumroll Please!

2010-03-04T20:12:00.004-06:00

And the winner of purse #2 is.....

JEN!

Be sure to vote for the fabric (next post) for the next purse :)

Your vote counts!

2010-03-04T11:56:00.003-06:00

I have had a tough time finding fabric for the next purse, so I decided to pull some out of my stash and let you decide. Choose your top three favorites from below and then we will vote from those top three. Voting will end next Wednesday, March 10th and then we'll choose from the top three.

Thanks for your help!
p.s. I'll post the winner of purse #2 later today!

thank you for your patience...

2010-03-01T09:24:00.003-06:00

At long last!! My recovery from surgery took longer than expected - and then a cold. Well, I'm up and at 'em again :)

Here is purse #2 - with a strap - a 32" strap and magnetic snap.

To thank you for hanging in there with me, if you have already left a comment about this purse on the previous post , but would like to leave another comment on this post, I will put you in for two chances to win.

I don't want to drag this on and on, so I will draw the winner on Thursday March 4th. And then - I think one more purse to make for your comments. Any suggestions on the fabric or color combo??

Best of luck!

Sorry...

2010-02-08T20:58:00.000-06:00

Sorry to be absent here lately.

We've had a VERY nasty bug around the house :(

I would not wish it on my worst enemy

(although I do not have any... at least none that I know of :)

I'm scheduled for a short visit

to the hospital tomorrow -

so I will be back next week -

comments and suggestions still open for #2.

Take care!

#2...

2010-02-01T09:29:00.002-06:00

Here it is... strapless at the moment.
How long do you like your strap? I know a couple of you said you like the option of wearing it across the body - so like how long is that for you in inches?

I do love this fabric!

Two pockets on one side (inside)...

You can't tell, but there are two spots to hold pens...

And yes, my first zipper!

You would have thought I won a gold medal the way I showed it to all my family.

I think Jacob (mr. 14 year old) was like,

"Okaaaayyyy?????"

Yes - so now I can sew an inside zipper.

I know one for the main body of the bag will be my challenge on the next prototype.

'D' rings for your wearing convenience.

I also still need to add a magnetic snap.

Nope - no zipper this time, but a snap I will do.

And "duh", I forgot to take a picture, but there is a pocket for a cell phone under on of the 'D' rings on the side...
It measures roughly 15" x 12".
Again - I need you comments and suggestions.
Same as last time, a comment and you are in to win this.
Have a lovely sunshiny day!

And the 1st purse goes to....

2010-01-30T19:26:00.002-06:00

MELANIE!

I am almost done with the second one...

Check back soon :)